Quilting By Design

     Today’s topic is a rehash of the “Pay It Forward” article that I suggested for you to read yesterday!
     The gist of the concept of paying it forward regarding quilting blogs is simple, however I would like to change this one up just a little. You read someone’s blog (like this one!), post a comment, then the author of the blog that you posted in then turns around and posts in someone else’s quilting blog (sample blogs given below). This simple concept keeps the blogging lists active. In fact, it is recommended that you post in more than one blog.
     Now, you may be wondering how to find other quilting blogs to read. Well, I am going to begin posting my recommendations for quilting blogs at the bottom of each article that I write, starting today! If you have a quilting blog and it is not listed below, you may submit it to me and I will review it for possible inclusion in my blog list.
     Just a few minutes out of your day and you can glean a lot of useful information!

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QUILTING BLOGS!

• Terry’s Quilting Blog
• Debi Quilts
• Jan’s Quilting Blog
• With Heart and Hands; A Quilting Journey
(Submit your blog to me for possible consideration!)

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Quilting By Design Site Map.
Quilting By Design Site Schedule.
Original published by Terry Crawford.

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quilting, quilts, quilt blogs, quilting blogs

Twinkle, Twinkle

     Well, folks, I am getting back on my feet and recovering nicely, so it is time to begin writing once again! I have really missed this and hope you have, too.
     Today I have a gorgeous little project for you! The quilt pattern is called, “Twinkle Twinkle” and is provided by Quilting Passion and was designed by me a few years ago. Talk about quick and simple, then throw in a surprising result and you have the perfect project for last minute quilt.
     There are already a couple of sample quilts made from this pattern shown at the bottom of the pattern page and I also just received another photo a day or so ago that will be uploading sometime this coming weekend.
     Please take a look and see if it may be something you are interested in!

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Quilting By Design Site Map.
Quilting By Design Site Schedule.
Original pattern first published by Terry Crawford on Quilting Passion.

quilting, quilts, Quilting By Design, Quilting Passion

Centennial Stitches,
Oklahoma History in Quilts


     What do Sam Walton, Will Rogers, Wiley Post, Willard Stone, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Kate Barnard, Carrie Nation, Alfalfa Bill Murray, Frank Phillips, and John Wayne have in common? Their stories and quilts are included in the book, “Centennial Stitches–Oklahoma History in Quilts”, written by Judy Howard of Buckboard Quilts.
     Judy Howard collects, studies, buys, sells, makes, and honors quilts. As a dealer of quilts, Judy is always on the lookout for a new one to join her ranks. And did I forget to mention that Judy also writes about quilts?
     The full-color, hardcover, coffee table gift book is available in this limited collectors edition for $39.95. It contains the eighty centennial quilt contest winners with stories, along with fifty-six stories of other Oklahoma historic quilts and thirty-two pages of a sampling of 1800’s cherished legacy quilt photos that would have traveled into Oklahoma in covered wagons prior to statehood. “Centennial Stitches” inspires and entertains as it transports you into the lives and hearts of pioneer and contemporary women. This book celebrates the 100th birthday of Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s Centennial is November 16th, 2007. The Downtown Cushing Main Street program proudly presents Judy Howard’s collection of Centennial Oklahoma art quilts July, 6 - 8 in Downtown Cushing. Exact location and times to be announced. An admission fee of $3 will be charged.
     On a side note, there is an entry in the book made by an officer of my local quilt guild, The Pryor Patchers. In this entry, Susan Hatchette interviewed Mrs. Willard Stone. Many of you may have heard of Willard Stone; a famous Native American sculptor that was born in 1916 on a rocky hillside farm east of Locust Grove, Oklahoma.
     ”Centennial Stitches” would make a great purchase even if you are not a quilter! It is full of interesting stories and the photographs are amazing. This book is sure to capture the interest of anyone seeing it laying atop a table or on a shelf beneath an end-table.
     All book profits go to non-profit groups making charity quilts.

