Patterns Archives - QA Creations

May 23, 2016

Lover’s Knot Quilt Pattern

I’m excited to share my latest quilt design – the Lover’s Knot quilt pattern that is featured in Make Modern magazine, issue 11!

My work probably fits in the modern traditional style of quilting the best, and this latest quilt reflects that aesthetic.

This is an old block- probably. Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns labels it as a “lover’s knot” from the Old Chelsea Station Needlecraft Service (OCS). This company began in 1933, but this block has no date and doesn’t really look like what most quilters would consider to be a lover’s knot. Even before this company started, this name has been assigned to a wedding ring-style quilt, a snowball/flowerish quilt block, and various other pieced blocks.

I had never seen this block made before, and I thought it would be a beautiful quilt, so I made the paper pieced pattern for it and made the quilt in bright spring colors against a low volume background.

I really wanted the pink to stand out, so I stitched just inside of the pink spikes. The diamonds have swirls and pebbles, and the low volume starts have straight line quilting to echo the outside shape. I quilted some easy curves inside the turquoise centers.

This quilt is 48″x64″, so it makes a nice lap quilt or can be made for a baby that you really, really like. I love the secondary patterns this design makes, and want to make a larger version in blues if I get some free time this summer.

The pattern is in Issue 11 of Make Modern, which was just released on May 20, 2016. There are some other great patterns in this issue, as well as interesting articles. Stacey O’Malley of Slo Studio made an amazing quilt that uses hourglass blocks and inset circles. Alyce Blyth of Blossom Heart Quilts has an article on the math to do biased binding, and Sandi Hazlewood of the Crafty Planner recaps QuiltCon.

It was also fun to share the issue with Leanne (Devoted Quilter) – who was part of the Round Trip Quilts Bee I did last year (she made the X marks the spot mini with curved piecing and purple!), and Anne (Hudson Valley Quilts) who wrote an article about online learning and is part of the Hudson Valley Modern Quilt Guild with me!

I also was a featured maker this month, so if you want to see more of my work or hear my opinions on quilting, you can check that out 🙂

Make Modern has offered a special discount code for contributors to share – enter issue11friends at checkout to get your copy of issue 11 for just $6 AU. I always love this magazine, and read my copy on the train on my iPad (which is nice, because then I don’t have to recycle it when I get to the city, like I do with most magazines).

Linking up to some of the following: Main Crush Monday @ Cooking Up Quilts, Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story, Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts, Let’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts, Whoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt Addict, TGIFF, Show off Saturday at Sew Can She

May 9, 2016May 13, 2016

Introducing: Forging Steel Quilt Pattern

I am excited to share my latest pattern with you: Forging Steel. This pattern is optimized to make use of charm squares or layer cakes so you can use your favorite fabric collections!

You may remember Forging Steel from Issue 8 of Make Modern magazine. This is probably one of my favorite quilts. I love how the swirls on the background stand out against the bright fabrics of the blocks and border. This quilt uses an anvil block as the base, but with more half square triangles! The border brightens the quilt, and updates a traditional pattern, while leaving plenty of negative space to play with quilting.

In this expanded and updated version, I have included expanded illustrated instructions for the lap/large baby quilt from the magazine, as well as a large twin/double and queen-sized versions of the quilt. There are now 2 block sizes, 3 quilt sizes, and 2 methods to learn to make half square triangles (2 at a time and 4 at a time).

The traditional anvil block gets a modern update with negative space, and a HST border. Make it in light or dark fabrics, scrappy, or even from two colors to get a more traditional look. I’ve used four square patches for the block centers in my Cotton & Steel version to create additional scrappiness or one large block in the Milliefleur version to show off Bari J’s amazing fabrics.

Go crazy with the quilting, because this quilt has plenty of opportunities for you to practice new fills or to perfect your favorite design. Or, you can do a simple allover and let the fabric shine.

