Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples

Apple Season Coasters by Sharon Holland

Can you guess what’s the theme is for this blog post? Yup, apples and I have two super fun (and scrappy) apple-themed projects for you to make.

Aurifil 2018 Designer Block of the Month block by Sharon Holland

Apple Season Coasters

It’s always nice to have some quick, small projects that use up scraps and yet are still useful! I had designed these apple mug rugs several years back as a project for my magazines I worked on. The neat thing is I had originally made them with Art Gallery Fabrics and I am again—only this time with my Signature prints and Maureen Cracknell’s newest collection called Autumn Vibes!

Download the free PDF pattern for making these easy coasters. It’s the perfect time of year to have extra mug rugs on hand for family gatherings and cozy relaxation with your favorite hot drink.

If you’re like me you have lots of beautiful fabric scraps as well as left over pieces of batting. I couldn’t stop at just making a set a four Signature Apple Season coasters, I had to make a few more.

Later this week I’ll be sharing a beginner-friendly quilt project made from Maureen’s new Art Gallery Fabrics collection called Autumn Vibes. The beautiful fall colors and motifs really speak to me. I had some scraps left over from the quilt and made an additional four coasters.

Wouldn’t these make the cutest hostess gifts? I can just picture them tucked into a basket with mugs, tea or hot cocoa, and don’t forget some cookies or apple butter!

Aurifil 2018 Designer Block of the Month

Courtesy of Aurifil

Last fall I was asked by Pat Sloan to be part of this year’s Aurifil Designer of the Month sampler sew along—how exciting, huh?!!! This year’s theme is “The Places We Go” and the 12 designers are to make a block inspired by favorite places.

I love NY collage by Sharon Holland

I decided to use New York City, NY as my muse and what better way to show this iconic city than with a Big Apple!

Photo by Nick Holland

For the free PDF download on how to make this block along with my interview with Pat Sloan and a further look at this block and my inspiration, visit the Auribuzz blog post about my September block-of-the-month.

You can jump in at anytime to make this travel-inspired quilt and get to know all the fabulous designers behind the blocks, read about their inspiration, and meet new quilty friends as you share and post your blocks. As host, Pat also has loads of awesome prizes and tips, too!

Big Apple block by Sharon Holland

I used a variety of Art Gallery Fabrics prints and Pure Elements solids in my block. The color theme for this year’s Aurifil quilt is black and white plus one color of choice. There’s so many amazing black and white graphic prints from AGF that narrowing it down was the hardest part! I kept the apple a bit simpler and used solids except for the Mudcloth Bachelorette print that made me think of apple seeds. Of course, Aurifil thread was used and I had some luscious colors to choose from.

Here’s a look at my small and large Aurifil Color Story box sets of curated threads to go with my Art Gallery Fabrics fabric collections. Look for them wherever Aurifil threads are sold.

Happy fall everyone!

My Signature Sampler Week #10

My Signature Sampler Week #10

Hi everyone! Here we are at week ten of our sew along and over halfway done. All the blocks being posted to our #MySignatureSampler hashtag pool on Instagram have been phenomenal! You're such a creative and inspiring group of makers, thank you for taking part in this sew along!

If you're just joining in on the fun, take a look at my first post for this sew along and pick up the quilt layout and color book page to start planning your sampler! The My Signature Sampler is based off block instructions from the Sewcial Bee Sampler (SBS), Community Sampler (CS), AGF Quilt Block Collection (AGF), and the blocks from the Quilter's Planner 2018 magazine (QP). If you have different favorite blocks and would rather include them in your quilt, please feel free to make this sampler with your own signature-style. 

If you need extra help with your patchwork or would like to learn how to control the direction of your prints in half-square triangle units and other piecing techniques, visit my Tutorials page for lots of great tutorials all in one place. Also, when making any Sewcial Bee or Community Sampler blocks you can access the original blog posts for each block and find additional tips and tutorials for piecing. If needed, just use the search bar at the top of the this page on the right and simply type in the block name.

Don't forget our blocks will be set on-point so if you have a fussy cut center, cut it on-point for best results. Note: I don't recommend cutting any other pieces of the blocks (other than a center square on-point for fussy cutting) because it will create bias edges along the outside of the block and increase chances of distortion. Keep any bias edges in the center of the block.

This week's block is called See Saw and is a block from the Art Gallery Fabrics Quit Block Collection. Be sure to click the Read More to expand the instructions text if you'd like to read the instructions along with the You Tube video. 

Because the AGF Quilt Block Collection See Saw block finishes at an 8" square block I had to add a frame onto it to bring it up to a finished 12" square for our sampler. To get it up to size, cut:

• Two 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" strips 
• Two 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" strips

My blocks are made using Art Gallery Fabric Pure Elements for the solids together with prints from the Signature fabric collection that I designed for Art Gallery Fabrics. For stock lists of online shops that carry my Signature and other collections I've designed for AGF, visit my Fabrics page or the Where to Buy page on the Art Gallery Fabrics site.

