In my journey to learn more about the history of quilting and fiber arts, I have discovered some incredible makers, artists, thinkers and leaders. A couple weeks ago we talked about one of our founding Quilt Mothers, Nancy Crow, Marti Michell, Rachel Clark and Judith Scott. Today, I bring you someone who is not justContinue Reading...

On this blogpost, we share a tutorial with 5 methods for hand tying your quilt with Amy Mogren of Ritual Quilt Company.

9 must know Quilt piecing tips. Quilt techniques to know especially if want to learn how to quilt or want to improve your piecing accuracy.

Great gift ideas for retreats and quilting friends. Browse through this round-up of fun ideas to give your quilting friends (or yourself)!

Quilt bindings are the most magical, and sometime confusing part of quilt making, especially for a new quilter! I shared a tutorial a few years back, but have adapted and made a few changes as I’ve grown as a quilter, and thought it was enough to update the post. Any tips or suggestions you might […]

Wondering How to Finish a Quilt? Top US quilting blog, Diary of a Quilter, features an Easy DIY Tutorial for Finishing and Binding a Quilt. Click here now!!

Get started with this beginner's guide to crumb quilting. Explore the materials, techniques, and tips for completing a beautiful quilt!

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.

Use strip-piecing short cuts to make this Nine Patch quilt in a traditional Irish Chain style. Gray and white low volume fabrics give it a modern feel.

There is an easier way to bind a quilt: use the backing fabric. Learn how in this tutorial from NewQuilters.com. #bindingaquilteasy, bindingaquilttutorial

Use this standard quilt size chart to design your next project. It covers all sizes from baby to California King. Size chart is easy to read and printable.

Make your own hand-quilted wearable Quilt Apparel fashion statement with this tutorial featuring a sweatshirt and and orphan quilt block.

Learn how to cut and resew a ho-hum four-patch block and turn it into a spectacular disappearing four-patch quilt block. (Easy, too!)

Pressing quilt seams is a crucial step of any quilt-making process – not only will it make it easier to join blocks, it will also make a quilt lie flatter.

Double Pinwheel & Peeping Cats Quilt Blocks. Free Pattern and Tutorial

Ever wondered what a Quilter's "Flying Geese" was and why its called that? See the simple steps how you can make them! - FREE Beginner Friendly Patterns!

No More Getting Stuck in Corners or Having to Cross Over! Stipple quilting looks simple, and it actually is, yet many quilters have a hard time mastering it. It’s so easy to get stuck and have to cross over stitching lines, or to have your squiggles differ greatly in size. While you may have heard …

Turn fabric scraps into beautiful quilted flowers with a sew-and-flip piecing technique easy enough for beginning quilters to master. Tutorial from NewQuilters.com. #easyquiltblocks #foundationpiecing #rosequiltblock #quiltingforbeginners

The sails in this block from my Sailing School pattern are made from HRT units Here, as promised, is my tutorial about making half-rectangle triangle units (HRT) without specialty rulers. This method does involve a bit of fabric waste as the units are made a little over-sized, then trimmed down. I think the little bit of trimming waste in exchange for ease and accuracy is worth it. Traditionally, the HRT is twice as tall as it is wide, so those are the dimensions I worked with. Here goes! Step 1: Determine the desired finished size of the unit. (Remember that the finished size is the size in the finished project, after the seam allowance is taken up by sewing the unit into the project.) Step 2: You will need two rectangles of fabric. To determine the width of the cut rectangles: For the cut width, add 1 1/4" to the desired finished width. The cut height will be double the cut width. Step 2: Cut two rectangles Step 3: Mark a diagonal line on one of the rectangles. Careful! The direction of the line matters. For a left-leaning seam on the finished unit (from upper left corner to lower right corner), draw the line from the top right corner to the lower left corner. For a right-leaning seam on the finished unit (lower left corner to upper right corner), draw the line from the top left corner to lower right corner. Step 4: (optional ) You will actually stitch 1/4" away from the marked line in Step 7. You may wish to draw additional lines now, 1/4" on each side of the diagonal, to mark where to stitch. If you have an accurate 1/4" presser foot as a guide you can skip this part. Steps 3 and 4: Mark one rectangle Step 5: Place the marked rectangle on top of the second rectangle, right sides together. So far this looks very much like the technique used to make HST. However, if you now simply sew 1/4" on each side of the diagonal, you will end up with a kite shape rather than a rectangle shape. Step 5: Layer rectangles right sides together Not how you want it to turn out. Move on to step 6. Step 6: Rotate the marked rectangle: to the left (counterclockwise) for a left-leaning finished unit, so that the upper right corner shifts to touch the upper left of the bottom rectangle, and the lower left corner shifts to touch the lower right corner of the bottom rectangle. to the right (clockwise) for a right leaning finished unit, so that the upper left corner shifts to touch the upper right of the bottom rectangle, and the lower right corner shifts to touch the lower left corner of the bottom rectangle. Step 6: Rotate marked rectangle To check that you have rotated in the correct direction, fold the top rectangle along the marked diagonal, and see if the result is approximately the HRT you plan to make. Check orientation Step 7: Sew 1/4" on either side of the marked line, then cut on the marked line. Step 7: Sew then cut into two units Step 8: Press seams to one side or open, as you prefer. You now have two rough units ready for trimming perfectly to size. Step 8: Two untrimmed HRT units Next, you'll need to trim these. The tricky part is to position that diagonal seam correctly in the trimmed unit so that points don't disappear into the seam allowance when you sew this unit into your quilt. The diagram below shows what happens when you place the seam corner to corner. The seam, shown as a dashed line, cuts off points on the short ends of the unit. What you want to avoid I've found that using a template to guide my trimming gives me the best results. PREPARE A TRIMMING TEMPLATE Step 9: Draw a rectangle exactly the same size as your desired finished unit. Step 10: Using a rotary cutter and ruler, cut out the shape 1/4" outside the drawn shape all around. Step 10: Cut out template Step 11: Draw a diagonal between two opposite corners of the drawn inside shape in the direction of the seam in your finished unit, extending the line all the way out to the edges of the cut shape. Note that this diagonal does not intersect the corners of the cut shape. Step 11: Tape the template on the underside of your quilting ruler, with the template flush with the corner of the ruler, and the drawn line visible through the ruler. Step 12: Position the template over the rough unit so that the drawn diagonal lines up with the seam in the unit. Step 12: Position the template Step 13: Use a rotary cutter to trim the unit along the side and top edges of the ruler. Step 13: Trim two edges Step 14: Rotate the unit. Position the ruler so the markings for the required unfinished size line up with the trimmed edges. Step 14: Position ruler to trim remining sides Notice that the seam will not fall exactly in the corner of the ruler. Seam will not go through corner of the ruler Step 15: Keeping the ruler in position, use a rotary cutter to trim the remaining sides of the unit. The unit is now ready to use. The area outside the black outline in the image below is the seam allowance. The area inside the black rectangle will be the finished unit as it will appear in your finished project, with the points in the corners where you want them. I hope you have found this helpful. Now go play with some half-rectangle triangle units! *************** You can use HRT in many ways. The sailboat block at the top of this post, and again below, is what made me sit down and figure out HRTs. This version is 9" square. If you'd like to make it but would prefer to skip all the math and drawing of templates, I've done the work for you in my Sailing School pattern. See more of that quilt in this post. You can purchase a PDF download of the pattern in my Etsy shop, or you can ask your favourite quilt shop to order a print copy for you. Happy quilting! Joanne

