Anyone else feeling like they need to finish a few projects before the end of the year?  I've got about 

3-1/2 quilts to bind so I'll be watching all the Christmas movies for the next two weeks while I try to get those finished!  I watched Haul Out the Holly on Netflix while finishing the binding on my Feels Like Home quilt.  It was a cute movie about a town that is over-the-top festive and a girl...who is not!

I hosted a quilt-along for this pattern in August and September and enjoyed making it alongside some of you.  I always love seeing the different colorways people choose.  I especially loved the red and white version and the Christmas version I saw.  If only there were enough time and money to make them all!

I used fabrics from my first fabric collection with Riley Blake Designs called, Feels Like Home for this quilt.  The collection has 10 low-volume prints and 14 saturated prints that were all inspired by my hometown and my home - my favorite place to be!

The pattern incorporates Heart blocks, Log Cabin blocks, and Courthouse Steps blocks.  I had been wanting to make a Courthouse Steps pattern since the first quilt I ever made was a scrappy Courthouse Steps quilt.  So this is what I came up with!

The roof unit of the house block is made using a technique called foundation paper-piecing.  There are only 5 pieces in each roof unit and only 13 houses so it's totally doable!  This is a great opportunity to practice FPP if you haven't tried it before.  And I actually have a video tutorial HERE for this specific block, if you want to check it out.

FPP is a great technique for getting challenging angles and accurate seams!  It looks a lot harder than it really is too!  Have you tried it before?

My friend, Jen Ostler quilted it for me.  She is the best.  She trims each quilt, ties it up with a ribbon and attaches a chocolate to the receipt.  She puts her heart into each quilt and is seriously the sweetest person ever!

She also quilts a tiny hidden object into each quilt - which makes for a fun game of hide-n-seek!  This time it was a star.  Can you see it in the photo below?  I love that little personal touch!

The panto I chose for this quilt is called Heart of the Home and I knew before I even finished making the quilt top that I wanted that design.  It's just perfect!

Jen tweaked the panto just a tad to make the proportion of the houses match the proportion of MY houses!  She also made sure the chimneys were on the same side as MY chimneys!  She did that all on her own.  She really is the best!

I bound it with this fun floral stripe from my collection, Feels Like Home.  

It's called Flower Beds in the color Night.

I backed it in Peonies in the color Honey.

And of course, I added one of the simple labels I always use.  I get them from Ever Emblem.  They're so easy to sew into the binding so I don't have an excuse to not label my quilts!  I get the 2" cotton, fold-over, sew-in labels.  If you want to get some for yourself, you will just have to pick one of their basic cotton labels and customize it from there.  I machine stitch my binding down around it because it's hard to hand stitch through it (but then I usually hand stitch the rest of my binding down to the back of my quilt).

This is a big quilt!  It finishes at about 92" square.  Perfect for snuggling or putting on a bed!

I don't know why it took me so long to bind it but I'm so glad it's finally finished!

I love how it turned out!  It was really fun to make and maybe someday I'll make another one...in Christmas fabrics!

If you'd like to grab the pattern, please visit my Etsy shop HERE.

Thank you for stopping by today.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  

Happy quilting and happy holidays!

Feels Like Home Quilt-Along

 Good morning!  I have some exciting news!  Later this summer, I will be hosting a quilt-along 

for this pattern, Feels Like Home and I'd love for you to join the fun!

Dates: August 7th - October 16th (11 weeks)

The quilt finishes at 92-1/2" x 92-1/2".  It's big but oh so cozy!

You can use your stash and scraps for a great scrap-buster quilt!

OR, you can get a kit for the exact quilt shown in the pattern from The Quilter's Crossing, HERE.

The kits are on pre-order right now.  Limited quantities will be available.  The fabrics in the kit are from my new collection with Riley Blake Designs called Feels Like Home (which is what I'm using for my quilt).

There is a little bit of paper piecing for the roof units but everything else is traditionally pieced.

If you haven't paper pieced before, don't be intimidated!  There are only 13 roof units with only 5 pieces in each unit.  I have a really awesome video coming out with Riley Blake Designs at the end of the month that will show you exactly how to do it!  This is a great time to learn and master the art of paper piecing.  You can do it!

