Lush Uptown Layer Cake Lemonade | A free pattern and discount

So, despite my lack of blogging, I have been doing a bit of sewing lately. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I can't share much of it with you yet. However, I can share a cool new quilt top that I recently finished up.

I was excited to be asked by Kimberly, Chelsea, and the team at the Fat Quarter Shop to help celebrate the launch of their newest free quilt pattern, Layer Cake Lemonade. This pattern is part of the FQS' Shortcut Quilts series, featuring patterns for quilts that are quick to piece and make good use of fabric pre-cuts. You can find the free quilt pattern here.

For my version of the Layer Cake Lemonade quilt, I decided to use the recent reprint of two of my favorite fabric lines -- Lush Uptown by Erin Michael for Moda. I knew it would be a great collection to showcase its beautiful large focal prints.

The pattern was well-written and a breeze to put together. In fact, I both cut and pieced this quilt top in just one afternoon. A Shortcut Quilt indeed!

The quilt top finishes at 48" x 61". I added a narrow 1" border using a solid Moda Bella solid in teal to frame the prints a bit more. I'm also planning on adding some additional solid borders in other colors pulled from the collection to make this more of a sizable throw quilt -- after all, I am 6'5" and I want to keep this one for myself. I'll post more pictures of the quilt top after I add those extra borders.

I'm always a big fan of quick quilt projects. And of free patterns. Lucky for us, this one hits on both counts!

As part of the pattern's launch today, Kimberly put out a great video with more information about the quilt. I've embedded it in the post below, but you can also find it -- and more information about the Layer Cake Lemonade pattern -- on the FQS blog today.

Once again, here is the link to the free quilt pattern.

Also, in honor of the release of the Layer Cake Lemonade pattern, the Fat Quarter Shop is offering 20% off of all layer cakes this week only for all of you that want to make your own version. Happy shopping!

Want to see a bunch more variations of the Layer Cake Lemonade quilt? Check out some other bloggers' awesome versions of the pattern:

Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts

Vickie of Spun Sugar Quilts

Kristyne of Pretty by Hand

Jo of Jo's Country Junction

Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew

Karrie of Freckled Whimsy

Brigitte of Zen Chic

Lisa of Primitive Gatherings

Polly & Laurie of Minick & Simpson

Karla, Lisa & Susan of Sweetwater

Barb & Mary of Me & My Sister Designs

Kate of Kate Spain

Lori of Bee in my Bonnet

Bonnie of Bonnie & Camille/Cotton Way

Tammie of Moda Fabrics

Thanks again to Kimberly and the entire team over at the Fat Quarter Shop for inviting me to be part of the celebration!

Sew & Stitch Embroidery WINNER

Thanks for all of your great replies to my embroidery questions. It's always great to see my love of a craft shared by so many others. Bog congratulations to the winner of the book giveaway, Julie, who wrote:

JulieOctober 22, 2013 at 12:46 AMI stitched a sampler as a girl to earn a Girl Scout badge--hated every minute of it. Started stitching again a few years ago, and now can't get enough.

Julie, please contact me with your mailing address so we can get you your book straight away. And if you're not Julie but love embroidery, I still suggest you pick this book up. I highly recommend it.

Back later with a quilt top finish!

Fat Quarterly Holiday Issue & some news

Issue 15 of Fat Quarterly, the annual holiday edition, is out today! It looks to be yet another fabulous issue chock full of holiday project ideas and inspiration because -- whether you choose to believe it or not -- 'tis the season, y'all! So head on over to the Fat Quarterly site and purchase your issue or subscribe today.

From Fat Quarterly Issue 15

It's also the perfect time for me to let you all know that I am no longer an official member of the Fat Quarterly team. Stepping down from the magazine was an extremely difficult decision for me but, with the twists and turns my life has taken of late and the changing demands on my time, it was the best decision for all parties.

From Fat Quarterly Issue 15

Of course, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fat Quarterly and I love the ladies of the FQ team even more. Katy, Brioni, Lynne and Tacha have become some of my best friends in the world. This move was nothing less than love-and-hugs all around (and, in fact, I am already planning on some visits with the gang when I am in Europe!) I still believe in the mission of Fat Quarterly -- to be both of and for the modern quilting community -- and will support it to the end.

Back tomorrow with the winner of the Sew & Stitch Embroidery book giveaway!