Fiskars Craft

Quilted coasters - Christmas

Hi all

I have been busy quilting as you know but I really needed to practice my freeform quilting techniques so decided to whip up some Christmas coasters....

its easy to make a fast project for Christmas by making plain square Christmas fabric and layering them to make cool coasters.

I cut out the christmas fabric, backing fabric and an old warnout picnic blanket for the batting.

I got the backing fabric for free in a free box at my local second hand store. The picnic blanket has been hanging around the house for ages. And the christmas fabric was in the $1 bin at Fabric Vision...

I found some "patterns" to practice on the net...

The site for the above designs is: Perfect little stitches

I took a fabric marker that washes out and drew the design on them and took my coaster to the sewing machine and stitched on the design.... with a freeform foot.... with feed dogs down.

I quickly finished the edges off with the Fiskars Pinking shears and sewed a straight stitch around the edge. I did several designs till I ran out of thread....

These coasters are a great christmas pressie or a festive thing to use around the house...

Use what you have at home and have a blast!

fiskars tools used in this post...

Happy crafting!

Debbie B
Artycrafty.wordpress.com

latest SEWING CHALLENGE entry

Beryl from New Zealand has been busy this month SEWING up some wonderful projects....here's her latest entry in the SEPTEMBER SEWING CHALLENGE......How would you like to have this bag hanging over your shoulder...............it's bright...it's colourful...and it's soooooooooo trendy isn't it......

The SEPTEMBER CHALLENGES end tomorrow.....so make sure you get those entries in to be in the running to win one of the fabulous FISKARS PRIZES.

REMEMBER......all winners are randomly chosen from all entered..............so you have to be in it to win it.......good luck to everyone who has entered this month.

 

xoxo

Lyn

My Quilt Journey #6

Hi all

I am still doing the FREE online course over at Craftsy.com Craftsy Block of the Month Class.

Here are my blocks for the August lesson.... (yes I missed out July as the dresdens looked far too complicated and I really don't like hand stitching much).

August was all about Star Blocks!

Here is the Ohio Star Block:

(that being a good example for this months sewing challenge - posted here)

and the Double star Block:

(didn't have enough yellow left to put that colour in - nuts!)

I used:
The Finish Scissors - Thread snipper (orange handled pictured above)
Fiskars loop handle Rotary cutter.
Fiskars Quilt cutting matt by Fiskars the largest one
Fiskars Square quilt ruler.

Now I have to do September... no hand sewing in the next two blocks but I will be takling the curved patterned blocks! eeeek!!!

happy sewing!

Debbie Buckland
artycrafty.wordpress.com

Beryl's BOM # 5 and a UFO gets finished

         Beryl has sent through her #5 BOM......you can view her PDF file HERE

She has now finished 5 BOM and has 7 to go.......great effort Beryl....

We are uploading Beryl's PDF files in the Make'n'take/How to section on here....the link is on the lefthand side of the Blog.....we have plenty of fun inspirational projects over there that you can access FREE anytime 24/7....so keep checking in there.....for SEWING/PAPERCRAFT PROJECTS

........and here is what Beryl had to say  a few days ago.....

Start of last week I didn't know what I wanted too do.  I'll to a tidy up & put thing back in their containers.   Famous last words........
Went to the UFO container & the rest is history.  Out of the container came a table runner that I had done a few machine quilted designs on,
maybe I could just add a couple more.  Well I am thrilled to say that the runner got its few more machine quilted designs added & it got the binding
added & it is now finished.   

 

  Free motion quilting is taking over  me,  because a quilt that I thought I'd finished didn't look like it had enough quilting on it.  Needless to say it
has now been had free motion quilted designs & stippling add & now it looks completely finished.   

 

While I'm on a roll I'll see what can be finished next.

 

Warm fuzzies,

Beryl     #7212

.......thanks for much for sharing this with us all Beryl......we love what you are doing....

xoxo

Lyn

Beryl's BOM # 5 - project finished!!!

