Blueberries for All…

Welcome to my stop on the “In the Kitchen Stitching’ Blog Hop” sponsored by the wonderful Carla at Createinthesticks.com. This is a fun blog hop where you can find all things kitchen. For you, I have two quick new projects for you and some links to old or newish favorites.

One housekeeping note….if you ever followed me on Bloglovin’ – they have stopped picking up my feed. Please consider joining my email list. [mc4wp_form id=”713″]

Self Binding Placemats

These placemats are currently on my table, with the original napkins I made years ago. You can read about them here and how to make these self-binding placemats.

Cool to Be Square Charm

And I love this table runner, one I did for another one of the blog hops last year around this time. You can find out more about it here.

A Whale’s Tale Placemats

These have yet to make it to my table but are a great placemat pattern. You can find them here!

I am sure there is more in the archives, but these are a few of my favorites. Now it is time to move on to blueberries for all! My menu includes blueberries, napkins and potholders as the patterns I will dish up for you!

First, the napkins. They are the easiest thing in the world but you get a lot of life out of them. I made some over 10 years ago with the original RJR Farm line and they are still going strong. You can see the older version with the self-binding placements. Without further ado, here’s the recipe!

4 Easy Peasy Dinner Napkins

Supplies:
1 yard each of 2 different fabrics

Instructions:
1. Cut 4 18″ squares from each fabric.

2. Assemble with right sides together. Give a nice press to have them hold together nicely.
3. Pin the corners or use clover wonder clips (my favorite for this). I also “mark the begin and end sewing points so I don’t forget to leave an opening. You would put them 3-4” apart on one side seam.


4.Sew 1/4″ all the way around leaving a 3-4″ opening on one side.
See picture below to jog towards the seam when starting, towards the edge when finishing.
This will help you make a neat fold later.

4. Trim corners.
5. Turn inside out. Press.
6. Stitch along the edge, very closely.

You have a lovely napkin! Now this is fast. This winds up being about a 17 1/2″ square napkin, just perfect. I like this formula as you get 4 napkins from 1 yard of fabric.

Blueberry Potholder

Next up is a little potholder. Maine is a state I now call home, and we are all about blueberries.
Download the file here for the potholder placement and appliqué shapes file.

Supplies:
2 – 8″ squares of fabric for front and back
Blue and Green scraps for blueberries
8″ square of Insul-bright* for the center (or 2 layers of batting)
1-1/4″ x 20″ strip for binding and holder.
Two sided fusible for the shapes. I like to use a printer sheet*.
Coordinating thread for quilting
Pins or Clover Wonder Clips*

Instructions:
1. Print out pattern.
2. Trace or print pattern pieces onto fusible web. Leave some allowance past the cutting line.
(the pattern does have seam allowances if you prefer to turn under your appliqué)
3. Attach fusible web to fabric.

4. Secure the appliqué by machine – I used a narrow zig zag and Superior Monopoly thread*.
A. First fuse the tiny pieces on the blueberries and appliqué.
B. Fuse the rest of the pieces to the background, using the placement sheet.
C. I used one layer of batting to stablize. You can do that or not, up to you.
D. Appliqué the rest of the pieces
5. Layer the potholder (top, batting, backing).
6. Quilt. For my piece I did echo quilting but this is your project, have fun.
7. Add binding and hanger.
A. I did a single layer binding, no need for the bulk and it worked just fine.
B. I attached to the back and sewed down on the front.
8. Make the hanging loop from a scrap left from the binding.
A. Pressed in 1/4″ on the ends.
B. Press to center and then together.
C. Stitch around the loop piece.
D. Sew a quick stitch around.
9. Attach to the potholder.

Join in on the hop and have some fun. The list of all partcipants is below.

I’ll be back on Thursday, the 22nd with my Tips and Tutorials. I will be trying a little different format so we will see what you think!

Monday, April 19th
Just Let Me Quilt | Kathleen McMusing|
Selina Quilts | Elizabeth Coughlin Designs|
Den syende himmel | SameliasMum | VroomansQuilts |
QuiltFabrication | Quiltscapes
Tuesday, April 20th
Life in the Scrapatch | Websterquilt | Ms P Designs USA |
Stitch and Quilt | The Joyful Quilter | Inflorescence |
Words & Stitches | Scrapdash | My Bumbleberry Life
Wednesday, April 21st
MooseStashQuilting | DayBrook Designs| Beaquilter |
Patchwork Breeze | Kathy Kwilts and More | Stitchin At Home|
Songbird Designs | Days Filled With Joy
Thursday, April 22nd
Creatin’ in the Sticks | Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting |
Quilting Gail | Sew Many Yarns | That Fabric Feeling |
Annie’s Musings | Quilt Schmilt | Becky’s Adventures|
Homespun Hannah’s Blog | Food For Thought

Coming Up on the Blog:
Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd! – 4/22
International Sisters Quilt Blocks 
12″ House Block/s
Born to be Wild – 5/17
Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd! – 5/22


Linking Up:
Put Your Foot Down #95

Follow:
0
Disclaimer: *Links with asterisk indicate an affiliate link. Your price is not any different, but a small percentage of the sale will go to supporting my blog.

36 Comments

  1. April 19, 2021 / 2:39 AM

    I love blueberries, and your projects really inspired me. Thank you so much.

  2. April 19, 2021 / 4:34 AM

    Fabulous berry projects. Thanks for the inspiration.

  3. April 19, 2021 / 6:18 AM

    Your projects are all wonderful! I really love the blueberry potholder!

  4. Carol Kussart
    April 19, 2021 / 7:03 AM

    Sweet! I love everything you showed us. The blueberry fabric is especially neat and so appropriate for where you are! As a blueberry lover, I am slightly jealous. Thanks for sharing.

  5. Cindy Pieters
    April 19, 2021 / 7:21 AM

    Love blueberries they are one of my favourite fruits and these napkins are perfect.

  6. Julia Schweri
    April 19, 2021 / 7:25 AM

    All of your projects are wonderful! Thank you for the napkin tutorial.

  7. April 19, 2021 / 8:01 AM

    Hi Kathleen! Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits and I eat them often. You’ve shared some fun projects with us! Ages ago I made my sister placemats and matching napkins and they are still going strong so I can attest to how those napkins last. And making them double-sided means you could use two different seasonal fabrics as well! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

  8. April 19, 2021 / 8:04 AM

    Those blueberry fabrics are just gorgeous! Love the projects. We recently acquired a dining table and I need to make some pretty napkins for it. Why have I never thought to do the “jog” on seams when leaving an opening?

  9. Brenda @ Songbird Designs
    April 19, 2021 / 8:35 AM

    Love the blueberry napkins and the pot holder is adorable! Thanks for sharing!

  10. April 19, 2021 / 8:38 AM

    Great projects!! I made gluten-free blueberry muffins this past weekend and they would have gone great with your goodies! Thanks for the cheery project shares. I love that fabric!

  11. Annie
    April 19, 2021 / 8:42 AM

    You have a lot of great kitchen meal decor! The blueberries are a terrific add to your collection. I have never seen that “jog” idea before. I will certainly be giving that a try.

  12. April 19, 2021 / 8:49 AM

    That napkin fabric is gorgeous and your new pot holder is SEW darling!! Drumming my fingers here, waiting for blueberry season to arrive. :o))

  13. April 19, 2021 / 8:58 AM

    Great projects! I love blueberries and other berries too.

  14. sewswift
    April 19, 2021 / 9:37 AM

    Such yummy blueberry napkins and potholder…sweet! Thanks for sharing!

  15. Vicki in MN
    April 19, 2021 / 9:42 AM

    Now you did it, you made me hungry for blueberries!! Great projects my friend:)

  16. Joan
    April 19, 2021 / 9:55 AM

    Wow, you sure know how to make a table fun. I had to laugh when I saw the blueberries, right now between that and turkey, that is just about all my 10 mo old granddaughter will eat. LOL!! I would be afraid she would eat that blueberry napkin too. hahahaha Thanks for the tutorials. Your the best!

  17. April 19, 2021 / 10:37 AM

    I love that little extra jog when I sew items that will be turned right side out. It is such a good indicator of how much fabric to turn in. We are h huge blueberry fans here and have about 12 different blueberry bushes. My hubs grew weary of sharing the berries with the blue jays and this weekend he put a netting structure of the rows of bushes to protect them – we will have sooooo many berries this summer! Cute patterns tho.

    Also, what is the deal with Bloglovin??? I heard the same thing happened to Quilting Jetgirl (Yvonne). So weird? I get your posts by email tho so its all good here.

  18. April 19, 2021 / 10:41 AM

    Great projects – I love the blueberry fabric!

  19. Lori Smanski
    April 19, 2021 / 10:54 AM

    Oh but these are lovely. Thank you so much for the instructions. I love easy instructions. And I need some more pot holders. My husband doesnt care for cloth place mats and napkins. But I love them. Smile Guess what I will be making? I love these fruits fabrics.

  20. Carla
    April 19, 2021 / 1:11 PM

    I do love blueberries and your napkins and potholder are wonderful. Thanks for the pattern and tutorials. Love your Kitchen stitchin’!

  21. April 19, 2021 / 1:29 PM

    Lots of “berry” nice projects! You make the napkins look simple! Thank you!

  22. Selina
    April 19, 2021 / 2:17 PM

    Your whales are wonderful but I am really lovin all the blueberries. Didn’t realize how much I missed them. Before I retired I used to pick them every summer at a farm near work. I’m now going to have to start a search for them here in Florida.

  23. April 19, 2021 / 3:57 PM

    Such delicious projects! I love the blueberry fabric. Thanks for sharing with us!

  24. April 19, 2021 / 5:47 PM

    Very nice napkin and potholder patterns, Thank You!

  25. April 19, 2021 / 5:54 PM

    Love your blueberry projects!

  26. Lj Meyers
    April 19, 2021 / 5:59 PM

    Perfectly wonderful and so useful, too. Thank you for the tut. Those blueberries on the foliage look good enough to pick and eat right now. 🙂

  27. Smith Rebecca
    April 19, 2021 / 6:55 PM

    I love your produce table runner

  28. April 19, 2021 / 7:21 PM

    Yummy blueberry projects! They’d go well with my pie!

  29. thedarlingdogwood
    April 19, 2021 / 9:04 PM

    I love your blueberry themed table set! Especially the pot holder, those blueberries look so beautiful and tasty! Good enough to eat!

  30. April 20, 2021 / 7:07 AM

    So lovely! And it looks like they will all coordinate with your placemats and table runner. Fun fabrics! Thank you for the instructions and download for your projects!

  31. Colette
    April 20, 2021 / 3:16 PM

    So many neat projects. Love your blueberries, especially your hot pad.

  32. April 20, 2021 / 6:13 PM

    Lovely projects Kathleen, but I do have a complaint! Now I’m craving blueberries and it’s an hour drive each way to town. . Maybe I should just break down and go…..blueberry muffins, blueberry for my cereal and blueberry frozen yoghurt are all I can think of?

  33. April 20, 2021 / 8:40 PM

    I also love blueberries. All pretty projects. Thank you for the patterns, too.

  34. April 21, 2021 / 9:22 PM

    I love the idea of making cloth napkins and your blueberry ones are lovely.

  35. April 22, 2021 / 12:18 AM

    All your projects are so lovely. I have lots of napkins that I’ve bought over the years. Love them for some reason but I’ve never made any. Seeing yours I’m thinking I should.

  36. April 22, 2021 / 8:53 PM

    Those are gorgeous napkins. I’ve just made single layer ones out of batik, but these I can see would be nicer to have for company, and thicker too! The potholder is great, wonderful idea! Thanks for the tip about sewing off at a 90 degree angle! Will try that on the next stitch and turn right sides out project!

My Favorite Tools

Pins with Numbers & Arrows
Annies Soft and Stable Foam Stabilizer
By Annie’s Clear Vinyl
Heat N Bond Iron On Vinyl
Omni Thread, Purplelicious
Aurifil 50 weight thread
Hobbs Tuscanny Wool Batting
Freezer Paper Sheets
Binding Sasher
Nexcare Clear Skin Tape
Cluck Cluck Sew Tape
Simple Folded Corners Ruler
Free Motion Quilting Workbook
Shape by Shape Collection 2
Shape by Shape
DayLight Wafer 1 Light Box
Freezer paper
Siteground Web Hosting
Dream Cotton Batting
Sidekick Ruler
Hex N More Ruler
4″ Circular Plastic Needlepoint
Awesome Ocean Pattern
Schmetz NonStick Needle
Sulky Totally Stable
Barn Quilt by Sherry Shish
PrintNFuse
Applique Pressing Sheet
Mary Ellen’s Best Press Starch
Clover Bias Tape Maker 12mm
Woven Diamonds Pattern
Hobbs Premium 80/20 Batting
Woven Star Pattern
Wefty Needle
Quilt Hanger
Fat Quarter Shop
Accuquilts
Sizzix
Westalee Sampler Template Set
Mettler 60 wt. Cotton Embroidery Thread
Sandboard for Hand Sewing/Appliqué
Clover Needle Threader
Sewline Black and White Pencil
Sewline Grey Pencil
Backyard Birds
Wing Clipper
Quilt Pounce
Hobbs Thermore Batting
Clover Chaco Liner – silver
Turnabout Patchwork by Terese Mairal Barreau
Sewline Glue Pen
Fusible 1″ Hexagon Paper
Fusible Appliqué Paper
Sizzix 3 1/2″ half square triangle
Electric Quilt 8
Sizzix Big Shot
Quilter’s Dream Select Batting
Quilt in A Day Log Cabin
Judy Martin Log Cabin
Emiko Toda Loeb
3M Command Strip Clothespins
Paper Templates for Lucy Boston
Lucy Boston Templates,MPP
Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Cross
Clover Wonder Clips
Thread magic
Clearly Perfect Angles
Sizzix Big Shot Plus
Spritzer
Slotted Triangle Trimmer
%d bloggers like this: