Quilting Galore!
Between working and life, I haven’t blogged the amazing quilts and fun runners that I’ve had the privilege of quilting…for awhile. I hope you enjoy the variety of custom and edge to edge quilting, that I’m going to share with you.
First up, this amazing quilt made by my friend and neighbor Karen. She’s made several quilts, and has never had one custom quilted. It was so fun to quilt this for her, especially knowing she was going to keep it and enjoy the quilting. This pattern is by Carrie Nelson. It is from Miss Rosie’s Farmhouse Favorites book and is called Stella Blue.
I just love softening the hard lines in a quilt pattern, with curves in the quilting. That was my plan with this quilt. I love the end result.
I used Winline’s 8020 cotton poly batting, and Dyed Natural 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread.
A close up on the two main blocks.
I used four of my Circle2™ (Circle Squared) rulers to quilt these lovely curves. I used the 3”, 4”, 6”, and 9”. It’s so great to have such a versatile set, ranging in size from 2”-13” circles. These rulers are made from 1/4” thick, high quality acrylic. They are available in clear or green in my shop. For more details go here: Circle2™ . My machine quilting circle rulers can be used on a domestic machine with the correct quilting foot and on a longarm machine with a ruler foot. To check them out in action, go to my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/QuiltingIt
The above picture shows the 3” and the 9” circles. Each ruler has two sizes of circles. The reason being, you get 12 different sizes of circles and you only need 6 rulers. Saves space in your quilting studio and saves you money…because you’re not buying 6 more rulers. (Green set is pictured below)
The quilting in each block is so cohesive and pairs nicely together, while enhancing the quilt blocks. I used the 6” circle ruler to quilt the large orange peel on the corners of the star block.
That beautiful arc diamond design is so fun to quilt, and is my favorite part of quilting on this quilt. I use the 9” circle ruler on that design.
For all the orange peel designs inside the star blocks I used the 3” circle. As pictured above and below.
I used the 4” circle ruler to quilt these petals in these flying geese. I also used an Edge ruler from Linda at The Quilted Pineapple, to quilt all the lines.
All those different sizes of curves just fit so nicely together.
A few pictures of the back. Love it!!
Next, some cute table runners…made by Barbara!
How sweet are these popsicles?!?!?!! The pattern is by Ribbon Candy Quilt Company and is one of their Sizzlin’ Summer Skinnies. Click on their name above, and it will take you right to their website.
I used a white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread, and Winline’s 8020 batting. I mixed the quilting up, by adding a lot of different shapes and textures. Ribbon candy borders, overlapping circles in the background, and a variety of different designs in the popsicle stripes.
Next up, Barbara made this flag runner, using the FREE Wave Your Flag table runner pattern by Fat Quarter Shop.
I used Good Vibrations from Patricia Ritter at Urban Elementz to quilt it. I spaced the wavy lines 3/4ths of an inch apart. I love the texture from these simple wavy lines. I used Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and more of my favorite 8020 cotton poly Winline batting.
I love the dimension that comes from offsetting the flag stripes. I love all things 4th of July. I was born after the fireworks, on the morning of the 5th.
Okay, this watermelon runner…also made by Barbara, is just so fun!! The pattern is by Primrose Cottage Quilts and is called Summertime.
I may be a little biased, but that Sweet Orange Peel quilting design, is a perfect fit for this!! It reminds me of the shape of watermelon seeds. Sweet Orange Peel©️ is available in my shop at www.quiltingit.com/shop and is one of my best sellers!
I used a white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
Now, a few fun projects made by Sherry.
This cute pillow front is from My Girlfriends Quilt Shoppe, here in Logan Utah. It’s part of their pillow of the month club. You’ll have to contact them for a pattern.
I used Good Vibrations from Patricia Ritter at Urban Elementz again to quilt this. I spaced the wavy lines 1/2 of an inch apart. Because it’s a pillow, it works being that tightly quilted. Sherry brought a cotton poly scrap of batting, and I used a white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread to quilt it.
Next up, these lovely runners made by Sherry. Designed By Heather Peterson from Anka's Treasures. This runner is in the Trendy Table 2 book.
Once again I used my Sweet Orange Peel©️ design to quilt it.
I used a Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 batting.
Sherry made two, so I quilted them onto the same quilting back. I quilt on a Gammill 22” machine. So I set the boundary when doing Edge to Edge quilting, as if it were all one quilt. Saves on time. I quilted the first one, rolled it to the next one and easy peasy, done!!
Loranne is a master at making her own patterns from things that inspire her. This lovely quilt was made for her friends new granddaughter.
Loranne requested a double batt, which adds some beautiful texture to the quilt/quilting. I did a bottom layer of the 8020 cotton poly blend batting that I love from Winline, and a top layer of Hobbs Wool. Love the combination of the two. I’ve done the same thing with some of my own quilts.
Pictures really don’t do this quilt justice.
I used the -20- curve ruler for the petals, and some of the Edge rulers for all the straight lines, both are from Linda at The Quilted Pineapple.
Because this quilt has lot of borders, I wanted to make each of them stand out with different yet cohesive quilting designs. I especially love how these corners turned out. I also share a few more pictures to show the border details. The pinstripe border below is done with a 1/4” line and then a inch section.
Airen’s amazing Double Wedding Ring quilt is up next!! It was such a gem to quilt, knowing it is going to be a family heirloom. Airen used Double Wedding Ring Templates by Sharlene Jorgenson which are available here.
I used white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
I wanted to keep the quilting classic, yet show off all the amazing piecing that Airen did.
I used 3 of my Circle2 machine quilting circle rulers (the 4”, 5”, 13”) and Linda’s -15- curve ruler from The Quilted Pineapple.
The quilting inside where the rings overlap, is dainty. A double curved line at a 1/4” spacing, with tiny pebbles, enhances the curves of the rings and the negative space. I quilted swirls with a hook, inside the rings. Checkout the backging pictured below to see the hooks better.
I used this 4” Circle2™ ruler for one of the sets of petals inside the double arcs of the wedding rings.
I used this 5” Circle2™ ruler for the other set of petals in the double arc.
I used the 13” Circle2™ ruler to quilt the 1/4” lines inside where the rings overlap.
I also used the -15- curve ruler from Linda, to quilt the 1/2” arched curves inside the center of the rings. (As pictured below) I hope that makes sense. The reason I share which ruler I used where, is so you can see the benefits of having a great selection of circle rulers and curve rulers. I lay out my circle rulers to see which curve fits in the best spot. No two quilts are the same. It’s such a great asset to have a great set of rulers.
Front/back!! Love it! You can also see the hook on the swirls in the bottom picture. I love the look of the diamonds in each corner.
I wish each of you could see this beautiful quilt!!
Lovely sunlight highlighting all that quilting texture.
These sweet butterflies were made by Lori for her granddaughter. The pattern is by Nadra Ridgeway from Ellis & Higgs and is called Butterfly Dance.
This is such a sweet sweet quilt!!
Lori chose Flower Child by Apricot Moon Designs, and it’s available at Urban Elementz. This is such a fun design to quilt. It looks like the flowers are dancing along with the butterflies.
I used a 30 tex Silver Omni thread from Superior Threads, and 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline.
