Love to Sew ~ "Blessed Beyond Measure" Project Tour

"Love to Sew" wall hanging, 36" x 43" by Deonn Stott

Introducing Buttermilk Basin's new fabric line, "Blessed Beyond Measure" by Stacy West for Riley Blake Designs.  It includes a couple of printed panels that include sewing notions and sayings reminiscent of Stacy's experiences with the women in her family who loved to sew and embroider.

I was excited when I saw this new line!  I'll be setting up a new sewing room in the coming weeks as we are coming to the finish line of building a new house (see what we've been up to HERE), and this quilt will be perfect!

I'm loving how it is coming together with pieced spools and a paper-pieced heart border.  I'll walk you through how I made mine:

SUPPLIES
1 Blessed Beyond Measure Thimble Blossoms panel
1/8 yard cuts of 9 assorted reds for hearts and 5 assorted black prints for spools
1-3/4 yards background: use one print or several assorted prints
   Cut (1) 15-1/2" x 21-1/2" rectangle for center block, then use the remainder for hearts and spools.
1/4 yard inner border -
   Cut (5) 1" strips x  width of fabric
1/2 yard outer border - (optional)
   Cut (6) 3" strips x width of fabric
1/2 yard binding
1-1/2 yards backing
1/4 yard black wool or yardage for sewing machine applique'
Wool scraps for heart and accessories on sewing machine
Matching embroidery floss

Spool Templates

Paper-Pieced Heart Pattern

BRIEF INSTRUCTIONS
Make (10) spool blocks.  I used templates and sewed them with mitered corners. These each measure 3-1/2", unfinished.  Sew 5 spool blocks together, alternating directions.  Make 2 spool strips, then stitch each strip to the sides of the 15-1/2" x 21-1/2" background piece.

For the center block, I liked the look of the sewing machine from the panel, but wanted it bigger.  I drew out a larger version and cut it from wool, then centered and applique'd to the background piece.  I plan to embroider it much like the print itself.

Stitch a 1" x 27-1/2" sashing strip to the top and bottom of the center panel.  Set aside.

Select 6 of the blocks from the panel and cut blocks to measure 9-1/2" wide x 10" tall. Stitch 3 of them together for one row, then repeat with the remaining 3 for a second row.  The remaining panels can be made into another quilt, table topper or pillow!

Add the panel rows to the top and bottom of the center applique row.  Press toward the sashing.

Stitch 1" inner border strips to the sides, top and bottom of the quilt center.

Make (36)  heart blocks.  I made these with pointy tops and I really like the prairie point-ish look they create in the heart border.  These measure 4-1/2", unfinished size.  Layout hearts around the perimeter of the quilt.

Stitch 9 heart blocks together side by side to make a border strip.  Repeat to make 4 heart border sets.  Stitch side borders, then add the top and bottom borders.

At this point, you could add more borders to grow the quilt.  I have some embroidery work to do on my center block, then I'll get some custom quilting on it, and get it ready for my new sewing space.  I know I'll love it!!

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Ask for Blessed Beyond Measure fabrics at your local retail quilt shop or search online.

Happy Quilting!
P.S.  This quilt was inspired by one of my favorite Riley Blake Design Challenge quilts I helped to make several years ago, That's Amore'.  Fun stuff!

P.P.S.  Catch more inspiration for this fabric line from the following designers:
8/7/20:  Melanie @ ABitofScrapStuff
8/21/10:  Jessica @ JessicaDayon