Monthly Archives: May 2020

What’s for breakfast?

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We have a love/hate relationship with SPAM®. I hate it in my email inbox. But I love it on my plate! Last month, Susan, from Michael Miller Fabrics, sent us an email with a link, asking if we’d be interested in creating a fun project from any of their new fabric releases. Lora was checking out the fabric lines from her house and I was looking at them from mine. I called her.

“What do you think?” I asked. 

“How many fabric lines can we choose?” She asked.

“Only three,” I answered. She groaned. Choosing only three is the tough part. “Which is your favorite?” I asked.

“SPAM!” “Mine too!” Sew here we are! SPAM for breakfast. When the fabrics arrived we made two table toppers. It isn’t a new design. It is, however, one of our favorites. The block is an old Scandinavian Christmas tradition of weaving a red and white paper or wool together to decorate their homes. This traditional block is called the Scandinavian (or Nordic, Danish, or Swedish) Woven Hearts. Our pattern is called Interwoven Hearts. We like putting a modern twist on traditional blocks. This one is easy, fast, and a perfect fit for our tables. We have made this pattern in Valentine, Christmas, Shamrock, Baby Girl, and Independence Day fabrics. As I said, it’s one of our favorites. 

Michael Miller Fabrics used:

The Interwoven Heart that used the Michael Miller Spam Pop Art for the border used solids from their Cotton Couture line, Apricot, Berry, Lipstick, and Lemon. Cobalt was used for the flange and binding. Soft White for the background

The Interwoven Heart that used the Michael Miller Spam Life White for the border, used Spam Life Aqua, Gingham Play Tangerine, Spam Print, Garden Pindot Ink, and Cotton Couture Citrus for the flange and binding.

I wish we had kits for you but this darn pandemic… Anyway, I’ve tracked down an awesome fabric source for you. Look for the above fabrics at fabrics.com 

To celebrate SPAM®, we decided to have free shipping on the Interwoven Hearts pattern. And if you decide on any other pattern, free shipping for that pattern too.

Absewlutely,

Lisa Norton

SPAM® by Hormel

Let’s Start at the Back

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We always start at the front, so today, let’s start at the back.

Let’s choose our backing fabric first. I was quilting grandbaby quilts for two of my friends this week.  Both chose minky backs.  I LOVE minky!  It is perfect for cuddly baby quilts. Nancy fell in love with Michael Miller’s Animal Alphabet minky.

For the front, she chose solid Michael Miller Cotton Couture in complimentary colors.  The quilt pattern is called Fresh, in a book called Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley.

Katheline chose Michael Miller’s Rosebud snuggle solid pink minky for the back of her Granddaughter’s quilt.  So incredibly soft!!!
Her quilt pattern is called Bona Fide by Material Girlfriends.  I love how Katheline fussy cut her Michael Miller Fairy fabrics for the center of the blocks!

A few tips for quilting your quilt with a minky backing:

  • If you are quilting on your domestic machine spray baste AND use safety pins.  It does like to slide around a bit. Keep the quilt design loose. The best thing about minky is it’s drape, so don’t over quilt it.
  • If you are quilting with a long arm, be sure the stretch of the minky is from side to side and no stretch from top to bottom. Pin and baste the top and sides of the quilt top and then use your side clamps.
  • Don’t seam minky backing for long arm quilting. Never. It will lead to four letter words and/or heavy drinking.
  • On occasion, the long fibers of minky can be pulled to the top of the quilt as the stitch is made. If this happens, you can use a hair brush to brush the minky back.

Here are a couple more dreamy examples of other minky backed quilts:  Confetti Star by Material Girlfriends is backed with a thick soft long haired brown minky.

Recovery Quilt by Material Girlfriends, has a luxurious pea green minky.
A Material Girlfriend Mystery quilt called Bricks and Window is adorned with Michael Miller’s Silky Minky dot purple.
My family always grab the minky backed quilts first! It’s comforting, soft, and cozy. Another advantage is that unlike fleece or flannel, minky doesn’t collect pet hair! So I can cuddle with our old puppy and not worry about his fur clinging to my quilt.
So next time you think about starting a quilt, begin with the back!
Lora