by kustomkwilts
All is Bright Pillow tutorial
Simple design and cheerful fabrics are a great way to brighten up your home decor projects! Grab an oblong pillow form and a few basic sewing supplies and you'll have your own great pillow in no time at all!
by kustomkwilts
Applique your way to a handmade Mother's Day!
I'm always looking for creative gifts to make for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and it seems like it's always the same kind of stuff that you could really do without...like, how many cosmetic bags do you really need? So I was trying to think about what kinds of gifts would be meaningful to me if I were a mother. What kind of gift would I cherish and appreciate forever? Well, right off the bat, I think about things that represent my "imaginary kids". Handwriting samples, drawings, things that could be made more permanent. But then, I thought not all kids are old enough to draw or write...so how could that stage be permanently captured in a cute way? My answer was hand prints! But the painted hand prints are kind of cheesy, and lots of those probably come home from school in the form of turkeys, reindeer antlers, spiders, butterflies, etc. So how about making a functional patchwork pillow with traced hands of the kiddos appliqued on top of the patchwork? I got to team up with Janome for this super easy tutorial, and really loved the experience. If you're in the need for a super cute, but still functional Mother's Day gift (or grandmother's gift!), this is the project for you! Follow this Link to access the full tutorial and supply list. The pillow features Karen Lewis' awesome fabric range, Blueberry Park. The back of the pillow is an easy envelope closure that takes minutes to make.Hemming the envelope closures of the pillowSweet little blanket stitch on one of the hands prior to quiltingSelecting thread to go with each handFor more details, check out Janome's project page and access the complete, free tutorial!Until next time, I hope you are able to get some good sewing in!
by kustomkwilts
Back to school tutorial: Notebook / Planner cover
Everyone loves that time of year when it's hotter than blue blazes outside, right? That means summer is in full swing, and another favorite is right around the corner...THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! Parents everywhere countdown the days to this landmark date like children do Christmas, and breathe a sigh of relief to have a bit of a break and shoo the kiddos out the door to start their education once again. Many moms or dads may want to treat their kiddos to some personalized back to school handmade goodies, and I'm here to help with that! Make some great customizable notebook (or day planner) covers by simply taking a few measurements of the kids' existing school supplies. My quick and easy step-by-step tutorial will help you create some great covers that will prolong the life of those school supplies and make the kids feel extra special on their first day back. The tutorial can be found HERE so head over and check it out!
by kustomkwilts
Blue December Pillow tutorial
I had the awesome opportunity to team up with Janome and AQS to offer a free pillow tutorial! You can find the complete instructions and supply list here: Blue December Quilted Pillow TutorialThis is such a fun and easy project to do to add to the ambiance of the season, and I love the blue and white colors, as opposed to the more traditional red and green. So if you have some spare time, get sewing and whip up this sweet pillow!
by kustomkwilts
Chevron Table Runner free tutorial with foundation paper piecing
So St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner--let's face it--everything is right around the corner! I feel like I blink and the week is over ;)--anyway, you probably need some greenery in the kitchen to avoid getting pinched, right? Well, you're in luck (like what I did there??), because I've teamed up with Janome to bring you a super simple tutorial for a table runner. If St. Patty's Day isn't your thing, you can easily swap out the colors for something more suiting and make it your own. So pictured below are a few great supplies to have on hand for foundation paper piecing. I absolutely love my add-a-quarter ruler. It has a little lip that you butt up against the edge of your fabric for easy trimming. I'm also a big fan of Cristy Fincher's glue basting tips that you can get HERE. They screw onto the top of a regular bottle of Elmer's school glue and are fantastic for distributing just the right amount of glue to the fabric. And some 8.5" x 11" newsprint paper--you can use standard printing paper if you don't have this on hand and don't want to make a special trip for it. The newsprint tears away a little easier than the heavier weight printer paper, so that's why I prefer it. And a glue stick! The rest of the supplies are pretty standard sewing supplies. Foundation Paper Piecing Supplies When you foundation paper piece, you sew on the printed side of the paper. The fabric is secured by using a little glue from the glue stick to adhere it to the opposite side, and the elmer's glue to add another piece of fabric. Be sure you shorten your stitch length--a good rule of thumb is to shorten your stitch length to 1.5 or smaller. This perforates the paper enough to easily tear away later. If you don't shorten the stitch length, you could play tug of war trying to tear the paper away once your blocks are complete!Use a ruler to trim away the excess fabric and paper (you may want to use a rotary cutter that you designate for paper use for this), making sure you leave the 1/4" seam allowance in tact!Visit the Janome Website for the full instructions on how to finish this sweet project!Enjoy the rest of your week! I know I will--as I type this, my husband has taken our 3 month old for a walk so I can have a little break :) I love her to pieces, but my lanta--sometimes it's nice to have a minute for yourself! Happy sewing!
