Gnome for the Holidays

Let's finish up this year in a festive way, adding some fun with Gnome for the Holidays!

I don't know about you, but I've been seeing gnomes everywhere - quilt patterns, embroidery patterns, sales fliers, websites, and stores. They're so darn cute, I had to make one myself!

Gnome for the Holidays is so easy with fusible applique. The plump little gnome next to his Christmas-y snow-covered house, plus the wonky, snow covered trees makes such an adorable little table decoration!

 

As a table runner, Gnome for the Holidays measures 14" x 36".

Or make a small wall hanging by removing the right hand section with the extra trees - it would be just as cute!

If your seeing a lot of gnomes and just have to have one, the Gnome for the Holidays table runner pattern is now available in my Etsy shop. As usual, with a new pattern release, special pricing is going on now through CyberMonday, November 30. 

And if your interested in a learning how to use a freemotion zigzag to stitch around those appliques, avoiding all the fabric turning, check out last week's tutorial, Freemotion Applique.

Happy Quilting!

My Favorite Patterns

Freemotion Applique

Bet you're wondering what freemotion applique is. 

 

It's a process of using the machine's zigzag stitch along with it's darning or freemotion foot to stitch down the edges of fused appliques.

So, how is this different than any zigzag to secure appliques? This technique doesn't involve stopping with the needle in place, and rotating the fabric. It's all stitched moving the fabric side to side or up and down, just like freemotion quilting.

Bet you're wondering why. For me, the quicker I can get applique stitching done, the better. No stopping to turn the fabric shaves off some precious time.

Now I know this technique is not for everyone, as it does take a bit of control to move the fabric to catch the zigzag. But with practice, it moves along fairly quickly. And that's a big plus in my book!

Go ahead and watch this little video, Freemotion Applique, that I have of the process. 

Note that when I'm on a more horizontal plane, the stitches zigzag at an angle, like this,

 

as seen on this tree, in both white and green thread.

And when going around curves, the angle switches direction.

Here it is on the gnome's nose.

Looks pretty good, right? For me, I love this technique for speeding up my applique stitching. Not sure if the quilt police would though!

As far as my gnome project, it will be here Monday - stitching, quilting, and pattern writing have taken longer than expected.

Happy Quilting!

My Favorite Patterns

Pinwheel Parade - Free Pattern

Another finish to report this week - Pinwheel Parade, my project for RSC2020.

I'm pretty happy with how this turned out, especially with the few adjustments since I last showed progress. I decided to move the red and yellow pinwheels to balance out the values in the quilt. Otherwise, there would have been a lot of strong colors on one side, and light colors on the other. 

And that idea of black? Too strong for this quilt, though the backing is mostly black with a cream print. Fortunately, I had a taupe in my stash that worked perfectly to add a bit of interest in the setting squares, coordinate with the background, and not overpower all the other colors.

The quilting? Just like the Rainbow Celilo quilt, this one too has the Happy Times pantograph and a variegated thread of primary and secondary colors. Both work so well!

I've received lots of compliments on my scrappy pinwheels, using the "Making Blocks from Crumbs" tutorial and video. For this quilt, those crumb blocks and background squares are 7".

After stitching on both sides of a diagonal line, then cutting on said line, 

there are four HST's which are trimmed to 6.5" square.

Put them together and they make one 12.5" x 12.5" pinwheel block.

Here's part of the setting squares, cause I forgot to take a finished picture of those. Just three 4.5" squares, finished off with 4.5" x 12.5" strips for a 12.5" block.

And let's not forget those setting corners and triangles to finish off this on-point quilt. Cutting those setting triangles on each diagonal gives the quilt an edge that's on the straight of grain. Woohoo for no waves!

If you would like a pdf version of all the cutting sizes, instructions and details, feel free to download Pinwheel Parade from Google Drive. It's a free pattern to say thank you for following along!

Happy Quilting 

 

My Favorite Patterns