I hope you have fun snuggling your new granddaughter soon, Lori!!! She’s lucky to receive such a beautiful quilt.
I love this bright fun runner, made by Laurie. The pattern is Mini Popsicles Table Runner and is available at Annie’s Catalog.
Made with the Crayola Fat Quarter Box from Riley Blake Designs.
I custom quilted this with overlapping swirls in the background, and a variety of fun textures in the popsicles.
Such a fun summery runner. I used Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Laurie brought a cotton poly batting scrap.
This house quilt is just so fun, it was made by Kara Jo. The bold reds, pinks, and oranges…next to the black and white low volume prints…make this quilt pop!! I’m guessing these red/pink/orange fabrics are by Kaffe.
I used a Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly batting.
Look at the combination of these bold prints, even next to some of the bold low volume prints. Such a fun combo.
I’m not sure who this pattern is by, if I find out I will edit this post. There are a fun variety of house quilts.
I suggested Malachite as a design for this quilt, and Kara Jo agreed. It’s by Patricia Ritter and is available at Urban Elementz. I love it with the variety and style of these fabrics. It’s such a versatile design.
That quilty texture is just so so good.
Lastly…this absolutely cute quilt, made by Sherry. It’s called Ghost Quilt by Then Came June. She has some pretty fun quilt patterns.
I’m not a huge Halloween fan, but this quilt just might change my mind. I love the different colors of ghost eyes and mouth. Light grey to black.
I stewed and stewed on how to quilt this. I saw a couple quilted that I liked, but one was custom and I knew I wanted to do something edge to edge. So I took a look at Sarah Ann Myers designs at Urban Elementz, because some of my favorites are hers, and I found Gale. The movement in this design, is just my favorite!!! It quilted beautifully!!
I used a white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
I think the point in the Gale quilting design, goes so well with the point on the ghost. That’s why I love them together.
I can’t believe it’s that time of year, when Halloween quilts are starting to get quilted. Anyone else feel like this year has flown right by.
The ghosts seem to be glowing in the picture below.
What have you been sewing this summer??? I’ve been making great progress on my Hexie Flower quilt, that I’ve been sewing together by hand…for the last 4 years. I shared a picture of a couple of the rows, a few posts ago. Right now, all the rows are sewn, and I’m starting to sew them together. That definitely takes more time, but it’s finally starting to look like a quilt. It’s been such a fun project. (Previous picture, so you don’t have to go looking for it)
Also, my Modern Vintage quilt is finally getting quilted!!!! Yay! It’s a pattern by Bonnie and Camille, and is in Bonnie’s Cotton Way Classics book. I used several different charm packs from several different Bonnie and Camille lines of fabric, to make this quilt. I’m so excited!! I’m going to quilt my Sweet Orange Peel©️ design on it, and it has a layer of Hobbs wool inside. This quilt was started almost two years ago. Yes, I’m slow at sewing. I prefer it that way. Take my time and enjoy the process.
Thanks for sticking around. I know that is a whole lot of pictures and quilts. But I love seeing a variety of ideas • for quilts and quilting. I hope you enjoy it, too. Happy sewing! • Leisha
Quilts, Designs, Sale, & Giveaway!!
Yes, that’s a lot to cover!! However, life is busy. So I thought a one and done blog/email, would be great.
I’ll get to the quilts in just a few minutes, first I wanted to remind you of the sales going on. Not only on my website, but also the 20% code from Flexi Fuse.
(My Harbor design)
This Sunday, June 30th, is the last day to take advantage of my 25% off quilting designs and $20 off my Circle2™ machine quilting circle ruler set. Use code “SUMMER25” at checkout for the quilting designs, and “CIRCLE2™” for $20 off of my Circle2 ruler sets. For more information about my Circle2 rulers, click here: https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2018/10/10/introducing-my-circle2-longarm-circle-ruler-set • If you haven’t looked at my shop lately, you may have missed the few new designs that I have. I also uploaded 10 new designs by my friend Molly Dursteler, just last night. So go snag some while the sale is going on!! There are some amazing ones. https://www.quiltingit.com/shop
This is one of Molly’s designs, Luck O’ The Irish. Follow the link to my shop above to see her other fun designs.
Also, a quick reminder that my 20% off of Flexi Fuse expires on Sunday as well. Use code “leishakaye” at checkout: https://flexifuse.com/?ref:leisha
If you do any kind of appliqué, you need to try this interfacing. As a machine quilter I hate trying to quilt through appliqué, not the case when it comes to Flexi Fuse. Quilts like a breeze. I’m excited to make some things of my own.
Now onto the giveaway!!! This giveaway is HUGE! I haven’t blogged about it just yet. I have joined with some pretty amazing sponsors to offer one lucky winner a prize worth more than $800. I’m including a $100 gift card for machine quilting!! There are several ways to enter, check here for all the details: http://www.flexifusegiveaway.com/
Please stop by and visit each of our Instagram accounts. Mine is @leishakaye and there is also @sistersandquilters (my favorite online fabric shop), @flexiefuse, @rilerblakedesigns, @kimberbelldesigns, @aurifil, and @tiedwitharibbon
This giveaway ends the 6th of July. The prize package includes thread, patterns, fabric, fusible webbing, quilting, and a light box.
Now for the amazing quilts that I’ve been able to quilt lately!!
Laurel from @snowberrystreet (on Instagram) messaged me and asked if I would quilt her Madame Butterfly quilt, pattern by Vanessa Goertzen from Lella Boutique. These are also Vanessa’s fabrics. I was so excited!! Seriously, this quilt is gorgeous!
Laurel asked for the antenna’s, and then left the rest up to me. I love what Natalia Bonner did when she quilted Vanessa’s, by out lining around the butterflies 1/4”. I did the same on this quilt, which makes the butterflies pop!! I used my favorite Edge ruler from Linda at www.thequiltedpineapple.com • I also used those same Edge rulers to quilt my favorite pinstriped border. 1/4” for the thin stripe and 1” for the wider stripe.
I quilted most of the butterflies the same. Same circles and swirls alternating on the body, feathers and swirls on the inside wings, ribbon candy on the outside tips of the wings, however the inside of the wings differs on each of the butterflies on each row. I chose four different designs, and then just alternated them throughout the quilt, making sure each design ends up in each column. I will share each of those below. You’ll also notice the feathers/swirls for the antenna’s.
On this first butterfly I quilted overlapping circles on that middle layer of the wings.
Next, you know I love mixing hard lines with the softness of the pebbles, swirls, and ribbon candy. So above is a 1/4” pin stripe, and below a 1/4” stripe going the opposite direction on the left wing, than the right wing.
Lastly, I love a good grassy texture (what I like to call it) on that middle layer of the wings, pictured below.
I hope you also noticed the variety of filler with the pebbles...swirls, echoes, overlapping circles, arcs and so on, in the background. A great way to make everything pop!
I used White 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 batting for this quilt. I quilted everything, except the lines, freehand. Quilts like this, with so much incredible texture, are just my favorite.
Next up, this sweet baby quilt made by Maria. I love a simple pinwheel quilt like this!! Especially with mint, pink, peach and coral fabrics.
I used Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 batting on this quilt.
