Janome Horizon Memory Craft Review and Project:: Spooky Quilt Tutorial

Spooky Quilt Tutorial for Janome

Hi Modern Sewciety readers and podcast listeners! Today I have a very Spooky Quilt Tutorial for you and a fun review of the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9400. I know it is a real beauty isn’t it? Just feast your eyes on all of that awesomeness.

This is a sponsored post and I was sent a Janome Memory Craft 9400 to review. This is my honest opinion on my experience using this sewing machine.

Okay dab that drool really quick and let’s get started.

janome horizon memory craft 9400

There are so many features I loved on the Horizon, let’s just say I named this one, Nomie. I know super super original but, hey, it fits because it is like my homie. Did ya see that coming?

Okay the features I loved.

The High Light- The adjustable High Light and nine Ultra Bright LED lamps are everything you need for a shadow-free workspace. The adjustable High Light pulls out to give direct light in the needle area and the nine LEDs illuminate the bed area. 

Super Spacious Sewing Bed – The ample work area and ergonomic design allows for more quilt room. The MC9400 provides 11” to the right of the needle and 15 ½” of total work area. The needle area is sleek and trim so you can easily see as you work.

Auto Presser Foot Lift – The presser foot lift on the MC9400 automatically lifts the presser foot after a thread cut. This feature can be set to raise at the end of any seam, with the needle in the down position for easy pivoting.

Advanced Touchscreen – The advanced LCD touchscreen shows all of the information you need to sew with ease. Select new stitches and memorize your favorites for quick access.

Let’s get to the tutorial and I will chat about the other features.

Spooky Quilt tutorial

First you need to cut strips to the above measurements X WOF. I am using a fabric line called SPOOKY from Windham Fabrics. I am not a huge fan of Halloween, yes I admit it, but this fabric is almost the perfect Halloween/Fall fabric. The colors are so spot on with Fall. I do love Fall. Anyways, I am making this for my best friend who happens to love Halloween and anything I make for her. She is excited about the shiny new sewing machine in my sewing room and she doesn’t even sew. The fact that she doesn’t sew hasn’t stopped me from showing her the BRIGHT lights of the machine to make sewing in low light so much easier. The high light makes for a shadowless sewing area.

janomestripset

Now you have a Strip Set Unit. Doesn’t it look so pretty? One thing I have used so much on the Janome Horizon Memory Craft are the different sewing feet you get with it. I have tried to use all of the feet at least once and I will say having specialized feet for specific stitching is helpful. I have gotten fond of the

1/4″ foot

AcuFeed Flex foot which is like the best walking foot ever

regular straight stitch foot

My piecing accuracy improved so so much with this machine and I know that had a lot to do with the feet and how well the machine communicated what to use when. I love the stitch directory on the flip up when you thread the machine. I love having that easy reference for stitches and feet and used it often.

Kaleidoscope ruler

Get your Creative Grids Kaleidoscope Ruler, which can be purchased here. You will use this handy dandy ruler to cut 8 triangle units from your strip set you just made. I found it easiest to cut the bigger end down first then rotate it (as shown above). I can’t stop thinking about candy corn when I see the triangles. I think we should all take a break to get a candy corn snack. It is Fall ya’ll.

I did have some trouble with the thread cutter not always cutting the thread. Sometimes it would cut the bobbin but not the top thread. This wasn’t something terribly annoying but I want to make sure I mention it as I want you to know it isn’t a perfect machine. I don’t think there is a perfect machine.

press Spooky Seams

I forgot to take a picture of the sewing the units together but sew 2 triangle units together on the long side of the unit making a pair.

Making SURE to press the seams to one side. Make sure to press your seams really well.

Then place two pairs right sides together sewing down the long seam which will give you a unit with 4 triangles. You will sew two 4 triangle units together making one big octagon. Above you will see the finished unit and all seams are pressed in the same direction. This is so so important so that your middle doesn’t get too poofy.

Press well – making sure to press down with your iron but not move the iron around. I love my Black & Decker IR05X Xpress Steam Iron just in case you are in need of a good iron. I love to press when sewing. I love the crispness it gives the fabric.

cut on diagonal

So now you have a big beautiful block but it needs some corners. So cut (2) 5.75″ squares then cut on the diagonal which will give you 4 triangle corners.

