If you’re just starting out in quilting, the process of selecting a batting for your quilted project can be daunting! There are so many battings to choose from. You may select a batting that is on hand, is on sale, or that is recommended by a friend… but does it really make a difference what batting you choose? The answer is YES! The batting you select for a project can make a big difference in the way your quilted project […]
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Last Minute Stocking Stuffers for Quilters
When Santa shops for quilting stocking stuffers, there are some go-to items he can always reach for. Here are some of the best last-minute stocking stuffers for quilters. 45mm Rotary Blades Quilters need to replace their blades regularly, and most don’t. Not because they don’t want to, but because they forget to keep them on hand. Tuck some replacement blades in their stocking this year to keep them cutting safely in 2015. Sewing Machine Needles Having a needle break […]
Crafty Field Trip to Hawaii, Part 3 of 3: Quilt Shop!
So since Hawaii is known for their quilts, what trip to the Big Island would be complete without a trip to a local Quilt Shop. (By the way, if you’d like to see my trip to the craft store & scrapbooking store and/or the bead shop, just click those links too.) The aforementioned quilt shop was right next to the bead store (very convenient) and the name- Quilt Passions– very apropos. We were there during the Kona Coffee Festival (hence […]
Trends: Quilt Market 2014: Digital Die Cutting
After years in the crafting industry and going to the CHA tradeshows, I’m used to seeing die-cutting everywhere. I was really surprised, though, to see digital die-cutting and the way it’s taken over the sewing and quilting industry! I knew that the Brother ScanNCut actually debuted at Quilt Market last year and that it had a great toe-hold in the sewing market. Brother is continuing to develop new accessory packages as well. You’ll see vinyl, glitter sheets, printable stickers and […]
International Quilt Market, Houston 2014: Overview
This year I decided that CraftTestDummies needed to branch out a little and attend more trade shows. After all, I started off quilting the year I turned thirty. I still love to sew and do art quilting, and I know a lot of our readers here also sew or quilt. That was all the justification I needed to head down to Houston to the International Quilt Market to take it all in. In this installment, I just wanted to give […]
StichNSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets
Are you a quilter? Have you ever tried paper piecing? There are two different kinds of paper piecing – and they are very different. English Paper piecing uses paper templates and hand stitching. You might be familiar with the flower designs made from hexagons – a very popular motif in English Paper Piecing. Then there is the other kind of paper piecing – also known as “foundation piecing”. That is the kind of paper piecing I’m talking about today. Paper […]
Quilting: Half Square Triangles with Triangle Paper
If you’ve ever tried quilting, you’ve probably encountered the half square triangle. The half square triangle, or HST, is a square made of two right-triangles. The seam connecting the two triangles runs through the middle of the square from corner to corner. Right along the bias. In woven fabric, the fabric most commonly used in quilting, the threads running one way are called the “warp” (parallel to the selvedge), and the other way is the “weft” (perpendicular to the selvedge). […]
Craft Tool Review: AccuQuilt GO! Baby Fabric Cutter
Guys, something wonderful happened to me last week in the craft studio: I fell absolutely head over heels in love with my new AccuQuilt GO! Baby fabric cutter. Now, I wouldn’t generally get so worked up about a die cutter, but the GO! Baby made cutting fabric so easy that I never, ever want to go back to scissors and rotary cutters again. First, some background: The generous folks at AccuQuilt kindly sent me a GO! Baby machine in advance […]
Kid’s Craft Kit Review: Color-Me Quilt Craft Kit by S&S WorldWide
My daughter has just joined a “Daisy” troop, and I know that crafting will be a big part of the troops’ activities. The challenge is always trying to find something that everyone can do, pretty much independently, but is still open-ended and creative while cohesive to the group as a whole! Pretty tall order, right? Well, this kits fits the bill! In each kit you get: 25 pre-cut, pre-hemmed 8-inch white cotton fabric squares. Each has a pre-cut hole in […]
Crafty Field Trip: Original Sewing and Quilting Expo
One of my favorite annual crafty field trips is to the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo, held locally at the Cleveland I-X Center. Beside the fact that it’s held really close to my birthday each year, it gives me the opportunity to catch up with some sewing friends, check out trends, and maybe even try something new at a make-and-take or class. First, here’s a bit about the Sewing and Quilting Expo: We bring inspiration, motivation, education, shopping and personal satisfaction […]
How to Make A Chronicle Quilt {Recycle Craft}
Chronicle Quilts are so named because they were made by sewing strips of fabric on newspaper- like the Chronicle- to make warm, inexpensive quilts during the Depression. In the time when the motto was “Use it up, wear it out: Just make do, or do without.” ….this quilt can help you “use it up”- all those scraps from your stash AND empty your recycle bin of newspapers. Plus, since it’s sew-and-flip technique, there is no fussy measuring or seam-matching- just […]
T- Shirt Quilt for a Grad
Last fall, one of my dearest friends from high school (shout-out to Connie!)Â asked if I’d help her with a special project- turning her daughter’s t-shirts into a memory quilt for her graduation. I thought it was a lovely idea to take all of her childhood memories and literally wrap her in a cocoon of love to send her off to college. After looking at the shirts Connie had accumulated over the years, I realized that we could generally get […]
Craft Product Review: Stitch Simple Quilt Kit, Part Two
Jenny receives her Stitch Simple Quilt Kit and kicks the tires.
Awesome Quilty Tote Bag
Jenny found this awesome quilted tote bag at Neolasdaughter blog. Super cute and easy.
IX Center Sewing and Quilting Expo 2009
Don’t miss the Cleveland Sewing and Quilting Expo March 26-29, 2009!
Review: Stitch Simple Quilt Kits, part one
Just before the end of 2008, I was contacted by Jen Madsen of Stitch Simple, asking me to make and review one of their quilt kits. I had never heard of the company before, and was intriqued. Personalized quilt kits? The cutting is done? Hmmm. Sounded intriguing! {Note: I am not paid for my review, but they did comp me the quilt kit, in the spirit of full disclosure.} I took a look at Stitch Simple’s site, and decided that […]
Pink Ribbon Quilting for Breast Cancer Awarenss
So I’m on a kick here- I thought I’d share a link for a quilt block that features the “Pink Ribbon” which symbolizes breast cancer awareness. (Although you could substitute any color for pink that supports the cause of your choice.) Our friends over at Quilters’ Cache have provided a FREE quilt block pattern that includes- hallelujah- rotary cutting instructions. It looks like a complex block, but most of the pieces are pretty easy- just rectangles, squares, and a few […]
Quilting Arts TV Program Airs in Cleveland!
Whoo-hoo! One of my favorite magazines, Quilting Arts, now has a television program. I’ve heard that they’ve shot many segments already – and some in Cleveland, no less – but so far I haven’t seen them on our PBS channels. That’s about to change! It’s set to air on WEAO PBS 45 & 49 on Saturdays at 1:30PM starting on 4/19. I’m so excited! The DVR is all set and ready to go! To learn more about Quilting Arts Magazine, […]
Lake Farm Park Quilt Show Field Trip
I got a chance to get to the Lake Farm Park Quilt Show on Saturday – all by myself! It was lovely just to walk quietly through all of the quilts, without distractions from kids or hubby, and soak it all in. Coupla things I noticed: The show seemed smaller. I really think there were fewer bed-sized quilts this year. There were more art quilts than traditional ones. And they were fantastic. Lots of food for thought. The contributions for […]
Another Quilted Patchfolio or Two
Ok, this little suckers are addictive. I whipped up 2 more the other day. And now my son wants one, too. Just had to show-and-tell! (See my original post about the Craft Apple pattern here.)
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