Learn all about sewing binding on a quilt with our in-depth hands-on tutorial. We'll show you how to calculate binding, make binding for a quilt, and how to finish binding!

Get a free gingham quilt pattern plus a tutorial. Learn the steps to make a gingham quilt unlike other gingham quilts, using strip piecing.

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.

Binding is the final step of quilting and it must be perfect. Otherwise, all your efforts will be wasted!

Probably as a result of all the napkin stitching, I have managed to develop tendonitis in my left hand which requires a rest from any hand sewing until the thumb heals. I thought this might be a good time to post some of my vintage quilt booklets, so I have started the process of scanning the page

Earlier this summer, the Happy Zombie posted a quilt-along called the Ron Swanson Along. I don’t watch much TV and haven’t seen Parks & Recreation, but I still thought her quilt was…

If you been looking to try out hand quilting but don’t know where to start, this is for you! Check out these quilting tutorials for hand quilted…

Avoid Tension Waves and Other Issues! Are you disappointed with the results you’re getting with straight line quilting? If so, one or more of 6 comprehensive tips is likely to help. One common issue is creating tension waves. The solution is to always quilt in the same direction, rather than turn at the end and …

Quilt Making Tutorials Articles and Tutorials for making quilts, from designing, cutting, piecing, and quilting.

A step by step guide to the cross stitch

This list of 50+ ideas are gifts quilters will go absolutely crazy for! You're sure to find a gift for that special quilter BFF in your life! Read more..

We Quilt is about quilting, longarming, guilds, our machine and tools and Quilts of Valor. If you follow our journey...many thanks.

Let's be real... basting quilts is NOT fun. I spent a couple of years finding a method that made it tolerable for me to complete this necessary task with minimal discomfort. Check out this video where I document my process of basting up to queen size quilts on my 60" x 30" worktable. Here are so

I sure hope you have learned a thing or two along the way with this series. If you just joined us, start from the beginning.

Tutorial for my version of a 'Disappearing Nine Patch' quilt using alternating coloured blocks.... The Quilt can be seen here A Girly Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt This tutorial is a work in progress.....thanks for your patience...... Cut 4 inch strips from width of fabric (WoF) Strip set 1......Sew with a 1/4 inch seam to make strip sets.... press seams away from the centre strip Strip set 2. press seams towards centre strip...... Strip set 3. Press seams toward centre strip. The strip sets should now measure 10 1/2 inches by WoF Cut strip sets into 4 inch sections and layout as 2 x 'nine patch' blocks as shown with black running through the diagonal on one block and pink running through the diagonal on the second block. Block 1 needs two sections from Strip set 1 and one section from Strip set 2 Block 2 needs two sections from Strip set 1 and one section from strip set 3 Sew your blocks together with a 1/4 inch seam and press the the seams away from the centre on both blocks Block 1 and Block 2 Using a rotary cutter and ruler cut vertically on the solid red line through the centre of both of these blocks. Depending on your own seam allowance the 1 3/4 inch mark should fall on the seam line. Cut horizontally through the centre of both blocks by placing the 1 3/4 inch line on the seam line From the left block take the top left piece and turn 180 degrees and place back in the same space within the same block. Now take the bottom right piece of the same block, turn 180 degrees and put back in the same space within the same block. Repeat this same procedure in block 2. Flip the rows over right sides together and sew a 1/4 inch seam Open and press the seams in opposite directions so that the seams nest together for the final seam You will have two 10 inch blocks like this. I set my quilt 6 x 5 blocks (30 blocks), 15 of block 1 and 15 of block 2 set alternately with additional borders.