laminate tablecloth tutorial -with little folks berry cotton laminate

I love this Anna Marie Horner Little folks laminate I got in recently. I knew it would make a perfect tablecloth for spring, and even better just in time for Easter.

This tutorial is a simple and fast way to take any laminate fabric (especially this one) and turn it into a tablecloth for any size rectangle table (great for a patio table).

NOTE: THIS TUTORIAL IS BASED OFF OF USING A SERGER. ( if you don't have a serger like I did, find a friend that does. this will only take about a half hour, so I'm sure they won't mind if you borrow it, giving them cookies it will probably sweeten the deal)

Materials:

pre-measured cotton laminate (found at any fabric shoppe, or buy little folks that I used HERE)
serger with coordinating thread and plate of cookies (optional)
scissors
plate or bowl to round edges (optional)


FIRST you want to measure the length of the table that your tablecloth will resided. The great thing about cotton laminate is that it is really wide. So most likely the width of the fabric will be greater than the width of your table. ( I will cut any length you need for your table in this fabric, just convo me HERE for details)


SECOND (OPTIONAL for round edges) fold your piece of fabric in half, then again, so you line all your corners straight. You will then take your plate or bowl to round the edges. If you don't want round edges, go on to THREE.


Next (with your friends assistance if you have never used a serger before) serger around all 4 sides. remember go slow around your curved edges. (if you have them)

Your end result will look like this


Now you have a fun spring tablecloth!

Ruffle Dress

For Easter I made my little one this adorable LITTLE PRINCESS RUFFLE DRESS, from LITTLE LIZARD KING. It was such a perfect dress for Easter, she loved it and couldn't stop twirling with all the big ruffles. Check out all the other pattern LITTLE LIZARD KING has to offer..

(linked to quiltstory)

Quick tip Monday-when to change your sewing machine needle

Do you ever wonder when you should change your sewing machine needle? I often wonder this, and it's usually too late. My needle either brakes or messes up my machine. Here is the perfect solution. Wind up 10 bobbins with the thread you most use (probably white) once you have gone through all 10 bobbins, it's time to change your needle.

This tip is so good, and will help me remember to change my needle before it's too late! Hope you use it too...

Night Owl satin fabric and pattern giveaway

Another great giveaway has just began today! It's for Heather Bailey's pin cushion pattern and 1 yd of the New Night owl in Satin.




Head on over HERE to Singing Three little Birds blog for all the details you have 1 week to enter.

What can you make with 1 yd of this adorable silky satin... this is what! Super cute and easy baby blanket (tutorial coming soon)



Also have you entered the SUGAR AND SPICE giveaway? If not enter HERE before it's too late.

Check out my new Chevron print ironing board cover!

I love my new ironing board cover from City Chic Country Mouse they do such a great quality of work and it's just slips right over your old cover. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It brings such style to my room and is so pretty to look at.


Head on over to their shop and pick some up for your self. They have tons of different styles, here are some other favorites..




They are only $24! such a great price for such a fun way to dress up your old ironing board.


Also new to our shop are these great fabrics:

From Folksy flannels line, HERE is Coloring Garden Jewel so soft.


This is Laminated Cotton in Berry from little folks line, HERE I can't wait to make my laptop cover out of this...tutorial coming soon!


And another Folksy Flannel-Forest Hills Glow great for backing quilts. HERE


Don't forget to enter the SUGAR AND SPICE GIVEAWAY time is counting down!

Wanna win some Sugar and Spice fabric?

You all know that I have in shop Riley Blake's, SUGAR AND SPICE well here is your chance to win a full half yard bundle of this line in RED!

I have paired up with Made in on Monday's blog to do a giveaway for this bundle and 10% off promo code for this week only. So head on over to their blog to get all the great details, and don't forget to enter! HERE

"Around the block" Quilt top tutorial using Little folks voile

This is my first every log cabin style quilt top I have made, and I have to say it was so much fun and super easy. I followed the pattern out of Better Home and gardens, Quilts and More spring 2009 issue, which can also be found HERE for a easy download and print option. Which I totally recommend. This large log cabin is the entire quilt.

I made my quilt top out of 17 different prints from Anna Marie Horners Little Folks Voile collection. HERE I will be backing it with her Folksy flannels fabric (which I will also post once it's complete) as soon as the fabric arrives in stock.


Materials needed:

3.5 yds total assorted prints, or polka dots (like pattern shows)
1.5 yd binding
3 1/4 yds backing
58" square batting

Finished quilt 51.2 square

GREAT TIP When working with Little Folks voile: Once you cut up these prints, if the selvage is not attached it's hard to figure out which side is up, great way to make sure you got the right side up is to mark it with a straight pin. This will allow for no mistakes or un picking..




This is a great easy quilt for a new sewer, its so much fun and this large log cabin size makes the perfect baby blanket.

