The Candy Crush Quilt Along starts August 1st and runs through August 29th!  Nothing like a good project to get through the heat of August! To start off, you need to sign up for weekly updates from Natalie herself to prepare you each week with helpful tips and Zoom meet-ups! This quilt along has a community of over 300 already! You will have fun sewing along with and getting to know other quilters! So exciting! 

Are you having doubts about being able to make this quilt? Not to worry! This is an easy quilt to make. You will be sewing squares or strips of squares together as easy a 1-2-3. You can DEFINITELY do this! The added support of the zoom meets and also weekly lives on both Facebook and Instagram will help you each week! 

To receive emails and information about the Quilt Along:

Sign up here.

After you sign up, you will receive your first email Sunday morning with Zoom log-in info (if you want to join the Meet & Mingle happy hour). Natalie will also host meetings weekly, that will include special guests, prizes, as well as a low-pressure atmosphere to answer questions or share motivation and progress. Providing you with the support you need to finish this quilt in August! 

 To find the Candy Crush QAL community on Instagram, please share the graphic below and use the #candycrushQAL hashtag to help spread the word about the quilt-along. The more the merrier and people can sign up at any time, the sign-ups will be open through August! You do not have to own a Janome Sewing Machine to participate! All quilters are welcome! 

On September 5th, after the QAL is finished, Natalie will be awarding the GRAND PRIZE of a Janome Sewist 721 sewing machine to one lucky winner!

Whether you are just beginning your sewing journey or are an experienced sewing enthusiast, the Janome 721 mechanical sewing machine has features to enhance your sewing experience.  The 19 built-in stitches offer everyday stitches including stretch stitches and a 4-step buttonhole. Features include Adjustable Foot Pressure, Built-in Needle Threader, Extra High Foot Lifter for thicker fabrics, Drop Feed plus a Hard Machine Cover for safe storage. Plus it is lightweight for easy transport to classes.

A random winner will be chosen from those who have finished the quilt top,  it doesn't have to be quilted and bound. There will also be other fabulous giveaways from brands like Oliso and Havel's for participating during the event! How cool is that news?

(Entries for the machine are limited to US residents only, 18 years of age or older, due to laws and restrictions)

Natalie pieced her entire quilt on the Janome Skyline S7, then quilted straight lines diagonally over the whole quilt! 

Here's an introduction video if you'd like to see more!

Below I'm sewing the binding on! The IG reel is here.

"It feels like I harp about using quality machines and tools all the time, but there is something to be said about really understanding this. When I started sewing a long time ago I didn't have a quality machine, and EVERYTHING was so difficult to complete because of jams and problems. After my patience was worn out I called a local sewing shop and went to get the machine I truly needed. I've never looked back, and have had zero regrets for investing in ME!"

That's how it should be viewed- it's not just "buying a machine" -- it's investing in YOURSELF.

We hope to see you on the quilt-along! Be sure to tag @sewhungryhippie and  @janomeamerica in your posts and use the hashtags #candycrushQAL! If you are sewing along on a Janome please also use the #janomemakes hashtag! 

Sign up here.

Welcome back for the next step that will take you closer to finishing your Good Tidings Quilt designed by Janome Maker Melanie Call!  This week you will be sewing the Good Tidings Blocks together plus final quilt assembly with sashing and borders.  Soon your Good Tidings Quilt will be ready for snuggling or gift giving! Grab your fabrics for the race to the finish! Is there anything better to a quilter than a quilt finish? 

Good Tidings Quilt Instructions (HERE) .

It’s Melanie Call from A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog https://abitofscrapstuff.blogspot.com . I hope you are ready to assemble your Good Tidings Blocks! 

Don't forget to share your fabric selection, cutting, flying geese, patchwork squares, and Good Tidings Block, and Good Tidings Quilt top on Instagram with hashtag #GoodTidingsQAL

My Good Tidings Quilt was pieced and machine quilted on my Janome M7. I love how well my Janome M7 perfectly pieces blocks AND is fabulous for free motion quilting!

The Janome Continental M7 features:

A speedy 1300 stitches per minute (faster finish anyone)

Automatic Presser Foot Lift

Independent Bobbin Winding Motor and so many other features to make your sewing and quilting effortless!

