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!!

The next morning I woke up before CT and went straight to my computer, I drafted a paper pieced pattern so I could test out my idea. I was very happy with the results, and as you can see from the photo on the right above, it worked!! I was so excited I set out to make 24 more!

Well, after searching through my fabric stash, I just couldn’t find 24 fabrics that matched the first one I did. So I narrowed it down to 12 total. I made each house block 10″ square, which meant I should end up with a quilt about 30″x40″ if I didn’t add a border, and a bit bigger if I did.

I spent a few days finishing up the other 11 blocks, doing four at a time (I feel like I get up to iron less and it takes less time, to me). I was on a roll and was set out to finish this quilt as soon as I could. So last Tuesday I finished all 12 blocks! I laid them out on the floor and didn’t quite like the set up as all house outlines. So I turned a few around, and a couple upside down, and ended up with a bunch of arrows pointing all different directions. Perfect!! I also decided at that point that I was going to add 2″ white strips in between all of the blocks and a 2″ white border around the entire edge. Now it was 40″x50″, a nice lap sized quilt. I needed one of those.

I pieced and quilted the entire thing Wednesday afternoon, and then added binding Friday Morning. I took photos Saturday, and here I am on Monday showing you all my finished quilt…

I’m calling it the “Which Way Is Up” quilt.

I LOVE the way it came out, and I love that each time I use the pattern it will be a totally different quilt! I can subtract the white and do all solids, so the arrows (or houses) will be subtle and surprise you! or I can switch the white and the patterned fabrics? Or I could be super crazy and actually have them all houses!! Ha.

Well, I’m so interested to see all of the different ways you could make this quilt too, so you can find the pattern in my shop!

I’m not including instructions on how to paper piece. I have no idea how to write it out in words… Yet.  If you’ve never tried it, I suggest searching for some videos on YouTube, that’s how I taught myself. Fresh Lemons Quilts blog also has a great tutorial if your not into watching videos.

If any of you do make a project using this pattern, I would love to see it (and maybe even share it on here).

I feel like I’m on a quilting kick now, so expect to see more sewing and a bit less of everything else…

Don’t worry, she also loves princesses, dressing up and everything else girly. CT is a very well rounded toddler.

Her 2nd birthday is coming up soon. Next Sunday to be exact. I really wanted to make her a few of her gifts, something she would actually enjoy and play with. I’ve been thinking about it for awhile actually, and I ended up choosing a cape and shield.

I started with the shield. I wanted to do an actual Captain America’s shield, all red white and blue, but apparently I forgot to buy blue felt. I had a horribly stressful time the last time I went to Joanns (xmas shoppers are CRAZY), So I just said “whatever” and made it Red, White and Pink.

Want to know what the coolest part about this shield is?

It’s form is made with help from a frisbee!!! Yep, I thought of this while picking up CT toys one day. I didn’t know if it would actually work, so I was pleasantly surprised when it did!

Would you like to make your own? I made sure to take photo’s while I was putting this together. So if your interested, keep reading…

Supplies Needed:

• a frisbee, mine was a 9″ plastic one from the dollar store
• a piece of red felt approximately 11″x24″ (cut from a bolt)
• a piece of 3/4″ elastic about 4-5″ long
• a loose piece of white felt (the kind found in sheets)
• a loose piece of grey felt (the kind found in sheets)
• a loose piece of either pink or blue felt (the kind found in sheets)
• a glue gun with glue sticks
• tacky glue
• star and circle template
• scissors
• coordinating thread for each piece of felt (optional)
• a compass (if your frisbee isn’t 9″)

I’m not too great at showing how I did things. I warn you ahead of time! If something seems like it’s missing, just comment below and I’ll fix it.

First thing, print out the star and circle template. I know it looks like all one pattern piece, it isn’t. I just wanted to save paper and fit it all on one piece of paper. I suggest cutting out the large circle first, tracing it on the felt. Then move onto the next size until you come to the star. you should end up with 3 SOLID felt circles and one star. not rings. Trace each piece onto felt and cut them out. I made sure to label each piece.

After you have all your template pieces traced and cut out, get the frisbee and trace it onto the felt TWICE. make sure to leave about an inch around one of the outlines when tracing (you need that extra felt for stretching over the edge later). Cut out one of the circles on the traced line. Cut out the other circle with a 1″ allowance around the entire thing.

Put the smaller frisbee circle aside, you’ll need it later. Take all your other circles and stack them, trying to make them as even as possible. As pictured above. Once you have them the way you like, glue them in place. If you are choosing to not top-stitch or hand-stitch the edges, I would suggest gluing all the way to the edge and securing all the edges as well as you can. If you plan on sewing the pieces just use enough glue to keep them all in place. I used tacky glue. My specific glue required that I wait about 2 hours for it all to dry. It really needs to be completely dry before you can continue.

Ok, so this step is if your top-stitching or hand-stitching yours. Shown above is me top-stitching. I pinned the pieces just to give that last bit of security. I just used a small stitch around the edge of each piece. You could also hand-stitch this in the same manner, or any manner you like! I will say that there is a lot of bulk around the star, My machine can normally handle a lot, but it had some issues there. Seriously a first for me. Once your finished, clip all the loose threads and set the front piece aside. For now.

Now were onto the back piece. Using some of the leftover red felt and cut out two rectangles measuring approximately 2″x3″. enough to cover the ends of the elastic.

Pin the piece of elastic to the back of the other red piece of felt, not the front piece we just put together. Try and center it (I forgot to take a picture of this step). To make it all really secure I zigzag stitched the short edges to the felt, as shown above. You could also hand sew it. I just wanted to make sure it didn’t break on CT.

Next place a small rectangle on each end of the, now secured, elastic. I pinned mine. This will make the handle even more secure and cover up the raw ends of the elastic. Stitch in anyway you choose, I top-stitched just like I did on the front piece.

Were almost done. Now is the time to plug in your glue gun and get it nice and hot. I used a bunch of glue sticks, so I suggest having a few extra easily at hand.

take your front piece, the one that has all the rings and star on it and place it design side DOWN. Place just enough glue on the back side to hold the frisbee lightly. Center the frisbee and attach the top of the frisbee to the back side of the front piece. Flip it over and see how centered it is. If it’s not to your liking, take them apart and try again. That’s why I suggested not too much glue.

I stretched the sides over the same way I would stretch a canvas. You glue one small piece on one side, then go to the opposite side and pull the fabric taught and glue a little, then turn it slightly and repeat. This way you will have a nice even stretched piece. You can kinda see what I’m talking about in the photo above. Also, while doing this, please be very careful! It really hurts when you burn yourself with hot glue, make sure to either cover your fingertips or be very gentle and don’t rush.

This is what it should look like once it’s all stretched and secured.

Next step… glue the back piece, the one with the elastic attached, to back of the frisbee. I would only glue the center, just to secure it. Then once it’s centered glue all the edges down. Secure it as nicely as you can.

This is what the back should look like once your done! Which by the way, your done!!! Hot glue dries super super quick, so your new shield is all ready to be played with and enjoyed!!

I don’t have real action shots yet since CT won’t be opening her gifts for a whole week.

I would love to see all the finished shields you guys make!! Maybe you’ll go with a different super hero? Maybe you’ll use your child’s initial? Or a different sized frisbee? The possibilities are endless. Anything goes when your fighting crime.

Next up… A cape! A girl themed cape, of course.