Happy Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. My son Jack and I love to decorate for the season and also plan an epic Halloween party. Every year I make new quilts, try new recipes, and find clever ways to sew for my party. I can’t wait to share some of those ideas with all of you!

Do you have a lot of scrap fabrics laying around? I definitely do! I decided to create a quilt pattern that uses just 2 colors (whatever colors you would like to use) to create a stunning quilt. In our example I used orange and black. I used up all sorts of Halloween fabrics that I had laying around. I also didn’t mind if some of my black fabrics had orange print on them or the other way around.

Here’s a look at what the quilt ended up looking like:

Scrappy Jack Quilt

This quilt is most striking from far away because that is when you can really see the design play.

I hope you enjoy digging through your stash to create this quilt. Here are the instructions:

scrappy-jack-miniDownload

I also love sewing with wool this time of the year. A black and cream color story are perfect for a more sophisticated Halloween and I love using toweling fabric and the background.

You’ll find the instructions for these pillows and witch hat runner here (the super cute mummy was an Indygo Junction pattern a number of years ago that I just had to make).

simply-spookyDownload

This year for our Halloween party I decided to make pillowcases for the guests to take home with them. I’ve made trick or treat bags and other small things over the years, but settled on pillowcases because they have a dual purpose. They can be used in their traditional format on your bed or you can attempt to get the most candy ever if you use them as your trick or treat bag on Halloween!

I created a fun printable tag and a little sign to hang by the pillowcases for guests to take as they leave the party.

I’ve included those printables for you to use as well.

sweet-dreams-tags-and-signDownload

My absolute favorite pillowcase instructions are from the www.allpeoplequilt.com website. It’s called the Roll It Up Pillowcase pattern, and I love that all of your seams are encased meaning no fraying threads as you wash your pillowcases!

This year I also tried a new drink recipe from www.thesweetestoccasion.com it is Caramel Apple Sangria. It was so easy to make ahead, which I love when you’re planning a party.

Check out the full recipe on her blog, but here are the basic ingredients:

5 ingredients

Produce

• 4 Apples

Condiments

• 1/4 cup Caramel syrup

Drinks

• 8 cups Apple cider, fresh

Beer, Wine & Liquor

• 1 cup Unflavored or caramel vodka
• 1 1 liter bottle White wine

Here is a link to her full recipe: https://thesweetestoccasion.com/2015/10/caramel-apple-sangria/

I hope you’ve enjoyed some of my Halloween magic for this year. I can’t wait to celebrate the holiday with my family and friends!

What’s your inspiration?

Most people have one shadow, I usually have two.  The only way I am able to find time to sew is when I can also find something for my girls to do nearby.  I spend most of my day with the littlest, Lola, at my side.  When school is out, we are joined by Isabelle.

My sewing room is cluttered with toys, ready to inspire them to play.  I decided along time ago that the mess was totally worth the reward of having time to sew.  I’m also pretty lucky to have a large sewing space that doesn’t need to look perfect on a daily basis.

This past month I’ve had a number of sewing deadlines to meet including finishing up the instructions for my 2017 Fabric Fan Club Sampler Quilt.  It is being quilted as I type and I will share a picture next month.  If you’re in the Club you’ll get your finishing instructions in your February shipment.

Curious about what the Fabric Fan Club is?  I started it 3 years ago as a monthly fabric subscription and it has evolved through the years.  Next year I’m launching the Scrap Sewciety as the 2018 Fabric Fan Club.  I know we all have plenty of scrap fabrics sitting around.  And I’m guessing, if you’re like me, you have very good intentions on using them.  With the 2018 Club I plan to take you on a year long journey through your scraps.  I will be designing 4 brand new quilt patterns that will utilize your stash.  Each month you will get sent on a little mission into your scraps to find fabrics that we will incorporate into the quilts.

The other really fun part of the Fabric Fan Club is that I also select a small gift that I send with your shipment each month.  Oh and don’t forget about the fabric! What kind of Fabric Fan Club would it be if you didn’t also get fabric? Each month you’ll also get a fat quarter of fabric.  If you are interested in joining me in 2018, the first shipment will be March 1st. You can register on our website, http://www.baywindowquiltshop.com

This year we decided to offer a new type of Block of the Month program called Inspiring Stitches.  It’s actually a calendar for 2018 that has instructions for each month of the year.

We loved this idea so much we made up two different versions- dark or light. Full disclosure here, I didn’t sew them.  A huge thank you to Missy Stine for making both models!!

Each month the designers will be sharing additional patterns that feature the month’s block (with the exception of this month). So look for a new blog post from me each month that includes a link to that pattern.  You will need the calendar to complete each project (it will give you the first set of instructions).

Here’s a look at the January block in both colorways:

One of the things I love most about this sew along is that you can honestly start any time.  You only have to make a few blocks each month which means it will be easy to get started whenever you want.

You can find kit information and the calendar on our website.

As January comes to a close I am excited for what February will bring: a new View From Bay Window issue, the start of Schoolhouse class preparations, our annual Liquidation Sale at the PACC, plus who knows what else will inspire me to create!  Happy sewing- Katie

 

Free Scrap Quilt Pattern- from my friend to you!

It’s good to have friends! Recently at our Schoolhouse Event I worked with Teresa on a class she was teaching called Mindless Sewing.  She was featuring a pattern she developed that used up all of those strips you have left in your stash.  After I got done typing up the pattern for her I asked if I could share it with all of you.  Of course, she said yes!

So here is Teresa’s Quilt~

And here is the pattern~

Teresa’s Quilt Pattern

Click on the link to download the pattern and then dig into your stash to find the perfect combination for your own scrap quilt.  Happy Sewing!

From Minnesota With Love!

Have you ever stopped to think about how many quilt designers are from Minnesota? I guess if you’re not from Minnesota maybe you haven’t but honestly the list is pretty impressive.  I won’t start naming names- because I would definitely miss someone- but I am excited to tell you about two fellow Minnesotans who just so happened to make quilts with my new line of fabric for Andover Fabrics, Giggle & Grow.

First off Chris Hoover of Whirligig Designs created an adorable quilt titled Kisses & Hugs.  I love this quilt! It is a great size- 51″ x 59″, perfect for laying on the floor for baby to play on or for cuddling up on the couch with my 4 year old.  Her use of yellow is great- it really makes the rest of the prints in my line stand out.  I also love the angled corners.

It’s pretty perfect considering one of the prints in my line has the text: Love, Be Loved, etc…

If you need a few Kisses and Hugs be sure to pick up her pattern either at our shop or a quilt shop near you.  We also have a kit available for sale on our website.

Bay Window Quilt Shop

And visit Chris’s website to see all of her fantastic patterns:

Whirligig Designs

The second designer is Debbie Bowles of Maple Island Quilts. Debbie was just in Perham as our featured teacher for Schoolhouse 2014.  She was launching a brand new pattern called Grand Reopening and we just had to make it up in my line!

Isn’t this cute? Once again we made up kits for this adorable little quilt- it’s only 26″ x 40″ perfect for the car seat or stroller!  And you can find the kits and pattern on our website.

Bay Window Quilt Shop

And check out Debbie’s designs on her site: Maple Island Quilts

Now for the fun part- lets give away some patterns!! I have 6 Kisses & Hugs patterns and 3 Grand Reopening patterns to giveaway thanks to the designers. Register to win one by commenting on this post or sending me an email: katie@baywindowquiltshop.com  I will draw the winning names on May 1st.  Happy sewing!

 

 

 

Give A Little Giggle!

It’s time to give a little “Giggle” away! “Giggle & Grow” fabric that is.  As my latest fabric collection for Andover Fabrics hits stores nationwide I’m excited to share pictures of what I’m making with it.  Here’s a look at my Izzy’s Quilt pattern featuring the tree print.  I think it’s a great kid’s quilt- and would grow with baby into toddler-hood.

The pattern is available on our website as well as a quilt kit. http://www.baywindowquiltshop.com

Or maybe you’d like to win one?!! For this giveaway leave a comment or send me an email to be registered in the drawing for an Izzy’s Quilt pattern and kit in the Giggle & Grow fabrics (valued at $55)!  The winner will be drawn at random from all entries on February 8th, 2014. Limit one chance to win per person.  Email- katie@baywindowquiltshop.com

Then get ready for the next drawing which will begin on February 9th, 2014.  I’ll also be posting a new free pattern for the line- Quick & Easy Pillows at that time.

Want a reminder for the next giveaway?  Just sign up to follow my blog and you’ll get a nice little email when I add something new!

In with the old… quilt pattern that is! Free charm & jelly roll quilt pattern~

I’ve been feeling a little uninspired lately and have had trouble figuring out what I wanted to post. Writers have writer’s block I was having quilter’s block! And then it hit me- I’ve designed oh I don’t know, about a hundred or so patterns for the shop and I’ve only shared a couple dozen on my blog. Who says I can’t start posting them for all of you to enjoy and use. What good are they doing hiding out in My Documents?!  So, here is the first one: “Strips & Squares”.  One of my favorite things about this quilt was that I used up a ton of my stashed 2 1/2″ strips to complete it. I also love the muted color palate.

This pattern is also a great for using up charm squares and jelly roll strips. So, now that I’ve given myself permission to dig through some old designs look for another pattern in a couple weeks!

Click on the link below to download the Strips & Squares Quilt Pattern:

strips & squares quilt pattern

Enjoy!