We have rounded up a bunch of fun prizes and discounts for the Ghost Party Sew A Long 2023.
Ghost Party Sew A Long Prizes from Ruby Star Society, Poppie Cotton, Windham Fabrics, and our hosts Woollypetals and Cool People Quilts.
I’m not going to tell you which week is which prize but I will share the bundles here. Below each image I write out exactly what the prize is for that week. Again these are not in order so you can be surprised each week when we announce the giveaway.
Woollypetals donated this 31 Fat Quarter Ruby Star Society Tiny Frights Bundle and PDF Pattern of the winners choice from their Etsy shop. Cool People Quilt donated this merch t shirt.
Ruby Star Society Donated 3 bundles of 8-9 Fat Quarters of Tiny Frights along with some RSS Stickers. Woollypetalsdonated a Pdf Pattern of Choice to the winner. These bundles will be randomly added as a second giveaway to 3 weeks during the Sew A Long. So there will be a winner of a big bundle those weeks and second winner of one of these.
The Grand Prize Bundle: This bundle is for anyone that participated all 6 weeks of the Ghost Party Quilt Sew A Long. Those Participants will automatically be entered to win this amazing bundle.
Cool People Quilt donated this 41 Fat Quarter bundle of all OG C+S fat quarters. Longarm Lins of Cool People Quilts donated long arming for the winners Ghost Party Quilt. Woollypetals Donated a PDF Prize Bundle of 5 patterns of the winners choice from the Woollypetals etsy shop.
Another Sponsor I want to Shout Out is Knot + Thread Design. Kaitlyn is offering 20% all Ghost Party Sew A Long participants Ghost Party Quilts through the end of 2023. Details will be in your welcome email on Augusts 27th.
Let’s give all out Sponsors and Hosts a Hand for all the fun prizes, discounts, and hardwork put into this Ghost Party Quilt Sew A Long.
I hope you will join us for this super amazing Ghost Party Quilt Sew A Long. It’s going to be such a fun time. Sign ups are closed. Sign ups close at end of day August 26th, and remember the only way to be able to win any of these prizes is to be on the sign up list and participate on Instagram.
The Ghost Party Quilt Sew A Long sign ups are open from August 16th – August 26th. Sign up Closed.
Sew A Long Details
The Ghost Party Quilt Sew A Long will run from September 1st – October 15th.
Each week there will be prompts via an email and on Instagram for what you need to accomplish during that week to make a Ghost Party Quilt within the Sew A Long timeline.
Our Schedule is as follows:
Week 1 – Fabric Selection and Cutting
Week 2 – Sew BOOne
Week 3 – Sew jACCK
Week 4 – Sew AHHna
Week 5 – Assemble Top
Week 6 – Quilt and Bind / Catch up to finish top.
This will be a nice pace to not be overwhelmed but also quick enough to help you have a finished quilt by Halloween depending on if you quilt it yourself or send it out to a long armer.
How to Join in
The Sew A Long is free to join but you will have to purchase the Ghost Party Quilt pattern in woollypetals Etsy Shop. Sign ups Closed.
To join in the Ghost Party Quilt Sew A Long you need to follow both Cool People Quilts and Woollypetals on Instagram so you won’t miss anything you need to do. You also need to sign up for the email list here so you are eligible for prizes. You can of course Sew A Long without signing up but you will not be able to win any of the prizes.
Each week we will share what the prize is and you will need to post something related to that weeks prompt on Instagram and also comment on the Weekly post to share that you posted. We will pick a winner at the end of each week to be shipped a prize.
We will also have a grand prize at the end for one lucky person who posted all 6 weeks in the Sew A Long.
Not sure you want to join in? Really there is no loss for signing up. Worse case you don’t join in at all. And there’s no harm in that. Best case you have a super cute Ghost Party Quilt to snuggle under for Halloween.
But trust me. There is literally no negative to signing up. Go Check out the #GhostPartyQuilt and #Ghostpartyquiltsal hashtags on Instagram and check out all the fun versions people have made.
Start Fabric Shopping
Want to start planning fabrics? Check out this blog post full of Ghost party Mock ups. I shared the Yardage Requirements below as well to get you started.
Cool people Quilts is selling cute Ghost Party Kits (see image below) based off the book “The Little Ghost who was a Quilt”. You can preorder those at the links below.
