Christmas Pinwheels Quilt in Annie's 2021 Special Christmas issue

It's never too early to start on Christmas quilts and I'm so excited to share one of my favorite new designs with you.  

My Christmas Pinwheels Quilt brings all the things I love about vintage quilts together - a white background with fresh pops of color - into a new quilt perfect for your guests to sleep under, perfect for your kiddos to cuddle under on the couch or perfect for you to gift this holiday season.   

The pattern for my Christmas Pinwheels Quilt is available in Annie's 2021 Special Christmas issue featuring 50+ Holiday projects for Crochet, Knit, Sew & Quilt. 

For your convenience, here is a Direct link to purchase either print or PDF version

To make this version of Christmas Pinwheels I used fabrics from the Toscana and Colorworks collections from Northcott Fabrics as well as Warm 80/20 batting from The Warm Company.  I absolutely love the way the pink pinwheels standout against the green tonal fabrics.  

I'd love to see the version of Christmas Pinwheels that you make.  When sharing on social media be sure to tag me @masterpiecequilting as well as @anniescatalog

Don't wait - get your copy of Annie's 2021 Special Christmas issue today.  Your friends and family will be so impressed when you show off your new quilt this holiday season! 

If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Strip Star Block Challenge - Sneak Peek #2

It's time for Sneak Peek #2 of the Strip Star Re-imagined Block Challenge.  

Folks - this doesn't happen to often, but I am totally getting addicted to making these blocks !  They are so much fun.  I know it looks hard but it really isn't.  I'm using the partial seams technique to add the corner units around the center square. 

Each Monday in September, the participating designers are sharing about the challenge on their Instagram feeds.  Some of us are adding other social media too.   If you don't already follow me on Instagram, I'm @masterpiecequilting 

Here is the list of Instagram handles of the participating designers.  Each of us are sharing our Sneak Peek #2 on Monday September 20th.  

@tamarinis

@katecollerandesigns

@sue_duckcreekquilting

@patchworkbreeze

@megschoicepatterns

@southwind_quilts

@swanamity

@sewhookedontreasures 

@reeze_morningglorydesigns

@implumcute

@masterpiecequilting 

@jenstrauser

@crafttowardsjoy

@ttquilts

An easy way to find the posts is using the following hashtags.  Just type them into the search box and the posts will show up. 

#stripstarblockchallenge

#stripstarquiltblock

#morethanjustablockchallenge

#designerblockchallenge

#Septemberblockchallenge

#Septemberdesignerblockchallenge

#quilt

#quilts

#quiltdesigner

#quiltblock

#quiltblocks

I can't wait to see everyone's sneak peeks and I hope that you will take a look too! Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge.

If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Falling Stars & Squares Quilt - New Pattern Release

I am so excited to share the release of my latest quilt pattern, Falling Stars & Squares and the release of Benartex's fabric collection, Blue & White Elegance by Jackie Robinson. 

Falling Stars & Squares brings together some of my favorite design elements - Star blocks and secondary patterns!  Every time I look at this quilt, I see another secondary pattern emerging. 

I absolutely love the way the fabric and the pattern compliment each other.  I just received the fabric shipment yesterday to make the quilt and I'm totally loving these fabrics. 

Be sure to follow me on social media as I share making the actual quilt.   You can find me as Masterpiece Quilting on Facebook and Instagram. 

I do have patterns available - both print and PDF digital download.  

Print Pattern (shipping included)

PDF Digital Download

Be sure to look for the Blue & White Elegance collection by Jackie Robinson for Benartex arriving soon at the your local quilt shop or online retailer. 

If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Strip Star Block Challenge - Sneak Peek #1

It's Monday and you know what that means - it is time for me to share Sneak Peek #1 of my Strip Stars Block Challenge! 

Here is where I'm at so far - I'm still playing with color placement! 

Don't worry - once I get the game plan figured out for sure, then I'll start working with fabrics.  Since this was a new block for me to work with, I've taken a bit more time playing - yes, playing, with different design options, different color placement, stretching the block, rotating it, flipping it, ya know, just playing! 

If you remember from last week's Fabric Pull post (click here in case you missed it), I shared that I'm using a scrappy mix of autumnal stash fabrics.  Well, as I started to place those fabrics into the block in the design software, it got real busy ... real fast... like there was no focal point to the block any longer.  So I needed to pull back and just focus on a few colors that would have a strong impact.  

Well, it is a block re-imagined challenge - so everything is fair game - and this is all part of the design process.  Normally this is a part of the process that most people don't see, so it is fun to be able to share it with you.  

And yes, I'm gonna keep you waiting until next week to see what the blocks look like - so stay tuned for Sneak Peek #2 next Monday July 20th. (Now might be a great time for you to follow me on Facebook or Instagram if you don't already, so you don't miss next weeks post.) 

I can't wait to see everyone's sneak peeks today. Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge. 

@tamarinis

@katecollerandesigns

@sue_duckcreekquilting

@patchworkbreeze

@megschoicepatterns

@southwind_quilts

@swanamity

@sewhookedontreasures 

@reeze_morningglorydesigns

@implumcute

@masterpiecequilting 

@jenstrauser

@crafttowardsjoy

@ttquilts

An easy way to find the posts is using the following hashtags.  Just type them into the search box and the posts will show up. 

#stripstarblockchallenge

#stripstarquiltblock

#morethanjustablockchallenge

#designerblockchallenge

#Septemberblockchallenge

#Septemberdesignerblockchallenge

#quilt

#quilts

#quiltdesigner

#quiltblock

#quiltblocks

I can't wait to see everyone's sneak peeks and I hope that you will take a look too! Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge.