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Quilting By Design Site Map.
Quilting By Design Site Schedule.
Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, Quilting By Design, Quilting Passion, Judy Howard, Centennial Stitches

QUILT SHOWS ON THE INTERNET

     What is right up there with sliced bread? Watching quilt shows that you used to see only on television on the Internet! These shows are broadcast 24/7 and if you are an insomniac, like me, then this is like the icing on the cake.
     It seems as though all of the television stations, including cable and satellite, are slowly removing anything that even remotely resembles a quilting show these days. The only quilting shows available in my area right now are found on the DIY Network and my local PBS station. And that is it in a nutshell! Talk about withdrawals; when HGTV quit airing Simply Quilts, I thought my daily “fix” for quilting vicariously was gone for good. But, thank goodness for the Internet! It may have its pitfalls, but it also has its blessings!
     This brief article is not intended to review each of these in detail; it is merely intended to introduce you to some of the online quilt-show resources that are currently available, so please sit back, click a link, then enjoy!

• Kaye Wood Internet TV,
• The Quilt Show,
• Quilter’s News Network,
• Quilters TV (added 05/16/07),
• Simply Quilts Online.

     If you are aware of additional Internet quilting show resources, please share them in the Comments!

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Quilting By Design Site Map.
An original article by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, quilt shows, internet quilt shows

60° Triangle, by CREATIVE GRIDS

CREATIVE GRIDS is not just another company that makes acrylic rulers. This company, founded by Sheila Waterfield of Leicester, England in 1989, distinguishes itself from others by developing rulers with the non-slip, opaque gripper dots. Creative Grids® rulers are sold around the world and recommended by well-known quilting experts and teachers. Each ruler features embedded gripper dots and easy-to-read black markings. The company carries a large variety of products and offers an online demo, which requires that Macromedia Flash Player be installed.

This review concentrates on one ruler: The 60° triangle. The ruler, product CGRT60, retails for $15.50 US$ (even though I only paid $14.50 for mine at a local quilt shop) and the package contains one non-slip triangular acrylic ruler, that makes up to (in 1/4″ increments) an 8″ finished size, and step-by-step laminated instructions written by Lynne Edwards. Also included in the package is a cardstock image, actual size, of the triangular ruler that can be cut out and used as a template (even though there is no reference to this in the package).      Lynne Edwards is an internationally known quilt designer, teacher, and author. Lynne has exhibited many of her own works in galleries, museums, and festivals including the National Crafts Council Gallery in London, Suffolk Craft Society Gallery in East Anglis, and International Quilt Association Festivals in Houston, Chicago, Netherlands, Germany, and Austria. Lynne has published numerous books and articles. She has given demonstrations of Creative Grids® at quilt shows throughout the world. The patterns she has created for Creative Grids® illustrate how amazingly simple these quilt rulers are to use that can yield results!      MY REVIEW: The Good - The laminate instructions are on one sheet, front and back, and give fairly good directions on cutting both 30° and 60° triangles (the larger triangle instructions are easier to understand). The real benefits of this gadget are in the nice easy-to-read black printed surface and the embedded grippers! Another plus for this acrylic ruler is that the tip is pre-cut off of the template, which makes cutting the triangles a snap, especially if you are cutting from strips! The Bad - On the downside, in my opinion, the instructions could be enhanced to include more about how to put the blocks together into a quilt after they have been sewn. Personally, I feel it leaves the user hanging, especially if you are not a “math person”, able to figure out the angles and how to sew them together yourself.        MY CONCLUSION: If thinking about purchasing this specific product (note that I am only reviewing the triangle), be prepared to handle a fair amount of calculations and quilt design yourself. On the other hand, if one is experienced in working with triangles and/or has very good math skills and/or does not mind doing some legwork in learning, it is an excellent gadget!        Please feel free to leave your comments, especially if you have used this gadget or if you plan on purchasing it!

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Quilting By Design Site Map.
Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, Creative Grids, Sheila Waterfield, Lynne Edwards

