A few weeks back Sylvia of Flying Parrot Quilts contacted me with her idea to do a quilt along for a quilt she made using a mash up of a bunch of Halloween themed patterns. She calls it the Epic Halloween Quilt. You can see a photo of it here.

Each week she talks about a different pattern, either free or paid, that fits in the quilt. Like a puzzle piece.

This week is my Ring of Coffins pattern with Heidi Kenney’s Occupied Coffin add on (that’s included)

For anyone out there that hasn’t worked with English Paper Piecing / EPP, where it needs to be basted straight, I’m here to help! Just Keep Reading…

For the Epic Halloween Quilt Along, make sure to print the pattern at 85% to help it fit on the block!

How to Make a Custom Fussy Cutting Template:

For my block, I will be making eight solid coffins and eight occupied coffins. However you could do whatever configuration you want. Just make sure to print out enough templates pieces!

I like to print my EPP Templates on 68lb cardstock, and my Occupied Coffins Foundation Paper Piecing template on everyday copy paper. For this tutorial, I am also using a small piece of Heavy Duty Template Plastic.

The first step is to trace to basic coffin template on to the plastic, using a sharpie marker. I also labeled it, so I know it is the 85% smaller coffin.

Next I go and center the Occupied Coffins window in the Basic Coffin shape and trace that too.

I then cut out the entire thing using my “anything” scissors. This plastic is thick, so don’t use your nice fabric scissors. You don’t have to cut out the window, I just like the extra visibility.

Now that the fussy cutting template is ready to go, here are two ways to use it…

Using the Fussy Cutting Template to Make a Solid Coffin Block:

You don’t always need to center pieces that are just blender fabrics, but if you’re like me, and you want straight blocks, this is one of many ways it cane be done.

If your fabric is printed on a light base fabric, you can use a disappearing ink pen to trace the template on to the back of the fabric itself. Make sure to leave room around template, because you’ll need that in the next step.

Cut about 1/4″ to 1/2″ all the way around the traced lines. The seam allowance all depends on your personal basting preferences.

Next take one of your cut out solid cardstock coffin templates, and your choice of clips (I like the jumbo Wonder Clips by Clover) and line it up with the traced line and secure it temporarily.

Now here is where you may go “but that’s not how I baste EPP”, and I get that a lot. “There are many ways to skin a cat”, and there are many ways to baste English Paper Piecing templates. This just happens to be my personal choice. If it isn’t yours, skip this and the next step.

I tie a knot at the end of my thread and I do two large basting stitches to keep the coffin secure and in place. I don’t take the clips off yet.

Using the same thread, I then continue to baste around the edges by going through the paper. Again, it’s a personal preference. You could glue baster yours, or baste only the fabric around the coffin. All up to you!

This is how my finished basic coffin looks. See how the lines are all straight on the bottom? It’s all; because I went that next step and lined it all up! Sometimes it’s just worth it.

Next up…

Using the Fussy Cutting Template to Make a Occupied Coffin Block:

So using the template for the Occupied Coffin is a bit different. At first I use the inside window to pick out the best cuts for the window of the coffin. I then use the outside edge of the template as my cutting guide. I added a 1/2″ underneath the window ledge too.

I then just add that to the center block of the pattern and piece it normally. It’s just nice getting that perfectly centered block without guessing.

I’m not going to get in to how to do Foundation Paper piecing, because I don’t want to make this post too long, BUT if you have questions about this particular pattern, please just email me.

Above is after I centered the fussy cut block and then pieced all the other pieces all around it. I haven’t trimmed it yet, and I want you to read the next step before you do so too.

If you are making these blocks as part of the Quilt Along, and you shrunk the pattern 85%, then you’ll need to account for it. I would trim the edges of the Occupied Coffin 1/8″ or 1/4″ away from the original edge. I chose 1/8″, but it all depends on how much fabric you like to work with when basting.

