Chicks on the Run Virtual Trunk Show

You've seen Cheryl Hayne's Chicks on the Run fabric collection; you've also seen Debby Kratovil's Technique Tuesday using the prints. Today we're sharing four more quilt patterns featuring these fun prints! The first three are quilt patterns available for purchase on Cheryl's website, and the last quilt is a free download from our website. 

Which is your favorite? Grab some Chicks on the Run and get quilting! 

Cheryl is here to walk you through her quilts: 

"In the Bird House" - I've always liked birdhouse blocks. You can add a different bird to the birdhouse and change it totally. If you look closely, you can see a line of mini poms along the bottom edge of the roof. 

"Cabin Fever" - I used mini poms on this quilt too--on the wings. This is the cutest quilt with those little pom poms. The chickens are pieced here; the only applique is the beak, tail feather and wing. The Log Cabin blocks are all the same design, just rotated.

"Hens & Chicks" - This is my version of a soft colored baby quilt. It was fun to do! I love the check print in there (the grass, background). I think it looks so soft and sweet. The chickens are pieced, and then the flowers, beaks and tail feathers are quick fuse applique. 

"Chicken Strips" - A rail fence variation, this is a quick and easy strip quilt! We love the stripe in the border. 

Click here to download the free quilt pattern.

 Click here to see the entire Chicks on the Run collection.

Click here to visit Cheryl's website and find her patterns.

Psst...Cheryl will be demonstrating quick fuse techniques at Missouri Star Quilt Co.'s Birthday Bash September 22-24!

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Technique Tuesday: Chicks Looking for a Good Home!

Yesterday we showed you Cheryl Haynes' new collection, Chicks on the Run. Today, we have Debby of Debby Kratovil Quilts sharing a Technique Tuesday with us using these fun chicken prints. You'll love the houses she made for her chickens--some simple improvisational log cabins and roofs. Enjoy!

Here's Debby:
Tell us why you chose this group to work with, Debby.

Well, the title is intriguing, is it not? Why are these chicks on the run? Running from who, the Big Bad Rooster? Or the fox in the hen house? Or are they just liberated chickens? I wanted to know!

I saw the panel and knew I had to have it. There's so much you can do with a panel (other than treating it like one piece of fabric (yawn). A panel says to me: cut me up, cut me up!

Chicks on the Run panel

Benartex sent me 1/3 yard cuts of every other sku in the collection, so I knew I could test drive some ideas. You see, I generally begin sewing, then I plan. I let the fabrics tell me what they want. These chicks wanted HOUSES of their own. That's why they're running.

Chicks on the Run fabrics

I cut out a few of the panels, leaving 1/4" seam allowances. Those horizontal strips of strutting chicks would definitely be in there. I like that there were both squares and rectangles from the panels. I began to think log cabins (those are houses, aren't they?) and roofs.

Strips cut in various widths

Some of the panels

Two panels and a square of the house print

Improvisational stitching. Sew, trim. Sew on another strip. I was aiming for a width of 12-1/2". The house heights would vary.

Strips added to a panel

Long chick panel. Two houses already stitched. Wait a minute, how did you do that roof?

Because I only had 1/3 yard (that's 12"), and I wanted my roof to be 12" wide (6" x 12" finished), I had to improvise. I like to improvise. It's gets my juices going! These roofs are really Flying Geese blocks. The "sky" fabric (cream) is a 6-7/8" square cut into two triangles. The red fabric should be cut from a 13-1/4" square (cut into 4 triangles), but as you can see, I didn't have 13-1/4".

I have an Omnigrid ruler that can cut these. But you can also make a paper template from a 13-1/4" square of paper (cut into 4 triangles). I cut four roofs from the red fabric:

Cutting the roof fabric

Then I stitched the cream triangles onto the sides. I added a 2" strip to the bottom before I added it to my first chick panel.

Roof with strutting chicks strip

Now it's ready for the first chick house!

I continued to sew the strips onto the panels. I even sewed a roof to the largest panel. This will eventually go on the back.

Single chick panel with roof, will go on quilt back

OK. Can we see the quilt top? There was a lot of improvisational piecing going on. Sew, trim, sew some more. What do you think?

I used every single companion print. The green check will be my binding (I showed that to you up there with the roof). That brown star has been sitting on my design wall for about 5 years from another project. He begged me to include him in this quilt. What do you think?

This quilt measures 40" x 50". I hope to quilt it soon. I think the chicks will be happy to see their new coops - uh, houses. And, of course, lots of flowers in their gardens, because chicks like flowers, don't we?

Thanks Debby! 

Click here to visit Debby's blog.
Click here to see the entire Chicks on the Run collection.
Click here to visit Cheryl's website. 

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Cheryl Haynes: Chicks on the Run

Chicks on the Run by Cheryl Haynes is another collection that previewed at Quilt Market, so you've already seen a sneak peek, but today we're sharing it all--filling your day with adorable chickens! 

Keep reading to learn more about this collection and the fabrics in it, and then come back tomorrow for a Technique Tuesday post by Debby Kratovil featuring these fun prints! 

