Using multiple panto in a single row with Quilter’s Creative Touch 4 by Grace Company

Here's a quick little tutorial on how to use multiple pantos in a single row
with Quilter’s Creative Touch 4 by Grace Company

I love to use multiple pantos on a single quilt.  
I believe it make my quilts more interesting.and personalized.  

To be honest I stumbled upon this by accident or should I say by just playing
with my software on an evening when I was too tired after a day at my day job and
long commute.  Please note that I purchased the software and Quilt Motion. I
was not provided use of it by the Grace Company. I just happen to be a quilter who really loves her
Queen Gracie Frame and Quilter’s Creative Touch 4.I personally use a Juki TL-2010Q
sewing machine on my Gracie Frame so my quilting area is limited,
but then so is my budget. The set up work very well for me.

My methods may not be completely correct, but it works well for me.

Open your Quilter’s Creative Touch 4 software in simulation mode.

Click on QuiltCAD,

.

Once in QuiltCAD, Click on SIZE and adjust to your quilt width, quilting height
of your matching and block size.

Select the Layout tab (Blue highlighted area below)

Select the first pattern you would like to begin with by clicking on Select Pattern
(Red highlighted area below)

Click on the first section (Red highlighted area in the picture below)

Click on the Place Pattern button (Blue highlighted area)

Use the horizontal and vertical MAX buttons to fill the cells as desired.

Continue to place various patterns in each cell to create your customize panto

Click on the bar to the far left on the row so that your entire row is highlighted as shown above.

Click the Green QUILT button on the bottom right.

Don’t worry if the software indicates that you are out of safe area because this is just a gateway step.  

Click on the Optimize button on the top toolbar

.

From the Optimize screen you may click to remove thread breaks and
then save your customized panto by clicking on the Blue Disk on the toolbar.  

Most importantly don’t be afraid to explore your software.  
Quilter’s Creative Touch 4 is an extremely powerful tool and the possibilities are unlimited.

Until Next Time...
Happy Sewing....

Lisa Jo
@Neverlandstiches

Star Around Quilt on Moda Bake Shop

It official - I can finally share that I am a Moda Bake Shop Chef!  I have what I think is a beautiful new pattern featured on Moda Bake Shop called Stars Around.

As promised you may download a planning coloring sheet here.

All the information regarding making The Stars Around Quilt  is on The Moda Bake Shop. 

Until Next time....

Happy Sewing!

Lisa Jo

Scrappy Teal Pumpkin Quilt

As I was getting out my Pumpkin Seed quilt from last fall, I was inspired to make a large pumpkin quilt for my son and his wife.  My son has peanut and nut allergies.  We had to always be aware of all that he was eating.  When he met this sweet girl in collage and she started carrying an Epi-Pen in her purse, I just knew she was the girl for him and 6 years later they married this May.  We were all thrilled!

So up bright and early this Saturday morning, I set out to design this Scrappy Teal Pumpkin quilt which finishes at 66 inch and then immediately set out to sew.  The pattern is now for sale on Craftsy here.   The pattern includes a bonus 24 inch version of the main pumpkin block.

Here's how my completed quilt looks...

Until next time....

Happy Sewing!

Lisa Jo

@neverlandstiches

Mixing Up The Moda Block Exchange & Some Inspiration

 I am hosting a mixing up the Moda 12 inch Block Exchange. It is a fun way to make & exchange blocks made with the following fabrics by Moda ( #showmethemoda ):

*Bonnie and Camille 

*Lella Boutique 

*Corey Yoder

*Fig Tree

*Shannon Gilman Orr

*Brenda Riddle Designs

*3 Sisters

*Sweetwater

*Chloe’s Closet 

*Moda Basics

This swap is without any pressure about being late or being behind like a swap or a bee. You either have a block ready to go and you can participate, or you wait until the next round. No stress! No commitment. 

What are the blocks for?? It is up to you! Collect a bunch and make a sampler quilt, or get a few and make a mini, a pillow or a table runner. Awesome! Right? 

Here are the guidelines:

BLOCKS - Blocks are 12-1/2 inches when sent (so they finish at 12"), and are made with ONLY With the above listed designers  (use any line & fell free to mix up the designer). Any white used must be Moda Bella 97 or 98, or Kona White or Kona Snow.

THE EXCHANGE PROCESS - on 23rd of each month I will post a 'call for blocks.' If you have a block (or blocks) MADE and READY TO SEND, you will enter a little info on my sign up link and email me a photo of your finished block(s). If the block(s) meet the requirements, within a day or two I will give you an address (or addresses) to ship your block(s) to, and it is expected that you'll ship your block(s) within 48 hours. Blocks can be sent first class mail, in a ziploc bag. No extras, okay? And, make as many blocks to exchange as you feel like. One, two, five... Totally up to you. However many you have ready to send, you can... And you'll get that many in return. 

QUALITY CONTROL - Blocks should be clean, with no holes, stains, or smells. Every effort should be made to send high quality, well constructed blocks. There is no specific block pattern required, but I hope you'll be mindful of the pattern choice - super simple blocks, or blocks with very little desners may not be eligible to participate. I reserve the right to use my discretion concerning participation in the exchange. I want everyone to get blocks they love, and I try my best to make that happen. 

Check out the hashtag for more info! #mixingupthemodablocks 

Please feel free to share or tag someone below in the comments.  #blockexchange 

In order to provide some inspiration for the swap below are a couple 12 1/2 inch blocks. 

The Michigan Beauty BLock is the larger version of the block from the first week of our Loyal Union Sampler Sew Along.  

A 12 inch Michigan Beauty Block 

A 12 inch Square Dance  

I am showing you two different versions.  It all a matter of fabric layout to change it up! 

Until next time...

Happy Sewing!

Lisa Jo

@neverlandstitches

Week 2 of The Loyal Union Sampler

This weeks blocks for The Loyal Union Sampler are both rather straight forward and don't require any modifications.  

The top block is Happy Home and the bottom is Campfire.

Hint: When pressing your blocks if you press your seams open they will lay flatter and size accurately.

Please share you completed blocks on IG with the hashtag #loyalunionsamplerqal

Until next time...
Happy Sewing!
Lisa Jo
@neverlandstitches

Pennsylvania and Michigan Beauty of The Loyal Union Sampler

Are you ready to get started on the Loyal Union Sampler?  I know that I am!  As stated in my previous post we will be doing 2 or 3 blocks per week.  This week we will be making two blocks, Pennsylvania and Michigan Beauty.  And yes I may have selected these two blocks due to my ties to the two states.

Since these blocks all should be trimmed to 6 1/2 inches to finish at 6 inches, I highly suggest that you starch your fabric prior to cutting and sewing for a higher degree of accuracy.  I make my own spray starch since I use so much of it.  If you are interested this is my version of homemade spray starch:

• 3 1/2 Cups of cold water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of corn starch

Bring to a rolling boil until almost clear

Once cooled add 1/2 cup of cheap potato distilled vodka and a few drops of your favorite essential oil.  Pour some into a spry bottle and store the remaining in a tightly sealed mason jar.

The Pennsylvania block is pretty straight up and needs no modification.  Here's my version:

The Michigan Beauty block in the book uses (in my opinion) the dreaded y-seams.  I therefore, developed a work around.  Here is my version:

The work around cutting guide may be downloaded through this link.
Trim your HSTs to 1 1/2 inch and flying geese to 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches.

I can't wait to see your blocks so be sure to use the hashtag #loyalunionsamplerqal so Jessie, Kelita and I can find your blocks.  You will want us to find your blocks this month because there will be a prize at some point during the month of August from one of my favorite Esty shops, Stitchesngiggles4U.

Until next time ...
Happy Sewing!
Lisa Jo
@neverlandstitches

The Loyal Union Sampler Sew Along

I have been fascinated with the US Civil War as long as I can remember.  In turn, I have been fascinated with quilts since I first saw the beautiful historic quilts at what was once upon a time called Greenfield Village (now known as The Henry Ford) as a grade school child on a field trip in Metro Detroit.  If you have the opportunity to visit Michigan and are a history loving quilter, it is a must visit.

Beginning August 1, 2018, Jessica, Kelita and I are hosting a quilt along based on the book, The Loyal Union Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini.

I understand that everyone has busy lives as well as participating in other sew alongs and additional projects therefore, we do not want this to be a stressful sew along. Yet we still want to make it interesting.  So here are a few facts about the sew along:

• We will be making two or three blocks per week, which will be posted each Wednesday.
• Applique blocks are optional.   
• We will post alternate construction methods for those blocks which original instructions include the dreaded Y-seams or odd templates.
• Having a copy of the book is highly encouraged as will not be posting directions for every block.
• All the blocks in the original sampler are 6 inch finished blocks.  I will select 2 blocks a month to upsize to 12 inch finished block for anyone who may wish to make a sampler with larger blocks or mix up their sampler with a combination of 6 and 12 inch blocks.
• Oh, and we will not be sewing the blocks in the order presented in the book.  This is to keep you guessing a little. 

So grab you copy of the book, gather up some fabric (scraps are perfect for these blocks) and get ready to join us next Wednesday. 

Until next week!

Happy Sewing!

Lisa Jo