Halloween has come and gone; we’re one stop closer to Christmas.  Too far away still for many people to shop for gifts, but for those of us who enjoy making gifts, it’s closing in!  Table runners and table toppers make great gifts.  You can give  beautiful, long lasting, personal gifts and they don’t take long to make.  D Hall Designs has a large variety of “table dressing” patterns, including table runners, table toppers, and placemats.  If you have more time, you can also choose one of Denise’s baby size, lap size, or full bed size quilts…. bonus! many of them include directions for a runner also.

Triple Spin includes instructions for a 14″ x 35″ table runner and a 13.5″ x 13.5″ table topper that could also be used in a place setting.  Using high contrast fabrics allows the spinning block to really stand out.

Spinners kicks up the motion a little more.  Again, high contrast fabrics would be best.  Instructions are for placemats, and table runners in two sizes.  It might be fun to use a gold background for the table topper with red for the pinwheels and, with the same background in the placemats, use green for the placemats…. coordinating but not matchy-matchy.

The Ribbon Dance pattern has wide enough borders that are perfect for a  holiday themed medium scale print fabric.  The center is a neutral background with two different fabrics intertwining to look like cascading ribbon.  Two sizes: 13.75″ x 28.5″ and 18″ x47″ 

A table topper, a table runner, and a candle mat make up the Irish Chain pattern.  How cute would these look with fussy cut Santas or Snowmen in the center squares?!

Browse the rest of D Hall Designs patterns.  Discover Denise’s quick and easy piecing methods and try her “flip and sew” technique, all while making beautiful gifts.

Nelly Vileikis has been driven to create quilts for quite a long time.  She also enjoys sharing the craft through workshops, lectures, trunk shows and private classes.  Her quilt designs are dynamic and colorful.  And they range from simple, easy quilts to more complicated showpieces.

 All Star Quilt allows you to choose a theme and then showcase it in the large center of the simple blocks.  The instructions are easy to follow.  Create a quilt that will mean something special.

Amazon Reflections takes a new approach to the stack-n-whack method.  Change your color palette and change the mood of the quilt, but you’ll still end up with a “wow” piece.

Snowball blocks and modified nine patches come together easily (even for a beginner!) to create Playful Rings.  No one has to know how easy it was to make this complicated looking quilt!

Traditional patchwork and machine applique come together to create this contemporary design, Caribbean Fiesta.  You’ll have to work a little harder for this one, but what a splash it makes, right?!   In these colors it kind of makes me want to play Parchessi.

Believe it or not, Whirligig is made up of only squares! Looks hard, but it really isn’t.  Take the opportunity to play with color, fabric and composition.

Nelly’s clear, concise instructions will walk you through the process of paper piecing this masterpiece, Sunset on Ellis Island.  Then you can say “I did that!”

From simple to complicated, all of Nelly’s designs are colorful and interesting.

Four Corners Designs began in 1985 and has designed hundreds of books and
patterns for the quilting community since then. Their publications have become well-known for their innovative ideas, easy techniques, and clear instructions whether the projects are quilts, garments, or accessories.

Recently, publishing and distribution of the Four Corners Designs is being
provided by QuiltersWarehouse.  

“QuiltersWarehouse.com is a recognized leader in the quilting industry. Their prompt delivery and exceptional customer service makes for a good fit with the us,” says Four Corners Designs.

“Already on the presses and now ready for shipping is the very popular Raggy Jacket, which has not been available since November of 2010.   It is the first in a series of Four Corners Designs’ retired patterns that are being considered for re-release,” says John Bruns, CEO of QuiltersWarehouse.

Raggy Jacket is constructed with the “raggy piecing technique” so it’s fast and easy to put together.  With only two layers of fabric it’s the perfect year round jacket…. cool summer nights, fall days, winter time inside when you just can’t warm up and early spring when a day in the 50′s seems almost like summer!  It’s a cute, comfy jacket and the more you wear it and wash it, the more loved and comfy it will look. 

Since I can’t decide on a color scheme, I’m thinking I might need to make one in fall and winter colors, and another one in bright, happy colors for spring and summer.

Go ahead and check out the rest of the Four Corners Designs… me, I’m off to select fabric for my jackets!

Are you a bit timid about color?  Do you want to explore brighter quilts?  Do you want to stretch yourself?  A quilt from  Kitambaa Designs is the perfect answer.  Pippa Moore’s designs are bold, bright, and beautiful.

Pippa began quilting in the 1980′s.  Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.  Many of Pippa’s quilts are in private collections throughout North America.   In the last ten years her focus has been on quilts with color and energy, celebrating life.    Kitambaa Designs specializes in quilt patterns for African and other vibrant fabrics.

Under the African Sun is an adaptation of the traditional Drunkard’s Path block.  African fabrics, batiks, or bright prints will make this a stunning wall quilt. Pippa’s clearly illustrated instructions make this pattern suitable for all skill levels.

Choose hand applique, machine applique or fusible applique as your method to bring to life Zebras Crossing the plains.  Lush green grass is in the foreground and a blazing sun is in the sky. 

