What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Over the years, I’ve grown to really love this part of the process. There was a time when I dreaded binding—and I didn’t even want to quilt my own quilts. I’d send them off to be quilted by someone else or use my sister’s longarm and do an easy Edge-to-Edge pattern. But over the last five years, something has changed. Now, figuring out a quilting plan, quilting and binding have become steps where I can pour my heart into and do it with a smile.

Ways to Quilt

There are so many different quilting options ...

Let the Quilt Shine!

This week is all about assembling your quilt top—and guess what? The hard part is done! With all the blocks made and the wings in place, it’s time to bring everything together and see your quilt take shape.

The good news? This week is pretty simple. The blocks have plenty of breathing room in the layout, so we’ll be sewing the blocks into rows, and then adding sashing between the rows, and finally adding the borders. That’s it!

But if you’re anything like me, your mind might be drifting to adjusting ...

More Birds!!

Last week in the Drift QAL, we faced the curve—and won! read more

Tackling the Curve

Piecing a curve together might feel a little scary at first. There’s something so simple and comforting about a straight line—but a curve? A curve is definitely not a straight line. When you’re working with curves, you’re dealing with bias edges, which can stretch and shift. You’re joining two pieces that look like they shouldn’t fit together. It might even seem like you’re gathering fabric when you’re not!

And just like in life, there are many ways to do the same thing—and no single right or wrong way ...

Welcome to Week 2 of the Drift Quilt Along! This week, we’re diving into one of the most exciting parts of making a quilt: cutting all the pieces. This includes cutting curves for the birds in the quilt. This is the most chaotic step, and when organization pays off.

There are so many things I love about this pattern. First off—no flying geese (cue the happy dance!). I also love that the block includes a bit of sashing within the block itself, so we only need to add sashing between the rows. And best of all, the blocks ...

What is a Quilt Along? And Why You Should Join One This July!

If you’ve ever wished for a quilting friend to encourage and even challenge you, then a Quilt Along (QAL) might be exactly what you need.

What is a Quilt Along?

A QAL starts with a host—someone who organizes the entire experience. They set the schedule, decide how the information will be shared, and, most importantly, choose the project. Every QAL is unique. In the past, I’ve hosted QALs by publishing blog posts on my website, while others have delivered details via email. The structure ...

This month, we’re back and just as beaming as before with the final installment of our 11th Annual Charity Quilt, Moonbeams, and some exciting news about this year’s charity quilt raffle! The digital pattern is now live and available to download on our website. If you want to go back and check out the first six parts of this year’s charity quilt along, you can read all about it on the Moonbeams Charity Quilt Along page.

DOWNLOAD THE PIECED BACKING PATTERN

Grab the Moonbeams Pieced Backing Set

The final pattern in this series consists of three blocks ...

This month, we’re excited to be squaring up and wrapping up the quilt top of our 11th Annual Charity Quilt, Moonbeams! It will be impossible to get bored when you’re piecing the Square-in-a-Square Border, and it’s always so rewarding to see all the blocks come together. For those of you who are putting the finishing touches on your Moonbeam cross stitch patterns, be sure to show them off and use the #MoonbeamsSAL on Instagram!

DOWNLOAD THE SQUARE-IN-A-SQUARE BORDER AND FINISHING PATTERN

The sixth pattern in this series will have you putting together a square-in-a-square border that will ...

We are piecing the blocks for the Seeing Stars Handi Quilter quilt-along this month. There are a lot of half-square triangles in this quilt, which means there are bias edges. You have to be careful when working with bias edges because they stretch very easily.

Last week I told you I make my half square triangles (HST) two at a time. I draw a line from point to point on one square and match it up with another square. Then I stitch 1/4 inch away on both sides of the line. I cut on the line and I end ...

We are piecing the blocks for the Seeing Stars Handi Quilter quilt-along this month. There are a lot of half-square triangles in this quilt, which means there are bias edges. You have to be careful when working with bias edges because they stretch very easily.

Last week I told you I make my half square triangles (HST) two at a time. I draw a line from point to point on one square and match it up with another square. Then I stitch 1/4 inch away on both sides of the line. I cut on the line and I end ...

It’s April, so this month we are piecing the blocks for the Handi Quilter quilt-along, Seeing Stars. Last month we chose fabrics and cut out our pieces. If you are just learning about this quilt-along it’s not too late to join the fun.

Find the pattern here: https://handiquilter.com/product/quilt-top-pattern-seeing-stars/

Find the hints and hacks page here: https://handiquilter.com/download/152247/

Piecing

I have to make a confession here. I’m not so much a “read-the-pattern-and-follow-the-directions” type quilter as I am a “look-at-the-picture-and-sew-the-pieces-to-look-like-the-picture” type quilter.  Can you relate? Let’s take a poll. Tell us ...

