The International Quilt Association is another victim of the Pandemic and, perhaps, of changes in the quilt world.  The IQA founders and board decided to close their doors.  It’s a sad loss–they published an attractive journal that documented winners of past shows and also sponsored lots of events over the years. Their judged shows set …

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I have a very short list of favorite tools because I’m not a gadget person. Let me start with the most important one.  That would be my Janome 9450 that I talked about in my previous blog post on December 3! Here’s the next important tool:  My retractable Rotary Cutter.  I bought 4 of these …

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I had a great time teaching at Mountain QuiltFest in Pigeon Forge Tennessee this month.  I taught five modern quilt classes and gave a lecture, “What Makes a Modern Quilt?”. Several of the classes used patterns from my book, Madly Modern Quilts . The Fibonacci pattern  and the X block pattern can be purchased here. [ ...Continue Reading ]

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  In 2019,  I had a great team of testers work on my Fractured Triangles Pattern.  I felt so honored that they chose to work with me. Their feedback helped me improve several parts of the pattern. Some (but not all) pattern designers offer the opportunity to test their upcoming patterns. We value the feedback [ ...Continue Reading ]

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I’m proud to announce that my Fractured Triangles Quilt Pattern is up for sale in my Etsy shop.   I love this pattern because a complex result can be achieved with a planned improvisation technique.  It’s all about the fabric choices–and there’s lots of guidance in the pattern.  And be sure to scroll down to see [ ...Continue Reading ]

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I have published Rail Fence Improv as a stand alone pattern available in my Etsy shop along with my other patterns. (If you own my book, Madly Modern Quilts, be sure to scroll down!) The pattern has four layouts for sizes ranging from small crib to king size.  I also included additional colorways.  This pattern [ ...Continue Reading ]

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I'm very happy to announce that I will be teaching modern quilt classes and giving an evening lecture/trunk show at the 2020 Mountain QuiltFest in Pigeon Forge TN from March 3-7, 2020. Registration is now OPEN!  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Click Here for the complete Class Schedule.   Click Here for general information on QuiltFest. [ ...Continue Reading ]

The post QuiltFest at Pigeon Forge Registration Opens Nov 13 appeared first on Carole Lyles Shaw.

Using the right quilt tools makes all the difference when you are quilting.  Good tools help you cut and sew more accurately and generally make the entire process more enjoyable.

And, you don’t have to spend a lot of money–just focus on a few high quality items and they will last forever.

Here are some of my favorite tools.  No affiliate links–opinions based on personal use only.

Shop Local

As always, please check with your favorite local quilt shop or local shops with online shops before going to ‘big’ retailers. Note:  there are NO buying links in ...