What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I had Celebrity Quilter, Matt Wilding, staying with me this week as he was teaching his tessellated heart bag at Quilt Direct. He was a model guest, bringing shortbread hearts for me and snacks for Nessie. He decided to do a little shopping of his own and picked out lots of Grunge fabrics for his next top secret entry to FoQ. We were both delighted to learn that each of us enjoy going to bed around 9pm so I have invited him to stay with me again for his next workshop in February. 

We actually had a wee flurry of ...

I went on a road trip around Devon this week with a box full of leaflets to promote my long-arm quilting service. I left all the photographing to Clair, the Quilt Direct marketing person. Ridiculously, the only photo that I took was of an enormous stuffed dinosaur that would make a hilarious cushion if Nessie would leave it alone. 

Most of the shop owners were enthusiastic about my leaflets and business cards, particularly a very nice shop in Totnes. However, one shop owner was downright rude. She said that they already had a long-arm quilter and had no need of ...

It has rained a lot this week, apart from a glorious sunny day on Saturday. People keep reminding me that this is normal in Devon and at least it is not freezing. I am trying to embrace the cosiness of the season, making soup and bread, even knuckling down to the tiniest amount of hand sewing. 

At work I had a lovely, traditional log cabin quilt and I was most impressed by the new copper metallic thread from the “Kingstar” range, that I quilted on a small table runner.

I caught up with Mel at the very posh Duchy cafe ...

Are you looking for a creative way to display your quilt? A hanging quilt sleeve is the perfect solution! This simple DIY project will transform your quilt into a wall hanging and can easily be completed in an afternoon. Today, we’re bringing you both a video tutorial and an in-depth photo tutorial that you can reference for all of your future projects!

Video Tutorial

In this video tutorial, Kimberly shows you how to measure and create a matching quilt sleeve that’s sewn directly into your binding, allowing it to blend seamlessly with your backing. Plus, this quilt sleeve ...

I have far too many self imposed chores that are hampering potential sewing time! This weekend I have planted a pot of bulb lasagne, washed floors, cleaned windows, erected a fairy light bedecked rose arch, made lime pickle, blanched and frozen veg, done laundry, put up more kitchen shelves, dealt with cobwebs, and sterilised jam jars!

At work a retreat was in full swing which means lots of washing up, cutting fabric, finding matching threads and getting a large customer quilt done for one of the course participants. 

I should have been making more samples for my L890 course this ...

It is exactly a year since I ran away from home to Devon and lived in an old caravan until I found my wee cottage. I have now experienced all of the seasons, including what seems to be an early, wet autumn. The conkers on the trees in the park are huge. Nessie and I are now familiar with the regulars in the park, including the 2 resident geese. I was glad that I invested in a decent second hand raincoat and have now added some reflective heat-press flowers so cars can see me in the dark. 

I have done ...

Matt Wilding visited Quilt Direct to discuss his bag making class and brought amazing patchwork shortbread.

I finished an autumnal customer quilt and started 2 Halloween quilts.

I made a silly video about some fairly useless clip-on lenses for your specs.

I had a play with some Aurifil spools to consider what colours I might put in a Quilt Quine collection.

My friend at work had completed an amazing Ethereal embroidered quilt so I did some stitch in the ditch to hold it together then added the binding.

Nessie and I had a lovely walk on Dartmoor and was amazed ...

Top of my weekend job list was to paint over the water damage in my bedroom, having had a nice long hot summer to dry out. However, we have had some “proper” rain bursts this week and the wall was wet again. I have not really encountered horribly wet weather since living here, unlike the relentlessly wet winter the year before. Everything is so dry that the trees are dropping their leaves very early and when it rains it dries up almost straight away. I have ordered a waterproof raincoat (second-hand from Vinted), not just a shower Mac. I have ...

I had a handyman here for a couple of days to fix my leaky roof. He also took it upon himself to fix the gate, mend the door on the outside gas meter and install a water butt, all fixings cobbled together from bits that came off the extinct satellite dish! 

I thought I had better do some jobs while he was here on my day off so I cut up some OSB board scraps to make soffits for the shed using my very basic hand saw. I told Freya about my DIY plans when she phoned and she told ...

“Gardening” seems to be taking up quite a lot of my free time these days! I started off just doing a little tidying then I got some pots. I could have just weeded the bit of ground where there should be a shed but instead I seem to be creating a patio area. It could be a nice little spot for a bistro table but the view is of my neighbour’s rubbish and I have seen a rat out there so I will not be eating alfresco in that area!

I managed to remove most of the rogue sycamores ...

Whew – it has been hot this week in Devon although not as hot as London which reached 33 degrees! My first task at work each morning was to fling all of the windows open. I had a varied week, demonstrating the Q24, teaching an overlocker class, working on a customer quilt, reorganising the walk-in cupboard, and sorting out bolts of Grunge fabric. 

I did not venture far over the weekend, either staying in the shade or inside, just wilting. I tidied the shed and put together a shockingly flimsy shelving unit. When it cooled down I cleared the rubble out ...

Happy National Sewing Machine Day to all of our quilty friends! June 13th is dedicated to celebrating the tool that brings sew much joy, creativity, and community into our lives—the sewing machine! Today, we’re rounding up three of our favorite sewing machine cover patterns. One is from our 2022 National Sewing Machine Day celebration, and the other two are by Joanna Figueroa and Lori Holt. Have fun exploring these projects and get ready to be inspired to treat your favorite power tool to an accessory that is equal parts functional and fashionable.

Today is also the perfect day ...

I really got stuck into things this week, maybe because I have visitors coming soon? I continued working on the strippy quilt top and got it finished so I could move the sewing machine out of the back bedroom. It is a bit galling that I will actually have to buy batting and backing for this project as I have 2 or 3 rolls in Scotland. I often dyed a sheet for the back of my quilts but I don’t have any dye or dare to use the washing machine here;) 

At work the new Bernina Hoop Frame arrived ...

Hi Quilters, 

Welcome to Week 4 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

Don’t have your kit yet? No problem — get yours here,  and jump into the fun!

You've done all the heavy lifting.  You've made all the units and are ready to begin assembling the Rosette Blocks.  Hip hip hooray!

From here on out, it's just sewing.  That's the best part, am I right?

The only thing you really need to watch for now is making sure you don't flip around any pieces.

Keep reading, I have a couple of easy, quick tips to ...

I am blogging in my garden! While farmers are no doubt worrying about potential drought conditions, I am basking in sunshine. I got my plant troughs filled which has created another chore for me keeping them watered. I had to take down one of my window boxes because it was dribbling mud all down the wall. Having been warned that removing the dangling wires would cause certain death by electrocution, I decided to disguise them with fake wisteria. It does need more strands to bulk it out but I think it looks jolly. 

At work I have cracked on with ...

Hello Markers, 

It is warming up here in Minnesota and that means more time spent in my garden and walking around the lake! So it's time to prepare for those sunny, warm weather days ahead! The most fashionable way to protect yourself from the sun rays is by making the Sunny Brim Bucket Hat! This easy to follow PDF pattern and youtube video was an excellent resource for me to use to create my first EVER hat using the retro motifs in Tangerine Fabrics by AGF Studio. 

Oh, before we go any further, this hat is reversible so you ...

The time has come!!!!

Say hello to beach days and fancy refreshing drinks while lounging in your backyard!  Tangerine Fabrics by AGF Studio is here and it’s sending us a cool retro Summer, filled with charming florals and playful designs. This collection reminds me of my days living in South Florida and my weekend getaways to Key West. Popping on my me made Summer dresses and my sunnies and riding on mopeds all day weaving in out of the endearing streets of this island's rich history. I am so excited to start sewing up some of the ...

Hi Quilters,

Welcome to Week 3 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

By now, you have made your Starburst blocks, and now we are ready to dive into the Rosette Blocks!

Chain piecing will be your friend this week as we make all the little units that will become the Rosette blocks.

These blocks may feel complicated, but they consist of blocks you are probably already really familiar with:  half square triangles (HSTs) and Flying Geese (FGs).

The HSTs are made 8 at a time, and the FGs are made 4 at a time so you can create the units ...

Hi Quilters,

Welcome to Week 2 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

If you are just joining or haven't chosen fabrics yet, kits are still available HERE.  Grab one while they last!

This week we are cutting our fabrics and will begin assembling the units to make our Starburst blocks.

I love to start with a fresh blade and usually begin with cutting the background first since this usually has the most cuts (and honestly, it keeps me motivated to keep cutting since the prints are the most fun to cut, right?

There are fabric labels provided for you ...