Hello quilting friends! I have designed this fun Love Letter Postcard quilt block today. You can use it for Valentine’s day or anytime of the year. It features a cute fussy cut postage stamp. Mine has a frog prince for the postage stamp.
This quilt block can be 8 x 12 inches finished or 12 x 12 inches finished if you add a top and bottom border.
Note: my sample block has borders made from the background fabric but I suggest using a different fabric so the postcard shape shows up. I think I will take my borders off and either make this into a mug rug or switching up my border fabric.
Love Letter Postcard Quilt Block by Daydreams of Quilts
A few weeks ago a friend of mine who is a teacher contacted me to ask me if I would consider sewing teacher aprons. I had no idea but these are much needed during the pandemic. Teachers have a lot of extra things to carry and manage throughout the day such as hand sanitizer, which they need to squirt on the elementary school kids’ hands, masks and all the other usual things like white board pens, phone, keys and so on.
Teachers are wanting aprons to help manage all these things, stay organized and keep their hands free. Maybe you know a teacher who would like one for Christmas.
My friend wanted her aprons made from this free tutorial on the Crafty Staci blog and so that is what I used. These also make fantastic vendor aprons for when we can do craft shows again.
Teacher Apron sewn by Daydreams of Quilts in Coral Heather Ross Kinder Fabrics.
I created a YouTube video tutorial on how to sew these as it can be a bit tricky following along on a blog post sometimes. I made the Library Books themed one below on the video. The pattern and written instructions are on the Crafty Staci blog.
Teacher apron sewn by Daydreams of Quilts with office supplies and books. Fabrics by Cotton + Steel and Crimson Tate.Teacher aprons sewn by Daydreams of Quilts using Heather Ross Kinder Fabrics.
I have a teacher aprons section in my Etsy shop where you can find these aprons available to purchase. I received some teacher themed fabrics I ordered on Spoonflower with math, science and general teaching motifs so more aprons will be coming soon.
Teacher aprons in Cotton + Steel, Heather Ross and Crimson Tate fabrics.
I so appreciate my friend coming to me with this idea as I would have never thought of it! She loves her math themed aprons so it was a win/win for both of us. 🙂
Today I went down to my studio and looked at the pile of quilts waiting to be finished. This Minecraft Quilt was on the top of the pile and was more than half quilted. I decided that today was the day to finish this quilt and that it would be done before the end of the day. Mission accomplished! 🙂
Minecraft quilt pieced and quilted by Anita of Daydreams of Quilts. Tutorials for blocks written by Kelli Fannin.
I quilted each block with stipple quilting and switched out the threads to match the fabrics as best I could.
The pig block quilted in pink thread.
Minecraft Steve and Creeper blocks.
The tutorials for all of these blocks and many, many more were written by Kelli Fannin and are available on her blog.
The Mooshroom (red cow) block.
I backed the quilt with the paper dolls fabric from the Heather Ross Kinder line which I thought was appropriate for my kids who are thrilled to finally be receiving this quilt.
The back of the quilt with paper dolls fabric.
I am so happy to have this quilt finished! I hope to get quite a few more WIPs through to the finish line over the summer. A huge thank you again to Kelli for all the amazing block tutorials!
I thought this Pixel Skull quilt would be a great quilt for Halloween but several people are enjoying it year-round. It’s a fun scrap buster quilt.
This pattern was created from scratch and was based on a photo of a perler bead creation. I worked on this pattern for hours mainly because I wanted to figure out how it could be made into a quilt. I always had the intention of making it a free pattern. You can subscribe to my email list for the pattern or if you do not wish to subscribe you can purchase it in my Etsy shop here.
The pattern includes five quilt sizes, a quilt layout diagram and a coloring page.
I hope my quilting community will enjoy this free pattern. Please click the sign-up link below for a free PDF pattern download of this Pixelated Skull pattern and several other free patterns I have made available. You will receive a welcome email from Daydreams of Quilts with the download links inside. Please check your junk and promotions folders if you don’t see it in your main email folder.
Welcome to the 12th and final week of the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! I have seen some amazing nearly-finished quilt tops popping up on social media! So exciting!
This week’s block is designed by Julie Johnston of Owly Patterns. This one is another foundation paper pieced block and was the one that was the most challenging for me to sew.
EDITED TO ADD: If you’re easily offended then do not click through to Owly Patterns as she has designed some patterns that some people find offensive.
Anita’s version of Julie’s Snowbird block. Quilted by Dara of Stitched Quilting Co. I love how Dara put the mountains into the quilting!
Julie’s Snowbird block represents the Snowbird Jets of the Royal Canadian Air Force that we see flying over special events and at air shows around the country in impressive flying formations.
