These 7 FREE small quilt patterns can be completed in an afternoon! Learn how to use up fabric scripts to a quilt in a day quilting project and more from expert fiber artists! This FREE download includes step-by-step instructions and high-resolution images, so get your copy today!
Join us for Day 6 in the desert at the Arizona Quilters' Guild 2013 show. We have some eye-catching quilts to show you, whose colors and pat...
… you finish a quilt and you can’t quite believe it’s actually done! That very thing happened to me today. I put the final stitch in a quilt that has been on the go for at least a…
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Cathedral Window Tutorial. I hope the instructions make sense, and that you enjoy making this blanket as much as I did. My advice...start small.
Sewist’s Name: Carrie Brooks from Olathe, Kansas Type of Project: Garment Pattern: Quilted Hugs Project Pattern (click here) Featured Date: 11-15-23 Hello! My name is Carrie Brooks, I live in Olathe, KS. I’ve been sewing since Home Ec class, and was also mentored by my Mom, who was an expert seamstress. She taught me to...
These 7 FREE small quilt patterns can be completed in an afternoon! Learn how to use up fabric scripts to a quilt in a day quilting project and more from expert fiber artists! This FREE download includes step-by-step instructions and high-resolution images, so get your copy today!
Classic Quilt Blocks have been sewn for centuries, are easy to recognise and are every quilters favorite. Let's celebrate these gorgeous blocks and add them to our quilting projects! The Friendship Star block is such a fun block to play with, whether you adapt the colour values, the layouts or the block design. There are so many variations of this block and you'll notice that some of them are referred to by different names, such as the Ribbon Star block or Water Wheel block etc. Today I'm going to share a few of the variations I played with to inspire you. Hopefully they will illustrate the gorgeous secondary patterns you can create with this block when it's used in a quilt. Please note these diagrams are for inspirational purposes only, they are not patterns. Let's start with the most basic Friendship Star block like we sewed in last week's tutorial: In either a straight setting or an on point setting, these gorgeous blocks dance and float around the quilt like ballerinas. The block may be simple, but doesn't it make a sweet and pretty quilt? Each example is all about the blocks and I love that! If I had to choose, I think my favorite is the on point setting. If you wanted to add a little more visual interest, then add some sashings and cornerstones. Perfection! Adding a third colour to the block not only changes the look of the quilt but it adds an extra element. An extra colour in the HST units anchors the floating stars together and creates a pretty layout with very little effort. Adding a third colour to the corners, adds warmth to the quilt and creates large blocks of colour. You could make these corners as scrappy as you want to inject more colour into the quilt, or only add colour to two corners to create a diagonal chain between the blocks. So, layout and colour are fun to play with, now let's have a look at variations of the block design: Replacing the square corner blocks with HST units creates a gorgeous secondary pinwheel (my absolute favorite) to the quilt. The pinwheels pop in the one colour but scrappy would work as well. This is such a simple variation with lots of possibilities. Switching the orientation of the HST corner units creates a lovely woven pattern connecting the star blocks into a gorgeous quilt. This one is so fun and looks way more complicated than it actually is. Stunning! Adding a simple four patch to the corners of the block, and some sashings and cornerstones to the layout creates a wonderful secondary chain pattern linking all the star blocks together. This one is really pretty, don't you think? It would make a great scrappy pattern. Adding an extra strip of colour to the corner HST's creates a two toned secondary square pattern. This gives the quilt a modern feel and adds something fun to the design. You could really play around with this variation, and it would be quick and easy to sew. Dividing the outer HST triangles into two creates another gorgeous secondary pinwheel pattern which also floats in the quilt. I love this one! The pinwheels are smaller and softer than the other example and it doesn't overpower the Friendship Star blocks. So cute! And I love this variation as well. I'd keep each star in the same fabric but use a mix of fabrics in the corners to make the secondary pattern scrappy and fun. This one could be a fun one to try! Maybe we could do something like this for the Scrappy Sew Along I want to run later in the year. So, that's just a few variations of the Friendship Star block to inspire you to create some gorgeous quilts of your own. It's a block that shines in any setting and even in its most basic form you're guaranteed an eye catching quilt. Which one's your favorite? I hope these examples give you the confidence to play with colour, layout and design to adapt the Friendship Star block in your future quilts. Next week I have a mini quilt pattern for you, and it's the perfect example of two is better than one. Stay tuned! Happy quilting :)
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Done!
When making a quilt label, is it appropriate to include the name of the person who designed the pattern? And is it necessary to contact the designer of…
Cristina Arcenegui Bono discovered that she preferred the machine quilting to piecing quilts that opened a world of art to her.
