05
Jul
Hello friends! Its been a busy summer here for me as I've been preparing to leave for Africa with Mothers Without Borders—TOMORROW! I've also been house hunting, working on new patterns, and trying to keep up with all the lovely quilts I receive every day. With all of this stuff going on, I'm very grateful I was able to squeeze in a bit of leisure-sewing with this beautiful new fabric collection from Kelly Parker Smith called Windsor Garden by Sweet Bee Designs.
Next up, I'm going to share some more sneak peaks of the two new patterns that will be released very soon. I just couldn't wait! I haven't quite set a release date yet, but it will be very soon after I return from Africa. If you sign up for my newsletter, you'll be the first to know.
First, here it is my first-ever quilt pattern Second Star. This quilt was designed...
14
Apr
I am so excited to be able to participate in Stacey's book tour for her new book Child's Play Quilts. This book is absolutely darling, and jam-packed with a huge variety of quilt ideas. There are traditionally-pieced quilts and appliqué quilt patterns. There are also tips for fabric sorting, choosing fabric, and working with your own stash.
I got the chance to make a portion of this darling Apple Blossom quilt from the book:
I chose to use up some Tula Pink scraps from her Eden Fabric Collection. I love the traditional feel of this quilt and can't wait until I have time to make a full version of this great timeless design. Stacey's instructions are perfect for quick piecing methods, so you'll be able to put it together fast!
I added this mini quilt to my mini gallery wall and am excited that I have my April #12minisin12months Mini quilt completed...
05
Apr
As I prepare to begin any sewing project, I always make sure to start with a few important things:
(1) Some good fabric, (2) good cutting tools (which I shared more about in my last post), and (3) some good thread, and a great needle. In this post, I want to focus on my favorite types of thread and needles.
I have used many kinds of thread over the years, and many of them have been very good. However, there is one thread that I’ve come back to over and over again. I know that I might be biased, since this company is headquartered in my neck of the woods—Saint George, Utah. Nonetheless, I’ve been a big fan of Superior Threads for the past 10+ years. I’m particularly fond of the So Fine! #50 thread line. They have more thread lines to choose from than I care to try and count,...
02
Apr
Hey there, happy Easter to you! I hope you enjoyed time with your family and that you felt peace. It was a beautiful spring day here in Utah, and I enjoyed some quality with my family.
One of the questions I get most often is whether I offer custom quilting, edge-to-edge quilting, or both. I want to spend a bit of time clarifying the difference between these two types of quilting and the pros and cons of each. I'll also briefly explain what role I can play in process of finishing your quilt.
Edge-to-Edge quilting entails a single design that covers the entire quilt top. It is sometimes referred to as an all-over design as well. An edge-to-edge design can be very intricate and even span the entire width of your quilt, but it repeats the same design for each row. This is most definitely the most affordable type of quilting,...
01
Apr
https://youtu.be/_9naK08bqxI
01
Apr
One of the most common problems that happens with quilts is inaccurate measurements and cutting. This keeps the seams from lining up exactly and results in crooked lines and uneven angles, which take away from the integrity of the quilt’s design. It can also cause problems in the quilting process, leaving tucks and folds in the fabric. Here are 6 tips to improve your cutting accuracy, so that your quilts will come out looking prim and precise. Three of the tips are for selecting your notions, and the other three are for the process of actually cutting your fabric.
Get a great rotary cutter. This will ensure that your cutter doesn’t “skip” as you make your cuts. I am particularly fond of the Splash rotary cutters. (I am guilty of owning three, with the fourth on its way. Have you seen the new pink ones?!) Anyway, I love the...
24
Mar
https://youtu.be/6xIVzdmlo1g
13
Mar
The bright blossoms and blooming buds of springtime always feel so refreshing and invigorating to me. They remind me of new beginnings, of starting over with a clean slate. I’ve gained a new appreciation for this feeling since I’ve moved to Utah County, where there’s actually snow (I’m originally from Saint George, Utah, where there’s rarely ever snow)! The snow melts, and green grass and colorful blossoms take its place. As I ponder the newness and purity of spring, I am reminded of something else that’s pure and clean—babies!
I’ve mentioned in previous posts that my pattern—Olivia’s Baskets—is named after my second niece (the pattern for my first niece Truvy will be in the works later this year). For me, these baskets represent the freshness and stillness of a new baby and a dewy Spring morning. When I designed this pattern, I wanted to create something that was useful and simple...
25
Feb
*This post was inspired by How to Sew.
Vinyl can be a really useful material to use for a bunch of different types of projects, like my Hello Pouches pattern. Since it's see-through, the vinyl allows you to see inside the pouch without actually opening. This is only one of the many applications of vinyl in projects.
However, sewing with vinyl can be tricky because it sticks to your pressing foot. It's also much thicker than regular fabric, and it doesn't maneuver the same, either. Sometimes, this means broken needles if you don't take the right precautions. Here are 4 tips you can use to sew with vinyl:
1. Use a size 90 needle. Since vinyl is so much thicker and less pliable than normal fabric, it requires a special needle. Otherwise, you'll end up with a bunch of broken needles and an unfinished project. A thicker needle (specifically size 90) will do the...
17
Feb
I was more than thrilled when Shayla from Sassafras Lane asked if I would participate in her Foundations Fabric Blog Tour. Foundation is a fabric line designed by Shayla for Windham Fabrics with the perfect rainbow palette.
Ever since I released my Hello Pouches pattern I have wanted to do a little improv piecing work on the base of the pouches. These fabrics gave me the perfect opportunity. I especially loved quilting my pouches with these prints. Each hand drawn print created the most perfect quilting lines to follow.
I accented the rainbow patchwork with mini pipping which highlighted the colors so nicely.
I am also hosting a Sew-A-Long through the year of 2018. #12minisin12months A mission to create more mini quilts for my sewing space while connecting to other creatives and improving and learning new skills. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to create my February Mini from this Foundation fabric. Here...
08
Feb
I'm so excited to have you all along for this mini creative journey this year. I have already been so inspired by your incredible mini quilts! Part of the reason why I wanted to plan this mini quilt sew along was to share simple tips to help improve your quilting and sewing skills. For this first "tips and techniques" post, I want to go over how to choose fabric for your mini quilt projects.
Choosing your fabric is, in my opinion, one of the very best parts of any project! Whether you're at the quilt shop or digging through your fabric stash or scrap bin, you are working with a fresh canvas and taking the first step in bringing a new creation to life. Have fun picking your colors, prints, and textures for your creation!
Here are my four tips:
Choose high-quality fabric. This may sound obvious, but there is a difference...
27
Jan
Hello quilty friends,
I've outlined below what tips I'm going to cover this year as part of my resolution to create more often with mini quilts. Each month, as I post new tips, I'll link to the post from this page, so you can always come back to this page if you need help finding a post.
January: Introduction
February: Choosing fabrics
March: Cutting tips
April: Needles and thread
May: Piecing & pressing tips
June: Quilting tips
July: Binding Tips
August: Pattern favorites
September: Paper piecing tips
October: English Paper piecing tips
November: Display
December: Final post
I want to give special thanks to the generous sponsors of this sew-along—they are the reason I have so many great items to give away to you every month! You can look forward to fabulous giveaways from:
Lella Boutique
Sassafrass Lane
Moda Fabrics
Quilters Dream Batting
Hobbs Batting
Patterns By Annie
Soak Wash
Superior Threads
Cluck Cluck Sew
Creative Grids
Clover
Jaybird Quilts
Thimble Blossoms
Riley Blake Designs
