In this brief tutorial you discover the secret to piecing accurate 22.5 degree triangles for the perfect triangle quilt with perfect points.
I’ve made quite a few bunny bags since I launched them in February! 🐰🐰🐰 I’m so glad you seem to like them. My making time is definitely getting quicker and more efficient now. I made some cardboard...
This post is part of the Sewing Back-to-School series, 30 days of helpful sewing articles by guest bloggers. Feel free
"White Out" by Maria Shell is her version of a more minimal, subtle, and neutral-based quilt.
Jo Morton - Andover - Love this one. It is so fun to see how they turn out. Here is a little trick to help you with fabric selection. You will need your diamond template, fabric and a mirror. My mirror was a gift, thanks Nicole. She got it at Sephora. Lay your template on the fabric like you are thinking about cutting it. Look in the mirror and it gives you an idea of how it will come out. Neat trick, I learn a lot from my customers.
Here's my sewing tips and tricks to try, free advice to help you improve your sewing projects, and what to do to become a better and happier sewist.
Do you also love the wavy patchwork look? ✨Try this easy method that doesn't require separate stitches! If you love the look of wave stitching but think it's too much work.Try this easy method to make a fun potholder. Contrasting fabrics are simply woven together to create aunique pebble-shaped patchwork design. Super easy to use and acute accent to your dining table all year long. Great for beginner quilt patterns to help you make your own beautiful versions.It combines very quickly and has great visual impact.
You’ve just finished your latest quilt, are proud of your accomplishment and want to show it off. You first share it with your family, then with your small quilting “bee” and fina…
For some reason, I’ve always been a little afraid of Y seams, but they really aren’t all that awful. A Y seam is exactly what the letter looks like – a place where three seam line…
YouTube sewing tutorial on how to sew straight using different seam guides for your sewing projects.
The recording of the new two-part Sewing With Nancy mini-series, Tried and True Sewing & Quilting Tips, took place during Nancy’s Notions annual Sewing
Does batting have a right and wrong side? The answer is yes! Check out this photo guide to help you find the right batting for your next quilt.
Here's a simply tutorial on how to make a 12.5" wonky star block for the Bushfire Quilt Project, which I blogged about in the previous post. (My apologies for the variations in the lighting of these photos, the clouds kept rolling in and out during this shoot. UPDATED NOTE: I wrote this tutorial, in an attempt to make the process as straight forward and simple to follow as I possibly could. However, please know that if you use triangle shapes cut a bit larger, ( by an inch or two) you will have more leeway in how you position them and more possibilities in getting your star to be EXTRA wonky! You will need to start with 13 squares of fabric each cut 4.5" Out of these 13 squares you should have: ~ 8 white or cream, (these will be for the background) ~ 4 any color/pattern you choose, (these will be for the star points) ~ 1 any color/pattern you choose, (this will be the center of the star) Stack the 4 star point squares and slice in half so you have 8 triangles... Select 4 of the background squares and 4 of the star point triangles. Stitch one triangle to the right side of each background square. Changing the angle of the triangles will help create the wonky-ness of the star. (Make sure that when the triangle is flipped and ironed to the correct side, it extends past the edges of the background square.) Cut the excess background fabric off... Flip the star point triangle to the right side and press with a hot iron... Sew the remaining 4 triangles to the left side of these 4 background blocks. You can overlap the triangles slightly at the bottom, or leave a space. Each variation just adds to the wonky-ness... Again, cut off the excess fabric as shown... and flip the star point triangle to the left side and press with a hot iron... Cut off all excess fabric, making the squares 4.5" again... Take your center square and using a scant, (just under) 1/4" seam allowance, stitch a completed star point square to both the left and right side as shown... Take one of the remaining star point squares and again using a scant 1/4" seam allowance, sew a plain background square to both the left and right sides. Repeat with the 3 remaining squares... Press and iron all 3 rows. (Because the background is light in color it's best to iron the seams towards the star points. Do this with the center row as well, thus helping to reduce bulk when all three rows are joined together)... Line up the seams, pin and using a scant 1/4" seam allowance, stitch the top row to the middle row. Repeat with the bottom row... Iron the seams towards the top and bottom rows. Flip to right side and smile at your completed wonky star!... I would like to note that this technique was first devised by Gwen Marston and shown in her wonderful book Liberated Quiltmaking. And once again, hats off to Tia for starting this heartfelt project! You can view more of my Tutorials HERE, and my Patterns HERE.
Create custom continuous bias with a fat quarter to match any sewing project. Technique is so simple that you will never look at the package stuff again.
Step by step Quilting Tutorials and sewing projects from ISeeStarsQuilting.com. - Come learn something new and make beautiful things!
Machine, sewing practice
If you’re sewing-along to make Jen Kingwell’s Gypsy Wife quilt, this week’s assignment is our first block with partial seams. Don’t let that scare you! Hope from Hartford is a clever little block. I have some tips to help.
