Splendid Sampler 2!

Hi everyone - I'm just popping in for a few minutes today to share some exciting news with you!

There's a Splendid Sampler 2 in the works, and I'm honored to be one of the contributing designers.

The Splendid Sampler 2 book will be filled with 100 different quilt blocks from a great group of talented designers.  Every block is 6" square and they include a fun variety of techniques ranging from traditional pieced to paper pieced to applique.

You can pre-order the book now, and it will be shipped to you in October - how handy is that?  I love pre-ordering books from Amazon.

And because five months is along time to wait, there will be a sew along starting June 14 - with some free blocks being released early so we can all start sewing along, even before the book arrives!  More than 28,000 quilters have joined in with the first Splendid Sampler quilt along and they've created quite a fun community in their Facebook group.

This week my goal is to decide on what colors and fabrics I want to use for the sew along.  I keep changing my mind!

I'm already thinking about a setting for all of my sampler blocks, and I've started a Pinterest board with great sampler quilt ideas!

So mark June 14 on your calendar for the sew along, and be sure to pre-order the book here:

And for some inspiration, you can see the gallery of completed quilts from the Splendid Sampler 1 quilt along here.  

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) when purchases are made through links found in this post.

Second Look Sunday: Zoo Dwellers

Happy Sunday!  Time for another Second Look Sunday post.  For those of you that are new followers, on the second Sunday of each month I highlight and share a quilt tutorial from past years that you might have missed the first time around. 

This month I chose to re-share a favorite crib size quilt tutorial.  This one only needs 7 fat quarters and some background fabric to make a 48" x 55" quilt.   

The pattern is called Zoo Dwellers, based on the fabrics that I made the very first version from oh-so-many years ago (2011).

I love how quickly this quilt comes together- there are no blocks to piece, or triangles to trim.  Just find some favorite fabrics and let them be the star!



You can find the free PDF download pattern here, and if you make a Zoo Dwellers quilt & want to share it, be sure to use the hashtags #zoodwellersquilt and #abrightcornerpatterns so we can all see your creations!  

And if you're not quite ready to make a Zoo Dwellers quilt but want to save it for later, take a second and pin this image below so you can find it when you need it!

Happy sewing!
--Andy

Charming Lucy Mini Quilt + Pillow

Hey everyone!  I have a fun little project to share with you today, and I've created a handy PDF download for it as well. 

Remember when I shared my Charming Lucy baby quilt pattern?  Well ever since then I've wanted to try making a mini quilt version!

The original Charming Lucy uses a charm pack (5" squares), so for this mini I wanted to figure out a way to use a mini charm pack (2.5" squares.)  It turns out that one mini charm pack plus a little background and backing will make an 18" mini quilt or pillow. 

Since I didn't really want to keep a Christmas mini quilt up on my wall year 'round, I decided to make mine into a pillow.  And I've added the instructions for the pillow into the PDF pattern to give you that option as well!

The pillow has an envelope backing (speedy!) with binding on the edges.  I just love adding binding to my pillows.  It frames them up so nicely, don't you think?  Plus it just gives one more opportunity to add some color! 

One thing I've started doing with my mini quilts and pillows recently was to make the outer border slightly larger than needed.  Then after it's quilted I trim it down to size.  Sometimes I find that in the quilting process things can shift a little, and with small projects like this, every 1/4" counts!  The extra border space gives me just a little bit of wiggle room and helps to create a nicer finished project.

For my pillow I used a mini charm pack of Vintage Holiday fabrics by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics.  You can find Vintage Holiday fabrics here at the Fat Quarter Shop, including charm packs and mini charm packs. 

And if you're wanting a non-Christmas version, you can see other fun mini charm packs here from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Before you go, be sure to grab the free PDF pattern here, and if you make a Charming Lucy mini quilt or pillow I'd love to see it!  Tag me on Instagram (@abrightcorner) or Facebook, and be sure to use the hashtags #charminglucymini and #abrightcornerpatterns. 

Happy sewing!
--Andy

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) when purchases are made through links found in this post.

Kits for Lofty

Hey there - just stopping in for a minute to let you know that there are kits available for Lofty! 

Olie and Evie online quilt shop has created kits for the crib size of Lofty and has them listed here.

It's a great bundle of fabrics - from 8 different Moda fabric lines, 5 different designers -- but yet they all play so well together don't you think? 

The kit includes the fat quarters, binding and quilt pattern needed to make this crib quilt measuring 42" x 54".  And if you wanted to make a larger size let her know and I'm sure she'd be happy to add some fat quarters to your order to make the throw size!  (crib size needs 9 FQ, throw needs 15 FQ)

shop Lofty quilt kits

She will also be listing kits for Lofty using the new Nest fabrics (by Lella Boutique) soon - that would make a gorgeous quilt!

And if you already have some fat quarters in your stash that you'd like to use, you can grab the Lofty pattern here!

Happy quilting!
--Andy

Lofty - A New Quilt Pattern!

I've been looking forward to this blog post for a couple of weeks now -   I have a new quilt pattern in my shop and I get to share it with you today!  And it's my new favorite.  Can I say that?  Or is that like admitting you have a favorite child?  :)

Lofty is a fat quarter quilt pattern (my current favorite precut) that uses some fun angles to create a unique look.  But don't worry....no special rulers are needed!  Just a regular ol' straight ruler and a cutting mat.  

This quilt pattern makes a colorful, easy quilt -  you'll only need to grab some fat quarters, binding and backing.  No background or accent fabrics needed!  Makes choosing fabrics a bit easier, doesn't it?

