Use these quilting templates to spell out whatever phrases or words you'd like on your quilt top!
Kantha quilting is an age-old textile art form originating from Southeast Asia, particularly Bangladesh and Bengal. Rooted in tradition and culture, Kantha quilts serve both functional and aestheti…
How to hand quilt in 3 easy steps! In this blog and video tutorial I'll list out all of the supplies you need and show you how simple hand quilting is!
Learn how to make a crib size rag quilt. This baby rag quilt pattern for beginners and experts is easy and fast. Learn these tips for easier rag quilts.
These 25 Fast and Free Quilt Patterns are perfect for quick quilting for beginners, featured by top US quilting blog, Flamingo Toes. Click here now!!
“Flowers Of The Cosmos” by Fumiko Nakayama Let me just say right up front that this quilt show exceeded expectations in every way. Something I really love about Japan is …
Learning how to tie a quilt is a great way to give some hand quilted charm to your projects. Continue reading for 6 fun ways to try it out!
I hate to pick favs but this one is my Favorite of the Trio. Thread - Iris Mint Batting - Hobbs 80/20 Tools - A ton of templates w...
Learn how to make yoyo quilts (or yo yo quilts) and create a fun yoyo project. Great way to use up those fabric scraps!
Great gift ideas for retreats and quilting friends. Browse through this round-up of fun ideas to give your quilting friends (or yourself)!
Check out these picture quilt patterns and projects from the Bluprint community to inspire you to plan your first picture quilt.
Using a walking foot is the easiest and quickest way to quilt borders. Continue reading for 7 easy border quilting ideas using a walking foot.
If you are planning on making a quilt with your old blue jeans then these tips for quilting with denim jeans will help you out.
I'm teaching a Free Motion Quilting class starting in April at my LQS, Heartstrings and Heirlooms. I finished up the class sample over the weekend. In the class the students will do larger samples, but I needed a small book of designs to advertise the class. As you can see in the above end view, I used three different types of batting for my sample book - Quilter's Dream 100% Cotton, Hobbs 80/20 (80% cotton and 20% polyester), and a 100% wool. I used a tutorial from a recent Quilting Arts Magazine issue (the February/March 2014 issue) to make my little book. The instructions involved drawing some lines on a piece of fabric, then sewing on the lines with a walking foot to make a larger sheet and baste the layers together. Then you quilt your designs and cut the "pages" apart. The tutorial in the magazine was very good. If you are interested in making a book like mine, I suggest you get a copy of the magazine. Below is a collage of designs I plan to cover in the class. Along the top of each page I wrote the name of the design, the batting type and page number from the book I will be using for the class. In case you are interested, I'm using the book Free Motion Quilting with Angela Waters. It has become my go-to book for quilting ideas as of late.
52 of my favorite modern quilts from QuiltCon 2024.
Beautiful!
Have you ever wanted to make a temperature quilt? Are you familiar with what one is? Temperature quilts are kind of like a daily diary of the temperatures that occurred throughout the year in a p…
Happy Wednesday! I'm back to share a tutorial for this simple two color baby quilt that I made from my stash last year for one of our friends! First, a little bit about the quilt itself. I had such fun making this quilt. I knew from the start that I wanted to make it completely from my stash and that I wanted it to be pretty gender neutral. I personally feel like navy and chartreuse/lime green work well for any gender! I also happen to have a good selection of both of these colors, which worked out well. The design of this quilt is really simple, but it has a lot of flexibility. I made it with two colors, using multiple fabrics for each color. There is only one size strip to cut (hooray!), and I cut mine from a combination of scraps and yardage. The great thing about this quilt though is that you could easily cut from scraps, yardage, charm squares, layer cake squares, jelly roll strips or fat quarters. You also don't have to stick to two colors! You could go completely rainbow scrappy, you could use a neutral or single fabric in place of the green (color A) and then use many different fabrics for the navy (color B). Lots of possibilities! I feel like a broken record, but I did my go-to wavy lines for the