New Patterns Released

A new year holds great promise. It's like having a clean slate and in my case a clean sewing room because I needed to tidy it up for holiday company :) Before I got too deep into sewing and designing I thought it would be a good idea to publish some beautiful quilt projects I made for magazines. These quilts are now out of the magazine contract period ready for me to publish as stand-alone PDF patterns you can purchase. You can view all my patterns on Craftsy.

Four New Patterns Added

Kilim is one of my all-time favorite quilt designs. I patterned this quilt after an image of a kilim rug. The rug inspiration was taken further by how I placed the cream background prints and let them flow from one type of print into another like how yarn is woven on a loom making subtle changes in color. Another way I pushed the concept of a rug was to use a mitered facing binding on this quilt--much like how a rug is finished on the back. This optional way to finish this project gives the quilt a clean front and uninterrupted quilt design.

Kilim by Sharon Holland featuring Sketchbook fabrics and Pure Elements from Art Gallery Fabrics

I love how you can use a ton of different fabrics with this quilt. Most of the prints are from my Sketchbook fabrics collection with the addition of Gossamer fabrics and Pure Elements from Art Gallery Fabrics. 

Here's a look at the finished quilt back with a mitered facing binding. The instructions for this quilt are written so you can do this facing binding technique or regular double-fold binding from the same 2-1/4'' cut strips. 

My Sketchbook fabric collection is a playful explosion of flowers and drawings. The Bloomescent quilt is a celebration of blooms created with large Drunkard's Path blocks. Even though this is labeled as an intermediate pattern, don't be intimidated by the curved piecing. The 6'' Drunkard's Path square is a gentle curve to piece and easy to learn how to stitch.

Bloomescent by Sharon Holland featuring Sketchbook fabrics and Pure Elements from Art Gallery Fabrics

My third new pattern release is a foundation paper-pieced table runner called Sea Breeze. This project was my last make for my Coastline fabrics fall 2015 Quilt Market booth. I had only a handful of scraps to work with and this Palm Leaf block couldn't have been more perfect for the theme of the collection and my materials available. 

Sea Breeze by Sharon Holland featuring Coastline fabrics and Pure Elements from Art Gallery Fabrics

The Sea Breeze table runner pattern is rated as an advanced pattern and utilizes foundation paper-piecing techniques to achieve the perfect points on the Palm Leaf blocks. Step-by-step instructions for how to paper-piece are included in the PDF pattern. A small project like this is a great time to try paper-piecing since you only need to make 12 blocks!

Last but not least is Beach Glass, a modern quilt design made from a repeating geometric pattern. I've rated this as an intermediate only because of the placement of the squares and half-square triangles. The making of blocks is straightforward and definitely a beginner level--just follow the quilt diagram closely for placement and orientation to achieve the repeat pattern effect. 

Beach Glass by Sharon Holland featuring Gossamer fabrics and Pure Elements from Art Gallery Fabrics

Stitched in cool blues, seafoam green, and sandy brown this calming color palette was made using my Gossamer fabrics and Pure Elements from Art Gallery Fabrics. Simple half-square triangles and squares are used to create the repeating design of this quilt. Randomly spaced, straight line quilting gives the feeling of rippling water. 

Visit my Craftsy pattern page to purchase these or any of my other PDF patterns. Be sure to tag me #sharonhollanddesigns when you post pictures of your completed makes so I can see your lovely projects! Happy sewing xxxx

Crystal River Quilt Pattern

Fall's my favorite time of year. I call it my squirreling instinct when I start cleaning up the yard and gardens, readying them for winter. After the yard's in order I can then turn my attention to the house and start nesting. Time to spruce things up for the upcoming holidays, change the bedding to warmer, cozy layers, and of course, start baking and making all those comfort foods I start craving as the weather gets cooler!

It's been such a busy summer and I've been slow to get this pattern up and running for my Craftsy Pattern Shop. I'm so happy to finally bring you the Crystal River quilt pattern. Even though I made this in my Coastline fabrics line from Art Gallery Fabrics, I don't necessarily consider this a summer only design. The large-block design has an Indian blanket motif and the teal and bronze colors look perfect for fall and winter!

Crystal River quilt pattern available at Craftsy

This design will make a queen-size quilt and the large pieces are perfect for showing off fun prints like my Palm Leaves and Beachcomber prints. 

Crystal River quilt photographed by Sandy Storer

Crystal River quilt photographed by Sandy Storer

I love the photos Sandy Storer took of my quilt in the beautiful nature setting on Frye Island in Maine. What a stunning way to display this quilt!

Simple, diagonal machine quilting compliments the crystal effect of the half-square triangles points. Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Element Snow white solid fabric contrasts with the prints to make the block design stand out and shine. 

