What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 Glinda (my Bernina Q24 long arm machine) and I quilted 6 customer quilts last week!

First we did this beauty for Diana B.

Next there were three from Terri M. The first two shown below are from the same kit. The kit was for the first quilt but she had enough fabric leftover from the kit to make a second, coordinating quilt. These will go on twin beds in the same room and she wanted the quilting to be the same pattern with the same thread.

And then we quilted up a couple of baby quilts for Kristy D.

 Are you familiar with Mystery Five-0? If not, you can read more about it here: Mystery Five-0 with Alamosa Quilt Company

We have launched our next mystery quilt called Island Hopping. Kits and tickets went on sale yesterday.

There are two ways you can sign up to participate with us: 

(1) Buy an Island Hopping Kit. Our kits are carefully curated following the very detailed instructions provided to shops by Mystery Five-0. I've seen the pattern. I'm in the process of making my shop sample. And I've picked fabrics for my kits that will make beautiful quilts ...

 I did a quick project for my 20-something son. I just received this adorable Axolotl fabric in the shop and thought he might like it. He did! A lot!

I made him a set a new pillowcases for his bed.

He requested that I use different fabrics for the cuff so that they coordinate but don't match. Mission accomplished and they are already on his bed in use!

In case you don't know, an axolotl is a real creature from the salamander family. However, they are also featured in the popular video game Minecraft. This is why there ...

 Getting new fabrics into the shop means new shop samples. I have lost all of my sample sewists, so I'm now sewing everything myself. This is another reason why I haven't had time to share things with you. I'm finding it a challenge to sew everything myself and do all the other marketing, buying, managing employees and such that is part of running a business.

This first one is called the Sunkissed Quilt. It's 56" by 72". The pattern is one of my favorite Villa Rosa Designs patterns that calls for a panel called Foxfire. In ...

 I am slowly going through my older tutorials and turning them into downloadable PDF patterns. I am listing them for "sale" on my website although so far the price for them is $0.00 - FREE.

I picked my Wonder Clip Pin Cushion Tutorial for this month. If you want to go to the tutorial then click the link in the previous sentence. The tutorial is not written in a form that is downloadable. 

If you would like a download PDF of the pattern then click this link, Wonder Clip Pin Cushion PDF Pattern. 

If you would like a copy ...

 If you are looking for some great deals on quilting fabric and such, you can check out what I've got in the clearance section.

Alamosa Quilt Company BlowOut Event

Fabrics are $5.99 per yard. I've got panels at 50% off and books, patterns and such are 25% off.

I made a short video of the fabrics included in the event. It's a Facebook live video so I can't embed the video here. If you click the link below it will take you to the video on my shop's Facebook page. 

Alamosa Quilt Company Facebook ...

 I recently purchased a BERNINA Q24 long arm with Q-matic (computer program) for my shop. My favorite local long arm quilter recently moved away. I knew I would need to find another way to get my shop samples quilted and so would all of her other customers. So I decided to go into the long arm quilting business myself.

The machine arrived about two weeks ago. I've been watching the video class I purchased from BERNINA as well as reading through the workbooks I received trying to learn as much as I can as fast as I can. I ...

 I've got another fun, easy and fast project for you. I'm calling it the Circle Wallet because it's made from two circles of fabric and some snaps.

 I had a chance to film and edit the second "class" in my binding series. In this video I show how to sew the binding on a project completely by machine. First sewing the binding to the front of the quilt and then stitching in the ditch along the edge of the binding on the front to catch the binding on the back side of the project.

As I mentioned in the video, this is just ONE way to attach binding completely by machine. There are several other methods and in time I plan to film them all.

If you ...

 My next free pattern is available! It's called Strip and Flip Jelly Roll Quilt and it's a digital download.

The following link will take you directly to the pattern: Strip and Flip Quilt Pattern

When you check out you will need to add the coupon code FreePatternStrip&Flip2025 to get it for free. The code will work from now through April 10, 2025 at 6pm US Mountain Time.

