Chickenlady Quilts

Reversible Apron for Sadie

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:08:00 +0000

How to Sew Striped & Plain Checkbook Covers

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Sun, 01 May 2011 04:49:00 +0000

These wonderful checkbook covers are super fast and easy to make.

You will need two 7" by 13" rectangles of fabric, one for the lining, and one for the outside. If desired, you can also add a rectangle of interfacing.

For striped checkbook covers, sew enough 13" long strips together to equal 7” in width. This will then be your outside rectangle.

To easily cut one 7" by 13" rectangle, line up the fold of the fabric at the 6.5" mark on a 12" square ruler, and line up the left edge of the fabric at 7". Cutting along the ruler’s right side & top edge will then give a 7" by 13" rectangle. (See photo)

Sew the two rectangles, right sides together, leaving a 4" opening on one long edge for turning.

Snip the corners, turn, and iron smooth. While ironing, take care to fold in the edges of the opening so that when you top stitch later the opening will get sewn closed.

Fold in 2.75" inches on both short ends to form pockets to hold the checks and check register. Pin in place.

Top stitch a scant 1/4" from the edges all the way around the outside being careful as you approach the pocket edges because there will be 4 layers of fabric there.

Insert your checks and check register and enjoy.

8 Free Designer Quilt Patterns

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:30:00 +0000

I have posted 8 new free designer quilt patterns on my web site. These patterns by famous quilt designers are available for download in PDF version. Click the images below.

Fast Quilts for Kids or Charity

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 06:14:00 +0000

I’ve been playing with Electric Quilt 6 design software all day today. I’ve working on quick and easy quilts to make for kids. These would also make great quilts for charity.

I have several more designs I'm working on so I won't post these EQ projects on my web site just yet, but they'll all be up there soon. (On the EQ Library page.)

Here is a sneak preview of the ones I've finished:

Design Your Own Fabric at Spoonflower.com

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:20:00 +0000

I found these fabrics at www.spoonflower.com. At this web site you can design your own custom fabric and if other people buy it too, you get 10% of their purchase.

Wouldn’t the fabrics above make a cute steampunk look layered with a black underskirt?

What is steampunk? Wikipedia says:

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc.

A Steampunk-Themed Photo:

Download My Newest Quilt Design in Electric Quilt 6

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:54:00 +0000

The Electric Quilt project file for my newest quilt design, Skinny Frames, is available for download on my web site. Click here to go to the web page.

Weekly Quilt Contest at Quilting Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:14:00 +0000

Here’s a really fun thing I found over at The Quilting Gallery. They have a weekly themed quilt contest with prizes!

Here is the link listing the 2011 weekly themes: http://quiltinggallery.com/quilting-fun/weekly-themes-2011.asp

You make your quilt and post your photo, then everyone votes and the winner takes the prize.

Free Quilt Patterns from www.PatBravo.com

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 02:46:00 +0000

I found many cute quilt patterns today at www.patbravo.com. Pat Bravo is a fabric designer and she has several free quilt patterns at her site.

The pattern above is called Organic Obsession. It is fast and easy--my favorite kind of quilt! (Click the quilt image, or HERE to view the PDF instructions.)

Below is another really cute pattern from Pat Bravo that she calls St. Tropez. It too would be fast and easy to make. (Click the quilt image, or HERE to view the PDF instructions.)

My favorite, though, is the pattern below that she calls Posh Flowers. It is made from 5.5” strips and would be perfect for beginning quilters. Even though it has a little appliqué, it would still be easy and fast to make. (Click the quilt image, or HERE to view the PDF instructions.)

Visit my web site for many more free quilt patterns: www.chickenladyquilts.com.

Checkbook Covers – Fast & Easy Christmas Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 05:40:00 +0000

I just finished some checkbook covers I made from the tutorial I found today at Crazy Mom Quilts blog. It is so amazingly simple that I whipped out 2 covers very quickly today.

First I made a simple one with some scraps of the dog fabric I've been collecting for years.

If you look at the bottom left corner of the inside of the red cover you can see the double line of stitching that can happen if you follow the tutorial steps exactly.

So on the second checkbook cover I made a modification to the instructions. I waited until I folded the pockets in (2.75") to do the top stitching. I think it looks better, and it was easier to do anyway.

(I also did not use any interfacing in either of my covers.)

Choosing and sewing together all the strips to make the 13” x 7” rectangle took longer than sewing both covers put together! I sure like how it looks though.

You can find this tutorial at Crazy Mom Quilts blog.

How did This get Sew Wonky?

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:12:00 +0000

Hmmmm. I don’t think it is supposed to look like that.

I'm not going to rip the stitching out and re-sew these because 1) The bias edges will get even more stretched, and 2) I'm lazy.

Whatever. Now it's time to trim the top and bottom so it will look like a quilt top instead of a uphill picket fence.

