Blog - Color Girl Quilts by Sharon McConnell

14 Mar

Bloom Quilt, Classic Curves Ruler, Curved PIecing, Finished Quilts, Quilting Interest

Let it Bloom! New Fabric, New Pattern

March 14, 2019
Posted by Sharon
Art Gallery Fabrics, Aura fabrics by Mister Domestic, curved piecing quilt, flowering snowball quilt
1 comment

There is some pretty new fabric in town...and it demands *just* the right quilt pattern to show off! It's my turn for the Aura Fabrics tour to showcase projects with the latest collection by ever-so-talented Mathew of Mister Domestic. The Flowering Snowball is one of my all time favorite traditional quilt designs and I have long wanted to recreate it with the Classic Curves Ruler. It took some imagination since the original Flowering Snowball requires several fussy templates to accomplish. I also wanted to simplify it to make sewing it achievable for the average quilter **without tears** (-: And so....Aura fabrics,...

08 Mar

Trinket Quilt Along

Trinket Quilt Along! Let’s Get Started

March 8, 2019
Posted by Sharon
Alison Glass sew along, easy paper piecing quilt, Foundation paper pieced quilt, modern sampler quilt, Trinket quilt along, Trinket quilt pattern, Trinket Quilt sew along
Leave a comment

It's finally here! On Monday, March 10, we are starting the Trinket Quilt sew along with Alison Glass. If you haven't signed up yet, this is one you won't want to miss. Alison has organized ten weeks of sewing: a block per day (weekdays only) for eight weeks, then two weeks to sew it all together. There are tons of weekly prizes, sponsor shop specials...even a "finisher" prize for EVERYONE who completes their top! Let's talk details, schedule **fabric SALE & GIVEAWAYS!** and joining in the fun... The Trinket pattern is an easy modern sampler quilt consisting of 40 paper...

01 Mar

Announcements

Lake Erie Sewing Retreat: Join Us!

It's that time again! The sewing retreat at Lakeside Chautauqua has been scheduled for September 13-15, 2019. I do hope you will plan to come and join me and friends who will be returning and those joining us for the first time. This year will be our third annual retreat at the charming village of Lakeside Chautauqua on Lake Erie. The retreat is open to all who wish to spend a relaxing weekend of sewing and friendship in a beautiful location. The registration cost includes accommodations...

22 Feb

Quilting Interest, YouTube Video Links, YouTube Videos

How To: Cut, Sew, Square Orange Peel Blocks

February 22, 2019
Posted by Sharon
Classic Curves Ruler tutorial, curve piecing tutorial, how to sew orange peel quit block
2 comments

There is a new video on Color Girl YouTube! The second tutorial in our series on using the Classic Curves Ruler and curved piecing blocks is how to make orange peel blocks. It's no secret these are my absolute favorite shapes to sew. This in-depth video shows how to cut the shapes with the Classic Curves Ruler, how to sew and trim and square your block. <<click here to watch video>> For the sample we are sewing orange peel blocks with bright solid colors and black and white prints. It's going to be a fabulous modern design. These versatile blocks are...

15 Feb

Quilt-Alongs, Quilting Interest, Trinket Quilt Along, Work in progress

Trinket Quilt Along is Coming!

February 15, 2019
Posted by Sharon
Alison Glass Trinket pattern, foundation paper piecing quilt, modern sampler quilt, Rainbow sampler quilt, Trinket quilt along
1 comment

It has all the makings of a super fun community event! Alis0n Glass is organizing an epic quilt along featuring her Trinket quilt pattern and this is one you won't want to miss. The Trinket pattern is an easy modern sampler featuring forty 4" blocks alternating with solid fabric squares. It's a great opportunity to learn and practice your foundation paper piecing and show off your favorite colors. Read on to find out how to join in... As a sponsor, we have a kit and patterns available here on the website. I am super excited to see how this pretty bundle...

08 Feb

Classic Curves Ruler, Classic Curves Ruler, Curved Piecing, YouTube Video Links, YouTube Videos

Classic Curves Ruler Video Tutorial is Live!

February 6, 2019
Posted by Sharon
Classic Curves Ruler, curved piecing quilt, curved piecing quilt template, curved piecing tutorial, how to make circle quilt block, How to sew curved seam
1 comment

I have started working on a series of videos for Color Girl YouTube that feature curved piecing and how-to tutorials to help you get started, use and enjoy your Classic Curves Ruler. The first video is a basic but very in-depth look at how the Ruler works, curved piecing and squaring up your blocks. <<Click Here to Watch Video>> This tutorial takes you through making a 6 1/2" drunkard's path block (quarter circle) from cutting out the pieces, to sewing the curved seam, pressing and squaring up your blocks so that they sew together perfectly. Learn all my tricks for beautiful...

01 Feb

Free Quilt Patterns, Super Simple Sampler Quilt Blocks, YouTube Video Links

Sampler Series Video Tutorials, All Done!

January 30, 2019
Posted by Sharon
how to make sampler quilt, learn to quilt tutorials, quilting on youtube, super simple sampler
Leave a comment

It took longer than I planned, but the complete series of Super Simple Sampler video tutorials is now up on Color Girl YouTube. The original Sampler was made a few years ago as a monthly project, and you can still find all 36 block instructions here on the website: Click Here to go to that page. I've also given you two options for setting the blocks together into a finished top. The original quilt features 72 six inch sampler blocks, 36 from the Tula Pink City Sampler book and 36 that I designed myself and show you how to sew...

29 Jan

Announcements, Pattern Corrections, Polka Dot Bikini QAL

Pattern Correction: Polka Dot Bikini

January 29, 2019
Posted by Sharon
Polka Dot Bikini pattern, quilt pattern correction
1 comment

Hi, friends! It has come to my attention that some of the printed Polka Dot Bikini patterns include templates that are not the right size. I don't know which ones are correct and which are not, so I want to replace your pattern if you have purchased the print version of the pattern. Pdf patterns are not affected by the template error, but users of the pdf pattern should take note that the unfinished block size is 10 1/2", not 10" as indicated on previous version of the pattern. My apologies for the issue and if it has impacted your use of...

25 Jan

Fabric

Colors of the Year Quilts, Fabric, More!

January 21, 2019
Posted by Sharon
Color of the year fabric, Color of the Year quilter, Kona cotton solids, Kona Splash
1 comment

Envelope, please. And the Kona color of the year goes too....Splash! But wait, there's more...the stars align and Pantone has chosen Living Coral as their color of the year for 2019. How amazing is it that these two colors are absolutely perfect together? It's the kind of color romance that makes you want to stop all those WIP's and start something brand new in the colors of a teeming reef. Robert Kaufman Fabrics feature over 300 colors in their signature Kona Cotton Solids for sewists. This year, they've chosen a beautiful watery blue in Splash to be the featured color....

18 Jan

Classic Curves Ruler, Curved PIecing, Pattern Corrections, Quilting Interest, Using the CCRuler

Classic Curves Ruler Instructions Updated

January 9, 2019
Posted by Sharon
1 comment

It's hard to believe it has been nearly two years since I launched the Classic Curves Ruler! You all have been supportive beyond my wildest dreams and it always brings a big smile to my face when I hear from one of you who succeeds at curved piecing and love the tool as much as I do (-: I recently placed an order with my supplier for a new shipment and felt like it was time to update the instructions insert that comes with the Ruler. I took some feedback from you guys and my observations from teaching a lot...

Sign in