Woollypetals will also be selling quilt kits of her Ghost in a Garden version (see a block of last years version below). Keep an eye out for those on here Instagram page.
I hope you will choose to join us in the Ghost Party Quilt Sew A Long fun on Instagram and in your inbox. Sign ups closed and then go get your fabric and pattern.
I decided to make this Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap Extras Guide to help you know what to add to your swap package. This guide is for the Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap 2023 but if you come across it for another swap I hope it can help you too.
Wow! That’s a lot of stuff. I wanted to show you a vast array of fun things that work in a swap package. In general I think swaps suggest 1-4 things added to the package as extras. Most say to not go crazy or send anything expensive. What works best is things you may have extras of. Something small that you use over and over again and love. A fun little kit or sticker.
I linked what I could in that picture. But some of the above are just things I have picked up here and there, created, or are not linkable. None of these links are affiliated. I just like spreading the love.
What to actually send
Below are several groupings of some of the stuff shared above. Broken down into a smaller group of what might be included in one package.
Keep the person you are sending to in mind. This little grouping could get sent off to someone that likes hand work. Maybe you noticed your recipient uses and makes Hexagon flowers a lot for quilt or to sew on projects. The little finger seam ripper is a fun easy tool to have close by for hand work too.
Maybe you noticed your recipient loves to sew quilts with HST’s of a certain size so a bloc loc ruler would be a great asset to them. Or they love pigs and to hand stitch so you make them a pig pouch ;) Some hand quilting thread is a fun addition to a package when someone likes to hand quilt a lot.
Sometimes it’s very apparent someone loves a certain animal, drink, or style. Which allows you to play with that obsession… ;) For example this group of extras could be for someone that loves squirrels, with cute squirrel art and some fat quarters with squirrels.
Shipping it all out
The goal with extras is to just to have fun. So don’t over due it and definitely don’t stress. Some people will send a lot of stuff and that’s okay, some people might not send any, and some will send a few. I think everyone in this swap is pretty amazing so will be happy with whatever comes their way. But if it’s your first swap or your not a big gift giver, keep it simple and stick to just a couple things that any quilter would love. Or you know for sure they would like based on your recipients info and Instagram.
Remember for the Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap 2023 the goal is to send in a padded Priority envelope or a padded 9″ x 12″ envelope for those outside the US. So once your mini is in there not much else will fit.
Padded is best as it has a little extra protection from the outside world. Often it has some sort of plastic liner or the whole envelope is plastic which helps protect against the elements.
Feel free to wrap your items or not. I do recommend putting in a plastic bag (you can reuse a target bag) and separating any food or liquid items in separate bags from the mini quilt.
Lastly DON’T forget a card with your name, Instagram name, email. Any way you want your recipient to find you is good to write in that card.
A few more ideas
A few more things that could be fun extras: Please don’t forget to put any consumables or liquids in its own bag or separate from the mini quilt.
Drink gift card, tea bags, candy, sweet treat, notecards, small roll of binding, pins, thread, scissors, any small handmade item, patches, socks, pattern. There are so many options. Feel free to share what you’re sending in your stories or post on Instagram for others to see and to get input from your fellow swappers.
I hope you found a fun suggestion in this Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap Extras Guide to add to your package.
Let’s talk mini quilt Labels. It is really great to have a logo on your Mini Quilt for the Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap. So I am sharing a few things to make it easy to make Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap Labels.
What to Include on a Label
Your Name/Instgram (whichever you prefer)
The person you are making for (Name or Instagram name)
The swap name and year : Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap 2023
Additional info like which quilt pattern you used would also be fun. The most important info being your name and the swap name/year.
The label shown below was written with a Pigma Micron Fine Point Marker. See below for a link to this marker.
Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap Logo
I am making some files available for the Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap Labels. There are several options. So download which file works best for you.
Here’s the First one 8.5″ x 11″, standard paper size, with 4 logos. Two logos big and two logos small. One of each size with a box around it. Also one of each size with no box. Prints without the black border around the outer edge. Download link at bottom of post.
And the other option is a 4″x6″ image with the logo as shown below. Prints without the black border.
The last is just the logo itself to print however you need.
Okay here are links to each image in my Google Drive. Download whichever ones you need to make your own label. I can’t wait to see them!