Maria asked for a simple Orange Peel design to be quilted on it. I used my 6” Circle2™, machine quilting Circle2™ ruler, to quilt it. My Circle2™ set of rulers is available in my shop....and is a great addition to every quilting studio. They come in a set of 6 and range in size 2”-13”. Like I mentioned above, they are $20 off right now until Sunday, use code “CIRCLE2™ “ at checkout. Watch here to see my rulers in action. https://youtu.be/GWyDTymyzoE and are available here: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop
I love a simple Orange Peel!
A couple of close ups!!!
Kristin made this for her son who just turned 8! I love a simple quilt, yet striking because of the solid colors.
I don’t know the pattern name to this quilt, I bet the squares are around 6 inches and the rectangles 3”x6”, sewn. Add the 1/2” for seam allowance when cutting, and you’ll be good.
Kristin wanted simple 1” lines. I used my favorite 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline and white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread.
I quilt on a Gammill 22” machine, with a Statler Stitcher. This one and the next quilt, we’re done by the Statler (computer). However the first two quilts in this post, I quilted myself. It’s great to have both options.
This next quilt was made by Kara Jo or her daughter. Or maybe they made it together. Her daughter loves Star Wars, and has wanted a t-shirt quilt.
Initially we talked about possibly doing a Star Wars design, for the quilting. When I couldn’t find one that I loved. They decided on Diagonal Plaid, by Patricia Ritter from https://www.urbanelementz.com/?acc=12 and I’m glad they did. I don’t like doing the same kind of design on the same quilt, it’s just too much. I still want the design to compliment the quilt, but not be so matchy matchy or literal.
I used my favorite 8020 cotton poly blend batting and Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread to quilt this.
The block below is cool!! It’s two shirts sewn together. I do suggest when making a shirt quilt, that you iron the interfacing on really well. Especially when the shirts are a little thin. Otherwise the hopping foot can possibly cause a pucker, if the shirt starts to stretch. I have a spoon foot, but it’s difficult to mark the quilt as I advance the rows. So I prefer using my regular hopping foot.
Thanks for being here and reading through all of that. If you’d rather listen to my blog posts, click on the link at the end of the email that says read in browser, and then it should take you to my post. At the top of the post is a little sound icon. Click on that and you can listen while you sew. When I listen on my phone, it says to click here because my browser doesn’t support the audio. Click on that and it works great! Have a great week!
- Leisha
Shelley’s Pixelated Heart Quilt!
(This post was written awhile back, and was meant to be shared elsewhere. When that didn’t work out, I knew I wanted to share it here...enjoy!!)
I’m so grateful I get to do what I do!! My sweet as they come client, Shelley, made this for one of her friends who has cancer and is going through chemo. This is when quilts and quilting mean far more to me. Being able to machine quilt something that is bringing warmth and love to someone during a difficult time, is such a gift and a privilege. I hope her friend finds healing and is on the road to recovery soon.
If you’ve been on Instagram and you follow quilters, you may have seen this pixelated heart quilt. It’s been everywhere lately. Judith Hollies from Just Jude Designs is selling this pattern on her Etsy. I’m loving the scrappy look to this quilt, from the low volume background to the reds and pinks in all different varieties of prints.
Some of my clients look on my website www.quiltingit.com to see which edge to edge machine quilting designs I have available, unless they request custom quilting which I do free motion. Shelley came with a few ideas, which is great!! I appreciate it when they help me narrow it down to what they like. However, after I saw this quilt I showed her our Cupid©️ design. This design is by Patricia Ritter and myself, and it’s available in paper and several different digital formats at https://www.urbanelementz.com/cupid.html She said yes!! I was excited. I’ve quilted this particular design out once or twice, and each time it’s just one of my very favorites, and I think it’s a perfect fit for this quilt.
When I pick a quilting design, I take into consideration everything about the quilt. The fabric prints, the textures, the quilt pattern, and so on. I often draw inspiration from a quilt, like I did with Shelley, and I just know when I look at it what will look great. Other times I have to think about it for awhile. When deciding on the quilting design, I often choose something that will complement the quilt without it being the exact same design. For example I don’t love to quilt flowers on a quilt that has flower quilt blocks and flower fabrics. I think that’s when the quilting can compete with the quilt. In that case I would rather choose something with leaves or a geometric design. I feel like quilting isn’t supposed to be the focus of a quilt, rather the focus should be the quilt as a whole. Everything, fabrics...pattern...and quilting. If done right each part is complimentary to each other. Now, you may be smiling. I quilted hearts on a heart quilt. Yes, however not every fabric on this quilt has hearts on it. That’s why quilting hearts works. Cupid enhanced the hard edges on the giant pixelated heart, and softened it up quite a bit. I also love to soften the hard lines on a quilt by doing curvy or swirly designs for the quilting. My best advice, be inspired by the quilt. Everything about it. You never know, you may be inspired to do something amazing, by just thinking outside the box. Urban Elementz has an incredible selection of quilting designs from a wide variety of designers, I recommend choosing a variety of different designs that will look beautiful on a variety of different quilts.
The swirls in this design add great movement, and almost dance across the quilt. I also love the texture that quilting adds to a quilt. You can see pictured below the difference of the design on the beautiful red, and the softness of the cream background.
I used Dyed Natural A&E 30 tex Perma Core thread, which is the most lovely creamy color of thread, on the front and back. I also used Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting. Which is a perfect combo, with this super soft Cuddle™️ (minky) backing. Cuddle is the brand name for Shannon Fabrics minky. This particular one, was one of their 90” wide minky’s. I love the 90” for those quilts that are too big for the 60” minky.
I’d like to mention something about plush quilt backings, like minky or Cuddle. I prefer the solid minky with no textures or prints or embossing, 10 times out of 10. The reason being, the quilting you’re paying good money to have done, can be your texture. I mean look how absolutely beautiful our Cupid design is on this Cuddle. With the textured or printed minky’s, they compete with the quilting, and you miss the texture the quilting gives the quilt. What you really want the quilting to do is enhance your quilt, front and back. I’ve often heard that quilting is like the icing on the cake. If you love those textured minky’s, great!! Go for it! For me, I’ll just be over here swooning over those swirly hearts.
Thank you for spending your time with me today! In the future, I’d like to share with you my thoughts on the size/scale of a design. Until then, I hope your quilting journey is a happy one. I love creating designs that you love to use. I for one am excited to see what we can continue to do together in the future. Happy quilting!!
Have a great day!!
- Leisha
Quilts...quilts...quilts!
Hello Quilting Friends,
Hope that your week has been a great one! I told you last time that I have some fun quilts to share with you...so here goes!
First up, this lovely quilt made by Beth, using the Mini Metro Rings pattern from Sew Kind of Wonderful. If you haven’t and you’d like to try a curved quilt, take a look at Sew Kind of Wonderful’s pattern selection. I’ve made a couple of their patterns, and they make sewing a curve easy peasy!!
Beth used mostly Porcelain by 3 Sisters fabrics, from Moda fabrics.
This quilt is small, and yet oh so lovely. So fun to custom quilt. I used Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Beth provided a batting...I think it was bamboo.