Once your Occupied Coffin is all trimmed and nice looking, Take your template and match up the window you just stitched up. Keep it in place and trace around the edge. I used a dark chambray as my coffin fabric, and ended up using a yellow dressmakers chalk. If you are sewing with lighter fabric, you can use the disappearing ink again. Whatever works for you!

You can see my traced lines here.

Now, just like with the basic coffin, using your choice or clips go ahead and center the card stock piece and baste it on using your preferred method.

I used a bulkier fabric, so I had to do a bunch of tiny stitches to keep it all in place. Especially around the corners. As you can see though, the little window is perfectly centered and it wasn’t that hard at all!

Just continue whichever steps you need to to complete all 16 coffins needed for the ring.

If you would like to hear about how I piece together all the coffins and attach them to the backing fabric, then please stop back by next week to see more.

In the meantime make sure to check out the #epichalloweenqal hashtag on InstaGram to see everyone else’s progress on their quilts. It all looks so amazing. If you make yourself a ring of coffins, please use the #ringofcoffins and #artschooldropoutpatterns hashtag so I can go look at them too!!

Today marks the third and final week of the Spooky Delights Table Runner Sew Along with the Fat Quarter Shop!

This week is all about the borders, quilting and binding…

Last week I showed off the middle section of the table runner, and the week before I listed off the fabrics I used, and now this week I share with you the last section of the pattern (which can be found here) and show some behind the scenes shots of the making of the piece.

The first section of the pattern is all about cutting out the border blocks and assembling them. You get to pick the order of the blocks, all that matters is how many go on each side.

I set up my work area like an assembly line and chain stitched all the blocks at once, pressed them and then continued on. It went very quickly doing it this way.

As you can kind of see in the picture, I made sure to use my 1/4″ foot to get a perfect seam every time. I’ve said it a million times on this blog already, but I’ll do it again… Go buy yourself a 1/4″ piecing foot if you don’t already have one! They run $5-$30 depending on your machine, but I promise it’s worth the investment! There is a little metal bar on the edge to line up your fabric and it doesn’t let fabric get past, so it keeps your stitches straight and even from the edge. This means all of your piecing will match up in the end! win win.

More photos of that 1/4″ foot! It’s truly amazing.

The quilting was done on my longarm. I kept going back and forth between doing straight 1/2″ spaced stitches with my domestic machine, and freehand wood grain on the longarm. I need practice loading and using my longarm still, so I went that direction! It was a fun and quick run.

I’m super happy with the outcome, and the table runner was fun to piece together! I don’t do enough sewing for myself these days. Even though this was a sponsored post, I get to keep the runner and it was made for ME! One less thing to make come Halloween. WOOHOO!

Thank you Fat Quarter Shop, and thank you everyone who has been reading along. I seriously suggest you go make yourself one of these runners too, you’ll be happy you did come October.

Oh and make sure to stop by the Fat Quarter Shop’s blog to get the complete pattern and to get the links to all the other bloggers who participated. They made some awesome runners (and other things) too!!

This post was sponsored by the Fat Quarter shop, and I was compensated for my time.

For any new readers who would like to get updates on any of my new posts you can follow me on InstaGram, add me on Bloglovin or follow Art School Dropout on Facebook (Blog posts show up there an hour after they go live)

Welcome to week two of the Spooky Delights Table Runner Sew Along with the Fat Quarter Shop!

Last week I showed all of the fabrics I would be using in the table runner along with the link to show how much you would need of each.

This week I will be sharing my progress and the link to the first half of the pattern.

Fat Quarter Shop decided to release this pattern over a three week period of time so that everyone would sew at the same pace. I think it’s a really neat idea.

This week’s section, which you can find here, is all about the assembly of the pumpkins and appliqueing the bat and moon on.

The pumpkin assemble was very straight forward and well written. I kind of regret using the fabric I did, since it was hard to get all those little plus signs lined up, but in the end decided to keep them. those crooked plus signs will give it personality.

For the applique pieces, it says attach them in whatever manner you like. I went for a lightweight double sided fusible interfacing, which I adhered to the fabric first. Then I used basting spray to temporarily attach the paper templates (that come with the pattern) to the the paper on the back of the interfacing before cutting it all out. Then I removed the paper backing, and using a dry iron, I attached them to the large middle block on the table runner.

I technically could have just left them be since I plan on doing some heavier quilting, but I decided to go that next step and do a blanket stitch around each piece.

I used slightly contrasting thread so it stood out a little. I feel like blanket stitches sometimes look messy if they are the same color as the fabric. It may just be me though.

I really think my favorite part so far is the fussy cut trick or treating kids I was able to put in the doorways!

I can’t wait until I can share the finished runner with you! I stepped outside my comfort zone yet again with this project, and now I’ll finally have some Halloween decor that I actually made!!

Make sure to stop back by next week to see all the pretty finished photos! Also please go visit the Fat Quarter Shop’s blog to see all of the other table runners everyone else is making.

This post was sponsored by the Fat Quarter shop, and I was compensated for my time.

For any new readers who would like to get updates on any of my new posts you can follow me on InstaGram, add me on Bloglovin or follow Art School Dropout on Facebook (Blog posts show up there an hour after they go live)

Today is the first day in Fat Quarter Shop’s Spooky Delights Table Runner Sew Along, and I will be one of the bloggers showing my own twist on the design. I will be posting my progress every Monday morning for the next three weeks.

I thought the whole concept sounded fun, and I do need more Halloween decor!! Maybe you do too?

Today is just a nice welcome post to share the fabric requirements with you, which can be found here, and to show you the fabric’s I picked out.

I decided not to go with the fabrics shown in the sample piece, since it’s not really my taste. To each their own. Instead I pulled from my own fabric stash.

The top fabric, which is from the Downton Abbey from Andover Fabrics, will be for the bats and some of the squares in border #2.

The second one down, which is Tucker Prairie by One Canoe Two for Moda Fabrics, will be my pumpkin and some of the squares.

The third down, which is from the Mischief Night by Dinara Mirtalipova for Windham Fabrics, will be the pumpkins door and again, some of the squares.

The bottom fabric, which is by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics, will be my moon and of course some of the squares.

The top fabric, which is Kona Cotton in Silver, will be my background fabric.

The second down, which is Andover Fabrics Chambray in Caramel, will be my pumpkin stem, window pinwheel and some of the blocks.

The third down, which is Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander in grey, will be the second half of the pinwheel window and some of the squares.

The fourth one down, which is from the Botanics line by Carolyn Friedlander, will be the outside border.

The fifth fabric down, which is Sprinkle in black by Cotton + Steel, will be the binding.

The last fabric, which is Kona Cotton in Charcoal, will be the backing.

Whew!

If you like the fabrics in the sample table runner, you can buy the kit here.

Now make sure to check back next Monday morning to see my progress on the runner, get the link to the first half of the pattern, and read any helpful tips I MIGHT have (I can’t promise I’ll have any, but you never know)

This post was sponsored by the Fat Quarter shop, and I was compensated for my time.

For any new readers who would like to get updates on any of my new posts you can follow me on InstaGram, add me on Bloglovin or follow Art School Dropout on Facebook (Blog posts show up there an hour after they go live)

Here is her finished pumpkin…

… and these were the ones we cut. Mine is on the left and JC’s is on the right! (above photo, their switched in the bottom photo)

CT couldn’t make up her mind about what she wanted to be, everyday was something new. Towards the end of last week I asked if she would like to be Alice again, and she freaked out and said YES! So that what she was. This time I had her hair down, with a little black ribbon as a headband. I also put her in tights since it’s a bit cooler here than Florida. She was really eager to get ready and loved that everywhere knew who she was!! (If you’re interested in the pattern to make your own Alice dress, check out my post about it)

I was originally going to go trick or treating as a mounted deer head mask thingy I found. But last minute decided to dress as a hip Mad Hatter. It was actually my husbands idea by the way. I already had the hat from a Disneyland trip years ago, plus most of my clothes are brightly colored. Also, lucky for me, I forgot to straighten and do all that fancy stuff to my hair, so it was a huge curly mess. Perfect. Next year I’ll wear my deer head, and maybe JC can be a plush hunter or something.