Back to School

I can hardly fathom it's August already! You may or may not be gearing up to get the kids back-to-school ready, but just thinking about school gave me the idea this would be a great time for us to brush up on a little quilter's math.

I just started a new quilt project that involves a lot of different sized half-square triangles (HSTs) so why not have a little tutorial about how to "do the math"! There's an easy formula for figuring out what size square to cut for any size half-square triangle that will take the guesswork out of cutting and piecing, especially if you like to draft your own blocks. 

HST Formula

Finished size square + 7/8" = Cut size

Example: If you need a 2" finished square, then you need to cut a 2-7/8" square (Note: If working with non-whole numbers, it helps to convert the fractions to decimals to add the 7/8" (.875) to the finished size dimensions) 

Half-square Triangle Units

Make a set of HST units, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the lighter square.

Place marked square right sides together with another (same size) square, matching edges.

Stitch a 1/4" on either side of the drawn line.

Cut on the drawn line. 

Press open and trim dog ears. Makes two HST units.

Half-square Triangles

Some blocks require the use of half-square triangle pieces. Two HSTs are cut from a square and the cutting size is figured exactly the same way as for determining the size of HST units. In the quilt I am making, I need 2" finished, 4" finished, and 6" finished HST pieces. So I cut 2-7/8", 4-7/8", and 6-7/8" squares then cut the squares in half diagonally. This method is a time saver because I did not need to use any templates. I could cut a strip the width of the square cutting size, cut into squares, then cut in half diagonally. If you've cut your strips and squares accurately and used a true 1/4" seam allowance, there's no need to square up and trim your HSTs! 

Shown above are all the different size HST unit and pieces needed for a section of my Tea Leaf block.

I am making a throw quilt just for me! You'd think with all the quilts I make they would all be for me but not really the case. This one will use selected prints from all four of my Art Gallery Fabrics fabric lines and be a soothing accent to my family room decor (which has been much neglected over the years of being too busy to redecorate). More next post on the soon-to-be-finished quilt.  

FAT QUARTER BUNDLE GIVEAWAY

Each month is a new opportunity to win a fat quarter bundle from my sponsor the Fat Quarter Shop. This month we are showcasing Amy Sinibaldi's newest Art Gallery Fabrics fabric line called Playground. 

TO ENTER:

The Fat Quarter Shop will be giving away two 10-pc bundles of the Sunny Adventures colorway this month. Two lucky winners will be randomly selected. Giveaway for the Playground fabrics bundle begins today, Monday, August 1th, 2016 and will end on Monday, August 8th, 2016 at 4 p.m. EDT. 

• Leave a comment on this blog post anytime between 8/1/16 and 4 p.m. EDT on 8/8/16 to be entered into drawing

Two winners will be randomly drawn and notified via email so be sure to completely fill out the comment box entry form with a valid email address. If I cannot reach the winners within 24 hours I will select an alternate winner. Check back on your comment after 4 p.m. EDT 8/8/16 to see if you are a winner!

Featured and Free Quilts

Sharing quilt patterns is the best part about having this blog. I especially love when one of my designs is featured in a magazine and I can finally post about it! The Spring 2016 issue of Modern Patchwork has one of my favorite quilts sewn with Gossamer fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics. 

Spring 2016 Modern Patchwork Magazine

I called this baby quilt the Gunta Quilt. Named for the Bauhaus textile designer Gunta Stölzl. My quilt design was inspired from a period textile design I found online. The straight line quilting stitches mimic the black line element seen the inspiration textile study below. 

Textile design by Gunta Stölzl

Spring 2016 Modern Patchwork Magazine

Last year I did some house cleaning on the Free Patterns page of this blog. I have offered free patterns and tutorials since first going live in 2010. The Orange Peel Table Runner pattern was the first quilt pattern I wrote and published and was a huge success! It has been downloaded thousands of times but was in dire need of a makeover and re-write! 

When I designed my latest Art Gallery Fabrics collection called Tapestry, I knew this was the fabric line for updating the runner. The prints and colors were just perfect! 

I am happy to announce the new and improved (and easier to follow) Orange Peel Table Runner pattern is ready to download for free from the Free Patterns page once again. 

Keep in mind that this is an intermediate skill level block and although not that hard, could be slightly frustrating if you are new to patchwork quilting. The runner is shown here with several of my new Tapestry fabrics along with the Netting String print from Coastline on the front and Buoyant Fog print from the same collection for the backing. I love how prints from past collections can mix seamlessly with new collections.

Thanks for your patience while waiting for this pattern to be reformatted. Happy sewing!