MAKE IT! PATCHWORK

WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK, I’M TIRED. GRANTED, I HAVE A GREAT JOB! I spend much of the day looking at quilts, writing about quilts, fine-tuning the instructions for quilt patterns, and helping put all the articles, patterns, and quilt stories into a cohesive magazine. But there are also deadlines, delayed shipments, stories that run too short (or too long), budgets, filing (not my strong suit!), and mastering ever-changing software upgrades. So at night, I’m tired. Yet, having been immersed in the quilt world all day, I’m also really, really ready to get to my own quilting projects. I go straight to my sewing studio after dinner, stand around for a bit, and then default to a comfy chair to read or knit—neither of which are bad options, just…

fall Lanterns is a simple block that will build confidence in your paper-piecing skills. Make four blocks in colors reminiscent of autumn and sew up a table runner that is perfect for celebrating the changing seasons. Because table runners are smaller than a quilt, they’re fast and easy to put together and perfect for practicing a variety of skills. FALL LANTERNS BLOCK Fall Lanterns has the sharp look of a paper-pieced block, but with very few seams to line up and only two pieces of fabric per template, it’s easier than most to perfect. Choose a few different prints and solids in the same colorway and a neutral background to make the colors pop. FINISHED BLOCK SIZE: 8" × 8" TEMPLATES REQUIRED: 2 each: Fall Lanterns A, B, C, and…

this stunning runner will add a modern and sophisticated flair to any table. Colorful balls made of strips of bright fabrics roll across its surface, and are held in place with hand or machine appliqué. This piece includes a variety of bright prints that pop againtst the rich black linen background. MATERIALS Finished size: 42" × 21" » Background fabric, 1 yd.(I used black linen.) » Print fabric, 18 assorted 1½ " × 12" bright strips » Backing fabric, ¾ yd. » Light-weight black fusible interfacing, 1 yd. » Black thread » Batting, 25" × 50" » Binding, ¼ yd. » Marking pen or pencil » Pinking shears DIRECTIONS All seam allowances are ¼ ". CUT THE FABRIC AND PREPARE THE BACKGROUND 1| Cut a 21" × WOF (width of…

this simple table topper was inspired by my twofold desire to use my growing stash of graphic scraps while reinterpreting one of my favorite traditional shapes: the hexagon. I played with fabrics from my scrap box and pieced the hexagons so they would appear slightly elongated. To keep the project feeling fresh and contemporary, I limited the background to two shades of charcoal and quilted the topper with a simple free-motion spiral. Gather your scraps and create your own version of this modern and easy-to-make table topper. MATERIALS Finished size: 20" × 24" » Assorted scraps of 9 different prints, each measuring at least 7" × 8" » Background fabric, 2 tones of gray, 1 fat quarter each » Backing fabric, ¾ yd. » Binding fabric, ¼ yd. » Batting,…

i am enamored with hexagons and love to use them in my patterns. Allow the fabric to do some of the design work by strip piecing two together and then cutting them on a 60° angle. Modern fabrics like these bright, primary, low-volume prints are perfect for this project. MATERIALS For 2 trivets Finished size: 13¾ " point to point » 2 contrasting fabrics,¼ yd. each » Backing, ½ yd. » Template A » Template plastic or cardboard » Batting, 30" × 15" » Sewing machine with walking foot Optional » 60° ruler » Cotton batting, 26" × 30" DIRECTIONS All seam allowances are ¼ ". 1| From each contrasting fabric, cut 2 strips 3½ " × WOF (width of fabric). Sew pairs together, 1 of each fabric, along the…

bring a hot dish to a potluck dinner or a friend’s house in style. This clever and useful casserole cover will not only protect your dinner from minor spills; it is also a great way to keep a hot dish hot! Made with geometric prints in a warm color palette and special insulating batting, this is a project any modern hostess would be proud to share. MATERIALS Fits a 9" x 13" casserole dish » Main fabric, 1 yd. » Handles and binding, ½ yd. » Lining, 1 yd. » Insulated batting, 22" x 2¼ yds.or 45" x 1¼ yds. (I used Insul-Shine batting from Warm™ Company.) » Fusible fleece, ¼ yd. » Safety pins or basting spray DIRECTIONS All seam allowances are ¼ ". Width of fabric (WOF) must…