This quilt is a kit that I bought online a while ago. You can still find the kits, and they are priced right at just over $100. It is called Spooks and Spells, designed by Stacy Iest Hsu, using her fabric line Home Sweet Haunt. The quilt makes use of an adorable panel, which I think is one of the cutest I have seen in a long time.
If you just wanted to get the panel and use scraps from your stash, that could be an option as well. The oranges and blacks would be easy to match. Fat Quarter Shop has the downloadable pdf pattern on sale for $7.50.
I won’t lie, you have to have your wits about you when constructing those block surrounds. The flip and fold corner squares have to be positioned just so, and if you mess up, you won’t get the design that frames the blocks. Some of the fabric is also directional, and I knew it would drive me crazy if the designs were going in all directions. This quilt has a definite right side up. So, the cutting and and sewing isn’t as simple as you might think. You have to be well organized and think ahead.
I also used my own method for making flying geese, using Fat Quarter Shop’s half-square triangle papers. I don’t use their papers typically, but I found they were easy to work with and that the thin paper tore off easily. The brand of HST paper I usually go for is Star Singles by Spinning Star Designs from Shabby Fabrics. I prefer the square shape of the papers instead of having the paper in a big roll that you have to cut up.
Using my own preferred methods for flying geese and half square triangles led to me making some big cutting errors and ending up with this:
Oops. No wonder I don’t have enough of the orange fabric for the binding now. What on earth will I use these squares for? Leaders and enders forever?
So, even though there was some tricky sewing and cutting, I managed to get the units for this quilt done in just over a day. It is a small quilt that will finish at around 63″ square. Next up is to sew it all together!
I hope you all had a grand weekend and that the week ahead will be glorious for you.
19 Responses
What you call Leaders/enders I call thread catchers.
Someone at a recent bee said she just started using a thread catcher and it has made an improvement on her accuracy and lessened her frustration. I used to teach a lot, I encouraged every student and my own kids to use thread catchers. I think it helps a lot.
Someone else at that same bee shared that she has a pile of small squares cut and she makes small half square triangles, instead of using scraps, as her thread catcher process. I think this is quite brilliant.
I think she is making a scrap half square quilt, sort of postage stamp quilt style.
My Bernina’s thread cutter has been acting up, so the thread catchers have saved me a lot of frustration.
I hope there was sufficient fabric in the kit to allow for your cutting variations. The block looks like a great way to frame any panel ‘portrait.’
There was plenty of fabric to allow for cutting variations or small mishaps. I just must have zoned out while listening to an audio book while cutting. I cut dozens of these squares for no reason at all and was so annoyed at myself for wasting all that fabric. There was a great deal of the orange fabric, which was designated to use as the binding. I will probably need to buy a half yard more to do that.
This is why I cannot listen to audio books while I cut/sew. Music, yes, books no.
Am glad the orange fabric is still available for you to purchase!
Hugs!
Just zip up a quick checkered table runner! Those two fabrics would really play well off each other.
Got tempted into the Fat Quarter Shop spooky box– it’s fun to do some Halloween sewing in October. Love your kit, but I also have J. Wecker Frisch’s Barn Dance waiting from last year! xox
I’m trying to figure out a cute Christmas themed table runner…Any ideas?
If you like stars and a square shape, the Moda Love quilt is a really good one. Just adjust the size of your squares to the desired size. xox
Love this quilt. I would use those oops scraps and piece them in long strips and use on the back. I like to use scraps from the front to piece the back. Helps control the stash!
I have adapted to the lenders and enders method to catch the thread when stopping and starting sewing. It does add up!
I do love Halloween fabric. I don’t know if it is just me but it seems like there is more variety for Halloween fabrics than there are for Christmas fabric these days. I do EPP and fussy cutting Halloween prints is high on my list for fall sewing.
The thread cutter on my Bernina has been acting up, so I started using the leader/enders and it is a lot less frustrating. I’ve been watching out for previews of upcoming Christmas fabrics to be released, and honestly, the only one I really liked was Primitive Gatherings.
What a cute quilt! I can see those block borders are a challenge to make.
Where have you put it in your home?
Hugs!
You’ve got a really cute quilt top so try not to beat yourself up over the accidental orange squares. My Bernina is in the shop for servicing & I’m sewing on my earlier model with a manually operated presser foot. I need to really focus on putting it up & down!! Have a great week!
I must schedule a service for my Bernina. The automatic thread cutter isn’t working right. I hate being without my machine! I have another one I could use while it is in the “hospital”, but it’s a pain to switch it out.
Really adorable! yeah, I’ve done the same thing. zoned out and just cut a bunch of fabric and then realize I did not need all that fabric cut. ;p
Ugh, I could have kicked myself. I know why I cut the orange squares, but the houndstooth pieces were completely random. Oh right, let’s just cut 48 2 1/2″ squares out of this because, why…
I have just started the Buffalo Check Chritmas Runner like the square Halloween on you made. Thanks for the idea!
My mind is like a sieve. I forgot about that pattern! I need to make it too!
Such a cute quilt! Love that panel and may just need to hunt a kit down 🤣