SUDOKU QUILTS

     Sudoku puzzles have been around for quite a few years; the modern version invented by Howard Garns in 1979 and published as “Number Place” in Dell Magazines. These logic puzzles became very popular in Japan in 1986, then became an international craze in 2005.
     So, what are these unique and addictive puzzles? They are logic-based puzzles that center around the placement of the numbers 1 to 9. These numbers are laid out in a 9×9 grid, made up of three 3×3 grids, with no number repeating itself in any 3×3 grid, or on any one line, or in any one column. To put this into “quilting” language, the grid is set up like a nine-patch block! In each “block” are the numbers 1 to 9, too (visualize this as nine different fabrics or colors). So, in order to solve this puzzle (which the person providing the puzzle always gives a partial piece of the puzzle to get one started), close attention needs to be paid to each 3×3 grid, and each row (9 squares wide) and each column (also 9 squares). Just as the numbers cannot be repeated in the 3×3 grid, row, or column, nor can the fabrics/colors be repeated in the 3×3 grid, row, column. Clear as mud? Let me illustrate this with a bright, cheery Sudoku quilt made by Nina from Iowa, which she donated to the “Comforting Virginia” Project this week via the Quilting Passion Forum. Nina used a finished puzzle as the pattern to where to place the colors in this gorgeous quilt.

     The first thing to notice about this type of quilt is that it is easily recognizable as a large nine-patch. Each 3×3 block is separated in this quilt by a thin black sashing (1″ strips), distinguishing the quilt even more. Black is a long-time standard that has been used in puzzles, first beginning with crosswords, however, any color sashing can be used… or no sashing at all. In this quilt, however, the sashing really highlights the color and fabric selections that Nina has used.
     The second thing you might notice is that each 3×3 block consists of nine different colors and/or fabrics. After studying one of the 3×3 grids, then notice that the other eight blocks are entirely different, each from the other, so that all nine blocks in the quilt are unique in color placement. This not only holds true for each block, it also then follows to hold true for each row and each column. Nina did not really pay attention when assigning her fabrics/colors to each number. She states, “I just went for it, not caring about it until it was done”.
     How does one go about planning a Sudoku Quilt? There are several ways to accomplish this, including, but not limited to:

Locate a quilt and substitute your own colors/fabrics in place of the ones in the sample you find.

Purchase a Sudoku Puzzle book and select any one of a number of puzzles. I like this option the best because your quilt can range from “easy” to “very difficult”, because puzzles are published in different levels of complexity.

Purchase a Sudoku Quilt pattern. These are becoming so popular now that there are patterns, and even entire books, devoted to these quilts.
 
     A few resources for finding Sudoku Quilt patterns at this time include:

• Sudoku Quilts by Cyndi Hershey,
• Quick Quilts Magazine,
• Online Sudoku Puzzles.

 
     If you have made a Sudoku Quilt, please share your experience and/or photo with us? Or if you are interested in learning more, please comment below and I shall try to provide you with more information!

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Quilting By Design Site Map.
Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, sudoku, sudoku quilts, Su Doku

NECKTIES

     I have seen several different patterns and layouts for necktie quilts, ranging from using antique ties to finding used ones here and there, all the way to purchasing brand-spanking new ones. But, just when I thought I had seen it all (well, most of it, anyway), along comes several quick projects that absolutely captured my full attention!

     While watching the DIY Network on Tuesday of this week, one of the regularly scheduled programs, Uncommon Threads, featured crafting with neckties. Talk about an eye-opener! As soon as the show opened and the featured projects put on the screen, I was glued to the tube, and with that said, there are three (3) projects I would like to highlight. For more details, including instructions and supplies needed, regarding each project, please refer to the DIY Network site.

     The first project is an A-line-type skirt that simply rocked. The hemline was staggered and the side seam of the skirt was fastened with grommets and ribbon. The waistband was made from, imagine this, a necktie! I was most impressed with this project, which is why I have it listed first.

     The second project, embroidering neckties, is one that proved interesting after it began. By that, I mean that at first, I did not think it would be anything new that I had not already seen. But, the semi-interesting part is the televised show giving me the notion that I could actually make my own neckties from any fabric of my own choosing! How cool is that! And just for the record, I would think that they could come up with a better appliqué than the one demonstrated!

     The third project was my least favorite, however, I can easily see how this one would really appeal to young people! This project, a necktie wrist cuff, seemed to be a snap to make!

     I do not know about you, but if I were in the mood to make one of these, the skirt would win, hands down! How about you?

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Quilting By Design Site Map.
An original article from Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, neckties, neck ties, wrist cuffs, antique neckties, vintage neckties, DIY Network, Uncommon Threads

Watercolor Quilts

Monet Painting

Watercolor quilts are quilts that are made from many small squares, usually 1" to 2".  These quilts are usually considered in the artistic arena and favor the impressionism movement.  They have become quite popular over the past few years and each quilt is truly unique, even if using the same fabric selections and pattern.      Watercolor quilting can easily be learned!  There are many sites that provide helpful instructions in creating these impressionist quilts.

