All About Color!

Ready for a brilliant pop of color? Designed with art lovers in mind, these fabrics are rich and appealing! Mix large watercolor dots with painterly stripes, spirals, and cool art supplies. Pair them with Colors for Quilters Solids or Shadow Blush blenders for a fun, graphic quilt. 

Click here to see the entire All About Color collection.

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Recreating Antique Quilts

If you're a faithful reader of our blog and Benartex fabric lover, chances are you are pretty familiar with Wendy Sheppard's name. We always enjoy seeing what she does with Benartex fabrics--from quilts featured in magazines to free pattern designs featured on our website to tutorials included in our blog hops. Today we're featuring Wendy's book, Recreating Antique Quilts. The book shares exactly what the name says--quilts in Wendy's signature style that are re-interpreted from antique treasures. We think you'll like it as much as we do! Read on to learn more about Wendy's book and see some of the projects in it.

What inspired your topic choice for your book?

I have always been fascinated by the rich quilting history in America ever since I started quilting about 10 years ago. The historical connection means even more for someone like myself who didn't grow up in the States. I relish in looking at antique quilts.  I often felt a little sad because many of the antique quilts do not bear records of the makers.  I often imagine the friendships among the quilting women - the joys and sorrows they share with each other whether through peace or war.

When I was approached to write a book by Landauer Publishing, I decided to re-interpret a few of the antique quilts for today's quilters, using today's fabrics and techniques in an attempt to connect the quilters today with the quilting treasures of the past.

How long was the process from start to finish?

I think from start to finish, it was about 1 year.  But as long as I have been quilting, the desire to re-make and re-interpret antique quilts have always been near and dear to my heart.

What is your favorite project in the book?

That is hard to pick - it's like a mother to play favoritism and pick her favorite child. Ha!  A few of my favorites are: Calico Trail (because of the simple blocks that make a very pleasing visual effect), Oh, Happy Stars (because the colors of the quilt are so happy, and the applique of swirls and bird just steal my heart!), Feathery Formation (because of the space available for quilting), and the two DAR-inspired applique projects (because applique adds additional dimensions to any quilts). (See a collage of all the projects in Recreating Antique Quilts here.)

Oh, Happy Stars

Can you tell us a bit more about one of these projects?

Sure ! The Ivory Baltimore Wallhanging -- it is made with Benartex's Blush fabrics.  I took two blocks from a DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) quilt, and re-interpreted them for a banner project.  The project is small enough for quilters to finish and practice on their applique skills for those who haven't done many applique quilts.

Ivory Baltimore Wall Hanging

The colors of the project are inspired by old French red on cream needlework projects.  I reversed the colors, and used cream applique on red for Ivory Baltimore.  The left applique is actually half of an

applique block.  The inspiration came motifs of antique Quaker needlework

samples that are oftentimes halved at the borders. Quilting was allover feathers on around the applique. I am very thrilled about the warm responses I have received on Ivory Baltimore.

How did you choose the quilts you used for inspiration?

For the quilts in the book, I have mainly done my research online.  I often visit museums to admire antique quilts, but none of them became basis for my projects for this book.  That will happen though -- I have a few ideas.  I chose the quilts based on how versatile the designs were to adapt for today's quilters, and how easily the quilters themselves can personalize and customize the projects to make their own masterpieces.

What is the most interesting comment you’ve gotten from someone who has read your book?

The most interesting (and heartening) comment I have gotten is that the quilter could immediately relate the book cover with me from that bird and swirl applique.

Tell us your favorite thing about the book.

It is so me -- the projects, the presentation and the layout of the book. The editorial staff at Landauer did a most tremendous job in reflecting my personality throughout the book.  I have been doubly pleased that Recreating Antique Quilts was awarded the silver medal of Independent Book Publishers Association's Benjamin Franklin Award.

Congratulations, Wendy!

Click here to read more of what Wendy has to say about her book.
Click here to purchase Wendy's book or ask for it at your local quilt shop.

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Blenders Blog Hop Day 3: Blush Pillows

Welcome to Day 3 of our Blenders Blog Hop! Today we're featuring tutorials for two pillows made by the Benartex Blog Design Team using the gorgeous Blush collection. These almost solids have a rich depth from subtle shading, giving them a little extra sparkle than a basic solid fabric. Don't miss the information for entering the giveaway to win a bundle of Blush at the end of this post!

Here's the palette we chose to use (though Blush comes in 55 different colors, so there are plenty to choose from!):

And our finished pillows, one with a scrappy pieced look and one highlighting the simplicity of a monochromatic pillow, enhanced with three-dimensional texture:

To Make the Strippy Pillow

Materials:

1/4 yard each of 8 Blush fabrics

1/2 yard backing fabric

20" square batting

18" square pillow insert

Cutting:

From each 1/4 yard, cut two 1-1/2" x 42" strips

From the backing fabric, cut two 13" x 18-1/2" pieces

Step 1: Cut the 1-1/2" strips into 7" lengths. (You'll need at least 60.)

Step 2: Sew the 1-1/2" x 7" strips together lengthwise into pairs. 

Step 3: Sew pairs together to create three units of 20 strips each. Note: You can sew colored strips together randomly or plan out color placement in advance--your choice! Trim units to measure 6-1/2" wide. Lay out the units together until you like how they look. The units are longer than needed so you can shift as desired and as you see below. We chose to have the units line up randomly rather than matching seams--again, your choice.

Step 4: Use pins to mark the placement of the three units in relation to each other. Layer the middle unit centered on the 20" batting square. Layer a side unit on top, matching the pins for alignment. Pin the raw edges you'll be sewing together to each other and the batting to create a quilt as you go pillow top. Sew using a 1/4" seam allowance and press open.

Step 5: Sew the remaining side unit on in the same manner. 

Step 6: Trim and square up the pillow top and batting to measure 18-1/2" square. 

Step 7: Fold and press one long edge of each 13" x 18-1/2" backing piece over 1/4" and 1/4" again to create a nice finished hemmed edge. Topstitch. 

Step 8: Layer the pillow top right side up and layer the two backing pieces on top right side down, matching raw edges. The long hemmed edges will overlap in the middle of the pillow. Pin layers together and sew around the outer edge using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 9: Turn right side out and stuff with the pillow insert.


To Make the Pleated Pillow

Materials:

3/4 yard teal fabric (includes backing)

14" square pillow insert

Fabric marking pen or pencil

Cutting:

From the teal fabric, cut one 15" x 24" piece and two 10" x 14-1/2" pieces

Step 1: Starting 1-1/2" from a short end of the 15" x 24" teal piece, begin marking lines. Mark a second line 1" from the first line. Mark a third line 2" from the second line. Continue marking lines, alternating between 1" and 2" apart as you see in the photo. Mark 7 pairs of lines. 

Step 2: Mark a line centered between each pair of lines that were previously marked 1" apart. To create each pleat, fold the fabric wrong sides together so the 1" lines meet up and the fold line is on the newly drawn centered line. This will create 1/2" pleats.

Step 3: Sew along the 1" chalk lines to create each pleat.

Step 4: Sew all the pleats.

Step 5: Trim pleated piece to measure 14-1/2" square. Draw a chalk line down the center of the pleated square, perpendicular to the pleats. 

Step 6: Stitch along the marked line with all pleats folded in the same direction. Measure and draw lines 3" out from the center line and stitch, making sure pleats are folded in the opposite direction from the center line. 

Step 7: Repeat on each side, 3" out from the second set of lines, folding the pleats in the same direction as for the center line. 

Step 8: Create two hemmed back pieces just like for the Strippy Pillow using the two 10" x 14-1/2" teal pieces. Assemble the pillow in the same manner. 

Voila! Two new pillows to freshen up your couch!

Would you like to win a fat quarter bundle of the Blush line? It’s easy! Simply sign up to follow our blog and leave a comment on this post letting us know that you did.  For a second chance to win, follow Benartex’s Sew Interesting page on Facebook and leave another comment here letting us know you did.  The giveaway is open through Monday, September 1 at 11:59 pm EST and the winner’s name will be randomly selected and announced here next week!

Be sure to check out the other tutorials we'll be featuring all week long!

Blenders Blog Hop:Tuesday 8/26: Christina from Sometimes Crafter featuring Burlap
Wednesday 8/27: Caila from Caila Made featuring Burlap
Thursday 8/28: Benartex Blog Design Team featuring Blush
Friday 8/29: Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts featuring Fleurish

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Blender Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Blender Blog Hop Week!

We've got four fantastic tutorials lined up showcasing a few of our blender collections--tonals with rich texture in a huge variety of colors. We'll be showing you projects made just with these lines, but they're also ideal for mixing and matching with any of our fabric collections; with so many colors to choose from, you're sure to find just the right hue for your next project!

First, here's a sneak peek at the three blender fabric collections you'll see featured this week:

Blush

A hint of texture creates depth and interest not found in traditional solids

See all the colors (55!) from the Blush collection here.

Burlap

The look of actual woven burlap, but with a soft, cottony feel

See all the colors from the Burlap collection here.

Fleurish

Painterly streaks create a striped look in bold colors

See all the colors from Kanvas' Fleurish collection here.

And here's the schedule for the week:
Tuesday 8/26: Christina from Sometimes Crafter featuring Burlap
Wednesday 8/27: Caila from Caila Made featuring Burlap
Thursday 8/28: Benartex Blog Design Team featuring Blush
Friday 8/29: Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts featuring Fleurish

Be sure to by the blog every day this week to see a new tutorial and have a chance to win a blender bundle of your own!

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