Halloween Wall Hanging

It was so fun to see so many of you during our shop hop last week!  As we are getting this week started, I wanted to pop in and show you one of our new wall hanging samples.  This cute wall hanging is made from a panel so you know it’s got to be a fast project.  My favorite part?  It lights up!  See the little lights around the word, “BOO”?  They blink on and off.  We have both the panel and the pattern for this cute wall hanging – and a Christmas version as well! 

And here’s one more quick addition to your Halloween décor – a pennant banner!  These cute holiday banners are made by Riley Blake and come in many color combos.  Here are two tutorials on how you can put these pre-printed Halloween banners to good use! (click on the text to be taken to the tutorials)

Quick and Easy Double Sided Halloween Banner

Cindy & Jina’s Pennant Tutorial (video)

Halloween Time

So I just counted and we have a short 7.5 weeks left until Halloween.  

Time to start getting your Halloween decor ready!  

How about a cute Halloween quilt?  This one is now available as a kit!  This quilt is 64" x 79" and makes a cute throw quilt to toss over the back of your sofa this time of year.  

The kit is $53.50 and is available at the shop, or by ordering over the phone (801-225-3123)

Looking for more fun Halloween ideas?  How about these:

Cute Table Runner (Mrs. Bindweed's Boots pattern)

Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial

Spider Web Table Topper tutorial

Need even more ideas?  Check out our Halloween Pinterest board!

Don’t Look Now….

I don't want to alarm you, but just so you know…we have Halloween fabrics in stock.

 

The Halloween prints are rolling in and we’re starting to (already) look towards fall.  Don’t panic though!  You still have plenty of time to plan your fall projects.  But to get the ideas flowing, I suggest you stop by and see these great prints.

Cute Halloween Table Runner

Today I thought I would share with you this really cute Halloween table runner that we have on display this month!

The pattern is called “Ms. Bindweed’s Boots.”  The table runner’s finished size is 15.5” wide and fits a table up to 76” long with a 15” drop.  The adorable witch’s boots hang off of both ends of the table runner and the pattern gives you the chance to add a lot of charm with the details:

We have the patterns in stock as well as a great selection of Halloween fabrics to make it easy for your to create your own pair of “Ms. Bindweed’s Boots!”

Do you already have a Halloween table runner?  No problem!  There’s a Christmas version of the table runner pattern.  This one is called “Jingle Boots” and we have these in stock on the pattern wall.  So cute!

Halloween!

Time to start thinking about Halloween projects (if you haven’t already!)  We have a variety of Halloween project tutorials and ideas available here on our blog.  See that “Handmade Halloween” button in the sidebar?  Click that and it will link you to any project/tutorial that is Halloween related!

We’ve got our display hutch stacked to the brim with even more Halloween ideas:

How about whipping up some cute Halloween pillow cases for your favorite ghouls and goblins?

We make it easy for you – pillowcase kits are ready to go!

And we have the patterns to make this cute pumpkin wall hanging:

The pattern for this quilt can be found in the book from Adorn It that I wrote about here. 

And see the cute ruffle pillow that is leaning up against the bottom of the quilt?  That is also from the Adorn It pattern book and that pillow uses the leftover fabric from the quilt!  Such a clever design!

Stop by and get inspired!

Posh Pumpkins Project

We’ve recently changed some of our displays to reflect the upcoming season.  Is everyone ready for fall, back-to-school time and Halloween?  We are!  One of our new display items is this quick and easy project using Posh Pumpkins (Moda). 

The pattern is called “Peak Color”.  It makes a 27” x 29” mini quilt that you could use as either a wall hanging or table topper.  I love it because it’s not specifically for Halloween or Thanksgiving, so you really can use it from September all the way through to the end of November. 

Here at the shop we have the patterns, charm packs and other necessary fabrics for you!  I was able to get the quilt top done in about 90 minutes.  Honestly, the most time consuming part of the project was cutting out the twelve circles but that can be done while watching your favorite movie. 

Stop by the shop and get everything you need to get started on this cute fall project!  See you soon!

