I was part of a monthly bee, Sew Bee It, through my local quilt guild, St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild.
If you are not familiar with a bee, basically it is a small group, usually up to 12 members.  Each member gets assigned a month and during that month all the other members make a block or blocks of her choosing.  They may provide fabric or part of the fabric and the rest is pulled from your stash.

One of the blocks in our bee this round was an improv bird block.  Improv is not really in my comfort zone and especially having to look like something when it’s done so I procrastinated big time.  Turns out not only was it easy, it was really fun and went together fast.   We only needed to make one but with it being that quick and easy, I made a second.  

And then, of course, living in St. Louis and being a Cardinals fan, I had to make one for myself.   I used some leftover scraps of Baby Jane by the Comstocks for my cardinal and low volume and text prints for the background.

Want to make one for yourself?  This is the tutorial from Pie Lady Quilts. I modified the head to look more like a cardinal.  I also added extra fabric around the perimeter so my finished square would measure 12.5″.

The block I contributed for my beemate, @stlcaverly, became this beauty!

Isn’t it great?!

Have a great day!

The lawn chair quilt pattern is a quick and fun and free pattern to make by Monica Solorio-Snow, aka Happy Zombie that you can find in the Moda Bake Shop. It’s also kind of cool because it uses precuts and also, you can get 2 quilts out of three jelly rolls. But I didn’t do that.

The first couple I made were Christmas gifts for my sister, Kendra, and sister-in-law, Kelly, for Christmas. I followed the tutorial for two and made them at the same time, though I used very different fabrics for each. Let me apologize in advance for the poor photos of these first two. I’m going back a LONG time and my photos are subpar.
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I had this stack of fabrics in my stash, which I love, and decided to use them for Kendra’s quilt. I can’t remember what the fabric was called or who it was by.

I still have some leftovers that I hope to do something with some day.

For Kelly’s quilt, I used Kona chartreuse and a colorful chevron striped jelly roll.

You start sewing your background fabrics on either side of your jelly roll strips, cut to different lengths.

Then layout your blocks as desired and begin sewing your columns together.

I decided to try applique, which I hadn’t really done yet, to add their names to the backs of their quilts.

Then, of course, basting. I guess I didn’t take a photo of this riveting step in Kendra’s quilt. LOL

For Kelly’s quilt, I decided to free motion quilt swirls all over.

And for Kendra’s, loops and hearts.

And then binding. I always love binding, the anticipation of finishing the quilt, the first one to kind of use it while I’m snuggled up under it stitching it. And this time was especially nice because I was binding to Christmas lights.

I wish I had taken better photos of the finished quilts but you live and learn, huh? And actually, Kelly’s was still being bound when I took the photo of the front. 

And here’s Kendra’s.

All washed and ready to wrap up for Christmas.

The last one I made was a couple years ago. I had leftover strips of a jelly roll by @aprilrosenthal from making a @Sewkindofwonderful Metro Hoops quilt that I paired with Essex Linen for this gorgeous version. It’s one of my favorites.

I quilted it with a somewhat loose, plain meandering pattern all over.

I love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by.

Products used and recommended

We had to use only Riley Blake prints but we could use any solids. I tend to run more modern traditional in my quilt designs and preferences, but I stepped a little outside the box on this one. I had no idea what I was going to do so I hit the internet for some inspiration. I ended up looking at bathroom tiles and really liked the look of these and the alternating columns.

I added some lighter gray along with some black to give it a little more interest.

The biggest challenge for me was the circles, cutting them out and getting the edges turned under and still keeping a perfect looking circle. I can’t tell you how many circles I cut and pressed to get them looking right! Now, I have an Olfa circle cutter, which I love. It cuts out perfect circles every time and you can adjust your circle size. It is awesome! I machine stitched my circles down and left them unquilted.

I really wanted to step up my game on my quilting and all these different colors and areas was a good way to practice some free motion quilting. First up, I wanted to do pebbles. Since they take a crazy long time, I decided to do pebbles only in the white areas since it was the smallest. They turned out so good, if I say so myself, but they do seem to take forever.

I did fun swirls in the light gray tiles. I always like free motion quilting swirls.

And just a tip that helps me – whenever I want to free motion quilt a design, I practice it first by drawing it over and over on a piece of paper. It gives me the feel of the shape or pattern and kind of creates a muscle memory. Then when you go to practice it on your machine, it almost feels familiar and I find it much easier. Then, I practice it on a small quilt sandwich before I take it to my quilt. I learned so much from the book Free Motion Quilting with Angela Walters . I also like Free Motion Meandering, and Shape by Shape, and Shape by Shape 2. Another really awesome resource is 365 Free Motion Quilting by Leah Day.

Sorry for the wacky lighting on this one. I had to do some photo adjustment so you could see the black and dark grey blocks better. For the black tiles, I did just “organic” straight lines. I tried to get them super straight but that is really a weak spot in my quilting talent. I need more practice doing straight line quilting.

I did some free motion squares on the dark tiles just turning and turning every so often.

This was a fun quilt to make. It really challenged me to try some new things and to step out of the familiar and stretch my skills.

