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Wednesday 10 June 2015

Hillside Houses Block 12




Well, here we are folks--the final block of the Hillside Houses QAL. This last block is super easy, and I think it's a good last block as a reward for all of the more complicated blocks in the patterns.




You can see my finished quilt above (thanks to the neighborhood kids!)--but I also wanted to show you two more finished quilts made by Kat. She didn't even wait for me to release the last pattern--she figured the last block out on her own!! Kat has been one of most tenacious and enthusiastic supporters of this QAL--she's starting a Halloween one too, and if you want to see everything else she makes, make sure to check her out on Instagram @katquilts.  







Aren't these AMAZING!!!

Also, I wanted to say a special thanks to my friend Christine of Triangles and Squares who reviewed some of the block patterns for me just hours before I was supposed to have them released!!! Thanks Christine!

To American Made Brand fabric, I need to give a special thanks for providing me all the fabric to make the quilt! It was my first time using AMB, and I'm so happy with the result!

And finally, thank you to all of you who have been so excited and encouraging about this project!! Please keep me posted on how your progress is going. Now I'm off to pack up the rest of my sewing stuff--the movers are coming tomorrow (anxiety!!).

To download Block 12 from Craftsy click here. If Craftsy doesn't work try the to download it from dropbox here.



Wednesday 3 June 2015

Hillside Houses Blocks 10 and 11

Happy Wednesday everyone,

After today there will only be one block left for the Hillside Houses pattern--can you believe it's almost done already? I think time seems to move faster in the quilting world.

This week we are starting work on the sky and it can get a little confusing using all the different blues, so just keep that in mind.


I have been already planning out my next Hillside Houses quilt color combo. We have been packing up this week (and our first inspection is tomorrow!) and putting all my fabric into one place made me realize how many solids I have, so I think I want to make one with white roofs (suggestion of @katquilts, thanks Kat!) and make another one with prints. I just get so jealous every time I see what you guys are making.



Anyway, to get your PDF downloads of the Blocks 10 and 11 click here.

And I'll see you back here next week for our final block!


Sunday 31 May 2015

Hillside House Block 8 And 9 Revision

Good morning everyone,

I just wanted to get the word out that I have revised the pattern for Blocks 8 & 9. Pages 2 & 3 of the pattern were in booklet format for some reason, and I have uploaded a new version so all the pages are separate and you don't have to squint when you try to read it:)

I also noticed that on page 3, the alternate assembly, that on Step 2, you should cut an E piece--not a D piece.



To download the newest version click here.

Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you in a few days!!





Wednesday 27 May 2015

Hillside Houses QAL Blocks 8 & 9


Hello everyone. This week, as you might remember, blocks 8 & 9 can be pieced separately, or together. The difference is, if you piece them separately (as shown in the layout guide) House #13 will have an additional seam down the center of the left side. If you choose to piece them all at one time, the blocks will be pieced in two rows like this:


You can choose how you want to piece yours by downloading the pattern here. The third page will how you how to piece them as pictured above. The benefit to doing it that was is it just reduces the number of seams and pieces, but in reality, it is only the difference in two pieces! So it's really up to you to decide which way works best for you. I just hope that my instructions are helpful, and you are still enjoying yourself! If you have any questions, please let me know.

As for me, I have a confession. I did not get my blocks completed this week. My family and I went on a 4-day trip up to the beautiful Scottish Highlands. As you might know, we move back to America in about a month, and are trying to hit a couple of places in the UK that we might never get the opportunity to see again. I will write more about Scotland in a future post, but I just wanted to let you know that Scotland is by far the most beautiful place I have ever been.

I did also find some real Hillside Houses in England on the way up that I thought would be fun to share with you--



See you next week!



Wednesday 20 May 2015

Hillside Houses QAL Block 6 & 7

I feel like I should explain this picture, lol. When I got off work today I rushed home to take a picture of my blocks and of course, it started raining and it was just too cloudy to get light anywhere, so I thought it would be cute if my kids held up the blocks. Well, they are cute, but not super excited about it:) I would also like to mention, that I have been having so many problems with my iron lately (the steam function has completely died), so if you have any recommendations for any irons you love, let me know!



