March's Free Pre-Cut Party Pattern

As predicted, February has flown by! Which means it's time for my next free pre-cut pattern! This pretty charm square quilt is called Mosaic Garden and uses a 48pc charm pack, or a 42pc with a feature fabric used for the centre squares of each block.

At a finished size of approx 43" x 55", this project would make a lovely baby or child's quilt, or maybe if made in a smaller version, say 3x3 blocks, you could make a wall hanging using those precious fabrics you bought on holiday! What a lovely momento!

To get this free PDF, and many more patterns, simply subscribe to my Newsletter below. 

This quilt is also available as a full kit which includes the 48pc charm pack made from Michael Miller's Henna Garden collection, a solid white for the sashing and borders, a 50wt thread and six binding strips. This kit is available at £35.00, (£30.00 to Newsletter subscribers).

We had a great time at the Spring Quilt Festival in Harrogate last week, it's so lovely to meet my subscribers and hear how much they enjoy getting their newsletters, thank you all for your kind words! And also a huge welcome to my new subscribers, I look forward to inspiring you on your next project!

Looking for more quilting chat and inspiration? Why not pop along to 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

The Pre-Cut Linky Party will be back soon, so if you've been inspired by a fabric pre-cut to make something beautiful, get ready to share!

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...

<div style="width:100%;text-align:center;"> <span style="margin:5px;padding:5px;border-radius: 5px;border:1px solid lightgrey;display:inline-block;"><a rel=_nofollow href="http://blog.sewmotion.com/"> <img style="border: 1px solid gray;width:175px;height:175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrThGYc3YZQR7qYDuNYefQfXiLzASFOvSdCJfXciZsZ-bx4HoWZ-xIezDQKgVFH5hVRXvoAszPW4Cwtcx3t_D-BuzwHgDakeGJIIYcJPPXKaD5rcTYCFO7mpCqKAHoNGBEFvCv9gfva4E/s1600/+Linky+Party+button+623px.jpg"> <p style="allign: center;"> </p> </a></span></div>

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...

An InLinkz Link-up

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

It's Pre-Cut Party Time!

At the beginning of each month, we hold a Pre-Cut Party and invite all our Newsletter subscribers to come along and celebrate these versatile fabric sets. Together with a free pre-cut pattern, there are great shop discounts, plus the latest product and events news, all straight to your inbox. You can subscribe here for free to receive our latest issue. 

This month’s free pattern, Blueberry Kiss, focuses on the 5” charm square to create this gorgeous small lap quilt or wall hanging. I have used my Blueberry Park charm pack for this quilt, which actually contains 48 squares, though I have included layout ideas for the more traditional 42pc packs.

Once pieced, I then had some fun with straight-line quilting using my walking foot – no clever free-motion stuff here! Using Aurifil thread is always a dream, and their Silver 50wt seems to blend into anything. I started with some stitch-in-the-ditch around each of the ‘kisses’, then echo-quilted ¼” inside each kiss, ending with a double square at each centre. I then noticed the diamond shapes created in the sashing and accentuated those with another diamond, finishing off with some straight lines down and across each of the sashing strips and borders.

This quilt comes together really quickly, and would make a beautiful Christmas gift for a loved one, or for yourself!! To get this free pattern, plus 20% off the Charm Packs in the Sewmotion shop, just subscribe to our Newsletter. 

 

This week I'm linking up with these great parties:

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Now it's your turn to share your creations, how have pre-cuts inspired you?

<div style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><span style="margin:5px;padding:5px;border-radius: 5px;border:1px solid lightgrey;display:inline-block;"><a rel=_nofollow href="http://blog.sewmotion.com/"> <img style="border: 1px solid gray;width:175px;height:175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrThGYc3YZQR7qYDuNYefQfXiLzASFOvSdCJfXciZsZ-bx4HoWZ-xIezDQKgVFH5hVRXvoAszPW4Cwtcx3t_D-BuzwHgDakeGJIIYcJPPXKaD5rcTYCFO7mpCqKAHoNGBEFvCv9gfva4E/s1600/+Linky+Party+button+623px.jpg"> <p style="allign: center;"></p></a></span></div>

Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML

An InLinkz Link-up

I’m having a Pre-Cut Party!!

Don’t you just love a good pre-cut! Fat quarter bundles, cutesy charm squares, and those jelly rolls that you just can’t bear to unroll! I don’t think I’m alone in being tempted by these beauties, only to get them home to just stroke! Well, I’ve decided it’s about time I got cutting and sewing, and would love for you to join me. 

Starting this September, I will be sending out a free pattern every month with my Newsletter, sharing a project for one of these incredibly versatile pre-cuts. As well as patterns for quilts, there will be cushions, table runners, purses, pouches, and anything else I can imagine! At the beginning of each month, you will be emailed a link from which to download your free, full colour PDF pattern, and not only that, but you'll also get subscriber-only offers on Sewmotion’s collection of pre-cuts available on the website.