Kitambaa Designs has a series of Art Deco inspired quilts that each vividly portray the feeling of a single word.  Fusible applique is use for the quilt Felicity.  You could also use pastels if that expresses bliss to you. 

Hope, another in the Art Deco inspired series, is colorful if a bit more monochromatic.  To me it looks like, if something other than a floral was used for the border, it would make a nice untraditional Christmas quilt. 

Go ahead, check out the rest of Pippa’s designs and add some color to your life!

Kara Schorstein of Seams & Dreams has a wide variety of patterns.  Her quilt designs range from easy modern styles to rather intricate traditional pieces.  Whether you are a beginner quilter or have been quilting for a long time, Kara will have something for you.   And she hasn’t stopped at just quilts.  Several of her patterns are for aprons, skirts, jackets and home decor.

Marble Game uses marble fabrics to frame prints.   The fabric used for the sashing within the blocks is repeated in the narrow border.   Tiny contrasting corners in each block come together to create multi-colored diamond pieces.  This is a great quilt for you to use up some of your scraps. Instructions for crib size and queen size.

Kara Schorstein started with the traditional Irish Chain Block, modified it, and created Crossroads.  Two simple blocks that work together for a striking design.  Instructions are for a table topper with a scalloped border and a queen size quilt.

Need a summer skirt?  Need to look like you lost a few pounds?  Try the Simple Slimming Skirt Pattern.  With sizes from 6 to 18+, there are three style variations and the underskirt is optional.

Need a new purse to go with your new skirt?  Oh, you made two skirts?!  No problem!  Make one of Lizzie’s Reversible Bags and you have a different purse for each skirt!

Do you have an occassional table that you like to dress up and change with the seasons?   Seasoning The Table gives you seven options for appropriate table toppers.  Log cabin blocks grace the center of each and you can choose the layout.

This selection barely scratches the surface of Seams & Dreams quilt patterns….. there are dozens more.

(Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the pattern A Bouquet For My Love!)

It’s always interesting to talk to people that share the same interests; to hear about their take on things and how they got started in this wonderful world of fabric.  In the past few days I’ve been learning all about quilt designer Claudia Atchison, pestering her with questions and requests for pictures.  Here is some of what she had to say . . . .   

My great-grandmother was a quilter and did all kinds of hand work. She taught me mostly embroidery and crochet.  She will always be my greatest influence. She had stopped quilting by the time I was old enough to learn from her, so quilting came later.  I continued to sew and by the time I was twelve I was sewing my own clothes and by high school I was getting paid to sew for friends.

In the mid 1980′s I took a quilting class at the community center in North Richland Hills, TX.  When the class ended I was hooked.  There weren’t any quilt shops in my area, but I bought a few books about the basics and learned more as I made a few quilts.   In the mid 1990′s I worked for an applique designer, Robyn Pandolph, and helped make samples. This is when I fell in love with applique and all things folk art.  A love that, like quilting, continues today.

I first met Judy Reynolds in 2005, working at a quilt shop with her. I had an idea for a baby quilt and told Judy I wanted to give it to her. She said to make a sample and write instructions and she and her partner, Amy Cotham, would decide if they could market my pattern under the Black Cat Creations name. I’m happy to say that “Snuggle Up” was published and I have been designing ever since. Judy and Amy are great and very supportive of their guest designers.

As mentioned earlier, I love applique, all kinds. Needle turn, fused or dimensional. I have several wool applique quilt patterns that I really enjoyed designing.  Pictured here are A Yard of Roses, A Yard of Hydrangeas, and A Yard of Sunflowers.

But, most of my patterns are pieced, and some have a little applique on them. My favorite is “A Bouquet for My Love”. I designed this for my husband in blues and browns. For the last 44 years he’s brought me flowers for no reason, I thought it was time I gave him some in return.

I don’t have a typical work day schedule. I might sew all day for several days in a row and then not sew at all for a week. My husband is semi-retired, if that explains anything! If I have an idea in my head, I might spend all day and half the night to get it down on paper before I forget what the idea was.

Instead of a studio, I use a small bedroom at the back of the house. My husband put shelves in the closet for my fabric. I have a wrap around sewing table that holds two machines and has a small space for a cutting board between them. I have a cutting table that the sides can be folded down when not in use. All my rulers and cutting boards are on a rack on the wall. One wall is a design wall. (I have ruler envy… I can’t imagine that there are any that Claudia doesn’t have!)

I have a room above the garage for my Tin Lizzie and my reference books and extra fabric, of course. 

As for inspiration, I get it from lots of places. Sometimes the fabric just speaks to me and I know right away what it will be when finished. I got several of my wool designs by working in my flower beds. Sometimes just doodling on a piece of paper will give me an idea. “Chocolate Fondue” was inspired by the fabric. When I saw that beautiful pink and brown fabric, I could almost taste chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate covered cherries.  And I always keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas. You never know when these ideas will turn into a quilt pattern!