Check out @stephkthomas on Instagram to see the logo she made using computer printer paper and the woollypetals mini quilt swap logo.
This is the updated version of the printer paper she used. June Tailors Computer Printer Paper. I’m sure you can find it at multiple sources and also use another brand.
Another option for making a Label
Another option for making a label is to use a fabric writing pen or marker and write out your logo on a solid piece of Quilting Cotton. Just write what you would like to say and then heat set your marker with an iron. Since Mini Quilts don’t typically get washed you will have no problems with fade. But I have heard from several people they don’t have problems with this method of washed quilts as well.
Finishing your Label and Sewing it on your Mini Quilt
There are a couple ways to finish your Label. You can cut the edges with pinking shears or zig zag/serge the edges and top stitch on the back. If I am stitching the label on by machine I like to do this prior to quilting and stitch it only to the backing.
You can hand stitch it on after quilting with a whip stitch or fun embroidery thread and stitches. Just make sure to not go through the front of the mini.
Another option is to add the corners to the back for hanging and write or stitch your label onto that corner piece. See tutorial in the Star Petals Mini Quilt pattern all swappers were gifted or the pattern will be available in my etsy shop as of August 1st, 2023.
An additional way to finish your label is to have finished edges and top stitch or hand stitch it down. You can achieve finished edges by pillowcasing (personal terminology) your label and stitching it on. Pillowcasing is when you sew your label right sides together with another piece of fabric the same size around all edges, leaving an opening for turning. Once you turn your label right sides out, poke out the corners and iron to get a nice crisp square/rectangle. You can close up the turning hole when you stitch the label down. This way gives you finished sides but also is thicker with two pieces of fabric.
To achieve the finished edge without pillowcasing you can do that by turning under the edges 1/4″ with an iron and stitching it down.
I hope this as given you a some ideas and advice on how to make a label for your mini quilt or any quilt/project. You can of course use your own labels if you have some printed as well.
Find all the info you need about the Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap.
I am hosting a Mini Quilt Swap from July 7th – August 14th, 2023. This will be open to everyone worldwide and will be a fun way to make a new friend and add some beautiful handmade art to your walls.
Sign up to join in the Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap is CLOSED. But read below for lots of fun info. I will also share this info in an email with your assigned partner.
Minis in picture above: Bear Paw made by me no specific pattern used : Beatrice Bulldog woollypetals pattern made by me : Epp Hexagons by me no specific pattern : Manatee Migration woollypetals pattern made by me : Hearts All Around woollypetals pattern made by Jessica @jessierou : Cats in Space Elizabeth Hartman Pattern made by Kayla @stitchkaylastitch : Santa Mug Kid Giddy pattern made by Stephanie @stephkthomas : Geometric Sewing Machine Quiet Play pattern made by Jen @jenniferjohnston80
Details
When you sign up you are agreeing to send a mini quilt made by you to the person you are assigned. I know life happens so if something comes up in the swap and you can’t fulfill your obligations I just ask you communicate it to be as quickly as possible so I can find a replacement.
The mini quilt you make should be sized within the range of 12″-24″. It does not have to be square. Any shape or size within that range will do. 12″ x 18″, 16″ x 24″ 19″ square, etc…..
What are you going to make? Design something yourself, use an existing mini quilt pattern, or make a single block from a regular quilt pattern. Sewing methods can vary as well, traditionally pieced, foundation paper pieced, epp, applique. All of the above.
Filling out all the sections on the form like, favorite colors, style, fabric, treat, quilt block. Will give your swap partner all the info needed to make something you love. Ultimately if it gets to stressful or you are sure just make something you love.
I will provide guidelines for extras. This will help people that haven’t swapped before, as well as give everyone a similar package to open.
Sign ups end July 5th and partners will be emailed to you on July 7th. There will be 4 required check in via an instagram post during the swap timeline so we can share what we are working on, recipient will not know who is sewing for them, and have accountability so no one is left without an amazing mini at the end.
Finally you must fill out the form in it’s entirety to participate and you must have a public Instagram to participate.
Mini Quilt Inspiration
Single Block from the Hearts All Around Quilt pattern by woollypetals makes a perfect mini quilt.
Throughout the Woollypetals Mini Quilt Swap I will share inspiration and patterns you can make mini quilts from. Highlighting different techniques and designers.
