Newsletter Archive
Sashiko - Japanese Quilts
11/18/2024
Today I want to introduce you to Sashiko, the ancient Japanese stitching process. As much as we like to think we in the US have a long standing quilting background, the Japanese technique of Sashiko has lasted for centuries, beginning in the Edo Era or early modern Feudal Society that prevailed from 1615-1868.
Aloha - Hawaiian Quilts
11/4/2024
One of the categories of quilts that I haven’t yet tried, but am fascinated by is the traditional Hawaiian quilts that are so distinctive and have such specific traditions.
The Play's the Thing
10/21/2024
Now that the kids are occupied in school and the weather is cooling down it’s a great time to consider making a fun, interactive quilt for the long winter months or as a Christmas gift.
News from PatternJam
10/7/2024
Today I have some exciting news that I hope will be useful to all of you creative folks. The patternjam.com website is revived and adding new features. Mike and Jaime Utley recently acquired the website and taken on the challenge of expanding the service provided with new blocks and new options.
Down At The Fair
9/16/2024
Last time I mentioned that I was off to Salt Lake City to judge quilts at the Utah State Fair. I took pictures of some examples that caught my attention.
The Wonderful World of Color
9/3/2024
Now that Summer is culturally officially at an end I am dragging my feet and wanting to hang on to the vibrant colors of my favorite flowers. Today I would like to discuss using all the bright colors in your quilts. Have I mentioned before that I LOVE bright colors, preferably together?
Strip Search
8/19/2024
Finding quick ways to create patchwork projects is a goal of most busy quilters today, and strip piecing is one of the most important techniques to achieve this. Using the speed piecing technique of strip piecing is a great way to create blocks – fast!
Stack & Whack Quilts
8/5/2024
I have lately encountered some quilters who are unacquainted with the concept of Stack and Whack or One Block Wonder quilts. Since this is such a unique and fascinating type of quilt that I thought it might be fun to discuss the method and thinking behind them.
Go BIG!
7/22/2024
Once in a while you have a piece of fabric with a design that is so appealing and unique that you don’t want to cut it all and lose the picture and just want to find a pattern to highlight this as a focal point of your whole quilt.
Sash it All
7/8/2024
Sashing is used between and around all of the blocks, and it serves to set the blocks apart for the purpose of highlighting each as an individual unit. Borders surround the grid of blocks and visually hold them together.
Three Cheers for the Red, White & Blue
6/18/2024
With summer coming on strong and two patriotic holidays just behind us and another soon on it’s way, I think it’s worth spending a little time discussing patriotic quilts. This is, however, an apology to any readers who aren’t from the USA, Britain, or any other countries that have a flag of a different color. Sorry!
Smile for the Camera!
6/3/2024
I am talking about photo quilts. These come up occasionally and there are usually questions about the best way to transfer photographs to fabric to incorporate into a quilt.
An Advisory Panel - (Using Printed Panels)
5/20/2024
One quicker way to make a quilt is to work with a printed panel instead of all pieced blocks. There are TONS of darling panels for every use and recipient and often you need to add something extra to expand the size or just to enhance the piece. Today I have several different quilts to illustrate some possibilities.
Mixin' it Up - Mixed Media Quilts
5/7/2024
As a judge for the Utah State Fair I have been privileged to be able to see a huge variety of different kinds of quilts, patterns, designs, hand and machine quilting, and techniques. One category which is always interesting to me is that of “Mixed Media”. This group can contain anything from embroidery, applied trims and beads, small trinkets added for interest, or unusual “fabrics” and materials.
On the Scrap Heap?
4/22/2024
I don’t know about everyone else, but I have a habit of accumulating massive amounts of scraps. I’m cheap and just can’t stand to throw out even the tiniest scrap. My mother used to say she was “Mighty savin’” but when you are the product of depression era thrift it’s totally understandable.
We Gather Together
4/8/2024
As we all know, quilting gives us something of an instant community. Whether you are a guild person or not, you find connections with other quilters almost anywhere you go. Sitting in a waiting room or meeting someone new at church, you are bound to find someone who understands the draw of cutting up fabric and sewing it back together. People who don’t get it REALLY don’t get it.
I'm done with my Quilt Top - Now what do I do?
3/25/2024
There are obviously several options: 1 - Tie with yarn or floss 2 - Hand Quilt 3 - Quilt yourself on a Domestic Machine 4 - Take to a Longarm Quilter 5 - Fold, shove onto a shelf, close door and start a new project
Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or do Without
3/11/2024
Occasionally I have a quilt or two that could use a bit of repair or someone reaches out to me to restore or rehab a favorite quilt for them. I do not presume to be a quilt RESTORATION specialist, which requires a background in period specific fabrics and techniques. I am more comfortable in quilt REPAIR or RECOVERY; making a quilt stabilized to discourage additional damage or adding appropriate fabrics to allow for more years of loving use.
Now, the Rest of the Story...
2/26/2024
When we left the adventure of the quilt I was planning I had the fabrics assembled and had a pattern in mind. I’m sharing the Whole Story because I think you might identify with my journey.
The Perfect Quilt - Choosing Your Fabrics
2/12/2024
How Do I START? One of the first questions I have been asked every time I have taught a beginning quilt class is how to start assembling fabrics to use for the different sampler blocks to end up with a group of matching pieces that will form the basis of a quilt.
Quilts for Toddlers
1/29/2024
Last month I talked about making baby quilts. As much fun as that is, the time comes when that cuddly baby grows up to be a rambunctious toddler and a new “big boy/girl” bed is in order and the darling baby quilt is too small.
Let the Sunshine In - Please!
1/15/2024
This week with most of the country experiencing harsh winter conditions I think we ought to take a look at fun quilts that provide some sunshine, or at least a preview of better weather to come.
Fun with Baby Quilts
1/2/2024
There are few events that get quilters more excited than news of a new baby coming. We start thinking of themes, colors, styles and have so many different ways to go. Do the parents want a specific character or theme? Bright colors, neutrals, or black and white? A traditional pattern, something modern, a panel? SO many choices.Baby Quilts
Tee Shirt Quilts
12/18/2023
This week I’ve been assembling the top for a tee shirt quilt. My cute sister in law spent her entire teaching career at the same elementary school and, now that she is retired she wants to have memories of all those students and experiences.
Quilting as Family Heritage and History
12/4/2023
I have been sorting through a few things as I try to organize the remnants of our life that we deemed too important to jettison as we moved into a space nearly half the size of the houses we’ve lived in before. A large section of the storage is occupied by several quilts that are huge reminders of several people that we love.