So it all started with a beautiful rainbow panel, Supernova Starburst (Hoffman Fabrics) and an Excel knife + a design and some fusible web. And a cutout job that is so relaxing! The design measures 33'', the space in between pieces is big enough, so cutting this design was pure joy. The next step in the big reveal: removing the paper backing of the fusible web. With … [Read more...]
How to sew faux trapunto
Do you quilt with two layers of batting? For this quilt-as-you-go quilt I used for some blocks cotton+a fluffy polyester batting and this gives such a wonderful definition to my quilting. But this time I wanted to use cotton+wool and I wanted to mimic the trapunto look without stitching trapunto. So here is a small faux-trapunto sample. I traced the design on fabric and outlined it several … [Read more...]
Trapunto and shadow trapunto tutorials
We love batting, right?! Even if it is that hidden layer in the middle of the quilt. It is as important as fabric! And in some situations, it becomes even more important than usual. I am thinking about the trapunto and shadow trapunto techniques. You probably already know: trapunto is just a design enhanced with an additional layer of batting that gives it a pronounced “stuffed” … [Read more...]
Free quilt design – free motion quilting feathers
I just finished two new quilts (wall hangings) - and on both I quilted feathers. I thought to make a new small design for you - my newsletter subscribers- in case you want to practice free motion quilting feathers. I made it the perfect size - 10'', not too small, not too big. I selected my threads and stitched first with the dark colors... ...then with the light … [Read more...]
Free quilt design
I made this design for my newsletter subscribers; you could make it as applique or with English paper piecing or just quilt it. I have a thing for free motion quilting with straight lines, so here is what I did. At first I was tempted to make a larger design and use thread in many colors... but then I thought to experiment with only two colors. This is Aurifil 28wt thread and … [Read more...]
My secret for EASY free motion quilting
The thing that helps me most in my free motion quilting journey is this: I don't quilt with both hands on top of the quilt sandwich. I tried it in my first days of quilting and I hated it. I wanted to free motion quilt and I wanted to make it easy and fun so I tried something else. I just put my right hand under the quilt. I fold the quilt near the area I am quilting. I put the right … [Read more...]
Eat that frog! And how it applies to quilting
Eat That Frog is a book by the famous Brian Tracy. Here is an excerpt from Brian's website(click here to learn more): Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worse things that is going to happen to you all day long. Your “frog” is your biggest, most important … [Read more...]