EDITED TO ADD: Julie has donated many hours of her time to create her free block pattern but if you’re easily offended then do not click through to Owly Designs.
This is the final block in our quilt along. To enter the grand prize contest please post a picture of your quilt top in the hashtag #canadiansummerqal by September 3rd, 2018 (Labour Day).
Your quilt top does not need to be quilted or bound (a flimsy is okay) but it does need to include at least 12 of the 16 blocks from the Canadian Summer Quilt Along. They can be set however you like and you can add other blocks/elements if you wish.
To see more information about the grand prize and find links to our prize sponsors and all the blocks in the quilt along please visit the main Canadian Summer Quilt Along page.
Thank you so much for quilting along with us! Thank you to all of our prize sponsors and block designers! I couldn’t have done this without you! I can’t wait to see everyone’s quilt tops!
Thank you to Dara Tomasson of Stitched Quilting Co. for quilting my Canadian Summer Quilt Along quilt.
Canadian Summer Quilt Along Quilt Pieced by Anita LaHay. Quilted by Dara Tomasson. Designed by 12 Canadian Quilters.Thank you so much to our sponsors and designers! Please visit the Canadian Summer Quilt Along page for links.A truly Canadian Quilt! Designed, pieced and quilted by Canadian quilters. Pieced by Anita LaHay. Quilted by Dara Tomasson. Designed by 12 Canadian Quilt Designers.
Welcome to week 11 of the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! This week we have a Canada Goose Cabin Block designed by Tish Leupen that combines traditional piecing and appliqué.
Goose Cabin Block, designed by Tish Leupen, made by Anita of Daydreams of Quilts. Quilted by Dara of Stitched Quilting Co.
Above is my version of the Goose Cabin Block beautifully quilted by Dara Tomasson of Stitched Quilting Co. I love this block so much! And with fall coming soon I will be watching the skies for these birds flying over and I will feel a tinge of sadness as I do every year. But I know they will come back in the spring and that always brings happy excitement.
Tish is here to guest post today about her block. So without further ado here is Tish!
Finally, it is my turn to present my block for the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! I am thrilled to be part of the design team for this beautiful quilt. This week’s block should be pretty easy for everyone to put together. No paper piecing involved! This is the second last block, which means we can start sewing our quilts together and finish them in time to snuggle under this fall.
My inspiration for this block, is the iconic Canada Goose that most Canadians have a love/hate relationship with. We all know they are not the brightest birds in the world. They inundate our parks all summer and leave behind plenty of their waste. They lose their flight feathers for a short time and become earthbound, not the least bit alarmed by the cars and bikes hurtling towards them.
When autumn arrives and the days are shorter and colder though, they answer an ancient ingrained call to head south to warmer climates. Much as the Canada Geese annoy us , we can’t help but look up when we hear their flight call as huge flocks of geese are once again in their V formations flying away.
My block had to have Flying Geese in it. I was inspired by the heavy woolen socks we wear when summer ends for my colour scheme. I used grey for the main part of the block and the top suggests the traditional cream and red strip of cabin socks. It makes me sad to think that summer is coming to an end soon. School will start again in a couple weeks, and we will be have our summer memories to keep us warm in the coming months. Sigh!
I’m looking forward to seeing your colour choices for this block. Be sure to post them on Facebook or Instagram with #canadiansummerqal. There are great prizes to be won for your finished quilt tops. Check Anita’s blog @daydreamsofquilts for the dates to keep in mind.
A huge thank you, Anita, for organizing this great Canadian quilt along. I really appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it!
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Thank you so much Tish for your guest post and for designing this fun block of an iconic Canadian symbol. Click the link below to download the free pattern for Tish’s block.
Thank you for visiting the Daydreams of Quilts blog today. Visit the main Canadian Summer Quilt Along page for links to all the previously released blocks and for photos and sponsors of the grand prize package being drawn on Labour Day!
Welcome to week 10 of the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! This week we have the Seasons Block by Mary-Kay Colman of the blog Quilting Junkie.
Seasons Quilt Block designed by Mary-Kay Colman and family. Pieced by Anita of Daydreams of Quilts.
I was really excited when I saw this block because, of course, the Maple Leaf fits in perfectly with the Canadian Theme but also because I had never seen it done exactly this way before. This was something new!
I was also very proud of my achievement in piecing this block because Foundation Paper Piecing has been my arch nemesis in quilting until now.
One quarter of the Seasons Block.
Tips: I used fabric colours just as Mary-Kay had them in the pattern graphic because I get easily confused when Foundation Paper piecing. I also coloured the pattern sections with scribbles in pencil crayon in the colours that they would be sewn to to further clarify things for myself.