by kustomkwilts
DIY Outdoor Pillow free tutorial
DIY Outdoor Pillow tutorial Are you looking for a way to brighten up your patio with some fun home dec pillows? Make your own DIY outdoor pillow with this quick and easy tutorial to create a super cute oilcloth pillow with pom pom trim, and give your deck a cheery look! I used my Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9400QCP and the Janome Ultra Glide Needle Plate and Ultra Glide Foot to stitch up this oilcloth pillow. Start sewing with some new fabrics and try out a new foot attachment that will take your sewing projects to the next level. The Ultra Glide Needle Plate and Ultra Glide Foot set is perfect for working with fabrics that might not smoothly feed under the standard foot A, such as oilcloth and laminated cotton. Also, check out my previous post on TOP TIPS FOR SEWING WITH OILCLOTH. This is a great tutorial for beginners, and will take approximately 4 hours from start to finish. The finished pillow size is 12" x 18". Supplies: Sewing machine, Janome Ultra-Glide foot and Ultra Glide Needle Plate (Teflon foot for all other sewing machine brands), Zipper foot (Foot E for Janome), Needle, Pre-wound bobbin.Fabric/notions required: Circle Templateprinted at 100% and cut out 1 yard Aqua Rose gall oilcloth (Fabric A) sub cut into: (2) 6-3/4" x 19" (zippered back of pillow) (1) 13" x 19" (front of pillow) 3 yds. Jumbo Pom Pom Trim/ball fringe 40 wt. Black sewing thread (or white for less contrast) 20" zipper 12" x 18" Weather proof pillow form/Outdoor pillow form Marking pen Rotary cutter/ruler/mat Binding clips Scissors [caption id="attachment_1460" align="aligncenter" width="945"] Figures 1-4[/caption]Prepare the back of the pillow and install the zipper Take the two 6-3/4" x 19" pieces of Fabric A and measure and mark the center of one 19" edge. Take the 20" zipper and measure and mark the center on both edges of the zipper tape (see figure 1). Tip: Use binding clips instead of pins when working with oilcloth. The fabric does not heal when holes are made in the oilcloth. Any holes made in the oilcloth will be permanent. Also, use a slightly longer stitch length to minimize the amount of puncture holes made in the fabric when sewing. Typically, adjusting the stitch length from the standard 2.4 to 3.0 is a good adjustment. The raw edges of oilcloth don't fray, so there isn't a need to finish raw edges as there would be with a regular woven fabric. Place one of the 6-3/4" x 19" pieces of fabric A RSU and align the zipper tape with the 19" raw edge, matching the marked centers of the zipper and the pillow back. The zipper and the fabric should be RST (see figure 2). Use binding clips to secure the zipper in place. Remove the standard needle plate from the MC9400 and install the Ultra Glide Needle Plate. Using this needle plate with the Ultra Glide Foot will keep the oilcloth gliding smoothly under the presser foot. Select a zipper sewing stitch to move the needle position to the left. Lengthen the stitch length to 3.0. Attach zipper foot E to the presser foot and sew the zipper to the fabric A with a 1/4" seam allowance (see figure 3). Finger press the seam allowance of the zipper away from the zipper teeth, under the oilcloth. Fold the remaining edge of the zipper over (see figure 4). Place the remaining 6-3/4" x 19" piece of fabric A RSU. Take the remaining side of the zipper tape and match the marks on the zipper tape edge and the pillow back edge, with the zipper right side down. Line up the raw edges and clip in place with binding clips (see figure 5). Sew the zipper in place with a 1/4" seam allowance (see figure 6). Once again, finger press the zipper tape seam allowance away from the zipper teeth so it is under the oilcloth pieces (see figure 7). Remove the zipper foot E from the presser foot and attach the Janome Ultra Glide Foot to the presser foot (see figure 8).