Wednesday, December 1, 2021

FYI December 2021


Perhaps the snow is starting to fall, and you're in the mood to make a holiday quilt. Click the logos below to be taken to some delightful, free quilt alongs and holiday fun.







And to get you all set for the project, check out the holiday collections at Fat Quarter Shop.

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Mini Charm Chiffon

Today I introduce Mini Charm Chiffon to you. It has an organized randomness to it that works well for a scrappy look, but makes use of mini charms.


Pick up your free pattern for this quick and pretty 36.5" square project. It requires four mini charm packs (140 squares), 1 yard of background and 1/2 yard of binding. Fat Quarter Shop has a Quilt Kit available in Love Lily by April Rosenthal for Moda. 


Check out Kimberly's YouTube video.


I used Sunprint 2021 Day Trinket for the background and a charm pack of Sunprint 2021 cut into quarters in place of the mini charm packs. I set aside the white and black prints to edit the selection into a cheery rainbow.


For the quilting, I did diagonal lines 3/4" apart only on the background.


I bound and backed this with Alison Glass Sunprint 2021 Cosmo Tuesday.


What have you been making lately?

Friday, October 15, 2021

Fat Eighth Flapjacks Quilt

Fat Quarter Shop has released a new free Shortcut Quilt pattern and YouTube video. They offer a quilt kit and backing set in Lady Bird by Crystal Manning.


For my rendition, I used Sunprint 2021 Day Trinket by Alison Glass yardage for the background and a Bloom Pure Solids Fat Quarter Bundle. Check out all the beautiful Art Gallery Pure Solids Fat Quarter Bundles Fat Quarter Shop has available. 


Bundles come with a clever card specifying the name of each individual fabric.


The pattern calls for twenty-two 9" x 20" rectangles cut into six 3" x 8" rectangles (132 total). Instead, I cut the fat quarters into two 6"x 18" strips. I cut the background into twenty-two 3" x 18" strips. These were sewn together before cross-cutting into 3" x 10 1/2" strips to be assembled into blocks.


The final quilt size is 60 1/2" x 70 1/2".


This pattern is a wonderful way to highlight scrappy fabrics, fun prints, or a favorite collection.


For the quilting, I stitched organic curves running horizontally.


Aurifil 50 wt were my threads of choice in Plum 4030, Light Jade 1148, Antique Rose 2430, Fuchsia 4020, Emerald 2865, Lemon 2115 and Light Grey Turquoise 2805 for the bobbin.


I backed this with Alison Glass Favorites Remix in Sunshine from my stash.


Along with the other Shortcut Quilts, I recommend this pattern for a fast make that doesn't involve massive background experience, but is still enjoyable for more experienced quilters that want a stress-free project.


It's kid-approved!


Sunday, September 12, 2021

FYI September 2021

Things are starting back up again after the pandemic pause. Whether or not you already emerging  from quarantine, there are a slew of quilt-related activities. you can participate in most of them in the comfort of your own home thanks to technology. Whoo hoo!

Fat Quarter Shop started the cutest Christmas quilt along. I'm here for it, and I have the fabric to prove it. Check out the All the Trimmings Mystery Quilt. I purchased a fat quarter bundle of Maureen Cracknell's Cozy & Joyful with Pure Solids Night Sea for the background. Download the Fabric Requirements sheet. Fat Quarter Shop is making their version using Christmas Morning by Lella Boutique, and there's a supply page for coordinating notions.
There's a new community of sewers and makers, SIY Sew It Yourself. Go see all the action and view the fun at #siysewityourself.




The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show has concluded, but I think you can still register and view the content.


Scott Fortunoff, President of Jaftex (home of Free Spirit, Henry Glass, Studio E, Blank Quilting, Fabric Editions, and A. E. Nathan) has issued his annual challenge to frequent the most quilt shops. So if you need enabling, join the rousing competition at #scottsentme2021 on Instagram and Facebook.
Jacqueline Stevens is hosting a free Snowman Sew Along. It's adorable.


The Confident Stitch is hosting a a virtual need-to-know Schmetz Needle class with Spokesperson Rhonda Pierce next Wednesday, September 15th at 12 PM MSTShe'll answer questions about what needles to use, what all those numbers on the needle package mean, when to change your needles, and more! This 45 minute class is FREE and will be followed by a Q&A session. Tune-in next Wednesday on Facebook Live or YouTube!


Free sewing related quilt blocks are to be found at the recently commenced Sew Much Fun Tour.


The National Quilt Museum hosts an online block of the month. Patterns can be found on their website, along with contests and exhibit highlights.


If you're interested in a virtual guild opportunity, my local Modern Quilt Guild welcomes members from near and far. We will be meeting virtually through 2021. Joining provides you with access to live online classes with sewlebrities through virtual guild workshops, and Quilt Con admission.


Bernina recently revealed the layout for their Old Block Sampler Quilt Along. You can find all the previous block posts on their blog.


Piecing the Past Quilts is currently taking sign-ups for a free block of the week program, Four-Patch Square Dance, starting in early October. The quilt size is 69" x 87", and kits are available.

That should keep you occupied for a spell. See you next time!

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Strategies for Selecting Long-Arm Quilting Designs

My Albuquerque Modern Quilt Guild monthly long-arm group is always a wealth of information. Here are some highlights from last month's meeting (and a gratuitous shot of the guild sampler from 2010 that currently occupies my long-arm):


*When doing computerized patterns for clients, it is preferable to choose designs that don't have backtracking.

*If the quilt top has busy fabrics, you aren't likely to see a detailed quilting pattern, so it makes sense to choose something simpler.

*Pause before choosing designs to "let the quilt speak" to you about which to select.

*Take classes when they are offered to improve your skill.

*Combine computerized designs with free-motion.

*Pair linear designs with organic ones.

*If you make a mistake in free-motion, repeat the mistake to make it look intentional.

*Choose from designs that are in your wheelhouse.

*Correct issues with wavy borders before you begin quilting.

*Limit the amount of time-consuming custom quilting jobs (as opposed to edge to edge computerized designs) that you take on for clients to a manageable amount.

*Consider loading the three layers together if you are doing art quilts with many thread color changes.

*Test out designs by drawing them with dry erase on a piece of plexiglass laid over the top. Tape the edges of the plastic to avoid getting marker directly on the quilt.

*Create real quilt samples of computerized designs for clients to have a visual of options available.

*Select a thread that isn't too matchy.

*Consider the purpose of a specific quilt to determine the quilting design.


*Accent what you like most about the quilt top, and camouflage what you don't like.

*Scale the quilting to match the scale of the fabric.

*There's no right or wrong way to quilt a quilt.

*Remember that everyone is in a different place in their quilting
journey.

Friday, July 9, 2021

Traffic Cone Quilt

Today's finish is a traffic cone quilt that I designed specifically because the Dear Stella fabric demanded it.


I made strip sets and put the angle lines on my ruler to good use. The first cut was 15 degrees.


The following cuts were 30 degrees.


I filled in the right and left sides with the background and trimmed to the desired block size.


The bottom of the block is a large rectangle of orange with blue rectangles pieced on either side.


I arranged six blocks in a circle.


I went overboard making strip sets, so I decided to use the extras for seminole-pieced top and bottom borders. There's a great YouTube video for that if you're interested.


I quilted the background with a straight-lined modification of loop-de-loops.


In the Project Linus stash, I found a brown fabric with traffic cones and construction things, so I chose that for binding.


Here's the final result! It'll be off to Project Linus tomorrow.


Have you ever had a fabric that cried out for a certain design?