Inspire. Empower. Create.
Jenny Doan loves to quilt everywhere she goes: In the studio. On the couch. In waiting rooms and on long drives. (Can you relate?) Life is more fun with a needle and thread in tow!
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jenny has whipped up a quilt-as-you-go heart quilt using fat quarters and the fabulous Jewel Template. Best of all, these pretty hearts can be sewn by machine or by hand!
Jewel Heart is a great project for long waits and nervous energy, and it makes such a sweet gift, too!
No gift is more meaningful than a handmade creation from the heart. When we take the time to create for those near and dear to us, we sew little bits of love into the fabric with every stitch and create a gift that will last a lifetime. July is the perfect time to start stitching up your Handmade Holiday gifts!
If you’re needing a little inspiration for this holiday season (maybe you haven’t even started to think about gifts yet!), check out a few of our favorite Handmade Holiday projects and create something this year for those closest to you (or for yourself)!
Kits are a quilter’s best gift-giving friend! They not only come together quickly and easily, but they look just fantastic when complete (Plus you get everything you need in one handy kit). Make it Classic this holiday season with a traditional holiday advent calendar to countdown the days until Christmas begins – this gift will be at the center of your holiday decorations throughout the entire month of December.
Whether you enjoy the traditional holiday elements of the Comfort and Joy Advent Calendar Kit or the classic Dr. Seuss Grinchmas Tree Countdown Kit, this project is not only something you can share as a gift, but as a craft activity with beginning makers. These advent kits are a great place to give the gift of sewing to the little ones in your life.
Inspire Yourself to Make It Classic >
Imagine giving the gift of warmth and comfort – it’s all possible with the Winter Star quilt! Nothing is better than a handmade quilt, so give a gift that will quite literally wrap your loved ones in warmth this Handmade Holiday by stitching up this cozy creation that captures the beautiful ambiance of the winter season.
Make it Cozy by selecting a layer cake that best captures the holiday spirit such as Farmhouse Christmas 10″ Stackers by Echo Park for Riley Blake. These red, green, white and black 10″ squares of poinsettias, snowflakes, pine trees and more will have you dreaming of a cozy farmhouse Christmas!
Watch the Free Quilt Tutorial >
Inspire Yourself to Make it Cozy >
Whether you’re arriving to your company’s holiday party or dinner with your family, deliver your hot dish with a flair of elegance with a handmade Casserole Caddy. This easy to create and even easier to use carrier not only helps insulate your casserole and keeps it warm, but also adds a sense of wonder and holiday spirit to wherever it goes!
Make it Elegant with enchanting fabrics featuring traditional red and green with touches of gold as well as wintry white and blue with silver accents. We suggest picking up a selection of yardage from the Holiday Flourish collection by Studio RK for Robert Kaufman – these festive fabrics will add a touch of beauty and elegance to your project!
Inspire Yourself to Make it Elegant >
Quilt As You Go Holiday Hexis Advent Calendar
We just love Quilt As You Go projects! These fun and festive holiday hexis come together in a flash no matter where you’re making – seriously, these are PERFECT travel projects. Take your hexis and add a little background fabric and a pocket and you’re on your way to having a beautiful piece of holiday decor that will deck your halls with fun.
Make it Magical with a selection of wintry fabrics in cool blue and white tones that add to the magic of this project. Select your charm packs with magic in mind or consider cutting your own 5″ squares from a Fat Quarter Bundle such as Nose to Nose Fat Quarter Crystals by Susan Winget for Wilmington Prints. You’ll find happy snowmen, colorful Christmas lights, lovely plaid prints and woodland animals in this adorable collection!
Inspire Yourself to Make it Magical >
Why settle for the same old Christmas ornaments this year when you can add a modern maker’s flair to your holiday tree with an easy Fabric Ornaments Kit? Not only will your tree stand out as a unique and creative addition to your Handmade Holiday, but this adorable applique ornaments will become a keepsake for years to come!
Make it Modern by picking up a complete project kit such as The Warm Hands Ornaments Kit or the Merry Mugs Ornament Kit. Whatever your preference, these cute little ornaments are SEW simple to create that you can safely share this project with anyone – or stitch up a few to share amongst your friends and add a bit of homemade to their holidays.
Inspire Yourself to Make it Modern >
English Paper Piecing Made Modern Stickers (Pot Holder)
Baking and the holidays go hand in hand – nothing is better than the sweet smell of warm baked goods lingering through your holiday home. If you’re looking to try your hand at English Paper Piecing then this project is the one for you! This simple pot holder will not only give you an introduction to the art of English Paper Piecing, but create an adorable kitchen accessory to better bake your holiday goodies.
Make it Sweet with a handpicked selection of delectable fabrics featuring all your favorite Christmas treats! First and foremost, you’ll need some EPP Made Modern Stickers and a charm pack such as the Merry and Bright Charm Pack by Me & My Sister Designs for Moda Fabrics. This collection features Christmassy colors, jolly snowmen and delicious candy canes that will leave your mouth watering!
You probably know John Adams as a Founding Father of the United States. But did you know he was also a fantastic party planner? It’s true! (Well, kinda…)
When independence was officially declared, John Adams wrote: “[This day] will be the most memorable in the history of America. It ought to be [celebrated] with pomp and parade, games, sports, and [fireworks] forever more.” His 4th of July plans were so much fun, we’ve celebrated John Adams-style for 245 years!
But there’s just one thing Mr. Adams forgot: Quilts! Every good holiday needs quilts!
This week, Jenny is working on a festive quilt-as-you-go table runner in patriotic shades of red, white, and blue. And the best part? One charm pack makes TWO table runners!
