Monday, December 22, 2014

Miss Tess published and a giveaway!

I am excited to tell you that my design, Miss Tess, is appearing in the winter issue of McCalls America Loves Scrap Quilts! I'm intriqued by tessellations... identical pieces fitting together without any gaps or overlapping. I love scrap quilts...so much fun choosing as many fabrics as you can to make a quilt. So this was a really fun and interesting design to make.
Like their Facebook Page!
After figuring out the design itself, I had to figure out how to make it happen. That meant taking the shape to its basic form and figuring out what pieces I needed to cut so that I could sew it together in rows. I decided to use lots of bright fabrics with the same centers, a small black and white dotted fabric.  Once I started cutting the pieces, I couldn't wait to try them out on my design wall to see if it worked. 
I loved it, but my design wall isn't large enough for a queen size quilt, so I had to move to the floor. I could only lay out about half of it at a time, so once I had the first half sewn into rows, I laid out more rows. I had a few glitches along the way as my helpers decided it looked like a playground.
No one fessed up, but I have my suspicions....
I numbered all of the rows so that I wouldn't make any mistakes when sewing them together. It's a lot of rows, but they are easy to piece. The hard part with this many fabrics is where to place them!
I took it along to my family sewing day last December so that I could attach the borders.
I had chosen a deep blue border so that the colors would shine and the outside edges of the shape would show up when they came out into the border.


I chose this multi-striped fabric for the binding as I loved that it was scrappy too, and striped bindings are my favorite!

I used a larger black and white dotted fabric for the back. You can see, my helpers love every aspect of quiltmaking, even attaching the binding! 




I made a second, smaller version of the quilt that is being displayed at Cut Up and Quilt now. They will also have the magazine for sale after their Christmas holiday break. They would be happy to hold one for you...just give them a call today!
Now for the giveaway! I'm excited to host a giveaway with these great prizes:
A $25 Gift Card to Fat Quarter Shop!
Two copies of the magazine, America Loves Scrap Quilts, for two lucky winners!

Your choice of one of my patterns available on Craftsy to each of three lucky winners!

I'm going to make it easy this time, and have one Rafflecopter tto be eligible for all of the prizes. The giveaway will be open until midnight, Dec. 27. Thanks for celebrating with me! 

42 comments:

Karen said...

I would love to make Miss Tess using Christmas fabrics. Not sure if that would make it easier or harder to do. Love the looks of all of your versions.

Dee W said...

I am a brights person, this is right up my alley! I wish I lived closer to you, I'd love to take one of your classes!

Unknown said...

I just discovered Amy Butler's fabrics and think it would be fun to do Miss Tess with something of hers. Maybe a bit of a challenge but still fun nonetheless! :) Hope your holidays are wonderful, Miss Jean!

Kris said...

I have a whole bunch of kona solids that I think might be fun with scrappy print centers maybe.

Penny from S.C. said...

Great colorful quilt! I love it. Thanks for sharing.

Terri said...

Every quilt looks better made with batiks. I'd love to make it using only batiks... maybe with a white center (or yellow like a flower) and color saturated batiks. Can you see it? MMMM
Hugs

SewCalGal said...

Yeah. Congratulations on having your lovely design published. Let's celebrate with fireworks!

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

Gene Black said...

I think Miss Tess would be great in jewel toned batiks.

JoyceLM said...

I have some batiks waiting to be used & this pattern would be perfect. Thanks.

barbara woods said...

kona solids

Karen in Breezy Point said...

I would use Civil War era reproductions.

petoskystone said...

What a stunning result! I noticed that the kits were studiously ignoring your camera 😉

Debbie said...

Congratulations - how exciting. Your quilt is beautiful. Thanks for the great giveaways. (debbie at wowilikethat dot com)

Unknown said...

Congrats on another publishing! Like the idea of the bright batiks for Miss Tess

Catskill Quilter said...

I think I would try it in 1930's reproduction prints! Congrats and happy holidays!

Donna W said...

I think a bundle of Kona Solids, maybe in the summer colors.

Tabatha said...

I would use scrap fabrics. I think its a great quilt for that

Kathy E. said...

Miss Tess is beautiful and congratulations on getting her published! I would choose an assortment of micro polka dots in pastel colors to make this quilt and keep it for my first grand-daughter!

Vicki H said...

Congrats! I would use bright colors.

Unknown said...

I would love to make this pattern from scraps!

Sarah said...

I would make it from big, bold floral jewel tones! sarah@forrussia.org

Jeneta said...

That striped binding is fabulous! I think I'd make this quilt in pinks, oranges and greens.

GranChris said...

I'd make it scrappy. I like your colors, bright and cheery.

Diane Beavers said...

Geometrics such as the Shaman Collection and a bright Sienna or Crimson border.
Congrat's on the publishing of Miss Tess pattern. I love brights too.

Unknown said...

I would use some batiks that I have on hand in grays and browns with accent colors.

SonjaM said...

I would use red black and white if possible ..... sonjasmith76@yahoo.com

Gill said...

I'd use Alison Glass fabrics!

Renata S said...


Your pattern would look good in my handdyes.

Unknown said...

I would love to see Miss Tess in bright batiks

Dawn said...

I would use the 30's Playtime by Moda. Bit I love this fabric, so that's probably why. Have a great day!

juliehallfeldhaus said...

I would use bright colors:)

Pamela said...

Congratulations on the publication! Miss Tess is delightful!

Karen Propes said...

Your bright colors looks great, I'm thinking the right batiks would look good too. Thanks for the chance.
ncjeepster@aol.com

giddy99 said...

I would use my AMH!

Janie said...

Your quilt is simply stunning. I would use Joel Dewberry's Birch Farm.

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

I would go for bright scraps, or small children's prints. It reminds me of legos and my DGS would really like it! Thanks for the fun!

Emily C said...

This would be really cute in a mix of solids and tiny florals.

Anonymous said...

Love the quilt pattern--looks kind of exotic--bet it would be great in metallic fabrics!

Rozz01 said...

I have some calicos and small flower fabrics which would work up great in this quilt pattern.

Mara said...

It would be fun to see Miss Tess in the fabric line Aloha Girl that is coming out soon. Congratulations on having your pattern published in a magazine!

Betsy said...

Kona solids

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I can't do the Facebook stuff, but, tone on tone fabrics would work well.