Showing posts with label Christa Watson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christa Watson. Show all posts

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Zipped Up

I'm excited to have a project featured in Benartex's free e-zine, Modern by the Yard. I used Christa Watson's Gridwork collection (yes, I've used this a lot lately--it's so fun!). I wanted to come up with a design that would showcase those big prints in larger chunks, rather than cutting them up small. Here's what I came up with:

Photo by Erin Sutherland Photography

The name came naturally after finishing the design--I think the center looks like a zipper. I played around with several color palettes but really wanted to use the blue and citron to create a bold, spring-like feel. The Arches print (the stripe) was perfect to tie the two side colors together. Visit the e-zine to see some of the other color variations I tried. 

Diane Oakes quilted the quilt. We decided on lines of pebbles in the center blocks and a simple wavy line in the frames. There's so much going on in the fabric, and the pebbles echoed the circular feel in the prints. 


It's hard to see the machine quilting in the background--if you enlarge the photo, you can see it a little better. Diane quilted spiral boxes that would provide texture without overpowering the design. 

Fun fact: Diane told me that she had to quilt the citron using a black light because she couldn't see the thread on the fabric! 

I love this view down the center of the quilt!

Make sure you page through the entire issue of Modern by the Yard--it's FREE! There are four projects and other fun features, including Modern with a Twist and Mix & Match. You'll also find the pattern to make Zipped Up. 

Find the magazine here.

See the entire Gridwork collection here. Ask for it at your local quilt shop, or visit Christa's website to order what you need.

Friday, March 27, 2020

Precut Project Hop: Ebb & Flow


Hello and welcome to the last day of Benartex's Precut Project Hop! The full schedule is at the bottom of this post, so if you missed any days, you can check them all out. 

I designed the Ebb & Flow quilt about a year ago and have been waiting patiently to remake it in a new fabric line. Imagine my delight when I saw Christa Watson's Gridwork collection! The fabrics feature bright and bold geometric designs that pop, even in precut 2-1/2"-wide strips (Benartex calls the packs Strip-pies). And by using precut strips, I reduced the cutting time for making this quilt in half! 




Here's what I used to make the quilt. I chose the Black Grid for the background so that the brights would stand out even more. The hourglass-style blocks use two print strips each; the diamond-shaped blocks use one. You'll have plenty of strips leftover to play with! Find Christa's Gridwork fabric (including Strip-pie packs) in her shop.



I love the ripple effect this quilt design has.



I quilted it using wavy horizontal lines. And I was worried about running out of black thread before I finished, so just for fun, I used a variety of colors in the bobbin: purple, fuchsia, turquoise. The quilting was a little rocky, so I'm not showing a photo--you'll just have to imagine the color on the back!



Great texture!

If you'd like to make Ebb & Flow, you can purchase the pattern in my Etsy shop. For 20% off the pattern, use the code STAYATHOME. (And while you're add it, check out another hop I'm involved in, Stay at Home and Hop.)
Purchase this pattern in my Etsy shop.


Did you catch the rest of the Precut Project Hop? Visit everyone below.


Monday 3/16: 

Tuesday 3/17: 

Wednesday 3/18: 

Thursday 3/19: 

Friday 3/20: 

Saturday 3/21:

Sunday 3/22: 

Monday 3/23: 

Tuesday 3/24: 

Wednesday 3/25: 

Thursday 3/26: 

Friday 3/27: 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Star Crossing QAL: More fabric inspiration!

It's almost time for week 2 of the Star Crossing QAL! Have you chosen your fabrics? 



If you're still deciding which fabrics to use, or even if you haven't and just like seeing what everyone else is up to, here's some more inspiration. 

Sharon Holland created a light and a dark version using her Spirited collection from Art Gallery Fabrics. She asked her IG followers to weigh in on which she should make. They're both gorgeous! (Followers chose the light version) Follow along as she makes the quilt here.




Two versions of Star Crossing featuring Playtime by Mister Domestic for Art Gallery Fabrics 



Two versions of Star Crossing featuring Gridwork by Christa Watson for Benartex



 Star Crossing featuring Choose to Shine by Cherry Guidry for Benartex


One last one: I don't have a digital mock up because it's scrappy, but here are the fabrics I'm using for the Star Crossing version I'm making during the quilt along. I'm using the low volume prints for the background, the solids for the start points, and the stripe for the center square and middle border.  I can't wait to see how it comes together!


What fabrics will you choose? 
Find all the QAL details here.
Purchase the Star Crossing pattern (20% off!) here.

Monday, March 2, 2020

When "Squared Up" isn't just something you do with a ruler...

