Canoe Ridge Creations

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:59:00 +0000

Hello -- happy Tuesday! Today I'm sharing May's mini quilt from the Fresh Mini Quilt Club. In case you missed it, here are the March & April (and here!) mini quilts. If you aren't familiar with the club and/or you'd like to join, check out this post for more details. You can sign up right here!

May's mini quilt features five Ohio Star quilt blocks. My version was made using Art Gallery Pure Elements. These are quickly becoming one of my favorite solids -- the colors are so vibrant + saturated! You can find the Art Gallery Solids at Pink Castle Fabrics & Fat Quarter Shop.

This mini quilt was quilted with my BERNINA walking foot using wavy organic lines, varying from 1/8" to 1/4" apart, and Aurifil thread (2021). Wavy organic quilting is a quick + easy option, and very forgiving!

The finished mini quilt measures 22" x 22".

xo, Megan.

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | April 2013: take two

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Playing around with fabric placement is one of the simplest + quickest ways to get an entirely different look out of a quilt block/pattern. Yesterday's Electrify mini quilt, from the Fresh Mini Quilt Club series, was made using two prints + a background fabric. The block layout resulted in two pin-wheels, of sorts!

After finishing the first mini quilt I wanted to play around with the same block design, this time using scraps! Each block uses one jelly roll strip (2 1/2" x WOF) -- I can't wait to make a bigger version using an entire jelly roll bundle.

I straight-line quilted the mini quilt using a neutral Aurifil thread & my walking foot -- it's my go-to quilting combo. The lines are 1/4" apart -- not quite as close as the original mini quilt! I love how the quilting pops on the back of the mini quilt -- especially with the brown stripe binding fabric.

The 4 x 4 block layout finishes at 32" x 32".

I hope you are all having a great week!
xo, Megan

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:17:00 +0000

Hello, there! I love social media -- photographing + sharing in an instant is such a great thing. Except that things have been a little quiet on the blog lately! So I'm on a mission to start sharing more here -- starting with the mini quilts from the Fresh Mini Quilt Club. The Fresh Mini Quilt Club, a 6 month mini quilt series, started in March & the June pattern was sent out over the weekend. Remember, you can join at any time!

April's mini quilt, Electrify, is a play on the traditional flying geese block. Each block is made up of four flying geese + a two fabric color palette, which makes for an interesting overall mini quilt design! Playing around with fabric placement can quickly + easily change the look of a quilt. I used Art Gallery Pure Elements solids in Coral Reef, Snow, & Ash for the quilt top. You can find them at Pink Castle Fabrics & Fat Quarter Shop.

Straight-line quilting is my favorite -- there's something so therapeutic about it! I quilted lines about 1/8" apart using my BERNINA walking foot + Aurifil thread (color 2021). This match-stick quilting results in some fabulous quilted texture -- and it's relatively simple! Check out my post on Straight-line Quilting for tips + tricks.

The binding + backing fabric is from Vanessa Christenson's Simply Color Line from Moda Fabrics. This basic blender print makes great bindings & comes in several great colors. You can find Simply Color at Pink Castle Fabrics & Fat Quarter Shop.

The Electrify Mini Quilt measures 24" x 24".

Tomorrow I'll be back with another variation with the same block & different fabric placement. Talk then!
xo, Megan

ETA: Linking up to the Modern Mini Quilt Challenge with Ellison Lane Quilts.

Spring Quilt Market

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:53:00 +0000

Spring Quilt Market was this past weekend in Portland, Oregon, full of inspiration + fun + very little sleep. This was my second Quilt Market and a little less overwhelming than the first! I left the Midwest on Wednesday morning just in time for a quick trip to IKEA and booth set up with Jeni and Christina.

We painted, assembled IKEA furniture, and laughed our butts off every step of the way! Jeni was deputing her upcoming fabric line with Art Gallery Fabrics, Nordika -- it's adorable! Turns out I didn't take any pictures of the finished booth -- whoops. Luckily Jeni shared a few pictures on Instagram -- here, here, and here. George bunny even came along to Quilt Market!

Thursday I spent most of the day helping my Iowa pal Vanessa set up her booth in the Moda Fabrics section. Her new fabric, Simply Style, should start shipping in the next month or so! This color + print is my favorite from the entire collection!

Vanessa & I shared a room together -- which was super fun, until one night when we both lost our hotel keys. I think we had everything (plus the kitchen sink!) in our bags + purses except that darn room key! Ah, well -- memories made!

It was great getting to see + spend time with online friends, new & old! Especially when a Ryan Gossling look-a-like shuttles you around the city. Hey girl, I'd love to shuttle you around Portland for Quilt Market.

One of my favorite booths was the Art Gallery + Pure Elements booth. Simple + clean + rainbow color <3 <3 <3 What do you think the boyfriend will think of a rainbow butterfly installation like that on our wall?

The cutest booth award goes to Jodi & her daughter Jemma of RicRac. Not only do they make the most adorable plush softies but they also have the best Australian accents! I could have sat & listened to them talk for hours!

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. I walked away with new friends + inspiration + motivation. The number one lesson learned from this past week: make it happen.

Happy Sewing!
xo, Megan

Lately | Snapshots

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:56:00 +0000

Good morning & happy Monday! These last few weeks have been full of sewing (lots of it!) + deadlines. Today I'm sharing some of the Instagram snapshots from the last few weeks -- I'm @canoercreations.

This finished quilt hit the mail a few weeks ago & I can't wait to share the entire thing with you later this fall. The fabric is Constellations by Lizzie House for Andover Fabrics and can be found at Pink Castle Fabrics. I quilted it using a 50 wt. Aurifil thread (color 2021) & used my BERNINA walking foot to make wavy organic lines.

This is April's mini quilt from the Fresh Mini Quilt Club -- which I have yet to share on the blog, soon! These quilted lines are about 1/8" apart and the resulting texture is an added bonus. Pretty little quilted stitches are my favorite!

Here's another version if April's mini quilt that I'll soon be sharing. These quilted lines are 1/4" apart -- still great texture! Using my walking foot + straight-line quilting is my absolute favorite, so crisp & modern.

More quilting! This little snap shot is of May's mini quilt from the Fresh Mini Quilt Club & again I quilted it using dense + straight-ish lines.

Do you see a trend happening? Straight line quilting + Aurifil tread = <3 <3 <3

I'm also working on making my Starburst block pattern into a complete quilt pattern -- from baby quilt to bed quilt. Look for the pattern to be release early next month! I'm making this sample for my LQS for the All Iowa Shop Hop happening June 2013.

Here's another snapshot of a few blocks -- rainbow order is the best!

Talk soon!

xo, Megan

A Book & A Winner.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:18:00 +0000

I'm very excited to share some book news with you all. I have a quilt pattern included in a new book coming out this fall from Stash Books, called Modern Bee 13 Quilts to Make with Friends. Lindsay Conner of Lindsay Sews compiled the book based off an online quilting bee we -- along with several other talented ladies -- participated in last year. I can't wait to share my quilt + pattern with you all later this year! Head on over to the Modern Bee website for more details & tips on how to join an online quilting bee.

The book will be released October 1, 2013, but you can pre-order a copy today!

I also have a winner to announce! The three lucky readers -- each winning 3 down-loadable PDF patterns from Sew Sweetness -- are:

one | number 33: Alcea Rosea 31

two | number 50: Jada Graff

three | number 111: Jo Nell

Congrats to the winners -- I'll be passing your information along to Sara shortly.Thanks again to Sara Lawson from Sew Sweetness for sponsoring the giveaway! If you'd like to purchase one of Sara's patterns, head on over to her shop.

Follow Sara Lawson on:
Blog | www.sewsweetness.com
Facebook | Sew Sweetness
Twitter | @sewsweetness

Happy Wednesday!
xo, Megan.

A Block Tutorial | Granny's Front Porch

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:11:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I packed up my sewing machine + a few projects and headed over to my grandparent's farm in small town Iowa -- only a few miles from my hometown. My grandmother is one of the reasons I started sewing + quilting at such a young age and I treasure any chance we get to spend an afternoon together. This particular afternoon she was working on quilt for one of my cousins (there are 25 & counting!) using a traditional log cabin + half square triangle block. We got to playing around with different block layouts and really feel in love with this one -- it really has a simple + modern feel! I've decided to simplify the block into one 12" x 12" finished block called Granny's Front Porch.

The fabric requirements & tutorial below are for one block only, but I've also included a 5 x 5 block layout to show you how the blocks interact together. I love the quilt pattern that emerges using this one block and only two fabrics -- I'll be making a big version for myself soon!

Fabric Requirements + Cutting Instructions//

Main Fabric | teal
cut: 2 squares, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"; 1 rectangle, 3 1/2" x 9 1/2"; 2 squares, 4" x 4"; 8 squares, 2" x 2"

Background Fabric | white

cut: 2 squares, 4" x 4"; 8 rectangles, 2" x 3 1/2"; 4 rectangles, 2" x 5"

Sewing//

Step One.
Draw a diagonal line, from corner to corner, on the wrong side of two 4" background squares.

Step Two.
Layer one marked 4" background square and one 4" main fabric square, right sides together. Sew 1/4" on each side of the line. Cut on the line. Press seams open. This makes 2 half square triangles. Trim half square triangles to 3 1/2" square. Repeat to the remaining background & main fabric pair, to make 4 half square triangles.

Step Three.
Draw a diagonal line, from corner to corner, on the wrong side of eight 2" main fabric squares.

Step Four.
Layer one marked 2" main fabric square and one 2" x 3 1/2" background rectangle. Make sure the line runs from the upper right corner to lower left corner. Sew on the marked line. Trim corner, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. Press seam towards the main fabric.

Step Five.
Repeat step four to the other side, making sure the line runs from upper left corner to lower right corner.

Step Six.
Repeat steps 4-5 to three 2" x 3 1/2" background rectangles, making a total of four flying geese units. Please note: the diagram above does not show the seam allowance for the flying geese block.

