What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

The fabric’s been chosen, the quilt top’s sewn and the quilting is done. Now it’s time to add a binding to finish the Spring Blossoms for Mom lap quilt. I really don’t want to mess it up now and it’s all about the finishing touches that sometimes make or break a project. No FOB (fear of binding) allowed.

There’s a way, yes there is… to add a binding to a quilt by machine that does not look wonky, messy or unprofessional. Today, I’ll explain this process to you. You’ll need Gütermann invisible ...

Sewing of the quilt top Spring Blossoms for Mom is complete. Quilting decisions can now take place. It’s important after all the work sewing the quilt, the quilting be considered carefully.

• How much do I want the quilting to show on the front and the back.
• What color of thread should be used.
• Which fabrics need enhancing or showing off.
• Scale of the quilt blocks and in this case appliques as well.
• The use of the quilt. i.e. Quilt show worthy, art quilt to be hung, utilitarian?
• How much washing may or may not take ...

The last few days, I’ve discussed the materials needed and prepared the fabric for a really fresh Spring Blossoms for Mom lap quilt using HeatnBond Lite iron-on adhesive to make the tulip appliques. This quilt will be an awesome Mother’s Day gift this spring. I’m ahead of the curve and will have it made in advance. Today I get to sew with Gütermann cotton and nylon (invisible) thread. It’s sew time don’t you think?

• Gather up the background strips and leave them in order from 1-5 as discussed yesterday.
• Sew 7 strip ...

Today, I’ll discuss how to prepare the strips for the background of the Spring Blossoms for Mom quilt I discussed yesterday as well as the applique fabric for the tulips with HeatnBond Lite iron-on adhesive. It’s so easy to applique with HeatnBond Lite iron-on adhesive and this technique will open your mind to thousands of applique possibilities.

1. Press all background fabric (gray as shown below).
2. Lay out the background fabric in an order that pleases, keep in mind all 5 fabrics will be sewn into a strip set.
3. Number each fabric 1-5.
4. Cut 7 strips ...

By now we’re all tired of winter and wanting to look toward spring. It’ll come be rest assured. At this time of the year we’re also thinking about projects for spring and of course, I’m thinking ahead to Mother’s Day.

Join me this week as I share with you a new original design for a modern, strip pieced and easy applique lap quilt that can be made just for mom. I’ll be showing how to assemble easy strip pieced blocks, how to applique simply with Heatnbond Lite iron-on adhesive and Gütermann invisible nylon thread ...

Yesterday I quilted my chocolate boxes and today after a few finishing touches, it’ll be ready to display just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Once the quilt is trimmed, binding and a hanging sleeve can be added. I covered both of these techniques in one of my earlier posts on QUILTsocial, a sleeve and the binding.

Today I’m adding buttons! I chose these simply adorable Elan novelty buttons in the shape of hearts, of course.

This is how I add ...

Yesterday I did a lot of work adding icing to the chocolates in the chocolate box using Grosgrain ribbon and UNIQUE Rick Rack. I hope you enjoyed it and had some ideas of your own. I imagine you will not look at the designs on chocolate in the same way ever again!

Elan Grosgrain ribbon… in all the Valentine colors

Today I’m addressing how to quilt this project.

Setting up properly before starting quilting is a good practice. These are a few of the things I like to do:

• Clear space of ...

Welcome to day three of chocolatier class! Yesterday I pieced a chocolate box and stocked it with a selection of chocolates… today I decorate.

When I first approached the prospect of decorating these chocolates I was a bit daunted. Of course, you may use my designs but I encourage you to explore all the ways chocolate can be decorated… Pinterest is an excellent source.

I decided to use a 28wt cotton thread to applique to add more dimension to my work. This is a good place to try the more interesting threads you may have in your collection… if anything ...

Welcome chocolatiers to day two! Yesterday I went over the things needed for the chocolate box project… today I’m piecing the chocolate box background and cutting and appliqueing the chocolates. There’s a lot to do so let’s get started.

cutting instructions

• From the pink fabrics: cut 9 – 8½” squares

• From red fabric: cut 3 – 1½” x 8½” strips and 2 – 1½ x 26½” strips

After the long cold dark nights of January, February brings hope… even if spring is months to come. The bright reds and pinks of Valentine decorations never fail to make me smile. Even entering the dollar store to be greeted by a riot of pink and red reminds me the grays of winter will not last forever, so for this week, I’ll be creating a special project.

If you have followed my projects before, you’ll know I love to create simple and fun designs and I thought what sweeter than a simple box of a chocolate quilt, either ...