From Quick to Stitch Precuts Magazine 2015

Here is my second project featured in a new magazine, Quick to Stitch Precuts 2015.  These super cute Pinwheel Pincushions are made using mini charms, in this case V & Co Color Theory.  These colors are so bright and cheery.  I used new and vintage buttons to set them off.  The tiny newsprint fabric background makes a great neutral to make them pop.  You can also find my Summer Harvest Quilt on the cover of the magazine.  I blogged about that HERE.  But I thought I would show you a few pics of my prototype and share some of my design process.

I was trying to come up with designs to use Precut fabrics for the magazine.  Precut fabrics include mini charms 2 1/2″ squares, charm squares 5″ squares, 10″ squares or layer cakes, jelly rolls and fat quarters to just name a few.  I had some extra mini charms floating around and started to play with them.  I scribbled some designs on paper and had the idea to create a pincushion of some kind.  This was the first prototype that I made.  I ended up just sewing a fabric back to it like a little bean bag to start.

Now I knew that I wanted to use 2 1/2 ” mini charm squares, I wanted to find some fun fabrics.  V & Co Color Theory was just coming out so I quickly ordered some packs.  I went through the stack of squares and started to put together squares I wanted.  The beauty of a coordinated fabric line is that the colors match and they all go together.  I matched up the colors.  When you make my pinwheels, you end up with two pincushions each spinning the opposite way.  That was sort of cool.

From Quick to Stitch Precuts Magazine 2015

I liked the idea of a boxy pincushion, so I added the side pieces to my finished design.  I had just bought the tiny newsprint fabric and it made it look so fresh and fun.  I dug out some fun buttons including quite a few vintage ones from my stash.  What a great way to highlight some special old buttons!  The designing and sewing part is the best part to me, afterwards, I write up my directions and type them up.  Then I use my directions to make the pattern again and make updates and corrections.  If I have time, sometimes a sewing buddy with take my instructions and make up the project with a fresh set of eyes to offer suggestions and corrections.  Those are great friends.

Then you wait for the magic day when the magazine comes out.  I did not have an exact date, so I actually discovered the magazine while I was shopping in Kroger!  And I got a big surprise to find my quilt on the cover.  Have you ever whooped really loud in a Kroger store?  I couldn’t help myself.  People were wondering why I was trying to take a picture of the magazines with my phone, LOL.

There are a ton of great projects in this issue of the magazine.  Look for it at JoAnn Fabrics, Kroger, Meijer or your local stores.

Happy Stitching!