This new book by Martingale, 180 Doodle Quilting Designs, is just what we, free-motion quilters (and aspiring ones as well), needed. Sure, we could all use new ideas for quilting motifs, but this book is about more than just extra designs. The best way to get over the 'must-be-perfect' state of mind and start free-motion quilting is to doodle or practice the design you want to use first. I learned a long time ago to 'draw' in the air the design with my index finger prior to putting needle to … [Read more...] about Doodle to quilt
Christmas Quilt
Photograph by Matthew Owen for Quilter's World. Published with permission. Quilter's World magazine has just published their Autumn issue featuring my 'Formal Attire' Christmas quilt. I love working with reds and greens and this quilt was so fun and easy to make. I used Square-in-a-Square blocks with different color combinations. The green corners of the cream blocks form a bow tie, my whole idea for this quilt and thus its name. Formal Attire was quilted by Quilts in the Corner in … [Read more...] about Christmas Quilt
Iris Orphan Block
I made this center Iris flower block many moons ago during a class in Draper, Utah, with my friend Cathie. My original post is from June 2012 (see it here). It was so much fun and so much work! It uses Ruth McDowell's straight line method of piecing and the Iris pattern can be found in her book "Pieced Flowers". I pulled this block out of my orphan block stash a few times in hopes I would turn it into something special, but I could not come up with any ideas that would do it … [Read more...] about Iris Orphan Block
Perfect Half Square Triangles Every Time
[Edited January 13, 2020] There are many ways to make half-square triangles (HST) and I use them all, depending on the project I am working on or, most likely, depending on the size of the HSTs used in the project. Sometimes, the size is so unusual that I need to make them the old fashioned way - stitching two triangles together. Let me show you how to make Perfect Half Square Triangles Every Time. I have been making a lot of half-square triangles lately as I test patterns I designed. Of … [Read more...] about Perfect Half Square Triangles Every Time
Orphan Block Central
Hey, have you dug all your orphan blocks out yet? Here is another project using them. This table topper measures 23" x 23" with fabrics that I absolutely love and have had in my stash for quite a while. It all started when I found this leftover border. I had 3 pieced just like this one. Using a triangle ruler I cut six triangles and I made this: Now what? Well, I ironed fusible web on the back of the block, fused it to a white background and machine appliqued using blanket stitch and heavy … [Read more...] about Orphan Block Central
Butterfly Wall Hanging
Quite a while back I reviewed the book Cute Quilts for Kids by Kristin Roylance for Martingale. In it, Kristin had a very fun butterfly quilt called "Butterfly Kisses" which featured a different way to make a butterfly block. I made one block and saved it. Last weekend I turned that block into this wall hanging (funky lighting on this photograph). I used scraps from my stash for everything. The fabrics look so good together and their prints add whimsy to the project. Butterflies … [Read more...] about Butterfly Wall Hanging