Tuesday, March 31, 2015

A Stylish New Bath Mat!

Welcome to my stop on the Paper Pieced Home blog tour! I can't wait to show you the project I made. Penny's excellent book is full of fabulous foundation patterns but the clawfoot bathtub is one of my favourites. It didn't take me long to claim the bath mat as my project for the tour.  We had a lovely old cast iron clawfoot tub in our first home. A bath in that thing got cold in about 5 minutes, but it was very romantic with it's vintage fixtures set on a hardwood floor in a tiny bathroom.  I am pretty sure the bathroom was built around the tub because I cannot see how it could have been moved through the door!

Clawfoot Bathmat by Poppyprint

One of the best technical things about Penny's book is that all of the foundation patterns are included on a CD so all you have to do is pop it into your computer, click on one button to open the book, then click on the project you want from the table of contents.   As long as your printing options are set to "print actual size" and NOT "shrink to fit" you're in business. A handy square printed on the first page of each pattern lets you measure and confirm you are printing at the proper scale.

Clawfoot Bathmat by Poppyprint

If you are going to create this bath mat, just be sure to click on the Clawfoot Bath Mat project on page 84, not the Clawfoot Tub block on page 75 (which is a slightly smaller tub complete with shower head and embroidered water detail) when you are ready to print your pattern pieces.

Clawfoot Bathmat by Poppyprint

I made this entire project on retreat a couple of weeks ago and it went together beautifully! I taped all of my pattern pieces together, then cut them apart on the blue lines just as Penny instructs in the excellent "Basic Steps" section starting on page 11.  I am an experienced foundation paper-piecer, so I had no trouble making this block (and I must say, some of the giant pieces of tub and wallpaper background help to make you feel like a rockstar when your block sections are complete with only one or two seams!).  On the flipside, even the tiny pinky nail-sized pieces around the clawfoot were easy to piece.  Unfortunately I don't have any process photos as our retreat was over a very dark and rainy weekend.

Clawfoot Bathmat by Poppyprint

Choosing fabric for this project was really fun. I wanted to try and stick to Penny's cute sample in the book, so I pulled my only diagonal plaids (I have two) from my stash and set to work finding just the right coordinating "wallpaper" fabric. I really wanted to use the aqua floral from Farmdale as it looked amazing with the pink/grey plaid but alas, I didn't have nearly enough fabric [Foundation piecing always uses more fabric than you imagine when just looking at the pattern pieces. You have to account for the long pointy angles and include your 1/4" seam allowance outside the actual pattern piece.]  I think this old Amy Butler floral does the job, though.  Majority opinion on retreat voted for the black piping insert before the border to delineate the wallpaper from the plaid.  I adore the Mirror Ball Dots tub (although I'm a little worried about the mirror balls picking up dirt - I fully plan to put this mat to use in my daughter's bathroom).

Clawfoot Bathmat by Poppyprint

As per Penny's instructions, the bath mat is quilted with a piece of white flannel inside with white terry cloth backing.  I know it will be washed repeatedly and I didn't like the idea of trying to hand-stitch through terry cloth, so I attached the binding by machine.

Clawfoot Bathmat by Poppyprint

How'd you like to receive an digital copy of Penny's book? There are such fun patterns that would make amazing house warming, wedding, baby or anniversary gifts, or blocks that could be combined into a special mid-century modern, gardening or baby quilt.  What has caught your eye?  Leave one comment below to enter and I'll draw a winner with the random number generator on Easter Sunday. COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED, thank you.



By Penny Layman
Interweave/F+W; $26.99 US

You can check out the rest of the tour and enter to win on the fun blogs listed below. Then on Monday, tune in to Pat Sloan Radio to hear Penny talk about her book!

The Paper-Pieced Home
Blog Tour Schedule

3/16       McCall’s Quilting / Sewing Machine Block
3/17       Love of Quilting / Review
3/17       Sandi Sawa Hazlewood  of Crafty Planner / Watering Can Block
3/18       Quilty Pleasure (Quiltmaker blog) / Review
3/18       Imagine Gnats / Rotary Phone Block
3/20       Verykerryberry / Lion Block
3/21       Artisania / Cast-Iron Skillet Block
3/23       Where the Orchids Grow / Lamp Block
3/24       Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt / Layer Cake Block
3/24       House on Hill Road / Oven Mitt Block
3/24       Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced / BBQ Grill Block
3/26       Pink Penguin / Allie-Gator Block
3/26       A Happy Stitch / Giraffe Block
3/27       Bijou Lovely / Jar Block
3/27       Two Little Banshees / Saucepan Block
3/27       Charise Creates / Espresso Mug Block
3/30       Karen Lewis Textiles / Couch Block
3/31       Poppyprint / Clawfoot Tub Block YOU ARE HERE!
3/31       One Shabby Chick / Stack of Books Block
3/31       During Quiet Time / Sleeveless Dress Block

4/06       Pat Sloan The Voice of Quilting / Author Podcast Interview

48 comments:

Unknown said...

Would love to win a copy...thanks for the chance!

Sandi said...

Love your version of the bath mat but I couldn't imagine stepping out of the tub or shower.

Love your fabric choices!

Kelly @ PatchworkAndPaperPiecing said...

Oh my, I just had to enter this one. I want this book so bad, but money is tight, so it's on my list for when things loosen up a bit. Your tub mat is gorgeous as are all of the projects I've seen from the book.

Ann D said...

It's hard for me to choose a favorite pattern but I'm leaning toward the couch block. It reminds me of the couch we had when I was growing up. Mom loved Danish Modern.

I think the tub block is a close second though. It would be fun to have a mini quilt of that hanging in the bathroom.

anndunn24(at)gmail.com

Kathy H said...

I love this pattern for the tub. Your fabrics are so perfect too.

Anonymous said...

HAPPY SPRING!
SUCH A NEAT BOOK-WOULD LOVE TO WIN A COPY! THANKS FOR SHARING!
msstitcher1214@gmail.com

Terri in BC said...

Gorgeous! Thanks for the opportunity!

Aliceart said...

I'd love to win this book, thank you! I especially like the claw tub with the shower. I would probably make a wall hanging for the bathroom first out of it.

Anna said...

I love the bathtub bath mat.

Tamie said...

I love your bath mat. It is so cute. I bet your daughter will love it.

Anne said...

The block with the couch is my favourite. I'd love to win this book.

Gill said...

I would love to win a copy - thanks!

Audrey said...

Your daughter is going to love this bath mat. It is so cute and feminine. Thanks for sharing and offering a giveaway of Penny's book.

Goldogmom said...

Id love to win this, a great way to sew some smaller projects with lovely designs thanks Krista 😀

Jacklynn Grimm said...

I really like the television on the cover of the book. We had a large television set like that when I was a kid. I would make a few of these blocks and put different fabrics for the "shows" in each one. Fun for pillows on the couch in the living room!

Indianna said...

I love the idea of a bath mat .... Makes a change from cushions!

Unknown said...

Love your mat! I enjoy paper piecing, and this looks like a good book to have. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

Anita said...

What a fun bath mat. I just love paper piecing. My fingers are crossed.

Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge said...

Oh my! So many lovely patterns to choose from. Every time I think I've decided which I like the best, I read another great post on this blog hop! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the book!

Kathleen said...

I love your fabric choices for the bath mat. You did a great job! Everyone's blocks throughout the hop have been awesome and the one I want to make is the couch. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this awesome book!

Northern Deb said...

Oh ....my....gosh! I'd love to win this!!!

Allison C said...

I really liked the alligator

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Love your bath mat! I could also see the tub highlighted in a wall hanging. Fun! And I really like that alligator! Well, gee I liked a lot more too! LOL Thanks for the chance!

Vicki H said...

Your bath mat is very cute. My grandma had a claw foot tub in her home, I loved it.

Sewgirl said...

I love your new bath mat. The frying pan with the egg is appealing to me for some reason. I liked the idea of using it for making potholders...a great hostess gift.
thanks for sharing the giveaway!

Kathy E. said...

I really need to try paper-piecing! The more I see of it, the more I love it...but I do need some really good visuals and this e-book might be the trick!

Tara Celeste said...

This book looks great! Can't wait to check it out. And I love your tub, it's adorable :)

Janarama said...

I really like your bath mat and would love to make one for my bathroom. I also like the BBQ grill, the cast iron skillet, the sewing machine and the rotary phone. Thanks for the chance to win.

Jill said...

Win lose or draw, this book is a must have.

Kreahygge said...

Great job on the bathtub mat!! Thanks for doing a give away ;-)

Danette said...

Awesome bath mat! I would love to make this for my bathroom. I would have to use different colors, but I would figure it out. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

Treevillemary said...

I love them all, but especially the dress.

Elsa said...

Darling bath mat and such a fab idea! I've got a claw foot bathtub and this would be perfect for my bathroom!
You can leave me out of the drawing ~ I've already got the book!

Nancy said...

Your bath mat is so cute!

Debby said...

I have loved following this blog hop and all of the great blocks. You bathmat is so cute. I love anything retro and think I would do some potholders with the pans, a bathmat, pillows - I would make them all!!!

LethargicLass said...

I so hope I win because I absolutely want to make myself a cute bath mat!

Joy said...

I've been following along and there's not one pattern I don't love, and there are ideas on how to use them. Your bath mat is so cute, I'm sure your daughter will love it.

Lisa England said...

I've been following the blog tour for this book and it looks wonderful! So many blocks I'd like to make!

Gaye said...

It looks great Krista! I'd love to win.

Barb said...

Oh this looks like a book that I would use all the time! Thanks for the chance!

IdleHandsinAlabama said...

I would love to have a smaller project list, well smaller as in the size of the projects, these would be great!

Anya said...

Well my favorite was the cover pillows of the retro furniture but now I'm wavering with the bathtub!

Caity-Jo said...

I'm impressed by how many beautiful projects have come out of this book already!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I love claw footed tubs. Great bath mat. Thanks for the chance.

Lens said...

The bath mat looks gorgeous and the fabrics are perfect. Count me in please I would love to win a copy of this book.
Thanks for this chance to win :)

Cassandra said...

Some of those mid century modern blocks would make great pillows!

Jo Ann said...

I love your bath mat. Your fabric are so fun!

DeborahGun said...

The crocodile really appeals to me!