Monica Curry Quilt Design

INSTRUCTIONS I discovered this technique for making scrap checkerboard blocks several years ago. I used it to make my grand-niece a doll quilt (above). With these few easy steps, the results are so worth it. When you're finished, every square will be aligned perfectly and you'll have a strong base to join the blocks so they won't stretch out of shape. Finished Block: 12"x 12" (30 cm x 30 cm)) 1.  First, you'll need a non-woven, lightweight, single-sided fusible interfacing. I purchased this very inexpensive one on Amazon . 2.  Cut [18] 2½-inch (6 cm) colour squares and [18] 2½-inch (6 cm) light colour squares. 3.  Cut [1] 13" x 13" (31 cm x 31 cm) square of interfacing. 4.  Place squares 1/2" from the edges on the adhesive side of the interfacing. Butt together the squares as shown below alternating between light and dark colours. 5.  Place a piece of cotton over the squares and press to adhere them to the fusible web. 6. Fold the first row righ...

A year ago, I posted a tutorial for sorting fabric scraps. I decided to supplement that post with a quick tutorial for cutting fabric scrap squares for 9-patch blocks. Because of their versatility, 9-patch blocks are great for making scrap quilts. The easiest square size to start with is 5 inches should you have a lot of Charm Pack and Layer Cake scraps. SQUARE SIZES The easiest square size to start with is 5" should you have a lot of Charm Pack and Layer Cake scraps. 5 inch - Finished Size: 4½ inch    (12.5 cm - Finished Size: 6.25 cm ) 2¾ inch - Finished Size: 2¼ inch    (7 cm - Finished Size: 3.5 cm) 2 inch - Finished Size: 1½ inch    (5 cm - Finished Size: 2.5 cm) YOU WILL NEED A good assortment of quilt cotton fabric scraps Iron and ironing board Rotary cutter (have fresh blades available) 6" x 12" and/or 8" x 8" quilt ruler INSTRUCTIONS 1. Separate your scraps into individual colours: yellow, orange, purple, red, etc. This is a very important step. Y...

I had a great summer! I finished up some UFOs and I have some beautiful new patterns to launch in the next few months. I'm sure you'll love them as much as I do. My new pattern launch for this month is my Feather Your Nest table runner pattern. I had been seeing the feather block all over the internet and had to make my own pattern for it. My method for making the feathers is simple. My instructions are thorough and easy to follow, so don't be afraid to jump right in and give it a try. This pattern is great for using up your scraps. The finished table runner is 38" x 14". The pattern also includes instructions for making a single 12" x 12" block shown below.

One of my favourite piecing techniques is Improv. I come from a fine arts and design background so I love to go off the beaten path. I enjoy the freedom Improv provides. I believe it's quilting for the soul. There are no real rules for Improv quilting. You are basically piecing scraps together in a free-form way. The results are stunning. The textures and all the combined colours can result in a true work of art. My piece Summer Aspen below was submitted for a new wing at a local hospital. The theme for the submissions was trees. I chose the Aspen tree because I love how Aspen leaves rustle in the wind. Unfortunately, the piece wasn't chosen but I ended up with a very nice quilt for my home. SUMMER ASPEN by Monica Curry The strips I used for the tree trunks in  Summer Aspen  were cut from fabric that was printed from a  linocut  I made. I wanted each strip to look like an actual Aspen tree. I liked how this quilt turned out and it hung in my office...

Well, another new year has begun. All the Christmas decorations are put away, the turkey leftovers are eaten, and life has fallen back into a regular routine. This is the time of year that I like to tidy my studio and get it ready for the days ahead. It's also the perfect time to purge some of my scrap fabrics and get them ready for scrap quilts. When I first started sorting scraps, I wasn't quite sure what to do with them. I now follow a few simple rules I learned along the way. 1. Have a scrap basket handy to throw unused cut-offs. I keep mine under my cutting table.. 2. I consider anything smaller than a Fat Quarter (18" x 22") a scrap. 3. Cut scraps in various sized squares. I cut an assortment of squares for nine-patch blocks in the following sizes: 5", 2¾",  and 2".  See my post on how to do this  How To Cut Scraps for 9-Patch Quilt Blocks  4. You'll be amazed at how fast your square supply grows. Keep your squares in a storage...

I love postage stamp quilts; they're great stash busters. I made this doll quilt for my grandniece, Abby, who just had a new baby brother. I made her mom my Precious Bundle pinwheel quilt for the new arrival, and my sister and I thought it would be nice to make a quilt for Abby's baby doll as well. To make this quilt, I used a great piecing technique I found at  So Resourceful  This technique makes piecing all those little squares a breeze. See the tutorial  HERE

My little Pomeranian Sophie is my shadow. She's with me everywhere I go around the house, but I've been spending a lot more time at my computer lately. Initially, she wanted to sit on my lap while I worked (she's a lap dog, after all), but I wouldn't get anything done that way. So, I plunked her on the desk. Now she sleeps there while I'm working, so I decided to make her a small quilted mat for the desktop. Awhile back, I picked up some cute fabric from with foxes on it. The fabric line is  Good Natured  by Riley Blake. My husband always says Sophie reminds him of a fox, so I made her a quilted "desk mat" with it. This mat would be great for your feline friend as well. I noticed the new mat was a bit slippy at first, so I put a piece of anti-slip mesh under it and that worked great. I think the little foxes in the birch trees are adorable. Sophie fast asleep on her new blankie.