Sometimes you need a break from quilting.  Just a short one, mind you!  But long enough to make something different.  How about some clothes for the little ones in your life?

Most little girls love to wear skirts, at least some of the time.  They will like these skirts twice as much!  The Double Fun Skirt is totally reversible.  Use coordinating fabrics for sisters and make the reversible side completely different.  Add some trim.  Have some fun!  Sizes 1 – 4T

Twirl Top and Pants has a retro look with the wide pants and ruffles everywhere.  With all the ruffles and “twirl-ability” it will appeal to all the girly-girls you know.   Sizes 1 – 4T

Easy Pieces Jumper is made with large pieces of coordinating fabric.  The jumper is  a short one.  It can be worn as a top over shorts or pants.   The skirt has lots of fullness for twirling.  Sizes 1 – 4T

Start with a T-shirt to make short work of the Garden Party Dress.   Just straight seams and fusible web.   EASY!  FUN! And sure to be LOVED! Toddler sizes 4 – 6.

 Another T-shirt based dress.  Ric-rac trim on the pockets and around the neckline add some pizazz to the Sweet Tee dress for your little Sweet Pea.  Toddler sizes 4 - 6.

The Children’s Quilt Patterns section not only has quilt patterns, but also lots more patterns for kid’s and baby’s clothes, plus plenty of patterns for fun things like crayon holders, animal towels, puppets, blanket buddies and more.  You’ll also find patterns for practical items like clutter catchers, bibs and a variety of grow charts.

The summer isn’t long enough for it all!

It’s seems that for many people summer vacation involves some type of water.   Whether it’s a small lake or one of the Great Lakes or one of the oceans, water means fun and relaxation.   Jigsaw puzzles represent fun and relaxation also.   Here’s a combination of the two…

Blue, white and gold quilt blocks run across the bottom of this Lighthouse Quiltscape Jigsaw Puzzle.  The sky is painted with the colors of a setting sun, the birds are scattered across the sky and the lighthouse stands tall and ready. 

Kitty is in vacation mode…. course aren’t they always?!  A pretty quilt is spread over a window table, adding some cheer and color to the scene.  Fresh flowers and collected seashells indicate vacation is in full swing at this Summer Beachhouse.

A young boy searches for seashells while the incoming waves turn into a lovely Shell Quilt, then fade as they hit the sand.

Artist Nicky Boehme created this beautiful Dockside Quilts scene.  Four colorful quilts are stretched across the middle of the scene that is filled with details.  A variety of flowers are blooming in the foreground, several buildings along the dock are visible, and in the distance you can see boats bobbing in the water and, beyond those, hints of a town.  With more than 1,000 pieces, this one will keep you busy for a while!

If water isn’t your interest, check out the rest of the Quilt Jigsaw Puzzles… there’s plenty of variety, and new ones coming all the time.

Block of the Month projects are fun to do and are a great way to learn new blocks and techniques.  Fundamentals Block of the Month is a 12 month program.   With 50 blocks to make you will have plenty of opportunity to learn.  Although the number of different blocks seems daunting, that’s the beauty of a block of the month program.  You’ll make a few blocks every month…. you’ll look forward to receiving your new patterns and fabrics every month (feels a little like Christmas spread out all year!) and will want to dig in right away.  Before you get to feeling overwhelmed by the number of blocks and the task at hand, you’ll be finished with that month’s blocks.  At the end of the year you will have a quilt that will be worthy of becoming a family treasure… handed down through the generations.

One of two options is Fundamentals Block of the Month – Reproduction Fabrics is made with reproduction fabrics by Jo Morton and other designers.   The first month’s package is larger than the other months as it will include key fabrics that are used throughout the quilt, ensuring the same dye lot.  The next 10 months will continue with all the blocks. The last month will again be larger, containing the final blocks, sashings, borders and binding.  The only items not included will be the backing and the batting.

The second option is Fundamentals Block of the Month – Americana which is made with fabrics that represent the country spirit of America.  The first 11 months will be blocks and the last month will be larger, containing the final blocks, borders and binding.  

Both of these Block of the Month programs ship around the 5th of the month.  Choose you favorite fabrics and get started!

Flying Geese blocks are such a basic block and can be found in so many quilts.  If you make yours by cutting the rectangle part and then sewing little squares to each end, you know that you wind up with lots and lots of triangles that are usually wasted material.   Then, of course, there is the math.  Ugh!

