Summertime Switch-A-Roo

by Erin

In Chicago, summer seems to finally arrived.  Let me say that again.  FINALLY!  In fact it got so hot the police shut down North Avenue Beach *insert sarcasm here.*  The last couple nights have been a little hot in the sleeping department.  When I woke up this morning the down comforter had been kicked onto the floor, where a fat cat had started nesting.  Typical.  I figured it was time for a switch-a-roo in the bedding department.  Out with the down comforter, in with the summer quilt. 

Piano Keys Quilt

Last summer I made my first quilt.  I used a pattern called the Piano Keys.  I was inspired by the beautiful work of Spool Sewing.  A fabric store in Philly, that I have yet to visit, but I have vowed to get there soon.  They have a great blog, that is updated a couple times a week with inspiring fabrics and projects.  The Piano Keys quilt was one of them, so I decided to order the pattern and fabric directly from Spool since they inspired me so.

If you every think about venturing into quilting, I recommend this pattern, it great for a beginner.  All the blocks are the same size, so the pieces are easy to cut and the blocks come together nicely.  I started this quilt under the watchful eye of my mom, which was fun and helpful for me.

This winter when I was thinking about summer and this beautiful quilt, nestled in my cedar chest, I decided it would be fun to make some pillow cases to correspond.  When I stumbled upon this wood grain fabric, with the same golds as my quilt, I knew what I needed to do.

Like sleeping on a block of wood!  Not really. :)

I used Lotta Jansdotter's book Simple Sewing to guide my pillow case dimensions, and I think they turned out totally cool.  Don't you agree.  Lotta had me sew a kind of a pocket in the back for the pillow case, which I dig.  I think next time I would sew the pocket towards the middle of the pillow and not the end.  It doesn't seem as functional in this spot right at the end of the pillow case.  

A good blogger would have ironed her pillow
cases, but that is not really my thing.

So does this inspire you to change out your bedding, sew a pillow case (straight lines only, my friends!), or perhaps take on a quilt?  Maybe, maybe not, but regardless, summer is here, and change is in the air.

Enjoy your weekend!