Here it is getting ready to go to St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild‘s first quilt show back in 2017.

And hanging in the show!

Well, that’s all I have on this one! I hope you enjoyed. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Products used and recommended

I was asked a number of times about where I found the pattern, so I finally wrote one in 2018. We tend to like large quilts since everyone in my family is tall, so I wrote the pattern in two sizes.  The throw version is 56″ x 63″ and the larger quilt is 70″ x 84″.  

Since Sphere was no longer available, I decided to make a scrappy version so you could use any fabrics you like. I made this one in the larger size and my very patient husband held it while I took many, many photos!

One of my quilting buddies, Annie Cook, tested it and made one as a gift. It turned out super cute! She is a wonderful longarm quilter in the St. Louis area if you’re looking for someone! You can see her amazing work on Instagram @aecquilts.

And finally, I had gotten a bundle of Lavish by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics and wanted to do a version where the lights in the lanterns were all different colors rather than just the yellow.  This fabric line is just gorgeous.

I quilted it with loops and stars.

And used this adorable lightening bug fabric to go along with it.

Here they are hanging in St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild quilt shows!

It the first one is now in it’s permanent home with the mom of one of my old friends, who was one of the many, many victims of Hurricane Harvey.

If you’d like to make one yourself, Paper Lanterns is a fun quilt to make and is beginner friendly. You can find it in my Etsy shop! #paperlanternsquilt

Thanks for stopping by!

This was a traveling quilt I was part of where I started with a block (the New York Beauty Circle of Flying Geese by Better Off Thread. The quilt then went to each of the participants who added part of the quilt. When I got it back, it was still a bit small so I added a column to either side and the bottom row.

At the time, I didn’t really make quilts on commission but she’s special, so I said yes. I’m so glad I did. It was such a fun quilt to make! I started her quilt off with a New York Beauty Circle of Flying Geese by Better Off Thread, too. It is such a stunning quilt block!

The only thing she really asked me to make was a shamrock because we are Irish from my Nana who was a McAuliffe.  So that was next. The green I used reminded me of the wicker bedroom furniture she had when we were kids. The block is by trilliumdesign and it’s called Lucky Shamrock.

She also loves the theater and lives near New York City, so the next couple blocks were a given. You can find the Wicked block at Fandom in Stitches. They have a paper pieced Playbill block, too, but I made my own applique block.

Polly is also a world traveler so I searched around for some cool travel related blocks. I found the great wall of China by Quilt Art Designs.

And the Sphinx was by Quilt Art Designs as well.

Polly said one of her favorite places was Angkor Wat so I found a photo and did an applique of its silhouette.

Our family is from Pittsburgh and all big Steeler fans so I had to do a block for them. This block was also from Fandom in Stiches.
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I wanted a globe to add for her travel as well so I printed out a coloring page of a globe and then one of the earth that I liked and adjusted the sizes. Then I cut them out and appliqued them on.

The last couple really special blocks were Gandy, her Guinea Pig. I used this Hamster block by Sew Fresh Quilts.

Doesn’t it look like him?

And leopard print cheaters for my Nana and her mom. This pattern is Geek Glasses by SewWhatSherlock.

She loved a leopard print! Here is Nana with Polly, Terry, Sherry, and Aimee, my mom & my aunts.

Then I laid out my main blocks to come up with placement.

Then I started adding in some other fun blocks to fill in the spaces. This is Singing in the Rain by The Tartan Kiwi.

I love these feathers and have made them a few times now. They are by Quiet Play.

This heart is also by Quiet Play.
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I also found this cool plane, Fly With Me, by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Art Gallery Fabrics from a blog post way back in 2012. Sorry I don’t have a better photo. I forgot to take some of these final blocks.

I also loved this paper boat. One of the stories I remember from Polly’s travels was being in a boat on the Nile in Egypt and the guide wanted them to sing show tunes like Gilligan’s Island and the Brady Bunch. So I wanted some kind of boat and this one is so cute. You can find the free pattern here at Fat Quarter Shop.

Next, I basted it. Look at the cool passport fabric Polly picked out. It is

Windham Fabrics Whistler Studios Passport Passport Stamps Fabric in Ocean.

Then I quilted it in this fun loopy meander with hearts.

Finally, it was bound, washed, and on it’s way to Hoboken to Polly.

It was such a fun quilt to work on and I was so happy that she loved it, too.

Have you done a traveling quilt or a collage quilt? What do you love about them? What don’t you like about them? I’d love to hear

Thanks so much for stopping by!

The t-shirt blocks were all different sizes and when I cut out the blocks they were all different widths. I decided to do something a little different and use them all anyway rather than the traditional grid of blocks. My first step was to back each block with Pellon 911 interfacing. It is adhesive and irons right on. This helps the blocks to not stretch out while you are sewing.

I decided to use Kona cotton in all different colors. I cut 2 inch strips out of each color I was using and lined each block with different colors. I laid out all my blocks until I got a layout that I liked, centering the blocks in each column.

