As August has soared by and September is quickly approaching, we prepare for several upcoming events.  Some of us are preparing to start school. Some of us are getting our children ready with new supplies and clothing. Teachers and staff are assembling classrooms, equipping buildings, and other school-related places are getting their final checks.  If you haven’t already started school, it’s just around the corner I’m sure.

Before we know it, the weather will get cooler, and autumn will arrive.  That time of year for picking apples or even pumpkins (or at least in our part of the world).  That is usually a time when crafters prepare for bizarre, holiday trade shows, or whatever you may know them as.  Again, those are just around the corner.

And before you know it, the Christmas season is upon us just like that! Where did the time go?  Yesterday it seems that Christmas was just around the corner and like that, it is here.  Since these seasons will be upon us sooner than we anticipate, I would like to share some great autumn quilt patterns and some thoughts with you about each one that I chose.

Maple Leaf Basket

As a family, we would rake leaves and of course, we kids would jump in that big pile that we worked so hard to make.  I can hear our giggles now and see my dad throw extra leaves on us to help bury us further in that pile.  Rake again in a pile. Jump in and scatter leaves. Giggle. Repeat.

Awesome Autumn

As a child, my mom would take my sister and me to craft shows.  This pattern reminds me of those shows that were at the local orchards near us.  I can smell those fresh donuts and taste that warm   apple cider now.

Witches’ Night Out!

Halloween was my mom’s favorite holiday.  She loved decorating outside: we had ghosts, headstones, a coffin, and bats that you would see as you approached our house.  She would dress up as a witch every year with her greasy hair wig, a fake pointy nose, and however she would fix her makeup that year and stand next to her cauldron full of Halloween candy.  The older kids always looked forward to coming to our house.  (Please keep in mind that the decorations and costume were all homemade; this was way before Hobby Lobby and JoAnn’s are what we know it to be today.)

For those of us that are ahead of the game, super organized, or whatever you may call yourself (or get called), here are some Christmas gift ideas that I would make for my friends, family, and the special people or co-workers in my life.

Wine Totes

We have those on our lists that enjoy a drink during this season.  Festive material may be used for this personal gift.  To make it more personal for that special someone, pick a fabric print that is a reflection of them: cats, dogs, favorite sports team, tractors, or characters from their favorite movie or show.  Red or white wine is a splendid choice, but sparkling grape juice will also fit in this gift tote.

Ornaments

These are ornaments that I would make for my nieces and nephews.  If I had grandchildren or godchildren, I would include them in this list.  You can even make these into a personalized gift tag that was made with extra love.

And the Stockings Were Hung

These are a great size for stuffing their favorite treats in something that is not a gift bag or box.  Favorite treats may include things like a gift card (which we offer), scratch-off tickets, candies, and sweets, and those who don’t enjoy receiving cash as a gift.

Come and check out our website: Quilterswarehouse.com.  See what inspires you or provokes a memory from your past, which was just around the corner.

The 3 Christmas Stockings Pattern by Bonnie Sullivan of All Through The Night gives you a choice of snowmen, holly, or branches with ornaments.  Better yet, make all three.  Optional hanging “fringe” adds a little pizzazz.

Winter Star Stocking Pattern features a beautiful pieced star with lots of color options as the focal point.  The rest of the stocking is also pieced so this is a great pattern for scraps.  The top section is just a bit larger than the rest of the stocking so you can get that really stuffed look!

The Stockings Were Hung pattern (another by Bonnie Sullivan) has a pieced body, and applique on the cuff.  A little hand embroidery is also part of the pattern.  These old fashioned looking stockings are a bit long – lots of room for goodies.

Snowman Stocking is hanging out at night with his cardinal friend.  This adorable stocking is also available as a kit, with the pattern and all the fabric you’ll need to complete the project.

Make these Stocking Ornaments to hang on the tree, or sew up the window and hang them there. Cute either way!

Dining Delight by D. Hall Designs comes with instructions for different sizes so you can choose the length you want.  The design is fairly simple, with just a few pieces, but the on-point setting and the pointed ends add interest.

Table Dressings by Nelly of Artela Quilts is made of just a few large pieces. Nelly’s directions are clear and easy to follow. This pattern is perfect for showcasing a favorite medium to large scale print. And, bonus, it’s reversible! Two table runners in one! Two gifts in one!

This one, Swing It!, looks a little complicated, but it’s not as hard as you might think!  Designs to Share With You has an easy quilt-as-you-go method for curves.  So, sew one up, and learn a new technique.

Table Talk is a fun little table runner with lots of visual interest.  You could rotate that center block a quarter turn and it would look like the dark blocks are tumbling down, back and forth, from top to bottom.

The Roulette table topper uses off center log cabin blocks to create the illusion of curves. Designer Genii Lehmann says it looks great if you use 4 color gradations in one color family. I agree!

There are many more table runner patterns.  Choose one or two and start stitching.  You’ll be dressing up your tables before you know it!