(linked to Quiltstory)

Quilt Drive for Japan

(quilts I will be donating)

Many of us were impacted when the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan almost 1 month ago. My scare came double for my love ones both in Japan and Hawaii. Fortunately both were not directly impacted by the devastation. My heart still aches for the Japanese and the heartache they have endured. I have been thinking about the different ways I could help, when I got a email from Seven Island fabrics

One of my favorite company Seven Islands


who brings us the designs of fabric designer Echino Nico who prints like the scooters and helicopters we can't get enough of.


Seven Islands is putting together a quilt drive, they will be collection any size quilt or blanket you would like to donate until April 30. They then will ship the quilts directly to Patchwork Tsushin in Japan, where the quilts will be distributed to the people in need.

If you would like to participate please ship items to:

Seven Islands, Inc.
“Quilt Drive for Japan”
2444 W. 205th St., Suite A-1
Torrance, CA 90501

I will be sending the above quilts there way, and hope they will bring warmth and comfort to those in need. If you can please donate some quilts or blankets that you have made and take part in this great cause!

Riley Blake SUGAR AND SPICE just in....Plus new bundles just listed!

Love all these bright fun spring colors from Sugar and Spice by Quilted Fish and Riley Blake. Check out the 3 colorways it comes in.

Red bundle


blue bundle


green bundle

also in are the whole entire collection in a layer cake


and the entire collection of Happier in a FQ bundle


Also just listed are these great bundles...

This bundle is from Monaluna's Mingle collection. Listing is for 1 FQ of each, 12 total found HERE


I'm so loving grey's and oranges right now. This listing is for a bundle of half yards. HERE

GIVEAWAY COMING SOON FOR SUGAR AND SPICE FABRICS....STAY TUNED!

Quick tip Monday-Be Clever with templates

Make a template windows of quilt block pieces from sturdy paper or cardboard and use them to preview fabric when starting your new quilt. Viewing a fabric through a template can help you see what individual pieces look like more easily than by looking at a whole piece of fabric.
(tip taken from American patchwork Mag.)

Fabric Wall art TUTORIAL

Need to add some decor to a blank wall? Why not do it yourself with some fabric wrapped canvas art. This is so easy and fun, that no matter what fabric you choose it is sure to look awesome!



Materials:
wrapped canvas found in art painting section from local craft store, amount and size depends on personal choice (I got mine from Michael's when they were 60% off. each canvas was under $8 on sale)
1, 2 or 3 different fabric (again personal choice on amount)
stapler
iron

NOTE: It's good to know what fabric you would like to use, prior to shopping for the canvas. I knew I wanted to use 2 fabrics and 4 canvas.


(my little one helping me choose the sizes)


Make sure you like the sizes, you choose. I laid out the canvas in the aisle at the store with lots of different sizes and layouts before I decided on the layout and sizes I wanted.

Once home I laid out the canvas on the floor in the layout I wanted. I knew I wanted to use DELOVLEY DAMASK IN LINEN AND PLATINUM, from Micheal Miller's Antiquity collection. These fabrics are so beautiful and glittery I knew they would bring a classy feel. Both these fabrics are the same print but different colors. Found HERE and HERE


Once you know which fabric goes on which canvas, iron out all the wrinkles on the fabric, and place the canvas so you have an idea as to how much to cut. You are going to want to leave at least 2-2.5 inches on the edge to wrap around the canvas. Once you have that estimate go ahead and trim the edges.


If your fabric has a pattern you want to capture, don't forget to center that on the canvas, make sure you do so before you cut the fabric.

Once fabric is centered, use your stapler and staple first in the center of each side.


Do all 4 sides


Now you are going to miter the corners, just like you do when sewing on a binding to a quilt.



Once it is all straight and pulled tight, staple in place.

Miter all 4 corners, then go around and pull tight any loose fabric and staple.

Yippee you have just completed your first fabric wall art!


Now continue this same process to the rest. Don't they just look gorgeous?


Your done! Next step hang and admire..

Skipping squares voile quilt kit WINNER/coupon code and back in stock fabric arrivals

Congratulations to #41, Lisa said...
"Why would I love to win this quilt kit? I love fabric, everything about it - the various colors, patterns... and I love to sew but I only quilt. Thanks for the chance!"


I just want to say THANK YOU to all of your wonderful comments for this giveaway. I really enjoyed reading all 388. There were some really touching comments, saying you wanted to make this quilt and give it away to someone in need. So for all of you that still would like to make this awesome quilt you have till Saturday (4-9-11) or while supplies last for this kit to get 15% off your entire order (not including shipping) Please use code: skippingsquares during check out.


Back in stock with some additions is Monaluna MINGLE fabric. These are such bright and fun fabrics for spring.

Go HERE for this bundle

also a cool grey and orange bundle that would make a great boy or girl quilt!