Karin Jordan Studio

Scrappy Liberty Pillow

If I could only own a handful of Sizzix dies, the Bigz XL 2" finished square die would be at the top of the list. It's incredible how often I use it, whether it's for quick projects like this 12 x 16" pillow or the numerous bee blocks that require squares of this size. This is the chair I sit in while I'm sewing, and I love the juxtaposition of the traditional prints with the modern furniture. 

Meredith Daniel (@thefooshe) recently put a notice up on Instagram that she is collecting 8.5" blocks of miscellaneous Liberty fabrics for friends who are going through a major trauma. There are 16 squares per block; I was surprised that I actually had that many different prints in my stash. This will be in the mail on Monday.

The pillow is reversible — many things in life often wind up backwards, so why be boring on the other side? Eight squares across by six squares high equals a total of 96 blocks, 48 per side. Die cut fabric pieced and fused to Pellon Fusible Fleece, quilted and with a simple invisible zipper — it was a fun, quick project to get me back at the sewing machine after QuiltCon. 

        

Tutorial: Monster Tooth Fairy Pillow

Annabel started to lose teeth at age four (they came in early, too), and I wanted to make her a tooth fairy pillow. When I saw the adorable Sizzix Monster die I knew I wanted to use it for this purpose. The one-eyed monster is holding up a pocket to put the tooth in, and then the money the tooth fairy brings. The heart on the pocket was die cut using the new Tim Holtz Heartfelt die. For the full tutorial, please visit the Sizzix blog here. 

Stitch #45 on my Janome 7700 QCP is my favorite for appliqué. It's a versatile blanket stitch that can be enlarged or made smaller, depending upon the project. Annabel has already lost two teeth and she's trying to wiggle another one out so she can use the pillow and try to stay up and catch a glimpse of the tooth fairy. Lulu has just lost a few puppy teeth and Annabel is asking if there is a doggy tooth fairy. I have to admit — I'm not sure!

        

Hands On Pillow in Quilt Now Magazine

This pillow was a present for my mother a few months ago. It's Annabel's five-year-old hands traced and cut out in Liberty, then appliquéd on a linen ground and framed and backed in red linen. 

The full tutorial is in issue 7 of Quilt Now which is available at here at Fat Quarter Shop. This volume came with two plexi hexi templates in a cute little envelope glued to the front. 

It's been a long time since my magazine publishing days, so it's nice to be in print again. I'm trying to figure out how to pack all my workshop supplies for QuiltCon (including the Appliqué book, pictured above), but thinking about clothes for 70 degree weather when it's been in the negative numbers here in New Hampshire lately. . . well. . . let's just say it's a bit of a challenge! Will I be seeing you in Austin? I hope so! I'll be posting lots of pictures on Instagram. :)

        

Flowering Snowball Mini with Printable Template

This was the first year I participated in the Schnitzel & Boo mini swap. My partner said she was a fan of saturated color (yay!) and Tula Pink, so I thought it was a good time to crack out the Acacia. I tried every solid under the sun and wound up choosing Kona Bone. I designed it in EQ7 for Mac and had fun rearranging the prints. I knew I'd have a hard time sending it away. 

Once you figure out how to piece the sections together, it's not bad at all. Each block is 7". Feel free to download and print the templates: page one, page two & page three. Shrink or enlarge as you like!

Colton showed me where he'd hid my template in plain sight. But mom, it fits here. The last place I'd look was my design wall, of course. So a half an hour of searching later he had to point it out.

My original plan was to hand quilt it, but life got in the way (my eye starts to twitch these days if you say the words 'Board Meeting' to me). I shipped it as you see here, and it found its new home without incident. I think she liked it. The mini I received was fabulous! I shared it on Instagram when it arrived. QuiltCon is SOON! I need to get my supplies ordered!