What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

For only the second time, I wanted to custom quilt a large quilt. My first one was Minuet, that I did with a large curved ruler. This time, I wanted to have some free motion feathers, some ruler work, more modern with some graphic lines. Loading the quilt on the longarm, the batting chosen was Dream Orient, now called Dream Bamboo. I like the light weight and breathability of the bamboo blend for a summer quilt. At this point, I did a lot of stand-and-stare, trying to make decisions on what to do in each section. In the end, I ...

It was originally equipped with a red, fake leather band.  Which lasted about two weeks.  Seriously - that's no joke.  Two weeks.  On one of my adventures with Beach Girl Diane to a ...

Have you finished a quilt top recently? It’s time to decide if you’re going to quilt it on your home machine or send it off to a longarm quilter. In this blog post, we’ll provide five tips for preparing your quilt top to send to a longarm quilter. By following a few simple guidelines, you’ll be set up for success (and a long and happy relationship with your longarmer!).

A view of two longarm quilting machines in Gina Tell’s studio.

5 Tips for Sending Your Quilt to a Longarm Quilter

Longarm quilting services can elevate ...

 FOOD

I'm currently at the beginning of a couple months where I will pick asparagus every day.

Perfect tension – it is the #1 skill you should learn when starting your longarm quilting journey. Tension can either make or break your quilting results. It can be scary to think you have to adjust your bobbin tension, especially since most modern sewing machines have automatic tension features. And we’ve been told to NEVER touch the bobbin tension.  Longarm machines are a whole different animal.

Believe me, it is not hard to do, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder why you were so scared. If you are just getting started, read the blog post ...

Perfect tension – it is the #1 skill you should learn when starting your longarm quilting journey. Tension can either make or break your quilting results. It can be scary to think you have to adjust your bobbin tension, especially since most modern sewing machines have automatic tension features. And we’ve been told to NEVER touch the bobbin tension.  Longarm machines are a whole different animal.

Believe me, it is not hard to do, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder why you were so scared. If you are just getting started, read the blog post ...

We are piecing the blocks for the Seeing Stars Handi Quilter quilt-along this month. There are a lot of half-square triangles in this quilt, which means there are bias edges. You have to be careful when working with bias edges because they stretch very easily.

Last week I told you I make my half square triangles (HST) two at a time. I draw a line from point to point on one square and match it up with another square. Then I stitch 1/4 inch away on both sides of the line. I cut on the line and I end ...

We are piecing the blocks for the Seeing Stars Handi Quilter quilt-along this month. There are a lot of half-square triangles in this quilt, which means there are bias edges. You have to be careful when working with bias edges because they stretch very easily.

Last week I told you I make my half square triangles (HST) two at a time. I draw a line from point to point on one square and match it up with another square. Then I stitch 1/4 inch away on both sides of the line. I cut on the line and I end ...

Today, I’d like to tell you about a quilt I quilted back in November of 2018, so I’m digging way back in the archives.

I’ll warn you here at the start that this is a picture-heavy post, but if you’re looking for a library of quilting design ideas, this might help you out.

This quilt is a quilt designed by Victoria Findlay Wolfe. It’s called Marshmallow Rain. She did all the piecing, then passed it to me to do the appliqué and quilting. It was such a fun quilt to work on!

Marshmallow Rain was ...

It’s April, so this month we are piecing the blocks for the Handi Quilter quilt-along, Seeing Stars. Last month we chose fabrics and cut out our pieces. If you are just learning about this quilt-along it’s not too late to join the fun.

Find the pattern here: https://handiquilter.com/product/quilt-top-pattern-seeing-stars/

Find the hints and hacks page here: https://handiquilter.com/download/152247/

Piecing

I have to make a confession here. I’m not so much a “read-the-pattern-and-follow-the-directions” type quilter as I am a “look-at-the-picture-and-sew-the-pieces-to-look-like-the-picture” type quilter.  Can you relate? Let’s take a poll. Tell us ...

It’s April, so this month we are piecing the blocks for the Handi Quilter quilt-along, Seeing Stars. Last month we chose fabrics and cut out our pieces. If you are just learning about this quilt-along it’s not too late to join the fun.

Find the pattern here: https://handiquilter.com/product/quilt-top-pattern-seeing-stars/

Find the hints and hacks page here: https://handiquilter.com/download/152247/

Piecing

I have to make a confession here. I’m not so much a “read-the-pattern-and-follow-the-directions” type quilter as I am a “look-at-the-picture-and-sew-the-pieces-to-look-like-the-picture” type quilter.  Can you relate? Let’s take a poll. Tell us ...

As long as we are learning about bobbin winders, we might as well get familiar with your bobbin case too. The more you know about your machine, the better you’ll be at using it and getting great quilting results.

There are four types of bobbin cases that are used in various generations of Handi Quilter quilting machines. You can access a PDF with all the detailed information here. Any of these bobbin cases can be used in any HQ longarm machines. And all of them work great! If you find you need to order a part for your case ...

As long as we are learning about bobbin winders, we might as well get familiar with your bobbin case too. The more you know about your machine, the better you’ll be at using it and getting great quilting results.

There are four types of bobbin cases that are used in various generations of Handi Quilter quilting machines. You can access a PDF with all the detailed information here. Any of these bobbin cases can be used in any HQ longarm machines. And all of them work great! If you find you need to order a part for your case ...

We recently learned about the standard Handi Quilter bobbin winder, now it’s time to get to know the Moxie bobbin winder. Some things are the same, but just like Moxie, it’s a little different too.  If you missed the previous post you can read it here. Please note: if you are outside of the US, you probably received a different bobbin winder with your Moxie machine. Please refer to your Handi Quilter retailer where you purchased your machine for help in using your bobbin winder. For my Australian friends, there is a video from Handcrafters House. Watch it ...

We recently learned about the standard Handi Quilter bobbin winder, now it’s time to get to know the Moxie bobbin winder. Some things are the same, but just like Moxie, it’s a little different too.  If you missed the previous post you can read it here. Please note: if you are outside of the US, you probably received a different bobbin winder with your Moxie machine. Please refer to your Handi Quilter retailer where you purchased your machine for help in using your bobbin winder. For my Australian friends, there is a video from Handcrafters House. Watch it ...

Have you started on your Seeing Stars quilt-a-long quilt? It’s not too late! This month (March) we are selecting fabric and cutting. I will share my progress and thoughts as we go. My friend Pam is also going to quilt along and I’ll share her approach as well.

Selecting Fabrics

My Choices

Since this quilt is mostly scrappy, I started with a fat quarter pack from my stash that was very “well-aged”.  It gave me a start on my color palette. Then I added in some additional fat quarters for more variety.

I wanted to follow the hack ...

Have you started on your Seeing Stars quilt-a-long quilt? It’s not too late! This month (March) we are selecting fabric and cutting. I will share my progress and thoughts as we go. My friend Pam is also going to quilt along and I’ll share her approach as well.

Selecting Fabrics

My Choices

Since this quilt is mostly scrappy, I started with a fat quarter pack from my stash that was very “well-aged”.  It gave me a start on my color palette. Then I added in some additional fat quarters for more variety.

I wanted to follow the hack ...