I will also be encouraging you to share your makes on the Sewmotion Makes Gallery – coming soon!

So what are you waiting for? Subscribe to my Newsletter and prepared to be inspired! 

Talking of pre-cuts… having finally received the final bolt to make my curated collection complete, I’ve been able to make up and upload these gems featuring Karen Lewis’ Blueberry Park fabrics. I came across Karen's fabrics back when she was printing them herself and selling them in small quantities on Instagram. Wonderfully, she has now been asked to design for Robert Kaufman, starting with this gorgeous Blueberry Park collection.

I can’t wait to get stuck in and make something gorgeous with these… alas I think it may have to wait until after The Festival of Quilts… yes, it’s that time of year again! So forgive me if I’m quiet next week, not doubt I'll be found cutting, folding and packing up fabric on one of Doughty’s five stands at the NEC – I will try my hardest to take some pics this year! If you’re coming along, stop and say Hi!

Today we're linking up with;

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

NTT at My Quilt Infatuation

Folksy Friday - All Squared Up

Having spent the last week measuring, cutting and packing quilting pre-cuts, including some mini charm squares, in preparation for the Harrogate Quilt Show, I'm now seeing squares in my sleep! So what else could I choose for this week's Folksy Friday....

1. Little Square Studs – Arc Creative Jewellery - £11

2. Granny Square Blanket – The Sheep Pen - £35

3. Contemporary Silver Square Pendant – Black Kiku - £65

4. Vintage Rose Quilting Pre-Cut Charm Squares - Sewmotion - £10

5. Red Squared Bowl – Potstop - £18.95

6. 10 x Multi-Coloured Squares – Treasures In Measures - £1.20

7. Square Notebook – Kate Bowles Books - £22 

8. Men’s Pocket Square – CatkinJane - £15

9. Square Wych Elm Bowl Eastfield Design £35

These beautiful items are made by some of the talented makers and crafters on Folksy, the online marketplace for British modern craft. If you like what you see, please go and explore their shops - you may just find that unique gift you won't find anywhere else.

 

What can I do with a charm??

Last weekend saw a double whammy of Doughty’s Roadshows, and I can safely say, fun was had by all!! This was their first visit to my local quilt group, The Village Quilters in Middlesbrough, and I think my fellow quilters were knocked out by the amount and choice of fabric that Doughty’s bring with them! Rest assured, Doughty's will be back next year for all you fabric addicts who were unable to make it. I’d also like to say a huge thank you to those lovelies from my group who helped so much, bought loads and were just a joy to work with! 

Meanwhile, back at Sewmotion, I’ve just taken delivery of some real beauties from Riley Blake’s Backyard Roses. As you may know by now, rather than buying full ranges, I buy a selection from a collection, mix them with some co-ordinating solids or blenders, and then make them up into pre-cut strip sets, FQ bundles and charm packs. I then go on to design quilts for patterns and pre-cut quilt kits using these sets – this is the dream bit of my work… but leaves me ever so busy!!

Well, as you can imagine, I couldn’t wait to get stuck into these gems, and soon decided to use this charm pack to make a larger version of my Square Dance quilt for a new kit. I do love this disappearing four-patch block and enjoyed a mammoth day yesterday sewing, cutting and resewing to my heart’s content. I now can’t wait to get them all sewn up and bordered…

Then my mind started wandering… we all know how versatile the jelly roll/stripper set is, but what else can be done with a 5” charm square? Well, quite a lot actually… 

You could start off with some simple snowballing, such as my Snowballs In Spring pattern, or what about this cute Road To Tennessee block – this tutorial by Andie Johnson Sews is excellent, and shows you the different effects simple variations can create.

Or maybe just go for the half snowball with this gorgeous Charming Stars pattern from Moda BakeShop - as ever this is a great tutorial with lots of pics. 

Then there's always the half-square triangle (HSTs) - this Fresh Diamonds quilt by Samelia's Mum is beautiful, clever placement creates such a pretty design.

Then there's the disappearing nine-patch block - like the four patch above, I love this method of sewing a block and then recutting it to create a whole new block. This pattern tutorial, complete with a great little movie, from Sewn Up is fantastic, just imagine those blocks in solids, or even tones of the same colour... 

Finally, you could go really simple and just use the squares with sashing, for this Contact Print Pillow Amanda of Crazy Mom Quilts has quartered the charm squares and added a simple white that makes those scrappy squares just pop! I would love to make a whole quilt like this, maybe with my Backyard Roses... mmmm....

I would like to thank these very generous quilters who have offered these beautiful patterns for free - please go and explore their blogs and say hello.

Do you know about our Newsletter?

As well as these blogs, we also have a Newsletter to keep you up to date with our events, new patterns & products plus special subscriber offers. Subscribe today and get 10% off all our FQs bundles.

Today we're linking up with;

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

NTT at My Quilt Infatuation

Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts