A good snuggle releases oxytocin, a chemical associated with happiness and less stress. But I wonder…can quilts do the same?
This week Jenny, Misty, and Natalie showcase 3 new projects based on the classic X’s and O’s quilt. And these hugs and kisses are almost as sweet as the real thing!
Jenny’s Design
Jenny calls her quilt “Social Distanced Hugs” because the O’s are separated with a fun sashing. (What a unique way to remember these “unprecedented times!”)
Natalie’s Design
Natalie adds Wonky Star legs to her quilt, creating a kaleidoscopic rainbow of diamonds, and Misty replaces her O blocks with hearts for a pretty Valentine’s quilt AND bonus table runner!
Misty’s Design
Click HERE to watch this hug-filled Triple Play tutorial!
When it comes to quilting, we like to think that Jenny Doan is the go-to guru for quick and easy quilting with precuts! Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of all the amazing inspiration that comes from her tutorials each week, which is why we’ve brought you the Tutorial Reboot series on the first Monday of every month, so we can revisit some of our favorite tutorials from the past!
This month we’re taking a new look at the X’s and O’s Quilt. This is a tutorial that was first released five years ago, but it is a simple block that serves as a beautiful foundation for some of our favorite quilt patterns.
Here’s a list of everything you need to make this version of the X’s and O’s quilt.
There’s no fabric cozier and more forgiving than Shannon Cuddle fabric and since we’re getting into the season of holiday gift-giving, I thought it would be the perfect choice for this oversized X’s and O’s pattern. All you need to do is follow Jenny’s original tutorial, but instead of using 5″ squares and 2.5″ square snowballs, use 10″ squares with 5″ squares to snowball the corners. Since Cuddle isn’t as stiff as quilting cotton, the larger squares will be easier to handle.
You can find some excellent tips on working with Shannon Cuddle HERE. The walking foot is extremely helpful with this project and make sure to lengthen your stitch to 3-3.5mm. The finished size of this quilt is approximately 54×54 inches (I used a .5″ seam allowance). I chose to leave out the black pieces in the precut set, since I had 40 squares and only needed 36 to create the quilt top.
I decided to have this quilt machine quilted using Missouri Star’s Machine Quilting Services and I am so glad that I did! I just love how it turned out (I chose a Simple Stipple quilting pattern)! If you want to add a little bit of extra weight to the quilt, you can use batting, but you actually don’t have to use batting when you’re working Cuddle.
When it comes to binding with Cuddle, you may not know that Jenny has a tutorial that tells you everything you need to know!
Instead of the typical 2.5″ strips for binding, you only need your strips to be 1.75″ – 2″ when you’re working with Cuddle! (Side note: I LOVE using Wonder Clips when I’m doing binding! They’re so much easier to handle than pins)
I used the serpentine stitch for my binding, just as Jenny recommends in the tutorial. Cuddle fabric really is very forgiving, so you can’t even tell what color the thread is. It just creates a fun finished edge!
The result is an extremely cozy Cuddle quilt, which is a perfect gift for the holidays! I love the colors in this particular precut because they’re just perfect for the men in your life!
Whether you use Cuddle or your favorite quilting cotton prints, I hope you’ll give this Oversized X’s and O’s Quilt pattern a try! It comes together so quickly and the result is just beautiful!
If you’re a subscriber to our Block Magazine, then you’ve been enjoying your April issue for about a month now! If you’re not a subscriber, what are you waiting for?? 😉
We had a wonderful time putting together this issue, selecting the quilts, and reminiscing about warm weather fun. (You may have been surprised to learn that Missouri folk like us love the ocean just about as much as we love quilting)!
Have you picked a favorite quilt from this issue yet? To get you started, we’ve put together everything you’ll need to turn “inspiration” into “finished project” in a jiffy! Click HERE to find the perfect fabrics, all the necessary templates (and other supplies), Jenny’s tutorials from Youtube, and even links for machine quilting. After all, what’s the fun of an idea book if those ideas never become reality?
Have a wonderful time working on your quilts, and don’t forget to send us a photo when you’re done!
(Click on the images below to see the information for that particular project)
