blog – Page 4 – Blue Bear Quilts

Posted on November 3, 2020February 10, 2022 by Reed — Leave a comment

Quilt Block Mania- Harbor Holiday Block- Complimentary Pattern for November

How about some holiday quilt patterns? This month, we are offering 20% off of our digital download Cowboy Claus, Peace in the Valley and Adore Him quilt patterns. You can find the links to those patterns here: downloadable-patterns/

Quilt Block Mania is happening again in November and 23 quilt designers are at it again with this month’s theme of Winter Celebrations. Here is a picture of the theme colors.

Beautiful holiday celebration colors. Blue Bear lives in Florida and they have holiday boat parades as part of many city’s winter celebrations.

This is the Harbor Holidays block. It features a festive sailboat decked out with holiday lights and sailing on a beautiful teal sea.

Here is a photo of the block after the shapes have been fused and machine appliquéd to the background.

To see a few things I do to make creating a black like this a success, please look at the blog post from September 1st called Sun-Boo-Net Sue.

You can turn this fun block into a 14 x 18″ placemat. You can add additional background pieces to the completed 12″ block, or you can make the background bigger to begin with. If adding additional background pieces, you will need to sew a 2-1/2 x 7″ light teal background piece to a 2-1/2 x 6″ teal background piece. You will need to make two of these and sew them to either side of the 12-1/2″ unfinished block. Press the seams open. Otherwise, if you just want to make the background piece larger to begin with, and then appliqué your pieces onto this larger background piece, you would sew a 16-1/2 x 7″ light teal background piece to a 16-1/2 x 6″ teal background piece. Press the seam open and then appliqué the sailboat shapes onto the center of the background. Once you have completed the center of the placemat, you will add dark green side and top borders. The side borders measure 12-1/2 x 1-1/2″ and get sewn on first. Then you will sew on the top and bottom borders, which measure 18-1/2 x 1-1/2.” Next, you will baste, with spray or pins, your cotton batting to a backing piece that measures 16 x 20. Then baste the placemat on top of the batting. Quilt as desired and then trim to 14 x 18.” Next, apply the binding and you are done. The yardage required for this project remains the same as for the block pattern, except the required amount of dark green increases to 3/8 yard to account for the borders. You will need a fat quarter for the backing and a 16 x 20″ piece of cotton batting. Also you will need 1/4 yard, or (2) 2-1/2″ strips, for the binding, in the color of your choice.

You can also use this block to create a fun quilt that measures 50 x 50.” You combine 8 sailboat blocks with 8 background squares and add a 1″ border. It makes a quilt that looks like a regatta or a holiday boat parade. The yardage required to make this quilt top would be: 1/4 yard of maroon; 3/8 yard of red; 1/2 yard of off white and dark green; 1 yard of teal and 1-1/4 yards of light teal.

If you would like to download a complimentary PDF pattern of our block for November, all you have to do is look for the box on our blog, on the right hand side, that says “Like this content? Sign up for free updates” and sign up to receive our newsletter. When you have done that, you will receive a welcoming email from us that will contain a coupon code and a link back to the complimentary pattern. You will act as though you are purchasing the pattern and in the cart, you will apply the coupon code, which will make the pattern free. You will need to fill out contact information, but no payment method will be necessary. Don’t worry, we do not send out newsletters very often and we never sell email addresses or contact information. Here is what the pattern looks like. It is in a format very similar to most Blue Bear Quilt patterns, so if you see what you like in this free pattern, you will like our other patterns as well. Please note: This pattern will only be complimentary during the month of November 2020.

Current newsletter subscribers, don’t despair! You will be able to download the complimentary pattern as well as you have already been sent a newsletter on November 3rd which gave you the coupon code.

We are so happy that you stopped by to visit us in the Quilt Block Mania hop and we hope that you like our block. Please stop by to see all of the other designer’s wonderful blocks.

You can click on the links to the other blocks here.