Block Layout//

Step One.
Layout the block, using the diagram below. Sew the block together using a 1/4" seam allowance, press seams open.

Finished block measures 12" x 12".

5 x 5 block layout

If you use this block tutorial please share it in the Canoe Ridge Creations Flickr group and on Instagram & Twitter using #canoeridgecreations.

xo, Megan.

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | YOUR mini quilts!

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:14:00 +0000

The first month of the Fresh Mini Quilt Club has come and gone & it's been so fun + inspiring watching all of your mini quilts pop up on Flickr and Instagram. March's mini quilt design, Starburst, works so well in all fabrics + color palettes! Here are just a few of the beautiful finishes, head on over to Flickr group and check out #freshminiquiltclub on Instagram & Twitter to see more!

If you haven't signed up for the Fresh Mini Quilt Club and would like to join -- there's still time! Check out all the FMQC details here.

Natalia | Piece N Quilt

Megan | Scraps for Omi

Deedrie | mybricole

Karen | hootflickr on Flickr

I'll be back Monday to share April's mini quilt, Electrify -- here's a little sneak peek from Instagram.

Happy weekend,

xo, Megan

A Giveaway | Sew Sweetness Patterns

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:11:00 +0000

I'm excited to share a fabulous pattern giveaway today! Sara Lawson from Sew Sweetness is giving away three PDF bag patterns to three lucky readers -- wowza!

Over the past few weeks, Sara has been debuting her new bag pattern collection -- my favorite is the Aeroplane Bag! The PDF patterns range from Beginner to Advanced and come complete with detailed instructions & diagrams. It's been excited to watch her pattern business unfold because she is one talented lady!

To enter, leave one comment telling me which 3 patterns you'd like to win & please include your e-mail address (ie. megan AT canoeridgecreations DOT com). Head on over the the Sew Sweetness Pattern Shop for more pattern pictures + details.

Giveaway will be open until 10 PM CST on Tuesday, April 2nd, at which time three winners will be chosen.

Good luck!

xo, Megan

A Quilt for Baby Owen

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:52:00 +0000

Today's finish is a very special quilt I'm excited to share with you all. A friend from college & her husband welcomed their first child into the world last week -- a sweet little boy, Owen! Owen's mommy, Liz, and I first met in college 5 or so years ago and instantly hit it off. We experienced all sorts of crazy "college stuff" together and it's amazing that she's now a mom! I wanted to make a special baby quilt for Liz + baby Owen and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Liz & her husband have been busy getting a new house ready for their first child -- including a nursery in gray + orange. I started by pulling several different gray & orange prints from my stash and chose to include a few pretty blues too. I'm not a huge fan of "typical" baby fabric/collections, so it was important to me end up with a finished quilt that clearly read baby boy without using those baby fabrics.

The 60 degree triangles used in this quilt all measure 4" finished from base to point. There are several different rulers + tools out there to help make cutting 60 degree triangles a breeze, but I find using my standard 24" ruler + the 60 degree line works perfectly.

I straight-line quilted 1/4" away from all the seams using a 50 wt. Aurifil thread. The resulting cross hatch quilting pattern on the back was a pleasant surprise. Vanessa's Simply Color chevron fabric made the perfect binding fabric -- and it looks like bias binding, bonus! You can find the fabric at Fat Quarter Shop.

I have to admit, I may have caught the baby fever while working on this quilt. :)

Enjoy Baby Owen!
xo, Megan

Straight-line Quilting | Tips + Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:33:00 +0000

So you've picked a quilt pattern, pulled the perfect fabrics, mastered the 1/4" seam allowance, completed a quilt top, and layered + basted your project, now what? Today I'm going to share some helpful straight-line quilting tips & techniques so that you can finish any quilt project (large or small) on your home machine.

Straight-line quilting is my favorite. If you've been a reader for any amount of time, you've probably already figured that out. It gives such a fresh & modern feel and can be used in so many different projects and patterns. Straight-line quilting also creates a great texture, especially when washed --- yummy! Plus there's something so enjoyable + soothing about stitching straight-lines, it's so therapeutic!

DS Picnic + Fairgrounds Quilt

one // a good baste

Making sure your quilt or project is properly basted is one of the key elements to a successful & enjoyable quilting experience, not just straight-line quilting! I prefer to spray baste all of my quilts using 505 Spray for two reasons: [1] it's faster than pin basting, which equals more quilting & sewing time! and [2] i've found that it eliminates shifting when quilting. I recommend using a spray baste product on a hard + washable surface (ie. the kitchen floor) because it does result in a little leftover residue, nothing a little warm water & soap can't handle! Also make sure you are in a well ventilated area -- open a window!

Firefly Quilt & Tutorial

two // new needle

I like to start every new sewing & quilting project with a new needle and recommend you do too! I use a Schmetz Universal Needle size 80/12 for all of my piecing and quilting. Find a needle that works for you & your machine and then stick with it.

XO Quilt & Tutorial

three // walking foot

A walking foot is a must have -- I wouldn't straight-line quilt without one! A walking foot has feed dogs that, along with machine's lower feed dogs, help evenly pull the quilt through the sewing machine. Check with your specific machine dealer & manual for more information on a walking foot.