If you're still coming back for more Hillside Houses then congrats on making it this far! We're over the hump now, and only have a few weeks left. I'm constantly impressed with the creative houses you guys are making, and I just wanted to say thank you to all of y'all. Thank you for making this quilt with me. Thank you for your enthusiasm, and thank you for your positive feedback. My inbox has a steady flow of email with questions, encouragement,  and kind words, and I just wanted to let you know how much it means to me.

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite comments/suggestions from this week, I had message from Debbie (#minersewfun) on Instagram and she mentioned that her husband calls this project "Monopoly Houses". It makes me laugh because it does look like Monopoly houses, and I struggled when I was trying to name the project. "Rooftops", "Ocean Front Property", "Mi Casa es Sue Casa", were some of the names I was throwing around, and when I asked my own husband what he thought his eyes just glazed over and he mumbled "uh huh". But anyway, I wish I would've thought of "Monopoly Houses", it's a cute, witty, and accurate. Thanks Debbie!

Another message that I got was from Kat (#katquilts) who mentioned that this would be fun as a Christmas quilt and don't you thin that such a great idea?! She recommended making it with white rooftops, and the whole idea just put me in the Christmas spirit.

Anyway, again, thank you for stopping by and playing along! You can link-up at the bottom if you want o show off all your progress!

Download Block 6 here.

Download Block 7 here.



Wednesday 13 May 2015

Hillside Houses Block 4 and 5


Happy Wednesday everyone! Have you been checking out everyone houses in the QAL? I'm so amazed by all
the people participating, and the different versions being made. When I designed the pattern, I couldn't imagine it in anything but solids, but that just goes to show you how awesome it is to be part of such a creative community. There are several versions popping up with prints and they are just darling! It makes me want to make another one.

This week I have patterns ready for Block 4 and Block 5. These blocks are a little different because they aren't as tall, and Block 4 is slightly wider; whereas Block 5 is just smaller overall. I did this so we wouldn't have to cut House 6 in half (piece it in two different blocks with a seam-line going down the center of the front). When deciding the assembly, I wanted to avoid making the blocks in places that didn't fall within a natural seam line, but this will be a problem again in Blocks 8 and 9. No matter how you break the blocks up, one house will always have a seam somewhere where it shouldn't be--unless you break blocks 8 and 9 in two horizontal pieces but the problem with that is I wanted the layout and blocks to be pretty standardized across the board. Honestly having the additional seam won't be that noticeable to everyone else, but for all those OCD quilters out there (me included) we would know, and sometimes that is worse than anything else. Sometimes we can drive ourselves insane with the smallest things!

As a solution, and when the time comes (just two weeks), I'll have a alternate pattern ready to distribute--a combined block including 8 and 9, so you can piece it as one big block to avoid the seam problem:)

Anyway, thank you all for stopping by and I look forward to seeing your houses this week. Let me know if  you have any questions or feedback. Take care.




Tuesday 12 May 2015

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day Winners

Thank you to everyone who stopped by for the Sew Mama Sew giveaway. It's always a fun time of year to see all the giveaways and watch the comments start rolling in. I had two bundles to give away, and the winners are:

Jayne who won the Hadley Bundle

and Barbara O. who won the Milk, Flower, Sugar bundle!


Congratulations ladies! I have emailed you, so reply back with your address so I can get those mailed out to you.  Thank you to everyone else who stopped by, and I wish I hope you guys were all able to win something somewhere during the giveaway days. Have a wonderful week!







Friday 8 May 2015

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

Hi everyone! I've been so busy with the quilt-along that I almost forgot about Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!


If this is your first time stopping by then I'd like to welcome you. My name is Cristina, and I'm a quilter, mother of three, sweet tea drinker, and I can't decide if I'm a British person that just happened to be born in America, or a Texan that just happens to live in England. I am making a big move to D.C. this summer, so if you're in the Maryland/Virginia area, please give me a shout out! I'm trying to find out as much as I can before I get there : ) 

I started quilting a few years ago, and probably just like you, I fell in love. I have had lots of hobbies, but none of them really stuck until I started quilting. I think my style is a little bit eclectic--I love bold, modern quilts with colorful solids, but at the same time, I love quilts with super-sweet flowery fabrics. I have also developed a recent fascination with two-color quilts. I think I just love all quilts. 

