I can't believe we are finally here, the last stop on the Moda Country Fair Blog Hop. If you don't already know, I live in Los Angeles and I recently visited the LA County Fair with my family and friends. It was HUGE! I mean, are-you-sure-we-are-at-the-fair-this-seems-more-like-six-flags HUGE!
There were rides,
and food. A lot of food.
What's better? The food or the trailers selling the food?
There was a petting zoo
and a ferris wheel, of course!
Oh, and those things you stand behind that make you look like ice-cream with a surfboard, you know the ones.
Or cheeesee cake?
And us Scotts really know how to ham it up in a photo booth!
And lots of sitting on our blankets in the grass listening to music, people watching, and checking out a super cool skateboarding show. Other fairs have livestock, in LA, it's skateboarders.
Hmmm...Let's see, are there some questions to answer. Oh yes, here they are!
What is your favorite fair food?
On this last trip to the fair we tried a deep fried Klondike Bar! It was pretty amazing, kind of like an ice cream sundae inside of a donut. Only at the fair, right?
What's your guilty pleasure?
Coffee, for sure. I have a very specific morning ritual when it comes to coffee and it involves a chemex and Intelligentsia coffee. If either element is missing in my morning brew, the whole day just seems a little different.
What's on your bucket list?
I want to visit the Scandinavian countries; Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark. Not only is it my heritage, but also, there is a yearning in me to go and explore up there. Something about the cold conjures up a sweet, cozy feeling for me. Oh, to be in Sweden for Christmas or Santa Lucy's Day.
What inspires your Work?
I find that a color palette often gets my juices flowing. A particular palette will strike me and sort of let me know what it would like to be. Specifically, I love line drawings with lots of detail, bold contemporary florals, and of course anything with vintage charm. However, I have noticed a little shift in myself lately. I find that I want to simplify things now that Rylie has accumulated so much stuff. This desire is influencing my taste somewhat and I've been drawn to a more clean and spare aesthetic when it comes to home decor and fashion. It just makes things a little lighter.
Now, on to the project, shall we? When we were at the fair we spent a lot of time hanging about on the grass. We picnicked on the grass, we watched the skateboarders on the grass and the kids did a whole lot of playing on the lush lawn at the fairgrounds. So, a blanket for sitting on was certainly in order. But we also needed to keep our hands free for pushing strollers, eating cotton candy, and hanging on to all the tickets we won at skeeball. Where on earth would we ever fit in a blanket? How about a personal-sized blanket that tucks away into a little pouch that can be worn around your wrist? Ok, then, here it is!
Country Fair Tuck-Away Blanket
Finished size - a 24" x 24" blanket that folds up to an 11" x 6.5" wristlet pouch.
I used my fabric line Domestic Bliss for this project. It will be available this December!
What you need:
36 - 5" x 5" squares (Charm Pack, here we come)
1 - 26" x 26" piece of heavier fabric for the back of blanket (I cut mine from a thrifted chenille beadspread)
1 - 13" x 7" rectangle quilting cotton (this will be called rectangle A)
1 - 13" x 8" rectangle quilting cotton (this will be called rectangle B)
12.5" length of ribbon
1. Cut your heavier piece of fabric for the back of the blanket 26" x 26"
Squares 5" x 5", you'll need 36.
Rectangles (A)13" x 7" and (B)13" x 8"
2. Line up your squares in an arrangement that suits you and makes your heart happy.
3. Starting at the left most edge, sew each column of six squares together with a 1/2" seam allowance.
4. Press seams open.
5. Starting with the left most column, sew each column to the next using a 1/2" seam allowance until all six are joined to form the quilt top.
6. Turn under 1/2" on each side of both rectangles and press.
7. Machine topstitch one of the long edges of rectangle B.
8. Fold your ribbon length in half and line up raw edges with the top right corner of the right side of rectangle B along the side that you just topstitched. Make sure the ribbon is lying on top of the rectangle and not off to the side.
9. With right sides together, line up rectangle B and the ribbon with the upper right hand corner of the heavier, back of blanket fabric. Your topstitched edge and ribbon should be pointing towards the bottom of the blanket. Pin in place from the heavier fabric side, making sure to catch the ribbon.
10. Machine topstitch the top long edge of rectangle A.
11. With wrong sides together, line up rectangle A on top of rectangle B so that the bottom of rectangle A sits directly below the topstitched hem of rectangle B. Be sure the bottom edge of rectangle A does not overlap rectangle B at all. Pin in place. 12. Machine topstitch right hand edge of rectangle A and B and the bottom edge of rectangle A to the heavier blanket back.
13. With right sides together, line up blanket back fabric and the quilt top, pin all the way around.
14. Beginning in the corner opposite the 2 rectangles, stitch all sides of the blanket together with a 1/2" seam allowance. Be sure to catch the edges of rectangle A and B. Leave a 6" opening to turn the blanket.
15. Turn the blanket right side out.
16. Press under edges of opening 1/2" and blind stitch closed. I have a little tutorial over here for this stitch that you might find helpful.
17. Ok, so here is where it gets really good. Fold your finished blanket in half lengthwise.
18. Fold the bottom third of the blanket up towards the top and repeat until your reach the edge of the rectangle pocket.
19. Fold the left hand side over on top of rectangle A and then pull rectangle A over top, like you are putting the blanket in an envelope.
20. Does it look like this? Is rectangle A wrong side out? Good, it should be.
21. Flip it over and turn rectangle B right side out. Again, as though you are putting the blanket in an envelope.
22. And there it is: your personal-sized tuck-away fair blanket!
That's it! The end of the project and the end of the Blog Hop! I hope you've had a wonderful ride and enjoyed learning more about the Moda fabric designers and checking out all of the fun and creative projects. And if you have not already, please be sure to check Kathy Schmitz's clever hot dish carrier from yesterday!