For those just joining my blog, this is my Pastel Braid quilt. The EQ6 project I made for it can be downloaded from my web site on the EQ Project Library page. (HERE)

Darling Free Patterns at This-n-That Fabrics

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:01:00 +0000

I found these darling free patterns at www.this-n-thatfabrics.com. There are several more patterns, and a few of them, such as the Candle Mat below, have kits available.

Click on the picture to view and download the patterns and instructions in PDF format.

Candle Mat

11 1/2" Diameter
www.this-n-thatfabrics.com

Pink Perfection

www.this-n-thatfabrics.com

I really want to make this one! But I want to turn it into at least a lap-size quilt.

Liberty Blooms

www.this-n-thatfabrics.com

Jingle Bells

www.this-n-thatfabrics.com

More Web Sites with Free Patterns

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:43:00 +0000

I’ve added several new links on www.chickenladyquilts.com to sites with more free block and quilt patterns. (At the right side of the home page.)

McCall's Quilting Freebies

Quilt in a Day Freebies

www.PatternsFromHistory.com

About.com--new patterns weekly

www.ScrapQuilts.com

Quilts & Blocks by Nadine Edwards

www.MaryQuilts.com

Quilt Patterns for Stained Glass

Trimming Points and Flipping Seams

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 22:47:00 +0000

It’s Saturday and I’ve finally got the chance to trim the points from the columns for my Pastel Braid quilt that I sewed Thanksgiving weekend.

I used colored plastic strips to stick to my ruler to mark the correct line to I align with the center points so that I cut all the tips exactly the same.

The next step is to sew the four columns together, but I discovered a problem. When I was ironing as I sewed the strips into columns, I didn’t pay attention to the direction of the seams. (A quilter usually knows better than that!) I should have alternated, one column with seams up, and the next with seams ironed down.

I tried ironing the seams the opposite direction on one column, but with the tips already trimmed off the stitches are coming out at the ends of the seam. So I am having to pin all my seams (which I hate, I rarely use pins.) flipping the seam allowance on the back as I go. Oh well. It's not like I never had to do that before…

Electric Quilt 7 Personalized Cup Wrap Project

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The Fall issue of Quilts & More magazine features the cutest project called Perk Me Up designed by Veronica Koh Eischeid. There are instructions and a template for making cup wraps which fasten around your cup with a loop and button.

In the EQ blog's August 10 post they've posted information and a free EQ7 project file that you can download to design your own personalized version of these cup wraps.

What great gifts these would make. It would be so cute to make seasonal cup wraps, and ones to match different holidays like Valentines Day, or Halloween!

New Watering Can Applique

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 04:05:00 +0000

I think watering cans are so cute so I drew one in Electric Quilt 6 and designed a wall-hanging for it. The flower appliques were already in EQ, but I traced the watering can into EQ from a photo of one.

The EQ6 project file and applique templates for this wall-hanging can be downloaded from my web site: www.chickenladyquilts.com/dlwateringcan.asp.

(The 12" applique templates are already included in the EQ6 project file, but the templates can also be downloaded separately in PDF format if you don't use Electric Quilt.)

Enjoy!

Still In Time for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000

I found another wonderful, quick, and easy Christmas quilt on the Moda Bake Shop blog.

The beauty of this quilt is that it can made be from pre-cut 10" charm squares (Moda calls them Layer Cake Squares). That makes this quilt super fast to cut and piece.

The instructions are available HERE from the Moda Bake Shop blog, or you can view and download a PDF version HERE.

Ready to Assemble the Rows

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:06:00 +0000

I finished the 4th braid today, and added 4 more strips to each braid to make them a bit longer.

Next I'll trim the edges so I can sew the 4 columns together. Since I've never made this kind of quilt before, I'm not sure of the easiest way to trim them... (And I ALWAYS want to do things the easiest way.)

I don't have many 7.5" strips left so I hope there's enough for the border of square patches I have planned...

(The Electric Quilt 6 project file for this quilt and a link to instructions for assembling the Braid block are posted on my web site: www.chickenladyquilts.com/dlpastelbraids.asp)

Goal Accomplished--Rare for This Procrastination Queen!

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 07:46:00 +0000

Yay! I finished the 3rd column for my Pastel Braid baby quilt tonight. Now that I have my sewing area organized and the strips sorted, it takes less than 1/2 an hour to sew a column. I'll make the 4th column tomorrow and I think I may add a few strips to each of the 4 columns to make them a bit longer.

This is a scrappy pioneer braid that I'm doing really as a test. The braid quilt I saw and loved so much 10 years ago had the colors flowing into one another like variegated thread. I hope to start that one next.

Finding my Rhythm & Changing my Mind

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:50:00 +0000

I spent my sewing time yesterday mostly sorting and cutting strips for my Pastel Braid quilt. Today I really wanted to get some more actual sewing done.

It took a little rearranging of my sewing area, but I finally got things situated so that I could proceed smoothly. It seems to work best for me by choosing a strip from the colored-sorted sets on my left, then sewing it in place, and finally ironing the seam at the ironing table on my right.

