I made the first two blocks for the Modern Spools Sew Along so I could answer some of your questions. Here we go: 1. You need to get Peta Peace's book A Piece of Cake - Sweet and Simple Quilts from Layer Cake Squares for the Modern Spool quilt pattern. You do not need to use layer cakes, however; 2. If you do not want to get the Needle and Notions book also published by Martingale, just look on the Internet for templates of sewing notions. Even though the book is for paper piecing, I am … [Read more...] about Modern Spools Sew Along – First blocks
Machine Appliqué
Make a quilted wall hanging with teapots
Wall hangings are a fun way to add pizzazz to any area of your house. It will quickly take a corner of your wall from blah to glam, while adding a touch of whimsy, too. And whimsy is what I was going for, so let me show you how to make a quilted wall hanging with teapots. [Edited June 13, 2020] This quilt reminds me of my grandmother, and I will call it "Grandma's Cupboard". I raided my stash of blue fabrics, choosing fabrics with small prints to emphasize the shape of each … [Read more...] about Make a quilted wall hanging with teapots
Quilts for Kids
Photography by Matthew Owen. Used by permission. This pattern is called Cruising on the Lake and has just been published in the More Quick and Easy Quilts for Kids book by Annie's Publishing. I am glad to have this quilt back from the publisher because it is one of my all time favorites! I designed it with the Splish Splash fabric collection by Gail Cadden for Timeless Treasures in mind - a gorgeous fabric line with whimsical ocean creatures and boats. This one-block quilt is very easy to … [Read more...] about Quilts for Kids
Foundation Pieced Quilt
This Foundation Pieced Quilt called Flower Market includes a video tutorial showing you how to paper piece the flowers on the border! [Edited on July 2025] This is my quilt, Flower Market. The flowers around the outer border were paper-pieced, and those in the center were created using a circular ruler I had purchased. This is actually how this quilt started, as I wanted to try out the ruler. The design evolved from there. There is something about this design that … [Read more...] about Foundation Pieced Quilt
Christmas in August
How about a fast table runner for Christmas? One long rectangle of your favorite print, with Snow Buddies appliqued on both ends? I quilted organic lines on the applique area and lots of rectangles elsewhere. I used Aurifil 50wt thread for the blanket stitching of the appliqued shapes and for the quilting. The backing was pieced and it all come together very quickly. The facial features were drawn with fabric marker giving the snowmen a happy, chubby look. I like to hand stitch the binding so … [Read more...] about Christmas in August
Pat Sloan’s applique book
Have you seen Pat Sloan's new applique book called Teach me to Applique? This is the first book of her "Teach Me" series, and if the next books are anything like this one, I am hooked. At the very beginning of the book in the section Fusible Applique by Machine, Pat describes the entire process from tracing patterns onto the fusible web to the types of blanket stitch you might choose. Even as a veteran at this technique, it was worth reading this [20-page!] section because of all the tips Pat … [Read more...] about Pat Sloan’s applique book