Setting your seams - or how to get those perfectly flat quilt blocks

I published a photo of a quilt block I'd sewn, and I got quite a few private messages on Instagram asking me how I get my seams so flat, so I made a little video to show the importance of setting your seams, and how to do it. This is the photo that I posted, a cute simple square in a square with fabric from Kate & Birdie and Kona Cotton.

I highly recommend clicking the "Watch on Youtube" link in the video as this low quality won't allow you to see what I'm talking about. Video is available here: Watch video.

When we sew quilt blocks, we usually do not sew with a dual feed presser foot, which causes a slight stretch/tension in the fabric on top compared to the fabric being fed at the bottom by the machines feeders; which is why the top piece usually comes out longer than the bottom one, despite being totally equal in length when the seam was started. This causes the fabric, when the seam is sewn to have a slight "waviness" to it, as the fabric has been stretched slightly. This can be made worse from improper thread tension. Adjusting your presser foot pressure (usually reducing it) so your seams come out as flat as possible, while still retaining enough pressure to make a nice seam will help this. However, a slight waviness is difficult to get rid of.  Starching your fabrics with spray starch before you cut it is a great way to reduce this issue too. However for baby quilts such as this one, where you don't wish to spray the fabric with a bunch of chemicals is not desirable. This is where setting your seams come into play.

Setting your seams is something the old school quilters amongst us will say is such a standard thing to do that it doesn't warrant a post, but I've found a lot of new quilters don't know to do this, and it makes such a difference!


Set your seams: 
Start with your block in the same position as when you lifted it from your machine, don't open up the fabrics, just lift it from the bed to the pressing table. Here you can see the little waves in the fabric.

Put your iron on the cotton setting. With or without steam is a personal preference, have you pre-shrunk your fabrics properly with a hot iron with steam, you can use steam here to without danger to distort your block. Set down your iron on the block and give it a good press. Here you can see how flat it becomes, the waviness is gone!

Next press your block like you normally would (I'm pressing the seams open here which I normally don't, as it's for a baby quilt so I want it as flat as possible).

And enjoy your perfectly flat, beautiful block!

In the video there's a comparison with a block with the seams not set. Leave your blocks to cool flat on the ironing board, preferably even under a heavy book or a quilt ruler to let the fibers set in place flat before moving them.

Hopefully this will help you to get your blocks properly flat and beautiful!

Periodic Table of the Elements fabric - now available for order!

After I showed my Periodic Table of the Elements quilt I made for my beloved sisters graduation 2012, I have received so, so many requests to have the fabric I designed for this made purchasable through Spoonflower. It was a very personal quilt this, so I was hesitant to do this for that reason, but now, 6 years later - I've finally edited, updated and uploaded the design! It's now available on Spoonflower for anyone who's interested: https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/8232173

The original has been corrected and all elements have been added (no more Uut, Uuq etc) and the slight design issues with the elements not lining up perfectly (especially in the Lanthanoid and Actinoid series) have been fixed. It's the perfect gift for the science interested in your life!

There's a 1/4" space between each element and they're ~5 5/8" x 4 3/4" big. How big your finished quilt will be will depend on your seam allowance and how you place the Lanthanoid and Actinoid series.

This is how your 3 yards will look when they arrive, you need to buy 3 yards to get the full design, the layout have been optimized for minimal yardage so you need to cut it up and sew it together to make the quilt (it's not a printed panel quilt).

This photo gives you a nice idea of the feel of the quilt I think, for more photos, see the original post.

If you order this fabric, I'd LOVE to see what you make, so make sure to tag me in social media!

16 Blocks Done!

Really happy to finally have 16 blocks (out of 24 so yes I know, I'm behind *lol*) finished for The Splendid Sampler!

I'm having so much fun with this but I'm constantly behind, I really hope I can get a few days soon and really catch up! =D

Block #19 – Measure twice, cut once

This one really killed me with the embroidery, I started working on it the day it was released and didn't finish it until yesterday, I'll willingly admit, I grew tired of it and I got sloppy... It just wasn't fun anymore and the fabric got a little distorted as I had to embroider it after piecing.  Not a fan of this one, hopefully after some time, I'll be able to appreciate it, if not, it will go in the discard pile and I'll replace it with something else. =)

The Splendid Sampler Block 10 and 18

While working away on my next pattern (which has been less than cooperative) I've managed to sneak in a few Splendid Sampler Blocks. They're so much fun to make, but I'm so behind again, I've made 11.5 (nr 19 is nearly done, just embroidery left) of 19. I need to catch up! =)

Block #18 – Lina’s Gift - by Pat Sloan

This was a quick and fun block to make, no hassle and came together nicely.

Block #10 – Iowa - by Sherri McConnell – A Quilting Life

Another fast and fun block, I really needed these fun and easy blocks to get me going again after my illness. I really love how this came out, such calm but happy colors <3 

And yes, I love the little dots for background fabrics =)

Splendid Sampler Blocks 13 & 8

Since I've been sick for weeks now, and recovery has not been exactly speedy - not much sewing have been done, however I have finished The Splendid Sampler block 8 & 13.

Block 8 - Friends Around the Square - by Julie Karasek – Patched Works Inc

Loved making this block, quick and easy which to my surprise packed a considerable punch when placed with the others! <3

Block 13 - Scrap Stars - by Corey Yoder

This was aslo super fun, and surprisingly quick to make despite the tiny triangles =D

Circles of Time Table Runner - A New Pattern!

I'm very excited to introduce my second Pink Pony Design pattern, the Circles of Time Tablerunner!

It is available for purchase on Craftsy here, or if you'd prefer the pattern in Swedish, you can purchase the Swedish PDF pattern from my mothers web shop here. If you are a store owner and wish to purchase the paper version of this pattern for wholesale, please drop me an email: maria@pinkponydesign.com =)

I had so much fun making this table runner, I actually literally dreamed of it, when I woke up I was so excited and I had to sketch it right away. I'll make a post about one of my weird ways of getting new designs another day =)

Isn't it just gorgeous there on the door? <3 I took a ton of photos trying to get the perfect one for the cover of the pattern. This was actually my runner up.

I love the touch of added depth and flair the addition of the subtle lines give it. 

Isn't it just so pretty matching the color of the sky and the leaves at the same time? Had such a hard time getting it to stay in place, it was quite windy ^^

Anyway, I really love it and I hope you will too! I think it looks so great in it's location at home =)

If you make a Circles of Time Table Runner, please hashtag your Instagram photos with #circlesoftimetablerunner and #pinkponydesign so I and everyone else get to see them! =D

Linking up with the lovely Sew Fresh Quilts:

The Flamingo Quilt

My love absolutely loves Flamingos, and therefor of course he had to have his own Flamingo Quilt! So before his birthday this summer I went to quilt camp and I made him my to date by far most difficult quilt! I even had to bring in my mother for help with the satin stitch for the applique! Thank you mom! <3

 (for some reason all images are very badly compressed by blogger, please click them to see the proper photo)

But it was totally worth it, he was so happy when he got it! =D He turned 36, so it was exactly 36 different hues of pink and red used. I started out by making and taking my 5" squares and adding vliesofix to them.

I then drew out the bird on the fabric and started placing my cut triangles, let me tell you, fitting and placing these triangles took me 6 days of work from sunup to sundown at quilt camp! And sun doesn't set in these parts of Sweden until 23 at night. ^^

I kept adding and adding triangles until I dreamed of them =) I used wash away glue to hold them in place while I was trying out colors, before ironing down the vliesofix. I had no idea getting the triangles to fit perfectly would be so time consuming, if I had, I might have rethought the idea as I only had 2 weeks to finish this baby.

Here she's really starting to take shape =)

Had to redesign my original sketch for her face as the triangles just got too small!

The disaster struck! The darn iron decided to shoot out a gush of rust coloured goo all over her feet! I cried a little and then I washed and washed and manage to get most of it out. Here's the drying photo but you can still see the stains! However, luckily a little change of pose for her leg solved the issue and the stains where hidden away.

I freemotion quilted it all on my mothers machine, calm waves for the water and clouds for the sky, came out really nice once we'd sorted out the issues with the FMQ foot and settings on the machine.

It's such a pretty quilt and I'm so proud of it! I even hand stitched the binding (which we all know in my eyes is just a killer), that's how much I love him and the quilt ;)

The back is of course also Flamingos =)

Happy recipient! =)

Her pretty head finished.

