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Canadian Flag Heart Quilt of Valour

I finished this Quilt of Valour on the weekend so I could gift it to a kind, courageous and brave Canadian soldier who has become a very dear friend of mine. I have learned so much about this man while working out with him every morning at 6:00 a.m. at the gym. I am positive, without a doubt, that he is more than deserving of the gift of a Quilt of Valour.

I will not write out his story here because it is not my story to tell but I will say it was as great an honour to make this quilt and surprise him with it as it is to know him.

This quilt is a heart shaped Canadian flag made with my Canadian Flag Pixelated Heart pattern. I would have like to have more contrast between the heart and the background but I needed to work with fabrics I had in the house.

Canadian Flag PIxelated Heart Quilt. Patchwork quilt gifted as a Quilt of Valour.

I used “True North” fabric by Kate and Birdie for this quilt because they are perfectly Canadian fabrics. This version of the quilt measures 80″ tall x 64″ wide.

I quilted the heart with stipple quilting and the background with a quilting design I call “balls on string.” This was to differentiate the heart from the background a bit more.

Appliqued maple leaf on a background of Canadian themed fabrics.

The maple leaf is appliqued onto the quilt top and stitched with machine blanket stitch around the edges.

Here is a closer look at some of the fun Canadian fabrics designed by Kate and Birdie. There are fabrics from both the first and second “True North” lines in the quilt.

Quilting on the background and borders of the quilt.

I added borders to the quilt to make it a nice twin size because the man receiving it is over 6 feet tall. I quilted the inner border with a half feather motif and put stippling in the outer border. The borders are Kona solids.

Canadian themed Quilt of Valour pixel heart quilt.

Making and giving this quilt gave me immeasurable joy and happiness and the quilt recipient was kind of speechless (but happy) when he received it. My friend, if you ever read this, you deserve this quilt and so much more.

Find the Pattern:

This pattern is available on our website and in our Etsy shop.

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Sewing the Squiffy Sling Crossbody Bag

The Squiffy Sling is a bag pattern by “Sewing Patterns by Mrs. H.” It is not a new pattern but I just sewed it for the first time in a while.

I thought since I was sewing it that I would make a pattern walk through video on YouTube. There are a few parts that can be tricky so I hope this video is helpful. Despite the tricky bits this is a very achievable bag for an intermediate sewer.

The Squiffy Sling Bag made by Daydreams of Quilts using Rifle Paper Co fabric and cork.

I like this bag because it has an asymmetrical design and the accent overlay is a nice feature too. I used cork for my overlay but vinyl is another great option.

A second Squiffy Sling Bag with a neutral coloured Rifle Paper Co print.

The bag has an interior zipper pocket and slip pocket. I used linen Rifle Paper Co fabric for the lining on both bags.

These bags are available in my shop while they last. Or find them on Etsy.

Daydreams of Quilts models a Squiffy Sling crossbody bag.

Find the pattern here at Sewing Patterns by Mrs. H.

Watch on YouTube
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The Quilt Keeper Product Review and Demonstration

The Quilt Keeper is an over-the-door quilt display and storage solution. The friendly people at The Quilt Keeper contacted me to try their product. I agreed and they sent one to me to review.

This post is sponsored by The Quilt Keeper however my opinions are my own.

The Quilt Keeper quilt storage and display solution.

The Quilt Keeper is very easy to install over any door in your home using two hooks and a bar that hooks over them.

Two hooks and a bar fit into your door easily.

I think this is a great solution to the problem many quilters have of so many quilts and nowhere to put them. You could get one for every room in your home!

Place the hooks over the top of the door.
The bar hangs over the hooks to hold the quilt.
The hooks do not interfere with the door closing and can be adjusted with included foam adhesive strip.

My audience can enjoy a 10% discount at the quilt keeper.com by using my affiliate coupon code DAYD.

Canadian customers please email info@thequiltkeeper.com for a PayPal invoice with the correct shipping.

