Bar Graphs Pieced Backing Tutorial

November 4, 2013July 1, 201519 Comments

Bar Graphs is the name I gave to the design of the pieced back I made for Colorful Chevrons. I like my backs to be just as fun and colorful as the original quilt, and many times they end up being even more modern than the fronts!

Strips of Color Backing by Christa Watson

I really like the chunky “bars and graphs” look to this design, so I thought I would share a tutorial with you on how I pieced this backing. After all, it could stand on it’s own as an independent quilt design.

Bar Graphs 72″ x 88″

I started off with some basic measurements. Since my finished quilt size is approximately 64″ x 80″, I needed my backing to measure at least 4 inches larger on each side so that there would be “wiggle room” around the entire perimeter.

I also wanted to make sure that whatever design I chose would look okay once the top, bottom and sides were trimmed up. I designed the backing to be 72″ x 88″ with plenty of blank space on the top and bottom strips for trimming.

I started by sketching long colorful strips in a stair step design, filling in with dark blue solid for the negative space.

I used leftover Michael Miller Cotton Couture solids from the front of the quilt along with more of the dark navy.

The backing is basically a horizontal strippy quilt sewn together in rows. A list of yardage requirement and cutting dimensions are shown below:

Dark Blue Fabric – Approximately 4.5 yards. Cut (18) 8.5″ x 42″ strips. Piece them together to create the lengths shown in the above diagram

Colored Scraps – Approximately 1/4 yard of 9 different fabrics. Trim each piece to the lengths shown above. In some cases you can use a fat quarter where the pieces measure less than 22″ in length.

Bar Graphs Pieced Together – Ready to Baste!

Join together the rectangles with 1/4″ seams to create each strip. Then join the strips to create the backing (or new quilt top). I prefer to press my seams open and I starch the whole piece when sewn together. This is especially helpful if you are making a pieced backing. It will help the quilt glide more smoothly under the machine.

When I basted my quilt, I was careful to line up the strips as straight as I could. I knew that a lot of the blue would be trimmed up from the top and bottom strips and I’m pleased with how it turned out. I used the same dark navy for the binding as well.

Here are pictures of the finished quilt, both front and back:

Click here for detailed shots of the quilting and more about the front.

Whether you use it for the back or front of your quilt, please share pictures of your progress on my flickr group: Christa’s Quilt Along. Remember, you can make it yourself and make it your own. 🙂

I hope you enjoy making Bar Graphs. Click here for the EQ7 download and play around with different colorings, layouts and sizes.

More Modern Trees Inspiration

October 30, 2013October 29, 20136 Comments

While we are in between tutorials for my Modern Trees Quilt Along, I thought I would share some more fabulous WIP’s from Flickr. I’m very pleased to see how everyone’s really taking my pattern and making it their own. That makes me happy. 🙂

Mara C. (aka Simon Says Sew on flikr) is working on several versions including the two below. I love how she added a cute tree fabric for borders and made a table runner with some leftover blocks from another version.

Mara’s Modern Trees

Mara’s Table Runner

I love how desertskyquilts used a green background for her trees rather than cream. You can personalize this design however you like!

Use any background color you like! From desertskyquilts on flickr.

Carolyn (aka sweetboaterchick) chose a completely different layout, offsetting her rows of trees. Isn’t it fantastic?

Carolyn’s Sweet Trees

And who says they all have to line up? Make a forest of trees if you like, just like A. G. Lindsay did. (I was hoping someone would choose this layout!)

A.G. Lindays’ Layout

Want to make it bigger than my sample? Just add more rows and borders like Jody K. from New Jersey did.

Make it bigger with more rows and borders. Made by Jody K.

Or add a touch of whimsy with fun pieced borders, like Lindsey from Inspiring Creations.

Pieced borders by Lindsey.

I’m telling you, this is just a drop in the bucket of all the awesomeness that is being shared in my quilt along flickr group. Join the fun by posting your QAL WIP’s (say what?) or browse everyone else’s for some virtual inspiration. It’s never to late to start this project on your own schedule, sewing at your own pace.

I’ve started quilting my trees and can’t wait to share the machine quilting process with you next week! Yes, you really can quilt your own quilts. 🙂

Click here for the complete quilt along schedule for Modern Trees.