By the way, we love to see the projects you make!  Share something you've made using fabrics from our shop -- send it through email (fabricmillblog@gmail.com) or on facebook page!

Trick or Treat

What a great time we had a the shop hop last week!  It was so fun to meet so many of you and hear what you are working on.  

Now the countdown to Halloween has begun - 1 week left!  There's still time to put together a few more projects to get your house ready for the big day.  We are out of kits for this cute wall hanging, but the pattern is still available.  This would be great hanging in your entry way or decorating your table top for this last week of October!

We also have just a couple more of these Monster Quilt Kits.  So, so, cute!  

(The finished quilt measures 43" x 51") 

Right now all of the Halloween fabrics are $3 off per yard so it's the perfect time to stop by the shop and get the fabric you need to make some trick-or-treat bags or a spiderweb table topper (instructions for both are free here on our blog!  Click on the "tutorials" tab.)

Halloween Spider Apron

Check out this cute spider apron I spotted -

The body of the spider is a pocket and the head of the spider is a large button.  So creative!  This pattern was created by Phyllis Dobbs and is available free online here.  Print out a copy of the pattern and bring it in to the shop.  We'll help you gather everything you need!  

Halloween Quilt Kit

This is one of our newest quilt kits available:

The pattern is called "Gumballs" and is included with the kit.  The finished quilt measures 55" x 65" and the kit is available for $52.50 which includes everything you need except the backing and the batting.  

Stop by the shop or give us a call if you'd like to order over the phone!  

(801) 225-3123

Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial

Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial

by Trisha Weekes

www.myfourtrees.com

Materials needed:

½ yard of outside fabric

½ yard of liner fabric

1 fat quarter of choice

*optional-2 yards of jumbo ric-rac

Thread

note:  please read through all steps before beginning any project

Step one:

Start by squaring up your fabric, making sure you have 2- 18”x42” rectangles (18”x21” folded) removing the selvedge edges.

From the fat quarter cut 2- 4”x22” strips, these are for our handles.

Step two:

(a)  Fold the 4”x22” strips in half lengthwise, right sides together. 
(b)  Sew a ¼” seam lengthwise down both strips of fabric. 
(c)  Open and Press seams.
(d)  Turn each strip so right sides are out. 

Press so the seam is running down the middle, turn over and top stitch ¼” on each side of the handle. Repeat until both handles are complete.

Step three:

Pin handles onto the top outside of selected fabric, at 8” in and 14”in from the side. You want the seam on the handle to be facing the liner fabric. Fold fabric over and using the first handles as a guide pin the other handle to the other side. Then place the lining fabric to the outside of fabric (right sides together) and sandwich the handles between the two fabrics. 

Pin, then sew a ¼” seam along the top of both fabrics, back stitching over the handles to secure them between the two fabrics.

Step four:

Open and press this seam, then fold the fabrics in half lengthwise (right sides together still). Liner fabric facing liner fabric and outside facing outside. Sew a ¼” seam down the side.  Open and press this seam. 

Fold back over the outside fabric (so the right sides out), line up the raw edge of the outside with the bottom of raw edge of the liner fabric (wrong sides together). At this step you have the option to add a heavy interfacing to the bag, we've left it out of our bag. Sew a ¼” seam around the bottom opening, just the two layers not the four total layers.  Then zig-zag stitch the raw layers to prevent fraying.

Step five:

Now we're going to create the border at the top of the bag, by shifting the two fabrics about 2”. By doing this it creates a unique layer, we get to see the liner fabric at the same time as the outside, but also creates the bottom of the bags guides and seams. 

*Please note: that with my fabric, the liner fabric as seen from the outside of the bag is going the right direction, but when looking down into the bag it is upside down. If you have chosen a directional print you will need to sew your liner fabric upside down in the previous steps as well*

Step six:

Open up the bottom opening and fold it on the seams, fold in the ends like you would a present, forming a triangle on both ends. 

With a ruler and pencil we're going to mark the sides- line up the ruler with the triangle to the top of the bag and make a light line. Do all four sides; after the first two, flip it over refold triangles and draw lines.

Fold and sew an 1/8” seam down each of the lines drawn.

