Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Stag Pillow Duo Tutorial

This time of year, it's down right impossible to fit in absolutely everything that you want to do. If you're anything like me, the list of "have to dos" is ten times the list of "want to dos," and just when you think you're about to conquer the list of "have to dos," and can squeeze in a "want to do," the "have to dos" list seems to multiply ten fold. Oh, wait, that's not just this time of year. I think I'm kind of beginning to accept the fact that you just have to throw in a "want to do" from time to time regardless of how demanding the "have to dos" list is. Well, this Stag Pillow Tutorial was on my "want to do" list ever since the beautiful Juniper Berry collection arrived and I finally made it happen just in time to adorn my sofa with two fun holiday pillows for Christmas. So, set aside that "have to do" list for a few hours because this just went to the top of your "want to do" list and why not scratch it off?!

Visit LouLou's Fabric Shop and grab your kit!




 Stag Pillow


The Fabric Lineup:

  • One Fat Quarter Moda Black Cross Weave for pillow background
    • Cut one 16 1/2" square
  • 1/2 Yard fabric for stag applique and quilted backing
    • Cut one 18" square and use the remaining fabric to cut out your stag design
  • 1/2 Yard fabric for pillow backing and binding
    • Cut two rectangles 10 1/2" x 16 1/2"
  • 16" x 18" Wonder Under
  • 18" square batting
  • 16" Pillow Form
Let the fun begin! Find or draw a stag pattern. I have no artistic abilities whatsoever so I perused the website and came across this free printable from Jenny Collier


Print and cut out your stag design. Due to the size that I wanted, it printed on two pages, which I taped together.

Iron your stag fabric to the Wonder Under. (wrong side of fabric to "rough" side of Wonder Under - per the directions found on your Wonder Under.)


Tape your stag cutout to the paper side of the Wonder Under and trace around it.

Remove your stag cutout


Following your tracing lines, cut out your stag.


Peel the paper off of the Wonder Under


Position your stag over your square of Black Cross Weave as shown below and iron to adhere per Wonder Under instructions.



Layer your pillow top backing, batting and stag pillow top as follows: (sorry, I failed to get a picture of the layering - but do it just like you would a quilt) What you're going to do is actually quilt the pillow top before attaching it to the pillow back.
  • 18" square backing fabric right side down
  • 18" batting
  • 16 1/2" stag pillow top right side up
Secure all three layers with pins. I used my favorite 505 fabric adhesive and then added a few pins for good measure.

Machine Quilt your pillow top to your liking. I chose to do straight lines 3/8" apart. I started in the center of the pillow top and then worked out to both sides. I used a classic white, Aurifil 50wt 2024 thread to make the pillow top really "pop." 




When your finished, it should look something like this.

Trim off the excess batting and backing and square up your pillow top to 16 1/2".


Now, you pillow top is all nice and clean and ready for the back!




For your pillow back, you should have two pieces that are 10 1/2" x 16 1/2". Fold over and iron 1/2" down one long side of each piece. Straight stitch or zizag to create a hemmed edge on both pieces.

Place your pillow top face down, then position your two back pieces, face up, with hemmed sides overlapping down the middle as pictured. All edges should align, with the two pieces overlapping in the middle.


Secure in place with pins.

Sew or baste 1/8" around the entire pillow square.
Bind using your preferred method. 
Voila!




Coordinating 9 Patch Pillow



The Fabric Lineup:


  • Nine Charm Squares or 5" squares
  • 1/8 yard Moda Black Cross Weave for border
    • Cut two strips 1 1/2" x 14"
    • Cut two strips 1 1/2" x 17"
  • One Fat Quarter for quilted backing
    • Cut one 18" square
  • 1/2 Yard fabric for pillow backing and binding
    • Cut two rectangles 10 1/2" x 16 1/2"
  • 18" square batting
  • 16" Pillow Form
Lay out your nine 5" squares in desired pattern, three rows of three.
Sew the top row together and then repeat with the other two rows. Pressing seams in opposite directions so when you sew all three rows together, the seams will nest.

Sew all three rows together and press seams.


With right sides together sew one 1 1/2" x 14" border strip to each side of your 9 patch square. Press Seams.


With right sides together sew one 1 1/2" x 17" strip to the top and bottom of your 9 patch square. Press seams.


Just as you did for your stag pillow, layer your backing, batting and 9 patch pillow top as follows: 


  • 18" square backing fabric right side down
  • 18" batting
  • 16 1/2" 9 patch pillow top right side up
Secure all three layers with pins and/or use 505 fabric adhesive. Quilt to your liking. Once again, I used Aurifil 50wt 2024 and quilted as pictured.




                                     

Trim off the excess batting and backing and square up your pillow top to 16 1/2".

Prepare and sew the pillow back just as you did for the Stag Pillow. 



SHARE SHARE SHARE your pillows with us on Instagram and Facebook and tag LouLou's Fabric Shop! We'd love to see the holiday joy that's adorning your home! Oh, and cross off the Stag Pillow Duo from your "want to do" list!

