I used my 3” and 9” Circle2™ machine quilting circle ruler to quilt the curves, except for the curve just inside of all the circles. I used a -10- curve ruler from Linda at www.thequiltedpineapple.com
My machine quilting circle ruler set, Circle2™, comes in a set of 6 ranging from 2”-14” circles. My sets are available in green or clear acrylic, on my website: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop?category=Rulers
Here is more info about my rulers: https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2018/10/10/introducing-my-circle2-longarm-circle-ruler-set
These rulers are such a versatile set. Because they range in size from 2”-13”, that gives me a wide variety of options for curves.
I quilted a diamond shape, with lines 1/4” apart in the center. I freehand quilted swirls with a little tale, inside the “rings”. Pebbles and a little curve inside the rings, make the rings pop!! I love the combination all together.
Here is a great look at the backing. The backing is a minky, so the texture is lovely!!
Next up...Sherry’s Wagon Wheel quilt. This is a classic quilt block. Do a google search, I’m sure you’ll find a tutorial.
the black and white fabrics are so striking together!!
I used white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 batting for this quilt.
I gave Sherry a few options for quilting designs, and she chose my Beaded Clam Take 2, which is available on my website as well as Urban Elementz. Go here: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/beaded-clam-take-2 or here: https://www.urbanelementz.com/beaded-clam.html
We chose this design to soften the hard lines of the quilt blocks, and it goes well with the fabric prints.
Look at all that fun quilty texture!!
I quilted this with my Gammill 22” Statler longarm machine. All of the other quilts and runners I quilted freehand or free motion.
Here is a look at the quilt backing. Love it!!!
Next up...this absolutely stunning quilt made by Joleene!!! Joleene is the mastermind behind the Sew Red Glasses.
Joleene made this one of a kind quilt to represent the last few years of her life. Family, friends, faith, service, her Sew Res Glasses and so on. Beautiful!! I love the red and white!!
When I quilt a custom quilt like this, I want the designs to flow throughout. You’ll notice orange peels, crosshatching, overlapping circles, diagonal lines, circles, and so on. I try and replicate a design in multiple spots to compliment the quilting designs and help the eye travel throughout the quilt. I love how this one turned out.
Here are some of my favorite blocks...first up, these 4” red stars were throughout the quilt. I thought the quilting on these were perfect to make the stars pop. I used my 2” Circle2™ machine quilting circle ruler to quilt the curves, and an Edge ruler from Linda at www.thequiltedpinapple.com
I also love this star!!! If I remember right I used the 12” and 6” Circle2™ rulers to quilt the curves in the corners. Then I just echoed the Star with some simple lines.
On this block I used 4 different rulers...the Edge ruler, and 3 different sizes of Circle2™ rulers. It might have used the 3”, 6”, and 13” circles to create all the curves. I remember using the 13” circle, but I’m guessing I used the 3” and 6” for the smaller curves. I actually ended up using 5 of the 6 rulers in my set, to quilt this quilt!! I didn’t use the 5”/11” ruler. Which is a great example of the versatility of this set of circle rulers. I’m also loving how nicely they fit in my hand as I quilt.
Okay...those apples are too cute!!
Here is a look at the amazing quilt backing Joleen pieced. Cute, huh?!?!?!! I used white 30 tex thread, and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
Here is a quick look at the clear set of my Circle2™ rulers. For more info or to purchase a set, go to: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop?category=Rulers
Here is a look at the smallest ruler, the 2”/8”. I designed them with the 1/4” hopping foot in mind. If you were to quilt a 2” circle, you would get a 2” circle. Not a 2.5” circle, like I’ve seen happen with other circle rulers.
Below is a look at the largest circle, 7”/13”. Check the link above to see a the other sizes. I’m loving seeing what your creating with these rulers. Please use the hashtag #circle2rulers on instagram, if you post pictures. I’d love to see them and share them. Thank you!!!
Next up, Barbara made these two lovely table runners.
This pattern is actually a quilt pattern by Down Grapevine Lane and is called Tumbleweeds Quilt, and she just made a runner.
I decided to quilt a variety of different designs to create some fun texture. Overlapping circles (video here: https://youtu.be/x0UNyEJdm9Y), swirls, ribbon candy, lines, feathers, and such!!
I love these fabrics with this pattern, so fun!!
I used white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread, and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
And this lovely little runner is a pattern by Kim Diehl and is called Simple Whatnot’s 8.
I used a coordinating teal thread for the border, and a nice cream colored 30 tex thread, Dyed Natural, from A&E. I also used Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
I freehand quilted a swirl feather in the center of the quilt, ribbon candy in the blue borders, and circles in the thin 1/2” cream border. Then I quilted a fun loopy freehand design in the 9 patches on the corners.
These fabrics are also from Kim Diehl.
I nice close up. Quilting just adds so much personality to a quilt, I love it!!
Thank you for stopping by! Have a great weekend!!
- Leisha
Quilts Quilts Quilts!!
Happy weekend to you!! Hope you’ve had a great week!
I’m excited to share these amazing quilts with you!! First up...my mom’s amazing Apple Pie in the Sky quilt! My mom and aunt Kristin own www.sistersandquilters.com and awhile back my aunt created a tutorial on their blog for a quilt called Apple Pie in the Sky. Go here to check it out: http://sistersandquilters.blogspot.com/2013/04/apple-pie-in-sky-sampler-quilt-along.html?m=1
Kristin shared 13 blocks and some amazing time saving/fabric saving tips!! My mom decided to make hers queen size and do 42 blocks. There currently is not a pattern for the rest of the blocks, would that be something you’re interested in? Comment below and I’ll pass it along to them.
Also, if you’re looking for an excellent selection of fabrics go to: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SistersandQuilters and https://www.sistersandquilters.com/
Isn’t this amazing?!?!!!!
The benefit of having your own quilt shop, you can pick and choose fabrics from different designers or lines, and put them together. Which is what she did here.
This quilt hung in my closet for a year, my mom just hadn’t decided what she wanted. So, I pulled it out a couple weeks ago and told her it was time to decide. We had talked about doing my On Point©️ crosshatch design, however I asked her what she thought of me quilting my Sweet Orange Peel©️ design...she said she was thinking the same thing. I’m so glad that’s what I quilted, it looks beautiful!! Sweet Orange Peel is available only in my shop at https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/sweet-orange-peel
I quilted this design at a 4” height on my Gammill 22” Statler. This design does not need to be offset at all.
Now I’m going to share a closer look with you of all 42 blocks. Because this quilt is laid out as 6x7 blocks, and I’m showing them to you in sets of four, you will see some repeat blocks.
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These happen to be my two favorite blocks!!!
I used Winline’s 8020 cotton/poly king size batting for this quilt. I also used 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread in Antique Cream color. It is the perfect off white cream color.
Please comment below if you’re interested in a pattern. Who knows, maybe they’ll do a quilt along again!!!
Next up...a quilt my sister made for her husband!!
He wanted a plaid quilt, which also looked checkered to me.
I love the arrow fabric they chose to go with the red and Moda cross weave grey. They got these fabrics from https://www.sistersandquilters.com/
I gave them a few options, and they chose my Up and Down©️ design, for the quilting. It’s available only in my shop at: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/up-and-down
I used the same Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and king size 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline.
