Sew Bittersweet Designs | Sewing and Designing in my BitterSweet World

A Disney Moment

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Melissa Dunworth

For my Disney Mini Quilt Swap I am trying to capture a Disney moment. How did I do?

This was yesterdays progress. I got Mickey and Minnie cut out and fused down. I will figure out a quilting plan in the next couple days. I want to keep it simple because this is a very simple quilt. I’m even considering hand quilting… we’ll see.

Don’t forget to link up your goal for December! Maybe consider making it one of your last minute Christmas sewing projects, kill two birds with one stone. A finish for A Lovely Year of Finishes and a handmade Christmas gift.

Have a wonderful Tuesday Everyone!

Posted in A Lovely Year of Finishes, Mini Quilt, swaps | 7 Comments

A Lovely Year of Finishes – December Goal Party

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Melissa Dunworth

Here we go! The final count down of the year. 24 days until Christmas and 30 days until a whole New Year begins. Congratulations if you have made it this far and linked up with us! Double Congratulations if you have completed your goals! Triple congratulations if you have linked up AND finished at least 6 times because that means you will be eligible for our end of year party! WOOHOO!

In the meantime, we need to set goals for December. Mine is pretty simple. I just want to start my Disney Mini Quilt project for a swap I am in over on Instagram. It is due to mail January 15th. Wish me luck! Here is my inspiration:

You have two requirements to be entered into the prizes this month.

1. Link-up the first 7-days of the month

and

2. Link-up in the last 7-days of the month.
Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the linky party below.

Please grab a button or link back to Shanna and I so other people can join in the fun!

**Please note, the linky party is the same here and over at Shanna , so there is no need to enter twice **

Here is a list of our generous sponsors for December!!

1. Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

2.PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

3. $15 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop

4. One pdf pattern from Sew Sweetness

5.Thread Prize from Aurifil

6. One Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate to
Stitches n’ Giggles (winners choice)

7. One PDF Pattern from Meadow Mist Designs

8. Thimblepie’s Quilt Supplies – Custom fabric package, 4 yards (worth $20) plus free shipping

9. Sew BitterSweet Designs one pdf pattern

10. PDF Pattern from Katy – The Littlest Thistle

11. One pdf Pattern from Clover and Violet

Posted in A Lovely Year of Finishes, Fiber of All Sorts | 5 Comments

A Lovely Year of Finishes – November Finishes Party!

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Melissa Dunworth

Whew! We made it! Survived another month! This has been a crazy sewing month for me. I finished quilting my goal. I designed, pieced, quilted an bound another quilt. I released a new pattern, and I’ve got a jump start on my Christmas sewing. Who needs sleep…right?

Sorry for the picture, I realized as I was writing this post, that I never got a proper picture of my quilt outside. My goal this month was to finish quilting this and if I was able to bind it then that would have been icing. I couldn’t bind it though…there is still no name for the baby it is going to. Don’t worry, the parents still have lots of time as she isn’t due to make her arrival until January! Binding will wait. In the meantime, I finished my goal, woohoo!

How about you? Did you have a successful month? I sure hope so!

You have two requirements to be entered into the prizes this month.

1. Link-up the first 7-days of the month

and

2. Link-up in the last 7-days of the month.
Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the linky party below.

Please grab a button or link back to Shanna and I so other people can join in the fun!

**Please note, the linky party is the same here and over at Shanna , so there is no need to enter twice **

Here is a list of our generous sponsors for November!!

1. One pdf pattern from Sew Sweetness

2.Thread Prize from Aurifil

3. PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

4. One Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate to
Stitches n’ Giggles (winners choice)

5. One PDF Pattern from Meadow Mist Designs

6. Thimblepie’s Quilt Supplies – Custom fabric package, 4 yards (worth $20) plus free shipping

7. Sew BitterSweet Designs one pdf pattern

8. PDF Pattern from Katy – The Littlest Thistle

9. One pdf Pattern from Clover and Violet

10. Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

Posted in A Lovely Year of Finishes, Fiber of All Sorts, Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns | 6 Comments

Stacked Pyramids Quilt Block

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Melissa Dunworth

Today I am excited to launch a new quilt block pattern! The Stacked Pyramids Pattern!

This block is very special to me because it incorporates one of my favorite quilting themes, Flying Geese. It is also very versatile as you can see from the color variations below:

Materials Required:

- Background Scraps (low volume or solid): 36 squares – 2.5″ x 2.5″

- 6 Raspberry Rectangles – 2.5″ x 4.5″

12 Aqua Rectangles – 2.5″ x 4.5″

The one note I will give before you purchase this pattern, is that an accurate 1/4″ seam when piecing this block is absolutely essential, 0therwise it will not measure 12.5″ x 12.5″.

I recommend testing out your 1/4″ seam and measuring before you start sewing. I have found that a seam gauge is the most helpful for determining if your seams are accurate You can buy one here – this one by Dritz is my favorite and is the one I use to check my seam allowance when piecing. If you seam is too big, move your needle position over towards the right, closer to your seam guide.

The Stacked Pyramids block is on sale in my Craftsy Store and is available for $2.50. As you can see it is a fabulous block that allows for lots of freedom in your design!

I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed it!

Posted in quilt blocks, Sew BitterSweet Designs Patterns | 8 Comments

Quilty Inspiration Wall

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Melissa Dunworth

Over the last year I have been collecting/making items for my quilty inspiration wall. The wall that I face when I am sewing. I thought it would be nice to be able to look at that wall and feel inspired while I was sewing. The ladies from the birthday club I am went all out to help me decorate my creative space! Each item on the wall is truly precious to me and has a unique story that cheers me up whenever I look up from my sewing.

Starting on the upper left is an amazing wall hanging from @chelsiecreates on Instagram. I just love the colors and brightness.

Second column from the left at the top is a stunning rainbow inspired drunkards path wall hanging from @rooibosmom also on Instagram. Below that is a beautiful little wooden painting my mom gave me of a classic treadle and a woman sewing. I love how dolled up she is to sew – especially since I’m usually in my jammies! Below that is another wall hanging/mug rug from one of my friends in my Modern Quilt Guild – @4BAGGYS we were in a swap, the cool thing is that she made it using fabrics from my stash! And below that is a gorgeous wall hanging my mom made years ago in a class. I found the top in her stash and brought it home to quilt and bind. I just LOVE it so much!

At the top of the middle column is a stunning wall hanging from @plumpatchwork, I was blown away when this ended up in my mailbox last month! Below that wall hanging is some artwork by my wonderful Anne. As she inspires most of what I do, I can’t imagine her not being represented!

Second from the right is a stunning wall hanging by @weshallsew – oh my goodness, don’t you just love those hexies and the colors are SO me!

Finally, all the way to the right, is a crazy quilt block I made to try out some embroidery techniques. One day I will be making a real crazy quilt and this was a good test run for me.

So there you have it! My little inspiration wall. I plan to continue to add to it and I’m pretty sure that Anne does too! Do you have an inspiration wall?

Posted in Sewing Sanctuary, sewing studio | 6 Comments