Summer is just around the corner, so don’t leave your creativity behind as you embark on your summer vacations! Just because quilting is often seen as a home-based activity, that doesn’t mean there aren’t projects that you can work on from the road. Even if you don’t enjoy bringing your work with you, take the time to immortalize your summer travels with a brand new Summer Travel Project!
From Destination Panels from Riley Blake to the Road Trip quilt from Missouri Star, we’ve gathered some of our favorite summer travel projects to share with you. Whether your sewing from the comforts of home, or stitching on the go, be sure to always share your creations with us by using #msqcshowandtell on Facebook and Instagram!
Is there a more perfect travel project than a Quilt as You Go Hexagon quilt? This revolutionary project is made easy with the Quilt As You Go 2 1/2″ Hexagon Template designed by Daisy & Grace which allows you to play with your fabric and fussy cut designs you’d like to feature. To finish, you can either hand stitch or machine stitch these beauties. Not only does this create a beautiful and unique finished quilt, but it makes quilting while you travel SEW much easier!
This template fits perfectly on a charm pack (you’re definitely going to want some coordinating yardage for the backing though as it’s slightly larger!). Go big and go bold with this project because it is bold in it’s design. Consider a Kaffe Classics Prism Charm Pack by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit Fabrics for your 5″ squares. Not only will these colors be vibrant, but they’ll blend perfectly together to create an eye-popping, unique quilt!
Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >
Quilting on the road isn’t for everyone. Some of us enjoy the organization and peace of our home quilting studios and don’t wish to be bothered while we’re out experiencing everything this world of ours has to offer. Instead of working while you’re going, show us where you’ve been with this jaw-dropping fabric panels from Riley Blake!
The Destinations Collection features postcard style panels in an Art Deco theme highlighting popular travel destinations from around the world. Whether you’re stitching up a quilt highlighting all the national parks you’ve been to, or a beautiful pillow featuring your hometown, The Destinations Collection allows for a quick and easy project that will be a favorite for years to come!
Shop the Destinations Collection >
Learn more about Quilting with Panels >
For those of us who prefer a little organization, the Sew on the Go Pouch is the perfect compliment to any summer vacation. Whether you’re traveling on your own, or attending a sewing retreat (think of how handy this would be!) this cute little custom-made pouch holds your most important notions and tools of the trade.
This BLOCK Magazine exclusive is featured in Volume 7 Issue 3 and comes together with ease using no more than a few yards of scrap fabric. While this perfect stash buster will help eliminate your growing fabric supply, you can also create this project as a gift featuring a favorite fabric of a friend! Pick up some fabric by the yard, such as the beautiful Curiouser and Curiouser – Baby Buds Daydream Yardage by Tula Pink for FreeSpirit Fabrics and create a long lasting and frequently used gift for the quilter in your life!
Download BLOCK Volume 7 Issue 3 >
Planning a cross-country drive this summer? Show off your journey with the Road Trip quilt! This gorgeous pattern allows you to document your journey with easy to print state applique shapes. Even if you aren’t traveling this year, stitch up a simple pillow using this pattern to commemorate your favorite destination.
Start this project by downloading the free state applique shapes and then select your favorite layer cake to fill them out! Show off your patriotic pride by selecting a red, white and blue fabric such as Land That I Love 10″ Squares by Michael Miller for Michael Miller Fabrics to really capture that Americana theme of the classic American road trip!
Download the Applique Prints >
Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >
I spy with my little eye, your next quilting project! Do you have memories of playing the “I Spy” game in the car? Road trips in the summer are all about fun, so bring back this great summer travel memory by creating an I Spy Jar quilt featuring found fabrics from your travels!
You’ll need charm packs to create this fun travel friendly project. If you’re at home and ready to get sewing, consider a kid-friendly fabric that’s full of different elements to point out such as Unicorn Kingdom 5″ Stackers by Shawn Wallace for Riley Blake! Make memories with your children or grandchildren by playing a game of I Spy at home with the quilt as your guide. If you are traveling however, pick up fabric on the way! Stop in at local quilt shops or repurpose some old T-Shirts for a truly unique project that captures all the great memories you made.
Spring is here and summer is on its way and with them comes beautiful, warm weather! It’s getting harder and harder to want to spend your days completely indoors when you could be out soaking up the sun.
With hand work, you’re never confined to any specific space – the world is yours for the taking (and making!). Get outside and create to your heart’s content!
Quilt-As-You-Go (QAYG) and English Paper-Piecing
Both QAYG and English Paper-Piecing are perfect ways to continue stitching up beautiful projects wherever you roam! Take your pieces on the go, all you need are your materials, a needle and thread, and your hands and you’re all set to create some magic!
Hand Binding
Finish off your quilts with a little personal touch – by hand stitching your binding closed! With hand binding, you can take your project outside or on the road easily – all you need is a needle, some thread, and your project, ready to be bound! Finishing your quilt can be one of the toughest parts of the process, especially when you’re so eager to have the beautiful finished project adorning your spaces. Luckily, binding is something that you can do wherever you are – take that project with you and you’ll have that binding stitched up in no time!
Do you embroider? It’s the perfect “on-the-go” project for people of all ages! No matter your experience level, it’s a great way to keep your hands busy and the outcome is a beautiful work of art! There are no limits when it comes to embroidery – if you can sketch or trace it out, you can embroider it!
If you knit and crochet then you already know how mobile of a craft it is! Grab your yarn and needles or crochet hook and the world is your oyster – outside, on the go, snuggled up in a quilt on the couch – there’s no bad place to whip up something beautiful!
If you haven’t yet taken a dive into the knitting or crocheting world, have no fear! Our sister company, One Big Happy, can show you the ropes and have you whipping up projects in no time. There are tutorials and patterns and all the supplies you’ll need to get started and keep going here.
How do you create when you’re on the go, away from your sewing machine? Do you ever take your work outside with you? Let us know below!