quilting. It's just so easy for me to do and make look decent! It's not anything fancy, but it works for me. For the binding I wanted a pop of color. There are a few prints that have a peachy accent, so I pulled a binding fabric to highlight that. I used one of my custom woven labels to finish it off. Okay, now onto the tutorial! Simple Two-Color Baby Quilt Tutorial: Sewing Level: Beginner Friendly Finished Size: 36"x44" Finished Block Size: 6"x4" Materials: - 5/8 yard of total yardage or scraps for Color A (Green) - 1 1/8 yard of total yardage or scraps for Color B (Navy) - 44"x52" quilt batting - 1 1/2 yards of backing fabric - 3/8 yard of binding fabric Cutting: From Color A (Green) Fabrics: - Cut a total of (66) 2.5"x4.5" strips From Color B (Navy) Fabrics: - Cut a total of (132) 2.5"x4.5" strips You can easily cut these pieces from scraps, charm squares, layer cake squares, jelly roll strips, fat quarters or yardage. The table below shows how many 2.5"x4.5" strips you can cut from each type of precut or yardage: 2.5"x4.5" strips 5" charm square 2 10" layer cake square 8 2.5"x42" jelly roll strip 9 1/4 yard cut 27 18"x21" fat quarter 28 Figuring out exactly how much you need for each color is simple. Here is an example: For Color B I want to use charm squares. I can get 2 strips from each charm square, and I need a total of 132 strips. 132 divided by 2 is 66. So I need 66 charm squares for Color B. Simple Two-Color Baby Quilt Instructions: *Use a 1/4” seam allowance unless otherwise noted.* Block Construction: 1. Each block is made using (2) Color B strips and (1) Color A strip. First we're going to pair up the Color B strips. You could pair them all up intentionally, or pair them up randomly, it's up to you! Sew two Color B strips together along the long edges. Press seams as desired. Repeat with all Color B strips. 2. Next we're going to pair a Color A strip up with each block unit made in step 1. Again, feel free to pair them up randomly or intentionally. Sew a Color A strip to one side of the Color B block made in step 1, so that the seams form a "T" shape. Use the photo above as reference. Press seams as desired, repeat with remaining Color A strips and block units. Trim blocks to 6.5"x4.5" if necessary. Quilt Top Construction: 1. Arrange blocks into 11 rows of 6 blocks each, using the diagram above as a guide. The odd numbered rows will start with a Color A strip, the even numbered rows will start with the Color B strip set. Sew blocks together in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction every other row. Sew rows together, press as desired. Press top well from the right side. Quilt Assembly and Finishing: 1. Backing: Press backing fabric well. 2. Basting: Using masking or painter’s tape, tape the backing to a clean, hard surface, right side down. Spread out your batting on top of the backing. Smooth out any wrinkles. Carefully spread out your quilt top on top of the batting, right side up. Pin your top, I like to use curved safety pins, spacing the pins a few inches apart. Make sure that your pins are going through all three layers. 3. Quilting: Quilt as desired, by machine or by hand. Trim away excess batting and backing fabric. 4. Binding: Cut yardage listed for binding into 2.5” strips. Trim off selvedges and sew your strips together to form one long strip, press seams open. Fold in half lengthwise, pressing with your iron as you fold. Attach binding using your preferred method. For a detailed tutorial on attaching your binding to both sides by machine: Machine Quilt Binding Tutorial. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! I have lots of other tutorials for everything from quilts, pillows, bags, and holiday items to informational series and techniques. Find all my tutorials here: Tutorials. My online shop is filled with patterns for quilts and bags. Find my patterns here: Jeni Baker Patterns Tag me @jenib320 and use my hashtag #jenibaker on instagram if you make something from this tutorial! Happy Quilting!
The first time I made a quilt I wasn't quite sure how to sew on the binding. I spent a lot of time making a quilt for my mom's 80th birthday, and I didn't want to mess it up by doing a poor job on the binding. Fortunately, I have a co-worker friend who is an avid quilter and gave me a super easy way to bind it.
When it comes to free motion quilting, there's a few main myths that people believe about starting free motion quilting. Here's the truth!
We have a huge stash of free patterns in our Free Quilt Inspiration archive and we are excited to share them with you. To go to the orig...