Christmas Wreath by Slice of Pi Quilts
Baby Sue’s First Christmas
Celebrate by Inquiring Quilter
Gifts at Always Expect Moore
Snowflakes by Blockofthemodotcom
Gifts of Friendship
Fireworks at duck creek mountain quilting
Wreath & Chain at Stash Bandit
Christmas Star by Michelle Renee Hiatt
Adirondack Mountain Quilt Block
A Present from Penny
Candlelighting at Pretty Piney Quilts
Poinsettia from QuiltFabrication
Harbor Holidays at Blue Bear Quilts
Christmas Cracker at Perkins Dry Goods
Sparkling Spruce at Patti’s Patchwork
Jingle All the Way at Orange Blossom Quilt
Snowflakes & Candy Cane Trees at Quilt Moments
Tower of Gifts by Oh Kaye Quilting
Winter Memories by Carolyn Burgess
Holiday Block by Seams to Be Sew
Ticker Tape Tree at Devoted Quilter
Evergreen by True Blue Quilts
Merry and Bright at Around the Bobbin
Ski Vacation

Posted on October 6, 2020February 10, 2022 by Reed — Leave a comment

Quilt Block Mania- Gathering Block- Free Pattern For October 2020

Be sure to scroll to the bottom to see our brand new pattern for Sunbonnet Sue! Blue Bear Quilts is participating with approximately 30 quilt designers in Quilt Block Mania. The theme for October is Family. At the very bottom, you can see links to all of the wonderful Family blocks. Blue Bear Quilts has created a free pattern for you. It’s called the Gathering Block. Here’s the block. What do you think? The fabrics in the photo below are from my stash.

When one thinks of family, you may think of gatherings for holidays, or parties, or celebrations, or just gathering at the dinner table. We call this block Gathering as it looks like people gathered together around a table on a gorgeous tiled floor. You can decide what your gathering will be. Please let us know what gathering you are thinking of when you create the block and then post a picture on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #bluebearquilts.

Here is a photo of the block that I sewed up with fabrics from my stash. This pattern creates the block using a stitch and flip, or clipped folded corner method. We give you instructions for making the block either way.

If you are not familiar with the folded corner method, it is a way to stitch, cut and sew several pieces in a block together at the same time. It can be done by drawing diagonal lines on the back of one piece; then stitching on the line and then trimming 1/4″ away from the line. Or, it is slightly easier and quicker to use a ruler such as the Creative Grids Folded Corner Clipper which is shown in the photo below. To use the ruler, you place the two fabrics right sides together, trim of the corner of both pieces, at the same time, and then stitch 1/4″ next to the edge you just trimmed. The next photo shows how you align the ruler on the fabrics prior to trimming. Next, there are pictures of the trimmed and sewn corners, and what the back of the unit looks like when the corners are pressed. If you would like to watch a video to see how to do both the stitch and flip and the using the Folded Corners Clipper Tool, please head over to our YouTube channel and look for the video entitled: Cutting the Gathering Block. Here is a link to the Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1T1opvZnI8

This block makes an eye catching quilt just using this block. Here is what it looks like in a 16 block quilt, which measures 50 x 50″ with a 1″ finished border.

If you would like to download a free PDF pattern of our block, all you have to do is look for the box on our blog, on the right hand side, that says “Like this content? Sign up for free updates” and sign up to receive our newsletter. When you have done that, you will receive a welcoming email from us that will contain a coupon code and a link back to the free pattern. You will act as though you are purchasing the pattern and in the cart, you will apply the coupon code, which will make the pattern free. You will need to fill out contact information, but no payment method will be necessary. Don’t worry, we do not send out newsletters very often and we never sell email addresses or contact information. Please note: This pattern will only be free during the month of October 2020. Here is what the pattern cover looks like. It is in a format very similar to most Blue Bear Quilt patterns, so if you see what you like in this free pattern, you will like our other patterns as well. If you want to purchase anything else on our website, please do it in a separate transaction as other discounts may not work in conjunction with this free coupon code.

Current newsletter subscribers, don’t despair! You will be able to download the free pattern as well as you have already been sent a newsletter on October 6th at 9 am which gave you the coupon code.

We are so happy that you stopped by to visit us in the Quilt Block Mania hop and we hope that you like our block. Please stop by to see all of the other designer’s wonderful blocks. You can click on the links to the other blocks here.