I recently made this modern Aztec/Native American inspired quilt that was featured in Issue 21 of Love Patchwork and Quilting. My sister calls it the Jolly Rancher quilt...




And right now I'm hosting the Hillside Houses QAL, and we've just started, so I encourage you to check it out if you're interested. Each week I'll be releasing free block patterns to make this quilt:


There are 12 block in the quilt and you can see some of the participants progress on Instagram #hillsidehousesqal

So, now for the part you've probably stopped by for! Today I'll be giving away 12 Fat Quarters of Milk, Flower, Sugar by Elea Lutz and I'll be having a second giveaway of a bundle of Hadley fabric by Denyse Schmidt. 

You can enter three times, and here are the ways to do it:

1) Leave me a comment telling me which fabric you want

2) Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me which fabric you want:) If you're already a follower, just leave a comment letting me know. 

3) Follow me on instagram @prettylittlequilts and leave me a comment here letting me know you're following me and which fabric you want. 





Oh, and in case I didn't mention it, don't forget to tell me which fabric you want;)!! Also, leave me an email address if you are a no-reply blogger, or if you aren't sure if you're a no reply blogger.

I will randomly select the winners on 10 May 2015, so there's not a whole lot of time left!! I will ship internationally, so everyone can enter. Make sure to check out all the other giveaways on Sew Mama Sew! Thanks for stopping by everyone and have a happy weekend!!





Thursday 7 May 2015

Hillside Houses QAL: Laying Out Your Blocks





Hi everyone! Okay, so I said I wouldn't bug you until next week, but I made a layout guide so you know how we're going to be placing the blocks. The quilt is made up of 12 blocks, and the quilt will be assembled in horizontal rows.

The quilt includes 18 houses, and each block pattern contains references to specific house numbers found on the coloring sheet.  I numbered the houses so that when you're making a confusing block you will know which colors go where.

As you can see, Block 1 contains House #1, but notice Block 8 contains houses #12, #9, parts of #13 and #16.






My patterns only focus on one block at-a-time, and I hope by doing it that way it will break up any confusion looking at all those crazy numbers might cause.

So far I have released patterns for Blocks one, two, and three, so you have everything you need to make the bottom row--1/4 quilt finished.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and you can download a PDF of the layout guide, or coloring sheet here.

Also, at the end of the QAL I will be compelling all these references into one PDF file, so if you don't have time to participate in the QAL now, you can get all the patterns and guides in one download in just one file.

I won't make any more promises that I'm not going to make any more posts for the rest of the week, so I'll just say I'll see you soon:)






Wednesday 6 May 2015

Hillside Houses Blocks 2 and 3

Hi everyone! It's been pretty exciting because I've started seeing all of the Hillside Houses start popping up on Instagram. And for those who want to share, but don't have Instagram, I have added a link-up at the bottom so you can share what you've been making.




The good news is I have two block patterns available this week! I am going to try to continue the 2-block-a-week-trend until we're all done. You can download the newest blocks in my Craftsy storefront--Block 2 and Block 3.

Kylie at Faith Love Fabric suggested a blog button so I made one for you to post or share. This button will take you straight to a page that has everything you'll need for the QAL, and I'll have all the links for the patterns listed as the weeks go on.


Pretty Little Quilts Hillside Houses QAL


I also received some feedback from the talented Karen over at EasyPatchwork (whose block is appearing in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine!). She is making the mini Hillside Houses quilt and suggested using 2.25in HSTs and trimming them to size. I really appreciate her feedback, and am going to start adding that to all the patterns from here on out. I hope you all feel free to let me know anything you do or don't like because I want to make sure everyone is having a good experience:)! 