Granny Square Quilt

four // “needle-down” position

If your sewing machine has a "needle-down" position, use it! This setting makes sure the needle stops in the "needle-down" position every time you take your foot off the pedal. It really helps keep a straight-line every time you need to start & stop quilting -- ie. re-adjusting & thread change.

His + Her Christmas Stockings

five // thread

Thread selection can really effect your straight-line quilting results. I like to use 50 wt. Aurifil thread in all of my sewing & quilting projects. It's a fine, cotton thread that quilts up wonderfully -- I really like how it blends into the fabric. Keep in mind each sewing machine is different, so the thread that works on my machine may not work as well on yours. Play around with a few different types + brands until you find a thread you like!

x and + Quilt

six // slow & steady

This step is key -- slow & steady wins the race. I've found that a slow and steady pace helps to keep the quilting lines straight and even. Remember to enjoy the process of quilting, each and every step!

241 Tote

seven // marking
If you aren't comfortable quilting straight-lines without a guide, don't worry! Products like FriXion pens or even painters tape can help make marking your project fast and easy. Once you get going, try using the edge of your walking foot as a guide.

I hope that you find these straight-line quilting tips & techniques helpful. Remember that it's not about achieving "perfect" straight lines -- there's no such thing! It's all about enjoying the process, trying new things, and feeling confident & enjoying your talent.

xo, Megan

Enjoy the Process | Giant Quilt Blocks

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:13:00 +0000

Hello, happy Tuesday!

I just can't get the idea of GIANT quilt blocks out of my head. There's something so simple & stunning about a one block quilt, where traditional piecing meets modern quilting. I first played around with the idea on my Dear Stella quilt using Jeni's Giant Vintage Star Quilt Tutorial as inspiration, and I just can't get enough. Plus, GIANT quilt blocks = a quick finish!

Sticking with the simple style of a one block quilt, I'll be using a variety of Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Element solids. The colors are (from top to bottom): Cherry Lipgloss, Coral Reef, Lemonade, Cozumel Blue, Verve Violet, and Ash. You can find a large selection of these solids at both Pink Castle Fabrics and Fat Quarter Shop.

As for the design, I'll be using the Starburst block from this month's Fresh Mini Quilt Club. It'll end up looking very similar to this mini quilt I shared last week, just bigger! This GIANT block quilt will finish at 60" x 60", the perfect throw size. I'm really excited to finish it up and bring some fresh + Spring colors into our home. We are so ready for Spring!

xo, Megan.

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:34:00 +0000

Hello, everyone -- Happy March!

Today is the first day of the Fresh Mini Quilt Club and I'm thrilled that so many of you have already joined. These next 6 months are going to be full of inspiration + mini quilts! For those of you signed up, the first full color PDF pattern was sent out this morning -- check your inbox. Haven't signed up yet? It's not too late! I'll be extending the discounted price through the weekend -- yay! More details about the FMQC can be found here & remember you can sign up at anytime.

This first Starburst Mini Quilt was made using Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Elements. If you haven't worked with Art Gallery Fabrics yet, I highly recommend you do! The solids used are: Cherry Lipgloss, Lemonade, Cozumel Blue, Ash, and Snow. You can find them at Pink Castle Fabrics and Fat Quarter Shop.

I quilted the mini quilt using my favorite Aurifil thread (50 wt. 2021) in straight-lines 1/2" apart. The crisp colors, design, & quilting really work well together.

The Starburst Mini Quilt design works really well with print fabrics too! For the second mini quilt I used Constellations by Lizzie House -- those stars!

Using my walking foot I quilted straight lines, this time radiating from the center of the mini quilt. I played around with the spacing between the lines and am really happy with the results. It definitely adds a whole new dimension to the finished mini quilt.

Have a great weekend!
xo, Megan

xoxo

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day :: xoxo

XO Quilt Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:11:00 +0000

Today I'm sharing a quick + easy quilt tutorial just in time for Valentines Day. Finishing at 42" x 52", it would make a great baby quilt too! All you need is a little fabric, your sewing machine, and you could have the quilt top complete in one afternoon -- yay! Let's get started.

:: FABRIC REQUIREMENTS ::

Fabric A (Kona Medium Pink) - 1/3 yard

Fabric B (Kona Carnation) - 1/3 yard

Fabric C (Kona Candy Pink) - 1/3 yard

Fabric D (Kona Bright Pink) - 1/3 yard

Fabric E (Kona Pomegranate) -1/3 yard

Fabric F (Kona Wine) - 1/3 yard

White Fabric - 1 fat quarter

Binding - 1/2 yard

:: CUTTING ::

Fabric A - one strip, 9 1/2" x 42"

Fabric B - one strip, 9 1/2" x 42"

Fabric C - one strip, 9 1/2" x 42"

Fabric D - one strip, 9 1/2" x 42"

Fabric E - one strip, 9 1/2" x 21 1/4"; one strip, 9 1/2" x 3 1/4"; and sixteen squares, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

Fabric F - one strip, 9 1/2" x 42"

White Fabric - eight squares, 5" x 5"

:: MAKING THE BLOCK UNITS ::

Draw a diagonal line, from corner to corner, on the wrong side of one 2 1/2" square (Fabric E). Layer one 5" white square and one marked 2 1/2" square (Fabric E), right sides together, with the 2 1/2" square (Fabric E) in the upper right corner. Sew on the marked line. Trim the corner, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.

