Sew Bright Blog

Earlier in the year, Monica Poole from Moonshine Designs released a book. Naturally, it is about ‘quilt as you go’ her favourite technique. The great thing about this technique is that you can complete a whole quilt on the machine without any hand sewing. There are five quilts in the book, I have made up the Merry Go Round Quilt, pictured below. I chose a french navy quilters muslin for the background and some big bold prints for the circles. As with all of Monica’s patterns, you choose the size; either lap, single or queen size.  The instructions are clear and easy to follow, you’ll be finished in no time at all. The books are in stock now and are $35.95. A fabric kit for the Merry Go Round Quilt is available; it includes premium quilters muslin for the front background, the fabrics as pictured, binding and the 1″ bias tape at $133.69 for the lap size. Cotton batting and muslin for the backing are available at $94 for the lap size. I used a King Tut cotton varigated thread ($15.95) on the back and a plain blue Mettler cotton thread ($4.95) on the front.

When this fabric arrived, I was on my way to Sydney so I couldn’t make anything straight away. My friend Carolyn liked the fabric, bought some and made this quilt. She has lent it to me to display in the shop. I did get a chance to make another Bella bag over Easter, from the same fabric. It’s just gorgeous!! I have already had to order more of a couple of the designs, they should arrive this week.

Bella Bag made with Giselle fabrics

Here is a photo of my latest pattern. It is called Zinnia Cushion and is made using the Flight of Fancy fabric range from Paula Prass for Michael Miller. It is a fun and whimsical designed oversized cushion, perfect for the bedroom or loungeroom. The pattern will be available for the first time at the Craft Expo in Sydney next week from March 11 -14 at The Dome in Olympic Park, Homebush. I am very excited about attending my first show as an exhibitor. I will have all of my patterns and kits available along with stacks of fabrics and other patterns usually available in the shop.

I finally finished the sample of ‘Willow’. This georgeous cushion was designed by Kellie of Don’t Look Now. I love free motion quilting and haven’t done any on my Bernina for a while as I normally do the larger quilts on the quilting frame. I decided to do this pattern as a class and therefore wanted to make a sample as per Kellie’s instructions. I must say it all came together fantastically. I even bought a pair of the rubber gloves Kellie suggests and thoroughly recommend them to anyone who is doing free motion. I’m not sure why, but wearing the gloves and the grip they give makes you relax your shoulders and helps to create smoother quilting. I was so excited to finish outlining all my shapes, that I trimmed the cushion top before noticing that I hadn’t quilted the background. Oh well!That will teach me for not reading the pattern properly. I think it looks fantastic anyway! Anyone who wants to do this project as a class, just let me know and I will schedule you in.

Kellie also has an offer on at the moment for anyone who purchases any of her patterns from her distributors. Just come in and purchase a pattern, email your receipt to Kellie and she will put you in the draw to win a free pattern of her “Thankyou Cushion”.