Join the Mystery Quilt Dash now through May 14 and quilt shop hop online to receive parts of this free quilt pattern. You won’t know what the quilt is until you get all the parts. You will also see great prices for your favorite fabrics and notions in the quilt shops that you visit to collect parts of this quilt. The Dash is free and you will be entered into a drawing for prizes from the shops that you are visiting.

I invite you to also check out the Quilt Block Dash which starts on June 3 for a free quilt pattern “Watermelon Crawl”.  I will post the quilt here shortly before the Dash starts.

Enjoy a little mystery!

Phyllis

Its spring and the bees are buzzing around all the fresh flowers. Enjoy bees even more with this free pattern for a small “Bee Yourself” quilt.  I designed it with my “Bee Yourself” fabric collection  for Quilting Treasures. There is a bee for everyone – which are you?

This quilt is a great size for a wall hanging, lap quilt or a child’s quilt at 31 1/2″ W x 36 1/4″ H.  Its a great quilt that can be made quickly or by a beginner. The blocks in the center are a one-piece panel, so the sewing consists of adding strips and borders.

For the free quilt pattern download, just click for full instructions and diagrams.  You can also see all of the fabrics on my website.

If you would like to make a larger quilt, table runner or large tote bag made with the same fabric, please see my prior blog post with links to these free patterns. They are all available on the Quilting Treasures website.

Bee happy,

Phyllis

Spring is here and flowers are blooming. Let them bloom in your quilting as well! I designed this “Spring Blooms” quilt pattern that you can get free by joining the Quilt Dash game and dash through online quilt shops now through April 30.

In addition, you will be entered into a drawing to win prizes from the shops that you visit.

This “Spring Blooms” quilt is pieced with 10″ blocks. The size of the quilt is 69 1/2 inches square but can easily be converted to a larger or smaller quilt or a rectangle shape. The quilt is great for an advanced beginner through experienced quilters.

I hope that you join the Dash and enjoy this pattern for free while enjoying your own spring blooms!

Phyllis

“Bee Yourself” fabrics that I designed for Quilting Treasures shows bees in their favorite hobbies.  There is a bee for everyone! I’ve talked about the fabric collection in prior posts, but want to let you know about some free patterns for “Bee Yourself”. Quilting Treasures has several patterns that I designed with this fabric collection, available for free download on their website.  With these 4 patterns, there is plenty of inspiration and sewing for you.

This “Bee Yourself” quilt is 53″ x 65″ inches in size with multi borders.  The blocks are pieced using the bee blocks in the panel fabric, surrounded by the black “words” fabric to make the blocks “pop”.

This table runner will add a delightful touch to your table or chest.  The finished size is 66″ x 18″.

Create a tote bag to carry your quilt or sewing projects to your guild meetings or classes, or use for shopping to show off which “bee” you are. This free tote bag pattern is a great size – 16″ w x 10 1/2″ h x 5 1/2″ d. In addition, this placemat can add some fun as well as color to your table setting. The size is 19 1/2″ x 14 3/4″ and has instructions and yardage for making in sets of 2.

These patterns are in 2 downloadable pdf’s – one with the quilt instructions and the other with the instructions for the placemat, table runner, and tote bag.

To see these projects on display at the 2012 Fall International Quilt Market in Houston last October, read about it on my prior post about Quilt Market.  But this is not all – you can see some other “Bee Yourself” projects that were displayed at Quilt Market.  I will have the decorative pillow, apron, pot holders and smaller tote bag posted here shortly.

“Sew,” while the weather is cold and chilly, you can have fun sewing and quilting with these patterns!

Hugs,

Phyllis

I am delighted to be a part of the Kool Tak Fabulously-Fall Blog Hop sponsored by Crafty KT.  With fall around the corner, I decided to make a pumpkin felt pillow. There are 12 of us in the hop, so hop to see all the really “Kool” projects.

Crafty KT is also offering a giveaway of an assortment of Kool Tak products. See the details below on the products in this giveaway as well as how to enter to win.

This 9″ square pumpkin pillow is a no-sew project, except for a few simple embroidery stitches, and is very easy to make.