Modern Trees Quilt Along Inspiration

October 2, 2013September 30, 201312 Comments

Ok gals (and maybe a few guys). I am totally blown away by what you all are doing with your Modern Trees Quilt Along. I feel like I’ve lit a spark of creativity and you are turning it into a full-blown bonfire of inspiration. Yeah, maybe I’m not so good with the metaphors, but the blocks are really amazing to me.

Here are just few pics I pulled from my flickr group:

Joanna P’s Improv Blocks

Myrth McDonald’s Block

Lattegirl40 – lovin’ the scrappy!

Barbara P’s Layout

Check out this fun block that Melissa over at Happy Quilting came up with.

Paper Pieced Trees

It’s actually a different size, but is a good alternative for those who may want to make a bigger block, or who don’t have the tri-recs ruler used to make my version. Melissa’s block measures 10″ x 10″ finished and is paper pieced. She’s posted a blog tutorial on how to make it.

I’m thinking how fun it would be to combine larger and smaller blocks in the same quilt. Remember, this is your quilt so feel free to adapt it, innovate and truly make it your own!

The next Modern Trees QAL Tutorial will be posted next week.

Christa’s Year of Giveaways #21 – Exclusively for Quilt Along Followers

August 29, 2013August 29, 20137 Comments

For some time I have promised my quilt along followers a giveaway just for them and now here it is. It’s open to anyone who’s worked on any of my quilt alongs, finished or not. 🙂

Christa’s String of Pearls Quilt Along

To thank everyone who has worked on any of my quilt alongs thus far, I am awarding 4 winners each a set of these lovely charm packs from Andover (the same folks that brought you Pearl Bracelets). Each winner will receive a set of these 4 charm packs:

Textured Solids (25 squares)
Full Moon Lagoon by Mo Bedell (20 squares)
Annalee by Jane Dixon (22 squares)
Kitshenette by Claudine Hellmuth (19 squares)

Andover Charms 4 Pack

Now for the nitty gritty. This contest is open to anyone who has worked on any of my quilt alongs, past or present. Since my philosophy is for you to work at your own pace, you can share a picture of any stage of your quilt, finished or not. However, if you did manage to finish, you can link up twice for double your chances to win. 🙂

Here’s How to Enter:

Simply add your quilt along picture to the linkup below. You can linkup from a blog, flickr, or any other site that can host pictures and has a url that you can copy and paste.

If you are unable to do it yourself, you can email me your pictures to christa@christaquilts.com and I’ll post them for you (as a last resort). I want everyone to show off their hard work and inspire others!

I will select 4 winners at random from all the entries. This giveaway will stay open a little longer than my regular giveaways, just in case anyone wants to start one of my quilt alongs last-minute. (I try to be as accommodating and as inclusive as I can.)

If you have finished your quilt, you can link up twice – with two different pictures, one in-progress and one finished.

The linkup will close on Wednesday, September 11 at 6 PM PST. Please note that the linkup below will take you to a separate page to linkup. Due to the limitations of WordPress, it won’t show the pictures here in this post. 😦 But they are just a click away!

Linkup Below

Click here to enter your picture link and view everyone else’s amazing work! While you are there, be sure to give some comment love to those who have linked up. 🙂

Thanks for quilting along and be sure to check in next week for the announcement of my next quilt along (hint – think Modern Christmas)!

Last week’s winner: Congratulations to Vicky R. who won Angela Walters’ Craftsy Class, Dot to Dot Quilting!

Shades of Grey – Pieced Backing Tutorial

July 16, 2013May 15, 201414 Comments

I love to make pieced backings and by popular request I’m sharing with you a tutorial on how to put one together. This goes with my String of Pearls Quilt Along.

Shades of Grey Pieced Quilt Back, 72″ x 72″

Before we start, there are a few things to consider. First of all, how big is your quilt top? You want to sketch out a backing design that leaves plenty of wiggle room around the sides. A good rule of thumb is to make your backing at least 6 inches larger than your quilt top.

String of Pearls Quilt Top 66″ x 66″

For example, my String of Pearls quilt finishes approximately 66″ x 66″. Therefore, I need to have a backing that measures about 72″ x 72″. That’s a nice measurement because 72 inches is the same as 2 yards, so you can visualize a backing roughly 2 yards wide by 2 yards long.

Backing, One Fabric, 72″ x 72″

The second thing to consider is, do you want to make your backing from all one fabric (most efficient), or would you like to make it a little more artistic (my favorite)?

