Pre-Cut Party Time, and so many HSTs!

Before I say anything else, can I just thank all you lovely people out there who took the time to read and join in my first Pre-Cut Linky Party last week. As a new venture, I was a little worried that it would go unnoticed, so when you joined in I was over the moon! As well as some link-ups, you also left some interesting comments (again, thank you) and it does seem that many of us buy these scrumptious looking fabric bundles because they look so cute and pretty, but then put them on a shelf and never use them.

Well, hopefully this will be the chance to change this, if we can share as many pre-cut projects and ideas as possible, together with my free monthly patterns (subscribe for free here) we can all bring those beauties off the top shelf or from under the bed, unwrap them and get cutting!

To get started this week, I thought I'd share some of the beautiful linkies from last week... who would have thought the humble square could look so good!

Table runner using a batik charm pack, Mountain Quiltworks

Christmas ornaments using mini charms, From Bolt to Beauty

Prairie Dance blocks using fabric strips, Domestic Felicity

This week I've been working on a new quilt pattern using my 12pc fat quarter bundle in these bright prints from Red Rooster's Basically Hugs collection. This pattern, which will hopefully also be a kit, uses the ever-versatile half-square triangle. There are so many ways to make these little gems, but my favourite is still the foundation-piecing method, you can read my tutorial and download templates for seven different sizes here.

Each of my sixteen blocks are made up of 28 HSTs which makes 448 in total! ahhh!! Good job these templates make 12 at a time! Wish me luck :)

My wonderful husband has just sprung a surprise few days away for my birthday next week, so rather than invite folk to a party and then not turn up myself - how rude - I'll see you again in a fortnight, but back to today...

Now it's your turn - grab the button below for your sidebar, and join the party! Don't forget to check out these other great linky parties too - Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, and Needle & Thread Thursday.

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My first Pre-Cut Linky Party!

As I mentioned in my previous post, one of my projects this year was to start my very own Linky Party to give my wonderful quilty friends a chance to share your creations and hopefully make some new friends along the way. For the uninitiated, these parties are open to anyone who blogs or is on Instagram and are a great source for inspiration and encouragement in the online world. Also by leaving lovely comments on each other's posts we can spread some quilty love and support across the world - we all need a little lift now and again don't we?!

Introducing the... 

As you may have guessed by now, I'm a HUGE fan of the quilting pre-cut, be it fat quarters, jelly roll strips, charm squares, layer cakes... the list goes on. As well as my Pre-Cut Party free to my Newsletter subscribers, I design and make up quilt and cushion kits based on these versatile pre-cuts. So I thought it would be great to find out how these precious fabric packs inspire you - did you start quilting using a pre-cut? Are you addicted to gorgeous fat-quarter bundles? Do you design your own quilts using only charm squares? We would love to see your creations.

As I normally (try to) blog on a Thursday, I thought I would carry this on, so why not join me here every week and share your pre-cut makes - they don't have to be current, or even finished, we just want to see what you're up to and how these precious fabric packs have inspired you.

To spread the word and share the quilting love, here's a  Party button to add to your side bar...

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So I'll go first.. my quilting group have kindly agreed to help a friend who is in need of some baby quilts for a charity she supports, and we've decided to give the hour-glass block using charm squares a whirl. A customer first sent me this link to the Missouri Star Quilts tutorial on YouTube and I thought this design would not only create some lovely baby quilts, but would also make a great workshop for the group. First though I had to work out how many 5" squares are needed to make a decent sized quilt - we are aiming for 1m x 1m square quilts. I took to my stash and cut up about 80 odd squares, going for a scrappy look and built up a number of four-patch blocks, then placed two right sides together, stitched around the edge using a 1/4" seam allowance, then cut them across both diagonals. Two hour-glass blocks - magic! 

When sewing the rows together, I decided to press the seams between each block open to reduce the bulk. Then when I came to sew the rows together, I placed a pin through  the points on each row, but didn't bring the pin back through all that bulk. Instead I inserted pins either side where there is less bulk, then removed the original pin before going to the machine.