If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Strip Star Block Challenge - Fabric Pull

I've been quilting since I was a teenage and I grew up with a Grandmother who quilted, but every once in a while I discover a block that is new to me.  And the Strip Star block that we are reimagining this month is one of those!  

Now, before you head off to google the Strip Star quilt block ..... I just want to warn ya,  the words "Strip Star" in a search engine does NOT yield quilt blocks!!  Enough said ;)   

In case you aren't familiar with it either, here is what the block looks like.  

So this week, I'm sharing my fabric pull for this block and what will hopefully be a new quilt pattern by the end of the month too!  

Since it is September, I had to go with a fun fall mix of quilting cottons.  I think these brown, burgundy, beige, rust, green and orange tonals will be perfect for an autumn scrappy quilt.  

I'm going to be pulling from my stash (which is overflowing!) but if you need to boost your stash, be sure to check my Etsy shop for some great deals on 6, 12 or 20 fat quarter bundles.  

If you have been following along, a group of quilt pattern designers are challenging each other to re-imagine and re-interpret a traditional quilt block.  Here are links if you want to take a look at the quilts I made during the Snowball Block Challenge, the Rail Fence Block Challenge, the Pinwheel Block Challenge, the Log Cabin Block Challenge, the Churn Dash Block Challenge, the Five Patch Chain Block Challenge and the Ocean Waves Block Challenge.  I have free patterns available for the quilts I made in the Rail Fence block challenge and Log Cabin block challenge.  Links are in the respective blog posts.  

Each Monday in September, the participating designers are sharing about the challenge on their Instagram feeds.  Some of us are adding other social media too.   If you don't already follow me on Instagram, I'm @masterpiecequilting 

Here is the list of Instagram handles of the participating designers.  Each of us are sharing our fabric pull and / or color scheme on Monday September 6th.  

@tamarinis

@katecollerandesigns

@sue_duckcreekquilting

@patchworkbreeze

@megschoicepatterns

@southwind_quilts

@swanamity

@sewhookedontreasures 

@reeze_morningglorydesigns

@implumcute

@masterpiecequilting 

@jenstrauser

@crafttowardsjoy

@ttquilts

An easy way to find the posts is using the following hashtags.  Just type them into the search box and the posts will show up. 

#stripstarblockchallenge

#stripstarquiltblock

#morethanjustablockchallenge

#designerblockchallenge

#Septemberblockchallenge

#Septemberdesignerblockchallenge

#quilt

#quilts

#quiltdesigner

#quiltblock

#quiltblocks

I can't wait to see what everyone is selecting for their fabrics and I hope that you will take a look too! Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge.

If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Christmas Wonder Table Runner in Annie's 'Tis the Season for Quilting

While I'm still soaking up the last of the summer's sun, Christmas will be here before we know it.  (Yes, you did hear me say YIKES followed by a big SIGH!)

If your holiday décor is needing a refresh, now is the perfect time to start selecting patterns and fabrics to make some new table toppers and quilts so they will be ready when you swap out the fall decor.  

A design that I'm super excited to share is my Christmas Wonder Table Runner.  It's been in my design software for a while and I'm glad to have finally brought it to life.

The pattern for Christmas Wonder is available in Annie's new 'Tis the Season for Quilting book which is available now. 

Here is a direct link to purchase either the print or digital version. 

Christmas Wonder features the Joyful Traditions Collection from Hoffman California - International fabrics.  We have cardinals around our house year round so these beautiful fussy-cut cardinals are perfect for our décor. 

For table runners, table toppers, placemats or any quilted projects that go on a table and will have something sitting on top of it, I prefer a thin flat batting.  

For Christmas Wonders, I used Warm 80/20 batting from The Warm Company.  It is nice and flat, so there won't be wobbly dishes but there is still definition to the quilting.  Since table runners don't take a huge time commitment to quilt, they are great for custom quilting. 

I'd love to see the version of Christmas Wonders that you make.  When sharing on social media be sure to tag me @masterpiecequilting

Don't wait - get your copy of 'Tis the Season for Quilting today.  Your friends and family will be so impressed when you show off your new table runner this holiday season! 

If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Ocean Waves Block Challenge - The Final Reveal

It's been a crazy month!  I've been trying to get everything finished on the summer to-do list before fall arrives.  So I didn't get as much sewing done on this project as I would have liked but I do have the final mockup of my Ocean Waves Block Challenge project!  

Without any further adieu ....... 

The wall hanging doesn't have a name yet and there is no pattern and I'm not sure there will be a pattern ....  haven't thought about that too much yet. 

It's full of optical illusions and secondary patterns which I absolutely love!   It has a bit of an Aztec vibe which I didn't anticipate when I started the design.  

Even though the piecing isn't finished, I've already started thinking about how I want to quilt it.  Since it will be a wall hanging, I want to have quite a bit of quilting for structural support and to play up the optical illusions. 

I can't wait to see everyone's sneak peeks today. Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge. 

@tamarinis

@katecollerandesigns

@swanamity  

@patchworkbreeze

@megschoicepatterns

@sue_duckcreekquilting

@reeze-morningglorydesigns

@southwind_quilts

@masterpiecequilting  

@jennybowker1   

@jenstrauser

An easy way to find the posts is using the following hashtags.  Just type them into the search box and the posts will show up. 

#oceanwaveblockchallenge

#oceanwavequiltblock

#morethanjustablockchallenge

#designerblockchallenge

#augustblockchallenge

#augustdesignerblockchallenge

#quilt

#quilts

#quiltdesigner

#quiltblock

#quiltblocks

If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me.