There are quite a few options available when making a watercolor quilt, including, but not limited to:  1)  A simple design using light/dark as the focal point, 2) A more complex design using different fabrics to create a secondary pattern, 3)  An even more complex design using a combination of the first two, or 4) A design, either simple or complex, used in combination with appliqué to create a layered effect.      Often times, many watercolor quilts are made using either floral fabrics and/or with a floral theme. This seems to be the standard, probably because of the Paris-based artists in Europe in the 19th century and the types of paintings they expertly brushed onto canvas.      Many sites offer patterns for watercolor quilts.  A few of the more well-known sites include: Connecting Threads, Whims, Mostly Quilts, Lenore Crawford, That Patchwork Place, Deanna Spingola Designs, Everything Quilts, Keepsake Quilting, Cathouse Quilts.      Sites that share photographs of watercolor quilts include: Forget Me Not Studio, Mostly Quilts, Lenore Crawford, A Watercolor Vest, Strip-Pieced Watercolor Gallery 1, Strip-Pieced Watercolor Gallery 2, Deanna Spingola’s Personal Gallery.      A few books with watercolor patterns and instructions include: Watercolor Quilts, Strip-Pieced Watercolor Magic, More Strip-Pieced Watercolor Magic, Quick Watercolor Quilts:  The Fuse, Fold, and Stitch Method.      Hopefully, this is enough information regarding watercolor quilts to whet your appetite!      Have you made any watercolor quilts that you would like to tell about, and possibly share a photograph?  If so, please comment in the area provided at the end of this article!

Quilting By Design Site Map.
Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, watercolor quilts

QuiltPox.com

     This is the first Web site review that I have done and, in my opinion, it would be very difficult to find another site that equals the quality and potential that Quilt Pox has to offer.
     Quilt Pox is owned and completely maintained by Kimberly Crapsey, a very talented and incredible (not to mention highly intelligent) young woman!
     Grab a cup of coffee, hot tea, or your favorite beverage, then sit back and relax as you enjoy a personal interview into the life of Kimberly!
     