[caption id="attachment_1461" align="aligncenter" width="945"] Figures 5-8[/caption]Topstitch 1/8" away from the folded edge of the oilcloth (see figure 9). Select stitch #1 from the utility menu. Move the zipper head towards the middle of the zipper tape (see figure 11). Use a binding clip to keep the ends of the zipper together. Sew a few stitches and then backstitch to connect the zipper ends, about 1/8" away from the edge of the oilcloth fabric (see figure 10). This will act as a zipper stop until the front and back of the pillow are sewn together. Keep the zipper unzipped at least half way. Round the corners and baste the pom pom trim Take the circle template that you printed and cut out, and place it with the edges touching the corner edges of the pillow. Trace around the curved edge of the circle with a marking pen. Cut the edge to round the corner (see figure 12).[caption id="attachment_1462" align="aligncenter" width="945"] Figures 9-12[/caption] Repeat steps 8 and 9 with the remaining corners of the back of the pillow and the four corners of the front of the pillow. Set aside the zippered back of the pillow. Take the 13" x 19" piece for the pillow front and the jumbo pom pom trim. Place the pillow front RSU. Starting in the middle of one of the 19" edges of the pillow front, align the edge of the trim with the edge of the oilcloth. Trail the end of the trim off the edge of the pillow by 2-3 inches figure (see figure 13). The pom poms should be pointing inward towards the center of the pillow front. Align the edge of the trim and the edge of the pillow front all the way around the perimeter of the pillow. When you reach the point you started the trim at, overlap the trim and trail the end off by 2-3 inches, as you did to start (see figure 14). If the jumbo poms overlap, carefully trim one or two away to decrease the bulk. Use binding clips to clip the trim in place. Move the needle position to the left. Lengthen the stitch length to 5.0 for a basting stitch. Baste the trim in place with a 1/8"-1/4" seam allowance (see figure 15). Sew the pillow together and finish Place the basted pillow front RSU (see figure 16).[caption id="attachment_1463" align="aligncenter" width="945"] Figures 13-16[/caption] Place the zippered back of the pillow right side down on top of the pillow front (see figure 17). Line up all the edges and make sure the pom poms are all facing in towards the center of the pillow. Double check to be sure the zipper is unzipped at least half way. Use binding clips to secure all the edges together. Remove the Ultra Glide Foot and attach the zipper foot E to the presser foot. Keep the needle position moved to the left, as if you were sewing a zipper. Sew around the perimeter of the pillow using a 1/4" seam allowance (see figure 18). Double check that none of the pom poms are getting caught in the seam allowance while you are sewing. Use a pair of scissors to trim away the excess ends of the zipper so the ends are flush with the pillow edges (see figure 19). Turn the pillow right side out and carefully push out all the curved edges (see figure 20).[caption id="attachment_1464" align="aligncenter" width="945"] Figures 17-20[/caption] Tip: Oilcloth has little to no stretch, unlike cotton fabrics you might be used to working with. A zipper closure helps to keep seams sewn together versus using an envelope closure. Be careful to not stretch the fabric when inserting the pillow form. For a fully weather-resistant pillow, you can opt to sew this pillow without the ball fringe trim. Insert the 12" x 18" pillow form and use to liven up your patio![caption id="attachment_1465" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Finished Pillow![/caption]Now get out there and party with your new DIY outdoor pillow ;)
by kustomkwilts
DIY Starfish Tote - Sewing Camp with Janome
Are you looking for some cute and quick Summer sewing projects? Then you've got to hop over to the 2018 Summer Sewing Camp with Janome! The first three weeks of projects are already available, and there's even a cut file for a camp t-shirt. It's all the fun and creativity of summer camp without the hefty price tag, so you really can't go wrong :). Every Monday, through July 30, a new sewing project will be released that can be finished in a couple of hours with minimal supplies. You have to check out the DIY Starfish Tote tutorial!My contribution was Week 3- A DIY starfish tote bag with the option to use an embroidery design (if you have an embroidery machine) and an option to applique the star with a regular sewing machine. If you want a really quick finish, you can purchase a ready-made tote bag or follow my simple instructions to make your own![caption id="attachment_1125" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Embroidered/Appliqued Starfish[/caption]I used an embroidery/applique design from the Janome Embroidery website and it was so quick and easy to do, I was literally done in 30 minutes with the applique! I hope you enjoy this quick and easy FREE tutorial--you can download it from the Janome site linked above, or you can download the DIY Starfish Totehere as well :)This is a great project to do with your kids to combat boredom and then load the bag up with some beach towels, sunscreen, and snacks and head over to your local watering hole. Or if you really want to score some points, gather up some of your kids' friends and really create the camp feeling! If you participate in any of the projects, be sure to share what you make with the #janomecamp18 to be entered in the giveaway drawing that will end on August 13, 2018. They're giving away a sewing machine AND some other awesome sewing related items, so you'll definitely want to get in on this!Happy sewing friends!
by kustomkwilts
Free Christmas Stocking tutorial
It's time for another free tutorial! I got to team up with Janome again to bring you an awesome Christmas stocking tutorial :)Be sure to check it out on the Janome website !These stockings are super easy to whip up! All you have to do is sew some strips of fabric together (jelly roll strips would be perfect!), then use the template to cut the stockings out. You can add some decorative stitching to the seams where the fabric is joined for a little extra oompf! Start and finish in an afternoon and make some awesome new stockings for the family :) Merry Christmas!
by kustomkwilts
Free pattern! Water resistant pool tote
If you're planning a trip to the pool, river, beach this summer, you've got to whip up this painless pool tote lined with laminated cotton. Throw your wet towels in and you don't have to worry about them getting water spots on the car seats or even forgetting about them in the car (hey...don't judge...we've all done it!) Water resistant pool tote The only thing extra you might want to pick up, as far as sewing machine accessories, is a teflon foot. Teflon feet are absolutely amazing when it comes to sewing any sort of "sticky" fabric. So if you run your hand over it with pressure, and it doesn't smoothly run across the fabric, a teflon foot will easily sew it! Some great examples are glitter vinyl, regular vinyl, oilcloth, and laminated cotton. Any fabrics that look like they have a sheen or platic-y finish. Personally, I love to sew with weird fabrics, so I've had a teflon foot for a while now. But if you don't stray from the beaten path very often, now is the time to stray!!! You will love the teflon foot, and have so many more interesting sewing options. Teflon foot for Janome So let's get down to the nitty gritty--This pattern was written for Janome exclusively for the Quilt views blog. So you can grab the FREE PATTERN HERE Hop to it and get sewing! Make something cool this summer :)
by kustomkwilts
Gifts for mom - the generational pillow
A few weeks ago around Mother's Day, I was contemplating what handmade gifts would be truly appreciated by mom. As a new mom, I was excited to celebrate my first mother's day, but didn't really care about getting any gift (I honestly wanted some house chores done as a gift, and maybe some honey-do's!), so I was thinking about gifts with meaning. I was seeing lots of advertisements on social media for jewelry and diamonds and just lots of STUFF. I'm not much of a jewelry person, but the diamonds got me thinking about birthstones and some of the jewelry I had seen a few years ago. I remembered one of my friends receiving a ring that had her kids' birthstones set in it, and how much she loved it. How could you translate that representation into a quilt? And how many people have time to whip up a "quick" quilt, by the time they are pondering mother's day gifts? I