Sewing Machines: what is right for you. I thought I would talk about my sewing machines today, what I love about them, what features I can’t live without, and where to start in purchasing or upgrading a sewing machine. I also have some sewing machine reviews from friends as well as some polls from Instagram so you get a more well rounded view of what sewing machines people use and love.
Figure out what you need in a Sewing Machine
First let’s talk about what you need in a sewing machine. Figure out what you will be sewing. Quilting cotton, fleece, faux leathers, vinyl, thicker projects? It is good to determine your main focus in sewing and also look to the future at things you might like to try. If you are mostly sewing straight seams while quilting you could probably use any machine. But should take into account if you want to sew bags or clothes in the future. In that case you may need something a little more heavy duty or that has the capability to sew through a bunch of seams at once. Look at reviews to see what people have sewn with, how many layers a machine can easily sew through, what needles they use, and personal experience is the most helpful in my opinion.
Questions you might ask yourself? Do you want an automatic thread cutter? What sort of presser feet do you need? How many different stitches do you want? Or do you want any fancier stitches? All things to chat with a sewing machine sales person about. But also great things to ask friends, or people you admire on Social media. Crowd sourcing is the best thing.
Here’s a very basic overview of parts of a sewing machine.
My Sewing Machine Progression
I started sewing when I was young. My mom sewed, and she taught me when I was under the age of 10. It was just part of our life. In Middle School and High School I sewed a lot on my moms old Pfaff sewing machine. At the time I was making doll clothes, stuffed animals out of faux fur, and home decor for my room. Then I went to college and didn’t sew for a few years, but ended up borrowing her machine for a little bit and got back into sewing home decor, mostly pillows.
When I graduated college and got married my parents bought me a Janome 4623 le plus sewing machine It was great. It had all the basic stitches, was computerized. But not a ton of bells and whistles. It sewed well and was hardy. At the time I sewed pillows from upholstery fabric, small crafts, and I actually learned to quilt on it too.
After my son was born and I was quilting more and more and my husband bought me a Janome Horizon 7700 and it was amazing! It upgraded me to bigger throat space, added on a bunch of fun stitches, added an automatic thread cutter, a dual feed walking foot (a janome thing), I felt fancy. I loved that machine. I really never had an issue with it.
Several years later I got a travel machine. My Janome Horizon was to big to travel on a plane with so I got a Janome 4120 qdc. It is great. Some things that were a must for me when I purchased it were an automatic thread cutter and a 1/4″ foot. Those two things are my most important sewing machine features and I can not compromise them. This Janome is light weight. Fits in a carry on suitcase and has a great stitches. I have made many a quilt on retreats with it.
A few years ago I traded my Janome Horizon Memory Craft 7700 in for a larger model, A Janome Memory Craft 9400 qcp. Mainly I upgraded fore more throat space as I was quilting a lot of quilts at the time. Let’s just say it’s not my favorite. It took me a long time to figure out that I had to use Janome brand needles for it, I had never had to do that before. Maybe because it has more bells and whistles it is more finicky about everything. When I used it regularly I had it serviced every year. But I don’t use it much anymore due to my next and current machine.
I got a Juki TL 2010q about a year and a half ago and I love it. Now I would not recommend this for a one and only machine purely because it just does a straight stitch. It has a thread cutter, a walking foot, a back stitch of course, but it only goes straight. If you purely straight stitch 100% of the time then it will work. But if you ever want to go beyond straight stitching you can’t with this machine. I also don’t love the 1/4″ foot on it and the regular foot is not a 1/4″ foot either. It is just slightly off. So I have to keep that in mind when sewing quilts. I do love how fast it is. So much faster than any other machine I have owned. It is my daily piecing machine now.
Okay lastly, along the way I acquired a Janome Serger which is great. It very basic and just helps me out with clothing and inside pillows or things I sell so they hold up better.
I was also gifted a nice singer that I have since passed along to someone else.
A few years ago I also acquired a Grace Company 15r Qnique long arm machine with frame that has negated my need to quilt on my domestic machine and I no longer NEED a large throat space.
My personal requirements in a sewing machine
Decent size throat space: The space between the presser foot and the right side. A larger throat space helps with ease of sewing larger items or when you have to assemble a whole quilt top.