As with most of my patterns, Lofty includes instructions for four sizes of quilts:  crib, throw, twin, and queen.  This one in the photo below is the crib size (42" x 54") and the quilt on the pattern cover is the throw size (54" x 72").

I have both PDF and paper versions of the pattern available and both are ready to ship now!  I'm more of a paper patterns kind of girl, but I do so love the convenience (and instant gratification) of buying a PDF pattern and being able to download it immediately - and then be sewing within minutes!  

Purchase Lofty quilt pattern here

If you make a Lofty quilt I'd love to see it!  Be sure to use the hashtags #loftyquiltpattern and #abrightcornerpatterns so we can all see what you create.  

Making an Easy Fabric Ball with the Cricut Maker

This post is sponsored by Cricut.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  Post may also contain affiliate links.

This week I've been playing and experimenting with an electric cutting machine called the Cricut Maker and it's been so fun!  I've done just a couple of small projects on it so far but already I have a long list of things to try.  Today I wanted to share a little of what I know about it, and what it can do!

First of all, the packaging is beautiful!  I love that as soon as you open the box you're greeted with the supplies and instructions stepping you through your first project.  I felt like someone was sitting right next to me holding my hand through the whole process- and I was so grateful!  

One big bonus for me with this machine was that no extra cutting dies are needed - everything is digital.  

Within just a few minutes I had the Cricut Maker connected by USB to my desktop computer and the Cricut Design Space software was up and running.  You can also connect it to a phone or tablet by bluetooth - now THAT will be handy!

As you make the first little greeting card project, you're taught the basics of using the software, opening a project, loading the mat and cutting blades, and cutting a couple of mats of paper & fabric.  

By the time I finished that first project, I felt confident enough to try anything! I browsed through the other free project ideas and thought I'd try making this fabric ball. 

I could use the instructions right from my screen, or print it out to be able to refer to it that way.  It told me exactly what I needed - including what Cricut supplies I'd use. 

With the Cricut Maker you get access to a whole library of hundreds of patterns from companies like Riley Blake and Simplicity.  Some are free and some may cost a few dollars.  So many projects to choose from- or you can create your own!

For the ball I only needed three fabrics, 9" x 12".  I placed the first fabric right side down onto the FabricGrip cutting mat.  It's just slightly sticky so that the fabric doesn't shift - but it's still easy to remove once the cutting is done, and doesn't leave any residue on the fabric. 

The machine uses a small rotary cutter blade that does a fantastic job cutting the fabric.  That innovative tool is the reason why the Cricut Maker can cut regular cotton fabric without needing a stabilizer or interfacing (such as Heat n Bond).  You can also cut different weights of fabric such as denim and silk.  

This photo below is from the Cricut Design Space.  You can see on the left side that I needed to cut three mats.  In the center screen it shows me the different fabrics I can choose from.  Depending on what I choose, the machine will automatically adjust the height and pressure of the blade!  

For this project, the Cricut first marked blue lines with the washable fabric marking pen, and then (without me doing anything!) it went back over the same fabric and cut the pieces using the rotary cutter.  

You can see in the image above that there are spots for two different tools - on the right is the small rotary cutter and on the left is a washable fabric marking pen.  Both of these tools can be swapped out for other ones - such as a variety of pens, a knife blade and a scoring stylus - all depending on the project!

Once the cutting is complete, simply peel up the fabric and it comes right off the mat.  That was the funnest part for me-  and to be honest, it felt a little magical. 

It took only maybe 4-5 minutes for the machine to cut all of the pieces out, and once they were cut it was time for sewing!

Now this is where the blue marked lines come in really handy!  I pinned my pieces together and then just stitched right on the blue lines.  I knew exactly where to start and stop stitching, and that helped the ends of the ball turn out beautifully! 

Within about 90 minutes I had a finished ball!

To be honest, I never would have attempted a project like this before because it would have been a challenge to accurately cut the curved pieces needed.  Plus if the seam allowance is off at all then the points won't match up so nicely at the top and bottom of the ball.  I just imagined it to be one big frustrating mess.  Using the Cricut Maker to cut and mark everything though, removed the frustrations. 

My kids are drooling over this machine and have already made a list of projects they want to make with it - most involving balsa wood, cardstock and vinyl.  It will be fun to put the Cricut Maker to the test on something other than my usual quilting cotton fabrics.   

You can read more information about the Cricut Maker here, and  find inspiration here on the Cricut Blog to see what else you can do with a Cricut Maker! 

I'm already working on my next project... and here's a sneak peek! 

I've made a couple of test blocks and now I just need to choose my fabrics.  Once I have more to share, you'll be seeing more of this project here on my blog. 

Happy sewing!
--Andy

Second Look Sunday: Churn Dash Free Quilt Pattern

Happy Sunday everyone!  This month's Second Look Sunday quilt is from the not too distant past (2016)-- but it's one of my favorite spring quilts! 

Every month on the 2nd Sunday I share a pattern or tutorial for an old favorite quilt - one that you may have missed the first time around!  

I know, I know.  It's not the second Sunday of the month.  Ooops!  Chalk it up to a scheduling mistake and Spring Break throwing me off my game.    

Waaay back in 2016 ;) I created this free churn dash quilt pattern as a part of a blog tour.  The churn dash block is a classic!

The pattern calls for either fat quarters or 1/4 yard cuts, and makes a large throw size quilt (59" x 68").

You can find the original blog post here and download the free PDF pattern here - for personal use only please!  


Quilt Details:
59" x 68"
Pattern:  Churn Dash free quilt pattern
Fabric:  Backyard Roses designed by Nadra Ridgeway for Riley Blake Designs
Quilting:  free motion medium sized loops
Backing:  Riley Blake designs Confetti Cotton