Did you participate in the Cozy Afternoon BOM last year?
Cozy Afternoon combines two of my favourite things - scrappy piecing and hand embroidery. This is my pastel wallhanging version of Cozy Afternoon.
Maybe you downloaded the patterns and haven't started your version yet. If you need some inspiration to get sewing your Cozy Afternoon, go check out the winners of the Cozy Afternoon contest that have been recently posted. There are so many creative and beautiful versions to enjoy!
Today is the release of the last step of the Cozy Afternoon free block of the month project. Click here to get to Jacquelynne's blog post with all the details (click here to sign up to receive the pattern).
What a fun quilt it has been to make! My version is a soft, light version of Jacquelynne's pattern. I made my quilt smaller by eliminating all the alternate squares, and just using the 5 stitchery blocks on point.
It measures 34" square, which is the perfect size for a wallhanging.
I would have liked to use more of the blue colour in the quilt top, but didn't have enough yardage, so I added a little blue flange around the edge using this technique. I'm so happy with that bit of blue peeking out there to interrupt all that pinkness.
The free motion quilting was a little tricky at times because I did not want to quilt on the embroidery, so I tried to slow down and quilt as close as I dared to the stitching.
Here is the list of my quilty friends who are blogging today about their version of Cozy Afternoon:
I hope you can hop over and visit them to see what their creativity has produced. Each quilt is so different that it's hard to believe they are made from the same pattern!
Have you started your own version of Cozy Afternoon? Don't forget to add a label to your quilt. I usually just tuck a little triangle into one of the corners under the binding. I try to remember to write the name of the pattern designer, and of course my name. If you don't want to make your own label, you can order the official labels here.
A huge thank you to Jacquelynne for sharing this wonderful pattern with all of us! And not only did we get this free BOM, Jacquelynne is also giving away these patterns to a few lucky readers. Just leave a comment on the bottom of this blog post and tell me if you have already started your Cozy Afternoon, or have you printed the instructions to make in the future. I will randomly draw the winning blog comment on October 19th. You can enter to win the draws on each of the participating blogs listed above.
On my design wall today are the first four blocks of Cozy Afternoon.
Don't pay any attention to my very thready design wall :)
The block at the top is block #4 and is the one I just finished. It was another fun block to construct following Jacquelynne's directions.
This is how I cut the pieced corners using my Olfa ruler that has many angles on both ends of the ruler.
I made a blue mark in the middle of the blue fabric. Then I positioned the 45 degree line on any pieced seam line on the block, while the edge of the ruler was lined up with the mid point on the blue block. 1st cut. Easy Peasy!
Then I did the same thing on the other side, placing the ruler edge at the mid point on the blue and white dots block, and lining up the 45 degree angle line - 2nd cut!
I must admit that I am a little worried about all the edges of this block being on the bias, so I used a lot of Best Press spray when I pressed the block and hope that will stabilize it enough until it get sewn to other blocks in the quilt top.
Isn't the bird pattern so cute? It was quick and easy - took about 2 hours to stitch.
Here are the other blogs to visit to see more variations on this block:
And to celebrate the release of block #4, Jacquelynne is giving away some of her patterns to our blog readers.
Leave a comment on this blog post and let me know how many Cozy Afternoon blocks you have sewn so far. The winner's name will be drawn on Sunday... good luck!
Block #3 of Cozy Afternoon is on the design wall today.
The butterfly and the flower in the stitchery make it a perfect block to sew in the middle of the summer!
It's not too late to sign up for this free BOM if you haven't yet - click here. When you sign up, you will get all of the previous blocks, and it won't take you long to catch up.
Jacqueline's instructions for this block have you making the corner blocks in a really creative way that was fun to sew.
Here's the outdoor photo shoot of my block ... so pretty!
The colours on both of these photos aren't great, but you get the idea, right?
Here is the list of blogs to visit to gather inspiration for your blocks:
A Quilt and a Prayer
http://aquiltandaprayer.blogspot.com/
Lily Pad Quilting
http://lilypadquilting.blogspot.com/
Red Letter Quilts
http://redletterquilts.blogspot.com/
The Crafty Quilter
44th Street Fabric
http://44thstreetfabric.blogspot.com/
And look at this July giveaway from Jacquelynne! To win a copy of these patterns, just leave a comment on my blog and tell me your favourite summer beverage. The giveaway will be open until July 19th - good luck!
I am getting ready for the big reveal of the first Cozy Afternoon blocks. It is a fun project that starts in the summer, and finishes in the fall. It's a perfect pace for adding in another project that you can actually keep up with!
I like that you can use any technique you prefer or want to experiment with - piecing, applique, or embroidery. Instructions are included for each technique, so you can totally make this your unique quilt.
I am piecing my blocks by machine, and hand stitching the embroidery in the centres. I don't have a light box, so I am hand tracing the stitching pattern on a window. Very low tech! Can you guess what this design will be?
Look for the posts to go live on the blog on Monday. I will be showing my first two blocks and there will also be a giveaway from Jacquelynne! This is a free BOM, so I hope you will join us - hop over and sign up.
On my design wall today is the beginning of a brand new project! It is Jacquelynne's new free Block of the Month which starts on June 15.
I am going to be a featured blogger for the BOM, so I have a little head start with the patterns. I want to have my first two blocks ready to show on my blog on June 15th.
I am using these very pale, soft fabrics, which I am a little worried about.
It is a really different colour palette for me, and it looks very blah on the computer screen.
But I wanted to try something light and airy for a cozy, summer afternoon project!
I decided to go ahead and make the first two blocks and if I hate them, I will still have time to restart with new fabrics!
There are three options for the block centres (pieced, appliqued, or embroidered) and I am using the bright pink embroidery floss for my blocks. It will be fun to stitch with over the summer.
You can sign up for the BOM here.
To see much more interesting design wall postings, hop over to Patchwork Times.
