MisDirection Pattern Release

Last year I was lucky enough to have one of my quilt designs - MisDirection - selected to be included in the 2015 QuiltCon Magazine. And this pattern is now available to purchase in my Craftsy store and my PayHip store!!!

Misdirection explores the versatility of the half square rectangle, taking chevron quilts to a whole new level. Inspired by the Sixties, this quilt features bold bands of colour and negative space created with low volume prints. It is a great quilt to showcase free motion quilting in the ample negative space, and could be made using either prints as in this version, or solid fabrics. The 10-page pattern includes full instructions and diagrams to make a 72" x 72" quilt. 

I had an awesome group of testers who worked through this pattern for me. I love each and every one of these versions - they are great examples of how different this quilt can look based on colour and fabric choice!

First up is Jess's version. I love how these saturated colours pop against the low volume background. And Jess obviously had a ball quilting the negative space - it's a great example of how much fun you can have with the quilting on this quilt!

I love how different Jen's quilt looks with a darker background. Jen used solids for her quilt, and it has resulted in a very graphic, bold quilt. I love this version!

I love how Ella's version has the chevron dissolving into the background - and it's such a fresh combination of colours.

Leslie's version of MisDirection is just lovely - by using several different values of each of the three colours, the quilt top has so much sparkle! It's such a great colour combo, too!

Kirsten's version is absolutely spectacular - I love that pop of lime green against all the neutrals. And how amazing is the texture from the straight line quilting?

And last but certainly not least is Leanne's fabulously summery version. This one makes me think of watermelon, it's so fresh and pretty!

A massive thank you to all of my pattern testers, you've all done such an amazing job with this pattern. I love to see people's versions of my patterns, so if you make this quilt, please use #misdirectionquilt and tag me (@elvengardenquilts) if you share it on social media!!

xx Jess

Star Burst Quilt Pattern Release!!

It's taken me way too long to get around to releasing my Star Burst pattern. The pattern was written and tested last year, but I've been dragging my feet getting the cover done. But it's finally done! You can find it in my Payhip shop, and my Craftsy shop :o)

I made my version using a bundle of Tula Pink's Fox Field fabric, and quilted it using Aurifil 50wt. The lap size quilt finishes at 64", and this one is a family favorite :o) 

My wonderful friend Leanne (aka Daisy and Jack) made this spectacular version when she pattern tested for me. I adore this photo - and I really love the colours Leanne chose. Such a happy quilt!

Joanne made this gorgeous version as a project Linus quilt. 

Louise made this glorious version. 

And finally Dawn made this beautiful mini quilt - I love the fussy cutting she did in the centre star!

I taught this pattern earlier this year, and my students produced some pretty amazing versions. Carol made a mini version, using her favorite colours. I love how this block works in solids - it just sings in purples and reds!

Carol also made a lap size version in classic reds and greys. Alternating the stars like this gives it such an amazing visual impact!

And finally, my other student Bernadette has made her version using Tula Pink's Acacia along with purples for her granddaughter. I love how Bernadette has given it a really scrappy look by making each of the outer points different.

I accidentally started a new quilt tonight (to celebrate finally getting this pattern finished?!?), and I'm off to keep working on it. I hope you're all having a wonderful week!

xx Jess

Starjump Quilt Finish and Pattern Release!

There has not been a whole lot of sewing happening since I came home from Quiltcon - I have a huge list of things I'd like to make, but I haven't had the energy or motivation to get started just yet. But I have managed to finish off a few projects that I'd been working on before I went away - one of those being my StarJump quilt. I finished up the quilting and binding a few weeks ago, and we took it to the park for some photos last weekend. Even more exciting, the pattern for this quilt is now available. It's a fat quarter friendly quilt pattern, comes in three sizes, and you can buy the pattern in my new Payhip shop!! 

This quilt started as a pile of MicroMod fabric (a Cloud 9 fabric collection from a couple of years ago), in plum, teal, grey and black. I added in a bunch of other fabrics in these colours, and added some citron prints to give it a bit of pop. I designed several quilts last year using over-sized quilt blocks and I have to admit I'm a bit obsessed. Large blocks are great for using large scale prints and they come together quite quickly which is always a bonus.

The background on this quilt is a bunch of cream solids and low volume prints, and I love the subtle variation in the background that results from this. I quilted it very simply, using the points in the blocks as a guide for straight line FMQ. I love the subtle movement it gives the background areas. I used cream 50wt Aurifil for the quilting and 100% wool batting - I love the texture this combination of thread and batting gives :o)

I have had my team of pattern testers working on this pattern over the last couple of months as well, and I'm really excited to share their versions with you as well! This first (baby sized) version was made by Kirsten who blogs at Gemini Stitches. I absolutely love Kirsten's choice of background fabric, it really makes the print fabrics pop. 

This version was made by Susan (aka Patchwork n Play), as a gift for a friend's new baby. Susan's choice of colours is just perfect for a baby quilt that will be used and loved as the baby grows up :o)

Liz chose to use just four fabrics for her version of the baby size quilt, in a soft palette. Liz's version is a great example of how fabric placement can change the look of this pattern - by using the same colours for the chain elements in each block, Liz has created a completely different look.

Finally, my lovely friend Ella (aka Throw a Wench in the Works) and regular pattern tester made two versions of this pattern. First up a lap sized rainbow version, one of the happiest quilts I've ever seen!

Ella also made a second lap sized version. I love how Ella has played with the placement of the chain elements in this version and made the centre star different to the surrounding stars.

A huge thank you to all of my testers - I absolutely love seeing what people do with my patterns. I think these quilts show really well how versatile this pattern is, and how easy it is to 'make it your own'.  Please pop over to each of my tester's blogs and read more about their quilts - and for a pattern giveaway as well :o) 

xx Jess

Giant Chevron Pattern Release

I'm so excited to be able to tell you my Giant Chevron pattern is now available to purchase in my Craftsy shop and my Etsy shop! This quilt was published back in July in Quilters Companion as a lap sized quilt, but thanks to my wonderful group of testers I ended up writing in two size variations in addition to the original size. Each of these wonderful ladies is offering two copies of the pattern as a giveaway, so be sure to click through to their blogs for your chance to win a copy :o)

This pattern is incredibly beginner friendly, as it's made using half-square triangles and squares. It's also pre-cut friendly - the baby size can be made using charm squares, and the lap and twin sizes can be made using a layer cake. I'd love to show you the versions my testers made, as it shows just how easy it is to make this pattern your own.

Kirsten (of Gemini Stitches) has actually made two versions of this quilt already - and has plans to make another for her son using Parson Gray fabric. This is the baby version, made using a charm pack of Farm Fresh. This is such an adorable baby quilt.

And Kirsten's second version. Aqua and orange goodness!

Lucy made an absolutely gorgeous rainbow version with low volume background (be still my beating heart!!) for a friend of hers.

Nat truly made this her own, and pieced some of the chevron stripes, using a very vintage palette. Pop over to her blog to check out lots more photos.

Jen made hers using solids, and has done a phenomenal quilting job. This one makes me want to make a second version and go to town on the quilting!!

And finally, Di made this beautiful version. I adore her colour choices.

Each of my awesome testers will be writing up a blog post with lots more photos I'm sure, so it would definitely be worth clicking through and checking them out :o) Thanks again to all of you, it is such an amazing thing to see my design brought to life by each of you - I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of testers xx 

xx Jess