Browsing "Older Posts"

frienship star quilt block tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Saturday, November 28, 2020

 


The friendship star is another perfect quilt block for beginners. It is really simple and quick to make with half square triangles (HSTs). It is not only simple but also looks cute. I like how it looks and I'm sure you'll love yours, too. 

In order to make a single friendship star quilt block, you need three squares of fabric measuring 10"x 10". It looks great with contrasting fabric. I preferred red and white fabric here. The finished size is 12"×12". 

Cutting instructions

  • Cut four  4 1/2"×4 1/2" red squares. These are for the corners
  • Cut two 4 7/8"×4 7/8" red squares. These are for making HSTs.
  • Cut one 4 1/2"×4 1/2" square. This is for the center.
  • Cut two 4 7/8"×4 7/8" squares. These are for HSTs.
Below is a cutting  chart for blocks in different size.


Making half-square triangles (HSTs)

  • Take one light and one dark fabric square. Draw a diagonal line on dark fabric square.
  • Place the two fabric squares right sides together.
  • Sew along the both sides of the line with 1/4" seam allowance.
  • Cut along the drawn line with rotary cutter.
  • Press seams through dark fabric and trim the  block to 4 1/2".


  • With this method of making HSTs, you get two HSTs, so you need to make another two half square triangles. If yoy need a more detailed tutorial for making half square triangles, it is HERE.


Assembly of the friendship star quilt block

  • Arrange your squares and HSTs as in the image below.

  • First sew the squares in rows with 1/4" seam allowance. Press the seams in the same direction.

  • Join the rows together. Press the seams and then press the completed block and trim it down to 12.5". And it is completed.

I love the simplicity of this block. It comes with many options. You can use friendship star quilt block to make an entire quilt, a cushion or table runner. Start making the quilt block and let your imagination decide the next step. 

Enjot it!

Half -square triangles are used in many many ways to make quilt blocks. They are simple but you can make many different quilt blocks using them. If you like HST blocks, you might also like these:




10 easy christmas gifts to sew

By Hatun Comak → Wednesday, November 18, 2020

 

It is nearly the end of November and it is time to start thinking about and making Christmas presents.Here I have a list of easy sewing ideas you can make yourself. They have step by step easy to follow tutorials. These are relatively simple projects and do not take much time. Some of these are my tutorials and some are others which are also tried. A gift that you have made with your own hands is much more precious than a bought one. When you give effort and time for a gift, it makes the gift special. I'm sure these christmas gift ideas won't disappoint your fiends or family.

Hope you find the inspiration here. 

Here we go!

Easy Stocking Tutorial by Amy Smart

Christmas stockings are perfect for decoration. The color choices are also cute and adding some candies in the stockings will make kids happy.

Zippered Pouch

Zippered pouches are good for everyone. Everybody needs them for any reason. So they are guaranteed to be liked.

DIY Fabric Bookmark

Fabric bookmarks are easy and quick to make. They are also great  to use your scraps. You all need some leftovers of Christmas fabrics. Bookworms will love these fabric bookmarks.


Twisted Hexagon Coaster

With some pieces of Christmas fabrics and english paper piecing method, you get these twisted hexagon coasters. Aren't they lovely?

Folded Star Potholder

This may look complicated but it has a simple technique.You can amaze your friends or family with this nice folded star potholder.

Hexagon Pincushion



Christmas Tree Pom Pom Pillow by Onsuttonplace

This pillow looks so cute and absolutely on my to-do list. After making pom poms, it is not much work.

Santa Apron by Crazy Little Projects



Reading Cushion by Sewingdirectory

This reading cushion has a pocket on the front to put a book into. How about giving this reading cushion with a book as a coordinating gift? This may encourage the kids to read more!

Hexagon Fabric Tray by Aspoonfulofsugar

Hexagons are always popular and I like to see how differently they are used. This mini hexagon fabric tray is also cute.

Here I collected some sewing ideas for Christmas that is proper to be gifted. Hope you find someting suitable for you.

You might also like:

10+ Free Christmas Quilt Patterns



8 Christmas Fabric Ornament Tutorials


folded hexagon star tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Friday, November 13, 2020

 I'm here with a pattern that I have wanted to make for a long time. Folded hexagon star is made from folded hexagons, which is pretty easy. It also looks gorgeous and it is versatile, you can make it anything with it, whatever you choose. A single folded hexagon star can be used as a coaster, adding more folded hexagon stars you can turn it into a table topper or runner. This is actually what I am planning to do. I stitched ten of folded hexagon star pieces together and by adding more, I will make it a table runner.

