Say “Merry Christmas” with a Christmas Stockings Quilt.

One of the traditional and fun activities of Christmas is hanging the stockings to be filled by Santa. I have a collection of stockings that I have made over the years or received as gifts, all in a variety of techniques including sewing, quilting, applique, embellishment, embroidery, cross stitch and needlepoint.  With stockings on my mind, I designed this “Christmas Stockings” quilt pattern.

Christmas Stockings Quilt

This quilt pattern was created for the Quilt Dash, a fun way to visit online quilt shops.  It starts Monday, December 15, 2014  and runs through December 28. This fun Christmas quilt pattern is available for purchase through Phyllis’ Etsy WhimsyColor store.

This pieced patchwork quilt, sized 46 ¾” x 58″, with 12 blocks. It’s easy to adjust if you want to make it larger or smaller.  I designed it to be a scrappy quilt so that you can use a multitude of fabrics or the scraps you  have on hand.

I hope you join the Quilt Dash and use this pattern  to make your Christmas stockings by creating a heirloom quilt.

Merry Christmas and happy quilting!

Phyllis

Halloween Quilting with this Spooky Ghost Pattern!

It’s the time of year for little ghosts and goblins to ring our doorbell. I love to see all the cute little costumes, especially on toddlers. It’s also fun to decorate for Halloween and with that in mind, I designed this Halloween “Spooky Ghosts”  quilt that is easy to make and is a good size for a wall hanging.

Spooky Ghost Quilt by Phyllis Dobbs for Quilt Dash

This quilt pattern was designed for the Quilt Dash during the dash October 15 through 31, 2014. Its now available through the WhimsyColor online shop. Its also easy to dash through online quilt shops to obtain the pattern pieces and you will also find some great fabric and notions. If you have an online shop, there is still time to sign up to get lots of visitors to your stores.

This quilt is 41″ x 47″ and combines patchwork with appliqué. There are 8 ghost blocks and 1 pumpkin block.  A little embroidery is used to accent for the ghosts mouths and for the pumpkin lines.  Buttons add additional accents.  Tonal fabrics were used but you can easily substitute cute Halloween prints.

I hope you have a Happy Halloween and enjoy the little ghosts running through your neighborhood!

Phyllis

Create a Quilt for Music Lovers!

Does your heart hear the music when  you look at this quilt?  “Music of My Heart” is a free quilt pattern for dashing through this month’s Quilt Dash September 15 through 30, 2014.

Free pattern Music of my Heart quiltQuilt Dash is free to dash through online quilt shops to receive this pattern. This quilt, designed by Tammy K. Harrison, is perfect for music lovers and can be created with favorite fabrics.  The appliqué flowers are hearts joined together to form a flower like design and alternat blocks with music notes.

I hope to see you in the Quilt Dash!

Phyllis

Kitty Workout Quilt – Work Those Kitties with Yoga and “Purr-fect Balance”

I just finished a new quilt pattern, Kitty Workout, using my new kitty yoga “Purr-fect Balance” fabrics featuring fun and whimsy kitties in yoga poses. This pattern was designed for the Quilt Dash August 15 – 29, 2014 and is now available through the WhimsyColor online shop.

Kitty Workout Quilt

It’s free to complete the Quilt Dash, where you visit online quilt stores to obtain pieces of the patterns.  While in the stores,  you are sure to find some fabrics or other items that you need for your sewing/quilting habit! For Quilt Shops, there is still time to sign up to get lots of new visitors to your stores.

This “Kitty Workout” quilt is 52″ x 60 1/4″ and is a good size to use for yoga or a lap quilt. It’s easy for an advanced beginner to intermediate quilter.  The “Purr-fect Balance” fabrics are from Quilting Treasures and will be great for sewing or quilting a gift for both someone who loves cats or yoga or both.

Happy Quilting and Meow to you!

Phyllis

Kitties and Yoga Combine for New Fabrics!