If you are new to paper piecing, Love Grows is a great pattern for learning.  The flower, its greenery, and the flowerpot are paper pieced and easy enough for a beginner.  The rest of the pattern is traditional piecing.  When you are finished you will have a 14″ x 26″ wall hanging to gift or to hang onto so you can celebrate your new found passion for paper piecing!

Not into bright? Although Coneflowers has a little more paper piecing than the previous pattern, it’s still easy enough, but looks complicated.  Impress your friends…. and yourself!

Ready to really jump in?  Go big!  Sunset on Ellis Island measures 43″ x 43″ and has a big WOW factor.  Nelly Vileikis of Artelas Quilts writes clear, easy to follow instructions.  Have fun with color on this one and create a beautiful wall hanging that you’ll be proud to show off.

Want something on the small side?  MH Designs has dozens of paper piecing patterns in small to medium sizes.  Mary’s themes are varied and she usually packs a lot of detail into her designs.  Chickadee Treat is a 12″ x 13″ wall hanging.  She certainly captured the essence of Chickadees, didn’t she?!

Check out all the paper pieced patterns (also called foundation piecing). You’ll probably see several that you want to try!

Surround the Basketball Court panel with a narrow white inner border, then add a wide border of the Love of the Game Oak w/ Basketballs fabric and you’ll have a quick quilt that any basketball fan will love!

Use the Seeing Stars fabric as a border for Tinkerbell to create a magical throw for a child’s room.  Then make mini quilts with the smaller panels to hang on the walls.  Instant room makeover!   Who doesn’t love a magical fairy tale?!

Summer Basket Flowers would look great surrounded by Amber Floral Gingham and then a deep red binding to set it all off.  Just right for a kitchen or breakfast nook wall hanging.  Oh, I just love this particular pairing!  If I go missing it’s probably because I’m in the sewing room whipping up one of these!

Look at this beautiful bird!  Down on the Farm Rust Chicken fabric panel is fat quarter size.  Border it with blue Beauty Shop (I’d never pair these together by the names!) for a quick, small wall hanging.  What do you think – binding in black?

There is nothing like the satisfaction of completing an intricately pieced quilt, but sometimes you want a break and a quick finish.  Fabric panels are great for that.  Did you see any here you liked?  What panels would you use, with what fabrics?

Ooops! Now this was just a case of going too fast!  The trusty seam ripper and a flip of the fabric will fix the problem.

But sometimes the problem is a little more, and harder to fix – it’s not square, there are tucks or gathers, it’s not the size it’s supposed to be, it’s just generally wonky.  It might be time to go back to basics.  Even if you are not having trouble, it would still be a good idea to revisit these important habits.

1. Prewashing. Now that’s a whole debate on it’s own (LINK TO PREWASHING POST), but whatever you decide to do, it’s a good idea to do the same thing with all the fabric in a particular quilt.  Either wash it all before you start, or don’t wash any of it.  Otherwise when you wash your completed quilt, the parts that were prewashed have preshrunk; the parts that weren’t prewashed may shrink more that the rest and skew the whole project.

2. Cutting. If you need to cut several strips, be sure to square up your fabric after every few strips.  It’s not uncommon to be just the tiniest bit off on each strip and then that adds up.  The next thing you know you are 1/8″ (or more!) off. It’s also a good idea to keep change your rotary cutter blade as soon as it gets the slightest bit dull.  A sharp blade means smooth and even edges.

3. Quarter inch seams – make sure they really are!  Being off by just the smallest fraction on every seam can really add up!  There are several ways to ensure you are sewing consistent quarter inch seams.  Choose your favorite way, then stick to it!

4. Pressing. That’s right. Pressing. Not ironing. Always lift your iron as you move to a new section to be pressed. Pushing your iron around the fabric and result in fabric that is stretched out of shape.  Even worse, it can stretch your finished blocks out of shape!

5. Pin your borders.  When sewing long lengths of fabric together one of them can stretch or get “gathered in” as you go, thereby throwing your quilt out of whack. After you have measured and cut your borders, lay them on your quilt and use several pins.  This will ensure that both the border and the center of the quilt will load through your machine evenly.

Do yourself a favor and review these before you next project. Then reap the rewards of a quilt well done!

Purse-O-Nally Yours bag and Wander Blossoms fabric: the flowers for the body of the bag, plaid for the top and bottom borders and for the handles, and the blue polka dot fabric for the trim on the flap pocket.  Or would you use the stripes in place of the plaid?

Twin Pocket Tango bag and Zest fabric: the gray flower circles for the bottom corners with yellow piping, the flowers for the two curved pieces with grey piping, and the yellow flower circles for the center of the bag.

Margo Handbag by Lazy Girl Designs and Petite Odile fabric: Red for the main body of the bag and for the handles.  The darker fabric for the pocket background.

Quattro Purse and Flying Colors II fabric: the colorful butterflies on the black background for the main body of the purse, the light background with the hummingbirds for the first pocket, and the stripes for the last pocket and for the handle.

Now it’s time to pick a favorite.  That might be a little harder!