I just finished the second column, and I hope to get another column done before bedtime.

This is just going to be a baby quilt for testing purposes. I eventually will make a twin size one for me to use in my reading chair. (I keep the thermostat high to save $$ so it’s cooollldd in here.)

I cut lots of 2.5”x7.5" strips yesterday, but now I'm wondering if 2.5”x10" might be better since the columns will be wider. That will probably work best for the twin-size I intend to make. Tomorrow I’ll make a test block of 10" and see how it looks.

I decided to use many of the scraps left over from the strip slicing for the quilt border. I'll frame squares or rectangles with 1/2" white sashing. I think it'll be spectacular!

I posted my Electric Quilt 6 project file for this quilt and a link to instructions for assembling the Braid block on my web site: www.chickenladyquilts.com/dlpastelbraids.asp

Sorting and cutting 2.5" pastel strips for my Pastel Braids quilt

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 01:43:00 +0000

I like how my Braid test block came out yesterday so today I've been sorting my 2.5" pastel strips and cutting them into 7.5" lengths to get ready for a weekend of sewing.

I posted my Electric Quilt 6 project for this quilt and a link to instructions for assembling the Braid block on my web site: www.chickenladyquilts.com/dlpastelbraids.asp

Finally Working on My Pastel Braids

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Almost 10 years ago I saw in a magazine a “braid” quilt made out of pastel strips. I’ve been collecting pastel 2.5” strips ever since. Today I finally began the quilt…

You can see the instructions for making this type of quilt at www.quilterscache.com. It is a fast and easy quilt to make. I'm just zipping along. The most time consuming part is cutting my 2.5" strips down to 7.5" in length.

Here’s the one I drafted in EQ6.

You can download my EQ6 project file for Pastel Braids HERE.

(Many thanks to Patti Anderson at www.patchpieces.com for her tutorial on drafting this in Electric Quilt 5. It was a big help.)

Mystery Quilts for Thanksgiving Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:03:00 +0000

My son left today to spend the entire 4-day holiday weekend with his adopted grandmother. This will be only the 2nd time in my life I’ve been alone for Thanksgiving weekend. The first time, more than 15 years ago, didn’t go so well, so this time I hope to keep myself busy.

I thought perhaps I’d sew a short mystery quilt. I would want one that I can easily finish in the 4 days of this weekend. Also, I don't want something that needs too many different fabrics because I'll be using only fabric from my stash.

I was amazed how hard it was to find mysteries online. Most of the links were just broken, and many led to malicious/spyware web sites. I found only a few online to choose from...

But then I found I couldn't stand to commit my time, and especially my fabric without knowing what the quilt would look like. Kinda defeats the purpose of a mystery quilt! I guess I need to trust the person who made the mystery, or at least the person who is hosting the mystery quilt before I can do it. That explains why I've only done one mystery quilt in all these years.

So, I've decided to instead work on one of my WIPs (works in progress). Except I got a little side-tracked by this cute quilt by Cindy Carter. (Click the photo to view the PDF instructions for this Scrappy Split Rail quilt.)

To make with 12" blocks this takes 3.5" squares, which I just happen to have a nice bag of from when I was chopping up all my scraps for my (not-yet-started so it’s not really a WIP) Scrappy Lattice quilt. (I have a list of WIPs in the column to the right.)

Except that I really should not start something new until I finish one of my WIPs. But which one???

Free Quilt Patterns Added to ChickenladyQuilts.com

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:54:00 +0000

I have added 18 free quilt patterns to my new Free Patterns page on www.chickenladyquilts.com.

These and many more!

Free Patterns to Sew Some Great Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 06:11:00 +0000

Wonderful gifts for Christmas, birthdays, or whenever!

Chloe Backpack by Heidi Pridemore for P & B Textiles

Click here to download the backpack instructions in PDF format

Gift Card Sleeves by Mari Martin for Connecting Threads

Click here to download the gift card sleeve instructions in PDF format

Jewelry Envelope from Connecting Threads

Click here to download the jewelry envelope instructions in PDF format

Quilted Patchwork Bag from The Heart of Mary blog

Click here to download the patchwork bag instructions in PDF format

Click here to download the bag pattern template in PDF format

Child's Apron, Chef Hat, and Oven Mitts by Melissa Stramel of Lilac Lane

Click here to download the apron, hat & oven mitt instructions in PDF format

Cup Wraps by Sherry Titzer for www.ATimeToStitch.com

Click here to download the cup wrap instructions in PDF format

These instructions are for making the cup wraps entirely on an embroidery machine.

Instructions for the Popping Pooches Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (chickenlady) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:15:00 +0000

In response to many requests, I’ve made my first ever instructions for making one of my quilts.

The EQ6 project file for the Popping Pooches quilt has been available for download on the Electric Quilt Library page of www.chickenladyquilts.com, but now I've added a link to the instructions for this quilt in PDF format.

Hope they are helpful!