Good Tidings Quilt    

#GoodTidingsQAL     59.5" x 59.5"

Fabric used in Good Tidings Quilt -  All About Christmas fabric designed by J.Wecker Frisch for Riley Blake Designs

You can find the past Good Tidings Quilt Along Blog Posts  to make this full quilt by visiting:

• Fabric Requirements 
• Cutting Instructions 
• Flying Geese Instructions and bonus half-square triangles 
• Patchwork Squares Instructions 

Don't forget to download the Good Tidings Quilt Flying Geese Instructions HERE. I can't wait to see your Good Tidings Quilt progress photos!!! #GoodTidingsQAL

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @ABitofScrapStuff  https://www.instagram.com/abitofscrapstuff/ and on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog https://abitofscrapstuff.blogspot.com  for more fabric fun! Also, be sure to follow Janome America on Instagram, and if you are creating on your Janome Sewing Machine, tag @janomeamerica and use the hashtag #janomemakes!  

Have a great day and happy quilting! 

Melanie Call

Welcome back to the Rainbow Quilt Block of the Month designed by Janome Maker Carolina Oneto!This month you will make Block Six. The Diamond Block, is a block that is perfect for practicing your half square triangle skills!  Get ready to have fun! 

Remember that all the blocks will have a finished size of 12” and the unfinished size will be 12 1/2”. All seams are ¼”.  Please read through all of the instructions prior to starting this block. Carolina sews on the Janome 1600P-QC that makes piecing and quilting effortless with an extra-wide work area, side loading bobbin for easy access, and an automatic thread cutter! 

Fabrics:

White background

Three 5 3/4” squares

Two 4” square

Pink

One 5 3/4” square

One 4” square

Dark pink

One 5 3/4” square

One 4” square

Orange

One 5 3/4” square

INSTRUCTIONS for making HST four at a time:

• Make four half-square triangles.
• Place a white and colored fabric square (5 3/4”) right sides together.
• Sew a 1/4″ seam allowance all around the perimeter of the square.
• Make two diagonal cuts and press each piece open to one side.
• Trim away the dog ears using a square quilting ruler, you will obtain 4 HST 3,5”

Instructions for making HST two at a time

Do this process with the 2 white squares of 4” and the two squares of the same size in pink and dark pink. You will assemble 8 half-square triangles that you must square up to the size of 3.5".

PINK

DARK PINK

ORANGE

FINAL ASSEMBLY

• Arrange your blocks in correct layout
• Using a quarter-inch seam allowance, sew together in rows. Join all rows, using a ¼” inch seam allowance.
• Press your completed block and trim down to 12.5″ square (if necessary).

You can find the past blocks by visiting:

Block One     HERE

Block Two     HERE

Block Three  HERE

Block Four    HERE

Block Five     HERE

After you make your block, we’d love to see them!

Janome Sewing Classroom

Janome America Instagram – Be sure to tag @janomeamerica and use the hashtag #janomemakes and also tag @carolinaoneto!

It is a new week and time for the next installment of the Good Tidings Quilt Along designed by Janome Maker Melanie Call from A Bit of Scrap Stuff! 

This week Melanie stitched up  Good Tidings Quilt Along - Patchwork Squares on her Janome Continental M7! 

Hi Quilty Friends! I hope you had fun making all the flying geese blocks and bonus half-square triangles last week. No worries if you are behind, this week is quicker! 

This week we will be sewing the Patchwork Squares!  Patchwork is always been a favorite of mine! Simple and looks fabulous!

 

 

Good Tidings Quilt Flying Geese Instructions (HERE).  I hope you are joining as there are AMAZING PRIZES from Riley Blake Designs, Fat Quarter Shop, and Oliso. Don't forget to share your fabric selection, cutting, and flying geese  on Instagram with the hashtag #GoodTidingsQAL

Be sure to check my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog  each week as I will be sharing a new pattern section each for the FREE Good Tidings Quilt Quilt Along (schedule at end of blog post)

 

 

Good Tidings Quilt    

Finished size:   59.5" x 59.5"

The fabric used in Good Tidings Quilt -  All About Christmas fabric designed by J.Wecker Frisch for Riley Blake Designs!

 

Patchwork Squares Instructions

 

• Download Patchwork Squares Instructions HERE

 

Good Tidings Quilt Along Schedule

You can find the previous Good Tidings Quilt Along Blog Posts to get caught up by visiting:

• Fabric Requirements
• Cutting Instructions
• Flying Geese Instructions and bonus half-square triangles

 

Don't forget to download the Good Tidings Quilt Flying Geese Instructions HERE

I can't wait to see your Good Tidings Quilt progress photos!!! #GoodTidingsQAL

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @ABitofScrapStuff and on my A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog for more fabric fun!