The solid backing above requires 4 yards of fabric (two – 2 yard lengths). Join them with a seam down the middle making a rectangle of approximately 72″ x 80″. Trim off about 8″, making a 72 inch square and throw the excess into your scrap bucket.

Finally, you need to decide ahead of time if you will be quilting the quilt yourself, or hiring a longarmer to do it for you. When quilting yourself, you can get away with less extra around the sides.

When sending a quilt out for professional quilting, however, you may need more fabric around the edges for the longarmer to work with. She also may request that your seams need to run either horizontal or vertical depending on how she loads the quilt on the machine. Be sure to check ahead of time (or just quilt it yourself like I love to do!)

Leftover Pearls

When deciding on a pieced back, I like to incorporate leftover fabrics or blocks from the top to give it a little interest.

First, I lay the quilt top on the floor or a large table, then start randomly placing leftover pieces of fabric on top until it’s covered. I rearrange all my pieces as needed until I’m happy with the layout.

Next, I will trim up my pieces and start joining them together in sections until my backing is big enough to overlap the top on all sides by at least 3 inches. Remember, it will shrink up some with seam allowances, so be sure to add more if needed.

Pieced Backing Diagram

For your convenience, I have included cutting diagrams for my pieced back. The measurements include seam allowances. Note, the pieced Pearl Bracelets section is made from 12 (3.5″ x 4.5″) rectangles to create a 3.5″ x 36.5″ unit.

Voila! Time for basting!

For more inspiration on making a pieced backing, check out Elizabeth Hartman’s FREE online Craftsy class, “Creative Quilt Backs.”

You can also see how I made these pieced backs by clicking the links below the pictures:

Hugs ‘N Kisses Pieced Backing Tutorial
Sea of Squares Pieced Backing Tutorial
Charming Chevrons Pieced Backing Tutorial

Star Surround Quilt Along from Happy Quilting Melissa

July 15, 2013July 15, 20136 Comments

Ready for another fun quilt along? My friend Melissa Corry from Happy Quilting Melissa is hosting a quilt along featuring her original Star Surround Block. She has kindly asked me to provide some kits for it featuring my favorite Kona Solids.

The first color scheme I chose to call “Modern Patriotic.” It’s so fresh and clean!

Modern Patriotic Star Surround

Here’s another version which I named “Dandelion Grey”. These were fun to color!

Dandelion Grey Star Surround

I also put together a “Classic Tuxedo” version for fans of black, white, red and grey.

Classic Tuxedo Star Surround

All 3 versions are available in 3 different kit sizes: baby, throw, or queen. I love Melissa’s design because it’s only 9 blocks, no matter which size you pick. Rather than making more blocks, you just make them in bigger sizes. So clever!!

Melissa has already calculated all the fabric requirements and she’s a pro at figuring out the math. All you have to do is pick your favorite fabric or kit and quilt along. 🙂

Click here for Melissa’s complete quilt along schedule.
Cutting begins next week!

Ready for Another Quilt Along? Thank your Lucky Stars!

June 6, 2013June 5, 201314 Comments

Summer is a great time to start a new quilt. With more lazy days and fewer responsibilities you can sew to your heart’s content! Luckily, my friends Heather and Megan over at Quilt Story are launching a brand new summer quilt along. They are calling it Lucky Stars featuring Bonnie and Camille’s Happy Go Lucky line.

Heather’s Patriotic Lucky Stars

Heather has chosen to make her quilt in patriotic red, white and blue.

Megan has made hers in shades of aqua, lime and navy with a hint of yellow and grey:

Megan’s Modern Lucky Stars

Aren’t they both fabulous? And so different from the same set of precuts!

Heather and Megan have asked me to provide some fabric for the quilt along and I’m happy to oblige. I’ve put together a starter kit combo of one Jelly Roll and one Layer Cake of Happy Go Lucky which will allow you to make either quilt! All you have to do is add 2.5 yards background fabric in whichever color scheme you wish.

Happy Go Lucky Layer Cake

Happy Go Lucky Jelly Roll

I’ve selected a few coordinating prints that you can choose for background, binding or backing.

Heather chose light aqua penny dots for her background while Megan chose the darker navy penny dots for hers.