It’s April, so this month we are piecing the blocks for the Handi Quilter quilt-along, Seeing Stars. Last month we chose fabrics and cut out our pieces. If you are just learning about this quilt-along it’s not too late to join the fun.

Find the pattern here: https://handiquilter.com/product/quilt-top-pattern-seeing-stars/

Find the hints and hacks page here: https://handiquilter.com/download/152247/

Piecing

I have to make a confession here. I’m not so much a “read-the-pattern-and-follow-the-directions” type quilter as I am a “look-at-the-picture-and-sew-the-pieces-to-look-like-the-picture” type quilter.  Can you relate? Let’s take a poll. Tell us ...

Have you started on your Seeing Stars quilt-a-long quilt? It’s not too late! This month (March) we are selecting fabric and cutting. I will share my progress and thoughts as we go. My friend Pam is also going to quilt along and I’ll share her approach as well.

Selecting Fabrics

My Choices

Since this quilt is mostly scrappy, I started with a fat quarter pack from my stash that was very “well-aged”.  It gave me a start on my color palette. Then I added in some additional fat quarters for more variety.

I wanted to follow the hack ...

Have you started on your Seeing Stars quilt-a-long quilt? It’s not too late! This month (March) we are selecting fabric and cutting. I will share my progress and thoughts as we go. My friend Pam is also going to quilt along and I’ll share her approach as well.

Selecting Fabrics

My Choices

Since this quilt is mostly scrappy, I started with a fat quarter pack from my stash that was very “well-aged”.  It gave me a start on my color palette. Then I added in some additional fat quarters for more variety.

I wanted to follow the hack ...

Have you ever joined a quilt-a-long? Now is your chance to try one on for size. Handi Quilter’s first quilt-a-long is just starting and it’s FREE!

The Videos

The last Tuesday of each month we will premier a video with hints, tips and techniques you can use to create your Seeing Stars quilt. Noon Mountain time (11am Pacific time, 1pm Central time, and 2pm Eastern time in the US) is when the videos will premier. If you are outside of those time zones, you can figure out when to watch here.  If you can’t watch live, you ...

Have you ever joined a quilt-a-long? Now is your chance to try one on for size. Handi Quilter’s first quilt-a-long is just starting and it’s FREE!

The Videos

The last Tuesday of each month we will premier a video with hints, tips and techniques you can use to create your Seeing Stars quilt. Noon Mountain time (11am Pacific time, 1pm Central time, and 2pm Eastern time in the US) is when the videos will premier. If you are outside of those time zones, you can figure out when to watch here.  If you can’t watch live, you ...

At the start of December 2022 our friend, Helen Godden, started her annual Christmas Countdown Quilt-a-long. Helen is our Handi Quilter Ambassador who lives in Australia. She’s an accomplished artist and a superb stationary machine quilter. I decided to join in the quilt-a-long and take you all along with me. So today I will share my journey, some things I learned along the way, and the finish.

In the last post about this topic I showed you how I prepared my fabric with Helen’s design by tracing her pattern. I made a few changes (thanks Helen for understanding ...

At the start of December 2022 our friend, Helen Godden, started her annual Christmas Countdown Quilt-a-long. Helen is our Handi Quilter Ambassador who lives in Australia. She’s an accomplished artist and a superb stationary machine quilter. I decided to join in the quilt-a-long and take you all along with me. So today I will share my journey, some things I learned along the way, and the finish.

In the last post about this topic I showed you how I prepared my fabric with Helen’s design by tracing her pattern. I made a few changes (thanks Helen for understanding ...

Have you seen the Christmas Countdown Quilt-a-long for 2022 from our friend, Helen Godden? This is the 7th year that Helen is doing her quilt-a-long. It’s tons of fun and you just might learn a few new quilting techniques along the way. Helen is our Handi Quilter Ambassador who lives in Australia. She’s an accomplished artist and a superb stationary machine quilter.

Where to join

Go here and download Helen’s free pattern. Print it and tape the 6 pages together. Then transfer the design to muslin or fabric. You can prepare the piece for quilting any way ...

Have you seen the Christmas Countdown Quilt-a-long for 2022 from our friend, Helen Godden? This is the 7th year that Helen is doing her quilt-a-long. It’s tons of fun and you just might learn a few new quilting techniques along the way. Helen is our Handi Quilter Ambassador who lives in Australia. She’s an accomplished artist and a superb stationary machine quilter.

Where to join

Go here and download Helen’s free pattern. Print it and tape the 6 pages together. Then transfer the design to muslin or fabric. You can prepare the piece for quilting any way ...