Step seven:

Fold the bag in half horizontally, lining up side seams and handles. Turn the bag inside out so the liner is facing out.  We're going to sew up the bottom- line up the fabric (should be the outside fabric folded over, no raw edges). 

Sew a ¼” seam, then zig-zag stitch to reinforce the bottom.

Step eight:

Open up the bottom seams again, with the triangles poking to the outside of the bag. Along that seam you're going to sew, this will create the bottom sides of the bag. Repeat on the other side. 

Next we'll fold in the triangle and following the seam we'll stay stitch the triangle in place on the bottom of the bag. Repeat on the other side.

Step nine:

Back up to the top of the bag, we're going to top stitch (¼”) around the top and top stitch the handles down to the bag. 

Next stabilize the handles by making X's as shown in the picture. 

The ric-rac is optional, if you want you can leave it off. To add the ric-rac, line it up with the outside/ liner seam starting at a side, stitch through the middle of the ric-rac securing it to the bag all around the bag.

Step ten:

Give this bag to a kid, who is willing to go door to door and ask for a trick or a treat! Enjoy a bag full of treats!

Spiderweb Table Topper Tutorial

Time for another tutorial to help you get your house ready for Halloween!  This is a delightful Spiderweb Table Topper that is easier to create than you may think.  

This project's finished measurements are 30" from one edge to the parallel edge, and 34" from one point to the opposite point.

Supplies Needed:

1/6 yard each of 6 different fabrics
1 yard backing
1/4 yard binding
Also needed:  a long ruler that has a 60-degree marking on it

Steps:

1.  From each of the 6 fabrics, cut two strips that are 3" x width of fabric. Sort the 12 strips into two groups of 6 so that there is one of each fabric in each grouping.

2.  Next, sew each set of 6 strips together using a 1/4" seam.  The recommended method is to sew two strips together, then press the seam open.  Sew the next two together and press that seam open.  Then sew the last two strips and press open.  Now sew the three sets together, again pressing the seams open.  This method helps prevent warping of the final strip set.  

Each set of strips should measure 15.5" x width of fabric (42" - 44")

3.  Find the 60 degree marking on your ruler:  (I highlighted the 60-degree lines on my ruler so you could see them a bit better.)

4.  Line up one of the 60-degree lines with the bottom edge of your fabric strips.  Make sure the top right edge of your ruler crosses just inside of the edge of the top strip (see photo below)  Carefully cut fabric.

5.  Keeping fabric strips in place, flip ruler over and find the 60-degree line going in the other direction.  Line up that line again with the bottom edge of the fabric strips. The bottom right side of the ruler should be 1/4" to the left of the point where you started your last cut (see red circle in photo below.)   

Carefully cut fabric.  To check your 60-degree triangles, use the measurements in the photo below (18" at the widest edge and 15.5" tall through the triangle center.  It's okay if this is a little off.)

For the next triangle flip your ruler again and move it over (keeping the bottom edge of the strips lined up with that 60-degree mark) so that the top right edge of the ruler is about 1/4" to the left of where your last cut ended.  Triangle #2 is a mirror image so to speak of triangles 1 and 3.  See the diagram below:

6.  From each set of strips you will get three triangles.  Cut all 6 triangles and arrange as desired:

7.  You will be sewing these triangles together into two sets of three.  (Three triangles to form the top half and three triangles to form the bottom half.)  As you sew triangles together, match up the seams and pin at each match-up point (see photo below.)  Press seams open.

8.  Once you have the top and bottom halves sewn and pressed, place the two halves right-sides-together (matching up seams as you did above) and sew using a 1/4" seam.  Press.

Your spiderweb top is complete!  Layer with the backing and the batting and then quilt however you would like.  I chose to do some straight-line quilting that echoes the seam lines of each strip.  

The binding is done the same way you would bind a quilt.  Don't let the points intimidate you :)  I thought it would be a little tricky, but I used bias binding and it finished up nicely!

If you make a spiderweb table topper we'd love to see it!  Leave a comment on this post with a link to the photo (on your blog, flickr account, etc).