TERRY: Kimberly, how did you get started quilting and when?
KIMBERLY: Well, the honest truth is that I started quilting when I was about 15 years old and bought a package of 6″ squares from the local variety store and sewed them all together. I had always been fascinated with quilts, even though we had none in our family. Well, I had a top and no idea what to do after that. Fast forward about 16 years, in 2000 (that original top was later used by a brother as a oil cloth when I went away to college and left it behind!) I really got the quilting bug. A girl I worked with made some simple quilts for a few colleagues and I begged her to show me how. With basic instructions, and a trip to Joann’s, the quilting bug was born in me. I had no idea what the heck I was doing back then, but I learned quickly and absorbed everything I could. As I tend to not stick with things, I only bought a cheap Brother sewing machine, which I quickly broke and then evolved to my first mechanical Viking. Fast forward 7 years and I now have a Husqvarna Viking Lily 555, a Brother PQ1500, and a Bernina 180e.
TERRY: I have seen your hand-dyed fabrics both online and in person. They are absolutely gorgeous! What caused you to begin hand-dyeing your own fabrics?
KIMBERLY: While a member of a different quilting forum, one member shared some of her hand dyed fabrics. I had already fallen in love with Bali hand dyes and batiks, by now having graduated to mostly quilt shop only fabric. I was so taken with the hand dyes, that I had to learn myself. So, I got a starter kit from Dharma Trading, and that was all it took. My kitchen isn’t set up well for dyeing now so I don’t get in as much as I would like, but I love having the opportunity to dye my own color backings.
ADDITONAL NOTE: Kimberly taught a hand-dyeing class on QPU earlier this year and the results were awesome!
TERRY: Do you have any current projects that you are working on?
KIMBERLY: Wow, too many. I have started several and not gotten far, among them, a folded flower wallhanging from Rebecca Wat’s book. I also have a hexagon vest in the works using the Quilt Patis. Of course, both of these are labor-hand intensive. Then I have 3 different block swaps that I have participated in that need to be sewn together and quilted. That doesn’t include the ideas in my head. They never end.
TERRY: How do you fit quilting and your Web site into your very busy schedule?
KIMBERLY: Well, that is the hard part. I was spoiled, in a way, by working at a help desk, graveyard shift, for many years. I worked 3 - 12 hour shifts so not only did I have time to work on my site from work, but I had lots of days off to work on quilts. Now that I am doing a real 9-5er, I don’t have nearly enough time, and can’t work on my site from work. I still try to add something new at least once a month or so, even if it is only a new tip or quilting term.
TERRY: How did you come up with the name, “Quilt Pox”, and what does it mean?
KIMBERLY: Well, almost as soon as quilting “stuck” with me, I knew being a geekette that I would need a website. Up to this point, I had several playful for me sites. So, when I was coming up with names, many were taken. Then I remembered hearing this term “quiltpox” to describe what happens when quilters get addicted. Surely that name was already taken? But, nope, it was mine for the having. I was so thrilled. What was even more shocking was about 5 months later when I found a LQS (Local Quilt Shop) in my area named “Quilt Pox Shoppe.” They have now changed their name, but it was a funny coincidence because I became friends with the owners and even helped them with their website.
TERRY: I have been to your site numerous times and I know that you definitely have the bragging rights to something unique. Will you share with our readers what that is?
KIMBERLY: My quilter’s dictionary. It is the largest that I have found on the web. Eventually I would like to move this to a database and have the search function work better but it is quite extensive. I spent many months working on that and I am happy to say that I knew about 75% of them just from my own knowledge and education.
TERRY: Your site continues to grow! What else does it offer?
KIMBERLY: Well, I have quite a number of free patterns. My most popular are Hugs & Kisses (for baby quilts) and the Quick ‘N Easy Wallet. Those two patterns alone get as many hits as all of the others combined. I have lost track of how many sites link to them now. I also have some tools and how-to’s, including beginning dyeing session. I also host a challenge twice a year in conjunction with Quilting Passion Forum, so those are on the site as well. I also have a place for readers to leave their favorite tips, and a large quilting dictionary.
TERRY: What are your future plans for Quilt Pox?
KIMBERLY: I would like to add a few more patterns that I have half-written up, and I have one major addition coming as soon as I get the code written. That will be a surprise.

     Well, I can certainly say that I am definitely looking forward to Kimberly’s “surprise”, as you probably are now, too. I believe that if you will take a few minutes to visit her site, you will find a lot of valuable information, as well as eye candy for your quilter’s soul!

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Quilting By Design Site Map.
Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, quilt pox

Do you love a good mystery? Do you love to quilt? If the answer to both questions is a resounding “YES”, then I have the perfect Web site for you!

