I’m creating an heirloom… have you ever thought that while you were wildly stitching away at a quilt? If not, start thinking it—because quilts are an heirloom piece! They have a long lifetime, function, and hold tons of meaning for the giver and receiver! But part of the heirloom quality of quilting lies in the label. Knowing who the quilt was made for and by (and maybe even why) is special for future generations that snuggle under those threads. (Continue reading…)
Oftentimes, quilting and sewing patterns assume that you know what you’re doing, the words that they are using, abbreviations, and that you already have the necessary tools to create your masterpiece. But what happens when you’re a new quilter, or faced with a new technique that you’re unfamiliar with? Today, we’ll cover some of the most used sewing or quilting wording and techniques that you might not be familiar with. If you’re looking for what tools you might need to get started on quilting, be sure to visit my Getting Started with Quilting Tools post. (Continue reading…)
“It was such a beautiful quilt, but…”
Over the years, I’ve heard this sentence end in a thousand different ways. You see, my mom owns a quilt shop and offers longarm quilting services. She sees hundreds and hundreds of quilts every year, and it’s surprising how many small techniques can make for an excellent, or not-so-excellent quilt in the end. I’m going to share with you how making small changes to your quilting techniques can make you a master quilter in no time! (Continue reading…)
I cannot believe that it’s been a year already—can you!? That’s right, one year ago, I decided to stop pursing jobs where I punched a time clock for someone else, and work for myself! The hours certainly haven’t been any more forgiving, but oh my my, are they satisfying. If you read my blog a year ago, you’ll remember that some interesting circumstances had me looking for a new job. When, by God’s grace, I was swept away for a week of solitude, I realized that working for someone else wasn’t working for me anymore. I’m so pleased to be writing one year later, full of optimism, excitement, and big plans. (Continue reading…)
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and I’m frantically preparing now, which seems a little over-zealous, but when you’re sweet baby girl is due January 3, and your family has a history of early babies…it’s good to be one step ahead! Even though I might not be able to give a quilt this year, like I’d like to, I want to tell you all about why I think quilts make the best gifts for Christmas, birthdays, baby showers, and every other special event along the way: (Continue reading…)
I’m deeming today a showoff day! I made this adorable wallet & have yet to have a single cashier or clerk take notice…so I’m taking advantage of the blog so that this sweet wallet gets some recognition! This fabulous pattern was created by Sew Many Creations & I really do love the final product. I get a little excited to whip it out when I’m grocery shopping! Believe me—joy at the grocery store, let alone in the checkout line, is worth every second spent making this wallet! Without further ado, here is the Diva Frame Wallet by Sew Many Creations: (Continue reading…)
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…)
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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There 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…)
Hooray! 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!
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…)
It’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…)