Warming by the Fire
Paper Chain Family at Slice of Pi Quilts
Family is Love
Family Quote Pineapple Block by Blockofthemodotcom
Family Pumpkin Pickin’ Day
Family Crest at Always Expect Moore
Old Rocking Chair at Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Love@Home at Stash Bandit
Sisterhood by Michelle Renee Hiatt
Glimpse of Home at Scrapdash
We Are Family by Heidi Pridemore
Family Trees at Pretty Piney Quilts
Family is the Heart of Home by QuiltFabrication
Gathering by Blue Bear Quilts
Sister’s Choice at Perkins Dry Goods
Every Family Has One at Patti’s Patchwork
Orange Blossom Quilt
Wonky Nesting Hearts
Family Photo Block
Celtic Trinity Knot by Appliqués Quilts and More
Scarecrow
Family Ring at Devoted Quilter
Tartan Block at True Blue Quilts
FindSewingStuff.com
Flying Geese Family by Tacy Gray
Family Heart by Amarar Cracions

For all of you Sunbonnet Sue fans, We created a brand new appliqué quilt called Sunbonnet Sue Calendar Quilt. It features Sue and her adorable friend, Overall Sam, participating in many holidays and activities throughout the year. You can use he blocks in this pattern to create the lap size quilt, or you could make seasonal pillows, wall hangings or table runners. We hope you like this new pattern. Grab it now as it is on sale during the month of October. Happy Quilting!

Posted on September 1, 2020February 10, 2022 by Reed — Leave a comment

Quilt Block Mania- Sun-Boo-Net Sue Block- Free Pattern

We thought we would celebrate Labor Day by offering 20% off of our digital download Sparklers on Liberty Square and Patriotic Polka Patterns. You can find the links to those patterns here: downloadable-patterns/

Sparklers on Liberty Square Quilt at barber shop

Sparklers on Liberty Square Quilt Pattern Cover

Quilt Block Mania is happening again in September and 29 quilt designers are at it again with this month’s theme of Halloween. Here is a picture of the theme colors.

Very fallish don’t you think? So the block Blue Bear created is a take on the classic Sunbonnet Sue block. Sue is proudly holding up the pumpkin she just finished carving.

Sunbonnet Sue is one of those appliqué blocks that people either love or hate. We think she is adorable in this Halloween themed block. The fabrics that we used to create this fun block are called Coco Chic and they are part of a fabric collaboration we are doing with QT fabrics. The fabrics were inspired from 1920’s fabric prints which QT Fabrics has in their archives.

Coco Chic will be available in fabric shops in January 2021. Fabric shops are ordering this fabric now and if you would like for your local shop to carry it, we have a letter we prepared that you can snail mail, email or bring into the shop telling them all about this Art Deco fabric collection. The letter is available on our website under the heading ” Coco Chic Letter.”

Here is a photo of the block with Coco Chic fabrics after the shapes have been fused to the background.

There are a few things I did to make creating this black a success. I cut out fabric squares the same size as the paper template squares I cut.

The squares of fusible web were cut slightly smaller than the fabric squares.

I fused the fusible webbing to the wrong side of the fabric. Then with regular washable school glue, I put the slightest amount of glue on the paper side of the fusible and glued the paper templates onto the fusible webbing.

Now I was able to cut out the appliqué shapes on the solid line. When ready to fuse in place, using the placement diagram for guidance, I carefully pulled off both the paper template and the paper side of the fusible. If you need to score the paper side of the fusible webbing, you can lift the paper template up to do so.

Here I am getting reading to machine appliqué the pieces down after I had fused them to the background.

The block looks very finished with the blanket stitch and this embroidery holds the pieces to the background and prevents them from fraying over time.

When doing machine embroidery, it is important that you use a piece of tearaway stabilizer on the back of your background piece and sew nice and slowly so that you are able to pivot your piece with the needle down when you need to.

If you would like to turn this cute block into a pillow cover, please head over to our YouTube channel, after September 3, 2020, where we will have a video showing how we turned this block into a pillow cover. Here is the link to our YouTube channel: Blue Bear Quilts YouTube. We also have a pattern for making a pillow cover out of a 12″ finished block here: pillow cover pattern

If you would like to download a free PDF pattern of our block for September, all you have to do is look for the box on our blog, on the right hand side, that says “Like this content? Sign up for free updates” and sign up to receive our newsletter. When you have done that, you will receive a welcoming email from us that will contain a coupon code and a link back to the free pattern. You will act as though you are purchasing the pattern and in the cart, you will apply the coupon code, which will make the pattern free. You will need to fill out contact information, but no payment method will be necessary. Don’t worry, we do not send out newsletters very often and we never sell email addresses or contact information. Here is what the pattern looks like. It is in a format very similar to most Blue Bear Quilt patterns, so if you see what you like in this free pattern, you will like our other patterns as well. Please note: This pattern will only be free during the month of September 2020.

Current newsletter subscribers, don’t despair! You will be able to download the free pattern as well as you have already been sent a newsletter on September 1st which gave you the coupon code.

We are so happy that you stopped by to visit us in the Quilt Block Mania hop and we hope that you like our block. Please stop by to see all of the other designer’s wonderful blocks.

You can click on the links to the other blocks here.

“Which Hat?” at Pretty Piney
Black Cat at Inquiring Quilter
Ring of Pumpkins at Always Expect Moore
Haunted House at Powered by Quilting
Three Treats at Sew Brainy
Bat at Slice of Pi Quilts
Day of the Dead Skull at Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Gypsy Wagon Fortune Teller at Orange Blossom Quilt
Monster at Seams to be Sew
Patchwork Pumpkin at Quilted Diary
Stacked Pumpkins at Perkins Dry Goods
Spooky Star at Block of the Mo .com
Leaf Ghost at Off the Wall Quilt
Leaf and Vine at Quilt Moments
Frankenstein at Around the Bobbin
Bat by Heidi Pridemore
Candy Corn by Quilt Fabrication
Dark night by Cotton Street Commons
Pumpkin by Sew on the Go
Pumpkin and Bat by ScrapDash
Pumpkin Chain by Stash Bandit
Happy Jack-o-lantern by Patti’s Patchwork
Foundation Pieced Creepy Eyes by Amarar Creacions
Spooky Trees by Aunt Em’s Quilts
Upside Down Witch by Appliques Quilts and More
Scaredy Kitty by Tacy Gray
Sun-Boo-Net Sue by Blue Bear Quilts
Spider by Oh Kay Quilting
Candy, Pumpkins, and Witch Hat by Utah Quilt Appraiser

Posted on August 4, 2020February 10, 2022 by Reed — Leave a comment

Quilt Block Mania- Girl’s Favorite Block- Free Pattern

Blue Bear Quilts is participating with more than 40 quilt designers in Quilt Block Mania. The theme for August is Back to School. At the very bottom, you can see links to all of the wonderful Back To School blocks. Blue Bear Quilts has created a free pattern for you. It’s called the Girl’s Favorite Block. Here’s the block. What do you think? The fabrics in the photo below are from QT Fabrics Rapture collection, which will be available in quilt shops in August 2020. Rapture is a fabric collection of colors that are just yummy.

Now when it comes to school, a girl might have many favorites, such as a favorite teacher, class or beau. She might even have a favorite hot lunch from the cafeteria. You can decide what your Girl’s Favorite will be. Please be sure to tell us what your favorite is when you create the block and then post a picture on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #bluebearquilts.

Here is a photo of the block that I sewed up with fabrics from my stash. In the pattern, we give you instructions fro both rotary cutting and Accuquilt cutting. With Accuquilt, you will use the dies from a 6″ Qube.

Sewn Girl's Favorite Block — Sewn Girl’s Favorite Block

If you are not familiar with Accuquilt, it is a fabric cutting system. It uses a roller in a cutting machine, that rolls over a metal blade in a die, and as your fabric and the die go through the machine, the roller presses down on a mat, covering the fabric and die, and cuts out the fabric in the shape of the die blades. In this photo, there is an example of the half square triangle die. The metal blades are surrounded by the grey foam and this die cuts out 2 half square triangles at the same time. You can lay 6 layers of fabric on the die, so with this particular die, you can cut out 12 shapes with one pass under the roller.

Girl's Favorite Block with Accuquilt die — Girl’s Favorite Block with Accuquilt die

This block makes a pretty interesting quilt just using this block. Here is what it looks like in a 16 block quilt, which measures 50 x 50″ with a 1″ finished border.

Girl's Favorite Quilt — Girl’s Favorite Quilt

If you would like to download a free PDF pattern of our block, all you have to do is look for the box on our blog, on the right hand side, that says “Like this content? Sign up for free updates” and sign up to receive our newsletter. When you have done that, you will receive a welcoming email from us that will contain a coupon code and a link back to the free pattern. You will act as though you are purchasing the pattern and in the cart, you will apply the coupon code, which will make the pattern free. You will need to fill out contact information, but no payment method will be necessary. Don’t worry, we do not send out newsletters very often and we never sell email addresses or contact information. Please note: This pattern will only be free during the month of August 2020. Here is what the pattern looks like. It is in a format very similar to most Blue Bear Quilt patterns, so if you see what you like in this free pattern, you will like our other patterns as well.

Girl's Favorite cover — Girl’s Favorite cover

Current newsletter subscribers, don’t despair! You will be able to download the free pattern as well as you have already been sent a newsletter on August 4th which gave you the coupon code.