Layer cakes (10″ squares) are delicious to look at and easy to sew.  Several patterns are available that make the most of layer cake collections.

One of the new patterns this week is for layer cakes and is by Lori Allison of Allison Quilt Designs.   Cake Eaters I & II has to be one of the easiest quilt patterns you can find. Sewing can begin without any cutting. There are two sizes: 48″ X 60″ and 44″ X 62″.  Praire Points provide the framing but you could always use a plain border instead.  Or, if you want to go ultimate easy just add binding.  Done!

Fruit Cake is another pattern by Lori Allison. Even easier! Just half square triangles make up this twin sized quilt. Again, framed with prairie points. Depending on the fabric you choose, this can be wild and crazy and just a bit fruity or it can be soft and subdued.

Who doesn’t remember playing Hopscotch oh so many years ago? One easy to make block that makes up this 55″ X 71″ quilt. The border matches the blocks. You’ll be snuggling under this large lap quilt in no time at all.

Ready for a bit of a challenge?  This quilt is a good introduction to curved piecing.  The circles in Lollipops are large enough that it’s relatively easy and you’ll be a pro by the time your quilt is finished.  Don’t you just love learning something new?

So, grab your favorite layer cake and start sewing.  You’ll be finished before you know it and will need to find another quilt pattern at Quilters Warehouse!

One of the new patterns this week at Quilters Warehouse is  Baby’s Bow Wow Blankie by Bonnie Sullivan of All Through the Night.

Isn’t it adorable?  If this puts you in the mood to quilt with dogs in mind . . .

Scottie Dog Quilt is a parade of Scotties all dressed in different outfits.  The pattern shows cherries in the center – cute, but no need to stick to that.  You could make a dog house or use a favorite print in the middle.

You’ve heard of Three Dog Night, haven’t you? (oops, showing my age) Here’s Seven Dog Night.  Scotties again, this time in a kid-sized quilt (44″ X 54″) and a pattern for a matching stuffed Scottie.  What toddler wouldn’t love to get this combo?

Ok, if you are still reading you Must Love Dogs .  Change the spots on these dogs to match your own and then embroider your pet’s name on the quilt.

Here’s another kid’s favorite, My Furry Friends.  They get to cuddle up with not one, not two, but three pets! 

If you’re tired of the same old collars and are looking for a fresh look, try this pattern for Playful Pet Collars.  There is hardware included with the pattern, enough to make three collars.  Make different collars for different seasons, holiday collars, collars to match the quilts you make, collars that express your pet’s personality.

Nickel Dogs are charming!  Five inch charm squares are perfect for the dogs in this 52″ X 59″ quilt.  Add a bit of other fabric for the borders and wah lah!

I hope you enjoyed our tour through the pound.  When you’ve had enough of the dogs be sure to browse all the other quilt patterns at Quilters Warehouse.

You’ll find so much more than quilt patterns at Quilters Warehouse.  Here’s a sampling.

A scrapbook cover and totebag. Aren’t these just the cutest?! So festive. Use your buttons (you know you have a stash) or embellish your own way.
And for a baby. What new mom wouldn’t like this?  Both of these are by Briarwood Cottage, who also has a couple Block of the Month quilts, and several books.

Good Intentions has several sweatshirt projects, including this patriotic sweatshirt. There are a couple flower patterns, a couple winter patterns.

And this Log Cabin Sweatshirt. At Good Intentions you will also find several “Laps From Fats” quilt patterns and several books.

Cookie’s Creations has several pincushion patterns including these adorable chickens – so cute!  There are pumpkin pincushions in three different sizes and baby shoe pincushions.

Cookie’s Creations  has a count down calendar for Halloween with pockets for treats and pockets for photos.  Your little trick-or-treaters will love it.   It’d make a great holiday decoration.   You will also find a few quilt patterns including one that is a tribute to chemo survivors made out of bandanas.

Then there is Sew Baby, gee, I wonder what they have?  So many baby projects!  And most of the projects are unique.  There are cloth books, hooded animal towels, stuffed animals with attached blankets, bath puppets, bibs, car seat covers and more!

We’re quilters at heart but most of us enjoy other projects, too, and there’s no lack of projects available . . . check them out!

January is over.  February is well under way.  Enough of winter already!  Get the feeling of “Spring in the air” with these beautiful quilts . . .

Who could feel dreary with this quilt around?  Olyvia will transform any little girl’s room into a bright and cheery place.   This fat quarter friendly quilt finishes at 62″ X 84″. 

Palmettes and Flowers is just a bit more subdued but so pretty.  This applique wall hanging (35″ X 35″) can be done by hand or machine.  The wide border and the center background give you plenty of opportunity to change the look of the quilt to just your style.  

What says Spring more than Tulips?  Beautiful applique tulips will lift your spirits.  Choose some of your favorite scraps and let your garden bloom.

Spring Row Quilt is seven rows of cute birdhouses.  The blues and cremes look good, but another colorway would be  medium green borders and sashing and the birdhouses in rose with very a light green background and flowers any color you like and, of course, white picket fences.

And here’s what we are all doing . . . Waiting for Spring.  Kitty might have something different in mind than we do, but we’re all waiting with bated breath!  This 16 1/2″ square wall hanging is paper foundation pieced and fusible appliqued.  Pretty flowers, pretty birds and one focused kitty.

Choose a quilt pattern (or two or three) and quilt away.  And before you know it Spring will be here.

Have you ever tried a “Quilt As You Go” project? Do you sometimes get all your fun out of making the quilt top and don’t want to do the quilting. . . you just want to move on to something new. You know you’re not going to get fancy with the quilting… just a simple stitch in the ditch, so you wish it was done already. Well, with “Quilt As You Go” that’s exactly what will happen. The project is sewn with all layers from the very beginning. That means that whenever you sew a seam you are not only attaching one piece of the top to another piece of the top, you are also sewing through the batting and the backing! Taa daa! You’re sewing, you’re quilting, which is it?! It’s BOTH!

Dinner Placemats will introduce you to the technique. Grab this pattern and some pretty floral fabrics. Or do you eat a lot of spaghetti at your house? – grab some reds. Whichever you choose, just start right in. This project will finish fast and you’ll have the hang of a new technique.

Now that you’re experienced you can try the 6 Hour Quilt. 

Instructions include a few sizes.  This quilt will grow from the center out, quilting as you go, and when you get to the size you want, just stop and add your binding!   Great for a Project Linus donation quilt or for your favorite grandchild (And as every grandparent knows, that means for ALL you grandchildren!)

There are lots more Quilt As You Go patterns.  And lots of other quilt patterns at Quilters Warehouse.  Happy shopping and happy quilting!

Kids and Quilts… sometimes they are made just for each other . . .

Bears at the Beach is a quilt that can be a family project.  It will look great on the wall or on a child’s bed and will be a great keepsake. 

Each square is first colored with crayons.  Then they are stitched with DMC thread.  The older kids might want to help with this.  Then it’s all put together to make a 53″ X 69″ quilt.  If you’re heading south for a vacation this winter, this might be a good project to take along.  If you have a rainy day you can still spend time “at the Beach!”  

BFF – Dresses & Do’s uses a new technique called Swap-lique.  The appliques can be swapped and changed over and over.   Little girls will have so much fun with this quilt.  They can dress the best friends in different outfits, change their hair and give them different pets.  They might even want to get involved in searching through your scrap bags to find just the right fabric for the dresses. 

It finishes at 26″ X 41″ so it’s big enough to be a “lap quilt” for a little one when she’s not playing with it.   More patterns will be available in the future with more outfits and pets and accessories for everyday and for holidays.  What little girl wouldn’t love this quilt?

This next quilt is for the kid in you.  Don’t feel quite so enthused anymore about braving the cold to build a snowman?  Stay warm inside and build an entire collection of snowmen along with their friends. 

The Snowman Collector Block of the Month will keep you in snowmen all through the summer and you’ll be ready to cuddle under your finished quilt next winter.

Next time you browse through the quilt patterns at Quilters Warehouse have your kids sit with you so they can let you know what they like too.  Who knows, you may have a future quilter in your home!