Sally Hess does it again. If you'd like her to drop some knowledge on you in person, make sure to check out the MD class list to see what she's teaching next. There are a lot of great uses for double needles, also called twin needles. They come in a confusing
Quilters who are planning their next project with embroidery machine designs or free motion quilting patterns should take a look at these Thread Basics. This quilting tutorial covers the positives and negatives to several kinds of threads, making your choice much easier. You'll also find helpful tips when it comes to choosing thread to properly secure and complement your quilt patterns. Nothing could be more frustrating than having to start a pattern over because of the thread, so make sure you read this before you start on something new.
Learn how to sew a ruffle with these four methods. From a single basting stitch to a ruffling foot, once you can make a ruffle, it can accent any project.
Definition of Quilting Terms and Acronyms Do you wonder about the secret code used by quilters? Here is a list of quilt acronyms and terms.
When it comes to the best thread for quilting, how do you choose? There are a lot of decisions to make and factors to consider. There's also the issue of whether you are looking for thread for machine quilting or hand quilting. Many of these thread tips are helpful for any sort of sewing, so keep this handy for your non-quilting sewing projects, too! The best threading for quilting is generally a cotton or polyester-cotton blend. Avoid cheaper polyester threads as they are more likely to break or snap over time. The weight of your thread depends on your fabric and pattern. Thicker fabrics or quilts with more layers of fabric need a thicker weight (or stronger) thread. First, we will discuss thread in general, looking at the terms associated with thread and how it's measured. Then we will go into the common thread materials each thread type from which each is made. We will then focus on types of thread you will see when looking at thread spools along with the types of thread that are readily available. Some are great for quilting and some are not as fitting. Finally, we will focus on the best machine quilting threads as well as the best threads for hand quilting. So, start reading and get ready to learn all about thread in relation to quilting and choosing the best threads for your upcoming quilt projects. Table of Contents Thread Basics Thread Material Types of Thread Best Threads for Machine Quilting Best Threads for Hand Quilting Conclusion
If you are newbie to sewing, you might feel overwhelmed. We want to help you feel a little more confident by sharing these 15 sewing hacks for beginners. You might just feel like a pro once you know these few tricks.
Hello! Today, I am getting some much needed girl time with my Mom and my sister. :) So so so happy about that. It's not often that we are together, since my mom lives on the other side of the continent from me...and my sis is 100 miles away from me. Yay! Anywho... I have wanted to share this little trick that my mother-in-law showed me awhile back. I found myself using it quite a bit while making the quilt of a bazillion knots. It seriously changed my life when it came to hand stitching anything. My mother-in-law is an amazingly talented seamstress. She makes these gorgeous smocked dresses for the little girls. She's the real deal. Here's a shot of some she made for Easter one year. my girls All of the girls.....she made all of these dresses :) You all may know this tip, and I might be the last person on earth to figure this out, but I figured I would share anyways, for those of us like me that are ignorant to these sort of things. I have always seen my mother in law thread a needle, smooth her hands down over the string and poof, it's tied in a knot at the end. I have always wondered how in the heck she does that. I would always take the time to make a loop, go through the loop with my needle and then make a little knot....one so tiny that it would slip through most fabrics anyways. So then I would try to knot it again at the same spot and I would always be off....so then I'd have two tiny knots right next to each other, so then I'd try to knot it a third time and try to incorporate both knots into a big knot....sometimes it worked....every time, it took forever and made me feel completely inept at sewing anything. It's a dumb thing to get frustrated over....but it is seriously annoying....especially when you look over and see a master seamstress like my lovely mother in law whip out a big fat knot in a matter of seconds with what seems like a magician swipe over the string. Do I have any ladies out there who are nodding their heads right now? I think I do. One day I was like....how in the world did you do that, and she looked at me like she couldn't believe I didn't know how to make a knot....and then took the time to teach me how. I really have the best mother in law in the world. I can't say enough good about her, really :) Here's how you do it. you start with a thread on a needle as usual. (forgive my busted up looking table that needs refinishing and my ratty looking fingernails. It was not a good day for photographing my mess). Gather both ends of the thread, so they are the same length and hold them together in your hand. You will have to lick or wet your fingers before you put the thread in between your fingers. Then pinch them like this between your thumb and forefinger with the end pointing down. Take the loose end of the string and wrap it over the top of your forefinger, around and under both your forefinger and then the thumb and then back to the top. Basically, you are wrapping a circle around your fingers. After you've wrapped the circle around your fingers, take the loose end and bring it down between your thumb and forefinger as you see below. Here's the tricky part. While pushing your thumb forward and pulling your index finger back, roll the string in between your fingers. While you are doing