The materials/supplies needed are: 

1 yard of light leaf print fabric for blocks & inner border

½ yard each of 9 light print fabrics for blocks

1¾ yards of pink floral fabric for blocks & outer border

1 yard of navy floral stripe for blocks & binding

1⅜ yards of brown print fabric for blocks & roofs

½ yard of yellow floral fabric for blocks & chimneys

⅜ yard each of 10 dark print fabrics for blocks

100” x 100” piece of batting

8⅜ yards of backing fabric

7 copies of roof foundation paper pattern (14 roofs total, one is extra)

Elmer’s Washable Glue Stick

The schedule is as follows:

Aug. 7th: Get fabric & make copies of roof unit FPP pattern

Aug. 14th: Do all the cutting

Aug. 21st: Make 13 Roof units

Aug. 28th: Make 25 Heart units

Sept. 4th: Make 6 House blocks

Sept. 11th: Make 7 House blocks

Sept. 18th: Make 6 Courthouse Steps A blocks

Sept. 25th: Make 6 Courthouse Steps B blocks

Oct. 2nd: Make the quilt center

Oct. 9th: Add the borders

Oct. 16th: Show the quilt top

If you'd like to quilt-along with me, please sign up HERE.  

It's free and you'll only receive emails about the quilt-along.  

You can unsubscribe from the emails at any time.

You can snag the PAPER pattern HERE

and the PDF pattern HERE.

Annnd, if you write "sticker" in the message to buyer at checkout the first 50 people will get a free sticker with their Feels Like Home pattern purchase (paper patterns only)!

And finally, HERE is a PDF with all the quilt-along details including boxes you can check when you complete each weeks' assignment.  I hope you'll join me for this quilt along!  Please let me know in the comment section below if you have any questions!

Happy quilting!

Feels Like Home Patterns

 Hi!  Did you see my last blog post with my big announcement?  I have a new fabric collection with Riley Blake Designs!  It should be shipping to stores at the beginning of June!

It's called Feels Like Home and it's full of warm browns, deep pinks, navy blue, forest green, teal, and gold.  Plus 10 different low-volume prints.  It's so scrappy and I hope you love it!

Today I want to share more about the 4 new patterns I designed to go along with the collection:

Star Tiles, Welcome Wreath, Feels Like Home, and Family Ties.

First up is Star Tiles:

It's full of itty bitty 4" stars that are framed and set with some simple sashing that creates a fun secondary design.

It comes with instructions for 3 quilt sizes: crib, throw, and queen.

The skill level is "confident beginner".

This is the throw-size quilt and Jen Ostler in Highland, UT quilted it for me with the Plaid Stars panto.

This was a new-to-me panto and I think it's really fun!  

Next up, is Welcome Wreath!

It's a fun Flying-Geese pattern that comes with instructions for 3 different quilt sizes: lap, throw, and full.  I made the throw-size.  The skill level is "confident beginner".

I just love the quilting on this one.  Jen Ostler quilted it with the Lovely Loops panto.  It reminds me of meandering eucalyptus leaves which is perfect for these "wreaths"!

The quilting shows up so well on the back.  I used Riley Blake Confetti Cottons in Chive for this one.

As per usual, Jen quilted a hidden object into the quilting.  Do you see the little house with a heart inside (below)?  Isn't it the cutest!?!  Totally matches the Feels Like Home logo, selvages, etc.!

 

The third pattern I designed is called Feels Like Home.  I haven't made this one yet because I am doing a quilt-along for it this summer!  I'm so excited!  It starts in August and hope you'll join me.  Check out THIS blog post for all the details.

This pattern finishes at 92" x 92".  It's big!  The roof units are paper-pieced and the rest of it is traditionally pieced.  It will be a fun, scrappy make!  The skill level is "intermediate" (I have a video tutorial for the house blocks that will available later this month.)  You can grab the pattern HERE.  You probably don't know this but the first quilt I ever made was a scrappy courthouse steps pattern.  So this is my little homage to my first quilt!

And finally, the last pattern I designed for this fabric collection is called Family Ties.

It's a free pattern on the Riley Blake website.  You can find it HERE.  The skill level is "beginner".

This pattern is so simple and quick to make but I loooove it!  It really shows off the fabrics and quilting!  It uses 5" and 10" Stackers.  I'm kind of dying to make another one soon.

Jen Ostler quilted it with another new-to-me pantograph called Madi Rose.  Jen has such awesome pantos and is so awesome to work with.  She is the best!!!  The tiny heart is the hidden object on that quilt.

