V and Co: How to make a little string block pincushion

One thing is for sure, you can never have enough pin cushions. Okay maybe you can and I just lied, whatever the case, you can't have enough CUTE pincushions. Am I right? Yep, thought so.

This little guy finishes at 4" x 4" and uses up any of those favorite little scraps you have left behind from a project. 

For this particular pincushion I used Amanda Jean's- Crazy Mom Quilts- new fabric line called Good Neighbors.

Materials Needed:

- scraps of material to make 1/2" strips 

- 1 white square with measurements of 5"x5"

- 1 charm square (5" x 5") for the back of the pincushion.

1. Cut the white square into 4- 2 1/2" squares. 

2. Cut scraps into strips with the width of 1/2" and with enough length to reach across diagonally from point to point of your 2 1/2" square.

 3. Place your first strip with right side facing up diagonally on your square.

4. Place a second strip directly on top of the first strip with wrong side facing up (and right sides together)

5. There's no way we can do a 1/4" seam so use 1/8" or less to sew your strips together (we want this to look scrappy and not perfect so sometimes use 1/8" seam and other times use less, this way you can achieve this not perfect look)

6. Press open with an iron.

7. Repeat on the second strip

8. Continue until you get close to the corner. Find a slightly larger piece of scrap fabric and continue to place right sides together for the last time making sure it covers all of the corner.

9. Flip the block around so you can start sewing more strips onto the other side, starting with your very first middle strip again. Repeat what you did on the first side to this new side.

10. You should end up with this mess of a thing. Don't worry we will make it pretty next.

11. Flip over your sewn block, and align your foundation block to 2 1/2" on the square ruler

 12. Trim off the excess strips

13. Flip around the block and again align and square up to the 2 1/2" mark and trim off excess strips

 14. Turn it over you now have a perfect 2 1/2" string block.

 15. Make three more to make 4 total string blocks

16. With right sides together sew the top two squares together and then repeat on the bottom two squares.
17. With right sides together sew the two top squares to the two bottom squares to create a 4 1/2" block

 18. Square down your back fabric (charm square) to 4 1/2" place right sides together and using 1/4" sew around all four sides leaving an opening on one side to be able to pull inside out and fill with filling.
**(What you put inside is up to you, you can do crushed clams, sand, seeds, and so forth. These are just a few options! I went with seeds.)
19. Hand stitch close your side opening.

Enjoy your cute pincushion!
And now:
Winner of our charm pack giveaway is:
Vicki H!
We'll talk soon!

V and Co: Insta Friday

Julie of Jaybird Quilting shows off some Simply Color and Ombre fabric in her Night Sky Quilt pattern placemats

I am on instagram daily it seems. It's so great with the hashtags and the @'s because it's so easy to find things and feature other peoples work with my fabric or patterns. So easy! BUT, I'm aware some of you don't have Instagram and really don't want another thing to have to check. So...IDEA! I'll feature here a few of my favorites from instagram (hopefully weekly) so all of you who just check the blog can see what is going on in other places other than the blog! And also I've been missing this outlet lately…so what better way to start with some fun features and pretty pictures from Instagram.
I will be making sure we link back to people we feature here, if there is no way to link back I will link back to my or their instagram account where there will be a link back.

So lets begin with our first Insta Friday with this 1st lovely picture. I'm so in love with Julies placemats she made for her home using some of our first fabric line (Simply Color) and the V and Co Ombre . She made one of her Night Sky Quilt pattern blocks and quilted it and bound it. Brilliant idea and so so pretty.

 



 

Next, this adorable butterfly made by MRSSOPHIE (her instagram handle) and was made with our Simply Colorful Orange Ombre that is out and available for purchase. The butterfly pattern is an amazing pattern by Lillyella this free pattern is amazing! The text fabric is by Andover Fabric

 Earlier this week I played around with my V and Co Ombre again and decided that it needed to be finished with 1/4" straight line quilting. It turned out perfect in my eyes and I love it. :)

And last but not least I need to highlight and shout from the roof top this GORGEOUS Quilt that Nydia made using all 20 of my new ombre's. This pattern is called Tessalation Quilt which Nydia designed for Alison Glass. I sent some Ombre fabric to Nydia to play around with and she made this new version just this week. It's mind blowing to me that this is a quilt. Nydia is a genius when it comes to color placement and design. If you are interested in pre-ordering our 20 Ombre colors please visit the Fat Quarter Shop. The fabric ships January, but you can at least rest assured that you will get your hands on it if you preorder now!  But seriously isn't this quilt amazing??