Press seam outward.

Draw a diagonal line, from corner to corner, on the wrong side of one 2 1/2" square (Fabric E). Layer one 5" white square and one marked 2 1/2" square (Fabric E), right sides together, with the 2 1/2" square (Fabric E) in the lower left corner. Sew on the marked line. Trim the corner, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. Press seam outward.

Repeat to make a total of 8 block units.

:: MAKING THE "X" BLOCK ::

Take 4 block units and arrange them in an "X", see diagram above. Pin and sew using a 1/4" seam allowance, first into rows then into one block. Press seams open.

:: MAKING THE "O" BLOCK ::

Take 4 block units and arrange them in an "O", see diagram above. Pin and sew using a 1/4" seam allowance, first into rows then into one block. Press seams open.

:: SEWING THE QUILT TOP ::

Using the diagram above, layout the quilt top. Pin and sew using a 1/4" seam allowance, press open.

:: QUILTING ::

I choose to use 1/2" straight-line quilting to finish my XO Quilt using Aurifil 50 wt. (2021).

:: BINDING ::

Check out these two posts for helpful information & step-by-step instructions:
Double Fold Binding Tutorial | Part One
Double Fold Binding Tutorial | Part Two

XO Quilt
Finished Size: 42" x 54"

If you make this quilt using my tutorial please share in the Canoe Ridge Creations Flickr group -- I love seeing your creations!

xo,
Megan.

Double Fold Binding Tutorial :: Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:57:00 +0000

:: Double Fold Binding Tutorial :: Part One ::

In my last blog post I shared how to make & attach double fold binding to a quilt, one of my favorite parts of quilting. Today I'll be sharing helpful tips + step-by-step instructions showing you how to hand stitch & finish your binding. I find this to be one of the most enjoyable & rewarding parts of quilting and hope you will too!

:: HELPFUL TOOLS ::

[1] Thread Heaven, a thread conditioner & protector. This is a great product for all types of hand stitching, not only binding. It helps keep your thread from breaking, eliminate tangles & knots, and from fraying -- yay!

[2] Thread. Choose a thread that matches your binding to help "hide" your stitches. I like to use a cotton thread, like Aurifil.

[3] Needle. I use John James: Sharps, size 11.

[4] Thimble. This Clover Leather Coin thimble is my favorite -- find one that fits + is comfortable to you!

[5] Scissor. A little one for clipping threads is perfect.

[6] Binding Clips. I like to use Clover Wonder clips, hair clips work too.

:: HAND STITCHING ::

Start by folding the binding to the back of the quilt, making sure to cover the stitch-line made from machine sewing the binding to the front of the quilt. Place binding clips every 5" to 8" to help hold it in place. I like to work with one edge of the quilt at a time.

Thread (don't forget the Thread Heaven!) and knot your needle. Take a stitch through the edge of the binding, hiding the knot between the quilt & binding.

Take a small stitch through the back of the quilt and the edge of the binding. Pull the thread tight.

This step may look a little different than what you are used to seeing. I've found that by running my thread through the fold/center of the binding, rather than the back of the quilt, helps keep my binding looking crisp & hides my stitches. Start in the same place where you've just made a stitch. Poke the needle into the binding, run it through the fold/center of the binding, and back up 1/4" from the last stitch. Pull the thread tight.

Take a small stitch through the back of the quilt and the edge of the binding. Pull the thread tight.

Continue, every 1/4", until you've reach the corner. Take an extra stitch in the corner to secure it.

Turn the quilt & fold over the corner + next side of the binding, making sure to cover the machine stitch-line from sewing the binding to the front of the quilt.

Take an extra stitch or two, through the back of the quilt and the binding, in the corner to secure it.

Continue working your way around the quilt & the remaining three corners. Note: When changing threads, make sure to hide the knot between the quilt and binding.

Your finished binding should look like this.

The binding fabric I used in this tutorial is Tempo by Kanvas for Benartex Fabrics, you can find it at Fat Quarter Shop.

Happy binding,
xo, Megan.

Double Fold Binding Tutorial :: Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:52:00 +0000

Quilt binding is one of my all time favorite parts about making a quilt. There's something about those crisp finished edges! Today I'm sharing a tutorial showing you all how I make, attach, and finish the binding on my quilts. I prefer to use a double fold binding that is machine stitched onto the front and hand stitched to the back. Here we go!

:: MATERIALS NEEDED ::

a rotary cutter, ruler, & mat

a basic sewing machine foot (I use my 1/4" almost all of the time)

a walking foot

pins
scissor
thread

:: PREPPING YOUR BINDING ::

First start by calculating how many binding strips you will need. If you need a little help, Robert Kaufman has a great phone app called QuiltingCalc -- plus it's free! Once you've figured out how many strips you need, cut your binding fabric. I cut my binding strips 2 1/2" x WOF (width of fabric).

