Whimsy Kite: Pinwheel Baby Bonus Quilt Tutorial

When I designed the Whimsy Kite Quilt I was super excited to have it be an exclusive pattern for The Fat Quarter Shop.  You can find the pdf here.  During the process of testing my design, I made test blocks, test strips, and made the entire quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop's kit. I did all that just to be sure that it was written correctly.

Btw, it is written FANTASTIC. The gals at FQS did an awesome job.

Anyhow, there were some scraps left from the kit plus the HST blocks.

So what I decided to do was create a bonus pattern from the blocks and fabrics that are left over from the original pattern kit.

This is the first bonus quilt that I created.

{note I didn't even use all the scraps that were left! more quilts could come.....FQS rocks}

It measures 42" X 42"

These are my 'scraps' from the FQS Whimsy Kite Quilt.

In addition to your scraps, you need the 4 leftover giant half square triangles from the kite quilt. 

Plus the extra green border fabric to be used as the inner border.

The half square triangles should be squared up to all be the same size. My squares measured 15.5"

I arranged my HST in a pinwheel pattern as shown in the picture.

Sew those together. 

Cut 4 green border fabrics 2" X WOF.
Sew on the inner borders.

I sewed top and bottom border and then sides onto the center pinwheel.

With the addtional pieces of fabric I cut rectangles 4.5" wide X WOF.

A - Sub cut those into {8} 4.5" X 6.5"  rectangles

B - Sub cut {4} 4.5" X 4.5 rectangles

Sew these together in this order.

BAAAAB

Make 2.

These become the sides.

Sew them end to end to create the pieced outer border.

Then cut {12} 4.5"X 7.5" pieces.

Sew together end to end.

This becomes the top and bottom borders.

Remember this is scrappy so if the border doesn't fit. Cut off the excess!

This is the left over border fabric from the origin kit.

At 4.5" it is perfect to cut in half at 2.25" for binding!

Here's the top quilted and bound!

I used every scrap I had for the backing as well.

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The second bonus quilt is shown below.

 I used Urban Chicks Swell fabrics.

Since these were my test blocks I didn't have all the extra yardage from a kit.

I improvised and used 2.5" strips.

Piece the large pinwheel.

Cut 4 strips of Bella solid white for inner border fabric 2" X WOF.

Sew on borders.

Next, I took 2.5" X 4.5" strips and sewed them together to form an outer border 2.5" X  31". 

Because this was done with scraps, your project size may vary slightly from mine.

Improvise.

I just measured my quilt top width and cut off the excess from my outer border to make it fit.

I can't wait to get the Swell version from my quilter. I think it's going to be 'sweet'.

I am hoping to make a pdf of the bonus pattern but it's delayed with market coming and secret-ish projects.

In the mean time, stop on over to the Fat Quarter Shop and buy a kit to get started :)

p.s. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Quiltmaker's Small Quilts!

Sprinkle of Sunshine and a giveaway...

I walked in the door the other night with pizza, 2 kids and my arms full of bags, including my computer, the kids bag from daycare and more.

I was exhausted.

My husband was a few minutes ahead of us and had already gotten the mail.

He said "there's ANOTHER (rolling his eyes) package for you, probably quilting".

I began to explain that I hadn't ordered anything. I was perplexed as to what it was.

So I tore open the envelope.

EEEEEKKKKK!!

Quilt Maker's Special Issue Small Quilts:

Be still my heart, my Sprinkle of Sunshine is on the front cover!

I have been waiting, and waiting and waiting to tell you all that I would have a project in Quiltmaker magazine!

  I am on the cover.

I am stunned.

Here's a close up of the runner.

I used Moda's Nature's Notebook by April Cornell to create it.

To be honest, I began the project to hand sew during my lunch hour. 

 Bringing a sewing machine to work wasn't a viable option.

I've seen many many bloggers starting hexie quilts recently.

English paper piecing is one of my favorite quilting methods.

I just started a new project last night with a different shape!

However...

If hand sewing isn't your thing then this magazine has tons of other great projects.

Including designers such as Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's, Darlene Zimmerman, Jo Morton and the gals from Quiltmaker.

I know I am going to have to get more, one for my mom, my mother-in-law and one each for my girls' keepsake boxes.

Did I mention how excited I am?

Okay I must calm down.

Now for the giveaway part.

Leave me a comment about what you would like to see for projects in future Quiltmaker magazines...or just say you love my runner {{{wink wink}}}

I'll enter you to win your own copy of Quiltmaker's Small Quilts compliments of Creative Crafts Group.

Just make sure I can access your blogger profile or have your email available so that I can contact you if you are the winner.

I'll pick on May 11th!

Kaffe scraps...

I had a small finish this weekend.

It's really kinda big for me.

I have a Viking Mega Quilter. It's been collecting dust for 3 years since we moved.

I just couldn't bring myself to use it. It's hard to explain.

Well this weekend I set a goal to get it threaded and just sew a straight seam.

Not only did I get it threaded but I started quilting with it too.

My Kaffe scrap quilt became a practice piece.

I'm really happy with it. The stitches are pretty even and it gave me the confidence to quilt another top.

I haven't bound that yet but when I do, I will surely blog it.

I'm not sure that I am ready to quilt more than a baby sized quilt.

however, this could be a great way for me to finish projects I have been holding on to.

The Kaffe scraps came from this quilt.

I may have blogged this quilt in the past. For the life of me I can't find that post.

 I even had to take another picture. 

It's Bars of Gold in Jelly Roll Quilts book by Pam and Nicky Lintott.

A couple of years ago my Mother-in-Law and I bought 1/4 yard pieces of 40 Kaffe prints to make our own jelly rolls.  This was before other fabric companies started making precuts like Moda.

She made this quilt with black borders. There are still 40 - 3 inch pieces left!

I digress.

The scraps from sub-cutting the strips are what I used for the small quilt above. If you really look at both quilts you can see the strip sets.

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Okay I have to get to work for the day.

By the way, it seems I am getting close 500 posts...

could be some giveaways in the future {{wink wink}}

this may shock you.

Those of you who 'really' know me, know that I don't like to do 'dirt' or mulch.

However, this year my hubby decided to have 5 yards of mulch delivered.

We spent hours and hours on Friday laying the new mulch.

We ran out, and now we have to buy a bit more.

I haven't done such back breaking work in a long time. I have a new appreciation for landscapers.

And I am sunburned. seriously.

On a prettier note.

I have some blooms....

Peonies almost blooming...

And a wretched excuse for a garden that I started from seed.

Really they aren't as bad as they look. I think with some more TLC they will perk up.

I think.

Come on go with me on this one.

the Blow out.

My shoe silly! I blew out my heel yesterday.

Not sure what happened to it. It's like it disintegrated. 

Not sure what to think, as this is the second pair of shoes this month to literally fall apart!

Atleast I am getting good use out of them :)