I've been adding my setting triangles to my finished blocks as I make them and have been sticking to original layout in the first week handouts. I'm using a combination of my Perennial print from Printemps Fusions and Untamed Beauty Daybreak from Signature as the background setting of my quilt but because this block will be in the middle of the quilt it only uses the Untamed Beauty print in the setting triangles. 

The setting triangles are made by cutting a 9-1/2'' square on the diagonal to make two setting triangles. Be mindful of print direction, if applicable. See Community Sampler Week #13 for block setting instructions. 

If you're interested in adding a chevron border to your sampler quilt, take a look at the week #6 blog post and pick up the border supplement PDF. I'll review the border option closer to the end of this sew along but just in case you wanted to sew or plan ahead, you have the information now.

GIVEAWAY

Every Friday when I reveal a new block to My Signature Sampler, I'll also be posting the weekly giveaway. This sew along is being sponsored by the most amazing companies and have generously donated incredible prizes to share with you. 

OUR SPONSORS

Art Gallery Fabrics | Hobbs Batting | The Quilter's Planner | Quilters Candy Box | Bloc_Loc | Dritz |  Omnigrid | Fat Quarter Shop

THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY SPONSOR IS: Omnigrid

Omnigrid® is a family of measuring and cutting products. When Omnigrid® tools are used together they provide quilters, sewists and DIY aficionados with unsurpassed accuracy and quality. A product concept born of the genius of Peggy and Randy Schafer, Omnigrid® products work behind the scenes allowing makers to flawlessly bring their creations to fruition. - See more at: Omnigrid!

Products  *  Projects and Patterns  *  Instagram  *  Pinterest 

For this week's My Signature Sampler Giveaway, Ominigrid is offering an incredible prize! Both the blog and Instagram winner will receive these wonderful Omnigrid sewing/quilting products shown below! This prize will be to limited to winners within the United States only (see entry rules).

THIS PRIZE PACK INCLUDES:  

The Tote Size FoldAway | 8-1/2" Fabric Scissors | Marking Ruler Trio

These fine Omnigrid products are the perfect size for travel and fit into a tote with ease, making them great for taking to workshops and sewing on the go! 

Thank you Omnigrid for this generous prize!

Giveaway now closed. Congratulations to Rosemary B!

Note: This giveaway is open to US address only for this prize. If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment--you can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (First comment entry).

2. Follow Omnigrid on any of their social media platforms (see links above). Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-second entry). 

3. My followers get a third entry! If you follow me via subscribing to my posts, on Pinterest, and/or Instagram, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-third entry).

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the My Signature Sampler sew along on YOUR instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest by pinning any of my pretty images in this post, etc... (separate comment-fourth entry). 

That’s FOUR possible entries! Enter now through Monday, August 27th! The winner will be picked at random around 4pm Eastern. I will post the name of the winner on this post once they've been notified and responded to my email.

Don't forget to enter into this same giveaway on Instagram by posting images of your sampler inspiration, sampler fabric pull, or blocks. Use the official #mysignaturesampler hashtag every time you post your My Signature Sampler makes (to a public account) and you're automatically entered into the weekly IG drawings as well! See my Instagram giveaway posts @sharonhollanddesigns for full details. 

Happy sewing!

Sharon

Community Sampler Week #10

Community Sampler Week #10

Welcome to week #10 of the Community Sampler sew along where we not only work on our patchwork piecing techniques but also share our makes on Instagram and have fun with a like-minded community of quilters. My co-host and sister Art Gallery Fabrics designer Maureen Cracknell and I are so happy to have you sewing with us and look forward to seeing your sampler quilt come together.

We're coming down the home stretch with making our blocks and this is number nine out of eleven. 

Each Wednesday will be a new PDF block release or finishing step for the quilt. If you are just joining us, pick up the Introduction PDF on the Sew Along page and you'll get a material list along with coloring pages so you can get started planning your quilt. Then, work your way through the first Community Sampler post to the present.

Many of the patchwork units (like Quick-Corner, Flying Geese, Half-Square Triangle, and Square-in-Square units) used in this year's sampler have already been oversized to allow for trimming and squaring of units before assembling your block. Please cut your pieces EXACTLY as given in each of the PDF instructions because bumping up the size of the pieces from the measurements give will not bring great results in some cases. Take advantage of my in-blog tutorials for each of the different quilting techniques used in our sampler.

Accurate cutting and use of a true 1/4'' seam allowance is a must for successful patchwork piecing. All your blocks will measure 12-1/2'' square (unfinished). Review how to cut strips, sew with a true 1/4'' seam allowance, and other helpful piecing tips on my "Are You Ready to Sew" post.

Download the free PDF on the free Double-T block from my Sew Along page and let's get sewing!