Materials needed:

• Felt – dark green, light green and orange (National Nonwovens felt).
• Dark orange 6-strand embroidery floss (Sullivans)
• Kool Tak™ 1 Layer Perfect Tool
• Kool Tak™ 1 Shiny Transfer Foil Sheets (Earth Tones)
• Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape ¼ x ¼ x 1/32” thick
• Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape 3/16 x 1/16 thick by 1.6 yards
• Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape 2 ½ x 27 yards
• Batting or fiberfil
• Embroidery needle

Instructions:

1. Divide the 6 strands of embroidery floss and use 3 strands. Sew long running stitches for the vertical “pumpkin lines”.  (See the finished pillow – I forgot to stitch the lines until after step 4.  Its a lot easier to stitch before the adhesive tape is added!)

2. Cut the felt:  dark green – 2 pieces 9″ square; light green – 1 piece 6″ square; orange – a 4″ x 4″pumpkin (download Pumpkin applique pattern ).  From the dark green, cut a stem for the pumpkin.

3.  Use the Premium EXTREME tape on backside of the pumpkin to attach it to the light green piece of felt. After adhering strips of the tape on the back of the pumpkin, trim the edges to align with the pumpkin.

4.  Remove the paper backing from the tape and use the Layer Perfect tool to align the pumpkin onto the light green felt. Place some of the Premium Extreme tape to the back of the pumpkin stem and trim to match the stem. Remove the paper backing and adhere the stem above the pumpkin center.

5.  Attach strips of the 1/16″ Clear Foam Tape 1/2″ from the edge of the green felt, forming a square going around the pumpkin.  Remove the liner from the tape and rub the gold Shiny Transfer Foil Sheet over the adhesive tape. Repeat to foil the foam tape square with the gold surface.

6.  Attach the Premium Extreme tape to the back of the light green square. Remove paper backing and adhere the light green square centered to one of the dark green squares.

7.  Adhere a 1/4″ foam clear adhesive pad to the dark green square at the corners of the light green piece and half way between the corners. Remove the liner pieces from the foam squares and rub the gold Shiny Transfer Foil Sheet over the squares.

8.  Align the dark green pumpkin pillow top to the remaining green felt square and pin around 3 sides. Sew edges with a running stitch using 3 strands of the floss. Leave the 4th side open. Fill the pillow with fiberfil then finish sewing the pillow closed.

Click on the blue Designer Crafts button in my sidebar to hop back and forward to other blogs with fabulous projects in this hop!

And be sure to sign up for the Crafty KT newsletter to be entered for the giveaway $70 in Kool Tak products including:

• Kool Tak™ 1 Layer Perfect (Use it for centering, piercing, and edge stitching) Tool
• Kool Tak™ 1 Shiny Transfer Foil Sheets (Earth Tones)
• Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape ¼ x ¼ x 1/32” thick
• Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape 3/16 x 1/16 thick by 1.6 yards
• Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME 2 ½ x 27 yards
• *the giveaway is open only to the mainland residents of the US

Thanks for visiting and enjoy hopping to all the other crafty fall projects.

Phyllis

Its been fun designing and sewing with my new Celebrate fabrics from Quilting Treasures.  I have created this free sewing and quilt pattern (quilting optional) that you can use for sewing a Happy Birthday banner. The banner is 25″ x 35 1/2″ and can be hung on a wall, in a doorway or for a multitude of other uses.  Use it year after year for birthday celebrations. The colors of my Celebrate fabrics are bright and cheerful to add to the festivity and use birthday cakes and cupcakes for design motifs.

Click away to the download page for the quilt birthday banner free pattern.

The fabrics are available through independent quilt shop and stores. While the weather is so hot, its perfect for staying inside and working on new sewing or quilt projects. Other free quilt and sewing patterns created for the Celebrate fabric collection can be found on Quilting Treasures website for download.

Stay cool and keep sewing and quilting!

