What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I am really a very organized person. I know where to find what I need. I could say, “A place for everything, and everything in its place,” only that is not quite exactly true.

While I am organized and I know where everything is, I can become someone who is consumed by stacks of this and that. Yes, I know what is in the stacks, but all those stacks are robbing energy from me.

When the space is clearer, so is my mind. When my mind is clear, I will work better.

I know this to be true. I also ...

I started putting all the pieces and parts together for Show off quilt, and, it went very quickly. I have all the rows together. This pattern calls for 9 1/2 inch squares, and is designed by the the quilted twins. They have a large selection of free patterns. I have a large stash of recycled shirt fabric, and I keep it separate, so, it grows. It is time to use it.

I need to make quilts using my large stash of recycled shirt fabrics. I am doing the old country mystery quilt through the quilted twins. They have a large selection of free patterns. I picked one, and have been cutting and sewing in preparation of making it. It takes a bit more time to work with shirts, even if the shirt has been cut for use.
There are fiddley parts of the shirt that are not even or long, but, still, have useable cotton fabric. I tend to try and use those pieces first. This pattern calls for 9 1 ...

This video is part 2 in my series on reusing candle wax. Previously I made a video on how to reuse candle wax by melting the wax in jars on the stove, then transferring all the hot wax to a new jar with a fresh wick.

I got a lot of great feedback via comments on my YouTube channel from viewers on more ways to remove wax from jars. I’m currently stuck in the house due to the COVID-19 outbreak, so it’s the perfect time to try out your suggestions! If you have a tried and true method ...

The original quilter tried, she really did.  The pattern is interesting, the fabric is high quality, the colors are beautiful.  But, she struggled with the piecing and assembly and eventually gave up.

Sparkle Jane saw potential. She fixed what she could of the piecing, while honoring the effort of the original maker. And assembled the top.

There was plenty of fabric, so she added a triple border–a narrow inner border, a lovely piano key center, and a wider outer border.

Extra fabric was used to make more “piano key” style pieces to stretch the back.

I am certain the ...

I had stopped buying thrift store shirts. I had plenty, and was tired of cutting them apart. And, I still don't have a tried and true way to store them. If they are in boxes or plastic containers and stacked, I forget about them and forget to use them. But, I discovered a new to me blog of a quilter who uses recycled fabric and my interest was renewed. She has a lot of free patterns and I really like reading about her plans and thinking. Her free patterns are here. Her blog quilted twins is here. There is ...

My daughter-in-law once told me her preferences for a purse are that it have a long strap for a crossbody position, and that it zips closed. I thought I would try a crossbody as well and came up with the following tutorial.  My wish is that you use it for personal sewing or gifts, fundraisers or group instruction. If you wish to share a photo of one that you’ve made, I’d love to see it! Please don’t sell my idea as your own.

Prepare the book. In choosing a book I look for something decorative on the ...

I found this interesting object in a thrift store for 69-cents.  Too darling to leave behind.

So it came home with me.  To become a pincushion.

First try went…badly.  What was I thinking?!  Wrong shape.  Wrong size.

Second try, however, turned into this!

YAY!

I am pretty sure I could make a pincushion every week for a year and not get tired of it.  Which is funny, because I really don’t use pincushions much.  I have a metal magnetic tray.

On a Saturday Sparkle Jane said, “Mom, I want to make him a quilt.”

“Well,” I said, “There are these Pendleton shirts…”

The quilt was planned, sorted, cut, piecing started…

Tuesday night, Sparkle Jane was assembling.  There was no fabric suitable for a back here and the quilt shops were all closed.  While she kept stitching, I left for Joanns, two towns away.  The store closes at 9pm.  I got there about 8:15pm.  She was going to have to trust me.

Find the fabric. Get the fabric.  Head home.

The backing was pronounced, not just acceptable, but perfect!  WHEW ...

Those damaged Pendleton shirts are finally turning into something.

Sparkle Jane wanted to make him a quilt.  We designed.  I cut.  She stitched.  Top finished last night.  Whew!

More details and pictures coming.

That’s it! I’ve fallen down the wool applique rabbit hole. I’ve spent a good bit of my sewing time talking about ways to avoid hand sewing and here I am… HAND SEWING....

See more sewing and quilting adventures from Jen Eskridge of ReannaLily Designs

…make it!  I’m a DIY kind of girl, always have been. I’m frugal, and learned many skills from my mom; ours was a big family with a limited income, she made do, did a lot of the projects around the house, figured … Continue reading →

When my husband had to cut down our flowering crabapple tree, I grabbed some branches with the dried apples still on. Added LED lights from Joann's with brown floral tape and, voila, romantic low lights. Much more natural and interesting than those found in stores today. The lights are plug in which emit a copper glow. Note the vase; I made it in a freshman ceramics seminar in 1970 at Barat College.