I always have a problem wrangling all of the sewing machine feet, the little screw driver thingie, the seam ripper, and the extra bobbins. I know I am forgetting something but there is a lot of stuff that comes with a sewing machine. I loved the extra storage on this machine. There is a flip out place for storage on the front and back of the machine. You could take off those storage units easily to access the easy release for changing the needle plate. It is a one step lever that pops up the needle plate which I took off often to make sure I was keeping the bobbin area clean of lint.

sew on Spooky corners

I found an easy way to sew on the corner triangles and make sure they are lined up correctly. I folded to find the middle on the long side of the triangle and the bottom of the triangle you are sewing it onto. You line up those two creases before starting to sew your seam. When you are finished sewing, again, make sure to press your seams really well.

You will have one block now. I used three blocks to make a quilted table runner or a nice size wall hanging. I just sewed 3 units together then basted my top, batting, and backing to make a quilt sandwich. I quilted it using the zig zag stitch. I wanted to branch out and do a really cool stitch but the zig zag in it’s simplicity just won. I loved it too much and I think it was the perfect choice.

The ease of fitting a quilting project, big or small, on this machine makes my sewing heart smile. I love how big the throat of the machine is because you really save your back and shoulders on those bigger projects. I also think this particular sewing machine, Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9400, makes quilting a breeze with the Detachable AcuFeed Flex Layered Fabric Feeding System.

Spooky kaleidoscope

I think this block really could be a great mini quilt, pillow, or you could make several to quickly make a lap quilt. I really think playing around with the fabrics gives so many options on this block. I would love to reimagine this block in some solids in Fall colors. I just see so many different ways you can use this block to make some really cool projects. I think you could even make a cute and fast pennant banner with those triangles.

I think I shouldn’t forget the most important thing we all loved on the Horizon and that is the thread cutter and extra large foot pedal. They are on a super sturdy mount together making a very stable control while sewing. I had to get in the habit of using the foot pedal to cut the thread but once I got used to it I am having a hard time sitting at my other machines without it. It is a feature I would make a MUST if I purchased a Janome. It is that important.

Spooky windham fabrics

I really hope you enjoyed hearing more about the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9400. It sews like a dream and it really has some great features. I feel like I didn’t tap into it’s full potential but I sure tried. I used it almost every day and it still sews like a boss. My young daughters even found it an easy machine to use. My 6 year old even sat down and asked me to show her how it worked. I went over a couple of things, and she started sewing right away. She loved this machine just like her mama.

horizon memory craft 9400

I hope you will share your Spooky Quilts as well and if you do make sure to use #spookyquilt so I can see it.

 

ModSew:: Summer Breeze Quilt from Fat Quarter Shop

I love a good challenge and I have come to know that when Fat Quarter Shop asks me to do a post for them it will challenge me. I know you are thinking – but you know how to sew Stephanie! What are you talking about? I do know how to sew but I seem to keep myself within the comforts of the rulers and quilt blocks I am comfortable using and sewing. Well things change when I am challenged. I love change.summer breeze quilt

I had a bundle of Janine Vangool’s new line, Uppercase, with Windham Fabrics. I so enjoyed the chat on episode 086 of the podcast so if you haven’t checked that episode out I encourage you to. I love that Janine has such a quality magazine when magazines are going out everywhere. I love that she is passionate and courageous about doing something she loves which is sharing the stories of creatives all over the world. I enjoy reading the stories behind the makers because it is so encouraging to me to keep doing the thing I love the most – sewing.

uppercase fabric

The pattern is called Summer Breeze and it uses two rulers below that really help speed up the making of this pattern. I am not a fan of buying rulers I may not use again but let me tell you I use these rulers ALL of the time. I think they are so versatile. I already have plans to use them in making another totally different quilt.

creative grids kaleidoscopecreative grids 8 1/2" quilting square ruler

The pattern is super straight forward and I think looks so much harder than it actually is when you sew it up. Don’t you love patterns like that?!?! I mean something that is easier than it looks. I think this quilt makes me look like a super awesome quilter who spent hours and hours sewing up this quilt. It is NOT hard which is so cool for those of us that like an easy pattern that looks like it is full of y seams and paper piecing. Oh what fun!

fat quarter shop summer breeze

I have to point out that I decided to make this a baby quilt with less blocks and added sashing. I needed a smaller quilt and I just can’t seem to follow a pattern no matter how hard I try. I like to put my own spin on quilt patterns, or any pattern for that matter, to fit what I need when I am making it.

So the details –

I made 20 blocks from the pattern then added a 5″ border. It makes the perfect smallish quilt.

moda summer breeze

Are you ready to make your own Summer Breeze Quilt?

Lucky for you Fat Quarter Shop has a great YouTube video to help you make this quilt!

Shop site: http://www.fatquartershop.com/

Find the Summer Breeze Quilt Pattern

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/FatQuarterShop

Please take a minute to go check out all of the other quilters making their version of the Summer Breeze Quilt!

Melissa from Happy Quilting

Nicole from Modern Handcraft

Sherri N. from Rebecca Mae Designs

Sherri M. from A Quilting Life

Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts

Jessica from Quilty Habit

Leanne from She Can Quilt

Afton from Quilting Mod

Kathryn from Kathryn Jones Quilts

Stephanie from The Modern Sewciety

Side Note:: With a storm on the way I took this quilt over to my family’s farm to get some pictures. I have to say this quilt was at home on the farm. I just wish the cows would have gotten in the picture too.

ModSew:: Love Patchwork and Quilting issue 36

Ta Da!!!! I am so excited to share that I have a quilt project in issue 36 of Love Patchwork and Quilting.

LPQ36cover

I love the take on the wave block but bigger. I love big blocks because it is less tricky with the big pieces and well a couple of blocks and you have a big quilt. Love P&Q wanted blues in an ombre effect. So below is the quilt Joanna Marsh and I came up with. I really love it.

We used several shades of Art Gallery Pure Elements for the ombre effect but I think any fabric would be cool in this quilt. It is fast and an eye catching quilt. I really enjoyed making this and Joanna was awesome to work with.

Nautical but Nice Stephanie Kendron Joanna Marsh-1

I made a wave quilt for Heather Ross’s mendocino line for Windham Fabrics a couple of markets ago. I loved the pattern so so much because it is a big block and shows off the fabric line so well. For those that have asked… use this pattern and sub in those fabrics.

Go get a copy of issue 36!!!!

Wanna learn more about Love P&Q? Listen to Alice on episode 83 or Jenny on episode 051 (Jenny is now with Today’s Quilter. I think she need to come back on the podcast for a chat soon to chat about Today’s Quilter!)

Featured Blogger:: Megan from City Stitches

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Have you visited City Stitches yet? Oh my gosh. So if I could visit my 20 year old self I would tell that self to be creative like Megan. Be creative before marriage and kids. Ahhhhh that 20 year old self would have been so cool to my 30 year old self. lol So I think Megan is cool and young too. We recently chatted on the Modern Sewciety podcast, episode 22.

I think one of my favorite things about Megan is her enthusiasm about this creative, sewing industry. I think we are two of a kind because it is an exciting time in our industry.

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And that awesome quilt in her blog header is made with Anna Maria Horner’s fabric which we talked about on the podcast. We both have a love for all things AMH. She did an Japanese x  and + block for that quilt and even did a great tutorial on her blog. She said this was one of her most popular tutorials and I can see why. What a beautiful block.

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Megan is also starting to sell patterns in her City Stitches shop. She has several different patterns and my favorite one has to be the mixed migration pattern. I love love love it so much. it is such a great scrappy quilt. You can also find Megan’s patterns on Craftsy.

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Megan is also friends with Christina from Sometimes Crafter, who was on episode 07 of the podcast. Love her so much. Here they are at Sewing Summit. Lucky girls. Megan did a quilt along with Christina’s Retro Flowers quilt pattern. (the above quilt is Christina’s but visit City Stitches for more info on the quilt along.)

I hope that you take a minute to go visit Megan from City Stitches and leave her some comment love.