this, hold the long end of the string in your other hand and pull it tight as you allow the string to pull off from around your fingers and to tighten into a knot in between them. Here's what you will get when you are done! It takes a little bit of practice to master, but it's pretty easy. Once you have this down, it makes things go sooooo much more smoothly when you are tying things off or knotting something. I made a little video of me doing this for clarity. It's not the best, and my fingers go off screen for a second, but you can see what I'm doing for the most part. My 11 year old was my camera man. Hope it helps. Have a great weekend! xoxoxo! Anna Shared with: ny melrose family free pretty things for you someday crafts lady behind the curtain seven thirty three craftie alley ginger snap crafts just a girl and her blog happy housie remodelaholic jennifer rizzo the idea room my repurposed life the shabby nest craft dictator chic on a shoestring liz marie nancherrow city of creative dreams too much time on my hands one more time events just us four six sisters stuff sits girls reasons to skip the housework 2IY the girl creative vmg206 under the table and dreaming momnivores dilemma flamingo toes titi crafty mango seed designs the chicken chick it's overflowing uss crafty diy showoff thrifty decor chick skip to my lou C.R.A.F.T. making the world cuter the silly pearl twelve o eight carrie this home domestically speaking vmg206 tiny sidekick home stories a to z home work not just a housewife sugar bee crafts our delightful home home coming house on the way kathe with an e confessions of a plate addict mabey she made it yesterfood crafts on sea diy dreamer clean and scentsable ivy and elephants thrifty decor chick
When you first learn to sew you might wonder why every pattern piece has a grain arrow on it. What exactly is the grain, and why is it important? Grain is the direction of the weave in fabric. It’s im
Learn how easy it is to sew like a pro with these Top Stitching Tips. They will have you experimenting and adding stitch details to your projects.
Zo krijg je snel je draad door het oog van de naald!
Want to learn to sew? There are so many different options for anyone who wants to Learn to Sew. I've made a of several Learn to Sew Tutorials and Classes.
A thread guide to help you learn about the numerous types of threads available to quilters. Discover which threads work best for quilting tasks.
This Sewing School is for you! You can learn to sew with these easy to follow videos and articles. Perfect for beginners and those who want to brush up their sewing skills,
Lily Bowl and Plate Tutorial If you like beautiful home decor that's also practical and helpful to your sewing projects and accessories you will absolu ...
A drool-worthy way to make threading a needle easier.
I know, it’s been a while since my last sewing tips. (Click here for other basic sewing tips.) But many of you asked about the stitch that I used with this shirt. R
10 Essential Tips to Make Time for Creativity AND Achieve Your Goals from Samantha Dorn of Aqua Paisley Studios, quilt pattern designer
Laura McDowell Hopper shares her "why" in an interview with Kim Soper as part of this week's installment of The Creativity Project. 52 interviews in 52 weeks. Getting to the heart of "why" we quilt. Because we have so much to learn from one another as we follow our creative paths.
Earlier this month at our March NYC Metro MOD Quilt Guild meeting we introduced quick demos - 20-minute sessions with members teaching members techniques, tips, and tricks. An email requesting volunteers was sent out and our VP, Bernadette, requested someone demo Y-Seams, more specifically me! To demo Y-seams I've used an 8 point star (45° points) and I've put together some info here about working with angles around a centre point: The centre of anything has 360° around it - you can add as many pieces as you want around a point and they'll all join up perfectly as long as the angles of each all add up to 360°, English Paper Piecing works in the same way. Your quilting ruler often has basic quilting angles marked on it - 45°/60°/90° or you can use a protractor to really start playing with your angles. Check out large sized protractors in your local DIY store, they're often cheaper than identical tools sold specifically for quilters and artists. Moving on now to a step-by-step photo version of my Guild demo - created for our guild members to refer back to and shared here so you can use it too. Beginner's Guide To Sewing Y-Seams Rather than marking your fabrics as above it's so useful if you can simply use the markings on your sewing machine foot to tell you when to stop sewing. Sewing machine manufacturers know how much quilters love their 1/4 inches so most add markings or grooves to their patchwork/1/4" feet to make life easier for us. Take a look at your 1/4" foot - does yours have markings? If it doesn't you might want to treat yourself to a new foot for your machine that does, it saves you so much time and improves accuracy so could be a worthwhile investment. Aren't those Y-seams easy after all? I hope my beginner's guide makes you want to give Y-seams a go if you do let me know how you go on and share your work too I'd love to see it - Chris :D Featured on: Clicking on an image will take you to a new page of crafty goodness :) Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own. Click to follow me on Follow Linky Parties This post may be linked to some great Linky Parties, always a great source of inspiration too. If you click through to my 'Fave Linky Parties' page you can see where I like to share my work.
Learn to sew Y-Seams easy and accurately with Fresh Lemons Quilts
One of the ladies on my quilting forum has designed a system for holding up quilts to prevent drag when the quilt falls off the edge of the table, as any large quilt will do unless you have a HUGE …
Have you ever wondered how to sew like a pro? Get my top sewing tips that anyone can use when sewing home decor or personal items.