We live in a new construction neighborhood, and were early moving in. So last year there were hardly any house. This year there were loads (apparently it was a good year for the builders). Loads of houses meant loads of candy! CT’s bucket got heavy halfway through, and we had to help her carry it all. Last year I was able to explain to tell CT that candy was only for looking at, so I didn’t have a super hyper kid running around. This year she caught on and ATTACKED her bucket the second we got back to the house. I don’t think she went to bed until about midnight Saturday. It was worth it, she had so much fun and can’t wait for next year!!

On a side note… we took advantage of the fact that she was wide awake Saturday night, and took an impromptu trip to the grocery store to get a bunch of dry goods in preparation for Hurricane Sandy! It wasn’t crazy at all. Yep, I’m going to talk about that… we live in Maryland and are in the path of the storm. Were expected to get loads of rain, winds over 80mph (we get bad wind to start with here) and possibly some snow. The power will most likely be out by late tonight. Our power is finicky as it is. I have one more blog post scheduled for tomorrow, but after that if you don’t see anything here it’s because we don’t have power! I hope all my east coast friends out there are doing ok, and are safe in their homes!! I’m also hoping it’s not as bad as expected, because really, were not prepared for this!! We moved to the mountains expecting just to worry about rain and blizzards. Instead in the past two years we’ve had two tornados, an earthquake, a tropical storm and now a hurricane. What is going on?!?

Anyway, again, be safe everyone!! and Happy Halloween, just in case I can’t say it on Wednesday.

As you can see, it was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun. We got a few pumpkins (and a squash) to carve this upcoming week too. It’ll actually be our first time carving a pumpkin as the three of us. Hopefully CT enjoys it, and if it goes well, I’ll share some photos!

I had the idea while we were away to add little faces to some of the macarons. I had always seen those Wilton Foodwriter markers while craft supply shopping, so I thought those might work. I made sure we stopped by AC Moore after we left the airport Friday, totally cutting it close! Ha!

They totally worked! I had to be very gentle, otherwise I’d have cracked the shell of the cookies. They don’t smudge, or run. It was actually a lot of fun making sure all the faces were different. Some were sad, some were happy, and one was crazy! I really love how they came out. I made a bunch for the party, a few for my neighbors (they were awesome and picked up all my UPS packages while we were gone) and a few for my family.

The orange ones are pumpkin spice flavored with chocolate buttercream as the filing, and the black ones are chocolate flavored with vanilla buttercream as the filling. All the colors came out exactly as I pictured, and so did the little faces. I really need to find other uses for these pens, their awesome!

The craft this time around was to make little halloween themed figures, corsages or ornaments. There were loads of supplies to choose from, and we could make whatever we wanted. It was a little overwhelming, but fun at the same time. I’m usually very structured when it comes to crafting, so this was a nice step outside my comfort zone.

I made the three little guys above. The one on the left was made out of a spun cotton figure that Heidi put together ahead of time. I kinda thinks she looks like a mix of a witch and a vegas showgirl. The other two figures were made out of pipe cleaners and other random supplies, I have no idea what they may or may not be, haha.

I’m finally putting up our halloween tree this week (I know I know, I’m behind, I blame vacation) and I was thinking these little guys would make great ornaments! It shouldn’t be too hard to sew/glue some loops on the top of each one.

Anyway, as always I loved seeing everyone and enjoyed myself very much. It was a nice end to my hectic and exhausting week and I can’t wait until the next one. Thank you again to all the girls (and guy) that make these get togethers so nice. You’re all awesome!