A Ridgeside Mini | #Finishit2019 Number One

How are you coming along with your #FINISHIT2019 list? I just love seeing your lists & progress on social media using the hashtag. Please keep those coming! If you haven't grabbed your #FINISHIT2019 Free PDF Printable yet click right here. 

I've listed several (admittedly, not all) of my unfinished projects on my #FINISHIT2019 list & can already tell it's helping me stay motivated. Having everything visually organized is how I work best. Which means I could quickly see my first four projects just needed the binding hand sewn down - yay, quick finishes! 

First up, this black & aqua Ridgeside Mini Quilt - my official first finish of 2019. The mini quilt's finished size is 18" x 18" and it's made entirely from leftover fabric scraps - double bonus! Typically, I would have quilted this simple cross-hatch quilting design using my domestic sewing machine and walking foot, but I wanted to try something new on my BERNINA Longarm. It worked & it was fast! Twelve minutes fast. Can you believe it?

FIND THE RIDGESIDE MINI PATTERN RIGHT HERE.

Let's #Finishit2019!

I love the fresh start a new year brings. While I'm not one to make big resolutions, I can always jump on board with more organization & finally finishing quilty projects.

DO YOU HAVE A GOAL OF FINISHING MORE IN 2019, TOO?

I've put together this FREE PDF printable to help us both stay organized and on track. Over 3,500 of you have downloaded it in the first 5 days of 2019 which means there's going to be so much finishing happening this year!

Have you downloaded your copy? Find it right here. 

Be sure to share your progress using #FINISHIT2019 on social media so we can cheer each other on! 

Introducing With Flying Colors

Good morning, friends!

Let me introduce you to my latest design, With Flying Colors. This lap size quilt pattern can be found in the Spring 2016 Quilt's & More magazine that is on newsstands now. My love of rainbows, bold geometric design, and solid fabrics is very apparent in this new design. I used twelve Kona solids to create this chevron rainbow effect & they are:

Cardinal 1063

Coral 1087

Kumquat 410

Papaya 149

Daffodil 148

Limelight 493

Peapod 414

Peacock 1282

Cyan 151

Mediterranean 479

Magenta 1214

Violet 1383

Want to make it mini? The kind folks at Quilts & More have put together a FREE PDF Pattern to make a mini version of the design. How fun, right?! This has been added to my "to-sew" list!

Pick up the Spring 2016 Quilts & More magazine for lots of other fabulous projects from some of your favorite designers!

Happy Sewing,
Megan

Image credit: Images used with permission from Quilts and More and Meredith Corporation, copyright 2016.

FMQC X Stitch Lap Quilt

Hello, Friends!

The Fresh Mini Quilt Club is wrapping up it's 5th round next month -- there's still time to sign up! These mini quilts finish between 18" and 24" square & are perfect for table toppers, wall quilts, pillows, etc. However, each month I encourage members to explore the idea of turning the mini quilt design into a larger overall quilt design. This X Stitch Lap Quilt is a fabulous example!

The original mini quilt finished at 19" square and takes six jelly roll strips. I made five identical blocks (only 30 jelly roll strips!) and arranged them into a basic 9 patch design, alternating with large background fabric squares. This 61" x 61" lap quilt came together SO QUICKLY (anyone need a last minute Christmas gift?!). I paired the simplified Irish Chain inspired design with straight-line quilting 1/2" lines in white Aurifil #2024 using my BERNINA walking foot. I also choose to bind the quilt in the same white background fabric as to not distract from the quilt design. You can find my step-by-step binding tutorial here!

You can find the X Stitch mini quilt design in the Canoe Ridge Creations Pattern Shop and it's even ON SALE for a limited time!

Happy Sewing!

Megan 

Mini Northern Lights

Last August, Brandon and I moved to Minnesota which meant new jobs for both of us! Luckily enough, I stumbled upon a Sales Manager position at the local quilt store and BERNINA dealer, Pine Needles Quilt & Sew. Talk about a dream come true! Fabric + BERNINA machines each and every day, yes please! Since then it's been a whirlwind of learning a new job, settling in to our first place together, moving ahead with my goals here at Canoe Ridge Creations, and more. It's truly been an exciting time in our lives together!

If you follow on Instagram and/or Facebook you've probably noticed I've been sewing lots & lots -- quite a bit of which are shop samples for Pine Needles. With the weather changing - YES! - I'm hoping to be able to get outside & take some pictures of all the projects, and share them here too!

First up, this Mini Northern Lights quilt from JayBird Quilts. I'm a sucker for rainbows & cotton solids, both of which initially caught my eye with this design.  The pattern uses 8 different colors & the Mini Hex-N-More ruler -- which is so cute & easy to use! If you are looking for a quick & easy project, this is it!


At first I didn't know how to quilt this mini. More specifically, what color thread to use. Instead of choosing just one color thread, I used matching Aurifil 40 wt thread. Perfect-o! The matching thread blends perfectly with the fabric and help accentuate the overall design, not draw it away. I alternated directions vertically & horizontally using my BERNINA walking foot & straight-line quilting. It makes for a really interesting visual texture!

If you'd like to make a mini quilt like mine, you can purchase the kit including pattern right here. 

Hope you are having a wonderful week!
Megan 

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | Stix

December's FMQC mini quilt, Stix, has been finished for quite some time, -- some of you may have seen it on Instagram & Facebook -- I just haven't shared it here on the blog. Measuring at 22 1/2" x 22 1/2" it's the perfect size for a table topper or wall hanging, but I think it would make a great throw pillow, too! My version uses nine fabrics & a background fabric -- all Robert Kaufman Kona Solids. 

I chose to accent the simple overall design with some serious texture! Using my BERNINA Walking Foot I quilted straight-lines 1/2" apart to create this cross-hatch design. I'm really pleased with how it turned out! Like usual, I used my favorite cotton thread, Aurifil (50 wt., color 2024). Have you given Aurifil thread a try?

If you'd like to join this round of the Fresh Mini Quilt Club, there's still time -- you can sign up right here. Don't forget to share you pictures in the Canoe Ridge Creations Flickr group, too!

xo, Megan 

A Hexagon Mini Quilt

Hello, friends!

This time of year I'm all about hand-work projects -- binding, embriodery, cross-stitch, knitting, & English Paper Piecing. Any little project that I can take with in the car or can work on from under the warmth of a quilt. That last one is most important, from under the warmth of a quilt. Have I mentioned to you how COLD it is in Minnesota?! 

If you've been following along on Facebook or Instagram you may have noticed I've been working on a fun new English Paper Piecing project. It all started with precut package of hexagons from Robert Kaufman in a wonderful rainbow of solids. I wanted to create a unique project using the hexagons and immediately decided upon English Paper Piecing. I really wanted to preserve the array of rainbow colors rather than mix them up, so this hexagon color wheel design was born. I love it!

Each Hexagon was paper pieced & hand sewn together in to one complete hexagon ring. If you'd like to try English Paper Piecing, check out this post for more information & helpful tips! Once I had my completed hexagon ring I appliqued it onto White Kona cotton using a simple straight-stitch.

I straight-line quilted this mini quilt rather than distract from the over all design with more intricate quilting -- plus, it's my favorite way to quilt! I used Aurifil thread (color 2024, 50 wt.) and my BERNINA walking foot to create these straight-line quilting lines about 1/2" apart. The resulting texture just makes me happy! :)

The binding fabric is the black & white feather print from Alison Glass' Sunprints for Andover Fabrics. This print makes a fabulous binding, I can't wait to use it in more projects!

Happy Sewing!
Megan 

Flyin' Together Pillow | A Free Tutorial

Hello, friends!

I don't know about you, but here in Minnesota this winter seems to keep dragging on -- cold, COLD temperatures and so much snow! So when Amy Ellis of Amy's Creative Side asked me to participate in the Pillow Collective I jumped at the chance to make a cheery pillow to brighten up this winter. I decided to use the 2014 Pantone Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid, as an inspiration for this project -- playing with a new color is always fun! I used 5 prints for Alison Glass' Sunprints line in a variety of beautiful purples and paired them with a crisp, white solid cotton. 

   

The finished pillow measures 24" x 24" -- I like my pillows BIG! :) 

You can find a free downloadable tutorial for this pillow right here! Pick your favorite colors or mix and match a few and make a pillow of you own. Don't forget to share your finished pillows in the Canoe Ridge Creations Flickr group and using #canoeridgecreations on Instagram & Twitter!

xo, Megan 

Check out all the other great pillow tutorials, too!

Amy Ellis

April Rosenthal

Lisa Calle

Natalia Bonner

Amanda Woodruff

Heather Valentine

Amy Smart

Vanessa Christenson

Maureen Cracknell

Amanda Jean Nyberg

Dana Bolyard

Christina Lane

Heather Bostic

Audrie Bidwell

Amanda Herring

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | August 2013

Hello -- happy weekend! It seems as though August is flying by (just like the rest of the summer!) and it's time to share this month's mini quilt from the Fresh Mini Quilt Club. Monkey Business features a three fabric design paired with a traditional monkey wrench block. I'm really happy with how this mini quilt turned out & I'd like to play around with the same design again, next time bigger!

The quilting on this mini quilt just might be my favorite part! This simple, straight-line cross hatch makes such a graphic impact. I used my BERNINA #50 walking foot (and the attachable guide!) & Aurifil thread (color 2024) -- those two sure make a great combo!

August's mini quilt, Monkey Business, measures 21" x 21".

August wraps up 6 months of the Fresh Mini Quilt Club: Round 1! If you missed out & would like to purchase all six mini quilt patterns, there's still time! From now until August 31st, you can join right here -- all six patterns will be sent at once. After that, each Fresh Mini Quilt pattern will be available for individual purchase!

Stay tuned for more details about the Fresh Mini Quilt Club: Round 2, coming soon!

Enjoy your weekend!
xo, Megan 

Ombre Love | A Finished Quilt

Have you noticed the ombre fabric trend that seems to keep popping up in fashion & home decor? Well it's now made its way into the quilting world! Vanessa Christenson's first fabric collection, Simply Color, features five different ombre quilting cottons and they were the inspiration for this quilt called Ombre Love. 

Each ombre strip finishes 2" wide & is broken up with thin strips of a white Kona cotton -- creating a "paint chip" effect. Those "paint chip" strips are then staggered back and forth, giving the quilt lots of movement. The vibrant colors really pop against the crisp, clean white! 



I quilted this Ombre Love quilt using horizontal wavy organic lines using my BERNINA walking foot and Aurifil thread in color 2024. The wavy organic lines create a fun quilted texture & keep movement in the entire design. If you haven't given wavy organic quilting a try, you should! It's a simple & forgiving way to quilt! 

The binding is a gray zig-zag design from the Simply Color fabric line. I love the "bias binding" look from using a chevron/zig-zag fabric! 

The finished Ombre Love quilt measures 58" x 58".

Happy Monday!
xo, Megan 

Find Simply Color at:

Fat Quarter Shop

Chevron and On | A Finished Quilt

As summer speeds by, it seems like there just aren't enough hours in the day. I find myself squeezing in a few minutes at the machine here and there, sharing a quick Instagram picture or two, and never actually sharing the finished project on the blog. That has to change! Starting with today's finished quilt, Chevron and On.


Chevron and On was featured in the March/April 2013 issue of Quilty magazine. This houndstooth inspired design is made up of half square triangles alternating with a patchwork square. Simple & quick! The fabric used is Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt for Free Spirit Fabrics. DS fabrics are some of my favorites -- the vintage inspired designs & colors are wonderful! If you'd like to make a quilt using the same fabrics as my quilt, you can find a complete fabric kit here.

