Fox and Friends Baby Quilt - Finish #013

Our friends are having another boy.  It is the same couple that received the Dinosaur baby quilt, my 4th quilt.  This is the 13th and I love seeing how my quilting skills have improved.

Fabric - Fox and Friends.  I got a layered cake from Massdrop that included these fabrics and a matching pillow panel and planned to use it on the next boy quilt I would be making.  I know that it has oranges like the Dinosaur quilt since it is going to the same family.

Pattern - Sassafras Lane Alligator Alley.  As soon as I saw this pattern, I knew it would be a good fit for the Fox and Friends layered cake I had. I wish the pattern had more detail, but I figured it out.  Once I had it figured out, it was pretty easy to put together!  I was able to make the quilt top in an afternoon.  I added borders to make the quilt a bit bigger and so I would have borders to quilt :).

Quilting - I went a bit crazy on this one, but I love how it turned out.  I've been interested in trying ruler quilting. Since I would be giving this quilt away, I thought it would be a good opportunity to try  it out.  I loved using the straight ruler to make my lines much straighter.  I ended up using the straight ruler to assist in the quilting of the non-focal print triangles. Ruler work takes longer than free motion, but it was definitely worth the extra time. I tried to use some of the curved rulers, but I wasn't loving the result, so I ended up just using the straight ruler.

In each of the focal print triangles, I rotates different free motion quilting designs.  FMQ designs were triangle paisley, wood grain, spirals with loops, loops, and pebbles.  If you look closely at the center most focal triangles, you will see the baby boys initials....... J.W.  I love this added detail.

Batting - I've continued trying new batting.  This one was the thinner version of the Quilters Dream Cotton.  Very easy to quilt with and obviously lighter than the thicker version.

Binding - I wanted to throw in more orange with the binding.  This is the second binding I've done orange on and I love the results.  Additionally, I did the thick, 1 inch binding which I think frames the quilt well.

Lastly, after the Latifah Saafir class with the Music City Modern Quilters Guild, I had to get a design wall.  It was super helpful when laying out the focal prints to make sure it was balances (much easier than using the floor).

Marcelle Medallion - pillow

I recently joined the Music City Modern Quilters Guild when they had a Latifah Saafir workshop.  Just a couple of months later, Alexia Abegg from Cotton+Steel came to give a lecture and do an afternoon workshop on the Marcelle Medallion Quilt.  I love how many quality events they have already put on.

The medallion has y-seams and I've always wanted to learn how to do them!  I was not sure about starting a full, new quilt since I only like have a 2 projects going on at a time.  I'm currently working on a King quilt for our bed using the Swoon pattern from Thimble Blossoms and an EEP project with the TulaNova pattern.  I also have a couple that I've put on hold until I finish these (Timber by Alison Glass and Fandango by Tula Pink).  I really love the Marcelle Medallion pattern, but I took the workshop mainly to learn the technique.  Then I figured I would either but it on hold or make a small project with it.

Finished center Medallion

Medallion with first border

I've been wanting to do another pillow.  This time quilted and finished better than my first pillow.  I used Latifah Saafirs Magic Pillow Facing Tutorial and the pillow looks great.  I love the lining inside, so you don't see the seams.  And it is great to have it finished! I really don't like projects hanging over me. I might make the quilt in the future, but next time I'll make the Medallion with the paper piecing instructions instead of y-seams.

Fabrics - Alison Glass Sunprints 2017, Alison Glass Handcrafted 2 (dark blue and back of pillow) and 1 fat quarter from Lizzy House

Batting - I used what I had left over from another quilt, warm and natural cotton

Finished pillow

Glam Clam Quilt - Latifah Saafir Workshop finish #012

I recently got to go to the Latifah Saafir Workshop of the Glam Clam Quilt that was put on my the Music City Modern Quilters Guild. This Workshop was so much fun. I did join the guild and can't wait to participate more in the guild! I really enjoyed meeting other quilters that loved the hobby and fabric as much as me.


During the Workshop, Latifah taught some tricks and techniques that really helped with the cutting and assembly of the quilt.  Additionally, she talked us through how to do a 1 inch chucky binding! I love how the thick binding frames the quilt.


I find that this pattern looks good in any fabrics. There were about 20 people in the workshop and all fabric selections looked great!


Quilting: I decided to go with some walking foot quilting that would compliment the curved nature of the piecing. Design is a grid pattern, approximately, 1in grid.


Fabrics: The main thing I used for fabrics from a half yard bundle of Cotton + Steel's Black and White 2. I've been waiting for the right project for this fabric. Since there are some gold accents in the fabric, I wanted to bring in some more golden yellow fabrics. Additionally, I love blue and thought it would be a nice touch for some blue and navy to be added! Some of the navy is Cotton + Steel Bluebird fabrics. Light blue is Cotton + Steel basics.


Backing is Cotton + Steel Bluebird. I didn't quite have enough, so I added in another fabric and did a pieced backing.


Binding is Cotton + Steel Picnic.  The Chunky binding was pretty simple to do. I went a little bigger on the strip size than Latifah recommended; however, I wanted to give me some wiggle room. Stripes were 4.75 inch wide.


Batting is Quilter's Dream Cotton. I've been wanted to try a bunch of different battings to see which I prefer. So far this is my favorite. It is super soft and worked with my machine well.


I signed up for this workshop on a whim, so I wanted to try to use only fabric from my small stash. I was able to use only fabrics from my stash (except batting)!! Additionally, most fabric is Cotton + Steel.