Tutorials

The other day I found a new way to cut half-squares triangles which I thought was the best! Well, this weekend I tried to remember which way was it and where I had seen it. No clue!!! I am getting disgustingly old... :-( Anyway, I decided to do what the pattern I was using suggested, and it was pretty easy. So, in case you need a new technique, here is how I did it: Say you need 3-1/2" half-square triangles. Cut strips of the two fabrics you are using measuring 1/2" more, i.e., 4" wide by … [Read more...] about Half-square Triangles – Tutorial

Every year, each of us makes a quilt block for that year's guild president; those blocks are given to her so she can make a quilt. It is our way to say "thank you" for all her hard work. Today I had the chance to piece my block for last year's president, Diana. I am happy she chose the Disappearing 4-Patch, as I had seen it but had not yet tried it. Just in case you have not pieced this block, I made a tutorial as I went along. Here is what you will need: 2 - 5" squares of white fabric 2 - 5" … [Read more...] about Disappearing Four Patch Tutorial

"Catch me if you can" is the name for this quilt I made using Riley Blake Design's fabric from their On the Go line. It is super colorful, I know, but that is how little kids (read 'me') like it! The fabrics are filled with airplanes, trucks, locomotives, scooters, cars... So, I came up with this irregular grid pattern to showcase all the fun prints, with the flying geese to add more motion to the design. Click here to go to the step-by-step tutorial, which is posted on Riley Blake's site, … [Read more...] about Catch me if you can – Tutorial

Fleece feels good to the touch, but it is sort of weird to sew: regardless of how careful you are when measuring and cutting it, as you sew it, one side will stretch and the whole thing will look wonky. Since I do not like fleece blankets with knots, sewing is the solution for me, although I have used a couple of different alternatives to knots when I did not have time to sew it. So, here is my version of a fleece blanket, which includes one fringed side. You will need: Solid fleece, 72" x … [Read more...] about Fleece Blanket Tutorial

Christmas ribbons are so beautiful! I love their designs, their shimmer... Abakhan, a fabric and crafts company based in the UK, sent me a roll of gorgeous Christmas ribbon this week, and I went right to work as I already had a design in mind. Borrowing from ribbonwork concepts, I had imagined a circle of leaves made of wire ribbon. Abakhan's ribbon was perfect for this project, as it had a green center, with extra wide gold borders, and it was very pliable, making it easier to shape the leaves … [Read more...] about Christmas Ribbon Wall Hanging Tutorial

As I promised, here is the tutorial for the placemats I made using Riley Blake's laminates, which go together with the table runner I showed on my previous post (see it here). They are reversible, each side having a different combination of fabrics! I added a pocket for utensils to both sides and quilted right above the pockets only, to hold the batting in place. For the quilting motif, I chose to mimic the chevron laminate design, as you will see in a close-up picture below. My family LOVES … [Read more...] about Laminate Placemats