Have a great day and happy quilting! 

We are very fortunate to have so many talented Cosplayers in the Janome Maker Program. It is inspiring to learn how they create spectacular costumes by thinking outside of the box, using items that are not typically thought of as sewing fabrics, and somehow making it all come together seamlessly! 

Janome Maker Nipah Dubs wanted to create a chainmail top for his latest  Warrior of Light Paladin cosplay that is attainable for everyone! Get ready to be astounded at the look he accomplished and then try it yourself! Thank you, Nipah for this great tutorial! 

It's REALLY easy and gets the idea of chainmail across rather well in my opinion without needing to spend a lot of real chainmail and also not having to deal with the weight/bulk chain mail has.

Materials

• Non-slip rug mat

• Baby Powder 

• Rustoleum Silver spray paint 

• Design Masters Floral Spray (Black)
  
  Hey guys, I wanted to share with you how I went about making my chainmail for my Warrior of Light Paladin cosplay. It's REALLY easy and gets the idea of chainmail across rather well in my opinion without needing to spend a lot of real chainmail and also not having to deal with the weight/bulk chain mail has.
  
  So first off, what is it made out of? Well, it's simply just the rubber floor matting you put under carpets so they don't slip and move around! These come in various styles but you want to get this version where it's a spaced-out grid pattern!

Go ahead and unravel the mat and fold it over so it is double-layered, I will be making just a chainmail top so a standard sweatshirt pattern is all you need. When cutting out your pattern be sure you make it bigger than you need, that way you can take it in as you go, this material DOES NOT stretch at all and can be a pain to get on and off due to its nature being a non-slip rubber.

I got the basic shape I needed (Again, making it much larger than myself) and now it was time to sew!

When putting it on your machine to sew, make sure to interlock the grids so that the holes are filled in by the overlapping grid of the top layer, this way you’re not sewing into nothing.

I used your standard Zig-Zag stitch for this, that way it would catch the fabric much easier and had less chance of messing up (ex. if I used a straight stitch it would be much harder to sew). The material is a bit hard to sew through so take your time and go slowly making sure to adjust as you work your way through.

Repeat the last steps while taking it in and keep trying it on till you get to a point where it fits well enough on your body! You don't want it too tight where it's uncomfortable after all, just loose enough to where it's still fitted/flattering on you.

Now comes painting! Be sure to spray in a well-ventilated area using protective gear for safety. Please read all of the manufacturer’s requirements prior to use.  Due to this project being rubber and something that will move as it is worn,  I am using Design Masters Floral spray in black, this paint is intended to be used on fake flowers and crafts that do move and bend, the paint moves with it and will NOT crack. I usually use this on boots but it also works perfectly as a base for this project. Spray evenly to give a decent coat to both sides and let it dry thoroughly. Next, I am using silver spray paint to get the look of metal. 

One thing to note about spray paint against rubber is that it doesn't cure 100% properly due to the material, it leaves it a bit sticky but there is an easy way to get rid of the stickiness. Take some baby powder and put a portion of it inside a plastic bag, then put the top into it. Tie up the bag and shake it around for a couple of minutes, enough time to get the power on all of the spaces it needs to of the chainmail. Once you're done, take it out and shake it off to get rid of the excess powder and ta-dah, no more stickiness!

You can opt to leave it like this if you wish but in my opinion, it's rather difficult to take on and off by slipping it over your head so I opted to do something to help with that issue. I installed a zipper down the front, it would not be seen on the cosplay, and this way it would be MUCH easier to put on. I also used a Zig-Zag stitch for this to help catch the chainmail underneath and make sure it was fully stitched onto the zipper. For extra measures, you can go over your zig-zag stitch with a straight stitch if you want!    

I installed a zipper down the front, it would not be seen on the cosplay, and this way it would be MUCH easier to put on. I also used a Zig-Zag stitch for this to help catch the chainmail underneath and make sure it was fully stitched onto the zipper. For extra measures, you can go over your zig-zag stitch with a straight stitch if you want!

And with that, it is done! Hope this tutorial helps you out on your cosplay adventures!