Ponderings From My Heart

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to the Swan Dive Quilt Along with the Fat Quarter Shop!

I have been so thrilled to be able to sew along with the Fat Quarter Shop again! This time I got to test out a brand new pattern they’ve created called Swan Dive. There are two size options for this quilt, a crib size (42 1/2 x 42 1/2) and a lap size (54 1/2 x 66 1/2). I decided to make the lap size quilt.

The Swan Dive quilt is made up completely of half square triangles. If you decide to make the lap size version, like I did, there are 800 HSTs to be exact. That’s a lot! But Fat Quarter Shop has made everything so much easier with the use of their triangle paper. That means no trimming those 800 HSTs down to size! What a relief…

The Swan Dive quilt pattern is completely FREE and you find it on the Jolly Jabber.

All you need to create the lap size quilt is:

• 2 Jolly Bars from any fabric collection of your choice – or 80 5×10″ rectangles
• 2 Jolly Bars in white, for your background color – or 80 5×10″ rectangles
• 7/8 yard of white fabric for borders
• 5/8 yard of designer fabric for binding
• 3 5/8 yards of designer fabric for the backing
• 2 Jolly Bar Cake Mix Recipe by Miss Rosie’s Quilt Company (triangle paper)

For my Swan Dive quilt I used the Multi Southern Belles 10″ Squares by Darlene Zimmerman for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. These soft rainbow florals are the perfect combination. These 10 inch squares were really easy to use. I simply cut straight down the middle of them to create my own 5×10″ rectangles.

For my background fabric I chose Kona Cotton Snow (K001-1339). This creamy white background fabric is perfectly suited for almost any quilt.

I also used the Jolly Bar Cake Mix Recipe papers. Fat Quarter Shop has this excellent video showing how to use these papers!

If any of you decide to make a Swan Dive quilt, I definitely recommend using the Jolly Bar Cake Mix Recipe papers from Fat Quarter Shop.

Using these papers is similar to foundation paper piecing. You just sew along the lines, right on top of the paper. After you’re done sewing, cut on the trim lines and pull away the paper. The result is perfectly square HSTs!!

I’ve never had all the points line up so nicely before in my life! I’m definitely sold on the triangle paper. I think it makes all the difference in the world!

I love my new Swan Dive Quilt!

I hope you’ll try making a Swan Dive quilt for yourself!

It’s beautiful patchwork quilt, great for displaying some of your favorite fabrics.

Related posts:

Good morning, Friends! Welcome to the Fruitcake Quilt Along with the Fat Quarter Shop!

I’ve had the wonderful privilege, over the past few months, to sew up a beautiful quilt top using Fat Quarter Shop’s brand new pattern, the Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt. This quilt is part of the Fat Quarter Shop’s shortcut quilt series, so these quilts whip up fast! 

To make the Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt you’ll need:

• one Fat Eighth Bundle or thirty-five 9” x 20” rectangles
• 3 1/3 yards background fabric
• 3/4 yard binding
• 4 3/4 yards backing

You can buy a Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt Kit from the Fat Quarter Shop and get everything you need to make your quilt! 

I made my quilt using Lella Boutique’s collection, Sugar Pie. The lovely pink and green florals are my favorite! I chose a very light pink for my background color – Kona Cotton in Shell (Pale Flesh) K001-1271. 

This finished quilt measures at  64” x 75 ½” and makes for a great roomy lap or throw blanket.

I actually made extra blocks and made a twin size quilt so that my daughter could use it on her bed. In fact, I plan to use minky for the backing in a mint color. It will be so cozy! 

The Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt is a FREE Pattern and Kimberly from the Fat Quarter Shop has a wonderful video tutorial, too! 

I love my new Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt! I cannot wait to finish the quilt and be able to snuggle up under it on these cold snowy days.  If you are looking for a quick and easy quilt pattern to make as a gift or for yourself, I hope you’ll make a Fat Eighth Fruitcake Quilt! It’s a fun pattern and the end result is beautiful!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, under a warm handmade quilt!

Related posts:

It’s June and you know what that means? It’s the very last block of the Clementine Quilt Along with the Fat Quarter Shop!! I’m so excited! 

You can download this month’s sixth and final block pattern on the Jolly Jabber, the Fat Quarter Shop’s blog.

This month’s blocks are called Strawberry Star. These blocks are so cute, I’d like a whole quilt out of these!!

I am using the Dollhouse fabric line by Amy Sinibaldi for my quilt blocks.

If you like the colors and fabrics that are used in the featured quilt, above, there are quilt kits and matching backing sets available at the Fat Quarter Shop in the Mama’s Cottage fabric line by April Rosenthal for Moda Fabrics.

Because this is a charity quilt along, quilters are asked to donate $5 to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campaign for each pattern download. 

If you are quilting along with us, please leave me a comment! I’d love to see your blocks!

For more inspiration be sure to visit these amazing quilters who are quilting along: 

Related posts:

It’s finally Friday!! Happy Friday everyone! It’s been a pretty rough week for us, so I’m thankful the weekend is finally here.

I have a super fun and summery quilt to share with you today! It’s called the Snowball Quilt. But don’t let the name fool you, you can whip up this quick quilt any time of the year! This quilt is part of the Fat Quarter Shop’s shortcut quilt series!

The Fat Quarter Snowballs is a FREE Pattern and Kimberly from the Fat Quarter Shop has a wonderful video tutorial, too!    

This quilt is the perfect size for a lap quilt and a great size for a beginner at 50 x 55 1/2 inches.

You’ll need:

• 12 fat quarters, 6 light and 6 dark
• 2 1/3 yards of background fabric 
• 3 2/3 yards of backing fabric
• 5/8 yard of binding fabric

I chose twelve fat quarters from a bundle of fabric I had in my stash by Corey Yoder called Sundrops.

I love how this quilt came out. The colors are so bright and happy!

This was a super fun and quick quilt to sew up. I hope you’ll have fun making your own Snowballs quilt!

Please check out the Fat Quarter Shop’s Blog to see all the other talented ladies who are quilting along!

Related posts:

Can you believe it’s already the end of May?! Since today is the 25th of the month, block five of the Clementine Quilt Along with the Fat Quarter Shop has been released!! Yay! It’s a beautiful block so definitely check it out.

You can find the fifth pattern on the Jolly Jabber, the Fat Quarter Shop’s blog!

This month’s blocks are called Pineapple’s Puzzle. A very fitting name! You can watch a video tutorial for this block here:

If you like the colors and fabrics that are used in the video, there are quilt kits and matching backing sets available at the Fat Quarter Shop in the Mama’s Cottage fabric line by April Rosenthal for Moda Fabrics.

I am using the Dollhouse fabric line by Amy Sinibaldi for my quilt blocks.

Because this is a charity quilt along, quilters are asked to donate $5 to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campaign for each pattern download. 

If you are quilting along with us, please leave me a comment! I’d love to see your blocks!

For more inspiration be sure to visit these amazing quilters who are quilting along: 

Related posts: