What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Remember those cute little fabric yo yos (or Suffolk puffs) that your grandmother used to make?  They were in every color imaginable and she made all kinds of fun things out of them.  Well, I have rounded up 20 tutorials to inspire you to make your own.  From earrings to table runners, you are sure to find a project that you will love.  There are even a couple of tutorials to show you how to make a yo yo if it’s a new skill for you.

1. Molly and Mama brings us this beautiful and detailed tutorial demonstrating how to ...

Just in time for the holidays, this quilt block of a group of candles from Quilt Jane, would make a lovely tiny mini quilt, or a festive addition to a Christmas sampler quilt.

The block measures 8 1/2″ square.  The candle flames are freeform and they give plenty of movement to the design.  Other than the flames, the block is easy patchwork piecing.  Honestly, even the freeform flames are easy.

You could do this in a number of pretty color combinations and the candles are not just for Christmas.  The design could be incorporated in many different ways.

I ...

Described as “the cutest gnome mug rug ever”, that description is pretty accurate.  Just looking at this guy from The Crafty Quilter puts a smile on your face.  Make one, or a whole set, with this easy tutorial.

More and more gnomes are popping up in home décor, and not just for Christmas.  Some people display them all year ’round.  If you are, or know a, gnome collector, then this mug rug would be a great addition to any collection.

It’s essentially a smaller version of a gnome quilt block.  When finished, this mug rug measures 6 1/2 ...

For an easy and quick scrap fabric Christmas ornament look no further than these lovely trees from Life After Laundry.  The green and red fabrics shown are so festive, but you could easily do this in any color of your choice.

Every year, a friend of mine decorates her tree in blue, white, and silver colors.  Luckily I have just the blue and silver fabric that would be perfect for it so I think I’m going to make her one of these.  It would make a nice little homemade trinket to let her know I am thinking about her ...

Calling all quilters and crafters who have loads of scrap fabrics from previous projects!  Here is an easy and festive design for you.  These pretty patchwork Christmas tree plushies from Teresa Down Under are about as easy as they can be.

The detailed tutorial has everything you need to know to make these.  You will find a list of the supplies that you will need, including the downloadable template for the cone shape.  There is even a video tutorial.  Along with the standard sewing and quilting supplies, you will need some fusible interfacing and poly fill for your trees.

Depending ...

I’m pretty sure that everyone needs one of these absolutely adorable snowmen quilts and throw pillows.  Well, at least I do.  This free pattern from Patchwork Posse is an easy and fast project to make.

With the exception of the appliquéd carrot nose and the button eyes, this is a patchwork quilt made up of squares, half square triangles, and some strips for the border.  Being a fan of scrappy quilts, this design immediately caught my eye because of the variety of blue squares.  They really help make those snowmen shine!

Measuring about 46 inches square, this wall hanging ...

This charming mini Christmas ornament quilt from We All Sew is just the project for all of you who enjoy making half square triangles.  I’m not going to lie when I say that it is my favorite unit to make when quilting.

What is so intriguing about this pattern is that the circular part of the ornament is made as a square and then the circle is cut out of it.  That is how the half square triangles take on a different look.  And what an effect this has on the design.  The ornament practically twinkles with all of ...

Made in bright and cheerful colors, this festive Hanukkah sampler quilt from FaveQuilts, would be a lovely quilt to make for the holiday.  The designer of the wall hanging is Ellen Maxwell and it was made to highlight the Chanukah Hallmark Collection from Free Spirit Fabrics.

The pattern combines piecing and fusible appliqué. You will find a list of all of the supplies needed, as well as step by step instructions to help you out.  The downloadable PDF also has the templates for the four designs in the center.

Measuring 38″ by 38″ when finished, it’s an ideal wall ...

Like the name of this pattern from Freemotion by the River implies, this batik table runner practically glows because of the fabrics used.  I don’t know about you, but I always enjoy making table runners.  They are usually fast projects and can often be made with fabric that is already on hand.  That is definitely the case with this design.

While this version was made with a charm pack, it’s an ideal pattern for using up all of those scrap fabrics you have.  And speaking for myself, I am always looking for projects to use up my scraps ...

Is it Christmas without stockings hung in the house?  Of course it is, but I’m willing to bet that lots of people have their stocking hung, just waiting to see what goodies they get filled with.  For many, their handmade stocking that they got from grandma, or someone else special, is lovingly displayed every year.  I still hang the one my Aunt made for me over 50 years ago.  I can’t imagine not hanging it up.  Looking for Holiday or Christmas themed Fabric prints? Check these out.

If you would like to carry on the tradition of making ...

Talk about a true scrap quilt!  This beautiful design by Maureen Cracknell is a stunning quilt-as-you go stash buster that you are going to want to try.  She does her quilt in various vibrant autumn hues which combine together to make a 60″ x 72″ lap quilt.

The quilt-as-you-go technique is one that has been around for a while.  In very simple terms, fabric and batting are sewn together at the same time to create the quilt.  This tutorial guides the reader through the entire process.  In addition, there are plenty of pictures to help.

For this project you need ...

Looking for a quilt block for Hanukkah?  I’ll be honest, they are not that easy to find, but I was able to spot this lovely dreidel pattern.  If you are wondering what a dreidel is, it is a spinning top that is used when playing games during Hanukkah.  There is Hebrew lettering on all four sides and people take turns spinning it.  There are certain actions depending on what letter the player gets. It’s lots of fun for kids (and adults) of all ages!

Designed by Debby Kratovil Quilts, this block combines appliqué and piecing, so it’s ...

Perfect for showing off all of your fabric scraps or that fall charm pack you’ve been saving, this placemat pattern will look lovely on your autumn tablescape.  I have always thought that placemats are an easy and quick way to change up the look of a dining room, and this design does just that.

With three mini maple leaves down one side and squares and fabric strips making up the rest of the top, the pattern from A Quilting Life, has easy-to-follow instructions.  There are also plenty of photos to help you with assembly.

The instructions are for four ...

I have to admit that I went nuts over this adorable mini quilt from Pat Sloan.  It is about as cute as it gets when it comes to fall quilting projects.  The pattern is called Hazelnut although, to be honest, I kind of think it looks like an acorn.  Whatever kind of nut it is, it looks like a fun project to try, and there are definitely no worries that a squirrel is going to steal it.

It’s an appliqué pattern done with fusible webbing and machine stitching.  Pat used the cut away method, which she describes in the ...

Originally designed by Sharon Holland to showcase the Autumn Vibes fabric line by Maureen Cracknell for Art Gallery Fabrics, this quilt truly is reminiscent of its name Autumn Winds.

Made with half square triangles, flying geese and squares, the finished quilt measures 70″ x 70″.  Using the colors and fabrics shown in the pattern, the quilt has a southwestern feel to it.

One of the things I like best about a pattern like this one is that it uses a lot of different fabrics.  This one suggests 12 of them, so it is right up my alley.  I’ll let ...

The holidays are all about celebrating together with loved ones, and when you have a house full of guests, you want your Christmas table to look its best.  An easy way to do that is with a quilted table runner.  It’s amazing how a runner can completely change the look of a room.

All of these patterns and tutorials are free.  A number of them even provide a video tutorial.  Pick out your favorite and get a new look for the holiday season.

1. Merry & Cheer Quilted Christmas Table Runner from Polka Dot Chair
2. Twisted Pole Christmas Quilt Table Runner ...

Perfect for all of you scrap quilters, it’s time to start raiding your fabric stash.  That way you can make this fun and easy pumpkin block and table runner pattern from Diary of a Quilter.  The quilt block is bright and cheerful and can be turned into so many different items.  Just check out the cute pillow that is in the photo.

I think it would be a lovely addition to any Halloween décor and it isn’t just for Halloween.  This design fits right in with any fall decorations.  Of course, if you are a pumpkin super fan ...

Candy corn is one of those candies that people either love or hate.  Personally I cannot wait for the Halloween candy to come out so I can buy a bag of candy corn.  It’s so good, and it reminds me of my grandmother who always had a jar of candy corn in her kitchen all year ’round.  She would always give me a couple to snack on.

It’s also one of those treats everyone eats differently.  Some people take big handfuls of it and others, like me, like to bite off each section separately.  Yummy!  You just know ...

If you are lucky enough to live in an area where the leaves change their colors in autumn, then you know how beautiful that time of year can be.  You can keep those fall colors alive all year with one of these 11 free leaf quilt block patterns.  For a different feel, like summer or spring, you can always change up your color choices.  No matter what colors you make them in, they are lovely.

• Not only do you get this beautiful and free paper pieced maple leaf pattern, On Point Quilter shows you how to draft your own paper ...

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, and when the leaves start to change colors, I know that apple picking season isn’t far away. In the orchards around us, the trees begin to burst with all of that delicious fruit.  Did you know that there are over 7,500 apple varieties in the world and that they are part of the rose family?  I sure didn’t.  All I know is that they taste great, and that I have made many scrumptious treats from ones that we have picked over the years.

Believe me, if you ...