Sew Much Fun!

I had such fun yesterday, with more sewing!! Hubby has been away for a couple of days and I spent almost the entire day in my studio. Bliss! I mentioned in my last post that I have several small projects to cross off my list so here is the first one. A set of four placemats which will be donated at Guild for Meals on Wheels. Each year we do Christmas placemats for them for the meal trays on Christmas Day. I have been wanting to try out this pattern- "Take Four" placemats, a Something Sew Fine Quilt Design by Cary Flanagan. If you cannot find this pattern at your local Quilt Shop, you can purchase it online and download it here. This is a quick and easy project and I can certainly see myself making another set or two (or three) of these! The tops are made from four fat quarters, and the pattern gives complete directions for two variations, plus simple directions for three more variations. In my books that's good value!!

Here are my four fabrics- two Modas from Kate Spain's Joy collection (2012), a beautiful red from Essentials by Wilmington Prints and a lovely darker green print from an unknown source (sorry- no info on the selvage). These four fabrics are stacked, trimmed so they are all exactly the same size and then you cut strips of several different widths through all four layers. Then you shift a few in the stacks and sew each set of strips together. Next you cut several vertical strips off the sewn sets, shift a few in the stacks again and re-sew. Sounds confusing, but really VERY
simple as long as you pay attention and keep things "in order". Accurate consistent seam widths and careful pressing assures good matches at all the seam intersections. I totally meant to take a few progress photos along the way, but I was having sew much fun with the process, I was on the final step before I remembered the camera. Sorry! I promise next time I make them, I'll take some "in progress" shots. Anyway, here they are. Actually they are not totally finished at this point - these are just the "tops". I need to find backing fabric, then they'll be sandwiched and quilted. I'll show you a photo when they are totally done, I promise!

Peace,
Linda

My Doctor told me to get more fiber so I went to the quilt shop for more fabric...