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Monday, February 25, 2013

Feeling Pink?



One of our newest additions to the shop are the Ladybug Garden flannels from Riley Blake – just look at all of the springtime prettiness just waiting for you!

Ladybug Garden flannels at The Fabric Mill

Another new line now on the shelves is Animal Parade (designed by Ana Davis for Blend fabrics) -

Animal Parade fabric by Ana Davis for Blend fabrics

I just love the soft pinks and yellows!

Animal Parade fabric by Ana Davis for Blend fabrics


Friday, February 22, 2013

Fourth Friday Follower Giveaway

We’re back again with another 4th Friday Follower Giveaway.  We appreciate all of our followers and shop customers and this is one way for us to say “Thank you!” 

Friday Follower Giveaway!

This month the giveaway will be two Lucy’s Crab Shack charm packs! 

lucy's crab shack charm packs

We’ve had a great response to this Charming Lucy quilt pattern  - remember this?

 Charming Lucy free quilt pattern
Lucy’s Crab Shack is one of my all-time favorite lines. 

To be eligible for the giveaway here’s what you need to do!

If you’re not already a follower, become one and then leave a comment on THIS post.  We’d love to hear what are the most predominant colors in your fabric stash.  That’s it!  Do those two things and you’ll be entered to win the two charm packs.  Giveaway closes Thursday, February 28th at midnight.  Winner will be chosen at random and announced here on this blog Friday, March 1st!  Giveaway is now closed - thank you!

The giveaway is open to any of our followers here in the U.S.  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!

Have a great weekend everyone!  We’ll be back Monday to show some of our newest fabric lines.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial


The other day I needed a quick gift for a friend and decided I’d make a couple of hot pads / pot holders for her.  These are a quick project and make a nice gift because you can completely customize the fabrics to fit the chef!
 
Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog
(fabric used is Serenata from Riley Blake)


Easy Hot Pad Tutorial
by
Andy Knowlton


Materials Needed (for two hot pads)
1/4 yard each of two complimentary fabrics OR 2 fat quarters
1/6 yard coordinating fabric for binding
1/4 yard Insul-Bright**
two 9”x 9” pieces of thin cotton batting

**Insul-Bright is a thin batting-like material that has an insulating layer.  It is made for items such as this.  In the photo you can just barely see the thin insulating layer (where the red arrow is pointing.)  The Fabric Mill carries Insul-Bright!

Insul-Bright

Step 1:  Cut two 8.5” squares from each coordinating fabric.

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Then cut (about) 9” squares of the thin cotton batting and the Insul-Bright (you’ll need two of each)

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

The rest of the instructions will be for just one hot pad but your supplies will be enough to make two. 

Step 2:  Layer the fabrics and the batting to create a sandwich:   fabric 1 (right side down), Insul-Bright, thin cotton batting, fabric 2 (right side up)

Pin layers together in 4 to 6 places to hold together.

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Step 3:  Quilt the layers together.  You can do either some straight line quilting, or some free motion quilting.  I like the look of the straight line quilting but the fmq goes a bit quicker for me.

Once the quilting is done trim the hot pad.

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog


Step 4:  From the binding fabric cut 1 strip that is 2.5” x width of fabric.  Fold it in half and press to make a long strip that is 1.25” wide.

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog
(Each binding strip will bind one hot pad)

Step 5:  Place the binding strip along one side of the hot pad with the folded edge pointing toward the center of the hot pad and the raw edge of the binding strip matching up with the edge of the hot pad. 

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Start sewing (1/4” seam) about 1.5” from the corner of the hot pad.  Stop when you get to 1/4” from the edge.  Backstitch.  Clip threads.

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Fold the binding strip to the right so that it is perpendicular to where you were just sewing:


Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

then fold it back on itself to the left so it lines up with the next edge of the hot pad:

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Turn the hot pad 90 degrees and begin sewing the next side (1/4” seam.)  Start right at the edge and backstitch just a little as you begin:


Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Sew all the way down this side, stopping again 1/4” from the end and repeating the above steps for the corner.

Continue all the way around the hot pad:

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog


After sewing the final corner, sew down the last side only about 1.5”, then backstitch.  Remove hot pad from machine, clip threads.  On that last side, you should have about 5 or 6 inches with no binding yet:

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Next we need to join the two ends of the binding.  Lay the binding down and unfold it just a little so you can mark where they meet up. 

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog


Pin in place

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog


Carefully sew across the two binding ends to join them.

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Trim extra binding off, leaving about 1/4”:

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Lay binding down on edge of hot pad, finger pressing the seam you just created. 

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Sew in place.

Step 6:  Beginning in the middle of one side, flip the binding over to the back so that it covers the stitching line.  Hold in place with pins or binding clips.  Sew on the other side, right in the ditch.  This will catch the folded edge of the binding on the opposite side. 

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

When you get to the corner, stop about 2” from the corner.  Leaving the needle and the presser foot down, fold up the corner so you can see the underside.  Fold the binding down as shown:

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Then fold the other side over as shown to create the corner.  Hold in place as you sew to the corner, leave the needle down, pivot and continue sewing down the next edge of the hot pad. 



Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog

Continue sewing around until binding is sewn. 

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog


Enjoy your hot pads!  I LOVE mine.  When they need a wash just toss them in with your dish towels. 

Easy Hot Pad Tutorial from The Fabric Mill's blog



Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Gypsy Girl + quilt kit

I'm back again with another great quilt kit that we have available at the shop.

If you've been into our shop you may have noticed this beautiful quilt hanging behind the register:


I'm completely in love with everything about this quilt!  It is made using the Gypsy Girl pattern by  Anka's Treasures.  The finished quilt measures 69" x 83"

Even the packaged quilt kit is gorgeous - those grays, greens and yellows are the perfect springtime palette!


The kit sells for $93.00 and is available in the shop or by ordering over the phone (801) 225-3123






Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Steam Punk fabrics + quilt kit

We have some new steam punk fabrics in the shop!  The line is called Victorian Dream from Quilting Treasures.  Carol created this "Perfect Panels" quilt from the steam punk fabrics:

Perfect Panels quilt kit from The Fabric Mill

The finished quilt measures 55" x 61" and we have this available in a kit!

Perfect Panels quilt kit from The Fabric Mill

Kit is $49.98 and is available in the shop or by calling 801-225-3123 and ordering over the phone.  We will ship!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Valentines Project

photo from Martha Stewart

Need a quick hand made Valentine's gift?  These cute heart shaped pot holders are quick to put together and we have everything you need here at the shop - including Insul-Bright.  Have you heard of Insul-Bright?  It is a type of batting that has an insulating layer which makes it perfect for pot holders, oven mits and casserole covers.

The step by step instructions can be found here.  These would be cute made with fabric from the Flirt line by Moda.





Saturday, February 2, 2013

Pattern Variations


Remember this quilt?

Bugged Out charm quilt pattern

This is the “Bugged Out” quilt currently on display at the shop and available in a kit.  The pattern to make this quilt is included in the quilt kit, but if you’re interested in maybe using some other fabrics, then the pattern is available free with fabric purchase. 

Here is the same Bugged Out pattern made using the Robotex fabrics:

Bugged Out charm quilt pattern

And here is the pattern made with Polka Dot Stitches – a cute Riley Blake line:

Bugged Out charm quilt pattern

The Bugged Out pattern is written to use a charm pack along with a bit of yardage for the sashing and borders.  (Or you could choose to cut your own 5” squares.) 

Here is a version of the same pattern made using a Flirt charm pack (we have these in stock!)

Bugged Out charm quilt pattern

This last one is made using the same charm pack, we just swapped out the border fabric:

Bugged Out charm quilt pattern

It’s fun to play around with this pattern! 

Friday, February 1, 2013

Giveaway Winner

 giveaway blog button v1

We have a winner for our first ever Fourth Friday Follower Giveaway!  Congratulations to ….

Cherylj!
giveaway random pic
(Cherylj we will be sending you an email today.)

Thank you to all of our followers who entered!  We’ll see you tomorrow with a new blog post.  Have a great Friday everyone!