Tuesday, March 19, 2024

It's All Up To You ~ Featuring Elvis ~ Viva Las Vegas

Viva Las Vegas!  This is my March Island Batik Ambassador project.  

This month we were given the freedom to make any project we desired. We get to do two "It's all up to you" projects this year.  The second one will be in December, to finish out the year.  I've already started on that project, too.

For the March project, I chose to use this pattern I picked up last summer whilst visiting my parents in Las Vegas.  The pattern name is "Ode to the King" by Madi Hastings.  I purchased this at the Quiltique quilt shop.  It's a small quilt, intended for a row by row.  The pattern included die cut fabrics, which I did not use.  I traced all the pieces onto Heat 'n Bond Lite so I could make my quilt with Island Batik fabrics of my choosing.

I mainly used fabrics from the Squiggles, Dots, and Lines 10" precut stack that I received in my January Island Batik Ambassador box.  Additionally, I used Moonstone for Elvis' skin, Storm for his hair, and Eggshell for the background and backing fabric.

You can find Squiggles, Dots, and Lines at many local quilt shops.  
Here's a few:
Red Pine Quilt Shop ~ MN
Around the Block ~ NY
Equilter.com ~ CO
Kirstens Quilt ~ Denmark

There were a lot of intricate pieces to trace, press, and cut out.

Here are some of the pieces after cutting.

This is how the top looked after ironing all the pieces to the background.  My new Oliso iron did a fabulous job of adhering everything.

I love fusible applique so much.  I should do more projects like this.  I usually do a zigzag stitch to secure the edges, but because the pieces were so intricate and had a lot of sharp points and tiny bits, I did a straight stitch close to the edges instead.  Plus, this is going to be a wall hanging.  It will not get a lot of washing, if any.  My Schmetz needles did a fabulous job of stitching neatly through all the layers and the sharp points easily penetrated even the tiny points without damaging the fabric.

Detail of Elvis' face.  The Moonstone fabric for the skin tone added a lot of dimension.

The "V" in Viva.  Yes, I did cut out all of those tiny circles with a small sharp scissors.  I did not stitch around the edges of the little circles.

After auditioning many, many thread colors, I decided on this minty green Aurifil thread for the quilting.  I made a quilt sandwich with a small piece of Hobbs Thermore batting that I had leftover from a previous project.  Thermore is great for small projects.  It's lightweight and quilts beautifully.

I was inspired to try this micro grid quilting that I saw on a lot of quilts at Quilt Con in Raleigh.  I used my Janome Memory Craft and quilted the lines 3/8" apart.  I love the texture this quilting created.

I cut strips leftover from fabrics I used in my quilt to make a fun, colorful binding.

Viva Las Vegas

Quilt Stats:
Quilt Size:  27-1/2" x 12-1/2"
Fabric:  Squiggles, Dots, and Lines by Island Batik
Thread:  Aurifil
Batting:  Thermore by Hobbs
Needles:  Schmetz
Pattern:  Ode to the King by Madi Hastings

Visit my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors to see what projects they are making for March.  
Here's the list:

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs

Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting

Megan Best ~ BestQuilter

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts Studio

Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts

Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts

Jane Hauprich ~ Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

Kim Jamieson-Hirst ~ Chatterbox Quilts

Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Connie Kresin Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~ A Quiltery

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion

Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique

Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Julia Schweri ~ Inflorescence Designs

Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail

Carol Stanek ~ Stitch with Color

Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels

Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations

Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

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Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today,

Jennifer Thomas

Curlicue Creations

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Sunday, March 17, 2024

Squares and Spools Quilt and Pattern in Connecting Threads

My quilt pattern Squares and Spools is looking cool in Connecting Threads' Hometown America True Blue fabric collection.  

Refresh your home and sewing room with the Squares and Spools quilt.  Currently only available through Connecting Threads, you can purchase the complete kit with fabric included as shown to make the top and binding, or purchase as a pattern only and use your own fabric stash.

Imagine relaxing with this quilt after a long day.  Aaaaaah!  (Photo by Connecting Threads)

The finished quilt size is 54" x 62". Four yards of fabric are required for the backing.  Easy to sew!


If you sew a Squares and Spools quilt, please share a pic with me on Instagram @curlicuecreations.  
I would love to see your quilt!
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Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today,

Jennifer Thomas
Curlicue Creations

For more Curlicue Creations quilt patterns, fabric, and sewing supplies, click here to visit the Curlicue Creations Etsy Shop.

Connect with me:

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Saturday, March 16, 2024

Connections Quilt and Pattern

Today I'm going to show you the Connections quilt.  This quilt was made with all solid fabrics by Island Batik.  I've always loved a good rainbow quilt.  A rainbow ribbon runs through a field of stars to make a stunning quilt.

