I‘ve seen this easy method of piecing a quilt block in a number of places and I think it is a great way to piece a quilt in a short time or use as a beginner block for new quilters. It is a simple pattern that goes together quickly, partly because it starts with pre-cut […] Read more…
Quilting
Mini Art Quilt with Kaffe Fassett Fabrics
I am drawn to Kaffe Fasset fabrics because of the complex patterns and vibrant colors (as are many sewers). But when I have used his fabrics before, I’ve always looked for one or more solids to calm things down a bit. But this time, not only am I not adding solids, I decided to bring […] Read more…
Lose Your Mind and Find Your Soul
While browsing the Amazon app (not an affiliate or being sponsored), I saw this metal sign and was immediately enamored. I love the look of it and I agree with the sentiment. I’m impressed and inspired by the quantity of fabric and the fact it is so organized. I especially like the notes on the […] Read more…
Looking For a Sewing Bargain?
I have always had a love of thrifting and recycling, especially when it comes to reusing fabric, turning it into something new. In fact, my first published book was entitled Second Stitches (long out of print), focusing on recycling as you sew. This was in the early days of the Internet, and I thought it […] Read more…
Serger Piecing
One of the most important tasks when piecing a quilt is sewing ¼” seams that are consistent throughout the entire pieced quilt. It is imperative to have perfectly matched seams, creating blocks that are the desired finished size. What if I told you that the easiest way to do this is using your serger? Not […] Read more…
How Straight Do You Sew?
One of the first challenges for new sewers is learning to sew a straight line. Even some sewers with more experience sometimes struggle with this simple sewing task. It is important to be able to sew straight because crooked or wavy seams can affect the look of your finished project. If you are sewing clothing, […] Read more…
Serger Quilted Tablet Tote
I’ve had a BERNINA L 860 serger for more than a year and I have hardly used it! One of my resolutions for 2024 is put it to work and this post is the first one of the year. I made a custom quilted tote for my favorite device – my mini iPad. Quilting with […] Read more…
Holiday Hot Pads – A Great Beginner Project!
Another Thanksgiving is over and I hope yours was happy and healthy. We had a family dinner with good food and lots of pie! Every time we have a large dinner, I wish I had more trivets and hot pads to protect my tabletop from hot dishes. I’ve decided to get busy, so I’ll be […] Read more…
Embellished Quilt Block
I sometimes use a non-traditional piecing technique and when I’m finished, I have a beautifully embellished quilt block, pillow front, or background for a mini art quilt. This one is made of 2 ½” squares, which can be tedious when stitching square to square to make rows, and then stitching the rows together, all the […] Read more…
Coloring Outside the Lines
Do you like coloring or painting? If so, you may be interested in a recent blog post I did, entitled Creating Art with your Sewing Machine. This was a guest post for RNK Distributing. You may know them for the product lines they sell such as Quilters Select (Alex Anderson products), Embellish, and Floriani items. […] Read more…