Oh, and I added one of my favorite labels from Ever Emblem.  They're so easy to sew into the binding so I don't have an excuse to not label my quilts!  I get the 2" cotton, fold-over, sew-in labels.  If you want to get some for yourself, you will just have to pick one of their basic cotton labels and customize it from there.

Sooo...do you have a favorite of the new patterns I shared today?

I love them all and can't decide!  

For more information about my fabric line, Feels Like Home, you can check out THIS blog post.

To visit my Etsy shop, click HERE.

To receive my newsletter, sign-up HERE.

Thank you for stopping by today and please let me know if you have any questions!

Happy quilting!

Feels Like Home Fabric and Patterns

 Well, I think I am overdue for a little announcement on here...

I have a new fabric collection coming out with Riley Blake Designs and it's shipping to stores any day now!  I have talked a lot about it on Facebook and Instagram but if you're hearing about this for the first time, I apologize!  It's something that's been in the works for over a year so to say "I'm excited" is an understatement!  So without further ado, I'd like to introduce...

The prints in Feels Like Home were inspired by peaceful walks through my beautiful hometown of Alpine, Utah, hikes in the nearby majestic Wasatch mountains, and my home - my favorite place to be!  I tried to make this collection have a cozy, curated, scrappy feel.  I hope the prints and colors will feel right at home in your home like they do in mine!

The collection includes 14 vibrant prints and 10 low-volume prints.

PLUS, one cheater print that I haven't shared yet!  Any guesses on what kind of cheater print it might be?  Stay tuned, I will share more info on that soon!

I had so much fun naming the prints.

For instance, "Alpine Meadow" was named after my city and the meadows on some of my favorite hikes.  "Peonies" are my favorite flower and I finally planted some in my yard a few years ago.  "Albion Basin" is a beautiful hiking area in a nearby canyon.  "Scrub Oak" is a native tree here in Alpine - I have so many in my yard!  "Around the Block" is a geometric print that reminds me of the awesome neighbors I've had for over 20 years!   

There are 14 different prints in total; each one comes in 2 different colors ways (plus the cheater print).  So this is a very scrappy collection!  Fat Quarter bundles, 1-yard bundles, 2-1/2" Rolie Polie's, 5-inch Stackers, and 10-inch Stackers are available!  Here is a list of stores carrying the whole collection (they should be receiving it in the next week or so!):

Handmade is Heartmade

Cute Little Bugs

Corn Wagon Quilt Co

Quilt Etc

The Quilter's Block, LLC

Fabric Mill Orem

Pine Needles - Gardner Village

Checker Notions Company Inc

The Quilter's Crossing - UT

Dianne’s Quilted Square

Stitchers Garden LLC

A Clean Stitch INC

Mended Hearts Quilting & Boutique

Checker Notions Company Inc

A Quilters Oasis

Checker Notions Company Inc

Sew Yeah Quilt

There will also be stores carrying individual/random bolts, but I don't have a list of those stores, unfortunately.  But you can google "Feels Like Home Fabric" (and the name of the print if you know it).

I've also designed 4 patterns to go along with Feels Like Home:

Star Tiles, Welcome Wreath, and Feels Like Home are now available in my Etsy shop.

Click HERE to check them out.  And just a heads up, I will be hosting a quilt along for the pattern, Feels Like Home this August!  I'm so excited; this is the only one of these patterns that I haven't made yet.  Check out this post for more details (I hope you'll join me!!)  

The 4th pattern that I designed to go along with this collection is a free pattern that will be available on the Riley Blake Designs website soon!  It's called Family Ties.  It requires a 5" Stacker, a 10" Stacker and it's a really quick make!

I know this will be one of my go-to patterns when I need a quick, yet really cute quilt!

To see the samples I made of Star Tiles, Welcome Wreath, and Family Ties check out THIS blog post.  

Lots of details and photos are there for you to enjoy.

I'd love to hear what you think about Feels Like Home.  And, I can't wait to see what you make with it!

Please, please tag me on Instagram (@gigis_thimble) if you get some of the fabric or make something with it.  I know it will make my day!

You can sign up for my newsletter HERE to stay in the know, and receive freebies, coupon codes, and even recipes!  Thanks for stopping by today and happy quilting!