thought a decorative pillow for the couch or bed might be more practical and manageable on a short time frame. So I teamed up with Janome to create a generational pillow that would be a great design for using the birthstone jewelry idea and making something for the home. You can view the free tutorial on the Janome Projects WebsiteI used the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9400QCP to sew this project, and sewing the curves was a breeze. I'm completely spoiled by this machine and will be hard pressed to sew on anything else ever again. It even has an additional light that you can pull out for a better lit area when sewing. It's extremely helpful, especially if you are sewing dark fabrics and using dark thread. Another favorite perk from this machine is that when you stop sewing, the needle remains in the down position. Which is absolute heaven when you are sewing anything tricky that you don't want to shift too much when the presser foot is lifted. In the free tutorial, there are three options for the pattern--you can select birthstone colors for 3, 4, or 5 people (or even more-but you'll have to do the math for that on you own ;)If you have a couple of people with the same birthstone, you can use different tones of that stone for a little variety. Some months even have multiple birthstones (or so I was told in my reading up on different months...), so you could go that route as well. Happy sewing, and see you next time!
by kustomkwilts
Hot Pad Hostess Gift! Sewing for a hostess...
So I got to team up with Janome to offer a free tutorial for a quick and cute hostess gift! If you aren't the main cook in charge of Thanksgiving, but a guest at someone else's table--you don't want to show up empty handed! Whip up one of these cute hot pads with a little recipe card and a cooking utensil and you'll be sure to be invited back! Get the free pattern at the AQS Blog ! And also--Happy Thanksgiving!!!
by kustomkwilts
Love is in the Air! Free Heart wall hanging tutorial
Don't you love seeing all the cutesy Valentine's Day sewing projects? I love the typical heart patterns, but wanted to see a different spin on it, so I teamed up with Janome and created this free pattern & tutorial for you--available at the American Quilter's Society Bog HERE Love is in the air! Wall Hanging This is an intermediate tutorial with a few half-square triangles and some fun quilting techniques. Some tips: -Pair your bright colors of the hearts with a mellow, low-volume background fabric for more POP!-Matchstick quilting around the hearts can really set it off, but feel free to try some swirls or crazy feathers for a different effect.-Try a scrappy binding using all the colors of the hearts.I hope you enjoy some quilting time today!
by kustomkwilts
Mock Stained Glass Mini Quilt Tutorial
Happy New Year! Well, this post is a day late and a dollar short, but it's here :)I usually post on Tuesdays, but this one got away from me! Sometimes winter blues can get you down (although here, in Texas, it was nearly 80 degrees yesterday and looked WAY more like spring than winter!) and it helps to have some fun and easy projects to get you through the weather. I hope you'll take a look at the free tutorial I teamed up with Janome to create. It's listed on the APQS blog and is a great free pattern for a mini quilt--or-- if you prefer not to quilt it, hang it in a window that gets lots of light for a stained glass effect. Either way, it's a great way to add another technique to your arsenal of skills. Find the free tut HEREHave a great week!
by kustomkwilts
Quilted Oven Mitt Tutorial (Free project)
Yikes!! So I'm a little late on sharing this, but it will be here for future reference ;)Do you love a fun (and quick) project for Valentine's sewing? Check out this sweet tutorial I teamed up with Janome to create HERE . This is a great project to incorporate some low volumes with a great print that you've been saving (I used Liberty of London), but you might now have a lot of! The oven mitt tutorial can also be customized--you can leave out the reverse applique option for a simpler finish and enjoy your new oven mitt quicker.Happy belated Valentine's Day!