Automatic thread cutter: An automatic thread cutter is a button or a click of the foot after a seam that cuts the thread for you before you lift the presser foot. I like it because it typically saves time as well as thread. If you don’t have an automatic thread cutter you would finish your seam, lift your presser foot, pull your fabric out with the threads still attached, and then grab scissors and cut those thread with tails hanging out of the machine.
Different presser feet: I think a machine needs several presser feet. A standard foot equal on both sides. A 1/4″ presser foot is amazing for quilting. This usually has a guide on the side, or the edge is 1/4″ away from the needle, zipper foot, blind hem foot, button foot. There are quite a few that are pretty typical to get with a machine.
Walking foot: A optional foot that helps feed your fabric through evenly.The perfect foot to use for thicker projects and straight line quilting. My personal favorite for zippers.
Different stitches: Having a range of stitches is very nice. Basic machines tend to have straight, zigzag, knit stitch, blind hem, button holes, Some of these having multiple options. A lot of machine will have a handful of decorative stitches as well and of course the fancier the machine the more fancy the stitches can get.
Intuitive to use: This might be a tough one. There is a little learning curve if you’ve never used a machine. But I have sewn on machines that I needed to look at the way to thread it every time and I have sewn on machine that I just get the feel of how it works and where to thread.
There are just so many things that we could talk about with sewing machines. I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions and seek out a local quilt shop or sewing machine sales location near you to really dive in.
Reviews
These are all reviews by friends.
Kate @shecansew on Instragram wrote this about her machines.
Bernina 350 SE (Tula Pink): This was purchased as my first upgrade from a Kenmore machine on which I learned to sew. It has great stitch quality and a large library of decorative stitches, but I didn’t use those very often. I like the quick-change feet on Berninas and the 37 foot in particular–it has a 1/4″ seam guide that is remarkably accurate. I have since upgraded but still love this machine.
Bernina 480 SE: I wanted something with a little more throat space and an automatic thread cutter, and this model is a step or so up from the 350. I can use the feet I already had for this machine, which is great, and it has a jumbo bobbin, which supposedly holds 80% more thread than a standard bobbin. I just like that I don’t have to wind a bobbin very often. I use this mostly for piecing when I need an accurate 1/4″ seam and for sewing garments because it has a free arm. I wish the extension table was a little bigger.
Juki TL-2010Q: I bought this machine used, but it was very close to new. I needed more of a work horse for handling thick items like bags and also wanted even more throat space to do some quilting on a home machine. This fits the bill. Straight-stitch only, but it does it well, a larger extension table, automatic thread cutter, and the option to sew FAST. I have a walking foot for this machine, but I don’t use it, instead opting to adjust the presser foot pressure. The only thing that keeps me from using this machine exclusively for quilting is the inaccurate 1/4″ seam.
Stephanie @patchanddot on Instagram wrote this about her machine.
“My sewing machine is the Bernina 350 PE (Patchwork Edition). It’s the first new machine I ever had, and after almost eight years of sewing with it, I feel like it’s the only one I’ll ever need. As a quilter, I’m constantly using the “37” foot, which is perfectly sized for those quarter-inch seams. I also opted to get the walking foot add-on, and I use it to quilt anything baby-sized or smaller. Tip: If you play around with Bernina’s stitch #4 – the running stitch – extending the length to at least three, and the width about 9 mm, it creates a nice wavy line that’s perfect for quilt tops.
Katie @loveofewe on Instagram wrote this about her machine
I love my Bernina 770QE (Quilter’s Edition). This is my second Bernina I’ve owned. The first I bought around 2004 and is one of their smaller Activa series. I still have it as a back up machine. Once I started completing full size quilts and top quilting them myself it quickly became obvious I needed a machine with a larger throat (is that what it’s called?!). The 770QE has been great for this! You can easily fit full size quilts to top quilt in the large throat area – 10 inches of space to the right of the needle. It comes with a dual-feed foot that works similar to a walking foot and can be used for top quilting. I also have a walking foot that I use for patterns that have a lot of seam bulk. This machine is very high tech, everything is operated by buttons and the main screen. The feet are recognized by the machine and it will tell you if you need a special needle plate or anything else you may need to change to accommodate that foot. I love that it lets you know when your bobbin thread is low, and that the bobbin is large and holds more thread than most other bobbins. When I first got the machine and wasn’t sure of what I was doing it was super helpful that it had everything from the manual a finger click away on the main screen. I’ve had this machine for about 7 months and I’m still learning new things everytime I use it.