First, let me define what a Mystery Quilt is. A Mystery Quilt is a quilting project that remains a mystery up until the quilt is finished or until the participants figure it out (much to the author’s dismay).      Participants are given instructional “clues” and have no idea what the outcome is going to be. It is usually a small, fairly easy project that is completed in stages over an extended period of time, the time determined by the author of the mystery and usually dependent upon several factors, discussed below. Most often, participants are informed as to the approximate final sizes and also the theme, if there is one.      Occasionally, mysteries may extend over a longer period of time, however a year is the maximum time to conduct and/or participant in one (in my opinion). The only instance where I would conduct a mystery of a great length, such as 12 months, would be for a full size quilt, and it would have to be a spectacular design, at that. A lot of people do not like to commit to a long-term mystery due to several reasons, most of which I suspect you can guess.      As mentioned above, there are a few factors that might influence the length of time a mystery would span. The amount of “free” time the author may have to orchestrate it. The vast majority of the time, a mystery is conducted without any type of payment from the participants. In other words, the mystery is provided freely by the author. Since this is the case, one must understand going into it that the installments (the releases of new instructions) depend upon the the author’s time. Several thoughts on this. First, the author of the mystery should make absolutely certain before beginning a mystery that he/she has plenty of time to conduct the mystery in a timely manner. Second, the participants should understand that life does happen, even to authors, and that there may be some delay in finishing the mystery. A good author will keep participants updated as to the status of future installments. The complexity of the pattern. This factor should be self-explanatory! The more complex the pattern, the longer it may take to complete the mystery. The time of year. The season (or seasons) a mystery is going to span is all-important, as well. Mysteries are typically not conducted over the holiday season, beginning Thanksgiving and going past Christmas, beyond the New Year. These seasons are simply too busy with real life. Mysteries may also experience difficulty in getting participation if it is during the summer.      In summary, mysteries are best when conducted during “dead” times during the year, such as winter. They also seem to have better participation if they are conducted over a shorter span of time (two months or less) and have options (MQ 15, 16, and 17 show versatility because they are all made from the same base pattern, but each look totally different when completed!) for the participants to choose from. I have also discovered that the more information (without revealing the outcome) that can be given prior to beginning, the better, such as: Theme, Options, Color Suggestions, Size, Time To Complete, Complexity, etc.      If a mystery is announced as a short, quick project, that does not necessarily mean that it is not going to be appealing. A good mystery author can provide a truly unique pattern that gives the participants options, such as turning it from a wallhanging into a tablerunner or expanding it into a full quilt, etc. There are many times when a pattern is simple to make, yet looks like the quilter spent a lot more time on it than actually happened.      An author of a mystery should attempt to keep the mystery suspenseful by mixing it up and postponing the “guessing” for as long as possible. The installments of a mystery should never be given in the order that is seen in the finished design. For instance, say that a wallhanging is going to have nine (9) blocks and the layout is similar to a nine-patch. Instead of giving the installments in order, from left to right and top to bottom, mix it up. Keep the participants guessing!!!!      If you are ready for a good mystery, check out the ones on Quilting Passion and the other sites listed below. Each have concluded on Quilting Passion, however the majority of them remain online. Also, keep a watchful eye out in the Quilting Passion eNews or the Quilting Passion Mystery Quilt Notifications for the announcements of new mysteries.      The Quilting Passion Gallery also contains many photographs of finished mystery quilts; this should give you an idea of the types (and wide variety) of patterns used. Since many authors of mystery quilts do not charge a fee, I can say with much enthusiasm that photographs are gratefully appreciated. Seeing finished projects from mystery quilts that I have conducted helps give me incentive to keep providing them! Mystery Quilt 19 is slated on Quilting Passion for sometime this summer.      Other Mystery Quilt Web sites include: WWQP The Quilted Snail Electric Quilt Mysteries Teena’s Patchwork & Embroidery Anne’s Mystery Quilts            Mystery Quilts are fun! If you have never played in one, then find one and join!

Quilting By Design Site Map.
Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, mystery quilts

	Jan Krentz is an expert quiltmaker, designer, author, and teacher with a style that is truly unique. Jan’s talents shine in two (2) areas, specifically: Color selection and technical skill. Jan began quilting in 1973 and lives in California. Her enthusiasm is contagious!
Talk about taking Lone Star Quilts to a new level; Jan Krentz does it, and then some. Her work is superbly designed and crafted and the perspective that she shares in this book gives this type of quilt new dimension. Jan’s writing style allows almost every quilter that has average sewing and cutting skills to easily understand how to create this classic quilt, and the fact that she includes “extras” gives the quilts a fresh, new, updated look that makes them appear to be much more difficult to piece than they actually are.
Included in this book are: Six (6) colorful and beautiful projects, Time-saving rotary cutting tips to speed the process, Creative additions to the projects, such as: “Designer diamonds” (fussy cutting your fabric to get them) and spectacular appliqué patterns, Everything you need to know about making Lone Star Quilts; from start to finish and also from the most simplistic, to fantastic quilts that are enough eye candy to last you for awhile, A gallery of photographed, finished quilts made using the included project patterns. These photos should provide enough inspiration to get you going!
If this article has sparked an interest in you, then this book would be a good investment. Bring Jan and her expertise into your home and allow her to guide you step-by-step through the projects. This book would even make a wonderful coffee table book!

Quilting By Design Site Map.
Original article published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.

quilting, quilts, lone star quilts, jan krentz, krentz, lone star

     Gardening is another hobby of mine. Spring has sprung and I am sure that spring fever has hit quite a few of you! I know it has hit me and I can hardly wait to begin gardening. I love to plant flowers, bushes, trees, and vegetables. Each year, my yard gets larger and larger!
     Did you know that you can still “grow” a garden even if are not a gardener? How? By quilting one!
     Here are a few ideas and/or resources to get you going. If patterns are offered on any of the links below, please adhere to the copyright of the owner!