View a video demonstration on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/t-K7cAuesic

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Seven Tips to Make Your Quilts Last Longer

Here are seven tips plus a bonus tip to help your treasured handmade quilts last longer:

  1. Only wash your quilts when needed. If they have pet fur on them or something that you can just remove with a lint roller then try to do that before putting the quilt in the washing machine. This will minimize wear and tear on the quilt.
  2. Wash in a front loading machine with no agitator. The agitator in older machines can often get quilts tangled up in it and rip them. Do not wash the quilts on hot water and do not use any bleach. Wash on a cold or medium water setting and use baby detergent or Tide Free because there are no dyes in the detergent.
  3. Tumble dry on medium heat. Do not use a hot dryer setting.
  4. Don’t leave the quilt in the sun or in a hot car. If your quilt sits in the back seat of your car for weeks the sun can bleach the fabric and also weaken the fibres in the fabric which can lead to the quilt tearing more easily. Keep the quilt rolled up in the trunk away from the hot sun and the heat.
  5. Keep the quilts away from pets. Pets have sharp teeth and claws and sometimes pets will even chew on a quilt.
  6. Don’t eat or drink over the quilt. This can result in spills that cause stains. If this does happen then use a stain treater like “Shout” and get the quilt into the wash right away before the stain has time to set.
  7. When your quilts are in storage pull them out at least every six months to fluff them up and re-fold them so they are not always folded on the same fold lines. The fold lines can eventually weaken the fibres in the fabric and the quilts can wear out faster.

Bonus Tip:

Mountains Pixel Heart Quilt, Hidden Zig Zag Quilt and Featured in the Stars Quilt patterns by Daydreams of Quilts.

For an antique quilt try to soak it in something like Soak Wash or Zero or cleaner for soaking knits that doesn’t need to be rinsed. Then very gently squeeze the water out of the quilt and lay it flat to dry on a clean sheet on a clean patch of lawn. Keep the quilt out of direct sun by using the shade of a tree or a house. Hanging the quilt to dry could cause the quilt seams to weaken and rip due to the weight of the wet quilt. Therefore, lay the quilt flat out of the sun.

Log Cabin Hearts Quilt made by Daydreams of Quilts.

I hope these tips help you to keep your handmade quilts in great shape and lasting for many years so they can be handed down for generations to come.

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Rainbow Featured in the Stars Quilt

This is the rainbow version of my “Featured in the Stars” quilt pattern. The pattern also comes with monochromatic instructions.

Featured in the Stars quilt by Daydreams of Quilts using fabrics designed by Guicy Guice.

I used all Guicy Guice fabrics for this quilt and Kona snow for the background. The centre squares were from two panels.

This digital pattern can be found on our website and in our Etsy shop.

Rainbow Featured in the Stars Quilt by Daydreams of Quilts.

I used striped Essex yarn dyed linen for the binding. I do love stripes on the binding!

Essex yarn dyed linen stripes on the binding.

This quilt was given to my co-worker and friend for his high school graduation.

Fabrics by Guiseppe Ribaudo. Quilt by Anita LaHay.

The backing is a Moda polka dot wideback called ombré dots by Vanessa Christenson.

The back of the quilt with ombré dots wideback.

Thank you for visiting my blog today! 🙂

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Mountains Pixel Heart Quilt Digital Pattern Release

Exciting news! The newest Pixel Heart Quilt pattern by Daydreams of Quilts is out now! Discount code and links are below.

If you’ve been following me for a while you know I love vacationing in the Rocky Mountains. It only made sense for me to design a quilt that expresses my great love for this place. My quilt features mountains, pine trees, blue sky and a turquoise lake all within a Pixel Heart.

Mountains Pixel Heart Quilt in front of trees and grass.
Mountains Pixel Heart Quilt designed and pieces by Daydreams of Quilts.

This quilt measures 60” x 60” and it’s a great way to use up scraps and small cuts of fabric.

Mountains Pixel Heart Quilt by Daydreams of Quilts.

Use code MOUNTBLOG for 30% off during release week until July 31, 2022.

