I Love Craftsy and my new Tea Mat

All the links to Craftsy in this post are my affiliate links.

There are only a few sites I have joined in order to download patterns. Craftsy and Ravelry and Sew4Home. Now I have stumbled upon the Craftsy Affiliate program.

I am a real fan of Craftsy and have bought several patterns and an online class in the past and I download lots of free patterns and classes. Then I discovered that I can use my own affiliate link to earn commission on the patterns and classes I buy so in the end I spend less. I also earn commission when people visit Craftsy through my affiliate links on my blog or social media and register, make a purchase or sign up to become affiliate members themselves.

I was happy to recommend Craftsy before I joined their program so why not get a commission if people join up or buy because of me. ( I looked up a blogger friend and joined through her).

I bought a class last month before I joined the program.
It is called Finishing Schools: Edges & Bindings, Mimi Dietrich. It is all about binding and finishing off your quilts or quilting projects.
So far I have worked through Lesson 1 on using the backing as a binding. She has some great tips to offer and everything is very detailed and easy to understand.
I finished off my latest tea mat using the backing to binding method. I made it with an economy block. I think I will use my walking foot to sew the second one. I got a few kinks in this one.

I quilted little flowers in the triangles

Lesson 2 is all about making the usual quilt binding. Lesson 3 shows how to add trims to your bindings then it is on to scalloped edges then prairie points and finally putting on hanging sleeves and labels. These are all things that I want to learn about and try to improve my skills. I can highly recommend this class to intermediate and beginner quilters. I am not a beginner sewer but I am fairly new to quilting and patchwork so this class is perfect for me.

I signed up to Craftsy a few years ago so I could access the free patterns and free classes on offer. Quite a few of my favourite designers have their free BOMs set up on Craftsy.

Search for Sew Kitschy, Up the Garden Path and Birdhouse BoM March pattern in 'patterns'

If all this sounds interesting you can:

Join Craftsy’s Affiliate Program Today

or just visit Craftsy and register to download patterns.

I have two things to promote in future posts as part of the affiliate program - an online class review and an online class give away.


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Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Scrappy Stars for March

I am always looking for ways to use my scraps. This year I have had a special liking for HST and star blocks so scrappy stars seemed like a good way to combine everything. This scrappy star is made from a free tutorial I got from Craftsy. They almost look the same.



I made sets of 2 HST with a quick make method. I put two small squares on top of each other and sewed along each side of the diagonal then cut them apart. In the tutorial it says to cut triangles and sew them together so you get only one of each colour. I was planning on 4 of each colour.

Now I know a method for getting 4 of each colour all at once by laying two larger squares on top of each other and sewing all around the outside edge.

You can see tutorials for both methods and great sizing charts at Blossom Heart Quilts

Of course, I couldn't resist the method that gives you 8 HST the same by sewing along both diagonals and making 4 cuts. So today I am preparing to make a draw string bag with a circular base. I will use the HST on the lower half of the bag. In a book I got from the library the bag is called a pompador.

The 8 at a time method is described beautifully at Sew Mama Sew.

Here is a quick look at what I did.
I did some calculations to work out what size square I needed to end up with 3 inch unfinished HST. I thought about making 2 1/2 inch unfinished HST but I decide they would end up too small.
My square had to be (2 x 3) + (2 x 3/8) on one side or 6 3/4"

I use fat quarters and cut 1" of selvedge off then refolded and cut a 6 3/4" strip. I put the ruler so I could just see the edge of the fabric past the 6 3/4 inch line. I could then cut 3 squares from this strip. Each time putting the fabric a fraction past the 6 3/4 inch line.

I made 3 of each dark colour and 6 of the light colour.

Put them right side together and draw the diagonals in pencil.

When I sewed the seams I did a very scant 1/4". More like 3/8". My foot has the 1/8" markings and I line up with the first marking. I do a lot of my piecing like this. It is amazing how much you lose when you fold open the seam.

Sew both sides of each diagonal then cut. The first two cuts along the pencil line are easy. The second two cuts you have to make sure your block is square with the ruler.