Saturday, November 26, 2016

Darling Little Dickens

Oh goodness, this new collection is just preciously darling indeed! Lydia Nelson of Dreamy Quilts has created 32 of the sweetest prints, perfectly suited for all sorts of darling children's quilts, bedding, clothing, or anything your imagination can drum up.



From fine white cotton, buzzing with little bees, 


to pale blue lined with wooly, round sheep, 


to the precious light pink hopping with bunny rabbits 

and let's not forget about the hungry honey bear ready for a meal,

or the mother duck with her ducklings in tow.


every one of these prints are hinting of lullaby stories and nursery rhymes. 

We've already assembled the cutest little kit for you to get started! Lydia Nelsen's Lovebug pattern and all of the fabric required to complete this 39 1/2" square quilt are bundled together and ready for your creative touch!

 

 Now, mind your peas and carrots (okay Q's) 

                                

and hop on over to the shop to check out the entire lovely collection of Darling Little Dickens. Then hop back over here and tell me what your favorite colorway is! 
I honestly just cannot get over the blue in this collection. Simply dreamy.


Friday, November 25, 2016

Black Friday and a Gift Boutique

The shopping frenzy is underway. I always have mixed feelings about the Black Friday shenanigans. I sometimes feel like it brings out the worst in people, selfishly shoving, grabbing and snaking, just to save a few dollars. Don't get me wrong, I'm always up for a good deal, in fact I'm quite a deal hunter but not at the expense of another human. I much prefer to do my shopping online where I can avoid the crowds, the lines and the chaos. If you're brave enough to venture out for the holiday spirit of it all, kuddos to you and good luck out there! If you'd rather do your shopping from the comfort of your own home too, then here's to you!

We've got some great deals going on at LouLou's Fabric Shop

All in-stock Fat Quarter Bundles are 30% off!


All Fat Quarter Bundle Pre-Orders are 20% off!
                                                             




Christmas Fabric only $7.00/Yard


Clearance Fabric $6.00/Yard


Don't forget about our Mini Gift Boutique! 

Just like last year, we've added some cute gift ideas for your quilty/sewing besties!

Here are just a few peeks at what you'll find. Check back often because we will be adding new items over the next week!










Wishing you a wonderful, safe, adventurous and successful Black Friday shopping party!




Monday, November 14, 2016

24 Hour Quilting Getaway

Some of you may know that my daughter was recently married. Boy, I had no idea how much work it was to plan a wedding! I have so much empathy for each and every one of you that have already had the privilege to undertake such a task and I'll be praying for those of you currently in the process! Since as I still have 4 more kiddos at home, two of which are daughters, I'm hoping a wedding is similar to pregnancy. I'm banking on the idea that I'll forget how hard it is before the next one comes along. Anyhow, I'm currently retired from wedding planning, at least for another few good years. The day following the big shindig, my husband had arranged for the two of to escape the chaos of what our house had become during the wedding process and retreat to the quiet, peaceful setting of Fall in the mountains to recover for 24 hours. I cannot even begin to tell you how very much needed that was. As we were packing up, he asked me what I wanted to do while we were there to which I replied, "SEW!"
He packed up all of my sewing supplies. I picked a project I wanted to begin and hopefully complete while we were there and we were off!
Upon arrival, I quickly set up my sewing station and put the pedal to the metal! Okay, pedal to the wood, as in wood floor, but you know what I mean.

Why is sewing so much more relaxing when it's not taking place in your own sewing room? I'm guessing it's because you don't have piles of fabric, unfinished projects, half empty coke cups, and chocolate wrappers lying around. OH! Is that just me?

It was a beautiful setting and I sewed to my little hearts content. Project Pumpkins was going to be completed by 1600 hours on Sunday!

This is such a cute, fun pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew. The pumpkins come together quickly and easily and are SEW adorable! 



I finished 2/3 of the blocks the first day! I have yet to decide if forgetting your seam ripper is a good thing or a bad thing. I may or may not have let a few unmatched seams slide due to missing the little "correct all sewing tool" that usually accompanies me wherever I sew. Although, I did learn that a pair of Gingher scissors, with a lot of patience, a careful eye and tedious work can substitute as a seam ripper on leaves that are sewn on backwards. Just sayin'.

The next morning was a race against the clock because I had the perfect setting to photograph my newly pieced quilt and I really wanted to take advantage of it.
 
See what I'm talking about!?

A couple of movies, cokes and an apple pie later, voila!





Sixteen Hundred Hours, quilt top done, photographed and loaded into the car for the ride home, where it will undoubtedly reside for a spell before quilting, binding, washing and cuddling, because the aftermath of the wedding has exploded in my living room.

Yes, this quilt top can easily be completed in under 24 hours, That 24 hours also includes one, maybe two baths, a relaxing drive through the mountains, a movie or two, a good night's rest that you haven't had in months if you just pulled off a wedding, but mostly just sewing. 

If you're ready to dive into this pumpkin patch, we've assembled kits for you. The kit includes the pattern and all of the fabric required to make your very own Pumpkins Quilt as pictured.