Quilted Valentine Hearts Pillow by Ellie Roberts of Craft Sew Create!

 I Heart February Reader Project Linky - share the love!

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

Free Pieced Heart Table Runner by Jodi Nelson of Pleasant Home.

 I Heart February Reader Project Linky - share the love!

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

If you follow along on our Facebook Page you know what a free pattern junkie I am. I love finding them and I love sharing them. Facebook is such a perfect medium for stuff like that. Here’s an album of all the free patterns we’ve linked to if you need to catch up.

I have a circuit of sites I check in on regularly. Moda being one of my favorites. Today I spotted a pattern for this Zig Zag Quilt. I snapped this photo in Moda’s booth at Fall Quilt Market but never matched it up with a source. Until now! Woohoo!!!

The construction is so very clever. The pattern gives credit for the technique to Amandajean of Crazy Mom Quilts. I won’t say more, just go check it out for yourself.

ps be sure to read the comments on the Speedy Baked Ziti post for some awesome weeknight recipe inspiration – warning, it will make you hungry!

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

Windy Days Quilt by Sarah of SarahB Designs

 Pink Chalk Fabrics Handmade with Love 2011 Tutorial Contest - vote for your favorite tutorial through Wednesday, December 21

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

12/22/11 Update: Winners Announced

Handmade with Love – the first ever Pink Chalk Fabrics holiday tutorial contest – is now open for voting (voting runs through Wednesday, December 21, limit one vote per IP address). The Pink Chalk Team selected 5 favorites in each category. Your votes determine the top prize in each category (a $100 shopping spree at Pink Chalk Fabrics). The tutorial that receives the most votes across all the categories earns the grand prize of a Hello Kitty Sewing machine!

Thank you to everyone that shared their sewing talent for all of us to enjoy. Visit the original post to see images and links to 153 amazing tutorials!

I’m pleased to present the following talented makers and their tutorials. Photos are listed in the order they were submitted to the contest.

Category: Gifts for Friends

#1 - Winter Warmers by Lisa of A Spoonful of Sugar

#2 – iPad Cover by Amber of One Shabby Chick

#3 – Personalized Type Key Bracelet by Emily of Em’s Scrapbag

#4 – Circle Zip Earbud Pouch by Erin Erickson of Dog Under My Desk

#5 – Snappy Coin Purse by Rashida Coleman-Hale of I Heart Linen

Category 2: Gifts for Little Ones

#1 – Munchkin Soft Book by Elizabeth Dackson of Don’t Call Me Betsy

#2 – Monster Baby Toy by Melanie of The Crafty Cupboard

#3 – Pencil Pouch by Gwen of Gwenny Penny

#4 – Chenille Blanket by Mama Spark of Mama Spark’s World

#5 – Number Bean Bags by Mary Jaracz of Craft Buds

Category 3: Deck the Halls (Holiday Decorations)

#1 – Embroidered Snowflake Tablerunner by Jenelle of Echinops & Aster

#2 – Patchwork Christmas Tree Softie by Teresa of TeresaDownUnder

#3 – Holiday Garland Pillow by Maureen of Maureen Cracknell Handmade

#4 – Charm Snowflake by Sunni of Love Affair with My Brother

#5 – Quilted Tree by Melissa of We Shall Sew

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

Oh, Christmas Tree Quilt by Amy of Allie Kat Mom

 Pink Chalk Fabrics Handmade with Love 2011 Tutorial Contest - today, December 15 is the last day to enter!

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

Christmas Truck Block by Juliana of Sewing Under Rainbow

 Pink Chalk Fabrics Handmade with Love 2011 Tutorial Contest - talented makers are adding entries daily!

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

The Pink Chalk team quilt began in September. A project to make a group quilt to donate to the Bumble Beans BASICS Quilt Drive.

After a bit of discussion on how to go about such a thing, a plan was hatched:

• block style: improvisational pieced
• the common thread: a stack of 8 solids
• block size: multiples of 2.5″ finished (most blocks were 5″ or 10″)

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

Cathedral Window Baby Playmat by Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock

 Pink Chalk Fabrics Handmade with Love 2011 Tutorial Contest - talented makers are adding entries daily!

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale

The first time I saw this quilt was shortly after Kathy hired me at Pink Chalk. The Flower Show quilt designed by Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle of FunQuilts.com, appeared in Quilts and More Magazine Spring 2010. It has since been re-released in the BH&G Perfect For Precuts volume 1, 2011. I am not a quilter. I’m a crafter. I love fabric and I’m passionate about color. In the past, my projects consisted of handbags, pillow covers, zipper pouches, small window coverings and a slip cover or two. Quilts and More magazine made me think to myself, “If I were to make a quilt, that would be the quilt.” The pattern looked simple and straight forward. Someday… Remember…  I am not a quilter.

One day I realized my scrap bin was quite full of fabric. The Flower Show pattern calls for 11 fat quarters and 1/2 yard for the red bars. What size rectangles do I need? 7 ½ by 4 ½ inches. Why not start cutting pieces for that Flower Show Quilt? No commitment. Just cut some fabric. Take a look at the scrap bin/stash in your sewing room, chances are it’s much like mine. All the fabrics coordinate. We’re drawn to fabric that speaks to our spirit in some way. Intuitively we select fabric that is color coordinated. Once I started cutting I realized, that my scrap bin HAD a quilt in it. I just didn’t know it until I started cutting. My first quilt was taking shape. Kona Cotton Snow was selected for the background. Before I knew it the quilt top was finished. Wow! Maybe I can do this.

So… the quilt top is done. Now what? I don’t quilt. There it sat for maybe a year. I had no idea where to go next.  There are so many talented quilters with fabulous machines that could quilt my Flower Show for me but, this is my quilt. After all that work, somehow it seemed wrong to have another person finish MY quilt. The pink chalk team was so kind and encouraging. Melissa and Cindy inspired me to think about Free Motion Quilting, which I had never heard of. Melissa’s free form quilts are amazing. She made it sound easy enough. Could I quilt it myself? Don’t know about that.

I’m a just-do-it, DIY, kinda girl. Jump in and see what happens. Off to the sewing shop I went in search of a darning foot for my little Pfaff Select 3.0. There was talk of basting with pins to secure the layers of the quilt together. Do you remove them as you run into them with the darning foot or stitch around them? The idea of pinning and quilting around them sounds like so much work. Is there an easier way? In a blog search Cherri House Quilts enlightened me on fusible batting. I can iron. Now that, to me, sounds more doable. Fusi-Boo is the batting I found at the local craft store. It’s a cotton bamboo blend of fibers. Easy enough for this crafty girl. For practice I threw together a couple big block quilts made with fat quarters. The fusible batting worked well for me. (I tried another brand on one practice quilt, but it didn’t adhere as well)  Quilting is fun! There was a bit of trial and more than a bit of error. This, I brush off as lack of experience. Even my wonky beginner big block quilts have a style and personality that only came out after quilting them. After a bit of practice I had the confidence to finish my Flower Show. I AM a quilter.

I am still amazed at how the finished quilt came out. It’s so pretty and I made it! Now I see that quilting can be as addictive as buying fabric. There are so many ways to justify new fabric and building my stash. Quilting combines all my passions – fabric, color, design and decorating. Oh the places we can go! Let the quilting begin.

We have a fabulous selection of patterns from Fun Quilts by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr. Which one to make next? I’m loving their My Guy pattern.

pink chalk fabrics ~*~ new arrivals ~*~ free patterns ~*~ on sale