Mini Quilt Swap NEWS!

 (the end of the sign-ups)

Sign-ups for the first schnitzel & boo Mini Quilt swap is now over.  Thank you all for your interest and excitement, I am overwhelmed...160+ people signed up!  WOW!

So now, I take on the huge task of sorting you all.  Too bad I can't borrow the Sorting Hat from Hogwart's!  I'll be back later today with more info for you later today so sit tight! 

Don't forget to follow me right here to stay in the know for future swaps, giveaways, news etc. 

Happy Sewing!

-kristi-

Mini Quilt Swap



Well, hi!

http://comfortstitching.typepad.co.uk/comfortstitching/2010/01/raw-edge-applique-tutorial.html

The other night I was lying in bed wide awake at about 2:00 in the morning.  Do you know what I was thinking about?  The hideous wood-paneling in my living and dining room.  HID-E-OUS. I really despise it, but there's not much I can do because the house is just a rental...sigh... 

http://artisania.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/lil-fox-super-sale/

Someone that I follow on Instagram posted a picture of their quick-fix design wall.  She had stapled Warm 'N Natural quilt batting on her walls, which in my opinion was pure genius.  I started fantasizing about doing the same to my walls.  I laid there awake, picturing the blocks and partial quilts that I could pin up there and how pretty it would look.  Then I imagined the splatter of ketchup that could easily happen with the resident four-and-a-half year old and how pretty that would not look.  Then I imagined the price tag for all of that batting and well, I knew it wasn't going to happen.

http://stitchindye.blogspot.com/2009/05/more-mini-quilt-monday.html

But how could I make my walls nice?  There had to be a way to cover them.  I really dislike the background that it creates, and how orange it makes everything appear in pictures, especially at night.  So I was awake, yet I was dreaming.  Dreaming of all of my talented friends and my fabric stash and this super sweet little mini quilt that my friend gave me.  (picture tomorrow...it's dark already so now the lighting sucks.)  And, I had an idea when I woke up: I'll make a bunch of mini quilts in all sizes and style!  Yeah!  It's perfect!  Buuuut...it'll take a really long time and I kinda want them all now.  What to do, what to do.  I GOT IT!  I'll host a mini quilt swap because everyone likes a swap, right?  And we all love our Happy Mail, so why not?  I say we do this.  Tell your friends, have them tell their friends, let's make stuff for each other, it'll be awesome.  Quick, sign up and then go take a peek at the quilts I'm showing you here.  Gather your inspiration and get ready!  This will be more fun than...I don't know...it'll be more fun than most things, how's that?

http://quiltinspiration.blogspot.com/2012/01/free-pattern-day-hearts-and-valentines_04.html

So, here we go with the guidelines/suggestions:

1. You will be assigned a partner according to the answers you submit, so think carefully!

2. Be sure to give as much information as possible so your swap is a happy success.

3. Quilts can be as small as 6"x6" and as big as 24"x24".

4. This is a secret swap, give us sneak peeks or even full views, but don't tag your partner!

5. Due dates to have your mini quilt in the mail is Friday, November 15.  This gives you two months to get through quilt market, finish up your WIP's, clear your cutting table off and stock your shelves.

6. Because the ship-by date is so far off, and this is a secret swap, please make every effort to send your swap between November 8-15 to keep the secret a surprise.  (although, I'm not sure this is the right way to do it for a secret swap, does anyone have any thoughts on this?)

7. Come join the Flickr group to share all of your pictures, gather ideas and meet up with new and current friends.

8. Use the hashtag #schnitzelandboominiquiltswap to check out what everyone else is doing. 

9. Feel free to send goodies with your Quilts, if you want.  It is nice, but NOT necessary, so don't feel obligated to do so and don't feel bad if you don't. 

10.  HAVE FUN!

11. Follow the link below to sign up:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Z70dttzgulZdsSkmU6Vlh14z-PZG73xk4AvzpvajKzE/viewform

Happy Swapping!

-Kristi

*This is the quilt that Kathy gave me*
*************

PS The quilts above are not my creations. 

They are linked to the rightful owners, and posted here for your inspiration.



Tutorial: Mini Fabric {paper} Grocery Bag

*exterior, side and interior of the bag*

 My sister is always doing really nice things for me and Roo, so I decided to make her a new tote bag as a thank you.  It ended up being timed just right because the day after I finished it, she wound up having emergency gallbladder removal surgery, can you believe that?  So, Mom and I stuffed it full of goodies (magazines, new cozy socks, candy, a travel coffee mug and a notebook) and brought it up to the hospital with us.  She loved it!  I was pretty excited when she said "It looks just like a paper grocery bag, except it's fabric!" because that is exactly what I was going for.  Yay!

How about a little tutorial on how to make one for yourself?  Yes?  Alrighty then...here we go!

Gather your supplies:
1/2 yard Exterior Fabric (tan Kona cotton)
1/2 yard Lining (red gingham)
1/2 yard Accent for exterior strip and interior pocket (cupcakes)
1/2 yard Fusible Fleece

From the Exterior cut:
One Bag Bottom 7 1/2" x 26"
One Bag Top 6" x 26"
Two Handles 4" x 19"

From the Lining cut:
One Main Piece 14" x 26"

From the Accent  cut:
Exterior Strip 3"x 26"
Pocket 7" x 9"

From the Fusible Fleece cut:
One Main Piece 15" x 26"

**Seam Allowance is 1/4" unless otherwise noted**

Let's get started, shall we?