Disclaimer:  The fabric for this quilt was supplied at no cost to me by Island Batik.  The batting for this quilt was supplied at no cost to me by Hobbs Batting.
Island Batik has a beautiful selection of solids to coordinate with their batik fabrics.  This pink is just one of the many solid colors I used in the Connections quilt.  If you haven't tried Island Batik's solids before, I would urge you to try them out.  They are made using the same high quality, high thread count fabric that they use for their batik fabrics so they pair with them perfectly.  And best of all, these fabrics have minimal fraying.  Super saturated colors, minimal fraying.  Just two of the many reasons that I'm a huge fan of Island Batik.

This is the Connection block in gray with the red ribbon.  These are a lot of fun to sew, and with all the colors of the rainbow, you are not going to get bored sewing a lot of blocks that are all the same.  Each block is like a bright little happy surprise of color.

Here's a sampling of the gray Connections blocks in progress on my design wall.

More block units coming together.  It almost looks like a plaid here.

And more.  This would make a bright, happy quilt, too.  I may try that in the future.

Black Connections blocks in progress.  This would make an interesting quilt, too.  This is why I love my design wall.  I'm always seeing future quilts while I'm working.

Black Connections blocks ~ almost finished!

A variety of finished Connections blocks.  I'm starting to sew them together into rows.

Trail Mix says "That is all the sewing for today.  I'm claiming this box and yellow fabric for my own."

Connections

Quilt Stats:
Quilt Size:  62" x 72"
Fabric:  Solids by Island Batik
Batting:  80/20 Black by Hobbs
Thread: Pumice, King Tut, by Superior
Needles:  Schmetz
Designed in EQ8

The Connections quilt pattern can be found in select quilt shops across the USA.  Look for it in your local shop.  If your shop doesn't carry Curlicue Creations patterns, ask for them!

Optionally you can order a copy from the Curlicue Creations Shop.

Click here to order a PDF Instant Download Connections Pattern.

Click here to order a paper copy via U.S. Mail Connections Pattern.

If you sew a Connections quilt, please share a pic with me on Instagram @curlicuecreations

I would love to see your quilt!

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Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today,

Jennifer Thomas

Curlicue Creations

Click here to visit the Curlicue Creations Etsy Shop.

Connect with me:

Subscribe to the Curlicue Creations Newsletter

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Note:  This is an affiliate link.  Clicking this link will not affect the purchase price.  However, if you do make a purchase, I may receive a commission.  Thank you.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Hearts Afire Quilt and Pattern

Say hello to the Hearts Afire quilt. This quilt features fusible applique hearts, classic nine patch blocks, and a flying geese border.

Disclaimer:  The fabric used to make this quilt was given to me by Island Batik.

I used fabrics from Island Batik's Celtic Fields fabric collection, along with their solid white.  These are the fabrics I used.  They remind me of autumn leaves in beautiful oranges, yellows, greens, and red.

The Hearts Afire quilt has a lot of fusible applique hearts.  I adore fusible applique.  I like to use Heat 'n Bond Lite for my applique shapes, but any fusible web will work for this project.  The soft, full curves of these hearts make it a great project if you are new to fusible applique.  If you prefer needle turn hand applique, this project works very well for that technique, too.

Here are some of my hearts, fused, cut out, and ready to iron onto the backing fabric.  I find it relaxing to cut out the hearts while watching a movie or enjoying watching the sunset while sitting on my porch.

As I work on a quilt, I like to put the elements up on my design wall.  Sometimes I get new inspiration for another quilt when I do this.  I like how the colors are melding and playing together here.  Beautiful fabrics make my heart happy.

Speaking of happy hearts, here are 18 of the heart blocks put together.  I like to sew a zigzag stitch around the edges to secure them to the background fabric.

The quilt top is coming together on my design wall.  Looking lovely!

Next I worked on the borders.  This shows the flying geese in progress for the second border.  And that is all the photos I have for this quilt.  I must have gotten too busy to take any more pictures after this step.  LOL.  You will have to get the pattern and make one for yourself to see it through to the finish.  

Hearts Afire

Quilt Stats:
Quilt Size:  64" x 70"
Fabric:  Celtic Fields by Island Batik
Designed in EQ8

All of my patterns feature step-by-step instructions accompanied by full color diagrams.
Order your copy today in the Curlicue Creations Etsy Shop, here:  Hearts Afire Quilt Pattern or look for it in your local quilt shop.

If you sew a Hearts Afire quilt, please share a pic with me on Instagram @curlicuecreations.  I would love to see your quilt!
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Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today,

Jennifer Thomas
Curlicue Creations

For more Curlicue Creations quilt patterns, fabric, and sewing supplies, 

Connect with me:

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