cushion cut quilt: pattern testing & a giveaway!

Posted on 08.29.15 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

I’m so excited that I can finally share what I’ve been working on over the past weeks! Caroline of Nightingale Quilts has just released a new quilt pattern, called Cushion Cut, and I was lucky enough to get to pattern test it. Here’s my version, in all its glory/craziness!

The pattern plays with tone/value to create a fun 3D effect of a cushion cut gem. I decided to try to achieve this using only black and white. I’ve also been dying to have a go at fussy cutting stripes and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I almost drove myself mad (not to mention blind) trying to plan this out, but it was worth it. I am completely smitten with how it turned out. It almost doesn’t look real!

The quilt top came together fairly quickly. I think I spent more time planning and cutting than actually sewing! I chain-pieced a majority of it, which is always a great time saver. I had every intention of having a finished quilt for the pattern release, but work/life derailed me. What can I say? Best laid plans… That just means I get to share more with you lovelies again soon ;)

I love it so much, I can’t wait to finish!

The Cushion Cut quilt pattern has all the information needed to make the quilt in 4 different sizes, from cot to king. (I made the throw size– 60”x84”). Caroline has written a fun pattern that everyone will enjoy, from confident beginners to seasoned pros. It is equally suited for solids or prints, fussy or carefree cutting. This pattern really is perfect for putting your own spin on. The possibilities are endless!

A number of talented quilters participated in pattern testing, you can see their fantastic versions of the quilt at the following links:

Excited to give the Cushion Cut quilt pattern a try for yourself? Caroline has generously given me the opportunity to give away a PDF copy of the pattern to one lucky winner!

*** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED ***

To enter the giveaway:

~~Leave a comment letting me know what you would make with the pattern if you win. (A gift? Something for you? Would you use solids or pull out a coveted print from your stash?… You get the idea).~~
~~Earn a second entry by following me on instagram (I’m @muchoxoxo). Just leave a separate comment that you follow (include your IG name).~~

*The giveaway is open to everyone. Only two entries per person please.

*The giveaway will remain open until Sunday, August 30th at Midnight PST. One winner will be chosen at random and announced here, as well as being notified via email, by Monday, August 31st.

Congratulations to SHAYNA for being the lucky winner!!! I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I have been! Have fun, and happy sewing!

PS- the first name randomly drawn was my good friend who, thanks to me, definitely knows more about quilting than he ever wanted to (he’s also holding the quilt in the pic because he’s tall and helpful like that). He doesn’t sew but got a big kick out of winning. He’s very happy that the pattern is going to a good home :)

The Cushion Cut quilt pattern is available now in Nightingale Quilts’ Craftsy shop. She also has a bunch of other great patterns, check them out!

A very big thank you to Caroline, and congratulations on the fantastic new pattern! I suspect we’ll be seeing many more of these soon. And if you make one, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag it #CushionCutQuilt.

Have a fantastic weekend! And good luck!

xoxo

*** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED ***

what shade are you? blog hop & giveaway

Posted on 04.10.15 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

You guys, I’m so pumped for today’s post! I was asked by RJR Fabrics if I’d like to be part of their What Shade Are You blog hop, featuring Cotton Supreme Solids, and of course I jumped at the chance!

Solids are my first love, so I was excited to get in on the fun.

I knew I wanted to do something simple, graphic and bold. I’ve had an idea in my head for a while, and this seemed like the perfect time to try it. So, with my pattern in mind, it was time to choose my fabrics! After browsing the beautiful range of colors, I decided on this palette of lovely jewel tones.

colors from top to bottom: goldilocks, turks & caicos, night, purple haze, rhododendron, chili pepper, black, on the rocks

So, here it is!

The quilt is a combination of squares, HSTs and 4-patches. The finished size is 63″ x 84″, perfect for curling up on the couch with a ~~big glass of wine~~ cup of hot tea. I’m a big fan of bright colors and high contrast, but this pattern would look great in any palette. I may have to try it with prints too!

For the back, I took all my leftover bits and did a little improv panel to break up the black. I kind of LOVE IT.

I bound the quilt with Netorious in black from Cotton + Steel. Yum! I kept the quilting simple and stuck to the grid. I used a lovely grey Aurifil 50wt that blends beautifully with the different colors. It’s already so soft, I suspect this is going to be deliciously cozy after a wash and fluff.

This was my first time working with Cotton Supreme Solids, and I have to say I’m completely smitten! The fabric is super soft with a nice drape, and it sews up like a dream! They definitely give other premium solids a run for their money. And if you like working with Cotton + Steel fabrics, you’ll love these!

If you use a lot of solids, I’d recommend picking up a color card for easy reference and to take the guesswork out of online ordering.

Ready to give Cotton Supreme Solids a try? RJR Fabrics has generously provided a fat quarter bundle of my color palette to give away to one lucky winner! (The lighter blue is missing from pic but will be included in the bundle).

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

To enter the giveaway:

~~Leave a comment letting me know what you would make with these.~~
~~Earn a second entry by following me on~~ Instagram ~~(I’m @muchoxoxo). Just leave a separate comment that you follow (include your IG name).~~

*Only two entries per person please.

*The giveaway is open to the US and Canada. Sorry, no PO Boxes.

*The giveaway will remain open until Wednesday, April 15th at 9pm PST. One winner will be chosen at random and announced here, as well as being notified via email, by Thursday, April 16th.

Congratulations to RUTH R. for being the lucky winner!!! I hope you enjoy working with these fabrics as much as I did :)

Be sure to visit the RJR facebook page to check out the other participants’ projects. There’s some great stuff, and a new post goes up every Friday.

I think there might be a little nap in the sun in my future.

have a great weekend!

xoxo

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

giveaway day winner, and a surprise!

Posted on 12.13.14 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

mucho xoxo giveaway day prizes

A big thank you to everyone who came by and participated in my giveaway. I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments! So many fun ideas, I think I may have added a few new projects to my holiday to-do list :)

Congratulations to BRANDI S. for being the lucky winner!!!

And because I had such a great time this week, I decided to select two additional winners who will each receive a little surprise from me as well! Congratulations to JORDAN L. and SANDI T.! I will be emailing all of the winners momentarily, so keep an eye on your inboxes.

Thanks again to Sew Mama Sew for hosting this week of fun. I hope you all had a good time, and found some new sources of inspiration. I know I did!

Have a great weekend :)

xoxo

*all winners selected using true random number generator powered by random.org

hooray! it’s giveaway day!!!

Posted on 12.08.14 by Amanda | mucho xoxo

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Another Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day is upon us, and I’ve had so much fun entering in the past that this time around I decided to spread the love and get in on the giving!

If this is your first time here, welcome! Please do take a look around and enjoy. Here’s a small sampling of some of my favorite projects.

mucho xoxo projects

1. color-pop quilted stockings 2. boho baby outfit 3. radiant gem improv quilt 4. neon sea breeze mini quilt 5. toddler backpack 6. bunny geranium dress

Beyond having the chance to win all sorts of fun prizes (everything from handmade gifts to sewing supplies), Giveaway Day is a great way to discover new sources of inspiration and support this fantastic online community. In fact, Giveaway Day has become so popular that it now lasts all week!

OK, enough chit-chat, let’s get to the prize! I’ve put together a little package of goodness that I hope one winner will love as much as I do.

The prize includes:

A yummy bundle of 30+ fabric cuts (each approx. 11″ square) from my stash to help you build yours
Mini Hex N More ruler
A little extra surprise, because who doesn’t love surprises!

You can enter my giveaway below. Then make sure to head over to Sew Mama Sew and check out all the fantastic goodies up for grabs!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

To enter the giveaway:

Leave a comment on this post and answer the following question: What is your favorite handmade gift to give?
Earn a second entry by following me on Instagram (I’m @muchoxoxo). Be sure to come back and leave a separate comment that you follow (please leave your IG name as well).

*If you are a no-reply blogger (or if you’re not sure), please leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win!

*Open to US mailing addresses only. (Apologies to my international friends. But don’t fret, many of the other giveaways are open to international entries).

*Contest will remain open until Friday, December 12 at 5 p.m. PST. One winner will be chosen at random and notified via email by December 14. Please note that if I don’t hear back from the winner within 24 hours, I will randomly choose another winner.

Good luck, and thanks again for stopping by!

xoxo

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**