I also prepared a step-by-step tutorial for you. I'm sure you will want to make one for yourself. At least you will give it a try. 

Below you will find the instructions for making folded hexagon star without batting. The hexagon stars can be made in any size.


Instructions for folded hexagon tutorial

  • Choose the size you want to make your folded hexagon stars. I preferred 5 inch hexagons. If you don't have the templates for 5 inch hexagons, you can download it HERE.
  • Using your hexagon template, cut two hexagons from two different fabrics.
  • Right sides together, sew all around the hexagon, use 1/4" seam allowance. But you should leave around 1" opening for turning. Clip the exess pieces and corners also.

  • Turn the right side and poke out the corners. You can use a pencil to obtain sharp corners. Press with iron.
  • Find the midpoint of each edge simply by folding it in half and mark the midpoints. I used pins for that.
  • One by one fold each corner. We will be making isosceles triangle. While folding, measure the height of each folded triangle, so that they can be the same.


  • Press each triangle and pin to hold in place.Then, remove the midpoint pins.
  • Sew through the triangles. Topstitch as close  to the star as possible. Do the same for all triangles.

  • Press with iron and one folded hexagon star's already finished.  

  • The next step is sewing the folded hexagons together. Take two folded hexagon stars and handstitch them together from one edge. 
  • You add as many pieces as you want. This hasn't finished yet but planned to be a table topper.


  • You add as many pieces of folded hexagon stars as you want depending on your project. Mine is going to be a table runner, so it needs more pieces.
I enjoyed the process of making folded hexagon stars. You should absolutely give it a try.




sashiko denim zipper pouch

By Hatun Comak → Wednesday, November 4, 2020

 Denim zipper pouch from recycled jeans with sashiko style.



The pouch is made with recyled pieces of denim, adorned with sashiko stitching. This pouch is versatile; you can use it as a pencilcase, make up bag or for some other storage ideas.

I like using jeans for bags and pouches. They are not only durable but also stylish. Adding sashiko stitching is bonus.  Here  is how I make this sashiko denim zipper pouch. 



I cut two pieces of denim fabric from old jeans. On one piece I draw the lines with a ruler. These will be guiding lines. I added a little square in the center and pinned it.


I started stitching sashiko.Below is the result. Sashiko is a form of decorative stitching from Japan which started out of need in 1600s. 


Then comes the sewing part of the zipper pouch. A detailed tutorial is here to show you how to make a zipper pouch.



This sashiko zipper pouch is finished and already gifted to a friend. Zipper pouches are perfect for gifts. They are easy, quick to make and with some sashiko stitching, it turns to a unique item.




Enjoy it!



pinwheel quilt tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Friday, October 30, 2020

 


I finally finished making pinwheel quilt top. Actually it is an easy and quick project, appropriate also for beginners. Besides pinwheel quilt, I have been working on some other projects. That's why it took some time to finish this pinwheel quilt top. It still needs quilting. I've already started quilting it but hasn't finished yet. I am quilting it in my domestic sewing machine. When I finish quilting this pinwheel quilt, this post will be updated. I hope it won't take long.

I made this pinwheel quilt for my 8-year-old son. He is impatiently waiting for it to finish. I loved making this quilt. I'm still a learner and I've learned a lot. Pinwheels are cute and I like the colors I used here; red and blue fabric with little stars on them. Red is my son's favourite color and I like dark blue. I think they go very well together.

I also prepared a simple tutorial, if you would like to give it a try.




Instructions

  • Pinwheel quilts are basically made of half square triangles (HSTs). For this pinwheel quilt, you qill need many many HSTs. So start with making half square triangles. You need two different fabrics to make half square triangles. I used white and red fabrics, and white and dark blur fabrics to make HSTs. I used magic 8 half square triangle units method. You get eight HSTs at a time with this method. When there is a need for many HSTs, this method is great. I had 216 HSTs in total measuring 4.5" each.