They chose the same Moda cross weave for the backing. Which I think they will LOVE!
Next up... Denise’s incredible Inter Woven quilt, pattern is by Lo and Behold Stitchery. I love the colors that she chose!! So cool!
I used a white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
Denise wanted something soft and curvy, to soften all those hard lines. So I sent her a few options and she chose Soho by Sarah Ann Myers. It’s available at Urban Elementz go to: https://www.urbanelementz.com/soho.html
I love this quilting design!! It’s so versatile. I’ve used it so much, definitely a favorite.
Seriously so impressed with this quilt!! I want to make one now.
Next up... Pat’s plaid Disappearing Four Patch. Its a pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Co. and Jenny has done a YouTube tutorial on it here: https://youtu.be/jA-10A_Uc6k
This is my most favorite Disappearing 4 Patch that I’ve seen. I love this size of the blocks, and I love love the plaid fabrics.
I used the same 30 tex A&E Perma Core Antique Cream thread and 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline.
I suggested Patricia Ritter and my Kindling©️ design for the quilting and I think it turned out great. I seriously love this wood grain texture. Kindling is available at Urban Elementz go here: https://www.urbanelementz.com/kindling.html
A few different pictures just to see all that incredible texture.
I also want to point out how well the Cream thread blends on all of these different fabrics.
Of course we all love the great texture that shows up on a quilt back...
For a look at all of my designs that are available on Urban Elementz go here: https://www.urbanelementz.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=0&p=1&q=Leisha+Farnsworth
Thanks for taking time to check out what I’m making or sewing...actually, I should share the sewing caddy I made on Tuesday of this week...
Isn’t it amazing!! I can say amazing, because I’m a quilt maker. Every time that I reach outside my wheelhouse and make something, I learn so much. This pattern is called Catch All Caddy from Patterns by Annie, it’s available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/623810801/catch-all-caddy-pba-225-bag-patterns-by?ga_search_query=Catch%2Ball%2Bcaddy&ref=shop_items_search_1&frs=1
For the base she suggests foam core or cardboard. However, we have tons of old cutting mats, so a friend cut some down for us. Once I get that put in, I’ll fill this up. So excited!!! I’ve wanted to make this for a couple of years, and we finally got together with friends and made it happen.
Annie has a 1/4” foam that you use, it’s called Soft and Stable, it’s available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/609969032/by-annie-soft-stable-72x58-wh-s-s2072?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=soft+and+stable&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1&frs=1
And it’s a breeze to sew with or quilt. I actually loaded my fabrics on the gammill and quilted them.
I used my 1” Grid©️ design to quilt a large piece, and then went back and cut them down to the sizes required. It’s only available here: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/1-grid
A quick note...the fabric and foam shrunk about 1” . Annie includes that inch in the requirements for fabric to be quilted.
Hope you have a great weekend!! Happy quilting! -Leisha
Urban Elementz 25% off Sale!!
If you follow along with me on Instagram or Facebook, or have received the Urban Elementz email...then you know that they are having a 25% off sale right now until Sunday April 28th. Everything is on sale and no code is needed. I have been designing with Patricia Ritter for 5 years now. We have such an incredibly fun variety of designs. Flowers, swirls (you know I love a good swirl), geometric, wood grain, and so on...
Most of our designs are available in paper and several different digital formats, with some having stencils or tear away options.
To see what we have available go to: https://www.urbanelementz.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=0&p=1&q=Leisha+Farnsworth
I appreciate all the support we’ve gotten over the years. It’s such a blessing and makes my heart happy to see our designs quilted over and over again.
Here are some quilts I’ve quilted using our designs...
Marmalade - our most popular design.
Trapeze
Arrowhead
Birchwood
Kindling
Liberty
Frost
Opal
Cupid
I also have some solo designs that are available on Urban Elementz...
Squared
Beaded Clam
Starlight
Just to name a few.
Check out this link to see the others... https://www.urbanelementz.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=0&p=1&q=Leisha+Farnsworth
The designs on my website will be on sale at a different time.
Thank you!! - Leisha
Client Quilts and Easter Runner...
Hope your week is off to a good start!! Here are a few things I had the privilege of quilting last week.
First up, this fun wall hanging made and kitted by Laser Cut Quilts! You may remember me sharing a quilt like this last fall in their kit release for Quilt Market. This time, I quilted the car differently. So, I thought I’d share it again.
I quilted this quilt all free motion or freehand. Free motion means that I am guiding the machine. I did use Edge rulers from Linda at thequiltedpineapple.com for all of the lines.
In my classes I preach, “keep your quilting as clean or neat as possible”. That it’s better to stop and start your thread over, than to travel and add tons of more thread to the quilt. That’s how I like to quilt. However, I recently saw this pebble quilting done by some other quilters, where they went around the circle a few times. Which I’ve done here. The reason behind it, it adds greater definition to the quilting, and lets it pop that much more. Especially because the batting I used here is just my regular favorite, Winline 8020 cotton poly blend. It definitely added extra texture. I only did the extra stitches in the pebbling, everything else is done neat and clean.
I used a lovely cream Perma Core 30 tex thread from A&E for the background. My favorite colors of cream are Antique Cream and Dyed Natural...I think I used the Dyed Natural on this one. I used a bright red thread for the truck, green for the trees, and dark grey for the road.
I also want to take a moment to share more about Laser Cut Quilts new fusible interfacing, Flexi Fuse. As you can see there are multiple layers of appliqué pieces on this quilt. The wonderful thing about their fusible, is the softness of it...even with those multiple layers. I noticed the machine needle doesn’t leave those big holes like it does with other interfacing, and also I can actually quilt and have it not feel like I’m dragging the machine. Check out those tiny circles in the tire rim above. They were easy to freehand quilt...even with multiple layers. So for your next appliqué project, give Flexi Fuse a try, you’ll be happy with the results. Go to their website for more info: https://flexifuse.com/
Okay, how cute is this bunny runner?!?!?!!! I think it’s one of my very favorite Easter anything, that I’ve quilted. It’s made by Barbara!
The pattern is Country Bunnies by Margot Languedoc from The Pattern Basket, and it’s available here: http://www.thepatternbasket.com/catalog.htm?item=234
Here are some close ups... I love the little tail. I used Linda’s Edge ruler to quilt these 1/2” squares. Once again, I love mixing hard lines with soft curves in the custom quilting that I do. It creates texture and definition.
To frame the blocks, I quilted ribbon candy in the sashing. I did a 45° angled line in the background and a swirly feather in the bunny.
1/2” horizontal lines and pebbles.
1/2” lines going the opposite direction and overlapping circles inside the bunny. I share how to quilt this design on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/x0UNyEJdm9Y
It’s fun to add all these different details, and yet they compliment each other so well. I used Antique Cream 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread on each part of this runner, and 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
Next up...
My aunt Kristin, who is half of the www.sistersandquilters.com team, made these for her two grandsons. These turned out sooo cute. The fabric is Mighty Machine’s by Lydia Nelson from Moda. They have some charm packs still available on their Etsy. www.sistersandquilters.etsy.com
I actually quilted two of these, and cut one very long minky backing. It’s easier when smaller quilts are the same size, to quilt them on one backing.
