Are You Ready?

Are you ready to start some Halloween sewing?  Well it's time!  Can you believe it?  School is starting soon, and Halloween is just around the corner.  

In the upcoming weeks we'll be rolling out new project ideas:  trick-or-treat bags, aprons, throw quilts and some decor items to help get your home ready for haunting! 


We've added a new button to the right-hand sidebar of the blog.  See it over there?  Give that a click and it will take you to all of the blog posts (past and present) that are Halloween related.  We'll compile them all in one place to make it easy for you to come back and find some great ideas.

See these rows and rows of bolts?  Yep, that's ALL Halloween fabric.  We can't wait to show you what you can create with them!

Simple Gifts Baby Quilt

In need of a handmade gift for a new baby?  This is a quick and easy quilt that you can put together in no time at all.  In fact, make a few of these and keep them on hand for a last minute gift.



Fabric Requirements:
1-1/8 yard fabric for quilt front
1-1/8 yard fabric for quilt back
1/3 yard binding fabric
batting:  a piece at least 40" x 40"


Instructions:

For the front and back fabrics, cut both to be 40" square.  Trim your batting so that it is also 40".  Create your quilt sandwich by layering the quilt backing (right side down) then the batting and then the quilt top (right side up).  Baste in place (I prefer to use basting pins but 505 Basting Spray would work well too.  We do carry this in the shop.)

Quilt however you desire, or you could tie it.  For this quilt I did some straight line quilting:

And in this version I machine quilted it in a gentle meandering pattern:

Once the quilting is done you are ready to bind it!  

This a quick and simple quilt to make!  It would  be so cute done in the new "Princess and the Frog" fabrics  or some of the "Don't Be Afraid" line of fabric (both new and in the shop!)

Ruffle Minky Blanket Tutorial

Ruffle Minky Blanket Tutorial

by Trisha Weekes of myfourtrees.com

Supplies needed:

40" of your choice of Ruffle fabric

40" of your choice of Minky fabric

1 pkg of Satin blanket binding (4  3/4 yard)

Matching thread

Temporary Spray adhesive

Stick Pins

Rotary Mat and Cutter

Notes:

Our blanket is going to be 40" squared- its a very generous size for a baby blanket. We've made it this size for a couple of reasons: 1) we only have to purchase 1 satin blanket binding package 2) not too big and not too small!

You could make it larger, however the ruffle fabric is only 54" wide and the minky is 60". If you're interested in a lap size blanket (54x54 or 54x60 or longer) you'll just need to purchase the extra yardage and satin blanket binding.

*A couple of side notes: both fabrics are polyester and wash wonderfully! Just remember NO fabric softener for the minky- it will gum up the fibers and no longer be soft!*

Steps:

1-     The first step I always do before I begin a project is to square up the edges that have been cut at the fabric store, especially if it was cut with scissors. I basically take the selvedge edges, line them up, place them on the line of the cutting mat, smooth out the fabric and make the cut edges even by trimming off the excess or uneven edges with my rotary cutter and mat. Then I cut the desired measurements, 40" square.  This will be the base for our blanket so it must be square. Remove the selvedge edges from the minky.

2- Even up the top CUT edge of the ruffle fabric (not the selvedge).  There is a natural line in the fabric to follow. Place it on the wrong side of the minky fabric (wrong sides together).  The minky has a nap to it- double check to make sure the nap is running down not up.  Also check to make sure the ruffles are running down as well.  Align the two fabrics, pin if necessary.  Leave an inch (the selvedge edge) to be trimmed off later, and begin a line of sewing.  Sew 1/4" or presser foot width, down the top side. Now you'll have an excess of 12-13" on one side.  You may trim it now, but I prefer to trim it after I've glued and sewn it to the minky.

3- Our next step is to temporarily glue the ruffle fabric to the minky.  You may need an extra set of hands for this step. (not pictured) Open up the two fabrics, seam at the top.  Lay the heavier minky fabric down on a flat surface. You should be looking at the wrong sides of both fabrics.  Spray onto the minky a 4" width line of the spray adhesive. With a temporary spray you should have time to even out any bubbles. Continue doing a line at a time until the entire ruffle fabric is glued down to the minky. You can trim off the excess fabric now or wait until  you sew all edges of the ruffle fabric to the minky. *Very important* make sure as you sew to keep the ruffles flat and going in the right direction.

4- Sew all of the edges down of the ruffle fabric to the minky, trim off the excess if you haven't done so yet.

5- Since the spray adhesive is only temporary we're going to sew some stay stitches throughout the length of the blanket. I followed the lines in the fabric.  Every 6 ruffles, I lifted the ruffle and stitched the width of the blanket. I had seven rows of stitches.  This will help to keep the fabric from shifting while being laundered or loved.

6- Our next step is to apply the 100% polyester Satin Blanket Binding. There are many tutorials online, check your manufactures website for specifics. I will not be giving the instructions here for that, maybe some other time. I did miter my corners and did a biased seam to close it up. I also top stitched the satin binding twice, because I have found that it can come off easily. Again, just make sure you keep the ruffles going in the right direction, as you sew!

I hope you have a chance to make one of these sumptuous blankets either for yourself or a lucky baby in your life.  It is sure to become a favorite. It's light and airy but adds warmth and so much beauty. Come into the store and see it in person, then browse the great selection and colors of both fabrics.

Giveaway Winner

First of all I have a bit of business - we are needing to move our facebook page to a business page (instead of a personal page) so if you have been our "friend" on our old page, click the link below and "like" our new page!

http://www.facebook.com/fabricmillorem

Our old page will not be used any longer so in order to continue to receive updates, sale info, links to great tutorials and patterns as well as giveaway opportunities you will need to like our new Fabric Mill page.