Next, I measured my largest block in each column and add the appropriate width black strip on either side of each block in the column. I then joined the blocks using 1-1/4″ strip between each block. I added black to the top and bottom of each column to make them the same height. Then I joined each column using a 1-1/4″ sashing strips. I finished the top by adding black sashing on left and right edges to finish at my desired width.

I did make one mistake but did not discover it until my columns were all done — and that is my left column was NOT the same length as the rest! That’s what you get from improv sometimes. I had bought some Cotton + Steel Paper fabric, Bandana Panda Bebe, and had wanted to use it somehow because Andi’s nickname has always been Panda (from Andy Panda). Well, my friend Joanna, @quiltamomma, had just taught me how to do needle turn applique and I had ended up with a big black rectangle there in the bottom left so I added his name. We’ll just pretend I meant to do that (wink wink). Then I finished it off music fabric for the backing and Dr. Who fabric for the binding and did a loopy meander for the quilting.

I love how it turned out!

I originally designed this quilt for a friend but I had quite a few requests for a pattern so I decided to write it up.  It comes with three sizes: baby/lap size, throw, and large.  With large, easy blocks, this is a super fast quilt to make and perfect for beginners.

I hope you like it! You can find it in my Etsy shop! And for the month of July, it is 40% off!

use #playfulpupsquilt on social media so I can find you.

Thanks for stopping by!

It was a pretty exciting experience.  I came up with the design in publisher using some classic quilt blocks and then played around with different fabrics. I had fallen in love with these Baby Jane fabrics by Eric & Julie Comstock for Moda Fabrics
and really wanted to find something to make using the reds and aquas of the line.

Aren’t these pretty? I wish they were still available. I’d love to make another quilt with them!

I did a few versions to test it out my numbers scrappy and in Bonnie & Camille’s April Showers.

Once I knew all my measurements were good and everything was working out, I wrote up my pattern. Then I went ahead and cut into my Baby Jane fabrics and made my quilt from my pattern.

My finished top was so beautiful!

All basted and ready to be quilted!  I like to pin baste.  How about you?  How do you baste?

I free motion quilted it with an all over stipple pattern.  For this quilt, I was using my domestic Janome Memory Craft 4900.  Now, I sew on a Janome Memory Craft 8900.  I can’t tell you how much more I love that larger throat space and the automatic thread cutter.  How did I do without them?

I pieced the back with my leftover fabric and some extra blocks.  I had an embroidery sewing machine at the time so I did a fancy label.  It was a fun machine but at the time, my son needed a new computer and we were tight on extra $ so I sold it to get him his desktop set up.  He has gotten way more use out of his computer than I would have out of the embroidery though so it was worth it!

Next, I got some volunteers to test my pattern.  They all did a great job and were so appreciated!

Zrinka from Owls and Co finished hers and it blew me away. She also took lots of beautiful pictures.  

Her color choices were bright and fun and modern.  I still want to make one like this!

It is the coolest thing to see what people come up with with your patterns!   I also found this one searching the internet one day by Carol M. Clemmons. How pretty!

Since then I made some little version of the blocks and turned them into pin cushions. You can find these in my Shop.

And Star Crossed even got to be in St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild‘s first quilt show!

Want to make one of your own?  You can find the pattern in my Shop in pdf and paper versions. 

I’d love to see yours! Use the hashtag #starcrossedquilt on social media so I can find you.

Have a great day!

Shop related products:  (This is what I use!)

There is really so much going on in it and I could probably come up with so many more things and, in fact, I have a couple in mind. What I really focused on, though, were all the bright colors and the uneven gray tiles on the ground.

It was no surprise to me that my first drawing was symmetrical and a little rigid but I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone so I tried something else and I’m so happy with how it turned out!

If you’d like to make your own, the fabric requirements, cutting instructions, and layout follows. This quilt measures 60″ x 60″.  If you’d like to print the cutting instructions and chart, you can find a printable pdf here.  You can print out a sheet of pattern piece markers here.

Fabric Requirements & Cutting Instructions

Backing: 3-5/8 yards

Batting: Twin Size 72″ x 90″ or 2 yard cut off 90″ wide roll

Binding: 1/2 yard for 2.5″ strips

Quilt Layout

1) Set aside W1, W2, and W14 pieces.

2) Following layout, construct the 5 inner columns as shown.

3) Add W14 sashing pieces in between columns.

4) Add W2 borders and then W1.

5) Quilt as desired.

I’d love to see yours if you make one. Use the hashtag #offthegridquilt so I can find you!

Shop related products:

I’m so excited to show you the gorgeous version of my Crossing Waves pattern that was done by my very talented friend, Paola of Love of Fabrics!  The quilt was made using the brand new In Blue Art Gallery Fabrics by  Katarina Roccella and it turned out amazing!  I just might need to make another!

The original version also featured Art Gallery Fabrics Essentials by Pat Bravo.   I love them both!  It’s amazing how different fabrics can give a quilt such a different look! ​

Want to make your own?  We’d love to see it!  Post on social media using #crossingwavesquilt

You can find this pattern at Etsy.

​Thanks for stopping by!

Krista