On this close up, you’ll notice that the border around the square is even all the way around. The strips are the same size. Kristin is going to do a blog post on Sisters & Quilters blog, once she gets the quilts finished. Check their blog here for that future post. http://sistersandquilters.blogspot.com/?m=1
Kristin picked my Crosshatch©️ digital quilting design for the quilting. This is actually how the design looks before you offset it 50%, which made the perfect tire track look. Go to my shop here to get this design, and to see what the design looks like offset. https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/crosshatch
I quilted this design at a height of 2”. Seems small, but it’s the perfect height, as the design is complete with two rows together.
Its also available at Urban Elementz: https://www.urbanelementz.com/leisha-s-crosshatch.html It’s available in paper and digital formats.
I love the texture I can get from a simple design. These are quilted with A&E 30 tex Perma Core thread in the Antique Cream. I also used 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline out of Ogden Utah.
Spring has definitely showed up in Utah, we’ve been getting lots of rain. Which means the grass is getting green and the flowers are starting to bloom. I love this time of year. Now, we just need more sunshine.
I hope you have some fun quilting to do this week. Thanks for taking the time to see what I’m up to. Have a great week!
- Leisha
Quilting Tips for Lining Up Digital Designs!
I’ve had some questions lately on how I line up designs, as I advance or roll the quilt. If you use something different, that won’t let you change the design, play with it and figure out how to tweak it. I’m using Edge to Edge mode, in CS7 by Gammill Statler. I also use place two pins on every quilt, so I can get a left and right reference point. Please let me know if you have any questions. Happy weekend!
More pictures and info about this quilt will be coming in my next blog post. The design I’m using is by Marci Gore from Lily Street Designs, and the quilt was made by Beth.
- Leisha
Client Quilts - April
Happy Spring!! If you’ve had winter the last 6ish months, like we have, I hope spring is on its way for you!!
I hope you’re enjoying having a variety of quilts to look at in one post. It’s definitely easier for me to share all the amazing quilts that I get to quilt, in one post. Thank you for being here!
This first quilt was started by Jessica years ago, I taught her how to make a quilt when she was in junior high...and then she wanted to start her next quilt. So she picked out a couple of blocks from the book: Marsha McCloskey’s Block Party book. It’s such an awesome book. There are a variety of different block patterns, and all the blocks are the same size, which makes mixing and matching easy. It’s an older book, so it may be out of print. But I did find one for sell on amazon... https://www.amazon.com/Marsha-McCloskeys-Block-Party-Extravaganza/dp/1579542662/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2UTFJI90XBG65&keywords=marsha+mccloskey+block+party&qid=1554150636&s=gateway&sprefix=marsha+mc&sr=8-1-fkmrnull
As the years went by, here and there Jessica would remind me that she wanted to work on her quilt. Unfortunately we never got together to work on it again. When Jessica got married, her mother in law...who is an amazing quilter, said she was going to finish it for her.
Marla finished it...isn’t it beautiful?!?!?!! I was lucky enough to quilt it! I know Jessica is going to be thrilled!!
I used my favorite 30 tex Perma Core cream thread, Dyed Natural, from A&E. I also used Winline’s 8020 cotton/poly blend batting.
These fabrics used to be available at my mom and aunts fabric shop www.sistersandquilters.com or www.sistersandquilters.etsy.com but unfortunately, that was awhile ago. They do have a pretty fabulous selection of fabrics...patterns...and notions, you should totally check them out.
I sent Marla a few options for quilting...all feathers, that Patricia Ritter and I have designed. To check out our designs go to: https://www.urbanelementz.com/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=Leisha+farnsworth
Marla chose our Vintage©️ design and I think it’s a beautiful match!! Vintage is available at Urban Elementz in paper and several different digital formats. Go to: https://www.urbanelementz.com/vintage.html
Here is a look at the beautiful cream Cuddle or minky, from Shannon Fabrics. It comes in 90” wide...which is wonderful! Makes quilting all those big quilts easier for me. plus it only comes in the solid, which is great!! The quilting becomes the texture on the minky.
Next up... Jenn made this for her daughter who just made cheer for her second year, at our local high school.
This quilt will be the perfect size for her to take on all those bus trips. If I remember right, the squares were cut 6”, which makes them 5.5” sewn.
I used a silver thread from signature, that looks like it has a little metallic to it. It doesn’t...just looked like it does. I have used a metallic thread before, and it quilted great. It was years ago, but I think it was a Superior or Signature thread. I also used Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
Jenn picked 90” wide minky too, which changed the way that the quilt was pinned on. I always pin minky on my machine, on the two ends that are cut. Otherwise stretching happens. So, I gave Jenn a handful of options, some of which would end up looking like they were quilted vertically. That was the case with this Mod Dotz design by Patricia Ritter. It’s available at Urban Elementz: https://www.urbanelementz.com/mod-dotz.html I think it turned out great!! I love the vertical look of the design.
Look at that minky/quilty texture!!! Love it!
The next two quilts were made by Kristen!
This first quilt is a pattern by Elizabeth Hartman called Dogs in Sweaters. How cute!!! Those glasses are a fun touch.
I used the same 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread in Dyed Natural, that I used on Marla’s quilt. I also used Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting. It’s my favorite cotton poly blend because it’s a little thicker than the others, and it’s so much softer.
I asked Kristen if it would be okay to use my new Double Squared©️ quilting design, she said yes!! I love how it turned out.
Double Squared is available on my website: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/double-squared or Urban Elementz website: https://www.urbanelementz.com/double-squared.html If I remember right, I quilted this one at a height around 5.5”. Double Squared is a new take on my Squared design, that quilts out on point. I think it’s fun to have both options, and I hope you enjoy quilting with this one, too!
This is such a fun quilt!! I know several people who’d love one.
Kristen’s Grandma’s Flower Garden quilt!
If you’ve been following along on my Instagram for awhile, then you know I’m making a hexie flower quilt. I started it nearly 4 years ago. It’s sewn by hand using the English Paper Piecing method. It’s definitely a labor of love, and I’ve enjoyed making mine. I still have edges to make, but I’m ready to lay mine out...so excited, especially now that I know how to quilt it. One of the reasons that I was okay with mine taking me so long, is because I had no idea how to quilt it. Until now!! I searched Pinterest and Instagram, and couldn’t find anything that wasn’t either too time consuming or I liked. Then I thought of my digital cross hatching design, On Point.
I used the same cream Dyed Natural A&E Perma Core 30 tex thread, and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
I’m loving all these floral prints!!!
On Point©️ Is available in my shop at: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/on-point or at Urban Elementz: https://www.urbanelementz.com/leisha-s-on-point.html The great thing about this design, if you offset it at 50% on every other row, then no lines quilt over other lines. It’s clean and beautiful.
I love the mixture of colors and florals on this quilt!!! The squares ended up 3/4” big. Tiny and sweet, if you ask me.
Close ups and a nice angled picture!
Here is a look at the backing. I love lines and squares, to me this is a perfect fit. Now, I can wait to get mine sewn together, so I can quilt it the same way.
I quilt on a 22” Gammill Statler. I only use the computer on edge to edge designs. When I custom quilt, it’s all me and some rulers. I hope you have a great week!! I have some fun things to quilt this week.