Thank you to all who entered our giveaway!  Our winner for this giveaway is:  Kate Barker!

Congratulations Kate!  (Kate, we have sent you an email)

And now because every blog post should include something lovely:

These are just a few of the fabrics from the new Capri line by Adornit.  I love these blues and browns!  The line also includes some gorgeous yellows and grays.  We'll show you more in a later blog post.  Also, be sure to check back on Friday for a new tutorial from Trisha!

Quilt Kit Giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed!  Thank you to all who entered**

Are you familiar with Emily Herrick of Crazy Old Ladies Quilts?  Well let me introduce you!  Emily is a local quilter who designs fabrics, quilt patterns and is a recent book author!  We carry many of Emily's patterns and we have many of the prints from her Hall of Fame and Going Coastal lines in stock.  We also recently added Emily's new book "Geared for Guys" to our shop.  (side note:  it's a really cool book chock full of quilt ideas to make for your favorite guy.) 

We have a quilt made from one of Emily's patterns hanging in the shop:

It's made using fabric from her Hall of Fame line.  I loove that stripey star!  The pattern is called Rock Star:

For our giveaway this month we will be giving away a quilt kit and pattern to make your own Rock Star quilt.  This quilt finishes at 42" x 48" --a great size to take to the park for an afternoon in the sun, or to pack to the ball game in the evening.   

Here's how you can win:  (You don't have to do ALL of the following, but each one gives you additional chances to win!)


1)  Become a follower of the Fabric Mill Blog and then leave a comment below letting us know!  We love our followers! (one entry)
2)  Like us on Facebook and then come back here to leave a comment below to let us know you did. (one entry)
3)  Follow us on Twitter and be sure to come back and leave another comment on this post!  (one entry)
4)  For an additional entry for each one of these, you can blog about our giveaway, or share it with your friends on facebook and twitter.  Leave a comment below for each one and please leave us a link so we can see that you did - thanks!


That's a lot of chances to win!  If you do all of them that's SIX entries into the giveaway.  The giveaway will be open until Wednesday, July 18th at Midnight (MST).  We will randomly choose one lucky winner from the entries, notify them by email and then announce it here on Thursday.  (If you are a no-reply blogger be sure to leave your email address in your comment so we can contact you when you win!)

Lucy's Crab Shack Charm Quilt

I am always on the hunt for new ways to use charm packs - how about you?  Here's a great little pattern that makes a 35" x 35" quilt - a perfect size for a new baby, or to use as a table topper for your dining room.  We have everything you need to make this same quilt here in the shop!

Charming Lucy quilt pattern
designed by Andy Knowlton of abrightcorner.com

For this baby quilt you will need:
1 Charm Pack (Lucy's Crab Shack shown)
5/6 yard solid fabric (Kona Snow shown)
1-1/8 yard backing
1/3 yard binding
37" x 37" piece of batting

Cutting:
From the solid fabric cut:
5 strips @ 2.5" x WOF -- subcut into 2.5" squares (you'll need 72)
3 strips @ 2.5" x WOF -- subcut into strips that are 2.5" x 9.5" (you'll need 12)
4 strips @ 2.5" x WOF (these are the horizontal sashings)


Construction:
From the charm pack choose 6 of the charms that will have the least amount of contrast to your solid fabric (or choose your least favorite ones.)  Set these aside - we will not be using them.

For each charm square you will need two 2.5" squares.  Place smaller squares in the opposite corners of the charm square.  Sew a line from corner to corner across the smaller square as in the photo below.  If you prefer (and to help with accuracy) you may first draw a light pencil line diagonally through the smaller squares to use as a stitching line.

Trim about 1/4" away from stitching line:

Carefully press corners to the outside being careful not to pull or stretch the square:

Arrange blocks into sets of four and piece together as shown below:

(sew the top two together and the bottom two together.  Press seams open.  Then sew the top half of the block to the bottom half of the block, matching the center seams.  Press seams open.)

Using the diagram below, assemble blocks into rows using 2.5" x 9.5" strips as sashing.  Press seams toward sashing strips.

Sew rows together using 2.5" x 35.5" strips as sashing between rows.  Press seams toward sashing strips.

Baste, quilt and bind as desired!

[You can download or print the free quilt pattern here]

Summer Table Runner Kits

Happy Independence Day to all of our blog friends in the US!

Do you need a quick project to work on this week?  We have these Summer Table Runner kits in stock:

Each kit includes the pattern and all of the fabrics needed (including binding and backing) to make one of these star spangled table runners:

The table runner finishes at 12" x 40" which is a great size for most tables, bookcases, and even piano tops.

This is a great summer to let your red, white and blue show!  Anyone else looking forward to the upcoming Summer Olympics like me?  

To purchase one of these table runner kits stop by the shop or give us a call to order over the phone.

On the Go!

This is a quick and easy quilt project perfect for any beginner quilter.  The pattern is called On the Go and it uses fabrics from the Peak Hour line from Riley Blake.  Any little boy would love this!  This quilt finishes at 68" x 73"

We have several kits available in the shop.  Kit includes pattern, instructions, fabrics for quilt front, borders and binding.


Here is another quilt made from Peak Hour fabrics- check this out:

photo from here

This cute quilt was made using this free  quilt pattern and was spotlighted on the Riley Blake blog.  Download and print the pattern and bring it in to the shop - we'll help you find your fabrics!