by kustomkwilts
Quilting on unconventional fabrics - Quilted Notebook bag tutorial
Happy, happy 4th of July! I hope you're able to enjoy the holiday with your loved ones and make some great memories. Today, I'm excited to share a free tutorial that I created with the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9400 for an awesome project bag. I'm always scouring the house for bags to load up with notebooks, sketch pads, folders, or whatever I'm currently working on to squeeze in a few extra minutes of work on the go, and this bag has a little extra depth to really protect all those items. It's also reversible, so you can make one side to go with the fall season and the other a little brighter to work with spring and summer! Reversible Notebook Bag Plus...we'll take a look at quilting on a thicker fabric than your usual quilting cotton. I do a lot of quilting and embroidery on leather and faux leather fabrics, and there is a lot of hesitation when it comes to that from some. When I started sewing, I didn't take a bunch of classes...rather, I just dove in and experimented to find what worked for me. I didn't have anyone there to tell me I shouldn't try something, or that it wouldn't work, so I think that was a huge benefit. For this tutorial, break out that walking foot (or your free motion foot) and try your hand at some geometric quilting. Janome Dual Feed Foot quilting geometric lines on faux leather If you haven't tried quilting on leather or faux leather before, I'd recommend getting a few scraps of some cheap faux leather--my local Joann's has lots of remnants on clearance that I grab whenever I can--and do some quick samples. I usually do my best work on "trash" fabric when there's no pressure to mess up expensive fabrics. I'll make sure my pieces are big enough to make a little cosmetic bag or something with later on, because 9 times out of 10, I end up wishing I could save my sample! This really is a quick sew--and you can easily alter the bag measurements to make the bag any size you like, upgrade it to add some pockets on the interior and exterior, or whatever your needs are. Check out the full tutorial on the American Quilter's Society Blog and have fun with it! Go and conquer your fears of quilting on some different fabrics, and happy sewing!
by kustomkwilts
Select a size iPad Clutch free pattern
Good morning! Things have been a whirlwind in the last month! I have some really exciting things that I've been working on at Kustom Kwilts & Designs that I can't wait to share with you in the very near future, and I'm so excited that I can finally share this free tutorial with you that I teamed up with Janome to bring you. Find the full tutorial HERE- at the AQS blogThere are some specific things I look for when creating a handmade gift for someone. I like a quick project that looks like it took a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG time. This is one of those! The supply list is fairly short, so you can easily grab a few fat quarters from your stash and get this project going today, in time for Mother's Day next week, or whip up several for those really awesome teachers in your child's life. The tutorial allows for you to select from several sizes of tablets, so you should be able to select the size your person uses and get going right away! I've been sewing on the newest Horizon Memory Craft 9400QCP, and this machine is a true workhorse. I love everything about it, and quilting on this machine has been a lifesaver. It creates absolutely beautiful stitches and really makes my projects look professional. I hope you'll take a minute to check out this free pattern--you'll love the simple style and elegant finish you can achieve with basic or complex quilting. You can really make this your own and put your special touch on it to brighten someone's day. I hope you enjoy your weekend! XO,Joanna
by kustomkwilts
Sewing for littles - Superhero cape and mask tutorial
If you're on the hunt for a sweet project to keep your little super hero busy this summer, pick up some satin and felt and sew up this easy superhero cape and mask. I used the Janome MC9400 to put this project together, and you can find the full tutorial HERE.This isn't a difficult project, and you can practice some basic applique skills to put a great finishing touch on it. Personalize this project with your kiddo's favorite colors to really make this project pop!This tutorial was made for approximately 3T-5T. The mask will fit larger children as well.My best friend allowed me to have her precious little girl model this for me, and you can tell she's ready to take on the world :) Happy sewing!
by kustomkwilts
Spooky Spiderweb Trick Or Treat bag tutorial
If you'd like to make the perfect project for your special little trick-or-treater, I teamed up with Janome to bring you the perfect tutorial for a reusable treat bag! Visit Janome's website for the full tutorial and a quick and easy sew! This is a great project with a little pop of color on the reverse side of the drawstring bag--you can use a contrasting fabric to really make it pop (or even glow in the dark fabric!)And learn to quilt some really fun spiderwebs! Enjoy!