I know it’s a lot of fabric to invest in a quilt, so to make it easier on the budget I’m also offering this coupon: use code STORY to save an extra 10% off your entire order. Plus you will automatically get FREE US shipping (discounted int’l shipping), too!

And of course, you can pick fabrics from your own stash, too. Be sure to bookmark Heather and Megan’s blog so you don’t miss out on all the updates. Happy quilting!

Kate Spain Blog Hop Starts June 3 – With Prizes

May 27, 2013May 22, 20139 Comments

Save the date: join me and fellow bloggers on a Kate Spain Blog Hop tour starting next Monday, June 3rd.

Hosted by Alyce of Blossom Heart Quilts, the hop will feature interviews with Kate Spain, inspiring projects from fellow blog hoppers, giveaway prizes, and a chance to link up past or current Kate Spain projects. Did I mention prizes?

For those that participate, you can win prizes for sharing previous projects made using Kate Spain fabric, or quilts worked on during the hop.

Jolly Jelly Roll Kit – In From the Cold

Here’s the project that I will work on during the hop. It’s my Jolly Jelly Roll quilt along pattern redone in Kate Spain’s In From the Cold line. Kits are available here.

Did I mention prizes, LOL?? As an added bonus, I will be giving away one of these kits during my stop on the blog hop tour so be sure to come back and visit me on my blog hop day. 🙂

Here is the tentative blog hop schedule, subject to change:

Monday June 3rd – Interview with Kate Spain at Blossom Heart Quilts
Tuesday June 4th – Jane at QuiltJane
Wednesday June 5th – Christa at Christa Quilts
Thursday June 6th – Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop
Friday June 7th – Laura at Quokka Quilts

Monday June 10th – Chrissy at Sew Lux
Tuesday June 11th – Lynne at Lily’s Quilts
Wednesday June 12th – Julie at The Intrepid Thread
Thursday June 13th – Kristy at Quiet Play
Friday June 14th – Link up your favourite Kate Spain project!

Monday June 17th – Gemma at Pretty Bobbins
Tuesday June 18th – Heidi at Fabric Mutt
Wednesday June 19th – Melissa at Ms Midge
Thursday June 20th – Jess at The Elven Garden
Friday June 21st – Janice at Better Off Thread

Monday June 24th – Diane at From Blank Pages…
Tuesday June 25th – Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts
Wednesday June 26th – Kara at Me And Elna
Thursday June 27th – Readers’ Q&A with Kate Spain at Blossom Heart Quilts
Friday June 28th – Link up your blog hop projects!

Christa’s Quilt Along 5.11 Hugs ‘n Kisses Binding – It’s Finished!

May 7, 2013August 13, 201511 Comments

Free Quilt Pattern

New to my blog? Be sure to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free pattern!

I love a good finish! Today I will share with you my favorite hand binding techniques to finish up Hugs ‘n Kisses. It took me a total of 3.5 hours to prep and bind.

Hugs ‘n Kisses 48″ x 64″

Step 1 – Prepping the Binding (1 Hour)

First, square up your quilt and trim off the excess batting and backing fabric.

Next, cut out 6 binding strips that measure 2.25 inches by the width of your fabric. Using a blending thread helps to hide the seams.

Join them together into one continuous length and press in half wrong sides together. If using solids with no right or wrong side, be careful when joining seams.

Be sure to trim one end to a 45 degree angle before pressing in half and sewing to the quilt. Press all of your seams open to reduce the bulk.

Next, measure around the length of your quilt to make sure the binding is long enough. You can adjust where you start sewing the binding so you do not end up with any bulky seams in your corners. Leave a few inches of overlap, but trim some of the excess length.

Starting away from the corners and leaving a few inches of tail at the beginning, attach the binding to your quilt on the front using 1/4 inch seams. The edge of your walking foot may be a good guide.

When you get to a corner, stop 1/4 inch away from the end, turn your quilt and sew off at the corner. This will help make a 45 degree miter.

Remove the quilt from the machine and pull the unsewn binding up in a continuous line.

Tuck the strip of binding back on top of itself. This excess binding fabric will fold over and create a nice mitered corner.

Continue sewing from the corner and sew all the way around the quilt, leaving a few inches of space in between the start and end of your continuous binding strip. Mark the angle where the two binding stripes meet.

Cut your ending piece 1/2 inch away from your mark, then join the two ends to finish the continuous strip and finish attaching it to the front.