I always get excited with a new fabric collection and am extremely so with my next collection Purr-fect Balance. Created in bold colors, Purr-fect Balance has 16 cats in yoga poses along with some snarky names of yoga poses created in kitty lingo.

Purr-fect Balance Kitty Yoga fabrics

I designed this collection for Quilting Treasures. Since it’s still in printing, Quilting Treasures is taking pre-orders from quilt and fabric stores for shipping in November 2014. If you have a favorite fabric store, you can check with them on ordering this collection.

Cat Yoga quilt

A couple of months ago, I received small sample pieces of each fabric to review for approval. Not to let any scrap go to waste, I designed and created a small quilt to show at Quilt Market.  I don’t have a pattern available for this one, but will work up one soon. In addition, I will let you know about free quilt and sewing patterns to go with these fabrics.

My kitty was the inspiration behind these fabrics although his poses were mostly curling up in sleep. But he did have some great sleep poses and funny positions. RIP Kitty Kat.

I hope that you will add some furry love to your quilting and sewing!

Phyllis

Quilt Cutting Rulers For Beautiful, Fun Quilts

When I attend Quilt Market, I always go by the June Tailor booth and did so again at the Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. I love their range of accessories for quilters, including their unique rulers, of which they have many. And of course, I always enjoy chatting with the gorgeous Jill Repp.

Jill Tailor booth at Quilt Market

 

The June Tailor booth is always so well put together and full of color as well as new products. Two new quilting rulers caught my eye and will be a great plus for a quilter.

June Tailor Charming Circles Quilt ruler

This quilting ruler, Charming Circles, can be used in a variety of techniques to aid in circle and curved quilting.

Closeup of Charming Circles Quilt

Here’s a close up of the sample techniques you can easily use with this ruler to give a fabulous quilt or other sewing project – raw edge piecing, regular piecing, and appliqué. Circles are hard to cut and sew so this will be a huge help!

Twist N Stitch Quilt tool

The other new ruler that I loved is Twist ‘n Stitch. I’m a fan of pin wheels so I will put this ruler to use a lot.

Twist N Stitch quilt ruller

With this ruler, you can create 5 sizes of blocks, from 3 1/2 inch blocks to 10 1/2 inch blocks. I love the way the blocks fit together and it reminds me of a puzzle. Without this ruler, it would definitely be a puzzle to put together but is so easy with the steps below.

Step 1 Twist N Stitch Quilt

You can see by the step-out boards that Jill is showing, how simple it is to use the Twist ‘n Stitch ruler!  The basic step is square block pieces sewn together. Now, how easy is that!

Twist N Stirch Quilt Ruler step 2

You then use the ruler to cut out your squares aligning the cut out areas as show above with the easy ruler guides.  The board on the left shows the blocks that were cut out in the black area and then lined up on the board on the right side.

Step 3 in using Twist N Stitch Quilt Ruler

Then in the last step, all you have to do is straighten the blocks side by side and sew together.  So while this quilt looks complicated, it’s not. This would also make a good quilt for guilds to make for their charity quilts. Thanks to Jill for showing me the ins and outs of these great rulers!

To see my earlier posts on the beautiful quilts displayed at market, check out Part 1 Quilt Market quilts and Part 2 Quilt Market quilts.

While I’m late in posting about spring Quilt Market, fall market in Houston is rapidly approaching. I hope it cools off a little before then as Houston can be hot. But I’m looking forward to it, whether hot or cold.

Stay cool!

Phyllis

More Quilts Displayed at International Quilt Market in Pittsburgh

In my last post, I showed you pictures of some of wonderful quilts displayed at the Spring International Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. I didn’t want to visually overload you, as they are all awesome, so I saved some to show you today.

Alices Kitchen Miki Murakan Quilt

“Alice’s Kitchen” by Miki Murakami of Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Pref, Japan. In the story of Alice in Wonderland, there is no kitchen scene. Miki thought it would be fun if a kitchen appeared in the world of Alice so she imagined the kitchen in this quilt. The techniques used were pieced, appliquéd, satin stitched, quilted, fused, and embroidered.