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the weather (it's going to feel a little bit more like fall for us and I have mixed feelings about that…but I'll survive.)

Remember to enter the chance to win fabric to make this adorable pin cushion I made with Amanda Jean's New fabric line called "Good Neighbors" And on Monday I'll be showing you how to make this adorable pincushion. :) Talk to you soon.

V and Co: Good Neighbors Pincushion Party

 Well Hello! Today is my day on this fun good neighbors pincushion party! Amanda Jean's blog was one of the very first blogs I ever followed and commented on (what seems like a bazillion years ago!) But the coolest thing was that she actually then came and visited my blog and commented on my post, and all I could think was…Geez that's super swell and nice! Quickly we became friends and a few years later we met at Quilt Market, and it was as if we were good neighbors just meeting up in Minnesota to check out some quilts. She just has this way of making you feel like you've known each other for years. And well now we have known each other for years and I'm so excited to help celebrate Amanda's new fabric line Good Neighbors with Connecting Threads!

 Amanda is so great at putting color and fabrics together in her many many maaaaaaaany quilts she creates so it's no surprise that her fabric line is so good together!  For my pin cushion I wanted to use almost all if could in one pincushion to show off all the fabrics together!

 So a little string block pincushion is what I made!

Next week I'll do a little tutorial on how I made it. :) Thank you Amanda for the wonderful chance to work with your fabric! I love it and its so bright and fun and well, kind of just like you!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Remember to come back next week for the how to on how to make this little guy! 

and make sure you check out all the other pincushions as well!

Date	Blogger Name	Blog URL
9/1/2015	Amanda Jean	http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/
9/2/2015	Anna	http://www.noodle-head.com/
9/3/2015	Mary	http://maryonlakepulaski.blogspot.com/
9/4/2015	Svetlana	http://sotakhandmade.blogspot.com/
9/5/2015	Debbie	http://www.eschhousequilts.com/
9/6/2015	Holly	http://www.bijoulovelydesigns.com/
9/7/2015	Carla	http://carla-graceandfavour.blogspot.com/
9/8/2015	Faith	www.FreshLemonsQuilts.com
9/9/2015	Vanessa	http://www.vanessachristenson.com/
9/10/2015	Anna	http://www.thimbleanna.com/
9/11/2015	Krista	http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com/
9/12/2015	Erin	http://whynotsew.blogspot.com/
9/13/2015	Lee	http://www.maychappell.com/
9/14/2015	Alex	http://teaginnydesigns.blogspot.com/
9/15/2015	Cheryl	http://naptimequilter.blogspot.com/
9/16/2015	Penny	http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/
9/17/2015	Amy	http://duringquiettime.com/
9/18/2015	Debbie	http://aquilterstable.blogspot.com/
9/19/2015	Anne	http://www.springleafstudios.com/
9/20/2015	Melissa Corry	http://www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/
9/21/2015	Amber	http://www.oneshabbychick.typepad.com/
9/22/2015	Nettie	http://aquiltisnice.blogspot.com/
9/23/2015	Adrianne	http://www.littlebluebell.com/
9/24/2015	Cindy	http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/
9/25/2015	Amy	http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/
9/26/2015	Chase	http://quarterinchmark.blogspot.com/
9/27/2015	Rene	http://www.renecreates.com/
9/28/2015	Erin	http://www.houseonhillroad.com/
9/29/2015	Nicole	http://modernhandcraft.com/
9/30/2015	Teri	http://blog.connectingthreads.com/

Also If you  would like a chance to win a charm pack of this fabric please just leave a comment with someway to contact you through email thanks. 

V and Co: Quilt Patterns for Ombre basics

 The day has come where I talk and talk about our newest patterns using all TWENTY of our new Ombre Basics with Moda.

I really can't gush over these enough, I've been dreaming of these for 5 years. And I feel like I just want to scream from the hilltops about them! 

It's been so fun working with them in real life, and I have a feeling you will enjoy them too! 

They ship January 2016 (I know boo!) BUT here's some great news:

To CELEBRATE our 20 ombre debut we are going to give you a 30% off discount off all PDF patterns. Just enter OMBRE30B at check out and it will take 30% off your whole purchase of PDFs (yes! Soon you can use these new colors in our old ombre Patterns as well! EXCITING!)

So lets start talking about our newest patterns shall we?

First up we have Baby Ombre Dot:

This pattern highlights the use of each of all the different shades in each of the 20 colors we offer.