by kustomkwilts
Summer Picnic Quilt
Summer Picnic Quilt tutorialWhen summer arrives, I always get the itch to make a quilt. Nevermind the fact that I live in Texas and it is sweltering, to say the least. Also, disregard the fact that I have quilts coming out of my ears...what is that saying...you can't swing a cat without hitting a quilt? (Surely that isn't the saying, but I think you catch my drift!) So when I am thinking about making a new quilt...I need to have a reason for it, aside from just being functional to keep you warm. I also love to sew with materials that are a little unexpected. So I teamed up with Janome and American Quilter's Society to bring you a free tutorial for a great summer picnic quilt.This pattern is great for many reasons. It's layer cake friendly, which makes it a super quick sew. The blocks are large enough to feature those great prints you've been holding on to for a special quilt. The quilt is large enough to accommodate a family picnic at the park. The backing can be made from laminated cotton (or regular quilting cotton, if you choose), so it won't pick up dirt as easily as standard quilting cotton. You can just as easily throw it in the wash as you can a regular quilt (line dry to be on the safe side). So grab two layer cake packs and your favorite sewing and quilting notions and get ready to sew your socks off! Follow the link to the American Quilter's Society blog to get started on your picnic quilt. This is a great quilt to fold up and keep in the back of the car for unexpected outings (and if you have a little one in diapers, you can always use the laminated cotton side as a quick changing station on the go!). I quilted this with some large meandering loops on my Janome MC9400, and was done with the quilting in under two hours. Since the back of my quilt uses laminated cotton, I slipped a Supreme Slider onto the bed of the sewing machine and it really helped glide the fabric easily under the needle. This isn't something you have to do, but it certainly makes the task a little easier. I tend to use one anytime I'm quilting something larger than a mini quilt. Put on your favorite podcast/Netflix and get ready to sew up a storm! Happy sewing :)
by kustomkwilts
Summer fun and a DIY first aid kit
DIY first aid kit Now that summer is here, many people are planning day outings or vacations with the kiddos. It's a good idea to have a first aid kit with you in case something happens, and I know I haven't even kept one in my car (I'm learning, though!). So this pattern has a free zipper pouch tutorial and a free foundation paper piecing tutorial in it. Two for the price of one! But not really, because they're both free ;) Head over to the AQS Blog and get your free tutorial HERE! finished foundation block If you don't feel like messing around with the band aid block and the paper piecing, you can totally skip that part and just cut two slid pieces of fabric for the front and back. But those little band aids are so cute! I filled my little kit up with band aids, some antiseptic spray and wipes, bandage tape, gauze, and antibiotic ointment. You can personalize yours however you'd like and maybe sew up an extra one for a friend (or for dad's car). The little band aids are a great way to use up small scraps of fabric. I know I have a hard time throwing any fabric away, so I'll keep this block pattern close at hand for teacher gifts or whatever! Happy sewing until next time!
by kustomkwilts
Valentine's Day Oven Mitt Tutorial
Are you looking for a great project to showcase that one print that you may not have much of? Check out the tutorial that I teamed up with Janome to bring you by clicking HERE! I know that I just love Liberty of London prints, but gosh...they're pretty proud of them, am I right? It's not often I spend $40+ per yard on fabric...but I will admit to purchasing a couple of "swatches" from fabric.com for a few bucks a piece. I could almost never bring myself to sew with them, especially considering each piece that I had was less than a fat eighth...hello...! Not many patterns allow for this! So I whipped up this cute oven mitt tutorial and thought that Liberty fabric I had been hoarding for so long would be perfect for the little reverse applique window! It's a great project for showcasing your favorite prints, and also for using up scraps of low volume fabrics (or any scraps, really!)Have the happiest of Valentine's Days and take this project into the kitchen to bake up some yummy sweets for the one you love :)