I think this the 2nd or 3rd quilt I made around Bonnie Christine's Hello, Bear line. I love it. It is whimsical and modern and sort of neutral, with pops of color, and so fun! I'd had the idea to make a 2/3s economy block quilt for a bit. In the traditional economy block, the center piece is a square, set into a diamond, set into a square. In my version, the center was a diamond, set in a square. There might actually be a name for this type of block, I just don't know of one. Here is a close up of the blocks. I added sashing in between the columns to make it a bit wider. The creamy flecked fabric in the background, Firefly, might be one of my very favorite low volume prints ever. Aside from the softness that the cream adds, there is the actual silky softness that is the staple of Art Gallery fabrics. I really like how it turned out. I decided to back it with another print from the hello, bear line, because it is just so perfect!! And I decided to quilt it minimally, just around the diamonds. You can see it well on the back above. I was unsure of binding it in the black cotton + steel sprinkle fabric, but I am so glad I did. I feel like it adds a cool dimension to the quilt. I definitely think I will make another 2/3s economy block quilt again. haha!
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You can make fusion like this easy, because the High Tea Fusion Quilt Free Crochet Pattern and Video Tutorial can help you understand everything.
See the featured quilts and web-exclusive color options and projects from the American Patchwork & Quilting October 2017 issue.
I have been on a total paper piecing kick as of late! In all honesty, I was kind of avoiding this quilting technique as it seemed a little strange (and possibly like I was cheating) to use paper templates to stitch blocks together. But it is really fun! (If not a little time consuming.) The end results are stunning and the technique ensures nice crisp edges. Plus you can create really intricate designs that would otherwise be a real challenge to quilt. I had visions of a quilt with butterflies and was thrilled when I stumbled upon Lillyella's paper pieced butterfly patterns. Having never attempted paper piecing, I thought this would be a fun project to tackle. Since I'm a newbie paper piecer, I followed some recommendations from 3 and 3 Quarters on using larger scraps of fabrics to make my life easier. This was a great tip and one I would encourage anyone to follow if trying paper piecing for the first time. Essentially, you attach your fabric to the back of the paper pattern and then stitch on the printed side of the paper following the stitch lines. Each piece is marked with a letter and numbers. The first piece you start with is always #1, which I glued down to ensure it didn't shift on me. Once my first piece of fabric was in place, I then folded back the paper along the line separating section #1 and #2, leaving a 1/4
I’m so excited to finally present the tutorial for my High Tea Crochet Quilt! However, it’s still a work in progress. Right now it guides you through the sewing and crocheting of the sq…
Here is how to make a quilt that folds into a quilt. This simple process makes your quilt into a pillow by day and a blanket at night.
Learn How to Make a Perfect Friendship Star Quilt Block with these simple instructions. Free downloadable tutorial instructions included.
This tutorial will get you started with unlined pojagi by hand. The seams are completely enclosed, so there is no right or wrong side to the end product.
This is a PDF Sewing Pattern with written Tutorial accompanied by a picture walkthrough. The Pattern includes PDF files for Projector, A0 printing, and at home US Letter printing, and utilizes Adobe Layers for an easy viewing experience in Adobe Acrobat. The tutorial is detailed and is suitable for all skill levels, including brave and adventurous beginners who are looking to learn new sewing skills! The Wings are structured but soft, and ready to go where ever adventure takes your little one! These wings are Heirloom quality, and open ended play that kids don't tire of! My children reach for these daily, and when I used to sew to sell these always sold out like hot cakes! I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I have. Materials: - Main Fabric (3/4 yard) -Appliqués fabric (scraps work great!) -Heavy weight fusible interfacing (Pellon 809) -Sew in interfacing (must be see through) 3/8 yard. -Quilt Batting (I like high loft) 3/8 yard. -1” Braided elastic, 1 yard. -Thread -Snaps -Turning tool to poke out corners -Elastic Bodkin or Safety Pins -Fabric pen/Marker -Quick Tacking Fabric glue, or adhesive applique spray -Forceps *Optional Sizes: 0-1 year 1-4 years 4-11 years
The Jen Kingwell Gypsy Wife Sew-along kicks off next week (August 3) and I thought it would be a good time to share with you some tips, tricks and advice on how to prepare for this event. I’m not going to lie the schedule for this is a bit full on (don’t let the one...
Well we have finally purchased our first American Girl doll. My 7 year old got Lea for her birthday this year and now I am finally elbow deep in all the accessories and books and clothes for Lea. She is a fairly high maintenance addition to our family 😉 I thought I would put...Read More »
1. Wife Selling The custom of Wife selling in England was a way of ending an unsatisfactory marriage by mutual agreement that probably began in the late 17th century, when divorce was a practical impossibility for all but the very wealthiest. After parading his wife with a halter around her n
Learn how to make this simple sawtooth Star quilt block! This classic quilt block is beginner friendly and is modern and traditional.
Done!