These circles are appliquéd, and we show you how to turn over appliqué in a quick and painless way using your sewing machine.  Of course there's always the even quicker way of appliqué, with raw edges! Have a GO cutter? well then, use the 2" circle template and you will have yourself a quilt in a couple of hours!

This pattern also includes instructions for the pillow and the banner shown.

featured colors in the top left are: Magenta, Mint, Teal, Taupe

Quilt measures 42" square, the pillow measures 16" finished and the banner is approx. 80" in length

Find Baby Ombre Dot HERE. use OMBRE30B for discount

Up next is Criss Cross Applesauce.

This Pattern uses every one of the 20 Ombre fabrics (minus taupe). Pay close attention the background, that my friend is using just one ombre gradient called Sand. I wanted a neutral that could be used as a background all on its own and that color is Sand! Taupe would be another great one to use here as well, but we wanted to really show off this neutral with its different shades! I can't wait to use it in like every quilt! 

I know I say this every time, but I mean it this time…THIS quilt is my favorite. I may or may not have already placed this quilt on my bed, even though it needs to go to market. Whatever LOVE IT!

 Photographer Lauren (who also did all my Simply Color book pictures) came down for a night and we had some fun. She was on assignment from something else and well when she was done she did me a huge favor. We, (by "we", I mean her…) she went into the creek (with snapping little fish) to get this picture. this picture shows the quilt off beautifully! Thanks Lauren!!!

Criss Cross Applesauce comes in three sizes: 

large: 72" x 96" as shown

medium: 56" x 72" throw size

baby: 48" x48" 

Find Criss Cross Applesauce  HERE use OMBRE30B for discount

Up next is also a favorite, it's our Geometric Tote

 This quilted tote consists of 2 ombre colors (here it's graphite gray, and onyx) with white, made up of half square triangles, and squares to make a stunning look for this bag.

 Large enough to store quite a bit, but not too big that you couldn't use it as your regular around the town bag!

The leather handles makes for a nice polished look. 

Inside there is a large side zippered pocket 

AND it has a zipper closed top 

This bag measures 18" x 15" x 6" 

Find the Geometric Tote HERE use OMBRE30B for discount

Next we have another fantastic quilt:

Rush Hour Quilt 

 This quilt is a great way to show off the all 20 (minus sand, and onyx)

This quilt is pretty awesome if I do say so myself. The Judgy Cat herself really likes this one too. It's her favorite, its the one she planted herself on every time it was anywhere. She didn't touch the other quilts just this one. I'm kind of offended that she isn't too into the other ones, almost enough to ask...Like she'd tell me anyways.

so even though we didn't use Onyx and Sand in this one…look how beautiful it would look as a baby quilt in these neutrals!

I think I'm going to have to make one of each. And maybe instead of a baby one I'll have to make a throw for my living room…but I can't decide which one…I have some decisions to make…or maybe I'll just make both :)

Here on the left (the close up) you see popsicle pink, coral, honey, the lightest shade of persimmon, lagoon, popsicle pink again, aubergine, taupe, and a little bit of navy.

This quilt comes in three sizes:

large: 72" x 96" as shown

medium: 60" x  72" 

baby: 36" x 36"

Find Rush Hour HERE use OMBRE30B for discount

Last but not least we have Rising Star

This is another quilt pattern that uses most of the ombre colors.

Notice the background? Yep! Sand does it again! Just enough variation to make it AWESOME background fabric! You're welcome (ha!) This quilt pattern highlights my favorite star. The sawtooth star. It's really a gorgeous quilt, and the ombre fabric makes it look like you are using so many more fabrics than what you really are! This is one of my favorite things about the ombre fabric, that and that it looks almost hand dyed when you piece with it traditionally. 

This quilt comes in three different sizes as well:

large: 72" x 88"

medium: 56" x 72"

baby: 48" x 48"

Find Rising Star HERE use OMBRE30B for discount

Huge shout out to the ladies that helped me piece these quilts, Sarah and Donna, who don't have blogs but who help me so much in getting everything done in a timely fashion. You ladies are the best and I appreciate you immensely!! 

Also Winner of the OMBRE SCRAP BAG is: 

Mary! 

CONGRATS can't wait to see what you make with these!!!!

Ombre's are available for purchase if you are a quilt store owner through your MODA REP now, and will ship  to stores January 2016. And if you aren't a quilt store owner? well ask your Local Quilt Store to stock up!!! Cause we are going to keep giving you more patterns as the months go by! 

Alrighty friends, go and purchase your discounted patterns (for a limited time) by adding OMBRE30B at check out. Lots of love and we'll talk soon!

Sale ends September 14 at midnight.