Three new doggie quilt blocks designed by customer request.
Lisa sent this photo of Atilla Bear the Chow Chow, hoping for a paper pieced pattern.
Atilla Bear
This is the finished CHOW CHOW PAPER PIECED PATTERN. I was a bit timid when approaching this design, as Chow Chows have lots of fur, and it is always a challenge to represent fur in paper piecing, but still maintaining a fairly simple pattern.
Another customer requested a boxer pattern. Here’s a photo of her pup. Isn’t he a cutie?
I decided to tackle this breed from both angles. Here’s my first attempt in profile.
Boxer 1
This BOXER PATTERN is super easy. But my customer wanted something with more detail, so I designed this…
Boxer 2
The BOXER 2 PATTERN has more detail. Although the ears are a bit tricky, I do love how it turned out.
Which one is your favorite new dog pattern?
Sewn by Donna
Thanks to Donna for sharing a photo of this adorbs quilt she just finished using my DOGS ONLY pattern, plus a few more of my doggies…
Thanks for all the participants in last month’s Row-Along blog hop. Congrats to Gina, the winner of my free Unicorn Quilt pattern.
This is such a super simple baby quilt, that can be assembled easily in a weekend.
Baby Shark
Yes, those teeth are created with rick rack. If your “baby” is under 2 years old, you may want to create the eyes with appliqued fabric rather than my favorite eyes done with buttons.
Starting September 3, you can HOP along with our Row Along. Each day designers will be giving FREE patterns for rows that could be used in quilts, table runners, place mats, etc. Each row correlates to a story or fairy tale.
Click to see lots more GIVE-AWAYS. And, hang with me til the end of this post for my Give-Away. Please visit Seams to be Sew to read the rules for our Give-aways.
My row is vertical and measures 9″x18″ finished. I was motivated by “The Last Unicorn“, written by Peter Beagle.
DREAM BIG, from Made By Marney
This is a paper pieced pattern and may be purchased here: CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE.
Here’s a clever idea to use this row in a super cute PILLOWCASE. Here is a tutorial to sew your own Dream Big Unicorn Pillowcase. OR, scroll to the end to see my GIVE-AWAY.
Dream Big Unicorn Pillowcase
Where better to DREAM BIG than on your pillowcase, right? NORTHCOTT fabrics have been wonderfully generous in suppling us with fabric for our samples. I am using Northcott White 22 136-10 for my main pillowcase fabric, and scraps for the paper piecing. I use French seams and line the back of the paper pieced part of the pillowcase so there are no exposed seams, as this is an item that will be washed repeatedly. Finished size: 20 1/2″x 28″, fits a standard sized pillow.
Cut these pieces from 1 yard of the main fabric:
2 rectangles 2″x 9 1/2″
1rectangle 7″x 21″
1 rectangle 9″x 21″
2 rectangles 21″x 25″
From 1/3 yard of contrasting color cut:
1 strip 10″ x WOF (width of fabric)
From 1/3 yard of fusible fleece cut:
1 rectangle 9 1/2″x 21 1/2″
Sew the 2″x 9 1/2″ strips to the top and bottom of the paper pieced unicorn.
Remove the paper from the back of the unicorn. Steam press the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the unicorn unit. Quilt as desired (there will only be 2 layers to quilt through instead of the usual 3 layers of fabric).
Use 7″x 21″ fabric.
Pin the 7″x 21″ piece of main fabric to the unicorn unit, with right sides together.
Lining piece.
Trim 1 of the 21″x 25″ pieces of fabric to 11″x 21″. This will be the lining, although I am using the main fabric so as not to waste fabric. Pin this piece over the 7″x 21″ piece, right side of fabric facing down. Stitch through all 3 layers, using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Press open.
Press the fabric to the right of the unicorn and the seam allowance towards the unicorn.
This is the back view.
Press only the LINING piece over the back of the unicorn.
Turn under excess and press.
Turn under any fabric that extends past the unicorn, and press under to form a hem. You may trim the excess to 1/2″ if preferred. The hem should be even with the raw edge of the unicorn.
Push the lining aside when attaching the left portion of the pillowcase top.
Pin the 9″x 21″ piece of main fabric to the left side edge of the unicorn unit. Sew in place using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the fabric open. Press the seam towards the unicorn.
Pin lining in place.
Pin the hem edge of the lining over the seam allowance and pin in place.
This is the back of the pillowcase.
Hand stitch the hem in place. The front of the pillowcase is now finished.
Assemble the pillowcase using French seams. Pin the 21″x 25″ piece of main fabric to the back of the pillowcase, wrong sides together. Sew together using a scant 1/8″ seam allowance.
Turn the pillowcase with the right sides together, press, and sew the same seam again, using a 14″ seam allowance. This encases the previous seam.
Add the Cuff.
Press the 10″x WOF strip AND the pillowcase open flat. Pin the right side of cuff fabric along the 42″ edge of the pillowcase, right side of cuff facing wrong side of pillowcase. Notice how I am skipping the SELVAGE part of the cuff. It will be trimmed later.
Burrito cuff pillowcase.
Ross the pillowcase into a tube that will fit inside of the cuff fabric.
Roll the cuff fabric up and over the pillowcase tube and pin in place.
Here you see how I am matching the edges of cuff fabric and pillowcase fabric and pinning in place. Sew through all layers with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Pull the pillowcase out of the tube through one of the side edge holes.
Press cuff flat and trim away any excess cuff from both sides of the pillowcase. Now finish sewing the pillowcase together using French seams.