And now, I have some other news. It pains me to say this but today, as I was piecing my own quilt I discovered that when I initially wrote the fabric requirements for the large quilt (60" x 75") that I miscalculated the light gray (AMB 05) for the rooftops. I would like to apologize for those of you who ordered your fabric already, and I wanted you to know that I went back and checked every color again to ensure the fabric requirements were correct for the rest of the quilt. You will need 1 yd of light gray (instead of the 1/2 yard that I initially listed), and I have updated the page with the new information. I know shipping costs can get expensive, so I did some research and found an Etsy seller, LilacLaneLLC, that sells that color and will ship for only $2.00 in the States. If you were a victim of my terrible mistake, please send me an email and let me know!!! I'm terribly sorry.

I hope that didn't dampen the mood, and keep me posted on how you're doing! I'm having a lot of fun and I appreciate all you who've reached out to me. Enjoy your week, and I'll see you back here same time next week! P.S. Don't forget to link-up:)




Wednesday 29 April 2015

Block 1 - Hillside House QAL

Hi everyone! Today I'm releasing the pattern for the first block of the #HillsideHousesQAL . This is House #1 on the coloring sheet.



To download the PDF of the pattern, click here.

Here's a few things to keep in mind when making your block:

1) The placement of this block is on the lower left in the empty space shown below.



2) The quilt has options for three different sizes. Don't get overwhelmed when you see the pattern, just stay in your lane and keep your eye on the prize!!

     a)  Throw size -  60" x 75"; the first block is 20" sq
     b)  Wall-hanging size - 30" x 37"; the first block is 10" sq
     c)  Mini - 15" x 18"; the first block is a tiny 5"

3) The coloring sheet has all the house numbers (addresses) on it, so it's a good reference to keep your pieces organized. I will refer to the house numbers on the pattern. The coloring sheet can be found here.

4) If you are making yours in different colors or arrangement, just take notice that I have used a dark shade on one side, and light shade of the same color on the other side of each house. I encourage you to make yours however you want, I just wanted to point that out in case it was difficult to tell. Don't feel obligated to make yours this way!!

5) Have fun. Have fun. HAVE FUN!!!

Let me know if you have any questions! I will release the next block pattern next Wednesday!







Sunday 26 April 2015

American Made Brand Fabric Giveaway

Good morning everyone. I have a bundle of American Made Brand fabric to giveway on Instagram as part of the Hillside Houses QAL. If you do not have an IG account, you can leave me a comment here and I will enter you to win. Winner will be chosen on Tuesday and is open to anyone in or on planet Earth. Good luck!!!






Monday 20 April 2015

Hillside Houses Coloring Sheet

Happy Monday again! I created this coloring sheet to use for the #HillsideHousesQAL to help you decide the placement of your colors if you're making it different than mine. It's also a good reference to use no matter how you decide to make it because it all the houses are numbered  and I'll be referring the numbers during the quilt-along. Enjoy!

To download a PDF copy, click here.


Hillside Houses Quilt-Along

Hello everyone! Today I just wanted to drop a couple of lines to announce an upcoming Instagram quilt along I'm hosting with a pattern I designed called "Hillside Houses". The QAL will begin on 1 May and I will be posting all of the instructions for free. The finished quilt measures 60" x 75" and it will be divided up into 12 blocks, and I will be releasing instructions for 2 blocks a week. The information will be Instagram but I'm also creating PDF printouts that you can download here for all the blocks for those of you who (like me) don't want to stare at a tiny screen to figure everything out. If you want to participate, or just follow along, use the hashtag #HillsideHousesQAL on IG. 

house quilt

I decided I wanted to use American Made Brand Fabric to make my quilt, because ever since I saw this pic of their booth at quilt market I wanted to try it out. Their fabric is 100% sourced and manufactured in the U.S., from the cotton farms to the dyeing process. I love the idea of using homegrown fabric.



