Sew Americana 2019

Happy Friday and welcome to the last day of the Sew Americana Blog Tour 2019, presented by Wild+Wanderful! This tour has been showcasing amazing garments for kids and adults, as well as a quilt, to celebrate the upcoming US holiday through sewing! Today I’m throwing my hat in with the quilt side to share some projects I’ve been working on.

A few months back, I started reading The Lifegiving Home by Sarah & Sally Clarkson. As a work from home, home-schooling mom I felt I needed some refreshment and encouragement. The Clarksons have a whimsical way of painting an idyllic picture of what the home could be and it really helped to turn my heart back to my home in a few ways. One of the most actionable ways was through the idea of decorating for and truly celebrating the various holidays throughout the year. While I’m good at pulling out the Christmas decorations each year, and I have rotating holiday signage to hang on the welcome hook at my front door, my holiday decor is otherwise lacking.

The next few holidays to decorate for were Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day, which all use the Red White & Blue color scheme. So I took to Etsy and fell in love with the Hedge Rose line from Riley Blake Designs. My original plan was to make a larger version of my Beginner’s Quilt pattern – just a bunch of pretty squares – to make it easy. But then, the Meadowland Quilt Pattern by Then Came June patterns kept showing up all over my Instagram feed and I was HOOKED! I ordered my pattern and got to work.

After cutting, each block took about 30 minutes to construct. I was working through dance recital week, in pockets of time during evenings and afternoons, and it was nice to know that I could pop in the sewing room and get one more block done before starting dinner or getting to bed. It’s a lovely quilt to work on a bit at a time because the reward is a BIG 18″ block! It really feels like you’re making good progress.

When it came to quilting, again, I was trying to come up with something quick and easy. Being someone who tends toward a literal interpretation of things, I thought stars (in the white spaces) and stripes (on the rest of the quilt) would be an easy and fun application. I drew the stars on with frixion pens and also marked 1″ increments on the edge of each star block to indicate where I should start and stop my straight lines.

I did the binding completely by machine, using the glue basting method to be sure the fabric stayed in place over my first seam and would be caught by my stitch in the ditch.

I also made a coordinating pillow using this free Patriotic Stars Pillow Cover pattern by Sara Noda of Sewing A Seam. I fell in love with this pillow when I saw it on Pinterest and was so excited to be able to make my own to enjoy during the summer.

This one sews up in a jiffy! Another 18″ block and more flying geese ties it together. I sandwiched it with some scrap of batting and stitched in the ditch to keep the layers together. On the back I applied a hidden zipper using a method I learned from my friend Pam (@Sewmama123) so I can remove the cover and use the pillow form for the next holiday. Repeat the machine binding, just like a quilt, and the block is framed and corners crisp. I made my pillow form with muslin and polyfil, but they are readily available at most craft stores and on Amazon.

To complete the set, I had plans to finish a table runner for my kitchen table, but it currently sits on my cutting table (half cut) and is not ready in time for this post to go live. You’ll just have to check out my Instagram or Facebook page for the reveal. I chose the free Star Spectacular Table Runner pattern and I know it will complement the quilt and pillow perfectly, as well as spread the holiday mood into my dining area.

The quilt will spend it’s summers draped over the back of my couch, which can be seen as you walk in the door. The pillow will float from this couch, to the adjacent couch, to the floor; it will be sat on, laid on and walked on by the children (let’s be honest lol). But I hope it will all help my family to remember the great country we live in, to bring to mind the memory of those who have given their lives for it and celebrate the freedoms we enjoy every day.

Don’t forget to visit the rest of the blog posts from this wonderful tour and I hope you have a wonderful and safe 4th of July next week!

Monday, June 24:
Wild & Wanderful · The Petite Sewist · That’s-Sew-Kari · Stitched by Jennie · Marvelous Auntie M

Tuesday, June 25:
Petite Stitchery · auschick sews · Sew Simple Home · Sewing Novice · Striped Swallow Designs

Wednesday, June 26:
(Swimming in a) Sea of Estrogen · The Eli Monster · 5 out of 4 Patterns · bigflynotions · Stitching and Making

Thursday, June 27:
Middle River Studio · It’s Liesel · Sewing with D · Kitty Makes It

Friday, June 28:
Boo + Lu · Sequoialynn Sews · Seams Sew Lo · Made By Jaime · SewSophieLynn