Larry Jennifer Day Quilt

“Larry” by Jennifer Day of Santa Fe, NM, depicts Jennifer’s sewing machine repairman. She took the photograph of him as he repaired her machine one day. You can tell that Larry loves what he does. The techniques used were phototransferred, free-motion embroidered (with less than 1/4″ between stitches).

Boy and his best friend Jennifer Day

“Boy and His Best Friend” also by Jennifer Day of Santa Fe, NM, is a quilt of Jennifer’s 10-year-old-son and his Old English Sheepdog, B Bear, who spend hours together every day. Jennifer printed a photograph of them on fabric and covered their images with 58 different colors of thread. The techniques used were photo transferred and free-motion embroidered (with less than 1/4″ between stitches).

Lincoln Virginia Greaves Quilt“Lincoln” by Virginia Greaes of Roswell, GA. This design was based on a public domain photograph in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Virginia was inspired by Lincoln as a great defender of the U.S. Constitution, a document she has been reading lately to understand our founding fathers. This image of Lincoln reflects the determination with which he pursued his goals in addition to the stress that he endured in that struggle. This quilt is available for purchase.

The quiltmaker Jennifer Bowker

“The Quiltmaker” by Jennifer Bowker of Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The techniques used were machine pieced, raw-edge appliquéd, free-motion quilted, and painted.  Jennifer designed this quilt to honor Margaret Rolfe, the founder of the first Australian Quilt Guild, Canbrella Quilters and whose designs brought Australia into the quilting world. She views a quilt landscape that melds traditional blocks with her own designs.

Cosmic Tango Paulette Landers

“Cosmic Tango” by Paulette Landers of Camp Nelson, CA. This is from Paulette’s series “Journals from Mars.” These are her friends from Galaxia, a small world in the vicinity of Planet Mars. They are a joyous people who have evolved in complete harmony with their surroundings and every occasion is a cause for celebration. (Maybe we should all move to Mars.) The techniques used were machine piecing, turned-edge and raw-edge machine applique and machine quilting.

I hope that you enjoyed seeing these quilts as much as I did! I indicated which of these quilts were for sale, but have no way of knowing if they are still available. They are all so wonderful!  I also provided links to the websites of these quilters that have sites. I hope that you check them out – these are some pretty amazing women.

Pittsburgh View Phyllis Dobbs
Pittsburgh is a beautiful city for Quilt Market and I enjoy visiting there. One evening, I went to dinner across the river (one of the many bridges) and took the cable car to the top of the mountain on the other side. This is the view from my table – a spectacular view and great weather for dining outside.

Please check back as I’m working on another post from Quilt Market about some new products for quilt techniques from one of my favorite companies, June Tailor.

Quilts Display at International Quilt Market – Pittsburgh

I wanted to post, finally, some of my pictures from the Spring International Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. I know you will enjoy seeing some of the spectacular, fun, colorful and whimsy quilts that were displayed. It’s hard to believe that Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh was almost 2 months ago. It seems like only a few days since I was walked off the plane to return home.

Gutermann both spring quilt market

First, I want to show you the booth that I was working in during Quilt Market – Gutermann of America. I helped with the decorating of the booth with my quilts (made with my fabrics for Quilting Treasures and sewn with Gutermann thread). For a sneak peek of my next fabric collection due out this fall (Purr-fect Balance), check out the small turquoise and red quilt shown on the left side. I had received small pieces of the fabric for approval the week before Quilt Market, so I whipped out a small quilt with the pieces.  Please check back as I will post more about this fabric shortly.

You are what you eat Kathy York Quilt

“You are What You Eat” by Kathy York of Austin Texas. Kathy was inspired to create this quilt because of the deers in her neighborhood and that they must be made of flowers because they eat all of hers. The techniques used include hand-drawn batiks, bleach discharged, overdyed, machine pieced, fused appliqué, machine and hand quilting.