Fabric Requirements:

This is a great project for using up your solids but if you decide you want to make yours exactly like I’m making mine here’s what you’ll need: 

1 yd light blue for left sides of blue houses and rooftops (AMB 87, Light Denim)
1 yd light gray for the right sides of rooftops  (AMB 05, Light Gray)

1/2 yard of the following colors: 

AMB 97 - Light Sky (for the sky)
AMB 05 - Light Gray (for right sides of rooftops)  
AMB 33 - Aqua
AMB 34 - Dark Aqua
AMB 23 - Light Olive (light green)
AMB 34 - Olive (dark green) 
AMB 90 - Blue 

Fat quarter of each of the following colors: 

AMB 75 - Dark Raspberry (dark pink)
AMB 43 -  Raspberry (medium pink)
AMB 36 - Orange
AMB 67 - Light Gold (light orange or dark yellow)
AMB 62 - Taupe
AMB 60 -  Dark Butter (beige)
AMB 08 - Light yellow (for windows). 

You’ll also need 1/2 yard for binding and 4yds for backing. 


I hope you'll follow along or join in the fun, and make sure to stop by instagram @prettylittlequilts on 25 April because I have a bundle of American Made Brand solids to giveaway!

Sunday 12 April 2015

Button Up Quilt


Button Up Quilt

It feels like forever since I have been able to take a good picture of a quilt. I was very, very happy that the weather was nice today because I just finished up the binding on this one last night. We jumped in the car for a family outing in Thetford Forest and it was an awesome location for quilt pics. I always feel a little weird when taking quilt pics in public places because everyone stares at me like I'm a crazy person. There was a group of picnic-ers behind me gawking when I snapped this shot.

For this quilt I used Cluck Cluck Sew's Button Up pattern, and it's really a fun and easy top to put together. I'm very excited about this quilt because all the fabric was from my current stash. The yellows and greens in the quilt aren't consistent throughout but I was determined not to buy any new fabric for this project. I've been on a fabric fast lately, and am trying to use as much as I can before the big move.

button up quilt

The backing was actually a temporary-turned-permanent set of curtains in house that I made from Glamping gingham fabric. I felt like Scarlett O'Hara as I ripped those suckers down and used them to back the quilt. But I think the backing is perfect for a "country" look. According to my calculations, making this quilt was basically free because I was so resourceful with my current stash--and everyone knows that fabric purchased over 30 days ago doesn't count;)

Hope everyone else is enjoying the weather and is working on some fun projects. : )

Button Up Quilt

Saturday 4 April 2015

Binding



For me, there's only one pro to binding a quilt with a sewing machine--it's quick. The cons, however, are endless. For starters, the process is completely stressful. Days before I even start the binding I'm trying to get myself mentally prepared. I practice lots of exercises in deep breathing, a little music therapy, and as the time to begin gets closer, a motivating counseling session with myself in the mirror isn't unheard of. 

After I've machine-sewn the binding to one side, I start to break out in a cold sweat, because I know it's about to get real. While I'm sewing the binding to the opposite side, I try to stare without blinking, because I know with one flinch my stitches will run up over the binding and all hope will be lost. It's very easy to mess up, and with all the time that is spent on a quilt, I don't want the last step to be the one that ruins it all. 

I've tried many, many different methods to make my machine-binding look as good as possible: sewing it to the front and folding-it over and sewing to the back, sewing it on the back and folding it over toward the front, sewing through the front and back at the same time, sewing it to one side and then folding it over and sewing through both sides. Time and again I've tried to make my machine binding look professional, but I'm almost never happy with it. So, I finally decided to do something different.

I started hand-sewing my binding. I avoided trying it for a long time because I thought it would take too much time. Of course, it takes ALOT longer, but I absolutely love it. There's no crazy talk in the mirror, no cold-sweats, no stressful sewing--just me and the quilt watching TV together. The process is completely relaxing, and it looks worlds better when it's all done. I might not hand-sew the binding on every quilt in the future, but if time allows, I think it definitely worth the extra effort. 




Saturday 28 February 2015

Going to Grandma's Quilt Block Free Pattern

vintage luggage suitcase quilt


I've had this quilt finished for a few weeks and have been waiting for some good weather to take pictures. Monday through Friday the weather is gorgeous but the clouds roll in just in time for the weekends. I finally just decided it was time to give up and just take a picture because you can't put your life on hold for a few clouds, sometimes you just have to hope there's a rainbow, or silver lining, or something like that.