Straight line quilting is a great beginner quilting technique, but there's a right way and a wrong way. Continue reading to see if you are doing it right!
Happy New Year! Despite the long pause in postings, I did actually complete a few more sewing projects in 2014. January 2014 - Drawstring book bags for Allie and Cate's birthdays February 2014 - Robert Hughes baby quilt (I really need to consider taking a "how to photograph your quilts" workshop:) quilted with stars and spirals May 2014 - Amy Becker's HS graduation lap quilt Amy picked out fabrics at Fabric Depot during her Portland visit, Christmas 2013. I supplemented with a few fabrics I found at The Stitching Post and at Kapaia Stitchery during a trip to Kauai (always looking for an excuse to fabric shop). The blue batik with butterflies was the first fabric Amy chose. Other colors were built around that. quilted with vining flowers and leaves Now Amy has this nice warm lap quilt - perfect for her college years at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She assures me that it does get cold there, especially when the air conditioner is running. November 2014 - New curtains and duvet set for the Sisters house After 20 years, Stefanie and I decided it was time for a change in the upstairs bedroom in our Sisters house. We found some curtain fabric at IKEA (seen below in the medium-sized pillows). After a futile search for a coordinating duvet cover I decided we just needed to make our own. Not as cheap, but so much more fun! On the bed in Anna's old room at our house (tempted to keep it here, but...) Had to add a border piece as it was just a bit too small. Found a fun coordinating fabric at The Stitching' Post. Shams and throw pillows. The quilting in the shams mimics the print in the curtain fabric. All set up in its new home. On to 2015... January 2015 - Jeanne's lap quilt This quilt was made for my good friend and fellow swimmer, Jeanne. She will be out of the water for a bit, recuperating from surgery, so of course this called for a quilt! My daughter, Anna, suggested the colors - perfect for a swimmer. Another swimmer friend, Jenn, joined me for a shopping trip to Fabric Depot and also helped with part of the sewing. Sandi and Jeanne The design incorporates over 60 small blocks with names of some of Jeanne's friends. Next Up???? cityscape art quilt based on a photo of Roussillon, France art quilt based on our Croatia travels last September flower/plant themed art quilt for the Hardy Plant Society Hortlandia Plant Sale in April hopefully taking Hilde Morin's Bowl Art class
The 5 Best Machine Quilting books to help you jumpstart your skills and allow you to quilt like a pro on your domestic sewing machine at home!
Knowing how to start a quilt, especially when it comes to quilting can be difficult. Get expert tips on how to start quilting your next quilt.
The bargello technique can be used to create backgrounds for applique, to showcase landscape prints, and to use up your stash. In a previou...
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission from the sale if you click through and purchase. Are you scared of sewing with curves? Have no fear! Today I am sharing a few tips and tricks that have been helpful for me. Give this post a read and try out the Sunroom Quilt Pattern. The quilt pattern above is The Natural Harmony Quilt Pattern . 1. Sew slow. It's tempting to put the pedal to the metal when you're comfortable sewing, but with curves it's all about slow sewing. You want to take your time and ease that curve slowly through the machine. 2. Needle Down. I set my machine in the needle down position when I sew. That means every time I lift my foot off the pedal the machine stops with the needle down. This helps to hold all the layers in place so that I can lift the presser foot and adjust around the curve. This will help you make that curve nice and smooth. Every few stitches, I raise the foot and turn the fabric slightly around the curve. 3. Pin, Pin, Pin!! Don't be stingy with those pins. As you pin your curved pieces together make sure you pin all the way around that curve to the very end. I also find it most helpful to start in the middle, work my way to one end, back to the middle and to the other end. 4. Steam Iron. I personally find that using steam is helpful. First of all it helps work out all those wrinkles from the pins so you can see if there are any puckers. Second, I think it helps ease out any accidental puckers if there are any. This is simply personal preference. I know there are mixed opinions on using a steam iron while quilting. I make sure not to pull or stretch the fabric too much since the steam will cause that to happen on it's own a little. 5. Tailor's Clapper! Alright this might be a new tool you haven't heard of before. I use this handmade clapper from Lamb and Loom. It makes such a difference to me! When I'm ready to press I open the seam, press and then quickly place the clapper over the seam and let it sit while I move on to the next piece. Then I repeat that process. The clapper helps to hold the heat on the seam and really make it crisp! I'm hooked on my clapper. The pattern above makes great practice - The Natural Harmony Quilt Pattern. If you feel like you can conquer the curves try out the Sunroom Quilt Pattern. This pattern was my first attempt at sewing curves. You can do this! You have all the skills you need now. Good luck! Here are some additional blog posts you might enjoy: Sewing with Triangles Quilting Curves Making Half-Square Triangles The quilt pattern above is The Natural Harmony Quilt Pattern.
