I have been quilting for almost 19 years and you may be thinking that during this time I have accumulated a mountain of rulers for making quilts. Well, I am not hoarding rulers! I have a few "speciality" rulers (made specifically for a quilt, they are wonderful, but I used them once and then forgot about them!), but other than these, I own and use all the time these 5 rulers. If you are a … [Read more...]
Folded strips pattern for coasters
Hello friends! Years ago I made this folded star and loved it. There are so many versions on Internet but some pastel stars caught my attention. I wanted to duplicate the texture and the colors but using something different and here is what I have done. This was my first version of a folded strips octagon, made with Kona cotton fabrics. Very excited with the result, I thought to … [Read more...]
English Paper Piecing Tips for Beginners
Do you need some English paper piecing tips? Have you tried this technique yet? For more than 10 years I stayed away from it, admiring with envy beautiful Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts, thinking that I will never be able to sew something like this, because : "I sew only by machine, I don't have enough patience for sewing by hand". I can't remember the exact circumstances, but one day I … [Read more...]
Quilt inspiration – a story and the lessons
Failing is not fun, but it always comes with lessons for those that persevere. We, as quilters, learn many times from other quilters' mistakes and experiences, but I think the most valuable lessons are the ones learned the hard way, from our own mistakes. At the beginning of November I found out that the deadline for submitting quilts for QuiltCon is November 30. I was playing on my computer … [Read more...]
Lettering bag pattern and some special tote bags
I made a lettering bag pattern and these special totes before Christmas and I finally share them on the blog. This blog is like a journal of my work, so better keep it updated, girl! It all started with this beautiful fabric, from the “Gradients” collection by Moda Fabrics (there are two more colorways). and with a fun and easy technique. The result was this: Then … [Read more...]
How to quilt applique quilts
I am a big fan of applique and reverse applique quilts, and especially the fusible web raw edge applique. Using this technique you can sew complicated designs in record time and with ease. It is great for beginners (the success of your first quilt is guaranteed!) and for busy quilters alike. If you want to learn more about these techniques, check out the tutorials below. Reverse applique … [Read more...]
Heart design turned into a quilted pouch
I made these designs for my newsletter subscribers and here is the reason the second design is not complete. I quilted the design and then turned it into a pouch. The center space is for the zipper opening! I thought the design is a nice reason for more free motion quilting practice. And when the quilting was done, why not turn it into something useful? It took me 10 minutes to … [Read more...]