Farmhouse Love pattern is now available!

I'm thrilled that Farmhouse Love has been so well received!   It was a lot of fun to offer the pattern instructions last month. 

Thank you all for participating and motivating me to finish mine!

It was  bright beautiful blue sunny day when i took these photos...almost to bright though!

Here is the new pattern cover.  Digital patterns are now available on Etsy and mailed copies will be added next week when they return from the printer.

Some of the fabrics used in Farmhouse Love may no longer be available...specifically the red floral and black floral print used in the heart block.

However...The Bees and Checks have been reprinted in a new collection called Beehive

I thought it would be fun to mock up a couple different colorways using Andover's Beehive collection by Renee Nanneman.    

I'm really digging this red white and blue version!!

Here are the fabrics i used in these mock quilts... they can still be found in Renee's shop Need'lLove  

There is a slight difference between the original Farmhouse Love quilt and the mock quilts.  I used the cream check behind the hearts to make them pop more.  

If you go this route, i recommend getting a 1/4 yard more of the cream check.

If you are working on your Farmhouse Love quilt...please share the love on Instagram using #farmhouselovequilt  

Tag me on Facebook 

Or email a photo or 2 and i'll share it!  chezstitches@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by!

~karen

Farmhouse Love**Almost finished!

The binding has been machine sewn to Farmhouse Love using my Innova Longarm.  Such a slick way to get that done quickly! 

Ask your longarmer if  that is something they offer...especially helpful on a large quilt.

Farmhouse Love is heading to Diane's who graciously offered to hand stitch the bind! Yay!

Here is a look at the backing fabric...I love the big bold print.  It is from the same fabric collection used in the top.  It's by Renee Nanneman called Rivera Rose.  You'll also find the same bees and check fabric in her newer collection called Beehive

Have you started your Farmhouse Love quilt?  The Instructions will only be available on my blog until February 14th. Don't miss out!

I want to thank everyone who has left kind loving comments on the past Farmhouse Love posts.  It has been fun to piece, fun to share with everyone and...
please oh please...share your Farmhouse Love through pictures on Instagram or Facebook!  Love to see what you do! 
Tag me on Facebook and
Use #farmhouselovequilt on Instagram!
You'll find me here on Facebook and Instagram

Now, i'm getting the heck out of the rainy, gray, drizzly Pacific NW for a week...heading to Scottsdale for some needed sunshine and girlfriend time! 
~karen

Farmhouse Love quilt ** Final Borders

Farmhouse Love is coming to an end...
but maybe for you...a lovely beginning!

So, that nine patch/setting triangle border from Post 5...Whoa! Glad that is finished!  

It is a bit tricky with all that bias...but again, take it slow and try not to distort the pieces.  Spray starch is your friend as long as you let the pieces dry before you work with them...also a new needle and cleaning under your feed dog plate too! Things go much smoother with just a little bit of maintenance!

I can't get over how much i love this fabric!  It's from Renee Nanneman's collection called Riviera Rose

So now we are onto the final border. 

Side borders are sewn on first, then top and bottom borders.

Once the border is cut to the measurement listed in the instructions....fold the quilt in half and place a pin in the center of the side you will be sewing the border to.  Fold the border in half to find its center. Pin the two centers together .  

Place pins at each end, carefully lining up the raw edges. I always add that second pin at the end of the border.  It keeps the fabric from shifting.

Add additional pins along the entire border.

If you find you have some fullness in the nine patch/setting border, ease it into the final border.  Don't try and stretch the final border to make it fit.  You can always use some steam to draw some of the fullness out of the nine patch/setting border.  If you do this, keep things square...they will look funny if the are skewed.

Once the borders are on...it's time to get it quilted!

I used Hobbs Cotton/Wool blend for batting, Superior Thread and all over edge to edge called P.S. I Love You. 

I chose a thread color the same color as the bees.  I felt it added some visual movement against the black but did not overwhelm the rest of the quilt. 

So there ya have it!  I still need to bind my quilt...and will share photos of it all bound and ready to snuggle under...for some real farmhouse lov'n!

Post Note...binding is on!...check on my most recent post 

Looking for Post 1?  Find it Here  

Farmhouse Love ** Borders

Getting Close!!

This is probably the most difficult portion of Farmhouse Love.  
We will be adding setting triangles to the nine patches.  There are 2 sizes of setting tri's, both cut from squares.  The larger squares are cut using a 16th inch measurement ... 

                                You can do it!

You'll need a ruler that is at least 6-1/2" wide.  
Here's a little math...ugh!  8/16" is also 1/2" right?
  

Your fabric will look like this...straddling between the 3/8" and the 1/2" mark.  It's not hard at all...you can see my fabric all the way up the photo is between those two marks. It's just a matter of training your eye to see it.  Or place some tape at the 6-1/2" mark and you'll see it easier.

Notice all the black triangles are on the outside of the quilt...and the red are touching the sashing.  

In my Instructions i have a diagram with outlined areas....to make it easier to see how the triangles are sewn to the 9-patches...especially in the corners.

Here is a look at the 9-patch/setting triangle units.

Once sewn together, you'll place them right sides together like this.  I recommend lining up your border first and then laying each unit right sides together two at a time and sew. 

Once sewn together, i opened up the seam

I must warn you...there is quite a bit of bias.  
Tips on that...
1.  Use spray starch to stabilize the triangles before sewing them together with the 9-patches.  

2. Let the starch dry before you move the pieces.  

3.  Before pressing seams over, apply heat to the seam (this is called 'heat setting').  Line up the outer edges of the triangle and 9-patch so they are nice and evenly matched up.  Heat set and then press seams over without distorting the shape.

4.  When sewing the pieces together, let the machine do most of the work...don't pull the fabric along.  

5. Take one stitch at a time.  Deep breath...don't rush. Oh and read the directions.  LoL!

Farmhouse Love ** Nine Patches

Let's make some 9-patches!

 

Looking forward to seeing your progress!  Post on Instagram using #farmhouselovequilt  

And follow along with @laughyourselfintostitches

Learn, Share, Quilt!

~karen

Farmhouse Love ** Heart Blocks

'Farmhouse Love' heart blocks. 

There will be 4 rows of heart blocks sewn together with sashing and cornerstones...and a skinny red inner border added to the top and bottom!

Just starting your Farmhouse Love quilt?  Find the beginning here in Post One 

Next step will be making all those 9-patches.  

Looking forward to seeing your progress!  Post on Instagram using #farmhouselovequilt  

And follow along with @laughyourselfintostitches

Learn, Share, Quilt!

~karen

         

Pattern instructions will only be available through February 14th.

Farmhouse Love

Looking for a sweet Valentine quilt pattern?  

Farmhouse Love is being offered for free through February 14!

So far, in previous Farmhouse Love posts 1 and 2,  you'll find complete fabric requirements, plus cutting and piecing instructions for the heart blocks.  

On January 15th, there will be a post on how to cut and piece the sashing and corners stones. 

Sometime after that, will come the nine patch block instructions, then the nine patch border.  The final border and binding instructions will be posted on January 28th.

You could have the entire quilt top completed for Valentines Day!  Sweet!

Come join me~follow along on Instagram @laughyourselfintostitches #farmhouselovequilt   

and let's spread some Farmhouse Love!

~karen

'Farmhouse Love' quilt

Are you ready for some Farmhouse Fun?? 

Did you dig through your stash and find fabrics...or run out to the fabric store?
I only gave you a day to select fabrics...not really fair!
Here's something i pulled from my stash...no, i'm not going to start another...Lol...just showing some color options.  

Another current fabric line i just saw this morning is Kathy Schmitz's new collection called Snowbound!

My Farmhouse Love quilt uses Renee Nanneman fabrics from her Riviera Rose and Beehive collections

Start a little valentine sewing date with your quilting friends, in person or online and let's spread some farmhouse love! #farmhouselovequilt 

On a side note...i've changed the quilt name from Farmhouse Hearts to Farmhouse Love...cuz i love it so much!

Farmhouse Love Quilt ** Fabric Requirements

How about some sweet Farmhouse fun!  

I've been working on this quilt for a few months and decided it would be a lot of fun to finish what I've started with you!

And just in time for Valentines!

Here's what you will need to get started on your Farmhouse Love Quilt

Black Gingham: 1-1/2 yards background for the heart blocks

Black Floral: 1-1/3 yards for stars and cornerstones

Red Floral: 2 yards for hearts, setting triangles, nine patches and binding

Cream: 1-1/2 yards for sashing and nine patches

Black Bees: 1-1/2 yards for outer setting triangles and border
Backing: 4 yards

All fabrics shown here are Created by Renee Nanneman, from her Riviera Rose fabric line and the Bees and Gingham are from her new collection called Beehive.  Isn't it all gorgeous???  

I can also picture this quilt in soft pinks and 

grays.  Can't wait to see what you do!

    

So go gather up some fabrics and come on back Monday!   I'll be posting cutting and piecing instructions for the heart blocks. There are 12 (in case you can't count..Lol).

You will have until the 15th of January to make all those blocks, before we move on to sashing.  

That's like, 9 days...you can do it!

I must warn you ...don't jump ahead on the sashing if you get done early....you'll defiantly want to see the cutting instructions.

It'll all happen here...so tell your Facebook and Instagram quilting friends to come on over and make Farmhouse Love too! 

Let's wrap our world in some quilting kind of Love!

~karen

How to use Print Friendly**  
If you would like to use the 'print friendly' button at the bottom of this post or any post, i recommend clicking on the Post Title first (so you only print the post you want...and not the entire blog).  
Once the print friendly option is open on your screen, the post can be printed in a number of pages.  You can select just the pages you wish to print.  Page numbers will be listed at the bottom of each page.  You'll want to select 'All' or 'Custom'.  
Only want to print one page?...click 'Custom' and select the desired page number... example:  only want to print page 3?  You'll want to enter 3-3.  Want to print pages 3-6?  The enter 3-6, etc...