I like to join my binding strips at a 45 degree angle. I've found that it makes for a clean, crisp binding that appears almost seam-less. Start by placing two binding strips, right sides together, at a 90 degree angle. Overlap selvedges, this will help you see your corners better when sewing the strips together.

Using your basic sewing machine foot, stitch from corner to corner (see picture below). Trim corner & selvedges , leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat until you have one continuous binding strip.

Press seams open.

Press binding in half, wrong sides together.

Now you're ready to attach it to the quilt.

:: ATTACHING THE BINDING TO THE QUILT ::

Start by laying your quilt out in front of you, right side up. Now place the binding along one edge. The folded edge should point towards the quilt, raw edges along the outside. Leave an 8" to 10" tail and place a pin -- this is where you are going to start sewing.

Using your walking foot and a 1/4" seam allowance, start sewing at the pin. Backstitch to secure your seam, and continue sewing along the straight edge of the quilt.

:: CORNERS ::
The next few steps are very important in order to keep the corners crisp & pretty.

Continue sewing until you are 1/4" away from the edge of the quilt. Backstitch.

Remove your quilt from the sewing machine and lay it out in front of you. The quilt should be on your left, the remaining binding to the right.

Take the binding strip and flip it up, creating a 45 degree angle. Finger press.

Now fold the binding strip straight down, onto itself. Make sure the folded top edge of the corner you just created is flush with the edge of the quilt. Finger press. Place a pin to hold the corner in place if necessary.

Using your walking foot & a 1/4" seam allowance, start sewing at the top of the corner. Backstitch. Continue sewing down the side of the quilt.

Repeat these steps to the remaining 3 corners.

:: JOINING YOUR BINDING ::

Now this step may or may not be a little different than what you are used to. I like to join my binding ends with a 45 degree angle, just like I joined the strips together.

Leave a 12" to 15" gap between the binding ends. Make sure to backstitch at both ends.

Lay the binding on the right down (the end you started with) and trip off a 1" piece of binding. Don't throw it away.

Now lay the binding on the left on top, the two strips should overlap.

Here's where that 1" piece of binding comes in handy. You now need to measure an overlap of 2 1/2" (the width of the binding strip). Rather than dig out my ruler, I use this 1" piece of binding (unfolded) to measure the overlap. Trim the top/left binding.

Your binding should now look like this.

Take the binding on the right and place it unfolded, right side up.

Take the binding on the left and place it unfolded, right side down.

Together, the two strips should look like this.

Careful not to twist the strips, place the binding of the left on top of the binding on the right at a 90 degree angle. Make sure the edges are flush (no overlap). Pin in place.

Using a regular sewing machine foot, stitch from corner to corner. Backstitch at both ends. Trim a 1/4" seam allowance.

Now lay your quilt flat and you shouldn't be able to tell where the two binding strips joined. Sew the remaining binding, using a 1/4" seam allowance and a walking foot.

Ready to hand stitch? Check out part two, Double Fold Binding :: Hand Stitch Tutorial.

xo,
Megan

The binding fabric I used in this tutorial is Tempo by Kanvas for Benartex Fabrics, you can find it at Fat Quarter Shop.

Thursday.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:44:00 +0000

Happy Thursday, ya'll.
We are moved.
We are unpacked (for the most part!).
And I've been sewing up a storm.

Lots of new projects + tutorials + inspiration headed your way!
xo, Megan.

Announcing: Fresh Mini Quilt Club

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:35:00 +0000

Good morning, everyone! Today I'm excited to announce something new + exciting that will be starting March 1st -- the Fresh Mini Quilt Club!

Over the course of six months members will receive six fresh, modern mini quilt patterns -- they'll be a surprise, yay! Each mini quilt will measure between 18" & 24" (along one side) making them a quick & easy project. Whether you have been wanting to give quilting a try, or have been it it for years, this mini quilt club is for you!

:: JOIN TODAY ::

For only $24.95 -- that's less than $4.50 per patten!

HOW DOES IT WORK//

On the 1st of each month, club members will receive a fresh, modern mini quilt pattern right in their inbox. This easy-to-follow & printable pattern will come complete with color diagrams and step-by-step instructions. Remember, each new design will be a surprise!

WHY MINI QUILTS//

Mini quilts are quick + easy projects, they don't take large amounts of fabric (budget friendly, yay!), are great for trying out new quilting techniques, and look great in your home!

WHO SHOULD JOIN//

Everyone! Each mini quilt design will feature basic patchwork techniques -- perfect for beginners & the more advanced quilter.

HOW DO I JOIN//

Purchase your membership over here!

Before March 1st for only $19.95.

After March 1st for only $24.95 -- that's less than $4.50 per pattern!

Please note, the monthly mini quilt patterns will be sent to your pay-pal address.