Almost A Flower Garden, by McCall’s Quilting.

Appliqué Flower, McCall’s Quilting.

Free Garden Quilt Patterns from Victoriana Quilt Designs.

Free Patterns, by CompuQuilt.

Appliquéd Flower Quilt, by Quilting Passion.

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quilting, garden quilts, quilts

What is paper-piecing? In a nutshell, paper-piecing is a technique used to sew blocks together using a sewing machine (set on a very small stitch) and plain paper (copy/typing paper). Blocks that have many pieces, or a lot of points, or even gentle curves, can be constructed with a degree of accuracy that is impressive to even the most highly skilled quilter. This is also an excellent way to use up smaller scraps of fabric that you never dreamed possible to use.      How does paper-piecing differ from foundation piecing? Traditionally, paper-piecing uses paper as the foundation to sew your pieces of fabric to, while foundation piecing uses a fabric foundation (usually muslin). There are advantages and disadvantages to each. The primary advantage of using paper is that it is removable and less bulky than sewing onto a muslin-type foundation. On the other hand, this advantage is also a major disadvantage in that the paper removal is time-consuming, tedious, and just plain messy (tiny bits of paper all over the place!). The primary advantage of a foundation pieced block is that it is faster because you do not have to remove anything when the block is finished. The major disadvantage is that the extra layer of fabric adds bulk to the quilt. Regardless of which you prefer, the stitching technique used is basically the same as you sew your block together.      There are many free patterns to be found on the Internet and also an abundance of books available for purchase. One of the earliest quilters to jump on board the paper-piecing train was Carol Doak, often thought of as the queen of paper-piecing. Ms. Doak perfected the technique, taking it to a new level of accurate piecing, and has created some stunning patterns and quilts. Ms. Doak is not only a talented designer; she is also a superb teacher, so if you ever have the opportunity to attend one of her workshops/seminars, do not let it pass you by! Carol also has a new DVD, Carol Doak Teaches You to Paper Piece, in which she shows you step-by-step the entire paper-piecing process.      Current popular books include: Piecing Workshop by Ruth B. McDowell, Mastering Precision Piecing by Sally Collins, The Experts Guide to Foundation Piecing by Jane Hall, Painless Paper-Piecing by Marjorie Rhine, and Piece by Piece by Nancy Wong Spindler.
Here are a few Web sites with valuable information and/or free patterns and projects to get you started: Cristine Thresh’s Paper Piecing Primer English Paper Piecing Mini Salt Lake Temple: Free Beginner’s Paper-Piecing Project Practice Paper-Piecing Quilt Seeds’ Free Paper-Piecing Tutorials Quilting Passion Paper-Piecing Patterns World Wide Quilting Page Foundation Block Piecing Tutorial      One of the most awesome aspects of paper-piecing/foundation-piecing is that it allows quilters to be extremely precise in their measurements, yielding practically perfect blocks every time! This is ideal for small blocks, but can be used for any size block you choose. Quilting By Design Site Map. Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford. quilting, paperpiecing, quilts, paper piecing, foundation piecing

Have you ever had the desire to quilt, but were afraid that the “hobby” was too hard for you?      If the answer is, “No”, then this is your day to begin! If the answer is, “YES”, then, well, get over it!!!!

     Quilting is much easier to learn than you would ever imagine. In fact, it is so easy that I learned how to quilt! And believe me, that is quite remarkable because I hate to sew! I fell into quilting literally by accident. You can see how I began by reading my profile here on this site.
     There is a beginning tutorial available for you if you are serious about learning. I try to be very careful when writing tutorials so that the audience that is reading/learning/studying the tutorial is able to understand. In this case, the tutorial is pretty much based upon the premise that you know very little (or nothing) about quilting. This tutorial should be enough to get you on the road to quilting, where you can join the millions of us that already addicted!
     There are quite a few reasons to learn how to quilt:

• Quilting is fun! It cannot get much simpler than that!
• Quilting is utilitarian. By “utilitarian”, I mean that it is a very practical hobby. There is not a single household in the world that does not have some type of cover/quilt/blanket in it. In fact, your first quilt could be made just for yourself, so that you can practice your newly-found hobby and also so that you have a hand-made quilt.
• Quilting can serve as a source of relaxation. Yes, it is true. Quilting is an excellent way to relieve stress!
• Quilting is an excellent hobby to begin because it gives you a unique way to give gifts to those you care about. Not just a plain, little gift, either. This is a hand-made gift that the recipient (and his/her heirs) will cherish for decades. It does not matter if it is not perfect, either. In fact, 99.9999999999% of quilts are NOT perfect. Each quilt has its very own flaws, which is one aspect that makes the quilts so unique to each individual. You will learn to embrace your uniqueness in quilting and accept it for what it is: Typical and normal.
• Quilting enables you to form friendships with people that you would never have had the honor of meeting, had you not taken up the hobby. Once you begin to quilt, join a local quilting guild or an online quilting forum. You will make new friends, quite a few of which will be in the same boat you are in: A new quilter. Guilds and forums give you many different activities to practice your newly found hobby and to also broaden your horizon and help you figure out what you really love best about quilting. If you had told me years ago that my favorite method of putting a quilt together involved appliqué, I would have laughed. On the other hand, I have found my least favorite method, too: Paper-piecing!
• Quilting can be profitable. You may be thinking, “What?? You have got to be kidding! I’m sitting here thinking, just thinking mind you, about learning to quilt, and this author is already talking about me using my skills (that I haven’t even learned yet) to make money??? Is she nuts?”. Well, am I close to what you might be thinking? If you would have told me 14 years ago that I would be taking orders for commissioned, personally designed quilts, I’d have told you that YOU were nuts. The old adage, “Practice makes perfect”, is really true.

     So, what are you waiting for? Begin learning to quilt today! You will enjoy it immensely for the rest of your life… and so will all of those people that receive a quilt made by you.
     And if you already quilt, please feel free to share how you got hooked!
Quilting By Design Site Map.
Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford.


quilting, quilts, beginning quilting, quilting tutorial, quilting lessons

	How many times have you stood in a store, gazing at a bolt of fabric, knowing you simply must, yet you wonder how much to buy? How much is enough? How much is too little? Can you purchase fabric without knowing what you will do with it and still have peace of mind regarding the amount you purchase?
These are all valid questions to consider when making fabric selections, particularly if you have no idea what you will end up doing with it.
Listed below are a few guidelines that I generally adhere to when faced with the decision as to how much fabric to buy when I do not know what I am going to eventually use it for: If the fabric is ideally suited as the backing for a quilt, I buy approximately 3 yards for a wallhanging/crib quilt, up to 6-7 yards for a full/queen quilt. If the fabric is absolutely gorgeous and I simply cannot exist without this fabric in my stash, I buy a minimum of 3 yards, however, if the conditions are right (for example, if it is nearly a whole bolt and it is either on sale or I have a discount coupon), I buy the entire bolt. If the fabric can be used as the focus fabric in a future quilt, I buy a minimum of 3 yards. If the fabric can be used in borders in a future quilt, I buy a minimum of 2 yards. If the fabric is one that can accent a quilt (used as a “filler”), I buy a minimum of 1 yard. If the fabric is one that I simply know I have to have, but have no idea what (if ever!) I’ll use it for, I buy a minimum of 1 yard. If the fabric is one that can be used as binding, I buy a minimum of 1/2 yard.      Another important factor when finding a fabric is if it has any coordinating fabrics that go with it. If so, I usually follow the same guidelines as above, except if there are some of the coordinates that are just mediocre in appeal to me, I will usually buy a minimum of a Fat Quarter (18″ x 22″).      Hopefully, these guidelines will help you to make better fabric purchases by knowing approximately how much to buy, without knowing the why, when, or what for!      And who is to say you ever have to use it? You may just like to collect beautiful fabric. Most quilters have their own personal preference for fabrics that are considered collectible (their ‘fabric niche’, if you please); mine are batiks. I have never met a batik I did not love. Yes, I am a self-professed batikaholic and I refuse any 12-step program to rid me of my vice!      Do you have any guidelines that you would like to share with us? Online Fabric Resources (Also, be sure to check out the ads on this site for GREAT resources!). Quilting By Design Site Map. Original article first published on Quilting Passion by Terry Crawford. quilting, fabric, quilting fabric