I was beyond thrilled to receive Heather Black’s new book Design, Make, Quilt Modern which released just last week.
In the book, Heather walks you through all the steps of designing a modern quilt. Heather lectured on creating balance and depth in quilt designs at QuiltCon a few years ago, and I refer back to my notes from that lecture when designing every quilt since; these design principles are beautifully explained in the Design Basics chapter, with illustrations from Heather’s own design process on her award winning quilts.
Category: blog
Best Posts of 2020
My favourite 5 blog posts of 2020 include a round-up of quilt binding techniques, my favourite new quilt pattern from this year, fabric storage tips, a Geeky Biz post for my fellow online marketers, and a cute, quick project tutorial!
I’m happy to see that my most viewed blog posts of the past year were on the helpful side!
But what does EQ8 DO?
Recently, I’ve been sharing a lot of mock-ups that I create in EQ8, and I got this great question.
Does EQ8 allow you to create a quilt completely from scratch? For example: Could I put in the overall measurements then draw in the pieces? And does it help you calculate fabric and seam allowances?
Today, in the light of day, I can show you what some of that looks like!
It’s Raining Cats and Cats
The Les Chats Noirs fabric collection by Leeza Hernandez for Dear Stella, with some of its black and white prints reading as grey from a distance, wanted to be mocked up in my Downpour quilt pattern, as “It’s Raining Cats and Cats.”
The thing that I love most about designing quilts in EQ8 is how easy it is to mock up a pattern in a different set of fabrics using the Swap Color button.
Scrappy Arctic Vortex Tree Skirt – a fabric story
Do you have emotional reactions to your fabrics? You know the type: The fat quarter that you bought on vacation and used a bit in one economy block of a very special baby quilt. The out of print unicorn that you found in a scrap bag that was handed down to you by a fellow … Continue reading Scrappy Arctic Vortex Tree Skirt – a fabric story
Retro Tetro Quilt Along Week 10
Can you believe we’re entering the final week of the quilt along?? Let’s bring it across the finish line! (This week’s post is a bit light on eye candy. My old reliable Janome needs a major tune up, and I just can’t get a consistent 1/4″ seam with my back-up machine. Good thing I have … Continue reading Retro Tetro Quilt Along Week 10
Retro Tetro Quilt Along Week 9
We’re in the home stretch!! Blocks are all done and looking BEAUTIFUL!! I’m so impressed with everyone’s progress! Now it’s time to join the background strips and put together the columns. Retro Tetro Quilt Along Dates: September 15 through November 23Duration: 10 weeksQuilt Sizes: Mini, Crib, Throw, or Twin How to Quilt Along Share your … Continue reading Retro Tetro Quilt Along Week 9
A Merry Vortexmas!
There I was, minding my business, avoiding looking at the news, when out of nowhere, BOOM! Christmas quilt ideas hit me.
Specifically: “What if I recolor Vortex to look like a Christmas tree??”
I created this FREE supplement to help you plan your fabrics to make this Christmas tree quilt version.
AND THEN… My thoughts turned to tree skirt quilts.
Because that Arctic Vortex quilt swirl would make a perfect peppermint swirl quilt! And a Snowflake quilt!
Retro Tetro Quilt Along Week 8
I saw some very impressive spun seams last week! They’re just so satisfying, once you get the trick of them, and you’ll be glad you took the time when you get to quilting! This week, we’re making our final set of blocks. Retro Tetro Quilt Along Dates: September 15 through November 23Duration: 10 weeksQuilt Sizes: … Continue reading Retro Tetro Quilt Along Week 8
Welcome to UFOvember!
They lurk at the back of our craft cupboards, taking up space and emotional energy: the UnFinished Objects.
You started the project with the best of intentions, but then you ran out of something: materials, time, passion for the project, motivation, direction (how do I quilt it????), the skills to do it justice…
You’ve invested precious time and money into the project, so you’re not about to trash it. With the pandemic putting further pressure on our crafty budgets, time, and energy, this is the perfect time to dust off those UFOs and help them back on their journey to completion (and potentially fast track some holiday gifting!).
Welcome to UFOvember! Over the next 30 days, I invite you to join me in examining our crafty orphans and deciding whether to Resume work on them as planned, Rework them with a Plan B, or Rehome them to another crafter, who can joyfully get them across the finish line.