Our block this week is all review as far as piecing techniques. I'm sure you can do this in your sleep by now but if you need a refresher, use the following link for review how to make Half-Square Triangle (HST) units and No-Waste Flying Geese units that we've already used in earlier Community Sampler blocks. Accuracy is always our goal so make sure all cut pieces are true to size as you work and maintain an accurate 1/4" seam allowance when sewing and the pieces will go together beautifully.

If you're wanting to use directional prints for either the HST units or the Flying Geese units you may want to check out my tutorial for controlling directional prints that was posted during the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew along. 

I kept my block real simple this week and love how these Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Element solids look together. If you're curious as to the exact colors I've used I'm including the fabrics name and sku number so you can easily get the same look.

Other fabrics of interest included in my photos this week are the Splendid Fusions prints from Art Gallery Fabrics (now is shops) that include reprints of my Petally and Woodblock prints (first two from right to left on the above photo). Also, under my Double-T block I used my Mudcloth Blue print from Tapestry as a backdrop. It's hard not to include some pattern in my posts! :)

Be sure to stop over at Maureen's blog to see her lovely blocks being made from her Art Gallery Fabrics Love Story collection. 

COMMUNITY SAMPLER SPONSORS

Lady Belle Fabric  Omnigrid   Aurifil Thread  Art Gallery Fabrics  Hobbs Batting  Dritz  Fat Quarter Shop  Bloc-Loc

My co-host Maureen Cracknell and I are continually amazed by the joy and excitement each of you bring to our virtual community. Thank you for making this sew along so special. Please visit Maureen's blog and see the progress she's making on her sampler quilt, using her beautiful AGF fabrics Love Story collection. Be sure to use the #CommunitySampler hashtag when posting your blocks to Instagram and tag both my @sharonhollanddesigns and @maureencracknell so we don't miss any of your beautiful work!

Don't forget that this Friday's a Giveaway Friday on the Community Sampler sew along. Maureen and I will take turns hosting a giveaway each week where one of our generous sponsors will be featured and offering amazing prizes both here on our blogs and also on Instagram. I will be hosting the giveaway this Friday and you'll be instructed how to enter at that time.

Happy sewing!

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #12

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #12

We're buzzing right along and ready to start block #12 on our sampler quilts! My co-host Maureen Cracknell and I are thrilled with all the blocks being made and the awesome virtual community that's been created by this sew along. We're still seeing new SBS Makers joining us every day so please be sure to welcome the new members and help out where you can with encouragement and any tips you've learned along the way. Thank you for being such a wonderful, supportive community, I know many new friendships have been made because of the SBS.

With spring here and yard work calling us away from our sewing machines I know it will be very easy to fall behind on your blocks. Don't worry, even if you cannot pick up the PDF instructions right away they will remain on our sites long after the 26-week long SBS is completed. I want to remind you not to post the instructions from your web site (please read the copyright blurb on the instructions and on the right sidebar of this blog). Instead, link your readers back to mine or Maureen's blogs for the instructions and the tutorial supporting posts. Thanks!

If you're just joining, you may want to start at the beginning of the community sewing bee with my first post The Start of Something Sewcial and work your way up to the present. I've included tips and tutorials with each new block and they can be helpful, especially if you're new to quilting. 

Download the free Right Angle block from my Sew Along page.

Right Angle is going to be a fun block because it's composed of 2-at-a-time HST and 2-1/2" squares. You'll find this another fast one to piece. There's no tutorial today, instead I will refer you all the way back to block #2 for the 2-at-a-time HST tutorial and to the SBS Extras post if you'd like making larger HST to trim down to the 2-1/2" size for piecing. Remember to be mindful of your cutting and seam allowance accuracy for best patchwork results.

I had every intention of not only sewing a second Right Angle block for the other SBS quilt I'm stitching but to start getting ahead on my block making. I was lucky to get one block done today and photographed for this blog post. Oh well, maybe tomorrow I'll get more done!

My Right Angle block (seen here on top of a quilt I've made for my Quilt Market booth) is made using Bountiful fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics. I used Vine Braid for the background and Tartan Field Midnight and Haymow Early for the angles. I played around with the placement of the sections of this block and even though I made it exactly as the instructions say, I flipped two of the sections to split the "V" for a different look. I bet we'll see a lot of interesting interpretations of this block on Instagram.

Aurifil      Circa 15      The Intrepid Thread      Fat Quarter Shop      Omnigrid      Llama Fabrics      Color Girl     Lady Belle Fabric      Needle in a Fabric Stash      Dritz      Knotted Thread    NeedleandFoot      Stash Builder Box

Also, don't forget that Friday is Giveaway Friday and this week I will be hosting the giveaway from this blog. We've got a great giveaway planned from Knotted Thread! 

Note: Normally, Maureen and I trade off each week but we had some schedule conflicts so I will do another week in a row and then Maureen will take two weeks in a row--don't worry, we'll let you know where to go to enter!