Flowerburst 15″

Here’s a bigger version of our original Flowerburst.  Everyone loves it!

I’m inspired by Japan!  In fact, Japanese themes have often been requested in the past.  You’ll see the influence from the Orient in this contemporary interlocking pattern. 

It’s a cross between flowers and fireworks.   This is a must for quick quilting that offers great texture.

It simply “rolls straight down” for easy placement.  15″ x 12′    Flowerburst is also available in a 10″ size!

Isn’t this a great quilt?  Roslyn Atwood quilted it for her friend Kathy.  Read all about it on her blog.

Also pictured is Brenda Plaster’s blue, white and purple “Interlocking Four Patch”, quilted with Flowerburst.  Love it?  You can buy the pattern or quilt kit at Connecting Threads.com

Diana Reinhart Annis has also shared her “Blue Underground” quilt.  I love them all!

Flowerburst 10″ Interlocking

I’m inspired by Japan!  In fact, Japanese themes have often been requested in the past.  You’ll see the influence from the Orient in this contemporary interlocking pattern.  It’s also one of the images in our Geisha Garden panto.

It’s a cross between flowers and fireworks.   This is a must for quick quilting that offers great texture.  This also comes in a BIG 15″ size.

It simply “rolls straight down” for easy placement.  11″ x 11′ (133″)

Want 20% OFF?  Buy this pattern in the Japonica Set!

Isn’t this a great quilt? Roslyn Atwood quilted it for her friend Kathy!  Read all about it on her blog.

Also pictured is Brenda Plaster’s blue,white and purple quilt, “Interlocking Four Patch”, quilted with Flowerburst, as well as her red and white quilt “Fandango”.  Love it?  You can buy the pattern or quilt kit at Connecting Threads.com

Diana Reinhart Annis also posted a bright happy quilt stitched with Flowerburst.  I love them all!

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T-Shirt Quilts: Pantos That Work Great! + Best Quilting tips for T-Shirt Success.

Upstairs in my walk-in attic I have a box of T-shirts meant for a quilt or two.  I thought how fun it would be to have a t-shirt quilt for the grandkids to use when they visit.  They’d be sleeping under all the memories of their Mom or Dad.  In particular I have a number of Hawaiian T-shirts and Hawaiian shirts and/or muumuus that he children wore when we lived in Hawaii.   Here’s my plan for those great memory pieces. I’m showing it “virtually” stitched with my “Hawaiian Hibiscus” pantograph.  (I’m including the titles of the Pantographs on the pictures simply for reference.)

Not sure about piecing circles?  I’ve posted a tutorial for adding them.  Don’t worry, it’s not hard!  Making Circular Insets for T-shirt Quilts.     

Another box is filled with old cub scouts t-shirts.  They’d be great and I plan to include some of the neckerchiefs and patches in the piecing (see my mock-up example).  I’m showing how I would stitch it with my 8-inch double “Jitterbug 15 interlocking “ panto.  (You could also use the -one row at a time- “Jitterbug 11 interlocking” panto.)  Doesn’t it look great!  It reminds me of boys at that age, JITTERY!

  

There are many  standard blocks which sport a square in the middle, so get out your pile of magazines and find a block, or do like I did and open up Quilt-Pro and find a block you like that’s not too time consuming.  Here’s a simple star stitched with one of my favorties, “Maori Moko”.  It’s a 15″ pattern so if you want a smaller one that’s similar choose the 9-inch “Maori Moko Border” and use it as an E2E.  Knit is stretchy anyway, so there’s no problem placing some of the pieces on the diagonal.  Another option would be to include the star points only on the outer corners and fill the center with rows of T-shirts.  However, I like the tilted squares because it adds so much interest!

.   Here’s another idea for a little girls t-shirt quilt.  One is straight placement with colorful sashing on which I over-layed our “Oh so popular”  Flowerburst pattern.  It comes in 2 sizes. “Flowerburst 15” and “Flowerburst 10”  Another is a version of a star block using Drunkard’s Path inserts to give a flower effect. You can actually place your t-shirts in some or all of the squares available.  I over-layed that one with “Dolly’s Tea Party.”

 “Zebra Stripes”   seems perfect stitched over this flaming black quilt.

