Happy 8th!

(Original post with pattern posted back here )

"Bollekyllinger", A new pattern

It has been a long time in the making, but my new Easter set, “Bollekyllinger” (Chicken buns or Bun chickens) is finally finished and so is the Norwegian pattern.

The appliquê design was first drawn up back in 2007 and the backgrounds made two years ago, so it was about time I’d say.

The pattern includes a table runner, place mats and a pillow. I made mine in soft pastel solids and happy bright prints, perfectly suitable for spring. 

The pattern is easy and fun and will look great in any colour scheme.

They were quilted on Sir John with a mix of serpentine stitches and free motion quilting, and the pillow is backed with a beautiful recycled table cloth. 

Using some of my precious table cloth stash is a goal of mine, and they make perfect pillow backs indeed.

I think this is my first Easter set and I’m planning to use it; how about you, do you decorate with Easter quilts?

Thanks for stopping by!

"iQuilt", A free pattern

Happy 2016!

I thought I would kick off the new year with a free pattern for a super simple, scrap friendly, fun and graphic quilt – the iQuilt.

I am always sketching ideas for quilts, and some of them are destined for special occasions. One of these occasions was my nephew’s confirmation back in September when I wanted something youthful and fun, but still timeless. 

With all the iSomethings I knew he had, the iQuilt was born.

I chose neutral fabrics with a little green and blue for variety, and backed it with dark brown fleece.

My nephew is quite happy with his quilt and I would quite like one for myself as well. If you would like to make your own iQuilt, you can download the free pattern here.

Enjoy!

The 28 strips quilt, a free pattern

This is a fun and easy pattern whether you already have a stash of strips, a jelly roll, or choose to cut new strips from any collection of fabrics. Mine is made from strips from my Treasure Box and measures 36”*36”. You can easily adjust the size to your needs.

(It is a beautiful sunny day today with a little wind which made my quilt dance. The light was a bit difficult; too bright in the sun, and a bit too dark in the shadow, but there you go. We'd better enjoy outdoor photo shoots while we still can.)

I first wrote about my Treasure Box back here, and did an update on what some of the treasures had been made into here. The box keeps being fed new treasures, and some are being used. If you are wondering what these treasures are, they are little pieces and shapes and blocks and stuff which are ready to be used in a project. Instead of being considered unfinished, they are a resource, instant starter pieces. It’s just a way of looking at leftovers and ideas which didn’t quite make it into a finished project.

The first few weeks in the new studio, when everything still was a little up in the air, the Treasure Box, or boxes really, were a great starting point. One treasure after the other was brought out, the ideas kept rolling and fabrics were added to the pieces. It was awesome. Some of the finished projects have been delivered to my magazine editor, and others have been given away, but the boxes are still full.

This particular treasure was a set of 28 pastel strips,

so I challenged myself to use them all, only adding a border fabric if I should want to. Looking around the studio, the perfect match was sitting on top of one of the bags - a light and lovely thrifted curtain. While the finished quilt does not really have a border, it appears to have one.

It also has a big couched flower which adds extra texture and movement and ties the pieced blocks and “border” together.

Couching is a great design tool for scrappy quilts; depending on the colour and thickness of the yarn, it can blend in or pop.

The pattern would look just as lovely in any other colour scheme or theme - Christmas fabrics, baby fabrics, delicate pinks, greys, modern geometrics, or luscious flowers; leave the couched shape out, or make a different one to fit your theme.

You can download the free pattern here. Enjoy!

The Totally Square Pillow, a free pattern

My fingers are sore from excessive hand stitching, so I am taking a break with my computer tonight. As some of you may have noticed, I have been a busy bee adding new patterns to my pattern blogs this fall. Slowly, very slowly, I am working my way through my seemingly never ending backlog, doing all my illustrations and calculations in Excel. Now, I have shared my perpetual love for Excel several times here on my blog, but this weekend I made a giant step into 2013 and ordered EQ7 design software to use for pattern writing.

I got EQ5 from husband for a birthday several years ago (before you oooh and aaah; I ordered it myself,), but did not care for it at all. It might have something to do with the fact that I never took the time to really get to know it, but it did not sit right with me. I understand that EQ7 is much more user friendly, and now I cannot wait for mine to arrive.

So, tonight I have done what may be my last quilt pattern illustrations in Excel, and to mark the end of this era, I have posted a free pattern to my mother in law’s favourite pillow - The Totally Square Pillow.

This is a super easy, scrap friendly pillow which would look just as good in any colour way. This particular pillow is being used all year around despite of the Christmassy blue fabric. You’ve gotta love that.

You can download the pattern here.

Enjoy!

Giveaway Week: 4 curtains and the back of a shirt Pattern

On this fabulous Friday and the last day of Giveaway Week here at Mrs Moen, the pattern that is up for grabs is the “4 curtains and the back of a shirt Pattern”.

This is a fun project for those of you who would like to have a go at working with non-typical quilting fabrics. As the title suggest, this table runner is made from 4 curtains and the back of a shirt, and you probably too have some fabrics stashed away with which you are not sure what to do.

The table runner will of course look just as good in regular quilting cotton fabrics.

4 gardiner og en skjorterygg Mønster
4 curtains and the back of a shirt Pattern

Remember, the links will be open for 1 day only. Although the patterns may be downloaded for free today, copyright still applies and links and patterns may not be shared.

Enjoy!

Giveaway Week: Merry Christmas-cloth Pattern

On this fabulous Thursday and fourth day of Giveaway Week here at Mrs Moen, the pattern that is up for grabs is the Merry Christmas-cloth Pattern.

Dig out your fabric scraps in light and dark values, pair them up with a couple of pieces of fabrics, and make this fun and graphic Christmas table cloth with appliquéd text. The English version includes letters for MERRY CHRISTMAS.

The Merry Christmas-cloth will look just as good in traditional Christmas colours as in neutral tones.

God Juleduk Mønster
Merry Christmas-cloth Pattern

Remember, the links will be open for 1 day only. Although the patterns may be downloaded for free today, copyright still applies and links and patterns may not be shared.

Enjoy!

Giveaway Week: Hearts Pattern

On this fabulous Wednesday and third day of Giveaway Week here at Mrs Moen, the pattern that is up for grabs is the Hearts Pattern.

Hearts are popular all year around, so why not make a table runner and a pillow or two for your living room. The heart blocks look just as good in neutral fabrics on linen as in classic reds or cool blues.

This way of making pillows is a great way to use some of those hard to cut into fabrics.

Make some for Valentine’s Day, or stitch up a few sets in Christmas colours for some great gifts, or make them in light and happy summery tones to decorate the patio next summer. Use the blocks on table cloths, bags, place mats or lap quilts – the choice is yours.

Hjerter Mønster
Hearts Pattern

Remember, the links will be open for 1 day only. Although the patterns may be downloaded for free today, copyright still applies and links and patterns may not be shared.

Enjoy!

Giveaway Week: Gas Money Pattern

On this fabulous Tuesday and second day of Giveaway Week here at Mrs Moen, the pattern that is up for grabs is the Gas Money Pattern.

This fun little quilt is a gift and a card at the same time. While the quilt is a great little gift all by itself, you can also put a card or some gas money into the built-in pocket as an additional gift, something that would be highly appreciated by any young driver on a budget.

Bensinpenger Mønster
Gas Money Pattern

Remember, the links will be open for 1 day only. Although the patterns may be downloaded for free today, copyright still applies and links and patterns may not be shared.

Enjoy!

Giveaway week: Mock Cabin Pattern

On this fabulous Monday and first day of Giveaway Week here at Mrs Moen, the pattern that is up for grabs is the Mock Cabin Pattern.

Born from a wish to play with log cabin layouts paired with an equally strong wish not to actually have to stitch log cabin blocks, this table topper saw the light of day a few years ago. There are always occasions where it would be nice to bring a homemade little something, especially around the holidays, so I love simple designs that don’t take too much time.

The blocks can be made into any size you want, and so does the quilt. Have fun with your solid scraps or throw in a few of your wildest prints – anything goes!

Mock Cabin Mønster
Mock Cabin Pattern

Remember, the links will be open for 1 day only. Although the patterns may be downloaded for free today, copyright still applies and links and patterns may not be shared.

Enjoy!

Shareday

Today is Election Day here in Norway and I have turned off the telly so I don’t have to listen to all the forecasts and opinions. There’s nothing to be done anyway, I did my civic duty and voted and can only hope for the best.

I have been running (metaphorically speaking) around today; trying to get everything in order, even things that can wait for weeks. It’s one of my weaknesses, my brain takes off on its own and I have to hit the brakes before it starts smelling funky. I have only a couple of things left of what I wanted to do today, and one of them is a blog post sharing some beautiful quilts.

Two of my quilty friends and Birmingham co-travellers have generously agreed to let me share some of the fabulous projects that they have made using my patterns.

Inger Marie has made lots of different sized projects with the blocks and flower from the A Flower that never withers Pattern

 

Quilts by Inger Marie Østhus

And here is Sissel’s delicious Circle of Flowers table cloth that I mentioned in this post

 

 

and her Pretty Pillows in oh so pretty tones from my free Pretty Pillow Pattern

Quilt and pillow by Sissel Hagen

Thank you for letting me share your beautiful work, ladies, it is fun to see how much difference colours make!

Friday

It’s been a while since I last felt this pleased seeing a week come to an end¸ but I am feeling ever so happy today. The boys are in bed and the house is quiet, except for the regular sounds of life outside.

Friday mornings have been my favourites for many years, the kids and I have had all the time in the world, eating breakfast and pottering about for ages before dropping them off in kindergarden. I still love Friday mornings, but I am afraid that slow pace of ours is history. Grandson started school last month (yes, he is really getting that big!), so now we are off and running 1 ½ hour earlier in the morning. That’s a whole lot of time, but we seem to have figured out how to beat the traffic and make the two stop run on no time, so it works.

There has been lots of weather today; thunder and lightning and rain in which the boys and I got caught when picking up grandbaby from kindergarden. It was the first time I was putting the stroller into the back of my new and much smaller car trunk, and both the stroller and I were soaking wet by the time I finally got into the car. My hair was dripping and the clothes stuck to my back when we did our grocery shopping, but the only thing that sounded worse than going shopping in wet clothes, was the prospect of getting all of us out of the car and into the house and change our clothes just to go out in the pouring rain and get soaking wet again while strapping them down in their car seats. McDonalds anyone?

I feel grateful this Friday evening as I am sitting here, I get to do those things with my grandkids, the whole getting soaking wet and eating silly food, having a singing 1 ½ year old boy/alarm clock waking me up in the mornings, creating bonds that will last forever and a lifetime. Not bad at all.

The plumber rollercoaster that has filled this week with highs and lows seems to finally have come to an end. We have had different guys over on 4 occasions in 3 days, mopping, mopping, mopping, cleaning, cleaning, arranging and rearranging the under-the-sink cabinet over and over again, and the always thrilling adventure of washing the towels that were used for mopping. Great fun. By the look of it, we may have replaced a dishwasher that did not need to be replaced after all just because the first guy told us it was the dishwasher that was causing our problems, but we’ll never know, and there’s no point obsessing about it. Does the water drain from the kitchen sink? Yes. Are there any unwanted indoor waterfalls? No. See, that’s pretty much what I asked for to begin with.

Anyway, my comfy bed is calling from above and after all, all ramblings must come to an end and it is time to announce the winners of the Circle of Flowers pattern giveaway:
The Norwegian pattern goes to Anita and
the English pattern goes to Gill.
Congratulations to you both!

And by the way, I entered the Circle of Flowers quilt into the Show and tell at The Quilting Gallery this week, feel free to give it a vote .)

Thanks for stopping by; rambling would be no fun without you!

"Circle of Flowers" Pattern Giveaway

So the 900th post on this blog went by in silence on Sunday while I was making the makeup bag. I have been hatching a couple of Lovebirds for this occasion, but there are still a few finishing touches that need to be made to the giveaway piece. In the meantime I will continue celebrating my continuous work at getting my patterns posted, and today it’s the “Circle of Flowers” pattern that’s up for grabs.

This is one of my favourite table cloths. My friend Sissel made one in soft pinks and greys and it is just gorgeous.

The giveaway will be open until Friday evening. If you would like to win a copy of the pattern all you need to do is to pop over to one of the posts and leave a comment. There is one post for the Norwegian pattern, and one for the English:

Sirkel av Blomster Mønster
Circle of Flowers Pattern

The patterns are sent through email, so I have to be able to get in touch with you.

Best of luck to you all and thanks for stopping by!

Further than far Pattern Winner

With the house, and everything in, drying up and a new dishwasher waiting in the kitchen to be installed, I finally got around to drawing the Further than far Pattern winner. I apologize for the delays. So, without further ado,

marei is the winner!

Congratulations to marei; and to the rest of you – thanks for playing along, and stop by soon for another pattern giveaway.

"Further than far" Pattern Giveaway

Hello there. Some of you may remember that I did some posts about a challenge I had set for myself back in April when I set out to make a quilt using only a pile of scraps that was sitting on the table right in front of me. And then, a month later, I explained my pattern process here and why I seem to start lots of projects with nothing to show later.

Well, now the latest issue of Quiltemagasinet is out and so is grandbaby’s quilt, “Further than far”.

Thank goodness I took pictures before I shipped it off to my editor, because it was handed over the very minute it got back and is now in the process of being loved and cherished by the little one. You all know how that works - cuddle factor: high, presentable: not so much.

As I am translating my way through my published pattern these days and have posted quite a few on the pattern blogs already, it’s about time to start celebrating that huge accomplishment. I’m telling you, making the quilt is easy breezy, so is writing up the instructions, but for some reason translating them into English feels like work-work. Writing English is so much easier than translating. Do you too feel the same about your second languages? Just me?

Anyway, it’s giveaway time. The giveaway will be open for 3 days only as there are quite a few patterns to be launched in the nearest future.

If you would like to win a copy of the “Further than far” pattern, pop over to one of the posts and leave a comment there. There is one post for the Norwegian pattern, and one for the English:

Lengere enn langt Mønster
Further than far Pattern

I’ll draw the winners on Thursday evening. The patterns are sent through email, so I have to be able to get in touch with you.

Good luck to all of you and thanks for stopping by

Sorry, the giveaway is now closed!

The Pattern Process

You may or may not have noticed that I seem to start quite a few projects that you never see again here on the blog. While it is so that I sometimes enjoy the starting more than the finishing, ever so often my WIP goes into the pattern to be published file. I am sure that the publishing process is different for each designer, but I thought I would share how it works for me.

I was so lucky to be offered a position on the design staff of the Scandinavian quilting magazine, Quiltemagasinet, a few years back.

Whenever I have an idea, I will pitch it to the editor. The pitch is just a short description and pictures of whatever I have so far – blocks on the design wall, a top or even a finished quilt. As from the “Yes, please” moment, I cannot share any pictures or the quilt itself anywhere public.

When the quilt is finished, I’ll write the pattern. If you have ever thought about writing patterns, I can assure you that the writing process does get easier. I use Word and Excel/Paint for illustrations or even hand draw and scan them, nothing fancy. When done, I’ll ship the quilt for photographing and email the pattern. The editor takes pictures of the quilt, creates the layout, and emails a pdf-file to me for proof reading.

She usually keeps the quilt until the proof reading is done, unless it is a gift and I am really short on time. That has happened on a couple of occasions, like with grandbaby’s quilt. I had it back here only a couple of days before he was born.

There is a list of the deadlines for each issue, but still, sometimes finishing a pattern is a rush job as it would fit perfectly into the next issue which goes off to printing in a few days.

Designing anything means that you are always working a few months ahead of each season which means I should be thinking of Christmas projects right now – which I am.

It may take a while for the pattern to actually get published as it shall fit into an issue both size wise, technique wise and colour wise. Last summer I finished 7 patterns, and most of them have been published by now.

After publishing, the patterns are mine with which to do whatever I want. My plan is to make them into pdf-patterns in both Norwegian and English, but it just hasn’t been in the cards this past crazy year.

Quite a few of these quilts come with stories which, together with translating the patterns, are on my catching-up-on-the-blog-to-do-list, so I’ll be revisiting them later.

Thanks for stopping by!

Gas money and a book review

The latest issue of Quiltemagasinet is out and so is my "Gas money" pattern and the first ever review of my book Gledesspredere.

I’m not even going to try to be blasé – I could not turn the pages fast enough to get to the review and was grinning the rest of the day and then some.)