Fold the pillowcase in half, with the right side out and pin the two remaining sides together. Sew a scant 1/8″ seam allowance on these two sides. Turn inside out and press.
Pin the same two edges with the RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, and sew a 1/4″ seam allowance, encasing the previous seam.
Turn right side out and press flat. How sweet is that? This pillowcase is ready for some BIG dreams!
GIVE-AWAY: Click HERE for the chance to win this Northcott Fat Quarter Bundle, a $20 value.
Now for MY GIVEAWAY. Click to enter to win a FREE paper piece and appliqued pattern to create this super cute UNICORN LAP QUILT. Alphabet letters are included to applique a personalized name on this project, if so desired. This adorable pattern is also available on my Etsy shop. Don’t forget to leave a comment!
=========================================================== Tuesday, October 08, 2019 – SNT
Beth Strand Carol Andrews Carol Swift Cindy Pieters Debra Davis Dione Gardner-Stephen Elizabeth Coughlin Linda Bratten Lydia Midday Marian Pena Nancy Myers Pamela Boatright Paula Gilmore Ursula Prandtstetter
Welcome to my 12 Days of Christmas in July web post. Thanks to Sarah Craig at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for organizing such a delightful Blog Hop. Join us from July 14 through 25 as we share clever Christmas ideas with you.
If you are at all familiar with my paper pieced designs, you know that I love designing animal images for quilts, table runners, pillows, etc. Some of my customers have been asking for paper pieced Christmas cats. I thought this would be a great time to share my newest table runner: CHRISTMAS CATS. This pattern is available on ETSY now, or try winning one below.
Christmas Cats
This widely grinning kitty is Christmas Kitty.
Next is Merry Mouser.
And last is Yuletide Tabby.
If you are new to paper piecing, watch my free tutorials PAPER PIECING TUTORIAL #1 on how to paper piece a segment.
Rick rack is a super cute addition to any table runner or quilt. I have a great tip for adding the rick rack. This is done after the runner is quilted.
Pin the rick rack over the ditch between the sashing and the outer border, starting in the center at the bottom of the runner.
2. At the corner, flip the rick rack over to the opposite side and pivot at the corner (similar to how binding is attached. Rick rack has no right or wrong side.
3. Continue to pin rick rack around the remaining 3 sides of the runner. Overlap the tails slightly. Sew in place down the center of the rick rack through all layers of the runner.
And now for the GIVE-AWAYS. The 12 Days of Christmas in July is offering the first Give-Away to win a FAT QUARTER BUNDLE FROM FIGO FABRICS. This is their new winter line called Wintertide.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the FIGO FAT QUARTER GIVE-AWAY!
Win this pattern!
The second GIVE-AWAY is from me, Made By Marney. Just leave a comment to enter. The winner will win the CHRISTMAS CATS PATTERN. The winner will be notified on July 26th.
Here is the complete list of all participants in this years 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop. Please visit them all for some clever Christmas ideas.
I love this super simple paper pieced pattern. Using all pinks, I went for a monochromatic look on my sample. The giant rick rack sewn over the border seam adds a fresh, summery look.
Two more adorable pups have been added to my paper pieced dog block collection. Betty sent me photos of her sweet AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD to inspire me to create this new dog block.
Australian Shepherd
Here is a side by side comparison photo of my block and Betty’s pup.
I love how expressive he turned out! Find the pattern HERE on Etsy.
It was also brought to my attention that I did not have an IRISH SETTER in the collection.
Irish Setter
Making an image that has wavy or curly hair is very difficult in paper piecing. It is all an illusion, made from straight seams. I have always loved the beautiful fur on an Irish Setter, and am pretty in love with his soft wavy ears. You can find this cutie HERE on Etsy.
If you want to learn to paper piece and live near the Fox Cities, keep reading. The Darting Needles Quilt Guild from Appleton, WI is sponsoring me to hold an all day workshop on Paper Piecing Basics, Friday 14 from 9 to 3. This class will be held at the Fox Cities Quilt Company in Appleton.
Those attending the workshop will learn how to paper piece simple and combination blocks from my Sew Yourself A Merry Little Christmas book.
SIMPLE BLOCKCOMBINATION BLOCK
On Thursday, the day before the workshop, I will be lecturing on” Paper Piecing, and Selecting the Right Fabric for your Projects”. Join me for an evening of fun held at the First United Methodist Church on Franklin St, Appleton at 7pm. The lecture is free!
Contact JoAnn Nemitz for information about the Paper Piecing Workshop, (920) 731-3722.
I love my customers. They constantly motivate me. Kelly asked me to create a SKUNK BLOCK.
Creating paper pieced animals is one of my strong points, so this was a joy to create.
SKUNK
This Skunk Block would look great in my Forest Friends pattern, along with the other sweet woodsy animals.
All this designing has made me tired…
Here is an Owl Tote and a Fox Tote created by another customer. Mary is using the animals from Forest Friends for her handy totes.
Owl Tote
Fox Tote
Now do you see why I love my customers so much? They are super creative!
This Hedgehog Block was paper pieced with the coolest background color.
Instead of adding buttons, this customer used satin stitching for the eyes and nose. Super cute, and a great idea for a baby quilt.
Keep sharing your awesome photos! AND, if you are in northern Wisconsin this Saturday or Sunday, visit me at the Northwoods Quilters Quilt Show in Marinette. I better take lots of northwoods patterns.