Robin @robineggbluegirl on Instagram said this about her machine.
“I use a Babyock Melody. I’ve had it for 10 years. it is my main machine and my travel machine. Love it!”
I also asked on Instgram stories what people had, if they like it, and how long. Here are some answers I got.
In conclusion
Sewing Machines: what is right for you. I hope this post has taken you a step closer to finding out what is best for you. There is a lot of info out there and a lot of different machines and price points. So check out those recommended sewing machines and start finding the right machine for you.
None of the links in this post are affiliated. I just link so you can easily see and find them. All opinions in this post are mine and not sponsored. I have purchased all my machines myself. The gifted one was from a family friend not a company of any sort.
Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you purchase a machine on any of my or my friends recommendations.
The pattern is for a throw size quilt measuring 62″ wide by 68″ tall. With the background being a fulling patchwork background it is super easy to change the size. The Penguin Social Quilt pattern is so versatile. You can make just a couple penguins, make a quilt, or make a mini quilt with a single penguin.
The Penguin Social Quilt Pattern is traditionally pieced. It includes one printable template you must use to create the right angle for the wings of the penguin. Due to a few techniques in the quilt including the angled seam of the wings I have labelled the pattern at intermediate and above.
Stan the Penguin
Stan is a front-facing penguin and is rather social. There are 9 Stans in the quilt to encourage socializing and so you can see all their cute faces nice and clear.
George the Penguin
George is a side-facing penguin and he is definitely a rule follower. You can make George left of right facing and I encourage you to have a variety in your quilt.
The nice things about both Stan and George is that you can kind of mix and match to your hearts desire and make quilt full of your favorite or make the quilt as shown in the pattern. It’s really up to you.
Here are a couple other mock ups using Electric Quilt 8.
A Rainbow background can be achieved by selecting 17 colors and making 2 rows in each color. Either using a solid for each color or a myriad of scraps in that color.
A medium to dark purple background is very striking. This uses 12 different colors to achieve a perfectly plum look.
I mean were can you go wrong with rainbow? This time I made the penguins the rainbow. Each penguin has a Ruby Star Society Hole Punch color as the top half and a coordinating solid as the bottom half. I just arranged them in ombre rainbow order on a low volume background and they look so happy.
This last one is a pretty in pink version using all Ruby Star Society Pinks with a mustard thrown in there for good measure.
I’ll be sharing more mock ups on Instagram the next couple days so stop over to the woollypetals feed to check them out.
Purchase the pattern as a PDF Download only in my Etsy Shop as of February 28th, 2023. Pattern is available after download and etsy also emails you a link to download the pattern from the email you use to purchase.
I hope you love Stan and George and the Penguin Social Quilt just as much as I do. I can’t wait to see all the Penguin Social Quilts everyone makes.
The Hearts All Around Quilt Pattern Release is today. What a fun quilt this is for Valentines Day. But it’s also a great quilt for everyday use, a wedding gift, a baby gift, really anything.
Art Gallery Solids paired with Ruby Star Society Starry in multi and scrappy carmel fabric X’s make this a bright and fun large block with X Star middle Hearts All Around Quilt.
The Hearts All Around Quilt comes with with two block sizes. a 12″ block that makes a 66″ square quilt with 25 blocks. Also a 16″ block that has two middle options and makes a 69″ square quilt with 16 blocks. This pattern would be super easy to customize a size with as well by adjusting the amount of blocks and sashing.
Free Spirite Solids paired with Ruby Star Society’s Purl line of fabric give a whimsical look to this small block Hearts All Around quilt.
I originally designed the Hearts All Around Quilt in 2022 for newsletter subscribers to use a large square center. Specifically the Ruby Star Society Stay Gold Panel. I decided to revisited it this year to improve and add to the pattern. I love the addition of the X Star middle. It’s add a super fun detail to the Hearts All Around quilt.
I pulled lots of peach and pink Ruby Star Society, Citrus and Mint, Annabel Wrigley, and Heather Ross fabrics from my stash. Using a Micheal Miller neon yellow and an Art gallery coral for the center. The black hearts are Anna Maria Horner fabric. This is the large 16″ block with the X Star middle.
