All about patchwork and quilting

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snail applique cushion

By Hatun Comak → Monday, August 27, 2018

This is a smiley snail happy decorative pillow, either for your living room or kids room. I prefer it for the kids' room. I chose green for the body of the snail with a colorful shell. The shell is detailed with individual colors.

The free applique pattern for the snail is HERE. You need to prepare the snail by using epp before appliquing it to the fabric. Once you epp it, you iron and then remove the paper. Now it is ready for the applique. Do not forget the face. This is a happy snail with a happy face.
You can then add as many details as you like.

I added a butterfly and some flowers to the scene. I embroidered the butterfly and flowers in colorful threads. You can add whatever you like. You can change the colors according to the decoration also. Below is another snail in bigger size I made.

quilting

All about log cabin quilt

By Hatun Comak → Monday, August 13, 2018

Log cabin quilts are one of the most popular and favourable quilts of all quilt patterns. What makes log cabin fascinating is the possible variations it presents. The traditional design is made by beginning with a center shape-usually a square- and sewing strips in sequence around the square.
There are various designs named such as Barn Raising, Sunshine and Shadow and Straight Farrow. Besides, blocks can be set together in numerious ways to form new patterns. It is simple to construct and offers too many probable patterns to create, so log cabin quilts appeal not only beginners but also advanced quilters.
Log cabin quilts are as old as the times of ancient Egypt. But it is mostly assumed that it dates back to the pioneer days of the United States.
The log cabin quilts had first been widespread in 1860s in the United States during the Civil War and been popular quickly. They were identified with the pioneer spirit and values of America.

Early log cabins were made by hand piecing using the scraps around a square. A traditional log cabin has a red center symbolizing the hearth of the home with one side light and the other side dark.
Today log cabin quilts are a popular choice of scrap quilts and it is likely that they will never go out of fashion with countess number of design patterns.
When I started quilting, l started with a log cabin quilt. It is perfect for beginners because it is sewer friendly where you just use strips of fabric. Playing with colors of fabrics is the fun thing about this quilt.
Log cabin blocks are easy and quick to make and makes very well with using scraps. Accurate color combinations makes perfect quilts.

You can start your next project with a log cabin block. Once you master this pattern, you will be inspired for your next quilting masterpiece. Beside making a bed quilt from log cabin blocks, you can use them around everywhere in your house. Pillow, tabletoppers, potholders, table runners, pincushions are other options to make with log cabin blocks. Whatever you do, dont forget to enjoy it.

turn your old jeans into a skirt

15 upcycling projects from old denim jeans

By Hatun Comak → Monday, August 6, 2018

Are you one of those that cannot throw old jeans? If you just can't let them go like me, do not make them take space in your wardrobe anymore since there are tons of other ways to use them around your house. Denim is a resistant and tough fabric and great for reusing. What's more, it is never out of fashion. It would be a waste to throw them out. I have many old, worn jeans that are not in use but waiting for recycling. That's why I have been looking around for some time and found a bunch of some great ideas with tutorials to share with you and keeping these great ideas in my blog will remind me to try these projects. Have a look at the list below so that you may get inspired.

1- make a denim fabric basket

Easy, simple and quick project where the legs of the jeans are used. They will match perfectly to your sewing room.

2 - upcycle your old jeans into a bag

Why not to show off with your sewing skills?

3- make a denim organizer

A perfect organizer for your sewing stuff or for stationaries.

4-Turn your old jeans into a chic skirt

You (or the one for whom you make it for) will look hot in this skirt

5- jean hexagon pillow

I like using hexagons everywhere, using them with denim fabric is pretty cool.

6- upcycled denim whale toy

The kids will surely love it!

7- Denim quilt

It is absolutely in my to do list.

8- turn old jeans into potholders

These will make your kitchen look stylish and also you won't feel the heat. Although the site is in Finnish, photos make the instructions clear.

9 - Chevron Pillow

It seems complicated to look but the site presents a practical tutorial.

10 - denim pencil case

Another easy to make and cute pencil case from old jeans.

11- recycled denim coaster

Hems from a pair of old jeans are enough to make coasters. You can enjoy a cup of coffee using your new recycled denim coaster.

12 - little denim pincushions

These pincushions are great to use your leftovers and perfect to be given as gifts.

13 - recycled denim basket

14 - denim aprons

Go into kitchen and get cooking with adorable denim aprons.

15 - upcycled denim placemat

Have you got any other projects to make with your old jeans? Let's share more denim project ideas in the comments!

patchwork apple quilt block

By Hatun Comak → Wednesday, August 1, 2018

First, there was a strawberry, then a pineapple and now an apple; actually two- one is bitten. I can't resist making fruit blocks. They look lovely. Sewing fruit blocks is fun and easy to make. There are tons of strawberry and pineapple blocks but I haven't seen many apple blocks around. So I made these two apple blocks, one is complete and the other is a bitten one. I like them as much as other fruit blocks.
For a complete tutorial on how to make a fruit block, have a look at my Strawberry Block Tutorial where I explain how to make HSTs(half square triangles) in details with pictures. We will use the same technique while doing it. Here is how to make the apple block.

Cutting instructions:

from various red scraps cut : twenty 2" squares and five 2.5" squares
from various white scraps cut : seven 2.5 " squares and two 3.3" rectangulars
from various green scraps cut: two 2.5" squares
from yellow scraps cut: two 2.5" squares
from brown scraps cut: two 1"x 2" brown rectangulars

Sewing Instructions

First of all we start with half-square triangles.

Layer a 2.5" white square and a 2.5" red square right sides together.
Draw a line along the center.
Using a 1/4" seam, sew on both sides of the line.
Cut along the drawn line and press the seams open.

Make a total 8 white/red half-square triangles, 4 total green/white half square triangles, 2 total red/yellow HSTs and 2 total white/yellow HSTs.

Sew brown and white rectangular together. Make a total two white/brown rectangular.

To finish the complete apple, sew HSTs, squares and rectangles together in 5 rows. The layout below will help you figure it out.

Press the seams open. Sew the rows together to form the apple. Press the seams open.

When you finish sewing two apples together, using white strips of fabric, sew the apples together.

You can turn this apple block into a mini quilt. How about a table placemat? A Strawberry, a pineapple and now two apple blocks are put aside. I am planning to go for more fruit blocks and turn them into a quilt. It will be coming soon. I hope you enjoy my tutorial.