Over the last week I’ve been getting the same questions in comments here and in emails from blog readers. Here’s the most asked questions of the last week and their answers: How do I ge…
“Flowers Of The Cosmos” by Fumiko Nakayama Let me just say right up front that this quilt show exceeded expectations in every way. Something I really love about Japan is …
Black Friday comes once a year, but we can celebrate Block Friday every week, if we want, with how-tos for making contemporary designs from traditional quilt block patterns. I couldn’t wait to bring you this
Learn how to make easy reversible bowl cozies
I have become obsessed with Flying Geese! No, not the ones currently flying south for the winter. With the quilt pattern Flying Geese. It’s a quick and easy (my favorite!) quilt pattern, and it looks great in all sorts of colors! Here is the first Flying Geese quilt I made. Outer Space Astronaut Flying Geese. And a Christmas Goose. Using the 4 at a time method makes these geese quick and easy, while also making sure that all of the points line up just perfectly like they are meant to. I’ve made flying geese before, and even wrote a quick tutorial on how to make them, but as star points, rather than as flying geese. What’s the difference, you ask? The finished product is different based on how you turn your flying geese units, and other background squares, but the construction is the same. So why, you ask, am I writing another tutorial so soon after the first? You have a lot of questions! I wanted my finished geese to be larger this time. And I couldn’t remember the measurements for cutting my fabric to make a different size. As a writer of the tutorial, I shouldn’t have to go online to look up measurements. I should have that resource available at hand at all times. Flying Geese can be made in any size, the finished size is always like this, each individual goose is twice as wide as it is long. Math, I know, it’s hard! Just a warning, more math is coming! I know, I try not to inundate you with too much math, but this time around it’s necessary. Let’s say you want your finished goose to be 3” by 6”, this will make each pair of geese into a 6” square. Why 3” by 6”? That’s the size I used most recently, so it’s fresh in my mind! So, now that I’ve looked it up, I’ve created a cheat sheet chart of many different sizes, to keep for handy use. The 4 at a time Flying Geese method uses one big square (this fabric is the goose body) and 4 small squares (this fabric is the sky). You should keep it handy too, you can pin it for later and never have to go looking for these measurements again. Now that you’ve got the list of what size little squares go with what size big squares, how ‘bout a quick tutorial on what do with them once you’ve cut them? Flying Geese Tutorial- The 4 at a Time Way To make Flying Geese this way, the large square is your width dimension (6”) plus 1¼”, for a total of 7¼”. The smaller squares are your height dimension (3”) plus 7/8”, for a total of 3 7/8”. This added fabric accounts for the seam allowances (that’s the bit that gets sewn into the seam). I wanted my finished piece (remember, finished means once it’s sewn into the quilt and no edges are left unsewn) to by 3” by 6”. To make this set of 4 geese, you’ll need: 1 Navy Square: 7¼” 4 Teal Squares: 3 7/8” Draw a line with a pencil from corner to corner across the diagonal of your 4 teal squares. Take your 7¼” Navy Square and 2 of your 3 7/8” teal squares, and place the teal squares corner to corner across the diagonal of the navy square. The corners of the teal squares will overlap in the center of the navy square, and the pencil lines will match up, to continue all the way from one corner across to the other. Pin in place Sew ¼ of an inch to the right of the pencil line. Turn the fabric pieces 180* and repeat, to sew down the other side of the pencil line. Because you’ve turned it, you will still be sewing to the right of the line. Cut along the pencil line. Iron the seam, pressing towards the smaller teal pieces. It makes sort of a heart shape. Pin your 3rd and 4th small teal squares, to the remaining navy corner of each of your heart shaped pieces. The pencil line will go from the navy corner, and should go right through the V of the heart. Sew ¼ inch from the pencil line, turn and sew ¼ inch from the pencil line on the other side. Cut along the pencil line, and press, again towards the teal. Now you have 4 Flying Geese! Here they are finished and sewn into a quilt. You can do lots of things with your 4 Flying Geese (even turn them into a star!) but here is the quilt I made with the navy and teal geese used in this tutorial. If you are wanting to making this same quilt, the original pattern (not my creation!) can be found here! My version is made with 40 different fabric combos. At 4 geese per combo, that’s 160 geese total. And, one more time, in case you scrolled by it above without memorizing it, here is the chart of square sizes again. Save it. Pin it. Use it again. And again. Happy goose flying! I love, love, love the binding I chose to go with this quilt! There’s a little bit of it in the quilt top too, but I just love it as binding.
Use this technique to create unique textiles, by Saki Jane.
The Jen Kingwell Gypsy Wife Sew-along kicks off next week (August 3) and I thought it would be a good time to share with you some tips, tricks and advice on how to prepare for this event. I’m not going to lie the schedule for this is a bit full on (don’t let the one...