Hello, friends!
I'd like to introduce you to the Squared Up quilt. The pattern is featured in Benartex's Fat Quarterly newsletter (you can sign up for it here). The newsletter includes 5" squares of Christa Watson's new Gridwork collection, the pattern to make my quilt design, and a full eight pages of quilting goodness!
Photo credits: Erin Sutherland Photography

Back to the quilt: I chose simple square-in-a-square blocks to highlight Christa's fabrics. Using both black and white for the corners for the blocks creates a checkerboard effect. 


I machine quilted it in a grid...any idea where I got the inspiration?! 



I love this little hourglass print on the back.


When I was designing Squared Up, I played around with several other color options. It was a hard choice--I really like the gray grid used in the background, and that lime plaid is such a fun border! But ultimately, I went with the pop of red and black. 





I've made two other projects using Gridwork:
my pre-cut friendly Ebb & Flow quilt (blog post coming soon...purchase the pattern here!)


Stay tuned...I've got one more Gridwork project coming! 

See what Christa has made using Gridwork (and purchase the fabric) on her website.

psst! Have you joined the Star Crossing QAL yet? It starts March 12. Find the details here.

Friday, February 7, 2020

XOXO Quilt Tutorial

I had leftover fabric from Christa Watson's Gridwork collection after making my Ebb & Flow quilt (scroll to the bottom to see it!), and with Valentine's Day around the corner, I couldn't resist creating a cute tutorial to share with you. 

This 23" square XOXO quilt is the perfect size for a door; you could also use it as a table topper or wall quilt. 


I picked my favorite pink, red and purple prints from Christa's collection, plus the black and white grid prints for background. Don't they match beautifully with my cutting board and rotary cutter? :)

Let's get started!

You'll Need:
  • 1 fat quarter each of Purple Hourglass, Red/Purple Circle Grid and Fuchsia/Multi Arches prints
  • 1/2 yard each Red Hourglass, White Square Grid and Black Square Grid
  • 3/4 yard backing fabric
  • 25" square of batting
  • Fusible webbing


Cutting:
From the Purple Hourglass print:
(4) 5-1/2" squares

From the Red Hourglass print:
(4) 5-1/2" squares
(3) 2-1/4" x WOF strips for binding

From each of the Circle Grid and Arches prints:
(1) 9" square

From the White Square Grid:
(24) 3" squares
(2) 2" x 10-1/2" pieces
(2) 2" x 12" pieces

From the Black Square Grid:
(2) 10-1/2" squares
(2) 2" x 10-1/2" pieces
(2) 2" x 12" pieces

Download the "O" template here.

Make the Quilt:
1. Draw diagonal lines on the wrong side of (3) 3" White Grid squares. Position (2) marked squares right sides together on (1) 5" Purple Hourglass square as shown. Sew on the drawn lines, trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press open.




2. Position the third marked square right sides together on the unit from step 1 as shown. Sew on the drawn line, trim seam allowance to 1/4" and press open to make one quarter block unit.



3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a total of (4) quarter block units. Lay out the unit as shown. Sew them together in pairs and then join the rows to make one 10-1/2" square "X" block. Tip: Pin at the purple/white seam so that your points match. 


4. Repeat to make a second "X" block using the Red Hourglass squares.


5. Trace the "O" shape onto the paper side of fusible web. Cut out roughly around the shape and fuse onto the wrong side of the Red/Purple Circle Grid square. Cut out on the drawn lines (don't forget to cut out the center!). Tip: Loosen the edge of the fusible web paper before cutting the shape out. This prevents fraying as you separate the paper from the finished cut shape.


6. Fold (1) 10-1/2" Black Grid square in half in both directions and press to locate the center. Fuse the "O" onto the square, using the pressed lines to center it.


7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to make a second "O" block using the Fuchsia/Multi print for the "O". 


8. Lay out the (2) "X" and "O" blocks as shown. Sew the blocks into rows and join the rows to complete the quilt center. 


9. Sew (1) each 2" x 10-1/2" Black Grid and White Grid pieces short ends together. Make (2). Sew (1) each 2" x 12" Black Grid and White Grid pieces short ends together. Make (2). 

10. Sew the shorter pieced strips to the sides of the quilt center, matching the center seams. Sew the longer pieced strips to the to and bottom, matching the center seams. 


11. Layer the quilt top with batting and backing, baste, and quilt as desired. I used a wavy line computerized stitch on my domestic machine. Trim backing and batting even with the quilt top. 

12. Use the (3) 2-1/4" x WOF Red Hourglass strips to bind the quilt. Add a hanging sleeve if desired. 



Happy Valentine's Day!


I also used Christa's Gridwork prints to make a version of my Ebb & Flow quilt. You can make this quilt with 2-1/2" precut strips. Purchase the Ebb & Flow pattern here