Please head over to Mary-Kay’s blog to read her post about her block and download her pattern. Have fun sewing this week!
Visit the main Canadian Summer Quilt Along page for the schedule, links to already released blocks and the list of prizes in the grand prize package that one lucky winner will win! Only a few weeks to the draw date!
Giveaway: Post your Seasons block in the hashtag #canadiansummerqal on Instagram before next week’s block comes out for a chance to win a copy of my newest PDF pattern “Hidden Zig Zag”.
Welcome to week 9 in the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! This week’s block is the West Point Lighthouse Block designed by Anita of Daydreams of Quilts! (That’s me!)
West Point Lighthouse block designed and pieced by Anita of Daydreams of Quilts. Quilted by Dara of Stitched Quilting Co.
I didn’t really think of this when I made the quilt along schedule but yesterday was our 18th wedding anniversary. We went to Prince Edward Island for our honeymoon and one of the places we visited was the West Point Lighthouse. So it’s a fun coincidence that I am releasing this block the day after our anniversary. PEI is one of my most favourite places on earth! I have been there three times and really hope to get back again soon.
An unquilted shot of the West Point Lighthouse block so you can see the prints. The sandpiper and seagull fabrics were actually purchased in PEI on our honeymoon 18 years ago! Can you believe it!? It’s true! Talk about treasured fabric stash. 🙂
Glad I could help represent the East Coast in this quilt along! Even though I’m an Albertan, I do love PEI and I lived in New Brunswick for four years too.
Click here to download the Lighthouse Block pattern – CSQAL West Point Lighthouse Block Pattern I can’t wait to see the lighthouses pop up this week. Post your lighthouse in the hashtag #canadiansummerqal on Instagram for a chance to win a selection of four fat quarters of Flourish from the Daydreams of Quilts shop.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but it’s only two months until Halloween! I know, we’re all still enjoying the fabulous summer weather and Halloween is far from our minds. Still, with only two months to go until the big spooky day, if you want to make this amazing Pixelated Skull Quilt you might want to start now. So I’m releasing this free pattern today!
I have created this Pixelated Skull Quilt pattern based on a Perler bead craft that I saw on Pinterest. My pattern offers five quilt sizes and has a colouring page as well as the instructions to make this quilt a reality.
Subscribe below for a free PDF download of this pattern. You will receive a welcome email from Daydreams of Quilts with the pattern download link inside as well as links to several other free patterns from us. Please check your junk and/or promotions folders for the email if you don’t see it it your main email folder.
Hello and welcome to week 8 in the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! This week we have a beautiful foundation pieced block designed by Jean of Sophisticat Fibre Art Studio called “Coastal Majesty.”
Jean’s block is inspired by the beautiful trees around Vancouver in British Columbia. In her pattern she writes, “This block symbolizes the majesty of those trees growing in the mountains.”
I lived in Vancouver for four years as a child while my Mom was doing her master’s degree. The trees in and around Vancouver truly are awe inspiring. Many happy days were spent climbing trees there.
I remember one time my brother, sister and I were up in a tall cedar tree and we saw our Dad who was doing maintenance on the roof of one of the buildings at the Vancouver School of Theology (where my Mom did her masters). We were eye level with him and he was on the fifth floor. We called to him “Hey Dad!” He looked around on the ground for us but couldn’t see us. “Over here! In the tree! We’re waving a branch at you!” The look of shock on his face was funny to us at the time but as a parent I can imagine the feeling he must have had now. He stayed very calm but said sternly “You kids are up too high. You climb back down now.” Ah, good times in Vancouver.
Anyway, I digress. 🙂 Here is my version of Jean’s Coastal Majesty block. Dara of Stitched Quilting Co. did a beautiful job of the quilting on my block.
Anita’s version of Coastal Majesty. Block designed by Sophisticat Fibre Art Studio. Quilted by Stitched Quilting Co.
Normally I find foundation paper piecing so challenging that it’s not fun for me but I really enjoyed this block and it’s very possible to achieve even if you are a beginner at this technique. Jean also suggests using “improv strata” for your trees. This is basically creating fabric pieces by sewing together small strips (or you could slash and insert strips as well). Jean has a photo of this on her Instagram post (second photo).
Coastal Majesty before quilting to get a better representation of the fabric colours in my block.
Jean was having some technical issues with her website so she said she would try to have a tutorial up on her Facebook page if not on her site.
Giveaway: Post your blocks on Instagram using the hashtag #canadiansummerqal for a chance to win my most popular PDF pattern the “Pixel Heart in a Pixel Heart” pattern. Jean also says if you tag her on your post @sew_catstudio by August 15th she will also be offering a prize.