There's been another cloud that's been hanging over me lately that I had to get over. Early in January my family and I were waiting to find out where my next assignment would be. In July we will have to move back to the States, and we worried and excited to find out where the military would send us. While I was daydreaming about possible places we might go, I also started planning out our summer vacation travelling around the States visiting all the family we haven't seen in a few years. And that's when the idea of this quilt came to me.

As I designed it I was daydreaming about sunshine and going hiking with my sister in Arizona. And as I was cutting fabric I imagined taking my kids to Disney World, and then driving up to Ohio to visit my husband's family and eating Handel's ice cream. When I pieced it together I hoped we would be able to settle in Texas, wear flip-flops year round and eat tacos every night for dinner. And I started dwelling on that dream specifically. And it came as a big disappointment when I found out we would not be settling in Texas or wearing flip-flops year round. When the assignment notification dropped it was to Maryland--just outside of Washington D.C.

And then all I could imagine was traffic jams, sketchy neighbourhoods and metal detectors and drug dogs at the kids' schools. But I know it's not going to be that bad, and I just had to find that silver lining.

My kids have never seen the Capitol and it's just a short trip to Philadelphia, New York city, or Colonial Williamsburg. And even if I won't get to eat authentic Tex-Mex, the second best food I've eaten in my life was in D.C.  But the best thing about this relocation is we will that we will be closer to my husband's family. I'm not very good with geography, but apparently, all the eastern states are so small, that nothing is too far away. We will still be a few hours away from them, but it will be the closest we've ever lived to family in the last 16 years. They are amazing, and his grandmother is one of the most wonderful, selfless, and beautiful people I have ever met. She is an absolute saint. Before I met her, I had never known a person to be so happy and at peace, and I have never been so at peace as when I'm around her. She taught me what it means to be a truly good-hearted person. She doesn't worry, complain, or gripe. And instead of getting stressed out when her house is full of her kids, grand-kids, and great-grand-kids, that's when she is her happiest.

My 5-year-old has only met her a couple of times (most recently 3 years ago--the last time we were all in the States) but he proudly carries a picture of her around and tells everyone how much he likes "his grandma". And my oldest son is completely indifferent to everything I cook, but we'll wolf down everything she makes and begs me to get the recipe. And now we'll be able to see her all the time, she'll be able to watch the kids grow up and we'll finally have family close by to spend the holidays with. So, in her honor, I am naming this quilt Going to Grandma's. Because really, even if moving to D.C. is not what I wanted at all, it will be wonderful to live near someone who means so much to me, and who I want my children to grow up with.




Many times in life you don't always get what you wish for, but sometimes what you get turns out to be better than what you wanted in the first place. I'm hoping and thinking that now is probably one of those times.

If you want to make a quilt block, you can download the PDF pattern here.




Sunday 1 February 2015

Sweet Surrender: A Free Valentine's Day Quilt Pattern

Sweet Surrender Valentine's Day Quilt Pattern


I love Valentine's Day. It's not the idea of romance that keeps me interested because, believe me, when you've been married for 15 years the most romance you can hope for getting control of the TV long enough to watch The Notebook before the family begins to riot. No, what I love about Valentine's Day little heart stickers, white paper doilies, and those cheap little cards with cheesy sayings that kids exchange at school. Valentine's Day still retains the same magic today as it did when I was a kid, whereas some other holidays--cough--(Christmas!!!) becomes overshadowed with frenzied stress.


Sweet Surrender Valentine's Day Quilt Pattern


Lately I have been so much in the V-Day spirit that a couple of nights ago I shot out of bed at 3am with the idea for this banner quilt. And I wanted to share the pattern with you, so hopefully, if you want to make it, you'll have enough time before the 14th. The quilt is only about 36in x 48in, so it makes a cute wall-hanging. I made the quilt with all solids, but I think it would be so cute made-up with some prints, or maybe colorful banners instead of all white ones.

To download the free PDF version of Sweet Surrender, click here.

I hope this Valentine's Day you get lots of candied hearts, flowers, and Ryan Gosling!!

XOXOXO

Cristina