Sunday, December 21, 2014

Snowflakes Applique

I made a few simple little snowflakes for this week's applique design. These snowflakes can be used in a couple different ways. First, you can use just the outline of each one, for the most basic snowflakes. These would be the easiest to cut out and to applique. I used two of these simple shapes for a table runner. The background of the runner could be quilt blocks, or a favorite print, or as I've shown here, a few wide stripes of different colors.


I also used a few with both layers of the design, to make my always popular placemats. (I think I like making table toppers and placemats more than anything. )


Last, I made a few mug rugs, with a big snowflake on each one. On the green rug, it looks like I cut out all the inner edges of the snowflake design, when in reality, I cut the little diamond shapes out of the same color as the background, and added them on top of the snowflake. I'm not sure it was any easier than cutting out the actual snowflake, but it was fun to try. Hope you have fun with these designs, and be sure to share any finished projects, so I can post them here!



Thanks for checking in again! I will be taking two weeks off for some family time over the holidays (and to work with my new little puppies), so I'll see you again the second Sunday in January!

Paulette
www.TulipSquare.com



Saturday, December 13, 2014

Mrs. Snowman

First there was Mr. snowman last week, and now here's Mrs. Snowman to join him. Use them separately, or together. A set of placemats would be cute using a couple of each of them. Or a table topper using both of them. Also a good size for pot holders, wall hangings, even greeting card! And I'm sure you can come up with even other uses.
Here's Mrs. Snowman adorning a placemat, similar to Mr. Snowman last week. You could make the backgrounds all different, or decorate the snowmen in different colors on each mat.
Here is the couple together, on a table runner and wall hanging. Wouldn't these be fun to make?



Thanks for checking in, see you next week!
Paulette
www.TulipSquare.com

Monday, December 8, 2014

Mr. Snowman Applique

This week I have Mr. Snowman for you, in an applique pattern. I made it for feltwork, but it could also be used for machine applique or even scrapbooking. He's got a number of pieces, so you can get really creative with different colors and fabrics.

Since I'm a big fan of placemats, I tried him on one with a really simple background. The snowflakes could be added with machine or hand embroidery or even acrylic paint.

Instead of a set of placemats, you can use the same idea, but add a message of your choice, and use it as a wall hanging near your front door. It's a cute way to welcome guests into your home.




Come back next week for Mrs. Snowman.
Thanks for stopping in!
Paulette
Tulip Square LLC

www.tulipsquare.com

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Three Little Mittens

Here is a pretty simple mitten pattern you can use to dress up a variety of wintry items. Three different mitten styles to choose from. Use all three or just use one in lots of different colors.

Here's a cute pillow, using just one variation of the mitten. Would be a cute table topper if you used several around a simple center.
You can also switch cuffs or other elements, to make the mittens a little different. Or try adding little beads to the tree to trim it up really festively!




Come back next week for Mr. Snowman, followed by Mrs. Snowman the week after.
Thanks for stopping in!
Paulette
Tulip Square LLC

www.tulipsquare.com

Monday, November 24, 2014

Three Layered Flower Applique

It's snowing here again today, and I'm not quite ready for winter just yet, so I thought I'd make a pretty little flower applique this week. I'll do some wintery things starting next week, but today it's a flower. This flower has three layers in addition to the leaves. You can use just the bottom petal layer when you make a flower, or add either of the other pieces on top of it, or use all three.

If you use the pattern actual size, it would be good on coasters, mug rugs or placemats. Make them a bit bigger and they'd be good on a wall hanging, table runner, table topper or even quilt squares. I do like making applique flowers, so you'll be seeing more of them from time to time. Maybe I should design a quilt with all different flower applique blocks. That would be fun to make.

Here is an idea of how this flower design could look on a table runner.  You could also scatter the flowers in all different directions. Or all different colors.


This is a placemat idea. I am fond of making big squares then adding something on top of them. I have a pattern in the works with an assortment of basic backgrounds, and different appliques to go on top, similar to this.


One little trick I forgo to mention earlier, is when I'm playing with the placement of any applique, I often cut the pieces out of colored paper to try them out different ways and in different color combinations, before cutting out the actual fabric. I can also adjust the sizes if necessary, before wasting and fabric, too. I use construction paper, which is really cheap, or leftover scrapbooking paper. I seem to have a good number of books of it, and I don't do scrapbooking!!

Bye for now, see you next week! 


Sunday, November 16, 2014

Autumn Leaves Applique Pattern

This week's free applique pattern is for three autumn leaves. I originally designed these as part of a wall hanging, but I never quite managed to get it finished. Maybe for next fall.....

Until then, there are a lot of cute things just dying to be created with these leaves, like table runners, pillows, placemats, potholders. Don't forget, you can make them bigger or smaller, and flip them.

You can dress up some simple checked placemats with a leaf or two -


Hope you have fun with this pattern, and show me what you've made with it!

I'm working hard to get patterns for the sewing caddy and a bigger tri-fold finished in the next week or two.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Bird on a Branch Applique Pattern

Welcome to my first day of my first blog! I'll be showing you the projects I'm working on here, including upcoming new quilting patterns, as well as occasional random knit or crochet patterns. Right now I'm working on a new little sewing caddy, a few more table toppers (my favorite projects), and several baby quilts with matching little stuffed animals. I'm planning on three different animals - probably a cat, an owl and a puppy or bear.

In addition to patterns for them, I'm thinking of making some of my smaller quilted items, like the various tablet totes, for sale as finished items. I get a good number of requests for the finished pieces from people on Etsy.

Every week I'll be adding a new free applique pattern, in PDF form. You can download it and use it for a quilt block, mug rug, whatever. Have fun with them, and check back each week to see the newest one!

This first one is called Bird on a Branch. It's a simple one piece design that has a lot of different uses. I made a whole quilt using these birds on each block. They'd also be cute on a pillow or wall hanging. Used with paper, they'd be a pretty greeting card. I'm sure you can think of other uses too. Have fun with the design, and check back next week for a new design!



Thanks for joining me - I hope to hear from you all and let me know what you think of my blog, and how I can improve it!

Paulette