It takes 72 5" squares to make up 36 hourglass blocks, which laid out as six rows across by six rows down with a small 3" (cut) border, gives you a quilt about 40" square, so ideally you need two charm packs.

 

So now it's you turn...

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Now check out these great linky parties;
Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, Needle & Thread Thursday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? and Main Crush Monday

Quilt Show Dates and a Party Invite

I'm so excited to have booked Sewmotion into three quilt shows this year, hopefully there will be more to come! Below are a list of when and where you can come and see us - it would be lovely to meet you in person and talk all things quilty!

Friday 24th - Sunday 26th February, 2017

10am - 4.30pm (4pm on Sunday)

The Yorkshire Event Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8QZ

Tickets can be pre-booked here, and are also available on the door.

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th March, 2017

10am - 4.30pm (4pm on Sunday)

Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4QR

Tickets can be pre-booked here, and are also available on the door.

Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st May, 2017

10am - 4.30pm (4pm on Sunday)

Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW

Tickets can be pre-booked here, and are also available on the door. 

In other news...

I'm hosting a Sewmotion Linky Party, and you're all invited!! These blog/pic link-ups are a great way to meet other quilters and sewists, share your makes and keep up with what's going on in the quilting world. I love linking up with Parties from around the world, a few of my favourites are Let's Bee Social over on Sew Fresh Quilts, MidWeek Makers at Quilt Fabrication, and Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation. But what I can't find are any linkies in the UK which I thought was a shame, so why not start my own!

I also thought it would be a nice idea to link it up with my Pre-cut Party - my free pattern programme open to my Newsletter subscribers - though you don't need to be a subscriber to join in. This Linky Party will be for everyone who loves a good fabric pre-cut, be it jelly rolls, charm packs, layer cakes - the list is endless. I would love to see how you use these wonderfully versatile fabric bundles to create beautiful handmade items - and by sharing and then exploring other blogs, you could find inspiration for your next make.

I will be launching my Pre-Cut Linky Party next Thursday so please pop back and join in the pre-cut party fun!

For now, why not go and explore the parties I mentioned above;

Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers & Needle & Thread Thursday 

Happy New Year!

Wow! I can't believe it's 2017 already! As a kid, this was surely one of those years so far off into the future it wasn't worth thinking about! Didn't Tomorrow's World predict flying cars and space travel for all?! Even so, we have seen a lot of changes over the years, especially in the patchwork and quilting industry. Who would have imagined 20 years ago that using a mat, ruler and rotary cutter would be the norm, that there would be so many acrylic rulers in all shapes and sizes, and die-cutting would open the world up to the incredibly versatile fabric pre-cut?

So what does 2017 hold in store for you? Is there a technique you've been desperate to try out, a fabric range you can't wait to get your hands on? Or are you new to this wonderful craft and need a little help to get started? Whatever your creative plans are for the new year, Sewmotion is here to help. 

Looking for some inspiration? Check out my growing collection of quilt patterns, including the free tutorials for All Squared Up, Fox in the Nine Patch and Novelty Nine Patch patterns. If you're stuck in a quilting fix, maybe one of my tutorials can help you out. If you can't find something you need, why not drop me a line and I'll see if I can help.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have huge plans for 2017, including continuing my free patterns in my monthly Pre-Cut Party, available to my Newsletter subscribers. This month's free pattern is for a 60"sq quilt above using good old 2.5" fabric strips, otherwise known as a jelly roll. For this and many more free patterns, plus shop news and special offers, subscribe to the Newsletter here.

I'm also currently cutting, taking pics and uploading some new fabric pre-cuts, including this gorgeous FQ bundle featuring Henna Garden from Michael Miller, I'm desperate to make something with these beautiful colours!

Looking for more quilting fun and inspiration? Why not visit these Linky Parties and say Hi!

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation