I’m so excited to share this Lady Bug Quilt Block with you! It is a simple pattern – great for a confident beginner – and who doesn’t love ladybugs? When I started thinking up ideas for this month’s “bug” theme, I just knew I wanted the ladybug! If you scroll down you’ll find links to […]
read moreI love this place we call Earth. It constantly offers its resources and beauty without discrimination. Since it’s April 22, I’ve come up with 5 way quilters can honor Earth Day. There are small things we creatives can do to conserve and preserve our home for a better future.
5 ways Quilters can honor Earth Day
I like to think of myself as a “green” person. I recycle plastic, glass, and paper. I compost my food waste. I keep the thermostat within the suggested temperature range. I plant my own vegetables. I have eliminated plastic water bottles from ...
read moreToday I’m going to show you how to spray baste a quilt. Many quilters use basting spray to hold the layers of their quilt together, and of course, there are many ways to go about it. Hopefully you’ll find something you like about the way I do it, or you might find a tip that helps you improve your own method. Either way, it’s always good to see what other techniques people are using!
How to Spray Baste a Quilt
I’m going to “borrow” from an older blog post I did about spray basting. Towards the ...
read moreHello, friends! Today I’m sharing 10 Tips for Choosing Fabric for a Quilt. I originally posted about this topic back in 2015 and get frequent questions and requests for suggestions and help. So, using my original post as a starting point I’ve added in several more ideas that I’ve come up with over the past […]
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I am adding another quilt to my
Fabulous Finishes 2022
I made a quilt coat from orphan blocks, and have gotten many questions about which pattern I used, the process I used for making it, and other construction details. I’m going to detail all my quilt coat making details here so that I can use them for reference if I want to make another Quilt […]
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This improv piece has been sitting
around for almost 2 years...
It has waited long enough.
The top consists of Pick Up Stix blocks...
This is a piece I hand dyed and
silk screened.
I sliced it up and created borders...
The quilt top is ready to be basted and
go under the needle...
Hello! Today I’m sharing 10 Quilt Piecing Tips & Tricks to Improve Piecing Accuracy. These are some of my tried and true methods for making sure my blocks turn out just the way I want them to. Many of these ideas are really simple steps that make a big difference in the end. (Note: this […]
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read moreIf you’re a quilter or have shopped for quilting fabrics, you’ve probably come across pre-cut fabrics. They are fabulous curated bundles of fabric that are so incredibly handy when quilting! Learn all about the most common pre-cut fabrics here. Half yard bundles, Fat Quarters, 10″ squares, 5″ squares, and 2 1/2″ strips are the most […]
read moreJournaling is a great way to increase your creativity. Journaling can be done in many different ways, from writing about your day to doodling and sketching. Whatever you choose to write about or draw, journaling will help you become more creative. In this article we’ll explore the benefits of journaling and how it can improve your creativity!
Words and images are powerful tools for expressing your creativity. When you journal, you have the opportunity to explore all kinds of ideas and emotions. You can experiment with different writing styles and artwork, which can help you find new ways of ...
read moreI’m excited to share my Stripology Ruler product review with you today! I had heard such great things about this new Creative Grids ruler from customers and my co-workers, that I had to try it out for myself. And it did not disappoint. I’ll share what I like most about it and why I think it’s a great tool to consider purchasing (or adding to your Christmas list).
Note: This is not a sponsored blog post, but any Amazon links are affiliate links. If you have a local quilt shop near you or a favorite online quilt ...
read moreIf you have a quilter on your gift list, then you’ll definitely want to read my 20 gift ideas for quilters. It’s difficult to know what to buy a quilter, especially one that seems to have everything already! And if you are a quilter, you’ll want to show this blog post to your family and friends before they go shopping!
I’ve broken my list into two parts. Part One is made up of gift ideas under $50 and includes quilting notions and gifts that might be considered “beyond basic”. In other words, not every quilter will ...
read moreDo you use starch to prepare your fabrics for cutting and piecing? I always do because it gives stability to my fabric and more accuracy during cutting and piecing. Today, I have an exciting new product to tell you about, so I thought I would give a product review of Magic Quilting & Crafting Spray. This is not a sponsored blog post, but any Amazon links are affiliate links.
I’ve been using Best Press for years and I’ve been fairly happy with it, but I always knew that something better would come along. And it has! I really like ...
read moreI couldn’t help myself. I joined in with Fat Quarter Shop’s All The Trimmings Mystery Sew Along. It looks like it’s going to be so cute! Plus I have a fat 1/8 bundle of Christmas Morning by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics just calling my name. This is a free sew along that is being released on Tuesdays. It started on September 7 and ends on October 8. You can find the pdf patterns (two so far) here.
I have some catching up to do, but row 1 is finished. These Christmas berries are adorable and ...
read more{I love the idea of “paying it forward”. I think the world would be a better place if we could spread some joy and acknowledgement of good deeds done by others. I try to do that once a month for my Sew Thankful Sunday posts. I highlight some great content that I’ve found on other people’s blogs that I hope will inspire you and reward the originator by bringing traffic to their site. If your blog has been mentioned without your consent, please let me know and I will take you off the current list of featured bloggers ...
read moreHere’s a helpful hint for flat seams while making quilt tops!
When making blocks that have a four-patch construction, use a “split seam” technique when pressing to help the seams of the quilt top lie flatter. Press the first seam allowances toward the darker fabric. After sewing the two units together, pull the center to pop the last couple of stitches from the original seams.
Press the “split” seam open in the opposite directions. You’ll see a tiny four-patch unit where the seams come together.
This technique works for all blocks with a center seam: pinwheels, double 4-patch ...
read moreHello, friends! Recently I’ve received a lot of questions and emails from new and beginner quilters asking about Quilting for Beginners. I’m excited to share lots and lots of information on this topic today. I’ve also filmed a video and am including links to lots of posts with even more information on the topics I […]
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read moreSo this month we officially became empty nesters! If I'm being honest, I really haven't gotten used to the idea yet. For 24 years, it's been the 3 of us, through thick and thin and to think it's just two now...well, feels sorta surreal! I bring this up because it has inspire a good bit of cleaning, clearing and refreshing in my old Victorian. With that I started looking at how many quilt pieces I have stored flat on my spare bed and how many I have up on the walls. The bed won even ...
read moreHello, friends! Today I’m sharing a little bit about How to Use Quilt Panels in Your Quilting & Sewing Projects. I’ve enjoyed making some quick to finish projects over the past couple of years using these panels and thought I’d share some of my ideas with you. Additionally, I frequently get questions on this topic, […]
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