Step 2 – Finish by Hand (2.5 Hours)

My new favorite notion is a package of 50 Clover Wonder Clips. They hold the binding in place much more securely than pins or clips. They are easy to add and remove as needed.

Finish stitching the binding on the backside by hand using small hidden stitches in a thread color that matches the binding fabric. If you want a quicker finish, please see my machine binding tutorial here.

Now you have a finished quilt! Pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself on a job well done. Be sure to visit my Quilt Along page for upcoming announcements about the next one.

My daughter claimed this quilt early on and she’s happy that it’s finally finished!

Hugs and Kisses Quilt Stats

Name: Hugs ‘n Kisses for Jenna
Finished Size: 48″ x 64″
Materials Used: Kissing Booth Fabric, Scraps, Kona Snow, Wool Batting
Thread: Glide Polyester
Total Time: 47 Hours from Start to Finish

Quilt Along Kits are available for purchase while supplies last. If you have any questions about this week’s homework, please be sure to join my flickr discussion, leave a comment, or email me directly at christa@christaquilts.com.

Quilt Along Schedule – Links will go to each active post when published.

Hugs ‘N Kisses 48″ x 64″

5.1 – 2/27/13 Supply List
5.2 – 3/6/13 Choosing Fabrics and Layouts
5.3 – 3/13/13 Cutting and Sewing the Bow Ties
5.4 – 3/20/13 Sewing the X and O Blocks
5.5 – 3/27/13 Finishing the Top and Borders
5.6 – 4/3/13 Piecing the Backing
5.7 – 4/10/13 Pin Basting
5.8 – 4/17/13 Stitching in the Ditch
5.9 – 4/24/13 Decorative FMQ
5.10 – 5/1/13 Additional Quilting
5.11 – 5/8/13 Binding – It’s Finished!

Sharing is Caring

Please share your work in progress in my facebook group: Quilt With Christa . 🙂

Christa’s Quilt Along 5.10 – Hugs ‘n Kisses Extra Quilting

May 1, 2013May 7, 20135 Comments

For today’s lesson, I will show you how I used a simple serpentine stitch to quickly quilt through all the centers of my X’s. It only took about 2 hours and gave a really nice finish.

Because the flower quilting I did in the “O” spaces is really the star of the show in this quilt, I didn’t want to overwhelm the quilt with much more quilting.

Therefore I chose a simple wiggly line that is one of the decorative stitch options on my sewing machine. I just eyeballed the quilting as I went and didn’t mark anything.

I used a light pink thread that blended with most of the fabrics and gave a nice texture even on the darker prints. I went all the way across the X’s in one direction, then turned the quilt and crossed over in the opposite direction.

I like the little bit of “poof” it gives to the quilt in the un-quilted areas. I use this wiggly stitch quite a bit. It’s more forgiving that trying to stitch perfectly straight lines, and I can cover a lot of area quickly!

For the borders, I quilted 3 lines of wiggles which finished it off nicely.

For another idea on how to quilt the blocks, here’s a picture of my original Hugs and Kisses quilt in yellow and orange. I used a stencil to mark motifs in the O blocks and I quilted straight lines through the X blocks. Then I stippled the rest of the background spaces.

You’ll notice the original Hugs and Kisses is flatter than the updated version. That’s because I used cotton batting. In the pink version, I used wool batting which gives more of a trapunto look to the quilting. Both are great – it just depends on the look you prefer!

Hugs ‘n Kisses Quilt Kits are available for purchase while supplies last. If you have any questions about this week’s homework, please be sure to join my flickr discussion, leave a comment, or email me directly at christa@christaquilts.com.

Quilt Along Schedule – Links will go to each active post when published.

Hugs ‘N Kisses 48″ x 64″

5.1 – 2/27/13 Supply List
5.2 – 3/6/13 Choosing Fabrics and Layouts
5.3 – 3/13/13 Cutting and Sewing the Bow Ties
5.4 – 3/20/13 Sewing the X and O Blocks
5.5 – 3/27/13 Finishing the Top and Borders
5.6 – 4/3/13 Piecing the Backing
5.7 – 4/10/13 Pin Basting
5.8 – 4/17/13 Stitching in the Ditch
5.9 – 4/24/13 Decorative FMQ
5.10 – 5/1/13 Additional Quilting
5.11 – 5/8/13 Binding – It’s Finished!

Grab my Quilt Along button!

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