1. Fold Pocket in half, so that it measures 4 1/2" x 7"; pin edges making sure to leave a 2" opening for turning and stitch.

2. Trim corners; turn right side out and press; topstitch 1/4" from folded edge.
(not the side with the opening)

3. Find the centers of the pocket and lining by folding in half and marking.  Measure 2" down on lining, and pin pocket in place, matching centers; edge stitch 1/8". Fuse fleece to lining (not pictured) and set aside.

 4. With right sides together, stitch exterior strip to bag bottom; press seam toward bag.  Repeat for bag top to remaining side of accent strip.

 5. With right side up, topstitch 1/4" from accent edge on both sides of exterior.

 6. With right sides together, pin lining to exterior and stitch.

7. Turn lining to inside (wrong sides together) and press but do not stitch.  You should have about 1" of the exterior fabric folded to the inside:

 8. Open bag pieces out, pin long edge, right sides together, and stitch all the way down.

**ignore the pins at the top and bottom of bag, ONLY pin and sew the side at this stage**

9. Match center of seam to center of folded edge of bag; press seam open; pin top and bottom of bag and stitch leaving 3"-4" gap in the lining for turning.

 10. Measure a 1 3/4" square on each corner, starting with the fold and the seam, NOT the raw edge (if you measure from the raw edge, your square will be off by 1/4" on one side)

 11. Cut all four squares from the bag corners.

12. Match center of fold to center of seam and pin.

13. Sew across the seam, making sure to backstitch when you start and stop.  Backstitching will reinforce the corners.

14. Carefully turn the bag right side out through the opening in the lining and press.  Stitch opening closed by hand (not pictured); topstitch 1/2" from finished edge.

15. For the handles, fold each handle in half lengthwise and press.

16. Fold one raw edge to center and press.

17. Repeat for the other side.

18. Refold at the center and edgestitch 1/8" from double fold side first (this helps prevent twisting and bunching when stitching) and then edgestitch single fold side.

19. Measure and mark 2 1/2" from center back seam on each side; place center of the right side of handle edge about 1 1/2" down from finished edge on this mark.  Measure 1/2" down from the handle's raw edge (or 2" from finished edge of bag) and fold handle up towards top of bag (this process makes sure that the rough edge of the handle is hidden).  Pin in place and repeat for the other end.  Repeat process for front of bag.

20. Stitch a square with an "X" in it at the handle's edge (not pictured).  This will ensure the security of the handles.

That's it!  Please come back and let me know what you think of your finished bags.  You can even upload a picture to the schnitzel & boo Flickr group, I would LOVE that!

Happy Sewing!
-Kristi-

Stitch That Stash: It's My Month!

I love Halloween.  I look forward to it all year long.  I LOVE when stores put their Halloween merchandise out, (although my husband's feelings on that is another story, ha ha.)  If it was up to me, I'd start decorating for Halloween on September 1st, but my he won't allow it until October 1st, (he knows I can't wait any longer than that.)  For 31 glorious days I get to deck out my house for my most favorite holiday ever.  So, for my month of Stitch That Stash, I have FINALLY decided on a quilt for my Bee mates to help me create so I can celebrate my favorite day all year long.  SQUEE! 

At first I was thinking of having everyone make Union Jack blocks:

photo from www.creativequiltgirl.com

 Then I thought, maybe a Cog & Wheel:

photo from www.quiltingismytherapy.com

Then I thought, well maybe a Star quilt, where everyone gets to make two different of whatever kind of stars they want in a certain color scheme, maybe something like this (minus the sashing and blue squares):

photo from www.pieceandquilt.com

 Because I was so indecisive, I asked my husband for his opinion, and I showed him the same pictures that I have posted here.  To my surprise, he suggested that I go with my fourth idea, a Halloween quilt.  "When are you ever going to get the chance again? To have your friends help make something that you've always wanted so close to your favorite month ever?" He was right, of course.  So here I am, asking you guys to create Halloween blocks for my month, kinda take a page out of Nicole's book.  Her Christmas In July blocks were so much fun to work on and I loved watching it come together through everyone else's Instagram and Flickr feeds.

 For my quilt, I'd love to stick to white, black, yellow, green, pink, orange, gray etc.  Not true orange, not true green...I think shades of green (split pea, apple, chartreuse) and shades of orange and pink etc.  I prefer a soft, cute version versus scary and bloody. Feel free to use whatever image that you like, jack-o-lanterns, witches, cats, Frankenstein, ghosts etc.  I, personally, love paper-pieced blocks, but have no preference for what you do.  Feel free to use whatever method that you would like.  I have pulled a few images from the web (HA!  Get it??  Web/spider/halloween?...anyway...) for your inspiration:

photo by www.justapost.com

photo by www.artisania.wordpress.com

Halloween Quilt Block

photo by www.kikiquilts.com

I don't have any preference on size or amount that you make.  I am leaving it entirely up to you.  And, by all means TAKE YOUR TIME!  I can hardly expect these blocks to hit my mailbox before October, no way.  Please take your time, I certainly took mine.  Life is busy, especially now that school is back in session.  Thank you all so much for letting me BEE a part of your quilts for the last 9 months.  This is the first bee I have participated in and it was truly a joy.  Have fun!

Happy Sewing!

-Kristi-