The Harper Quilt

This week Erica Jackman of Kitchen Table Quilting released a new pattern, The Harper Quilt.

I had a great time testing the lap size quilt for her.

There are two quilt size options in The Harper Quilt pattern, along with two different polka dot sizes you can choose from.

It took me a bit to decide which polka dot size to go with, but finally I went with the large dots.  That version really caught my eye when Erica showed the pattern for the first time.

I used the Bonnie and Camille Basics fabric line in different colors for my background.

The Harper Quilt also looks great with a background of different shades of the same color fabric as pictured on the cover of Erica's pattern. 

My stack of Basics fat quarters has been sitting on my quilting table for far too long, so instead of using all one color for my background, I decided to change it up a little and use my different color Basics fat quarters.

My dot fabrics are the neutrals from my fat quarter bundle, plus a few extra fat quarters thrown in that I found at my local quilt shop.

The Harper Quilt has easy to create templates which were a breeze to make.

I just printed out the paper templates from Erica's pattern and traced them on to some template plastic that I had in my sewing closet. 

Erica recommends cutting your fabrics using your templates and a rotary cutter, going slowly around the curve guided by a plastic ruler and cutting up to four layers of fabric at a time. 

I preferred to trace my shapes to my precut squares and cut them out one at a time using scissors.  It did take longer, but it was a great excuse to watch TV for awhile while I was relaxing with family on the weekend!

Sewing the curves was more fun than I remembered! 

I've sewn curves before, but it's been awhile. Erica gives lots of helpful hints to make the process easy and accurate.

Lots of pins and a little help from my iron, and I was happily sewing along!

Then it was just a matter of laying out the blocks and sewing them together.

I'm thrilled with the result!

This week I've been quilting The Harper Quilt with small wavy lines and I'll be sure to show it to you once I get it bound. 

I went with a backing that had circles on it to echo the front and I love it.

I wish I could take credit for finding the backing fabric, but the credit has to go to my husband who saw the bolt peeking out from behind a pile at my LQS.

 Now I'm just trying to decide if I should continue the circle theme with the binding or not.  I have a few fabrics in mind, but I haven't made a final decision yet.

I have decided that the next baby quilt I make will definitely be another Harper Quilt. 

Erica's smaller size quilt in this patten is adorable and it would be a great reason to make another, maybe I'll even go with the small dots next time.  We'll have to see!

For the full story on The Harper Quilt visit my friend Erica Jackman at Kitchen Table Quilting!

A new year and a new Minis and More Parade!

Happy New Year, friends!

Usually at this point in time I'm in the process of taking down the Christmas decorations and I'm ready to move on with a fresh clean slate in January, but this year I'm taking it a bit slower.

I'm not quite ready to part with our Christmas tree and all of the festive decorations.

I'm not sure why that is, maybe it's the cold weather we're having here in Florida right now.  It finally feels like the holidays!

There are even rumors of snow here tomorrow! Yes, snow here in Florida!

A few weeks ago, in December, it was ninety degrees and it didn't feel like the holidays at all and now that it's time to take down the tree, it's gotten cold.

I guess that's as good of a reason as any to keep the decorations up just a little longer!



The Minis and More Parade is also holding on to the holidays for a little more time.

This month's Parade is about the handmade gifts that you gave and received.

I'm certainly going to be taking notes for next year's gifts!

Patty D. from Elm Street Quilts made this adorable tomte pillow for her mom and lots of zip bags for family and friends. I had to look up the word tomte because I didn't know what it was and I discovered that a tomte is a customary Swedish character who is said to live a solitary life and safeguard a farmer and his family. Swedish families may acknowledge a tomte by leaving him a bowl of porridge on Christmas Eve.  I didn't know that.  Thanks for sharing your beautiful handmade gifts with us Patty and for encouraging me to learn something new!    

Our next handmade gift is from Sue H.  She worked on it and finished it over Christmas and she's now glad that she has it, since winter has definitely arrived in her area of the country.  It's beautiful, Sue!  We're so glad you sent it in!

Karen made this quilt as a gift for an longtime family friend.  She found making a quilt for a man quite a challenge and I can see how it would be tricky. She did a great job finding a pattern, fabrics, and quilting it, without a flower in sight!  I'm sure he loves it, Karen.  It looks wonderful!

Hildy had the great idea to put her own spin on a pattern by Gingiber when she made this cute cat pillow for her parents.  Hildy personalized it by making the cats look more like her own.  I love the  aqua background that Hildy used from the Desert Bloom fabric line.  Thanks for sharing, Hildy!

Nancy made this cute By The Chimney Mini with a pattern by Lella Boutique as a gift for her granddaughter.  She used both Holly Jolly and Merry and Bright fabric by Sandy Gervais.  The striped binding is the perfect touch!

Be sure to head over to Sherri's blog, A Quilting Life  to view the other half of the Parade and to take notes on some great gift ideas!



Our February Parade will feature the Hometown Mini Quilt Pattern by my cohost of the Minis and More Parade, Sherri McConnell.

Photo courtesy of Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life


I just love this adorable mini quilt!

A few charm squares, some scraps, and a little background fabric and you're ready to go!

If you participated in the December first
 Parade or in today's Parade, you'll be receiving this pattern free of charge by email as a participation prize.  I'll be sending them out very soon.

If you're new to the Parade, welcome!  We'd love to have you!  Feel free to make this month's mini quilt and email a picture to Sherri or to me to be in next month's Parade on February first.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

And to everyone who has participated in the Parade in the past, we're so glad to see you again and we're looking forward to another fun year of projects!

Happy quilting!