Never made a quilt as you go block before? This tutorial will show you all about quilting as you go method - easy and for beginners!
Okey Dokey, here is my first attempt at a tutorial…feedback encouraged! Hopefully at least some of this makes sense. :) I’m going to explain the ridiculous way I figured out how to do t…
Learn to make a puff quilt with precut fabric with a step by step guide and video tutorial.
I don't know if I've told you before, but I learned how to quilt while I lived in Japan in 2002. Japanese housewife culture, including their approach to quilting, has always fascenated me. I should have been an anthropologist and studied that more intensely, I know, but I got caught up in trying to communicate and became an ESL teacher instead. Anyway.. I discovered flickr in 2006 and the quilts I saw there lead me to start blogging about quilting. Tonight I want to share a handful of my favorite quilt photos from the Tokyo International Quilt festivals held each year in January. One year I'll make it there myself, but until then, I will live vicariously through Jennifer and Jan. Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2011 Set Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2010 Set Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2009 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2008 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2007 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2006 Set (one of my all-time favorites is the 9th quilt in the set-- the blue one) All photos in this post were taken by Jan of Be*mused, used with permission. (*I hate to post quilt photos without information about the makers, but sadly most of these pics don't include any. Apparently the quilter info is only printed in Japanese at the show. If you have any information for any of these quilts, please comment and I will give them proper credit.)
Here are free patterns for bargello quilts ! The bargello technique can be used to create backgrounds for applique, to showcase landscape pr...
UPDATED JULY 6, 2022 — CLICK HERE TO SEE MY CRUMB PIECING TUTORIAL TO LEARN HOW I SELECT FABRICS AND SEW MY CRUMB BLOCKS. INCLUDES A VIDEO TUTORIAL. A little over a week ago on February 22 I …
Hand quilting results in dashed lines of stitches and a quilt with a soft look. Methods of hand quilting vary as much as quilters do. Adapt the techniques that follow to suit your style.
A quilt back does not have to be boring. Sharing my 18 ideas for a pieced backing for quilts to make the design process a little easier.
Quilt as you go tutorials QAYG and patterns including video on making QAYG quilts. Learn with these fun 26 different quilt as you go tutorials.
There's an imminent new arrival in our extended family, so it's time for me to get working on another version of my baby beach scenes. Simon suggested I incorporate surfing since the father is a keen surfer. That was the starting point for my designing, anyway. I ended up with this row of (potentially surfable?!) waves which will go across the top of the reef/water section, and I started by piecing them. I divided the waves into organic shapes, much like those I used in the much larger Australian scene and space quilts, which I could then piece from different colour water fabrics. The first step was to trace these onto mid-weight non-woven interfacing and mark some registration points along the curved seams to help piece thems evenly, then cut the pieces apart. After carefully selecting the fabrics to use for each piece (colour, and a smooth gradation was the main consideration)I placed the interfacing patter piece directly on the fabric and drew around it with a air-erasable marker, adding the 1/4in seam allowance by eye as I went. I then added the registration marks and the piece number with a fine-tip permanent pen before cutting it out. I've saved all the interfacing pieces in case I want to do the waves again. Then I pinned all the pieces in place on my pattern and checked I was happy with my fabric choices. Then it was just a case of gradually sewing them all together, carefully easing the curves. The wave section is all done now and will be pieced to the top of the reef/water section once that's done (the bottom is straight-ish).
Straight line quilting is a great beginner quilting technique, but there's a right way and a wrong way. Continue reading to see if you are doing it right!
