Moda Summer Charm Swap

Are you always working in the same color palette and need a change? Are you in a color rut? You're in for a treat!

6 Moda designers are trading charm packs this summer and working with colors they don't usually work with and coming up with a free project for you.

The rules were simple...  we sent each designer 1 charm pack + 1.5 yards of coordinating fabrics to help with binding/background etc. The challenge was to come up with a pattern and make that project using at least 80 percent of the fabrics given.

The swapping fun starts June 26 and runs through August 7th. Each week you'll need to visit the featured designer to download their free charm pattern. Here's the schedule:

• June 26 - Kansas Troubles

• July 3 - Sherri McConnell

• July 10 - Laurie Simpson

• July 17 - Me and My Sister Designs

• July 24 - Primitive Gatherings

• July 31 - Lella Boutique 

The wrap party will be August 7th so visit ALL the designers to see them usings their quilts on a summer outing! See you June 26th--can't wait to show you what happens!

The Home Stretch

Time to start stitching those blocks into a quilt-top for the #ButterflyPatchQAL. There's a beautiful, collective kaleioscope of butterflies coming together, have you taken a look under the hashtag? It's glorious. I hope you've had as much fun as I have.

 

Before I left on vacation, I got my top back from my wonderful friend and quilter, Allison Black at AB Quilting Studio. She used this beautiful pantograph from Leisha Farnsworth called Squareception. Such a cool design Allison is sponsoring our prize for this final stage of the contest--free longarm quilting of the winner's Butterfly Patch quilt. Make sure you are following her acct @abquiltingstudio on Instagram and Facebook to be eligible.

 

For this part of the quilt along, you don't have to finish your quilt--just post a photo of the quilt-top coming together and don't forget to use the hashtag #ButterflyPatchQAL. Here's my assembly photo, and as you may notice, I deviated quite a bit from my original pattern instructions. I made 44 extra patchwork blocks (using 2 Layer Cakes instead of 1) for a scrappy patchwork border. It doesn't complicate the quilt-top assembly at all! Sew extra blocks at the top/bottom of each column, then make two extra columns (13 blocks each) for the sides.

Have you spotted the layout mistake in this picture? Don't worry, I did eventually figure it out, after the columns were sewn together, of course. Thank heavens for seam rippers! So yes, please double check your layout before you sew it together. 

Butterfly Patch Quilt Along & Summer Vacay

I'm headed out of town for a couple of weeks and just wanted to updated you a few housekeeping items.

First off, all PDF patterns are 10% off (discount applied automatically at checkout). If you're in a hurry to get started on a project, this is the best method to access my patterns.

Otherwise, paper pattern orders will resume shipping 6/25/19. Shipped orders over $25 will include a Moda mini charm pack. 

 

I will not have access to internet/email so I appreciate your patience with any inquiries. 

If you're participating in the #ButterflyPatchQAL on Instagram or Facebook, you have until 6/15/19 to post progress of your quilt blocks. Just be sure to use the hashtag so I can find your post--the winner will receive a ginormous 90'' x 25 yard roll of Fairfield's Toasty Cotton batting ($226.99 value). This is what I use and I love love love it. To be qualified to win the prize, make sure you are following @FairfieldWorld on Instagram or Facebook. Big thanks to them for donating such a great prize.

Harvest Road {Making All the Things}

Wow. It's been an interesting month. International Quilt Market was held in Kansas City, MO a few weeks ago. I was all ready to go and show Harvest Road--and had to cancel last-minute due to a plague that showed up on my doorstep. Luckily, my mom took all my quilts with her and delivered them to my friends at Moda--who graciously helped get my booth set up without me. Now that I'm feeling better, it's time to post a million pictures of Harvest Road and all the new quilts.

Oh and everything in the shops gets a 25% discount in May using promo code 25HARVESTROAD at checkout. Only a couple days left for that. 

 

First off, there's a new panel. What's better than big, beautiful flowers on a dreamy sage background. Not much, I say. Panels make great gifts since all you have to do is 1) quilt, 2) bind, and 3) wonder if you should actually give it away or keep it for yourself. Ha.

The panel measures 57'' x 70'' --a great lap size. You can make it bigger with a border, or even incorporate it into your backing. Check with your local shop to reserve yours today--they will ship with the collection in October.

Now for the quilt patterns. Remember this one?

It's Cottage Blossoms. This isn't a new design, but I updated the pattern when I saw just how amazingly cute Harvest Road was plugged into it. Safe to say--it's my new favorite. Make it with 10 fat quarters like I did, or use a Layer Cake for a scrappier look. I'm smitten with the rain drop quilting detail--quilting by Natalia Bonner.

 

Of course you can always opt for a a lighter background too. This fabric group has some really great near-solids for whatever background color you'd like. 

Next up is New Leaf. Who doesn't love the traditional maple leaf block? It's been done a million different ways, so my challenge was to come up with something new. This quilt is sampler-style and would make a fun block of the month. It's made with a Layer Cake for the blocks, fat quarters for the block backgrounds, and fat eighths for the leaf points.

Cable weave quilting by Natalia Bonner. Gosh that quilting is so good. Thanks, Natalia!

The hardest thing about this quilt is deciding what sashing color to go with. I made the cream one first--really because I felt my quilt market booth needed the balance in color. But I can't wait to make the navy one. Pale blue would be nice too. It's hard to choose.

 

Next up is Sun Tea. Simple in design and easy to piece. It's one of those patterns that knows how to showcase big bold prints. With all the open space, I knew it was a perfect candidate for Natalia's custom quilting. 

Here's the full layout. Pick 9 of your favorite fat quarters to mix and match against an accent background.

This is my first collection to include the Honeybun precut (each includes 42 strips 1.5'' x WOF). 