Just in case you’re making a T-shirt quilt for a guy who’s into cars, like Joe.   FREE -I’m giving you my new “Tire Treads” borders PDF for a limited time.  I didn’t quite finish the “Hub Caps” block but hope to get it done this week.  Oh, gosh! That attic is so full!  “Car Classics”  and Tire Treads are both on this image.  See Sportscars at the end of the blog.

 This is a “Real” quilt.  Finally!  Connie Zwego quilted it in red with the “Snakeskin” Panto.

 Here’s a great T-shirt quilt with Car Classics stitched on it, by Deb Rolek.  I saw her a few weeks ago at the Quilters Musical.

  Or simplify with straight sashing, but make it lively!  “Sports Nut” looks great over all these team shirts!

Okay now, I’ve shown a variety of examples to get you going.  But I do have some real meat to this Blog.  Here are some super “Tips” I’ve gleaned and used over the years to help you along your way.  

Copy and print this section for your files.           Also, see below a list of patterns well suited to T-shirt quilts.   25 are on SALE THIS MONTH. Continue reading T-Shirt Quilts: Pantos That Work Great! + Best Quilting tips for T-Shirt Success.

Americana Mini PDF Set

AMERICANA MINI PDF SET—3 Small Edge 2 Edge patterns
These are perfect for a short-arm or stationary machine. Use them as borders OR Stack up the rows to create a stunning overall effect. (See the stacked picture of each pattern.)
Since they are PDFs, you can print them at whatever sizes you need.
“Starlet” is also included with the “Liberty Birds” border/pantograph.
“Welcome Willow” is published with the “Americana Birds” border/pantograph.
The original “Flowerburst” is a popular pantograph we often pair with our “GI Patrol” and “GI Firepower” patterns. Here we offer a version of it as a MINI. Although it could serve as a border for either of those patterns, we designed it as a smaller E2E, with a BIG LOOK.

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Our Year In Review, On Sale For You!

I always enjoy reading the top 10 lists that start appearing at this time of year.  My family and I also always write a few of our own, remembering  the best and worst experiences of the past year.

 In that spirit of year-end reflection, I thought I should list MeadowLyon’s top 10 best and worst selling patterns of 2015.  

best worst

Our best selling patterns are also 10% off this January.  If you don’t have these yet, you will surely use them, so why not get them now?

1-star banner cropped edited snippetStar Banner    It is not hard to see why this one is so popular!  All those waving stars and stripes- I love it!

2-Psychedelic pasteup snippet Psychedelic     This pattern is so popular it is hard to keep it in stock.   Go ahead and order it if you like it, I’ll be getting more soon.  

3- Backwoods - CloseupBackwoods    A cozy backwoods quilt, a country cabin, and a roaring fire- I guess I am not the only one who thinks that is the perfect combination.

4-Funny-bones snippetFunny Bones  Yes, quilters do have a sense of humor!

5- ponderosa pine spray 9 SNIPPETPonderosa Pine Spray  One of my favorites too!  It looks great with everything!

6-spinning kokopeli Spinning Kokopelli  This one is so much fun, it’s no wonder so many people love it.

7-cloudy skies previewCloudy Skies  This pattern is so easy and all-purpose!

8- Modern Squares 1 snippedModern Squares    I love seeing the modern masterpieces quilters create with this pattern.

9- FlowerBurstFlowerburst  This one is featured as the background of our website design.  It is also available as a 15″ pattern and a PDF.

10-maori moko bk 9 Maori Moko  Maori Moko is such a lovely pattern, it is no wonder that it is always a favorite.  It is available in multiple versions to fit any quilt design.

best worst

Of course even our “worst” patterns are still pretty amazing, they just may not appeal to as broad a range of quilters.  Maybe our 30% off sale for these patterns will help them find just the right home and get them off this list for 2016!

1- Indonesian Puppets - CloseupIndonesian Puppets If you love Indonesian Puppets, you will love this pattern.  Maybe more people should love Indonesian Puppets.

2- Didgeridoo-croppedDidgeridoo  If the Didgeridoo was just included in more orchestral scores or used in just a few rock bands I am sure this pattern would be much more popular.

3- Mayan Glyphs - WholeMayan Glyphs  Any of you have any Mayan friends? I bet they would love this pattern!

4-fleur de lis interlok Fleur-de-Lis  Spread the word, the fleur-de-lis is not just for Boy Scouts!  (What, you mean I was the only one that did not know that?)

5- Bengali Mosaic Panel 1Bengali Mosaic  I am sure there is someone out there looking for just this pattern.  If you meet them, please let them know it is here and on sale this month!

6- ski slopes snippetSki Slopes  Maybe not many quilters like to ski?

7- Egyptian PapyrusEgyptian Papyrus  These pretty, modern, and stylistic flowers would work for so many designs, not just in an Egyptian themed quilt.

8- Geisha Garden snippetGeisha Gardens  Doesn’t everybody need at least one Geisha quilt?

9- o canada snippetO Canada  It’s pretty chilly up there in Canada and I bet they need a lot of quilts.   This should be a perfect combination.

10- AnastasiaInterlocking Anastasia  This one is so lovely, I think it just must be overlooked.  You won’t pass it over, will you?

 

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April Sale and Giveaway Contest – 20% Off All Modern Designs

What would your Grandmother say if she could see you now, quilting modern pantographs on your long arm machine?

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 Everywhere you look these days you see fabulous modern quilts-  quilts your Grandmother would never have dreamed of!  It’s all fun and bright, textural and geometric. . . and hard to resist!  You’ve got to have our trendy pantos to stitch up all those wonderful modern quilts!  So go ahead and put a modern spin on your creativity.

  Let’s amaze Grandma and make her proud!

 

20% off all “MODERNS” in APRIL.

 

Now is the best time ever to stock up on these versatile designs!

 


Take an additional 20% these already discounted sets:

(you’ll save over $15!)

NEW MODERN SET #56Includes Jitterbug 11″, Modern Squares, Illusions

Jitterbug 11Modern Squares snippet smallIllusion 1 square

MODERN TEXTURES SET #57:   Includes Snakeskin, Tornado, Coils                                             snakeskin revised snippettornado snippetcoils pasteup

MAORI MOKO SET #42:   Includes Maori Moko, Maori Moko Borders, Maori Moko Blocks    maori-moko-interlocking-snippetmaori moko border 4 webmaori border cornermaori moko bk 9


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 Snakeskin   10 inch

Here’s a panto uniquely designed for modern quilts.  Undoubtedly, if you are quilting for customers you are receiving “Modern” quilts.  Most pictures show them custom quilted, but time and expense don’t always allow for that.  I’m excited about my “SNAKESKIN.”  It provides that texture geometric quilts want and can be used for other quilts too.  Don’t be put off by the name, it’s not creepy at all!

snakeskin revised snippet

Zig Zag  11 inch

Chevrons are popping up everywhere these days!  This is definitely a hot design right now, it adds a trendy, youthful vibe to a modern design quilt.  Teens will love it!  You will love how quickly this easy pattern will finish your project!

zig zag pasteup resized

Coils  11 inch

Wow!  Coils, curls and stripes for a modern look. This is a perfect panto for those special fractal quilts.  They’ll brighten and compliment the wide open negative spaces and accent positive designs, too.

coils pasteup

Modern Squares  11 inch

 Modern Squares is the perfect choice for quilting on those strong geometric shapes that many modern quilts have.   Don’t worry, it’s easy to stitch out and looks like custom work.  Remember, machines love going straight!

Flame Nouveau  11″

This panto is hot! It makes the most wonderful texture and it’s versatile enough for traditional pieced quilts and interesting for those with open areas too.

Flame Nouveau pasteup

Flowerburst  10 inch  & Flowerburst 15 inch

A cross between fireworks and flowers, this panto will add a punch to your quilt.   This is a must for quick quilting that offers great texture.

Flowerburst

High Heels  11 inch

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes! Trendy fashionistas can’t get enough of them!  Let these heels walk all over your quilt for a ton of modern, whimsical fun!

high-heels-snippet

Clear Stream  11″

Here’s another innovative pattern with modern textural appeal. Try it. You’ll like it!   The pattern, as it drifts across the quilted surface, will give a dark and light effect.  Feel free to leave out the fish, and you have a very abstract modern design that will add organic movement and complement any theme.

Clear Stream cropped reduced snippet

Jitterbug 15 inch

Wow-  Spinning and swinging with the vibes. This will look great dancing across your modern quilt!

Jitterbug  11″  

Jitterbug 11

Modern Skylines   11 inch

Do you have a quilt with a cosmopolitan edge?  You’ll need this panto for a great metro look on your Ultra Current Quilt.

modern skylines 1 section snippet

Maori Moko 15  inch

Maori Moko may be a traditional New Zealand design, but it has a very edgy feel.  You’ll see it adding style everywhere in street art, tattoos, and fashion.  The swirls have classic beauty, but will still add a contemporary look to your quilt- the best of both worlds!

maori-moko-interlocking-snippet

Maori Moko borders   8″

maori moko border 4 web

Maori Moko Blocks 10″

maori cover fixed

Kimono Stripe  11 inch  

Just the right mix of contemporary and classic here, for those of us who love both (and find it hard to choose!)

Kimono Stripe snippet

Modern Southwest   11 inch

Modern quilters seem to be enthralled with texture, so for this innovative pattern I’ve added a lot of it.  Scattered into the stripes and waves are familiar Southwest icons.

modern southwest previewSNIPPET

Wallaby Weave  11″

No worries about keeping your lines straight here!  Wobbles are encouraged! They give a natural, organic feel to this pattern that is so uniquely non-traditional!

Billabong Weave scan cropped reduced

Billabong Creek 11″

Billabong Creek scan cropped reduced

   BUG BITES – FREE

Bugs in your bed- not good.  Bugs on your quilt- love it!   Have you snapped this one up yet?  You’ll never know when you want to add that unexpected little bug in your stitching!

BUG CUSTOM PIX

Mosaic   8 inch

Do you see a stained glass window?  Inlaid tile floor? I also see wheels, cogs and gears.  Whatever it is, the geometric elements in this pattern “works” for modern quilts!

mosaic pasteup snippet

Nature’s Rhythms  2.5 inch

Here’s a secret to great design: When planning the layout for stitching patterns and borders these geometric patterns help define space between the more organic designs.   Be sure to include them in your quilts!

nature

Zebra Stripes 10″ inch

There’s nothing quite so iconic when it comes to animal skin as Zebra.  As it plays across your quilt it will add a wonderful texture and just the right hint of tribal rhythm.

Pharaoh’s Collar 11 inch

Gotta love these geometric patterns!  This pattern is reminiscent of a traditional fan frill, but updated.  It will look great on your modern creation!

pharoah

Bengali Mosaic  14 inch

From far away you just see loads of modern texture, but look more closely and you’ll discover the exotic vibe.  This one is definitely not conventional!

Bengali Mosaic Panel 1

Illusion 11 inch

This pattern catches your eye and doesn’t let it go!  It will add the same mesmerizing visual and textural interest to your quilt!

Spiral Suns   11 inch

These spinning spirals remind me of a HOT Day!  Although I planned this to compliment both traditionally pieced and modern quilts, it would also look great with a Southwest theme.  I hope you’ll agree it’s a fun pattern.

SPIRAL SUNS PASTEUP snippet

Tornado 11 inch

This pattern adds loads of twisting texture to your modern or traditional quilts.  Try it with a minkie backing for fun visual candy and irresistible hand-rubbing!  It’s almost, dare I say, voluptuous.

tornado snippet

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 April Giveaway Contest
WIN A FREE PATTERN!


I had so many laughs imagining what our Grandmas would say that I wanted to share the fun with you.  Write a caption the following photo and post your idea in the comments section at the very bottom of this page. The winner (chosen by number of giggles produced, or by random if I can’t decide) will receive a free pattern of their choice!
The contest ends on April 30, 2015.  Good Luck!

Sewing-Woman-002

Image from old-picture.com

Previous images from Library of Congress Public Domain Images

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Chinese New Year Celebration Sale Feb. 1 to 19

“Gong Hey Fat Choy”  

Happy Chinese New Year! 

February 19th 2015

Chinese Symbol for Happy Chinese New Year (恭禧發財)

brown tree chinese

The most common Chinese ways of saying Happy New Year are Gong Xi Fa Cai(Mandarin) and Gong Hey Fat Choy (Cantonese). Even though the pronunciations are a little different, both are written the same.

Ever since I was young I have been fascinated by the Far East.  I used to go with my Mother to visit “artsy” Lila L.  She had her hair bound up with chopsticks and black lacquered furniture inlaid with Mother of Pearl.  Chinatown was my favorite place to eat and I loved getting those prize balls at the gift shop and unwrapping yards of paper strips to find the tiny toys inside.

Little did I know I would “marry” into the army and live in the Orient. This amazing experience has increased my delight in all those memories and many new ones; like the Chinese Lion dance (always thought I’d draw this but haven’t yet!) , Sizzling Rice Soup and playing the Kayagum (like Koto).  Subsequently I’ve drawn a number of popular Chinese inspired patterns. I’ll include Japan and Indonesia too! So for the New Year I’m passing along the celebration to you!

Get a copy of the CHINESE MEDALLION SET – FREE with purchase of any Oriental pattern.

Chinese MedallionChinese Medallion - CornerChinese Medallion Set adjustable 12-15″ Sq. w 10″+ 12″ Tri

CHINA

Chinese_AppliqueChinese Applique Pattern adjustable 12″-15″

Chinese Mums PatternChinese Mums  3.5″+4.5″ BdrChinese Scroll BorderChinese Scroll 4.5″+2.5″ Bdr

Chinese_Porcelain-snippetChinese Porcelain 12″ E2E – Border and Corner w 1.5″ Chinese Beading 

Ming Sea - Border CloseupMing Sea w/Mandarin Wind 6″+ 4″  Borders w 2 Corner variations

Panda-Monium - CloseupPanda-Monium 11″ Horizontal w 4″ Panda Play border

Panda Bamboo - Layout ExamplePanda Bamboo 11″ w 6″ Bamboo Border Vertical pattern

FREE download to Celebrate!  3 Samurai samurai 2 cropped resizedSamurai PDF title page

JAPAN – 

Geisha Garden snippetGeisha Garden 10″Kimono Stripe snippetKimono Stripe 11″

Japonica Blooms croppedJaponica Blooms 10″FlowerburstFlowerburst 10″ or 15″

INDIA

chintz pasteup resizedChintz 11″   chintz + india borders Chintz/India Borders 6″& 8″

INDONESIA

Inspired by famous Indonesian Batiks
Inspired by famous Indonesian Batiks

Java Batik Floral 10″ Edge 2 Edge

a delightful Indonesian Batik border
a delightful Indonesian Batik border

Java Batik Border 5″ w Jungle flower 4″

Indonesian Puppets - CloseupIndonesian Puppets Quilt closeup showing Jungle Foliage between rowsIndonesian Puppets 15″

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GI Firepower Set #51

($48.00 value)

Whether you’ve served in the military or played GI Joe, we should all be thankful for the brave men and women who serve our nation and fight for the freedom we so often take for granted.  Show your pride with these great pantos celebrating their sacrifice and love for our country and our families.

This Set includes:  GI Patrol 11″ Pictogram, GI Firepower 10″ E2E, and a border for the perimeter – American Stripe 5″ Border.

You might want to consider buying Flowerburst to accompany these patterns. It’s perfect with GI Firepower.

Japonica Set #50

($64.00 value) All Theme sets are priced at 20% OFF.

There’s  a unique feeling in these Japanese designs.  You’ll love using them with the myriad oriental fabrics on the market.  They remind me of my friend Taeko – a brilliant musician and a gentle mother.  The set includes: Japonica Blooms 10″ E2E, Geisha Garden 10″ E2E,  Interlocking Flowerburst 10,” and Kimono Stripe 11″ E2E.

The lovely quilt is by Brenda Plaster – An English Coverlet stitched with Kimono Stripe. The Flowerburst is also from Brenda.

GI Firepower 10″ Edge-to-Edge

I call this the fun version of Army Tanks.  In a repeating pattern you can see an Abrams tank, a Blackhawk helicopter and an HMWWV.  Can you see the explosions they create?  Those explosions are repeated in the popular FLOWERBURST pattern.

This will be perfect for military personnel and for all those junior military kids, too.  Celebrate America!

Want this pattern?  Buy it for 20% OFF in the GI FIREPOWER SET.