(Lime) Green with Envy

A while back we shared a tutorial using the yellow colorway of Cosmopolitan (a Contempo Studio line designed by Michele D'Amore).

Today, we're (lime) green with envy, admiring Wendy Sheppard's "Manhattan" wallhanging, featured in the fall issue of Quilt Trends magazine. 

"Manhattan" designed by Wendy Sheppard;
featured in Quilt Trends Fall 2013

A large portion of the quilt center is comprised of the panel print from Cosmopolitan, and then Wendy framed it in an asymetrical and fun grouping of borders. Read what Wendy has to say below and then head over to her blog to see more close-ups of this modern piece of art!

Cosmopolitan panel

What made you choose to add more triangles to the design beyond the flying geese in the panel?

I felt like triangles done a little differently would contrast the preprinted geese nicely. Plus, I thought with the bulk of construction already done with the panel, introducing the template pieced triangles is a nice touch for those who have never attempted template piecing. 

Any tips for fussy cutting pieces like the panel?

I have found that not pressing the fabric prior to cutting helps me achieve better accuracy as far as matching the prints and eliminates any potential for distortion. So now, I cut my fabrics fresh off the bolt (no prewashing of the fabrics in this case), and press only after a block is pieced.

Can you share your thought process in selecting border treatments, specifically the asymmetrical ones?

I felt like the busy-ness of the panel print needed something long and soothing to balance.  Thus the long vertical strips in the quilt center.  I also chose the large brushstroke portion of the stripe print to give a bit of contrast to the smaller prints on the panel print.

Tell us about the machine quilting.

Yes, the quilt is busy and anything dense would probably be obscured by the busy print. So I opted for the open-air feel.  I quilted straight lines radiating from a point in the quilt center.  And then added randomly quilted circles. You can see my technique for quilting circles here.

Anything else you'd like to tell us about the quilt?

I love that the orientation of the quilt is so flexible.  I like it when it when I can offer options to quilters.

See the entire Cosmopolitan collection (including the blue and yellow colorways) here.

Find the free pattern for the Manhattan quilt here.

Learn more about Wendy and her work on her blog, here.

Find Quilt Trends here.

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Contempo Blog Hop Winners

Thanks so much to everyone who followed and commented during our Contempo Studio Blog Hop last week. We hope you enjoyed all the tutorials!

If you missed the tutorials, click on the links below. We guarantee you'll want to make all four!
Day 1: Quarter Log Cabin Pillow Covers by Clover & Violet
Day 2: Ruffle Trim Bib from see kate sew
Day 3: Reversible Placemats by the Benartex Blog Team
Day 4: Strip-pieced Wrist Strap and Lanyard Set by Ebony Love 


Now, on to the winners:

Day 1, receiving a FQ bundle of Dwellings:

Congratulations, Barbara Corbitt!


Day 2, receiving a FQ bundle of Cachet:

Congratulations, Katy!

Day 3, receiving a FQ bundle of Cosmopolitan:

Congratulations, Emily C!

Day 4, receiving a FQ bundle of Dwellings:

Congratulations, Debbie!

If you see your name above, you'll be receiving an email from us to get your mailing address. If you don't receive an email, it means we couldn't find your email address associated with your comment. Please email us at sewinlovewithfabric (at) gmail.com and give us your address. 

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Contempo Blog Hop Day 3: Reversible Placemats

It's Day 3 of the Contempo Studio Blog Hop and the Benartex Blog Team has teamed up to create these sophisticated reversible placemats using the Cosmopolitan collection. Check out the tutorial below, take a peek at this exciting new fabric line, and then see how to enter for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Cosmopolitan to start your own project!

On to the tutorial!
When we saw this panel of rectangular blocks in the Cosmopolitan collection, we knew they'd be perfect for placemats. Combining a pieced side with fussy cut wonky blocks from the panel would create a reversible placemat--double duty and double beauty!

Side one:

Side two:

To make four placemats, you'll need:

• 1 yard of the panel print
• 1/2 yard each of a gray dotted stripe, black/white leaf, yellow/black/white stripe, and circle print
• (4) 14" x 18" pieces of batting

Fussy cut a block from the panel and trim it to measure 13-1/2" x 17".

We auditioned the four prints we selected for a pieced backing. Since there were two stripes, we wanted to rotate one of them so the stripes ran in different directions.

Here's option #1:

And option #2:

You can choose either one, but we went with option #1.

From the stripe you want to run horizontal, cut a 4-3/4" x 13-1/2" lengthwise strip (cutting parallel with the selvedge so the stripes run the short way across the strip). From the remaining three prints (including the second stripe), cut a 4-3/4" x 13-1/2" strip. Sew the four strips together lengthwise as shown.

Layer the batting, the pieced placemat right side up, and the fussy-cut block right side down and pin around all sides. The pieced side will extend slightly beyond the block--that's okay--you'll trim later.

Sew around all four sides using a 1/4" seam allowance. Leave a 6" opening on one side for turning. Trim batting and backing even with the edges of the block. Trim corners on the diagonal to eliminate bulk after turning.

Turn the placemat right side out. Poke corners out as needed. Press the raw edges of the opening in to align with the placemat edges. Topstitch 1/4" from each short edge. Topstitch straight lines across the entire placemat approximately every 1/2" or as desired. Make four.

There's more--you can use the overall patchwork print to make coordinating napkins.

To make coordinating napkins, you'll need:

• 2-1/4 yards patchwork print

Cut (8) 18-1/2" squares

Place two squares right sides together and stitch around all four sides with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving a 6" opening for turning. Clip corners and turn right side out.  Press the raw edges of the opening in and topstitch around the outer edge of the napkin. Make four.

Meet Cosmopolitan:

You saw the yellow colorway in our tutorial above, but this versatile line also comes in lime and blue!

The giveaway: For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the Cosmopolitan collection, sign up to follow the Benartex blog using either Bloglovin’ or the email feature (both in the right sidebar). Then leave a comment below this post telling us that you are a follower and letting us know which colorway of Cosmopolitan most appeals to you. This giveaway will be open through Saturday, August 31 at 11:59 pm EST.

Find the remaining Contempo blog hop tutorials here:

Day 1: Quarter Log Cabin Pillow Covers by Clover & Violet

Day 2: Ruffle Trim Bib from see kate sew

Day 4: Strip-pieced Wrist Strap and Lanyard Set by Ebony Love 

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The New Look of Contempo

Modern Fabrics, Manhattan Style

That's what you'll find from Contempo Studio.

Just what is Contempo Studio?
Tucked away between the skyscrapers and hustle and bustle of New York is a place where fabric magic happens.
It's inspired by the runways, the trendy street kiosks of SoHo, by the colors and lights and music of the city.

We are thrilled to be sharing this new design house with you! Contempo Studio is debuting with a splash: three new modern collections, available in quilt shops this fall. Meet the first collection, Dwellings, below and then come back all week as the fabric lines debut in tutorials from some of our talented blogging friends. We think you'll like what you see!

First up: Dwellings
Edgy geometrics, two stripes and simple florals in three colorways.

Colorway #1 - Guesthouse
Inspired by welcoming guest rooms you'd love to move into: Cool teals (like this door photo, used for inspiration), mochas, and creams--a spa-like colorway to wrap you in relaxation

(You'll see these fabrics used in Clover & Violet's tutorial on Monday!)

And a sneak peek at the remaining two colorways:

Colorway #2 - Townhouse

Inspired by rich, contemporary colors reminiscent of menswear and mahogany-trimmed studies

Colorway #3 - Beachhouse
Inspired by modern beachwear colors: light teal mixed with coral, light green and sand

See the entire Dwellings line in all three colorways here.

We have four fantastic tutorials lined up for you this week, all using Contempo fabrics. Here's our blog hop schedule:
Monday: Jennie and Clara from Clover & Violet using Dwellings
Tuesday: Kate from See Kate Sew using Cachet
Wednesday: Benartex Blog Team, using Cosmpolitan
Thursday: Ebony from Love Bug Studios using Dwellings

We hope you'll join us!

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