Thanksgiving Advent Quilt Sew Along, Part 2

Welcome back!  I hope everyone's quilt is coming along nicely.
Are you ready to work on your own Advent Quilt?

Click Here for Part 1.

Today, we are going to sew on the pockets and stencil in the numbers and the Give Thanks!
1. First, you need to cut out 12 rectangles that measure 3 3/4 inch x 3 1/2 inches.  

For my quilt, I had 3 fabrics, so I cut out 4 rectangles from each.

2. Ncxt,  take one rectangle and on the long side, iron down 1/4 inch with Heat N Bond hem tape.  This creates an easy finished edge.  We don't need to worry about fraying since this is a decoration and not an article of clothing that will be washed.  This will be the top opening of each pocket.


3. Now, go around on each side and iron down 1/4 inch.  Your fabric should now look like this on the wrong side.

Repeat this for all 12 rectangles.

4. Arrange your pockets on the quilt face into 3 columns, 4 rows each.   Pin each pocket in place, making sure that the side with the hem tape is facing up.

5. Now, carefully top stitch around the sides and bottom edges, as close as you can to the edge, leaving the top side open.  Now you have a pocket!  Repeat this on all 12 rectangles.






6. Now it's time to create freezer paper stencils.    If you have a cricut and a silhouette, simply print numbers 1-12 and "Give Thanks" onto freezer paper.   If you have a die-cut machine, punch these out.
I don't have a cricut or silhouette.  I don't have a die-cut machine either.  However, my local scrapbook supply store has a project room with hundreds of die cuts anyone can use.  So, I did!  If you don't have access to these things, you can always draw your letters and numbers and then cut them out by hand.   
The paper side of the freezer paper will be the top of the stencil, and waxy side will be the bottom.   You won't be using the pieces you cut out, but rather the negative.  This is your stencil!
7. Carefully place your stencils onto your fabric, waxy side down, and IRON in place.  The wax melts to the fabric, holding the stencil in place.  

8.  Paint your numbers and "Give Thanks" with fabric paint.

9.  After the paint has dried for a few minutes, you can carefully peel the paper off! 

There will be no waxy residue left, just a beautiful stencil!
Allow the paint to fully dry.   This can take a couple of hours.

That's all for today.  I will see you next week!

I will be participating in these Parties this week.

Saturday Sew Along: Thanksgiving Advent Calendar, Part 1

My kids love countdowns.  One of their favorite activities during the Christmas season is our advent calendars.  Well, why not have a Thanksgiving Advent?  This idea was emailed to me earlier this year, and I couldn't resist making my own.

I decided not to follow this version, but to create my own, simplified version, so that this could be another class taught at my Relief Society's Fabulous Friday.
This is what I came up with:

I think this advent will really help my family  increase our Thanksgiving spirit.   Each day, we will pull out a gratitude/thanks quote and small activity.  The kids will love it.
Would you like to make one too?  Sew along with me.  I am breaking the instructions down into 4 parts, and I will be posting each Saturday.  We should finish the last Saturday in October, perfect timing for hanging this quilt up to enjoy the entire month of November.  And please, email me links of your project!  I would love to see what others come up with.

1.This week, you need to purchase your fabric and supplies.


Items Needed:
1/2 yd fabric for the back and sides (d)
1/8 yd for the "give thanks" rectangle (b)
1/2 yd fabric for the background or 1 fat quarter (a)
1/8 yd for pockets (c).  If you want 3 colors, like I have, you will need 3 different 1/8yd pieces.  There is enough fabric with very careful cutting for 12 pockets out of 1/8yd.
1/4 in Heat n Bond hem tape
1/2 yd fusible fleece
Black fabric paint and brush
freezer paper
wooden dowel

2. Next, you need to cut out the fabric pieces for your quilt's face.
a. Using D, cut out 4 strips that are 1.5inches wide and at least 20inches across.

b. Using B, cut a piece that is 14in x 4.5in

c. Using A, cut a piece that is 14in x16.5in


3. Next, with right sides together, sew a to b, allow 1/4in seam allowance.

Open. Press seam to one side.

4.  Now, sew two D strips lengthwise along side. Allow 1/4 seam.  Press seam to one side when done.


Trim any strip excess off so that the edge is even.
5. Sew the remaining two D strips to the top and bottom of the quilt face, trim off any excess at the edge and press open.

 You are done for this week!  See you next Saturday!

Note: I will be linking up the These Awesome Parties!