Saguaro Ornaments and Bunting

Christmas lights are kindofa big deal here in the Wild West. I guess it's because...no snow! There's no excuse for not getting out there and doing the work of putting up lights. So we put lights on everything. Yes, even the cactus get lights and Santa Hats. I'll be sure to get you some good pics next month.

This bunting project was so quick. Stitched up in 2 hours! That included hunting for cookie cutters and tiny Christmas lights in the back of the closet. Easy beginner quilting project.

 

You know I love quilting with cookie cutters. This time I'm using Saguaro cookie cutter for a mini-bunting pattern. Sandwich some batting and fabric scraps in Christmas colors. Double batting will give more body to your tiny cookie cutter shapes and help support the lights.

Draw around your cookie cutter. This will be your stitching line. Next, stitch the outline with your darning foot. [Or go ahead and use a regular foot. Smaller stitches - about 3.5- will help you turn the tiny curves of cookie cutter shape.]

Then stich some straight lines right across your cactus shape. Change back to regular foot and use a long stitch. Overstitch your outline - that's right - we are coloring outside the lines! When you finish a line, just flip your cactus sandwich, turn around and stitch in the other direction, just like chain piecing, no need to trim threads.

Here is the time saving part: Get your pinking shears and cut out your cactus. See - all the threads are instantly trimmed. Now you have super Cactus Ornaments you can hang with regular ornament hangers or....

Tack Cacti onto jute for a quick and quilty Southwestern Holiday Bunting!
To determine how long your twine needs to be:  add 3" to the width of  each cactus, then add 20" for ties.


Lastly, remember to add Christmas lights to your bunting. [I was lucky to find battery powered mini light string in the back of the closet.] Here is Becka with lighted Saguaro Bunting at MQG Swap.

Triangles, Rolls and Patterns, oh my!

Today was filled with a new lesson. Mom and I visited Mulqueen quilt shop where Nedra   demonstrates  Triangles on a Roll "perfect paper piecing product." It was simple, easy, and can create really beautiful patterns!

Triangles on a Roll consists of two ways to create patterns. One is using 2 triangles to make a full square (aka half-square triangle). This sounds easy and just really is easy. Nedra's guidelines show how to stitch 1" through 4" hst squares by scroll. No chain piecing! Don't worry if you think you've messed up. With so many stitching guides, it is impossible to mess up on these paper piecing rolls. When finished making the squares, just pull off the paper guidelines and look at your perfect square!

Nedra shows how to use Half Square Triangles on a Roll



3 quilts on left are composed from HST Rolls

The second way of using her paper piecing magic is using degrees. Sew & Fold Tri-Angles works  for 3" and 6" inch triangles, in 22.5, 36, 45, 60 degrees. It's just like the other version and still as simple, except you cut triangles first with matching rulers before paper piecing . These patterns are so simple, beginners can use these. 

This is an example of how to use the degree paper piecing.

Christmas Pyramids is one of the 8 patterns Nedra and Denise have
created for Triangles on a Roll.

Denise  and Nedra have been Quilting Buddies (and old movie fans) for three years. This is Denise's Fred and Ginger

split hexagon pattern created with 60degree Tri-Angle.

Mom likes Fred & Ginger too:)

You'll see Nedra and Denise at major quilt shows this year. But it you can't wait, patterns are available in Cactus-Needle Etsy shop.
Get rolls and rulers at Triangles on a Roll.
Happy Quilting!

  



Coming soon:

Can you guess what Mom is up to next?