The quilt pattern is available in lap, twin/double, and queen. I call it a twin/double because it’s really the recommended double size, but it looks good on a twin bed. As you can below, it has a nice overhang on a twin sized bed. This bed frame has a footboard, so that’s why the foot of the bed is hanging a bit oddly.

This pattern is on sale for an introductory price of $7.50 through May 20th. Find it on Craftsy from Quilts Actually.

Please share if you make this quilt by tagging your creation with #forgingsteelquilt!

Linking up to some of the following: Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story, Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts, Let’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts, Whoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt Addict, TGIFF, Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, Show off Saturday at Sew Can She

January 19, 2016February 2, 2016

Squared Away Table Pattern

I’m excited to share my latest pattern – the Squared Away Table Pattern!

These placemats were originally published in Make Modern magazine, issue 5. The rainbow version I made for the magazine are on my kitchen table right now. We use them constantly.

In this full length pattern, I have included expanded and illustrated instructions and a matching table runner. The placemats are 11.5″ x 15.75″ and the table runner is 11.5″ x 24.75″.

This set was a Christmas present for my brother and his girlfriend. I tried to walk the fine line between masculine and still a little bit of pink for fun.

They are quilted with the onion skin panto that I love so much. It gives so much motion to the piece, and provides great contrast to the straight lines of the pattern.

This pattern is available through Craftsy – Squared Away Table Pattern for $5. It’s a beginner friendly project that would be a great for many different people:

introduce a friend to quilting
decorate for a season or holiday using specialty fabric
use your scraps
use your favorite fabrics in a place you can see them everyday – the kitchen table!
quick gift

I would love to see your versions of the pattern. If you make this, please tag it with #squaredawaytable so we can all see your work!

November 1, 2015January 4, 2016

Forging Steel Quilt Pattern

I am a covergirl! Or, at least my quilt is! Meet my latest pattern: Forging Steel Quilt.

This is Issue 8 of Make Modern magazine, which was released November 1st. Forging Steel is large baby/lap sized quilt. I personally like large baby quilts, so I would not hesitate to use this quilt for that purpose (although this one is going to be all mine!).

The block is a spin-off of the traditional anvil block with a border of half square triangles surrounding. I made this quilt with a variety of Cotton & Steel prints, so combining the historical roots with the modern brand of fabric used, I called it Forging Steel.

I quilted the background with large spiral loops and then went linear on the inside of the blocks for contrast. I left the triangles puffy because the puff once again contrasts the heavy quilting elsewhere. I really love custom quilting contrasts. The batting is Quilter’s Dream Puff, so it’s nice and light with good loft. In the background I used Bottom Line, and the inside of the blocks is a minty So-Fine.

I love this quilt, and I hope you do too! Please share if you make it because I would love to see your version. The hashtag is #forgingsteelquilt.

Linking to some of the following: Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story, Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts, Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River, Let’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts, Whoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt Addict, TGIFF, Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, Link a Finish Friday @ Richard and Tanya Quilts, Show off Saturday at Sew Can She

May 4, 2015September 25, 2015

Square Dance Quilt Pattern

Paper pieced pattern includes photographic instructions and offers three block sizes and six quilt sizes for maximum value!

I have been working on this quilt pattern for over a year, and I’m really excited to be able to share it with you today! The Square Dance Quilt Pattern is now available in my Craftsy store.

This is a paper pieced version of a traditional block – one of the traditional names for this block is Square Dance, and I thought it was the most appropriate name for the quilt once you see the overall movement created by the blocks.

I experimented with many different sizes of blocks, and the result of that work is that this pattern includes 6″, 8″ and 10″ versions. I also tried a 4″ version, but it’s not practical for a quilt of any size! The instructions include fabric requirements to make 6 quilt sizes (Baby/Crib, Lap, Twin, Double, Queen, and King) from all three block sizes.

This paper pieced block is a great introduction to paper piecing! I used this pattern to teach a group to paper piece and was very impressed by their results in a couple of short hours. A full color photo tutorial on how to paper piece is included with this pattern, so if you are new to paper piecing this is a great way to get started.

The cover quilt uses the 8″ version of the block.

I had help making some of the blocks from my bee last year – the 2014 Stash Bee Hive 12. For this version, I custom quilted it and entered it in the North Carolina State Fair, where it earned 2nd place in the competitive Group category.

Sharon of ShaShaLaRue Quilts also made a Frolic Square Dance Quilt. She can also be found on Facebook or on Instagram @ShaShaLaRueQuilts. Her playful version demonstrates the versatility of this block because this is perfect for a crib or baby’s playroom!

The 6″ version is also great for Sampler Quilts or bee blocks because if you make 4 of them, it results in a 12.5″ unfinished block, which is what so many samplers or bees ask for!

I made the block above to add to my “real world red & white” quilt.

My guild, the Tarheel Quilter’s Guild in Fayetteville, NC makes quilts for the NICU. Our local hospital likes the quilts to be approximately 40″ square, so I used 16 of the 10″ blocks and made the little boy version of the quilt below. This quilt is made up of blocks made by my Quilting Circle – most of whom had never paper pieced before!

In order to create variation like the cover quilt, a variety of fabric should be used. This quilt would also look amazing in just two colors, or invert the color scheme. Use any combination you can dream for your own look!

You can make any of the block sizes or quilt sizes using fat quarters, half yards or full yards so this quilt is stash friendly!

The pattern is available in my Craftsy store – Quilts Actually Patterns. It is on sale through Mother’s Day (May 10th, 2015) for $7.50.

If you make this quilt, please share it with the hashtag #squaredancequilt or by tagging me @QACreations. You can also email me pictures or a link to your blog post at quilts actually(at)gmail.com. I would love to see what you make!

– Heather

Linking up to some of the following: Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story, Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts, Scraptastic Tuesday @ She Can Quilt, Let’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts, Whoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt Addict, TGIFF, Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric, and Show off Saturday at Sew Can She.

May 1, 2015September 25, 2015

Squared Away Placemats

Modern and colorful, the Squared Away Placemat set was published in the May 2015 Make Modern issue.

I’ve had a secret project in the works for a few months now, and I’m really excited to share the good news!

My first pattern was published in Make Modern‘s May issue! If you would like to purchase the issue, it is available here. My project is in home section, and is called the Squared Away Placemats.

I made these placemats based off a design I first came up with for the Schnitzel & Boo Mini Swap last summer. It was one of my early attempts at a more modern look, and I was so grateful for signing up for that swap because it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I would not have come up with this design without that push, and I still really like how it turned out!

You can see the inspiration from the mini quilt in the finished placemats. One or two of the fabrics have even made an appearance in both items.

If you follow me on instagram (@QACreations) or Facebook (Quilts Actually), you’ve seen a preview of the quilting on these. I love the wave panto for a modern look.

These are a simple, quick project that is great for using up some of those precious scraps you’ve been hoarding of your favorite fabrics… I know you have those tiny scraps saved! It is also perfect for that mini charm pack you picked up at the store because they are cute, and then you get home and realize, what am I ever going to use this for?

We’ve all been there, it’s ok! Use those bits to make a placemat so that you can see those beautiful little bits everyday. My daughter loves this rainbow version because she gets to point out all the colors.

If you make set of these placemats, please let me know! I would love to see what you do with my pattern. Send me a picture, direct me to a blog post, or share on instagram with #squaredawaytable.

Also, these smaller quilted items are great to practice quilting on your machine, but if you just don’t have time or want to make a bunch as gifts you can always send them to me to be quilted. Use one continuous length of fabric for the back, and send me the placemats to use as the top. It’s an even better deal if you have another quilt – make the backing extra long and I can quilt those extra smaller pieces on the end of the backing below the quilt. Contact me if you are interested!

– Heather