This quilt is lovely to play around with the fabric placement. You can see the 1st quilt above is the 16″ block with the single fabric background, solid hearts, and the X Star middle. While the 2nd quilt is the 12″ block using Ruby Star Society Purl fabric, with a multi fabric background layout. This 16″ block right above with the scrappy pink background shares how beautiful this pattern is when made in a scrappy look.
Please check out all the fun blocks my testers made on Instragram. I hosted a little valentines day mini swap among my testers to spread some love this year. The blocks are being shared on Instagram in the hashtag #heartsallaroundquilt.
Thanks so much for letting me share my Hearts All Around Quilt Pattern Release with you. I hope you love the pattern and will enjoy sewing it up this Love season.
Today I am sharing my Project Tote Tutorial today! It’s Free and it’s fun! This is a tutorial for how to make a large tote with short webbing handles. The Project Tote measures 20″ wide X 16″ tall X 8″ deep and holds a lot. The pattern uses 4″ finished squares (cut at 4.5″) and can easily be adapted for other size squares. With just a little math to reduce or enlarge the lining pieces for the new size squares. I share instructions on how to do that in the pattern.
My To the Stars pattern is the perfect Compliment to this Project Tote Pattern. You can purchase that in my Etsy shop if you desire to make some stars to go on your bag. I used the 4″ stars in both Big and Little.
I have linked the Download for the Woollypetals Project Tote at the bottom of the post. Download and use on your device or print out a paper copy.
The pattern uses quilting cotton cut into squares. Cotton Duck Cloth for the lining. Cotton webbing for the handles. It also requires SF101 and Fusible Fleece interfacing. If you have all that on hand you can easily whip this up quickly.
Fabric and Supplies:
66 – 4.5″ squares (sub in stars from the “To the Stars” pattern for squares as desired)
1 yd of Cotton Duck Cloth (assumes non directional)
2 yds of SF101 (or comparable fusible light weight interfacing)
1 yd Fusible Fleece
38″-40″ Webbing for handles
The woollypetals project tote holds A LOT. I threw 2 quilts, 2 knit projects, and a pouch with my thread, needles, pincushion etc. the other day when I went to a Chicago Sewing Social and it held it all with ease. The handle is the perfect length to hold in your hand or slip over your forearm.
Plus it hold the woollypetals See Through Project Bags perfectly. You can see that free Tutorial here.
During the next few weeks I have a couple more on my list to make for other things so we may be sewing together. If you make one please share your project tote on social media and tag me. #woollypetalsprojecttote and #woollypetalstutorials
I have a new pattern and it’s fun and so versatile. It’s called To the Stars FPP Pattern and is all about the stars!
The To the Stars FPP Pattern comes with 16 stars. 2 sizes of star in each block size 2″ – 9″. Pretty much a star for every situation up to 9″.
Have a project that needs a little boost? Add a star. Want to make a simple patchwork quilt but desire a little something extra? Add some stars. Any project that has a square within the size range can have that square swapped out for a star square.
What can you make with the To the Stars FPP Pattern?
Above I made a 12″ sawtooth star block and replaced the inner square with a 6″ big star block. I will share the dimensions for this block and a couple other projects here on my website for free during the month of December.
This patchwork tote is a fun project coming soon to the woollypetals website that uses 4″ squares and is a BIG tote to carry around all those projects. I subbed in some 4″ squares both big and little for some of the squares and boom! A little twinkle was added to the tote. Project coming soon!
This digital mock up is a fun way to use the Stars to make a pillow or wall hanging. It uses 3″ stars, both big and little. You make rows of each size alternating colors to achieve a striped look. It finishes at 18″ square so you can finish into a pillow or a mini quilt.
A more organic approach is this pillow option. It uses every star size at least once. A pretty quick sew up with some blank fabric spaces thrown in to finish off into a 20″ square.
Both these pillow mocks will be available soon on this website with a quick easy tutorial and one page download to easily sew it up.
Need more ideas? Check out the hashtag #tothestarsFPP on Instagram to see some projects my testers made. Add you project to the hashtag to inspire others.
Get the To the Stars FPP Pattern in my Etsy shop here.
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