Ready for some Christmas fun? Head on to Sew We Quilt for the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop. The participating bloggers are amazing, and this blog hop goes until August 9. Their projects got me thinking about which gifts I will make this year. Have you started your Christmas projects yet? Last year I made a bunch of these star table mats (click here for tutorial) - they are so easy to make, and you can mix and match your favorite Christmas prints to come up with different looks. My quilting friends and I … [Read more...] about This and That
Double wedding ring
About one year ago I took some classes on how to work with QuiltSmart products. The last class was on double wedding rings. We had to do most of the preparation at home (cut fabrics for the rings using a template, cut background fabrics, jewels, sew interface to rings...). By the time we got to the class we turned rings inside out and learned how to place them onto blocks. When I returned home I decided that instead of making a table runner, I was going to make a 45" x 45" quilt. So, I ordered … [Read more...] about Double wedding ring
How to cut straight strips of fabric
If you have ever stitched strips of fabric together only to end up with a warped set of strips, you may want to try this method I learned from one of Sally Collins's books, "The Art of Machine Piecing" (I found it here): Before you do anything else, press the fabric open. Then, align a square ruler to your cutting ruler to ensure the cutting ruler is at a 90 degree angle to the fabric. The picture above shows how the edge of the fabric, which at first … [Read more...] about How to cut straight strips of fabric
Landscape quilts
Since I came back from our trip to the East Coast I have been so aware of the stark contrast in landscape between Utah and Maryland/Delaware... As I started thinking about which landscape quilt I would make next, I brought out of the closet this quilt I made a few years ago. The flowers were cut out, glued on with fabric glue, and sewn (broderie perse). I looked outside at the mountains and kept cutting shapes... Up to now, when I make landscape quilts I start from a picture on my mind. … [Read more...] about Landscape quilts
Cutting table and ruler organizer
Oh... I am so happy! I finally replaced my old cutting table, after weeks of looking high and low for an affordable solution. I needed something that was 36" high, about 36" wide, and 60" long. My friend Diana had seen at someone's house two bookshelves with a door as a top. Finding the bookshelves would not be difficult, and the door I could get at Home Depot or Lowes (plain door). However, they would not saw it down to size for me. After many trips to IKEA to check out the various … [Read more...] about Cutting table and ruler organizer
4-petal flower tutorial
Here is a quick way to add dimension to wall hangings, table runners, bags, and other quilting projects: make a flower using two contrasting 5" squares. I whipped this one up yesterday in about 15 minutes. Not bad for when you are pressed for time and need a final touch on a gift! Here is what you will need: 2 - 5" squares of contrasting fabrics button needle and thread sewing machine With right sides together, sew around the squares leaving a 1.5" opening so you can turn fabrics inside … [Read more...] about 4-petal flower tutorial