This book is a perfect segue to Pat Sloan's Teach Me to Make My First Quilt book I reviewed in my previous post. Christa Watson's Piece and Quilt with Precuts, published by Martingale, presents eleven quilt patterns made with precuts: they are beautiful, fast to make and teach you to use already cut or leftover fabrics. Christa is well known in the quilting community as a prolific machine quilter and, naturally, Piece and Quilt with Precuts is divided into three sections with quilt … [Read more...] about Piece and Quilt with Precuts
quilting
How to Make your First Quilt
I am often asked how I began quilting, and I tell the inquirer it all began with a book (you can read about it in this blog post). If you are interested in learning how to quilt or know someone who would love to learn it, today I would recommend Pat Sloan's Teach Me To Make My First Quilt published by Martingale and here is why. Pat Sloan takes the guesswork out of the basics about quilting beginning with important information about the sewing machine all the way to how to make (and … [Read more...] about How to Make your First Quilt
Mug rugs without binding are fast to make
[Edited on January 13, 2020] Everyone loves to receive a handmade gift. These quilted mug rugs will make your friends happy and will use up your stash. Because these mug rugs have no binding they are fast to make. Remember those leftover blocks you did not know how to use? Forget potholders! Enjoy their beauty every day in your studio, office, or by the couch after you transform them into mug rugs. Mug rugs absorb water, prevent spills, and add color to your day. As you read my previous … [Read more...] about Mug rugs without binding are fast to make
Sunny Table Topper
Photograph by Annie's Publishing. Used by permission. This is my latest pattern: Here Comes the Sun, published in Annie's Quilting "Precut Table Runners & Toppers" book. It is cheerful with bright colors, and the center is made using raw edge applique', so no need to sew circles. Here Comes the Sun measures 31" x 31". The middle of the center block is perfect for a vase or simple table centerpiece to emphasize the table topper design. It was pieced and quilted using Aurifil 50wt white … [Read more...] about Sunny Table Topper
Embroidery Giveaway
I have been in the mood for embroidery lately. It is fun, soothing, and makes for awesome gifts. This is the little wall hanging I finished last weekend: it measures 12" x 13", with simple quilted lines, and a bit of fall colors to frame everything. The green ric-rac adds whimsy and evokes the green of the flowers which I chose not to use on the embroidery. I wanted the center block to stand out and so I kept the borders (and quilting) simple. I used DMC thread for the embroidery, and … [Read more...] about Embroidery Giveaway
Paper Pieced Mug Rugs
Remember this quilt I made a while ago? I had two paper pieced tulips left and have wondered, for the longest time, what to do with them. I would take them out of the drawer and put them right back in because I could not come up with any way to use only two of them in a wall hanging. Then, after I made the mug rugs I showed you yesterday I realized I had seen the light! I made two rectangular mug rugs adding ribbons of matching colors. I used Aurifil monofilament to stitch … [Read more...] about Paper Pieced Mug Rugs