Close up of trees and mountains in the Mountains Pixel Heart Quilt.
Close up of trees and mountains inside the pixel heart.

This PDF pattern is available on our website and in our Etsy shop.

Mountains Pixel Heart Quilt on a background of trees and grass.
Mountains Pixel Heart Quilt by Daydreams of Quilts.
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Two Log Cabin Heart Quilts for Identical Twins’ Graduation from High School

I am in the Canadian Modern Quilt Bee on Instagram this year (#canadianmodernquiltbee) and for my bee block in January I chose the log cabin heart block by Just Jude. You can read more in her blog post. She has a free tutorial/pattern with a YouTube video.

Originally I wanted my blocks to have a Kona snow background and I was going to make a large rainbow quilt. Some of my bee mates didn’t have Kona snow though so half my blocks came with a white background and I decided to make two quilts.

One quilt is for my son’s girlfriend and one is for her twin sister. Both girls are graduating from high school this week.

The Kona Snow background quilt for my son’s girlfriend for graduation.
The white background quilt for the twin sister for graduation.

I am so appreciative to my bee mates for helping me make the blocks for these quilts and I know the girls will love them as they have grown up with quilts from their Mom and their Grandma too.

I put a cute Anne Kelle print from Robert Kaufman on the borders of Matryoshka dolls and used striped Essex linen for the binding.

The Matryoshka doll borders and striped binding.

The back is an ombré dots wideback by Vanessa Christenson for Moda.

The back of the quilts is moda wideback ombré dots by Vanessa Christenson.

I am so pleased to have finished these two quilts in time for the graduation and can’t wait for the girls to receive them!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

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Cutting Up a Quilt to Reupholster Dining Chairs

I made a quilt several years ago and then I basically “ruined” it with poor quilting choices. The quilt has sat for years unfinished until this weekend when I decided to cut it up and reupholster my dining chairs.

One of my dining chairs before and after.

I made a six minute YouTube video where I tell you the whole story. Learn from my mistakes both on the quilt and on my first fabric choice for the chairs. Then learn how I reupholster the chairs for a happy ending.

Watch on YouTube
The story of the quilt and how it became chair cushions on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you learn something new today! 🙂

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How to Sew a Coin Pouch with Cork Corners

Here’s a cute little project! Make a little coin zipper pouch and use up your scraps from making larger bags!

When making bags we often have small cuts of fabric left and off cuts from cutting out the corners to make the bottom gusset of the bag.

I have been saving all of those little pieces and had enough to sew quite a few little coin pouches.

Coin Pouches made by Daydreams of Quilts using Rifle Paper Co fabrics and Cork Scraps.

To make these pouches you will need:

  • 2 – 4.5” tall x 5.5” wide pieces of outer fabric
  • 2 – 4.5” tall x 5.5” wide lining fabric
  • 2 – 4.5” tall x 5.5” wide scraps of Shapeflex 101 or other medium cotton woven interfacing
  • 4 – 2.5” squares of cork for bottom corners
  • 1 nylon zipper about 7” long (which will be trimmed down in the process)
Coin pouches with zipper closures and cork accents on the corners.

I show you how to make these on my YouTube channel in this 13 minute tutorial video.

Watch on YouTube

These pouches are available while they last on our website and in our Etsy shop.

Thank you for visiting my blog today! 🙂

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Sewing the Boxy Tool Pouch

I enjoy all my patterns that I have purchased from Sotak Patterns on Etsy. One of my most recent purchases is the Boxy Tool Pouch pattern.

The way the seams are finished inside the pouch ads structure to the pouch and helps it hold its shape.

Plaid Flannel Boxy Tool Pouch made by Daydreams of Quilts.

I have made a pattern walk through video for this bag on YouTube if you want a bit of help or want to check out how it’s made before purchasing. It’s a fun bag to sew and doesn’t need a lot of fabric!

Anita with the Boxy Tool Pouch she made on YouTube.

I have these bags listed in my Etsy shop and on my website ahead of Father’s Day if you are in need of a gift for Dad!