 

For my first Honeybun pattern, I opted for something simple. Meet Rugby. And that yummy quilting? The work of Marion Bott. 

I was inspired by a graphic wallpaper I saw so I reinterpreted it to be a quilt. Sometimes simple is the way to go.

Lastly, I'm already getting questions about coordinating solids. I've looked for the best ones I could find, but again want to emphasize that the collection itself contains a lot of good near-solids for backgrounds. I couldn't find a decent match to the sage green or pale blue so I would recommend stocking up on prints within the collection.

The matches I did find were

• 9900 218 "Indigo" Bella Solid 

•  9900 285 "Unbleached" Bella solid 

•  9900 129 "Weather Teak" Bella solid 

•  30150 91 "Vanilla" Grunge by BasicGrey

I hope that helps! Let me know if you have other questions. This group ships in October so check with your local shop to see if they can reserve it for you. 

Butterfly Patch Quilt Along (Cutting)

Time for the second stage of the Butterfly Patch Quilt Along--Cutting. (If you're new to the #ButterflyPatchQAL, see my original post here for all the details.)

 

For this stage, you have until May 31st to get your pieces cut out for the Butterfly Patch quilt. (Pattern found in my shop here--on sale for $5 through June.) I'm cutting double the amount of blocks so I can add a fun scrappy border! I'm also using this Grey Couture Grunge (by BasicGrey) for my background to really make those colors pop.

1.  To be entered to win this stage's prize, go to Instagram or Facebook and post a picture of your cutting process. Be sure to use the hashtag #ButterflyPatchQAL to your post so I can find you. The prize up for grabs is a fat quarter bundle of my new Harvest Road fabric AND nature-themed panel. These won't be available to the public until October--thank you Moda Fabrics for donating them!

      

2.  Follow me (@lellaboutique) and our prize sponsor, Moda Fabrics @modafabrics on Instagram/Facebook to be eligible.

Good luck, friends! I'm seeing some beautiful fabric choices out there. Can't wait to see how these turn out. 

Harvest Road

My heart has always belonged to the mountains. There is serenity in a mountainside color palette: smoky shades of sage and sky mixed with the warmth of firewood. Even the flowers are restful--rustic, with a hint of sophistication. This collection is a memento of bygone bonfires, wooded hikes, and cozy plaid blankets.

Harvest Road by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics, shipping October 2019.

New patterns are in the shop, check them out here and get a 25% discount during may when you use the promo code 25HARVESTROAD at checkout. What do you think of the new stuff?

Butterfly Patch Quilt Along

Lollipop Garden fabric is finally in stores, so it's the perfect time for a little quilt along. Who's up for stitching this little darling?

This is Butterfly Patch, and boy is she fun to make! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with how quick and simply this one comes together. It measures 60'' x 60'' and is made with a Layer Cake. If you'd like to make it bigger, you can always add a nice thick border! Come to think of it, if I make double the sampler blocks (using 2 Layer Cakes or 83 squares 10'' x 10''), I could totally add extra blocks around the perimeter to form a fun patchwork border. (It would end up being 72'' x 72''.) Yep, that settles it. That's what I'm going to do for mine!

First things first--you'll need a copy of the Butterfly Patch pattern. I've made it the $5 Pattern of the Month just for the occasion. I'll keep it on sale for the duration of the quilt along-- which will be now until 6/30/19. You can snag a copy in my shop here (PDF and paper copies available). 

I've lined up fantastic prizes to keep you motivated, so here's how it will all work:

1.     Follow along on Instagram @lellaboutique or Facebook (Lella Boutique). Sign up for notifications so you don't miss anything.

2.     Post your progress. This quilt along is divided into four stages of quilt construction: Fabric Selection, Cutting, Block Piecing, and Quilt-Top Assembly. Each stage is two weeks long to give everyone a reasonable amount of time to get each photo posted. You can work ahead of the crowd if you'd like--but don't forget to take pictures along the way so you can post them at the appropriate times. Oh and don't forget to use the hashtag #ButterflyPatchQAL for each entry. Here is the schedule:

• FABRIC SELECTION (May 1-15): Post a photo of the Butterfly Patch pattern + the fabrics you plan to use.

• CUTTING (May 16-31): Take a photo of your cutting process.

• BLOCK ASSEMBLY (June 1-15): Take a photo of any block(s) you've made.

• QUILT-TOP ASSEMBLY: (June 16-30): Take a photo of your finished quilt-tops.

3.     Prizes! My goodness, you are going to love our sponsors! A big thanks to Allison at AB Quilting Studio, Fairfield World, Fat Quarter Shop, and Moda Fabrics. Here's how to find them on Instagram & Facebook:

Allison @abquiltingstudio     INSTAGRAM     FACEBOOK 

Fairfield @fairfieldworld     INSTAGRAM     FACEBOOK

Fat Quarter Shop @fatquartershop     INSTAGRAM     FACEBOOK

Moda Fabrics @modafabrics     INSTAGRAM     FACEBOOK 

Since it's May 1st, begin posting photos of your pattern + fabric choice. The prize up for grabs is $50 to Fat Quarter Shop! To be eligible, make sure you are following Fat Quarter Shop on IG or Facebook. Your post must also include the hashtag #ButterflyPatchQAL. (Private accts are not visible to me, so feel free to send me a screenshot of your post.)

Homestead

Time to introduce the new $5 Pattern of the Month. It's an oldie-but-goodie called Homestead. Make it with 1 Layer Cake of your favorite collection--mine uses Olive's Flower Market for Moda Fabrics from a few years back.

 

I plan on making one this month as soon as I decide which fabrics to use.

In the coming weeks, I'll also be sharing tips on how to set a quilt on point like this one.

What fabric do you think would look good in this quilt?