Take care, happy quilting!! - Leisha
New machine quilting designs...
Recently Patricia Ritter and I released these two designs, Breeze©️ and Orchard©️. I shared them on Instagram and Facebook, but I haven’t shared them here. Both are available in paper and digital formats.
This is Breeze and it’s available at https://www.urbanelementz.com/breeze.html
This fun leaf design...looks as though the leaves are blowing in the breeze. Haha!! This is called Orchard, and is available at https://www.urbanelementz.com/orchard.html
To check out all my designs that are available at Urban Elementz go to: https://www.urbanelementz.com/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=Leisha+Farnsworth
We have a wide variety of designs, from flowers...to feathers...to stockings...to geometric...a snowflake...and so much more. This time of year a favorite is Cupid©️ - https://www.urbanelementz.com/cupid.html
And, of course...an all time favorite...Marmalade©️ - https://www.urbanelementz.com/marmalade.html
If you’re familiar with my designs...which one is your favorite?!?!?!! Comment below.
thanks for following along. I’m quilting, and getting behind in blogging. Excited to share with you some of the fun quilting I’ve been doing.
Until then...happy quilting!
- Leisha
Florence Flamingo and her friends...
My mom made this quilt for my sister and brother in-law, for their wedding quilt. They have a slight obsession with Flamingo’s!!!
My mom and aunt own a fabric store online, https://www.etsy.com/shop/sistersandquilters or https://www.sistersandquilters.com/ they have a great selection of a wide variety of fabrics, as you can see. This pattern is available in their shop, it’s called Florence Flamingo and is by Elizabeth Hartman. I love it!! The ombré look to each flamingo is so much fun.
I gave my sister and brother in-law quilte a few designs to choose from, for the quilting...they chose my “The Climb”©️ design, which is only available at: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/the-climb
I quilted this design at 2.5” height. That seems small, but it’s the most perfect size. Especially with all the negative space in the design. I love it with these fabrics and the flamingos.
So...let me introduce you to Florence Flamingos friends, yes...we named them. Haha! Not only do we want to remember their names, but I want to show you a close up on all the fun fabrics they picked for this quilt... note...these names are random and were chosen over a facetime call with my other sister and brother in-law...you know, as a gift or added personal touch to this quilt. Haha!
In all seriousness as you scroll through these pictures, notice the trianglular theme in the fabrics, which makes the quilting very fitting.
This is Guyus...
This is Francene, isn’t she lovely!
Crabby, fitting for sure.
Gaquille, perfect spelling by my bro in-law...
Gringo...
Dalas, aka Salad (they are reversible I learned)
Aquafina...she’s quite possibly my favorite!
Steven (inside joke between the bro in-laws...from some funny video)
Shaniqua
...have you ever had fun naming your animal quilts???
I used my favorite Winline 8020 cotton poly blend batting, and 30 tex poly wrapped poly Perma Core A&E thread. I bound it in the pink, because it’s just like the pretty pink flamingo legs, plus that pop of color is fun!!
This was the last quilt I quilted before Christmas!!! Love how it turned out.
- Leisha
My Ombré Gems quilt!!!
This is one of two quilts that I started and finished last year. I quilted tons of quilts, however I don’t sew a ton of quilts, because I sew so slow. I try and enjoy the process. I’m thrilled to share with you my Ombré Gems quilt!!! You have no idea how excited I am about this quilt. I loved this pattern the first time I saw it from Emily Dennis... go here to get the pattern: https://quiltyloveshop.com/collections/featured-products/products/ombre-gems-pdf-quilt-pattern
I got all the fabrics from https://www.sistersandquilters.com/ my favorite online fabric store!!! Or they have an etsy... https://www.etsy.com/shop/sistersandquilters
So, beginning of last year Emily said she was going to do another Ombré Gems sew along, and I totally jumped right in, even though I had a ton of work stuff going on at that moment and didn’t know how I was going to fit it in. I started and loved it sooo much! One thing that really helped is to have the blocks precut and clipped together, with the color name written on paper. Once you cut off the selvages, it’s hard to know what some of those colors are. It was the first time I had used Vanessa Christensen’s Ombré fabrics, so I was wondering how I was going to get that great fade from light to dark in my blocks. No worries, Emily shows you exactly what to do to cut the right piece in the right spot, so you can have awesome blocks, too. Like I mentioned above, the fabrics are by Vanessa Christensen from V and Co by Moda Fabrics.
The little red clips I’m using are called Wonder Clips, they are a life saver in so many ways. The bottoms are flat so it’s easy to sew until you get to the clip, then of course you can’t sew over it like a pin. They are great for binding, English paper piecing, sewing bags or zipper pouches and trying to keep all those layers together, and of course for keeping all your pieces together. The best price I’ve found is amazon, and yes...you’ll want the 50 pack. click here: https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Wonder-Clips-Red-50-Pack-x/dp/B004ZKPX8A/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1546708234&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=wonder+clips&dpPl=1&dpID=51fJgM4kdRL&ref=plSrch
I finished this quilt in May, and thought I knew what I wanted to quilt on it. In the mean time, I had client quilts to quilt. Come December, when I was about done quilting for clients, I counted how many quilts I had quilted for the year and I was a few short from doing the same amount last year. So I looked in my closet and my beautiful Ombré Gems was sitting there. The dilemma, I had no idea what I should quilt on it. Seriously went back and forth soooo many times. I even did an Instagram poll in my stories with three options. The funny thing, I was totally going to quilt a triangle design on it. I actually started to and it was too big, so I unpicked it. Thankfully I only had two triangles quilted. I decided to do and poll and sleep on it. The triangles were a definite no...haha! Actually there were some who voted for all three designs. I know that any one of them would have looked great. But since I LOVED this quilt, I wanted to LOVE the quilting too, and not just quilt it to quilt it and then regret what I did later on. So, I eliminated the triangle design as an option. Which left me with my Squared©️ Or Beaded Clam©️ design. Squared won the poll hands down, and I was sooo close to quilting it. I even spent a few hours thinking out loud, just trying to decide. My mom was listening...haha! I actually decided to do Squared, and then changed my mind. Let me tell you a few reasons why. I wanted to first and foremost soften up the quilt. This quilt is beautiful and has a lot of hard lines, and I knew my Beaded Clam design would be great at softening it up. Second, I have two other quilts that I really want to do, and they both need to have Squared quilted on them. I love my Squared design, but I want to use a variety of my designs on my quilts, instead of using the same one over and over. I also, quilted Beaded Clam on a client quilt back in August, right after I released it, and I really wanted it on one of my own quilts. Now, I just hoped I was going to LOVE it as much as I LOVE the quilt. And, I do!! So much!!! You may be wondering why I went into great detail telling you about my thought process. The funny thing, most times I can look at a quilt and know exactly what to quilt on it. Especially if it’s an edge to edge design. I usually draw inspiration from the fabrics or the quilt pattern. The hard thing about this particular quilt, it’s all solid fabric...well except for the backing fabric. (Look for it below) Which is another reason I chose this design. I quilted this design at a height of 3”, and that is a perfect size.