There are even little circles around her foot where she's standing =)

If you're looking for the Bring the Basics Bag pattern GIVEAWAY, it's just one post down, here =)

Free Motion Quilting Practice - Borders

I've had to practice some more FMQ before I dared to start quilting the borders of my quilt.  It was so much fun to be doing feathers again! =D

Here I'm starting to be happy with the results, please excuse the "ugly fabric", I tend to try use up the non pretty ones for these things ^^

It was quite difficult to get back in the swing of things and it was more then a little wonky to start with ^^

My mother has opened a brand new Swedish quilting store!

I'm so immensely proud of and excited for my mother who has the blog evas syrum. She has just opened her online quilt fabric store in Sweden. I know that most of my readers aren't Swedish but I just had to share this anyway, I'm so happy for her! =D

She's also hosting a giveaway with a chance to win 2 Moda Scrap Bags! These seem to be such an awesome thing, I really can't wait to get my hands on my first!

Please feel free to hop over for a chance to win (you can use the translation gadget if you don't speak Swedish)! I literally couldn't be more excited for my awesome mom! <3

She prices all her fabric the same, it's 155 SEK per meter, other then the Kona Solids that are 115 SEK per meter so it's really easy to shop there. She also has some really cute little FQ bundles and some other pre-cuts. You can order as little as 10 centimeters of a fabric should you wish.  =)

Modern Baby Boy Quilt - Finish!

My friends are having babies left and right and I get to make a lot of baby quilts which is so much fun! I choose fabrics all from stash for the first time and I couldn't be more excited with the result! I drew the applique myself, I really wanted the first letter of the babys name there but incorporated with a cute dinosaur. This to lighten up the otherwise quite strict and modern feeling quilt. Make it feel more "baby" without drawing away too much attention from the design. The choice of the yellow for the applique came down to the original photo of the eggs that inspired the fabric selection.

I quilted it with a normal meander as I didn't want the quilt to feel stiff from too much quilting. I wanted it snuggly and soft.

The applique is done with the trapunto technique I used in my Summer Squares Quilt. But for this I used a high loft polyester batting for it to make it really pop out, will absolutely use this again for applique, makes it really stand out! =)

Summer Squares Baby Quilt - Vegas Quilt

One of my very best friends had an adorable, ever so cool and easy going baby girl, Vega few months back and I couldn't be more excited, she's just so sweet! They just got back from Sweden and I'm so excited to be giving her her little quilt!

When my friend just had found out she was pregnant with a baby girl, we had dinner at a restaurant talking about this and that and we came to talk about me wanting to make a quilt of course, so I had to ask if she had any wishes for it. She told me she wanted a ship, a star and a polar bear! Why exactly I don't feel at liberty to share but there were very good reasons for this anyway, and the wheels in my head instantly started turning: How the heck was I going to tie these requests together??

Luckily I had a number of months to sketch and throw away sketches, start over and think again before I had to decide on a design I felt could work. Ships and polar bears aren't exactly girly girly so I really wanted to find fabrics that could work with this while still not being too boyish. Luckily Sweetwaters adorable Noteworthy line was available, soft, sweet colors (including the essential blue and white!), lovely messages in the fabrics and not too girly nor too babyish as I don't think my friend would have liked that too much.
This was the result, a baby version of my Sunkissed Summer Squares Quilt! The Sunkissed Summer Squares quilt pattern is now available for FREE in my Facebook group.  I love the simplicity of the squares combined with the applique, I think they made a perfect combination!

I'm really super happy with the outcome! The applique is shadow trapunto just like in the original but sewn with a bit of a sketch like feeling thanks to the gray thread to give details. This one is also made with a Layer Cake instead of Jelly Roll and a Charm Pack. Soo much smarter and much less fabric waste! How come I didn't think of this earlier?

The adorable little polar bear is afloat on a piece of ice, looking up at the star above him as if for guidance.

The magnificent sail ship! I'm super proud of this, it's really tiny, only 4 inches high! And I'm really glad I managed to get the water to look like water with a bit of movement in it with the quilting, was so nervous about this!

To make the quilt truly baby Vegas, I of course had to include her name somewhere! I didn't want the standard babyish applique letters here as I felt it wouldn't fit with the rest of the quilt so I decided to make it from shadow trapunto in the water. Really happy with the result!

To make your own, just follow the instructions for my Sunkissed Summer Squares quilt and modify applique and size to suit your needs =) 

The Sunkissed Summer Squares quilt pattern is now available for FREE in my Facebook group.