Sticking with the quick & simple design, I echoed the houndstooth pattern with straight-line quilting, on the diagonal, using my BERNINA walking foot and a matching Aurifil thread. Just enough quilting to complement the design!

The pattern & quilt are also featured in this fun little Quilty video -- check it out!

xo, Megan

Giant Starburst | A Finished Quilt

Hello & happy Monday! This summer is flying by so quickly -- August, already?! Today I am sharing a quilt that was actually finished earlier this Spring. Some of you may recognize it from Instagram or even this sneak peek progress post. This Giant Starburst quilt is a larger, one block design from March's Fresh Mini Quilt Club. Here's a look at the mini quilt!



For the Giant Starburst quilt I used a vibrant selection of Pure Element solids from Art Gallery Fabrics  -- Cherry Lipgloss, Lemonade, Cozumel Blue, and Verve Violet. The color saturation just "pops" against the crisp, clean white background fabric. 




I quilted this lap size quilt using my favorite straight-line quilting technique, my BERNINA walking foot, & of course, Aurifil thread (50 wt., color 2024). I did play around with the straight-line quilting pattern -- three close lines & then a larger gap -- which really makes an interesting texture!



The backing fabric is a text print from Ikea -- one of my favorites! I chose one of my all time favorite black & white binding fabrics to finish off the design. Unfortunately it's an out of print Moda fabric, but there are plenty of stripped fabric alternatives from several different fabric manufacturers. 





The finished quilt size is 60" x 60".

Find the fabric here:
Pink Castle Fabrics
Fat Quarter Shop

Have you experimented with block size before? Feel free to share your projects below, I'd love to see!

xo, Megan 

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | July 2013

Hello -- happy Monday! July's Fresh Mini Quilt Club mini quilt design, Fireworks, was sparked by my love of the traditional flying geese block. Each new color radiates from the center star, just like a firework in a night sky! 

The mini quilt design features 4 prints + a background fabric. Just like with the previous months' finished minis, I used Pure Elements solids from Art Gallery Fabrics. The saturated & vibrant colors of the Art Gallery solids are a favorite!

Sticking with the radiating design, I quilting a large "X" through the center of the mini quilt and continued with 1/4" straight-line quilting to the edges. This slight variation on the typical straight-line quilting technique makes for a fun + simple way to finish any quilt, large or small. I quilted the design using a 50 wt. Aurifil thread (color 2024) & my BERNINA walking foot -- those two make quite the pair! 
 
This black & white binding fabric is quickly becoming my favorite! It's an older Moda print (unfortunately long out of print) and the strips make for a great binding.

If you'd like to sign up for the Fresh Mini Quilt Club, there's still time! Find more details here.

The finished mini quilt measures 24" x 24".

Find the fabrics here:

Pink Castle Fabrics

Fat Quarter Shop

 

xo, Megan.

 

Fresh Mini Quilt Club | April 2013: take two

Playing around with fabric placement is one of the simplest + quickest ways to get an entirely different look out of a quilt block/pattern. Yesterday's Electrify mini quilt, from the Fresh Mini Quilt Club series, was made using two prints + a background fabric. The block layout resulted in two pin-wheels, of sorts!



After finishing the first mini quilt I wanted to play around with the same block design, this time using scraps!  Each block uses one jelly roll strip (2 1/2" x WOF) -- I can't wait to make a bigger version using an entire jelly roll bundle.

I straight-line quilted the mini quilt using a neutral Aurifil thread & my walking foot -- it's my go-to quilting combo. The lines are 1/4" apart -- not  quite as close as the original mini quilt! I love how the quilting pops on the back of the mini quilt -- especially with the brown stripe binding fabric.  




The 4 x 4 block layout finishes at 32" x 32".

I hope you are all having a great week!
xo, Megan