CAN I JOIN AT ANYTIME//

You bet! If you sign up after March 1st you'll receive the previous months' patterns within 2 business days.

If you have any other questions email me at megan [at] canoeridgecreations [dot] com.

So sign up, grab a button (below!), spread the word, and get ready for 6 months of mini quilt fun!

xo,

Megan.

Block Tutorial: Patchwork Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Welcome to my stop on the Spread the Love Blog Hop hosted by Ellison Lane Quilts. Today I'll be sharing a patchwork heart block tutorial inspired by this quilt from Blue Elephant Stitches. Finishing at 18" x 18", this block is scrap fabric friendly! Be sure to enter in the giveaway too -- details at the end of the tutorial.

Patchwork Heart Block

Finished size: 18" x 18"

Fabric Requirements//

Assorted pink scraps, measuring at least 2 1/2" square

1 Fat Quarter of solid white fabric

Cutting//

From the assorted pink scraps cut 50 squares, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

From the white fabric cut 31 squares, 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

Assembling The Block//

1. Layout your block, using the diagram above as a guide.

(A)

(B)

2. Using a 1/4" seam allowance sew the block, first into rows (A). Press seams open. Next sew the rows together (B). Press seams open.

Unfinished block should measure 18 1/2" x 18 1/2".

If I you make a block using this tutorial feel free to share it in the Canoe Ridge Creations flickr group. I love seeing your creations! You can finish your block anyway you like -- make a pillow, mini quilt, or make more blocks & make yourself a lovely Valentine's Day Quilt.

Hop on over to LR Stitched for another Valentine's tutorial. Lindsey's sharing an adorable fabric chain bunting (totally need to make one of those!).

Be sure to check out the entire Spread the Love blog hop, here's the line-up:

1/28:

Blog: Ellison Lane - Giveaway: Papa's Old Shirts Fabric Shop

Blog: Doodle Do Designs - Giveaway: Material Girl Quilts

1/29:

Blog: Canoe Ridge Creations - Giveaway: Knotted Threads Fabric Shop << you are here! :)

Blog: LR Stitched - Giveaway: Lima Sews Fabric Shop

1/30:

Blog: Owen's Olivia - Giveaway: During Quiet Time

Blog: Petit Lyons - Giveaway: Stitch By Stitch Long Arm Quilting

1/31:

Blog: Jednoiglec/Sewing Under the Rainbow - Giveaway: By Mary Fabric Shop

Blog: Stitchery Dickory Dock - Giveaway: Knotty Gnome Crafts

2/1:

Blog: From the Blue Chair - Giveaway: Our Epoch Fabric Shop

Blog: Sew Crafty Jess - Giveaway: Hot Pink Stitches

~~Ready for the giveaway?!~~

Knotted Threads Fabric Shop is giving away a $25 gift certificate! Knotted Threads is an adorable little Etsy shop that carries fresh modern fabrics. Including Free Spirit, Moda, and Riley Blake. Go check them out!

To enter, leave a comment telling me what your favorite Valentine's candy is (mine's cinnamon hearts!). Giveaway will be open until February 2nd, 2013. Please make sure you have leave an e-mail address too! (i.e. megan at canoeridgecreations dot com)

GIVEAWAY CLOSED: The winner is #106 -- Chelsie C. Thank you to everyone who entered!

Good luck,
xo, Megan

Dear Stella: Portico

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:28:00 +0000

So that exciting news I mentioned in the last blog post, remember that? Here's part of it, the boy & I are moving! We've had exactly one week to research a new community (in a new state!), find a new home (first one together, yikes!), pack up our belongings, and move (on Monday!), all before Brandon starts his new job this week. Talk about crazy! Now that the initial shock is over and I've been able to wrap my head around the entire thing, I'm excited to share it with you all. Yay! It really is such a fun + exciting time in our lives, full of new beginnings. And you all know me, even with a full plate & a half of things to do I still managed to sneak a little sewing in and finish my Dear Stella quilt top.

The fabric line is called Portico by Dear Stella and I'll admit, these aren't my usual "go-to" colors but I love it! Playing outside the box can be a bit uncomfortable at first but I've also learned it can help you develop as a quilter. Although I was able to stick to one of my all time favorites, a crisp white solid fabric. I really think it complements the neutrals + navys in the fabric line.

I have to credit Rita from Red Pepper Quilts for the block + layout inspiration. I love her version using Chicopee! It's also really fun to see how a quilt design plays out in two different fabric ways. You can also follow Jeni's Giant Vintage Star Quilt tutorial for a similar quilt, without all the little half square triangles.

The quilt top measures 64" x 64".

You can find Dear Stella's Portico at Fat Quarter Shop.

Well I'm off to finish packing -- I'm dreading packing up my sewing stuff! :) If you have any packing + moving tips I'd love to hear them. Oh, and cross your fingers because there's 6" of snow + ice standing between us and move in day!

Happy weekend!
xo, Megan.

Tuesday.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:09:00 +0000

Happy Tuesday! There's been so many new + exciting things happening over here this week it's hard to believe that it is only Tuesday. Things happening in my personal life and things related to the blog & quilt design, it's almost hard to wrap my head around -- all good things! I'm hoping to be able to share more details with you all shortly. Until then, here's what I've been working on this week!

