Archive for September, 2016

a-sewing-tutorial-on-how-to-make-84-inch-full-length-panel-curtains-with-a-rod-pocket

There’s a fun fabric store near me that I love to visit. If you happen upon it on a sunny day, you’ll see a tractor wagon full of fabric bolts–there’s every color and style you could imagine on there! Batiks, Civil War, Novelty, Floral—whatever you’re into. The deal on the wagon? You’ve got to buy the whole bolt & if you do, it’s usually around $2-$3 a yard. Well, on one sunny day, fate intervened, and on the wagon was the perfect fabric for my nursery: Mint and Baby Blue Batik, geometric, airy and whimsical…exactly what I had in mind. After doing the math, I realized that 15 yards of fabric at $2 a yard was a steal, especially because I needed to get 6 full-length (84 inch) curtain panels out of it. When all was said and done, I had just enough fabric left on the end of the bolt to make a matching tissue box cover (get the pattern here for free!). (Continue reading…)

how-to-cut-fabric-straight-when-its-too-big-for-your-cutting-board

There’s always that one project that has us wishing that we had a bigger and better crafting or sewing room. Even those of us with a giant cutting board or mat are sometimes struggling to get perfectly straight lines on giant cuts for our quilts or other sewing projects! I’m here to tell you that, when you have a game plan, the seemingly impossible task of cutting that giant piece of fabric suddenly becomes quite simple! Read on to see how I manage to cut large pieces of fabric on smaller cutting mats without a problem!

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Five and Dime Baby Quilt Pattern ReviewThere are always those moments when someone declares a regular run-of-the-mill blanket as a quilt. Gasp. And when that happens, somewhere in the world, a quilter looses her pins…and her husband’s heel inevitably finds it, and well…you get the idea. So please—get your facts straight—for the quilter’s husband’s sake! All joking aside, us quilters are very picky about exactly what counts as a quilt and what doesn’t… maybe even a little snobbish, but who can blame us? We have all poured hours and hundreds of dollars into a quilt that you’ve just demoted to blanket. I’m shuddering at the thought! Let’s get on with this post about what makes a quilt a quilt and what doesn’t.

Next time that you’re with a known quilter and see what you think might be a quilt in it’s natural habitat, go through this mental checklist before saying a word about what it is or from whence it came: (Continue reading…)

This fall DIY tutorial will show you every step in how to make a fall mum pallet door hanging with your initials on it for under $20!Mmmmm, crisp fall air, sweaters, leaves as they flutter to the cool ground…these are just a few of my favorite things about fall & I can’t believe that it’s (finally) almost here (even if it doesn’t feel like it yet). One of my other favorite parts of fall is picking out the perfect mums and enjoying their colorful, hearty blooms for the season. That’s exactly what inspired my DIY tutorial today—I just couldn’t wait for the right season to get planting mums all over the entryway, so I thought I’d just make my own a little bit ahead of time! Read on to see how you can make your own fall door hanging, instead of the same old wreath! (Continue reading…)

Modern T Cross QuiltHooray! It’s pattern release day! These days are always my favorite, it’s full of excitement, fun pictures and the payoff of a job well done—not just for me, but for all of the pattern testers that worked hard to get this pattern to where it is today. Today, I am pleased to present to you my latest quilt design, Crossroads. This is my first pattern that isn’t a “one size fits all.” The pattern includes instructions for a baby, throw, or twin size! But that’s enough chatter—let’s take a look at all the fun photos and details of Crossroads!


Crossroads is being featured, along with some other fantastic releases from amazing designers, on the Swhetty Bettie’s Blog! Make sure that you check out the Aspiring Designers Challenge Week and enter for your chance to win each pattern released this week! There’s even a giveaway at the bottom of this post, so read on!


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A full tutorial on how to use a color wheel with pictures of the color schemes used in real life!Today is all about returning back to the basics! Some of you may have experience with a color wheel, but I’d be willing to bet that a majority of quilters, sewists, and DIYers have never thought much about this useful tool. It’s incredibly helpful for those of us that like to sew with solid fabrics, rather than prints, or for those times when you just can’t find the right inspiration and have to come up with a color scheme on your own. Plus, knowing the rules of color gives you a lot of freedom to branch out and try color combinations that you might have not otherwise tried! So, today I give you an intro to color theory and how to use the color wheel. (Continue reading…)

My top ten list for baby registries and wish lists! Don't forget these important items when making your registry for the baby shower!With 24 weeks in and 16 weeks to go until baby arrives, I’m starting to realize that we’re on the downhill—January will be here before we know it! Before she arrives, there’s so many things to do: I have full intentions of an entire-house deep-clean, finishing up the nursery (which includes replacing windows, making curtains, making a crib skirt, and 1000 other little details), baby & birthing classes, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and oh- that giant party that we call a baby shower—that has to happen too! (Continue reading…)

Through the Looking Glass Sarah Price ModaIt’s been a long time since I’ve shared a pattern review with you! I’ve been holding out on this one because I especially love it and have wanted to make sure I do it justice! Today I want to share all about the “Through the Looking Glass” baby quilt by Sarah Price. This fat quarter quilt is one that you want to be sure to add to your pattern library—it’s perfect for those baby quilts that you might have procrastinated in making (for scheduling help, make sure to see my yearly quilting schedule!) or for a super-modern feel. This quilt really can go any direction, depending on the fabrics you choose—I think it might even open itself up for some of your favorite applique! (Continue reading…)

A sewing tutorial on how to cover up a utility sink with a sink skirt!As things round up in my laundry room, there was one eyesore that I just couldn’t let go. The utility sink. I’d love to have made an amazing sink base for this little guy, but it just wasn’t going to happen. So, a sink skirt it was—when in doubt, fabric is usually the answer.

My laundry room is the only room in my house that I could call a country style. It also doubles as my canning room during the summer and fall months, so it only seemed proper to make it feel a little homey. Besides, everyone should have at least one room in their house that channels every sweet memory of their mother. The canning/laundry room is mine, which is perfect because there’s nothing that my mom loves more than rows of colorful mason jars and the smell of laundry fresh off the line. It’s a love that she’s instilled in both me and my sister. (Continue reading…)