A quick look at the entire collection: 

A sampling of Chicks on the Run prints:

What inspired you to design a chicken-themed line?

I have chicken décor in my kitchen. I was playing around, drawing some chicken designs for my own kitchen and one thing led to another.

What did you pair with the chickens in the Chicks on the Run fabric?

I have a yard full of birdhouses. We love our birds here—we see them all winter and enjoy the families and babies all summer. I have bird feeders and bird baths all round. I also really like flowers, so it worked to tie these three ideas together.

Tell us about the panel.

The chickens are definitely whimsical. I really wanted them to be fun. When I design panels, I like to have the panel contain smaller pieces that you can actually do things with. You can make table runners or potholders or small wall hangings from the different pieces.

What’s your favorite part of the panel?

The little gold flower pot with the flowers. I really like the flowers in the fall colors. I could see it being a table mat on my counter.

Let’s talk about the color palette.

I’m a fall person. If I had to choose a palette as my favorite, I’d choose fall colors. I chose orange, gold and deep red, and then added my favorite mossy green in as well. I had fun using lighter colors in this collection—I normally use a lot of darks, but these are softer.

Tell us about the coordinates.

I really like the crackle print. I was thinking of cracked eggs. It makes a great blender.

When I design, I create the panel, and then the border prints, and then I think about prints that would work for sashing, and last, the blenders. I designed the mini chicks to be used as a sashing print.

I consider the birdhouses and the chicks in cups to be border fabrics.

Do you have a favorite print in the collection?
My favorite is the tossed Jacobean flowers. I really love that print. It makes such a pretty border, but it can also be used as a background or a tonal because it’s so subtle.

 Click here to see the entire Chicks on the Run collection.

psst...we'll be showing Cheryl's quilt patterns for Chicks on the Run later this week, but you can get a sneak peek by clicking here!

And psst...Cheryl will be demonstrating quick fuse techniques at Missouri Star Quilt Co.'s Birthday Bash September 22-24!

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Spring Quilt Market Booth Tour - Day 1

We're back from Spring Quilt Market with plenty to show! We'll be splitting the photos into three days of posts. Today you'll see the booth displays and new collections from Nancy Halvorsen, Rose Ann Cook, and Cheryl Haynes. 

First up, Nancy Halvorsen's display, featuring her bright new collection, Bree. 

Nancy showing her calendar quilt, which features a different applique block and word for each month. The quilt is featured in her new book.

A closer look at the quilt: 

It feels like summer at this fresh patio set, with cushions covered in Bree fabric and a cute hourglass block quilt top. 

A closer look at the quilt: 

Nancy's blocks can be used individually, as well, such as for a pillow.

Adorable themed banners and small wall hangings for each month: 

We're thrilled to see your new collection, Nancy! We've missed you!

A few more quilts made using the Bree collection (both are available as free patterns on our website).

Click here for a sneak peek at the entire collection, available in shops this summer. 


Next, Rose Ann Cook, with her new collection Modern Antiques.

Rose Ann's collection was inspired by the antique quilt she's holding here. 

A gorgeous classic quilt design with twelve different blocks, made from Modern Antiques.

Simple half-square triangles pack a punch in Rose Ann’s “Cracker Jack” quilt.  “Churn Dash Candy” is folded in front.  The quilt to the right with the fanned top (Hidden Shoo Fly) is available as a free quilt pattern on our website.  These three quilts are SISTERS Quilts, meaning that each one can be made from one half of one fat quarter bundle (plus backgrounds, sashing and borders. Rose Ann introduced her line of SISTERS Quilt Patterns at the show.

Star blocks in a table runner

Rose Ann shows the quilt she made using her fabrics based on the antique version.  This quilt, called “Antique 4-Corners” is also a Sisters Quilt Pattern.  She made Antique 4 Corners and the Cracker Jack quilt from the same fat quarter bundle!! 

SISTERS Quilt Patterns are available from Rose Ann’s shop, Quilter’s Emporium.

Click here for a sneak peek at the Modern Antiques collection, available in quilt shops this fall.

Cheryl Haynes' booth display features her three newest collections, Pumpkin Patch, Liberty Hill and Chicks on the Run. 

Cheryl used her Liberty Hill collection to create an iconic Americana quilt, the Liberty Hill Collection Quilt. The pattern can be made into three smaller quilts or combined into the quilt Cheryl's holding below. 

Ready for fall? Pumpkin Patch has all the right prints!

Using Liberty Hill coordinates for a beautiful star quilt.

Cheryl's Liberty Hill quilt on its own.

More details from the Liberty Hill Collection Quilt:

Chicks on the Run--so cute!

Sweet bird and chick themed quilts using the Chicks on the Run fabric:

Click here to see the entire Pumpkin Patch collection, available in quilt shops now. 
Click here to see the entire Liberty Hill collection, available in quilt shops this summer.
Click here for a sneak peek at the Chicks on the Run collection, available in quilt shops this fall.

Stop by tomorrow as we continue our booth tour! 

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