                                               

We have just received Beryl's last block.......in her BOM......so click on this link to see her  PDF file of the finished project.....thanks Beryl for sharing this with us all here at Fiskars Craft!!!

Download Fiskars BOM #5

It's nice to see that you were inspired by Smitha Katti and her quilting project!

You can also find Beryl's PDF file in our Make and Take Section on here.....I'm in the process of adding a few more projects over there........

xoxo

Lyn

 

more Quilting shares from Beryl ~ NZ

Just another couple of photos of what was worked on this weekend.  The star block is going to be a table runner for a friend. Fiskar tools well & truely
used, rotary cutter, thread snips & micro scissors.  When I did the bright's block I wasn't sure that the colours would work, but I'm pleased with the outcome.  This block will be part of a combined effort for a young boy.

It's so nice to see some Quilts from our New Zealand readers......Beryl is a very passionate quilter....who loves to share her projects with others...thanks for sending through these pics Beryl....we look forward to seeing more of your quilts in the future......

Did you know that Flip La K are retailing the fabulous Fiskars Quilting Tools this weekend at the Perth Craft and Quilt Fair in WA?  So if you are heading into this craft show.....make sure you drop by the Flip La K Stand.

xoxo

Lyn

Spring Table Runner

Difficulty rating: Beginner

Guest Designer: Rebecca Peck

Instructions:

(note: all seam allowances are ¼”)

1. Using your rotary cutter, cutting mat and ruler, cut (8) 2 ¼” x 4 ¾” rectangles from each of the coordinating fabrics (48 total).

2. Create a 2 ¼” x 34 ½” strip of fabric by sewing eight of the rectangles together along the short sides, varying the fabrics used. Create five more strips in the same way, changing the order of the fabrics for each strip. Press all seams open.

3. Lay the strips side by side on your cutting mat, and change the position of the strips so that the seams are offset (see close up). The edges of the strips won’t line up.

4. Once the position of the strips has been determined, sew the strips together to form the front of the table runner. Press all seams open.

5. Using your rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat, trim the table runner so that it is 32 ¾” long.

6. Iron the fabric stabilizer onto the back of the table runner front. Trim the excess stabilizer from the piece using your rotary cutter.

7. Cut (8) 1 ½” squares from the fabric chosen for the back

8. Using an appliqué stitch, randomly appliqué the squares onto the front of the table runner.

9. Topstitch 1/8” from the edge of each side of the seams running the length of the table runner, going around each of the 1 ½” squares when necessary.

10. For the back and binding: Using your rotary cutter, cutting mat, and acrylic ruler, cut (2) 32 ½” x 1 ¼” strips, (2) 11 ¼” x 1 ¼” strips, and a 13” x 32 ¾” piece from the appropriate fabric.

11. Sew a short strip to each short edge of the table runner front. Press seams open.

12. Sew a long strip to each long edge of the table runner front. Press seams open.

13. Wrong sides together, sew the table runner front to the table runner back, leaving a three inch opening.

14. Turn the runner right side out, and press in ¼” edge along the opening. Hand stitch the opening closed.


Rebecca Peck Rebecca Peck is lead Fiskateer #411 and she loves to craft, whether it be sewing, scrapping, stamping or jewelry-making, and to share this passion with others, whether they’re crafters or not! Rebecca’s Blog on Fiskateers.com

...................................................................................... To see more of Rebecca's fabulous sewing projects or to be inspired by other crafters....make sure you drop by

                         http://www2.fiskars.com/Activities/Crafting/Project-Gallery

another Quilt from Beryl....Fiskateer #7212

Beryl has sent through another fabulous Step by Step on another gorgeous Quilt.....you can view it here

Download Love Hearts & Celtic Antique quilt

Nearing the end of the journey, after  sewing  on the border it was off to the sewing machine.  I was very surprised at how quickly it went on.  Now it is ready for the hand stitching.