Here is a look at my Beaded Clam©️ design, not to be confused with my Beaded Clam Take Two. Beaded Clamb is available only in my shop at: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/beaded-clam-1
Urban Elementz picked up my Beaded Clam Take Two design, and it’s available in paper and several different digital formats...if you’re a paper pantograph quilter check that out. https://www.urbanelementz.com/beaded-clam.html
These aqua, pink, magenta, greens, and red...are my favorite combination of color on this quilt!!
Look at all that awesome quilty texture!!! Love love love it!! To create this texture I actually used two layers of batting. I’ve done that before on a few of my custom quilts and on a client quilt...but never on a quilt I was going to just do an edge to edge quilting design on. The base layer is my favorite 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline out of Ogden Utah. Then on top of that I used a layer of Hobbs wool. I tell you, this combo is heavenly!!! I haven’t had any problems with the batting bunching or anything weird, but as I roll I check to make sure everything is still flat and straight. Especially when quilting a quilt that is pieced on the bias. Sometimes batting likes to bunch on me, with blocks sewn on point...I don’t know why, when I’m advancing the quilt on the machine. The reasoning behind using two layers of batting, is to add extra loft and help the quilting POP! I actually rubbed my hand on this quilt dozens of times to feel the texture. Haha! I used a white 30 tex poly wrapped poly Perma Core A&E thread.
I’ve been sleeping with this on top of my bedspread, and it’s been so cozy and warm in the freezing northern Utah winter we are having.
See...here is the backing fabric!! Does it make a little more sense why I wanted to quilt this design on this quilt??? The dots have a rounded top and bottom mimicing the scallop in the quilting. I think they pair nicely together. This quilting may not be your favorite, that’s okay. I also love this grayish bias pinstripe for the binding. It’s a Bonnie and Camille basic by Moda. The backing fabric is from one of Vanessa Christensen’s old fabric lines, Color Me Happy by Moda.
This is also my first quilt that I was able to put my custom made label on!! I love these!! Of course I went for Navy/Aqua, with white...they are my favorite color combo! So many of my quilts have navy and aqua in them, so I thought it would complement them nicely. I also love the clean simple look and the cute font they did my name in.
Custom Labels 4 U, did them for me. They are awesome to work with, and I got a ton of labels for a great price!! Here is their website... https://www.customlabels4u.com/mobile/custom-woven-labels.htm
If any of you are wanting more specifics about my labels...size, fonts, colors... comment below, and I can dig up the emails with all the details. I had these made awhile ago, so I can’t remember everything off the top of my head.
Thanks for following along and reading my story!! When I was teaching my longarm quilting classes, deciding on which patterns to quilt, was something they all wanted to learn more about. So, I hope you learned a little something about the process I use. I definitely want to include the “why I chose this design” in my posts, in hopes that can help those of you who are new to quilting.
Hope you’re having a great day!! Happy quilting!!
- Leisha
Angela’s Star Wars quilt!!!
Angela made this awesome Star Wars quilt for her son. Seriously so cool!! She used a variety of Star Wars squares to mae the border, but the real focus is the awesome planet she created. It felt like a few different layers of fabric, which made it more dimensional than the rest of the quilt, but it was easy to quilt through. (The best picture of the planet is the header for this post, and you have to go to my blog to see it. The post header pictures don’t show up I. The emails.)
I used white 30 Tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.
Anglea asked if I could do a design that has squares in it, so I suggested my “Squared”©️ design. I think it turned out great, and added some fun texture to the quilt, especially all the background fabric.
Squared is available on my website: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/squared in several different digital formats or at Urban Elementz: https://www.urbanelementz.com/squared.html in paper and several different digital formats. This design needs to be offset every other row. I have an option on my gammill machine, and it offsets it for me. Check if your machine does that too.
Those space ships are pretty cool, too!! I’m bad, I don’t know what they are called.
This is what I love about my job!! I get to see such an amazing variety of quilts. It’s fun to add my little touch to help finish them.
Hope you have a great day!!
- Leisha
Mary Ann’s t-shirt quilt!
Mary Ann made this for her daughter for Christmas. I think this is one of my most favorite t-shirt quilts. The reason being, the light grey sashing. It frames the shirts nicely, without competing with the colors in the shirts.
I made a t-shirt quilt in the spring for a client, and if your interested in some tips, read this post: https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2018/3/26/t-shirt-quilt-a-first-for-me?rq=T-shirt
I used white Perma Core A&E 30 tex thread, and my favorite Winline 8020 cotton/poly blend batting.
When Mary Ann was showing me the quilt, I knew exactly the design I wanted to quilt on it. My Beaded Clam Take 2. Mary Ann’s daughter played tennis, and I told her the design reminds me of a tennis ball bouncing. So, it’s a hint of tennis without being so literal. I think it looks awesome quilted on this quilt. Beaded Clam Take 2 is available in my shop. The original Beaded Clam design needs to be offset every other row, Beaded Clam Take 2 doesn’t. It’s available in my shop, in several different digital formats. Go to: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/beaded-clam-take-2
See that tennis ball bouncing???
Mary Ann did pretty great for this only being her second quilt.
Loving all this beautiful texture!
Hope that you’re having a great holiday season!!!
-Leisha
Kara Jo’s granddaughters quilt!
Kara Jo’s 12 year old granddaughter decided she wanted to make a quilt, and she did an awesome job!!! Her choice of colors, and placement is just so cool.
Is that not seriously impressive?!!! It laid very flat for me, too. Sometimes quilts that are sewn on the bias tend to wave or grow in unexpected ways or spots. This one was perfectly flat.
Kara Jo told me to pick a fun design, and I thought my Hopscotch©️ digital design, would be fun! I hope she loves it!! Hopscotch is available in my shop in several different digital formats: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/hopscotch
That angle shows the awesome texture, this design creates!!
I used a white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread, and my favorite 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline.
I like to use a lighter/neutral thread, when quilting multi colored quilts. The lighter threads blend pretty nicely on the darker fabrics, which helps the design enhance the quilt. Using a darker thread, causes the quilting design to dominate the quilt. I really don’t like darker threads on lighter fabrics. You can see with these close ups, just how nicely the thread blends on all these fabulous colors.
I love the little white + that they chose for the backing fabric.
I have lots of fun quilts coming to the blog soon...the next one was quilted custom, with a large variety of different background quilting designs. Excited for you to see it!
-Leisha
Sharon’s Tumbler quilt!
Sharon made this beautiful tumbler quilt for her daughter, who is getting married soon. She took two tumbler quilt kits, from a local quilt shop and made one huge quilt.
I love the variety of colors and prints in the fabrics, which makes Sharon’s random layout work.
I wanted to make the quilting a little modern, but staying within the look of the fabrics, which makes my Woven Orange Peel©️ design a great choice. It’s available in several different digital formats on my website: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/woven-orange-peel-1
I love the vertical look to this design, it’s so versatile, and I’m excited to see it used again and again.
I used Dyed Natural 30 tex Perma Core A&E thread, and Winline’s cotton/poly blend batting.
A close up, and angled view... Texture like this adds some interest to these simple quilt blocks.
Check out my other designs in my shop: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/
Thank you for stopping by! I’m in Christmas quilting mode over here, and I have lots of fun things to share with you. Happy quilting!
-Leisha