Because my fabric is quite thin and soft I decide to iron the seams to one side. My HST are a perfect 3" square.
                                      

HST are one of my favourite play things :)

Today I am linking up with Scrappy stars at Majas Paradis

The first in the linky, Gudren, has made some great hexed stars from Quilter's Cache. I put pins for 2 types of hexy star in my Favourite Quilts and Blocks Pinterest Board

I am also linking up with Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch.

As usual, you can comment on:
my Flickr photo 
my Pinterest pin
or join Google+ and leave a comment below.

Don't forget to get onto Bloglovin and like all your favourite posts. Also +1 all your favourite posts when you visit them. It makes them accessible to lots more people.

Nearly forgot to tell you about a great new linky party where you can link up old posts that fit the theme of the week over at Val's Quilting Studio. Val is such a great name!
This week's theme is alphabet quilts and sewing projects. It will usually be on Tuesdays but this week it is incorporated into Anythng goes Monday. Just scroll down to find it.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Something Old, Something New

What a sad lot this is. They will be much cheerier next month.

Sometimes I think I have too many linkies, challenges and BoMs on the go but today I have realized that they are perfect for focusing my thoughts. I knew I had a post about Something Old, Something New to do today so I got thinking about what I could do for old. My bigger UFO's are in storage. I remembered seeing a few smaller things just sitting looking at me when I was looking through some boxes the other day. Trouble is they don't just look at me, they taunt me :D
I can remember the enthusiasm with which I started these projects. So what happened?

1. The fancy pink granny bag needed handles with a straight piece where they join the bag. Handles are too expensive and if I did see them in the shop I couldn't remember what size they had to be.
2. The applique lady was meant to be a slip on cover for a book end. The hair is made of hundreds of French knots and I just got tired.
3. The stripy thing is a folder/journal cover that I thought I would make and try some hand quilting. Yeah right! After a few rows my fingers hurt (I don't have a thimble) so now I know I will never do hand quilting. I guess this project served its purpose then.
4. The cute wool bag I still love but the instructions didn't say 'make sure you put the flowers on the handle patches much lower down so the handles can be sewn on without covering the flowers'. Anyway the spotty plastic handles I wanted are way too expensive for the bag.

What I am going to do this month is:

1. Put round handles on the granny bag. I already have a set.
2. Finish the hair with some brown felt appliqued on.
3. Quilt the folder cover on the machine, and
4. Make felt handles for the bag.

For something new I want to play with free motion stitching on applique. I have done it a bit before but I just have a need to do something fun and free form at present. I have a few pins on Pinterest that I will use as inspiration. I think I will use lots of felt too.

Last month I managed to get an owl block done as something old and I also finished off two blocks from the new BoM Sew Kitschy. 

Today I am linking up with Something Old, Something New over at Never Too Hot to Stitch.

Why not join up with Google+ if you haven't already. I love it.

Or, leave a comment on my Flickr photo or on my Pinterest pin for this post.

Just noticed that I will be in Brisbane for the Stitches and Craft show. I plan to go on the Friday. I am sure I can find a spare $50 to spend.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,

Val

Scrappy Block Challenge - Feb

I am really enjoying getting ideas for things to make from other people then making them fit with the fabrics I have. In the Scrappy Block Challenge you have to make something from the suggested block. It is supposed to be finished off so I am sticking to one block wonders I suppose you could call them.

Judy does a great post about each block with a tutorial and lots of ideas and colourways.

This time I made a new kitchen mat for the sink drainer using some of the shell fabric scraps from my shirt material. I repurpose a retired bath towel for backing with no wadding or backing fabric. It makes them economical and good for the sink. They look good anywhere because you can't actually see the back.

It is almost impossible to notice but I did free motion shells across the block. I know they are there at least. I can see me using this free motion design again.

Below is what it looks like. I got it from a site selling programs for long arm quilting called Urban Elements and I just traced it onto the block. This is the tote bag I made.

Today I am linking up with Scrappy Challenge at Patchwork Times.

Please comment on Flickr or Pinterest if you don't use google+
I am thinking I will do a bit of a post on how great I think Google+ is :)
Maybe I will have to call myself the No-Reply Blogger Bandit - I swoop in, leave a comment and then you have to search for me :D
I think life would be much easier if everyone played on Google+

Happy Quilting and Crafting,

Val