Well, no more!  The Flying Geese (times 4!) No Math Ruler by Lazy Girl Designs allows you to make Flying Geese in just a few easy steps.  I tried it the other day . . .

I wanted to make Flying Geese that were 2.5″ x 5″ finished size – on the ruler that’s “H”.  The first step was to cut one square of the geese fabric using the solid H lines as a guide.

Next, I needed to cut four squares of the background fabric (the corner color) using the dash lines marked with the “H”.   No math; just use the lines and cut! 

Sew two little squares in opposite corners of the large square, 1/4″ from the center on each side. 

Cut apart right down the center.

Press open.  You get these funky heart shape pieces.

Sew the remaining small squares to the bottom of the “heart”, then cut. (In the picture my “hearts” are upside down.)

And just like that, right-quick, lickety-split, four perfect Flying Geese!  No need to trim to size.  Just knock off those dog ears and the old geese are ready for a block.

I made a star. 

I make a lot of stars so this ruler will really come in handy!

Before I knew it, I had a quilt . . .

The Flying Geese X 4 ruler was really easy to use.   A shorthand version of the instructions is printed right on the ruler.  Also included is a printout with detailed instructions for making Flying Geese, Half Square Triangles and Quarter Square Triangles. . . . all with NO MATH.  All you need to know is the finished size you want.  SO much easier on the brain!  Leave your brain free for the creative tasks.

Do you like to dress up your rooms by adding pillows?  Do you change them with the seasons?  Do you change them with your mood?   If you are growing tired of the ones you already have, here are a few pillow patterns you might want to try.

Sometimes the simplest designs are the most pleasing.  More Splash Than Cash’s Peaceful Accent Pillows pattern offers two pillow sizes, 12″ x 15″ and 16″ x 16″, that are easy to sew and perfect for adding lots of accent color. 

If you know any little girls, they would probably love a couple of these Flutterby Butterfly Pillows.  These would made a great project for you to do with your granddaugther.  Have fun embellishing them…. let your imagination run wild…. or let your grandchild design the finishing touches!

Quick Finish Pillows from Seams and Dreams has instructions for four different pillows.  Each one is easy to sew.

Itza Quillow has instructions for a quilt that will fit inside an attached pocket, transforming a quilt into a pillow.  These are great for college students and you have just a few months to make one or two before school begins again.

Any pillow makes a good gift, but this one would make a special gift.   Bright patchwork, handstitched saying and button flowers combine to make the Friends Are Flowers pillow.  The pattern instructions for this 12″ x 16″ pillow are easy to follow. 

Check out the rest of the pillow patterns.  There are seasonal patterns, practical patterns, and pieced pillowcase patterns.  You’ll also find sporty pillow patterns, fanciful flirty pillow patterns, different shapes (like stars, hearts and flip-flops!) and floral patterns.  If you are really feeling ambitious there is even a pillow pattern that is covered in prairie points.  Now that would be something to have!

A new month has begun and now it’s Friday.  That means our QuiltersWarehouse Facebook page features a discount code for this month’s Facebook First Friday special, which is 10% off quilt jigsaw puzzles.  And we have a lot of them!  Here is a sampling . . .

Mainstreet Quiltscape jigsaw puzzle by Rebecca Barker has you peeking over a quilt hung on a line to see a view of a small town mainstreet.   It looks so welcoming it makes me want to live there!

Diane Phelan’s puzzle shows quilts on the clothesline as viewed from a Hole In The Barn Door.   A couple cats are seen enjoying a nap on another quilt.

A pair of cardinals and a bluejay are Meeting At The Clothesline.  It makes a pretty picture, but I wouldn’t want them meeting on top of MY quilt!  Especially after it was just washed!

Sewing Circle depicts a pleasant way to spend a summer day.  A wide open porch, good friends (including furry friends), conversation, quilting projects,  and some ice-cold lemonade…. life doesn’t get any better!

Browse the rest of the Quilt Jigsaw Puzzles then go grab the discount code on the QuiltersWarehouse Facebook Page.  “Like” us on Facebook and you won’t miss any of the Facebook First Friday offers…. a new one every month on, you guessed it, the First Friday of the month.  As always, this offer is good now through the end of the day Sunday.