This is a great pattern for that random jelly roll you purchased without a plan. One jelly roll will make the whole thing, including binding. Or you'll need 27 ...

 I'm offering another free digital download pattern.

What I love about this pattern is that the top is made with only a jelly roll. You need 1/2 yard for binding and 3 yards for backing.

The pattern is available for free until March 13, 2025 at 6pm Mountain Time. To snag a copy for yourself click the following link: 

Chinese Finger Puzzle PDF Pattern 

You'll need to use the code FreePatternFingerPuzzle2025 to get the pattern for free. 

If you are reading this after March 13th at 6pm, you can still get a copy of the pattern for ...

 I have a new pattern with companion step by step video tutorial. I'm offering the pattern for FREE for a short time. Use the code FreePatternJAN2025 to get the pattern for free through Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 6pm USA Mountain Time. If you are finding this after the free time period, all the links below should still work and the pattern is still available, it's just not free.

If you'd like to snag yourself a copy of the pattern then click this link: Square in a Square Pillow Pattern. The pattern is sold as a digital ...

 I've been trying to do more video content but I don't really like to be on camera. Editing the videos is a learning experience and time consuming. I am getting better but I never thought I'd be filming and editing videos as part of my job. You just never know what skills you'll need in life!

I made a video demonstrating how to make a basic bowl with rope. It's kind of a mini class. It's not perfect, but I think you can get the idea and learn something which is more important than ...

 I did a little experiment last week. I bought some liquid Rit dye from the grocery store along with a bottle of the Rit dye Color Fix. I followed the directions on the bottles and dip dyed a sewn bowl and some loose rope.

Here is the bowl before dyeing.

I used an old bucket to set the bowl and loose rope in with the dye. Then I set them in the sun in my backyard to dry.

Here is what the bowl looks like after it dried. 

Then I made another bowl with the dip dyed loose rope.

On ...

 I'm having so much fun sewing with the new rope I received in my shop!

The first thing I made with the new rope from The Mountain Thread Company was this Basket with Handles. I used the kit shown in the photos that the basket is sitting on to make it. I wanted to test out their kits. They are excellent! Each kit includes the amount of rope you need to make the project, a denim needle for your sewing machine and the instructions for the project.

 The ladies from Sassy Sunflower release a new Half Pack Pattern every year. The new pattern for this year is called Miles of Tiles.

This one finishes at 50" by 64". Like all of the half pack patterns, it's easy and uses pretty much every bit of the half pack kit.

You can view ten of the half pack patterns by clicking this link: Half Pack Quilt Gallery

And you can view all of the half pack kits I offer in my shop by clicking this link: Half Pack Kits

If you decide to order a Half Pack Kit ...

 First, I just have to share this adorable new fabric that arrived in my shop last week.

The collection is called Hey Cowgirl. It's got a little bit of a retro vibe to it and plenty of pink, coral and turquoise for that "girlie" cowgirl in your life. We've got several patterns in stock that would really show off these fabrics - quilts and bags.

I'm planning to make a Tourist Tote using the border print as the main fabric for the outside of the bag. I might use one of our new cork fabrics or faux leather ...

  My shop is participating again in the FabShop Online BlowOut event. The sale lasts all week long.

 I don't get much time for personal sewing these days. As a shop owner, most of my sewing time is spent on store samples and class samples. One of my nieces is getting married soon and she asked me to make some little duffle bags for her to give to her bridesmaids. So all last week, in between my regular shop duties, I made 7 duffle bags for her.

I used fabrics from my stash so all of the fabrics I used are older, discontinued fabrics. For the zippers, I used a package of By Annie's zipper by ...

 This is the shop sample and kit I designed using the new Wildlife Trail fabrics my shop received recently.

I didn't get the entire collection but got one color way of the fabrics, pre-cuts (2 1/2" strips and 10" squares) and the panel.

Click here to view the kits and fabrics