Phyllis

My new fabric collection “Celebrate” from Quilting Treasures is out!  Yea! I’m so excited! The bright colors and cakes and cupcakes are perfect for boys and girls of all ages through at least 120 for birthdays celebrations. I loved playing with the fabrics and designing these free quilt and sewing patterns for you to use! After a previous sneak peek, here is the entire “Celebrate” collection -

The project sheets for a quilted table topper, placemat, large gift bag and a happy birthday banner are available for free pattern download from Quilting Treasures’ website. Just scroll down and you will easily see them with their bright colors.

The quilted table topper measures 48″ x 48″ and will add a festive accent for birthday celebrations. All you need is a real cake for a perfect centerpiece! And of course, a pile of presents!

Another way to add a splash for a special birthday is with a placemat, sized 18 1/2″ x 13″. The yellow fabric on the right is a pocket to hold silverware or even better, a surprise gift or candy. The old saying is that a small present holds the best gift, like maybe a key to a car!

And for a larger gifts, you can make this large gift bag with a drawstring opening. Think of all the gifts this bag will hold. Its 30″ high and 20″ wide.

And nothing announces a birthday better or makes someone feel more special than a banner. This Happy Birthday banner is 28″ wide and 35 1/2″ tall, with red triangle points at the bottom edge.

Enjoy these fun projects and give them a try to use for many years of birthday celebrations. If you have a hard time choosing which one to make, make them all. They are easy to make. And I would love to see your finished projects!!

I have also designed another project, a small banner that I created for display at the Spring Quilt Market. I just have to finish writing the instructions and then I will post it here for another free pattern.

And while you are thinking of that perfect birthday event, please check out all the products I created in my Zazzle store using the “Celebrate” art to coordinate with the fabrics. I’m adding more products daily.

Lime Green and Blue Happy Birthday Cake Plate by phyllisdobbs

Have a fun day of quilting and sewing. And Happy Birthday to you on your special day!

Phyllis

I know its May and the weather is getting hot, but its not too early to start thinking about your Christmas quilting with this free quilt pattern that I designed!  Think “Let it Snow” to cool down with this adorable fabric collection from Quilting Treasures based on the art of Debra Jordan Bryan.

It was a treat to design this quilt with the fun, colorful fabric.  At 43 1/2″ x 48 1/4″, its a perfect size for a wall hanging, a lap quilt or for a little one to cuddle with. The quilt is pieced and is topped with appliqued green and red mittens in the wide border area. Buttons are used for accents on the mittens. The quilt center is a snowman panel with other snowman pieces in the corners. Its easy to piece and is a great project for beginners as well as all skill levels.

When you check out this pattern, look through all the other free quilt patterns from Quilting Treasures. I’m sure you will find several that you will love!

Happy quilting and stay cool!

Phyllis

The Olympic themed fabric collection Go for the Gold is one of Quilting Treasures latest fabric collections and is in time for the Summer 2012 Olympic Games in London. I  enjoyed designing several sewing and quilting patterns for free download from Quilting Treasures website. The fabric features the most popular summer games and is perfect for all sports lovers!

The tote bag is extra large and is roomy enough to carry all your gym or workout clothes and accessories at 24″ wide and 20″ high. The tote is lined inside with the beautiful flag fabric showing the flags of all the countries. The roll up yoga or exercise mat cover is available in two colorways.  The yoga mat carry bag has a carry sling strap so that you can easily carry your rolled up mat and cover hands free.

You can follow the preparations for the London 2012 summer games that will be held in July and August – its actually not that far off. Start sewing and you will be all set to help celebrate the games!

Phyllis

You can’t have too many aprons, right? They are fun to make and fun to wear. This is an apron pattern that I designed for Quilting Treasures and is available in their free patterns and projects download on their website.

The aprons are designed with The Wizard of Oz fabrics by Quilting Treasures.  I love the bright colors!  And I, like I think everyone in the universe, have always been a huge fan of The Wizard of Oz. I’m still hoping for Dorothy’s red shoes.

This apron is easy to make in just a couple of hours of sewing.  You can make it with two or three coordinating fabrics or sew it with just one fabric for two different looks.

I designed another apron pattern that I wrote about previously that is also available from Quilting Treasures for download.

Happy sewing with your apron.  With these free patterns, it is easy to get started.

Phyllis