  • When HSTs are ready, start making pinwheel quilt blocks. I have another tutorial showing how to make a pinwheel quilt block. Each pinwheel quilt block measures 8.5". There is also a chart showing different measuements for pinwheel quilt blocks. There are 54 pinwheel quilt blocks in total. You can add or reduce quilt blocks according to the size you want to make the quilt.


  • When your pinwheel quilt blocks are ready, now it is time to decide the layout. First I planned to put the red pinwheel blocks in the center and dark blue ones around.


       Later I tried one dark blue, one red pinwheel quilt block and I liked that better. 
  • Start sewing pinwheel blocks in rows. When rows are finished, press with iron to the seams. Then you sew the rows together. While sewing rows, pay attention that squares match up. Do not forget to press the seams again.


  • Finally I added a 4" sashing with the same fabric which is dark blue. And the quilt top is finished. The finished size of pinwheel quilt top is 54"x78".




pumpkin quilt block tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Wednesday, October 21, 2020

 


The seasonal spirit of fall calls us to work with fall colors, varieties of oranges and browns. Pumpkin quilt block is also another pattern that is popular among fall quilts. I decided to make this pumpkin quilt block and and also prepared a step by step easy-to-follow tutorial.

You will need a variety of oranges to make this patchwork pumpkin quilt block. All the fabric pieces come from my stash. So dig out your fabric stash and find the orange fabrics. You will also need background fabric, which is dark blue here, scraps of green and scraps of cream for the stem.


Instructions:

  • Cut 3" squares - 20 squares of orange, 1 square of cream, 1 square of green, 3 squares of dark blue
  • Cut 5 2.5" squares of dark blue and 1 1.5" square of dark blue.


  • Lay out the 3" squares in the following order to form a pumpkin shape.


  • Mark a diagonal line on the back side of all the smaller dark blue squares.
  • Lay 2.5" dark blue squares on the orange squares in the corners.
  • Put a 2.5" square on the top left corner and 1.5" square on the bottom right corner of the green square. Have a look at the image below for a better understanding.


  • Sew down the diagonal line of the 1.5" square to the green square first. Trim the little corner, press seams open. Then, sew the 2.5" square along the line on the opposite corner, trim and press.
  • Sew 2.5" dark blue squares to the orange corners. Trim and press.

                          

 
  • Lay the squares of pumpkin in the correct order and sew the squares into rows first.


  • Sew the rows together to complete the pumpkin quilt block. Press with iron and you're done! 


This single pumpkin quilt block can be turned into a nice wall hanging great for fall decoration. Or by making three of them, you can make a table runner. Or even with more and more pumpkins, it can be used for making a bed quilt. It is all your imagination.
I enjoyed making this pumpkin quilt block. Working with the varieties of orange fabric was good. I hope you enjoy it, too.

10 free pumpkin quilt patterns

By Hatun Comak → Thursday, October 15, 2020

 It is fall time now, which means it is time to dig and find out orange fabrics in your stash to start sewing your fall quilts.

Are you in search of doing something related to fall? Pumpkins are the symbol of fall and very popular with fall quilts. It is just a pumpkin, you can say, but there are dozens of pumpkin variations for quilt patterns. Whether you look for patchwork, applique or stuffing things, you will find it here in this round up for pumpkin quilt patterns. In this collection of pumpkin quilt patterns which are totally free, you will find various pumpkin patterns proper for your fall quilt needs. 

Therre is a variety of projects: table runners, cushions, mug rugs, wall hangings or bed quilts, applique and more.They are also great as gifts!

I collected a bunch of free pumpkin quilt patterns. Many of these projects are easy to make and does not require much time to finish. They are also adaptable to make variations depending on your imagination.

I hope you will get the inspiration you need to start your fall quilt project. 


Here we go!


Pumpkin quilt block tutorial by My patchworld





Fall pumpkin table runner by The Cloth Parcel



Pumpkin pincushion by Fiskars Craft




Cheeky pumpkin quilt by Studio Fabrics



Pumpkins by Cluck Cluck Sew




Pumpkin placemat by Phyllis Dobbs




Jack-o-lantern pattern by Artisania



Strippy pumpkin by Diane Knott



Mug rug tutoriaÅŸ by So Sew Easy



Mini pumpkin quilt by Jan Daly Quilts


So which one is your favourite? I like fall and the colors of fall quiltd attract me so much. I collected my favourites here so this round up for pumpkin quilt patterns is also for me to choose the next project.