 Group of wonderful friends  doing the hand sewing.  Thank you lovely ladies for a wonderful afternoon of fun & laughter, sewing your love into the final leg of the  journey.  

Completed & looking fabulous on the  bed.  This part of the journey may have come to an end but I hope that it will be around for a very long time & give pleasure to all those that it will be passed on to

Fiskars tools used:

                                                         thread snips & rotary cutter

and here Download The final leg of the quilting on the Antique quilt(1)

Thank you so much for sharing this with us all Beryl.....it's just stunning.....and what a fabulous group of friends you have....

Beryl's Quilt all the way from Rangiora NZ

This quilt has been sitting around since last year waiting for batting & backing.  Well thanks to my friend Karen the batting & backing got pinned on to the quilt on Sunday.  Monday I couldn't wait to get it quilted, so very early Monday morning I made a start.  I took it slowly as I hadn't done any quilting since last year.  By Wednesday the quilting was done, backing & batting trimmed, binding pressed & turned. Great now I get to hand sew the binding, well after getting three quarters of the way round I had to put it aside as my hands reminded me why I have not been sewing for the past ten months. I will finish it myself in the next week when the swelling in my hands has gone down a bit.   Another UFO will then be completed.

....and here is Beryl's finished Quilt....isn't it gorgeous!

Thank you so much Beryl for allowing us to share your wondeful Quilt.....I really love the colour scheme!

Beryl lives in Rangiora a rural town in the South Island of New Zealand!

                                           She is Fiskateer # 7212

 She tells me that she has another Work in Progress at the moment......ooh wonder what it is!

xoxo

Lyn

Dollies Love to Read

 

Waste not want not!! D1 and D2 are all into using up the scraps and left overs in my work cupboard. This book bag is made from the left overs from the" Cat in The Hat" cushion.You can of course purchase fabric specially for the job.If you choose to buy fabric you will need the following

2 fat quarters of chosen fabric and

5 cm of contrast fabric for draw string casing

2m of cord

If you are using the pictures from the panel you will need 50cm of fusible web

Scisssors, Rotary cutter, quilters ruler, Pencil, cutting mat, toning sewing thread,

 if you are using left overs you will have 2 pieces of the green backing fabric approx 16" sq ( give or take a bit )  Trim to make them both the same size.From the remaining panel pictures choose two that you like and cut them out. Cut the two pieces of fusible web to the same size and iron onto the wrong side of the picture.Trim the edges and peel away the paper backing from the fusible web.
Fuse the pictures onto the fabric sq positioning them toward the bottom of the square so that the drawstring casoing wont cover the edge of the picture. I machine appliqued the pictures in place using black thread and a blanket stitch. You could do it by hand or use the satin stitch setting on your machine.

Using a ruler and a pencil draw a line alomg the top edge of the squares 1 1/2" from the edge.   

Cut 2 pieces of striped fabric 15" x 2" turn under 1/4" on each end press , fold again to make a hem and stitch in place.

Fold the strip in half lengthways wrong side together and press . Open the strip out and press the raw edges in to meet the centre crease.The strip should now measure 1" wide.

Align the top edge of the casing with the marked line. It should stop 1/2" from each side. Stitch along each side of the casing leaving the ends open.Repeat on the other  bag section.

With right sides of the bag together . Stitch a 1/4" seam around three sides leaving the top open. Use a zig zag  around the edge of the seam to stop the fabric from fraying. Turn right side out. Press under a 1/4" fold at teh top of the bag. Fold the hem over again and press again pin in place and stitch.

Cut the cord into 2 x 1m pieces. Using a safety pin and starting at one side of the bag thread the cord , so that the ends come out on the same side of the bag. Using the remaining cord.start at the opposite side of the bag and thread the second piece of cord the same way. Knot the ends of the cord together on each side. 

 When you pull on the knotted ends of the cord , the top of the bag will draw clised and the bag can be carried by the cord loops.

Done ready for a trip to the library