Tutti Frutti Main Street Susan Bleiweiss

“Tutti Frutti Main Street” by Susan Bleiweiss of Upton, Ma is part of her ongoing series of art quilts celebrating the use of vibrant color and whimsical imagery.  Sue’s techniques include raw-edge fused appliqué and machine quilted.

Its a Crazy Life Gail Thomas

“It’s a Crazy Life” by Gail Thomas, of Vernon, BC, Canada. She created this quilt with the techniques of hand-pieced, hand-appliqued, painted, machine quilted and hand-embroidered.  Gail worked on this quilt during and after treatment. As her world started healing, she decided the name “Its a Crazy Life” fit with all her stories and the “wow” moments in her life.

House in the Valley #5 Larua Wasilowski

“House in the Valley #5” by Laura Wasilowski is a view of her house by a busy body bird.  The techniques used were fused appliqué, hand-embroidered and free-motion quilted.  This quilt is available for purchase.

A Bright Sun-shiny Day Terri Stegmiler

“A Bright Sun-Shiny Day” by Terri Stegmiller of Manadan, ND is her original design of whimsy, girls, cats and birds. She thinks of this as a self-portrait as she is outside on sunny days watching birds with her cats. Her techniques include hand painted, whole cloth, and free-motion quilted. This quilt is available for purchase.

Roses in the Window Carol Morrissey

 

“Roses in the Window” by Carol Morrissey of Double Oak, TX.  Carol’s techniques fused applique and machine quilted.  She was inspired for this quilt design by a photo she took of some roses that were sitting in her kitchen window. This quilt is available for purchase.

I have many faces Natalie Carlton

Nancy Carlton of Stuart Florida created “I have Many Faces”  and it is available for purchase.  The technique used by Nancy is fused appliqué. She posterized the photos, printed them out and used them for her pattern for fusible appliqué. Available for purchase.

Aren’t these quilts wonderful!  But I’m not finished! I’m working on another post to include more of these wonderful quilts. So check back Monday.

I indicated which of these quilts were for sale, but have no way of knowing if they are still available. They are all so wonderful!  I also provided links to the websites of these quilters. I hope that you check them out – these are some pretty amazing women.

So have a nice weekend and check back Monday for more beauties!

Phyllis

Enjoy a Summer Garden with Garden Glory Quilt

Who doesn’t love a garden of flowers?  This quilt, designed with bright summer colors, has a garden of pink flowers laid out in rows.  The quilt pattern was designed for the online Quilt Dash for June 2014. Its now available through the WhimsyColor online shop.

Quilt Pattern Garden Glory

This quilt is a nice size for a throw and will add color tossed over a sofa with a size of 55″ by 70 3/4″. The quilt is designed with 18 blocks arranged on-point with a hint of log cabin in the block piecing.

I hope you join us for the Quilt Dash, where you will find things you just need to have in the online quilt shops you visit. It’s free to join. And for online shops, you will enjoy a whole lot of new visitors to your stores by participating in the Quilt Dash.

Enjoy your summer, but when it gets too hot or humid outside, cool off inside and quilt!

Phyllis

Dash to receive a Free Irish Quilt Pattern!

For love of the Irish, this quilt “Memories of Mike”  celebrates Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day with the greens of Ireland and the blues of the surrounding water. This pattern is free for dashing through the online Quilt Dash game.  The Quilt Dash starts today and runs through March 31.

Irish quilt pattern

 

“Memories of Mike”, designed by Tammy Harrison, is 71″ square. Although the center blocks are made with the traditional log cabin block, the arrangement gives a celtic knot look to the quilt or can be interpreted  as a lucky 4-leaf clover.

To Dash and receive this free pattern, sign up for the Quilt Dash.  You will visit a few online quilt stores and locate your pattern and instructions. After that, you can have fun quilting this charming pattern.

Enjoy and happy quilting!

Phyllis