My friends at Dear Stella sent over a beautiful fabric collection called Portico. The navy + neutral combination really is striking, especially paired with a crisp white solid. I'm really having a fun time playing with these fabrics -- sometimes it's fun playing outside your "quilty comfort zone." You can find the entire fabric collection at Fat Quarter Shop.

Here's something I'm really excited to share with you all! It's always been a dream of mine to have my name in print + design quilt patterns and it's officially happened! I designed this city + state mini quilt over a year ago and submitted it this adorable publication called Simply Handmade: Sewing.

Want to know a little secret? This might not be my only quilt design that will be in print this year! Ahhh! In fact, one of my designs in in the running to be on the cover of the March/April 2013 edition of Quilty. You can catch a sneak peak of it right here & vote for your favorite (mine is cover #1!).

Despite all the craziness happening this week, I'm still on a mission to finish it! I finished up this quilt top that I started this past summer. The citrusy combination of fabrics almost makes this Iowa winter bearable, almost! It was negative 28 degrees Fahrenheit this week, talk about cold!

Hope you are all having a great week!
xo, Megan.

Granny Square Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:25:00 +0000

Earlier this week, I mentioned I'm on a mission to finish it in 2013. Now who's ready to see the first finish? I started my Granny Square Quilt in the Spring of 2012 using this tutorial from Blue Elephant Stitches. I chose to use a fresh + cheery combination of fabrics -- all of which came from my stash -- and paired them with Kona white. The colors just pop off the quilt and remind me of Spring!

I straight-line quilted lines 1/2" apart using 50 wt Aurifil (color 2021) and my walking foot. The dense + close quilting took a while to finish but I'm so happy with the results! For those of you wanting to give straight-line quilting a try I say don't be intimidated and go for it! Make sure you use your walking foot, a new needle (I use a Universal needle, size 80/12), lengthen your stitch (on my machine I use a 2.5 or 3.0 stitch length), and use the "needle down" position, if your machine has the option. Most importantly make sure you quilt using a steady + constant speed -- I've found it helps keep my stitches straight.

My favorite thing about this quilt is the binding! I've always loved the look of bias binding but I'm not a fan of making it. Well here's a fool proof way to achieve the bias binding look -- use zig zag or chevron fabric. The fabric I used for this quilt binding is from Simply Color by V and Co. It comes in gray (my favorite!), green, egg plant, and orange. The scale on this zig zag print is perfect for 2 1/2" double-fold binding! You can find all four color ways at Pink Castle Fabrics and Fat Quarter Shop.

Happy Sunday!
xo, megan.

An Update.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Happy Tuesday afternoon to you all! As I mentioned last week, one of my goals for 2013 is to focus more on sharing my creations here on the blog. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you probably have a pretty good idea of how much I love Instagram (I'm @canoercreations) -- especially the pretty filters & quick+easy sharing. It really is one of my favorite ways to share little snapshots into my everyday life, but I've found my DSLR+blog seem to get neglected. So here's to 2013! Ready to see what I've been working on?

Hopefully you aren't completely over the holidays because I'm pretty excited to share these his & her stockings with you! Using the "quilt as you go" technique (QAYG) I stitched these two stockings up using a fresh combination of greens, pinks, and grays. Who says you have to stick with the traditional red & green for Christmas! I'm really looking forward to using these for years to come. You can read more about them here.

Another goal for the New Year is to finish it and I'm on a mission! So much so that I finished 3 quilt tops in the first week of January. One of which is this granny square quilt I started almost a year ago. I'm looking forward to sharing my finish it progress this year! If you'd like to join me, hop on over to Twitter & Instagram and tag your pictures with #finishit2013. Let's inspire each other!

Most of my projects shared here on the blog are sewing & quilting related but everyone once in a while it's nice to try something new! Inspired by Amanda of Hey Porkchop! I've started knitting a sock using the book called Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson. I'm using this pretty indigo yarn that has specks of glitter -- love it! I'm enjoying this little knitting project so much that I've already picked out yarn for the next two socks.

Talk soon!
xo, megan.

2013.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:13:00 +0000

Hello ya'll! The holiday season is officially behind us and the fresh breath of a new year is upon us. New beginnings are wonderful -- they offer a chance to start fresh and rejuvenated. It's such a great thing! This year I'm determined to focus more energy on the blog. More updates, more creations, more sewing!

First up, I'm on a mission to FINISH IT in 2013! The amount of "in progress" projects stacked up in my studio is out of control. So many project -- quilts, bags, even garments! Many of which are so close to being finished. We all have projects that need finishing, right? If you'd like to join me in my FINISH IT goal this year, then be sure to use #finishit2013 on Instagram & Twitter. Let's encourage+motivate each other as we work our way through all of those works in progress! If you'd like to see more of my #finishit2013 progress be sure to check out my Instagram stream (I'm @canoercreations) -- I've been pretty busy!

Stick around, it's going to be a good year!
xo, Megan