Are you a fan of quilt retreats? Love sewing away the day with other quilters? This is your shot to come to one – you pick… either in person or virtual.

Either way, you’ll find yourself surrounded by quilty friends, lots of projects in progress and possibly a few fun finishes! Plus, we always supply you with a fun swag bag and fun games – and don’t forget about those giveaways and prizes. yay!

Check the dates. Check your calendar. Pick up your spot at either the Quilt-Away Retreat or the Gather and Stitch Quilt Retreat.

When it comes to ...

Ready to escape without ever leaving home?

The Quilt-Away Virtual Retreat is your chance to hit pause on the everyday hustle and dive headfirst into a weekend of fabric, friends, and finishes.

Imagine three glorious days of guilt-free sewing time, a brand-new quilt pattern created just for the retreat, a super fun Mug Notion Caddy project, and plenty of games, prizes, and laughter along the way.

No packing, no hauling your machine, no hotel bills — just you, your sewing space, and a community of quilters stitching right alongside you.

Trust me, this is one weekend you don’t want to ...

Learn about pre-wound bobbins and why they might just become your new favorite sewing supply. If you’ve ever run out of bobbin thread in the middle of quilting, or spent extra time winding several bobbins before a big project, pre-wound bobbins can save you time and frustration.

They come ready to use straight from the package—already wound, even, and consistent. You can find them in different colors, thread thicknesses, and bobbin sizes to fit most sewing machines. Just be sure to double-check your machine’s bobbin type before buying so you get the correct fit.

In this post ...

I’ve been sewing produce bags this summer, and today I’m going to give you the pattern and tutorial. If you do not sew, the ones I have made are available for purchase, just skip to the bottom of this post. These bags are great for taking to farmer’s markets and produce stands to hold my purchases. One big benefit of the mesh is it allows those pesky little gnats to escape so I don’t bring them home with the vegetables. You can hang the bags in your pantry to keep onions and potatoes as the mesh ...

Another autumn week went by in a flash! I am busy with customer quilts, several of which also required binding. I have a couple of tight deadlines because the clients are flying off to Australia and Houston and want to take the quilts with them. I went along to the Doughtys Fabric roadshow in a Cornish village Hall where I bought 3m of fabric to line the coat that has been on the go for ages since I “lost” its lining fabric in my move.

Nessie had a fancy haircut and the groomer decreed that she should attend the hairdresser ...

It’s time to finish the 2025 Block of the Month – Hidden Gems in Patchworkers Plus! This has been a wonderful year of beautiful blocks and now is the time that all your efforts come together and you get a finished quilt.

This is one of my favorite things about designing patterns… to see them come together in the end. To see all the variations that you’ve chosen. You picked your fabric. You chose the placement of those setting blocks. You’ve been sewing away each month making progress. And now, they all come together to make something beautiful ...

Learn how to sew a festive Halloween table topper using the AccuQuilt Flying Swallows die. This die is designed to create swirling blocks that look like they’re flying in a circle when four are sewn together, but it also works beautifully with single blocks—giving you plenty of layout options.

For this project, I combined the Flying Swallows blocks with simple nine-patch blocks for contrast and variety. While I was sewing, I accidentally switched the placement of some of the block pieces, and it created a completely different look—more like little bats swooping through the quilt! It was ...

Over a year ago, I attended a class given by a friend of mine, Barb Boatman. She is an amazing artist, making fantastic pieces out of everything you can think of including aluminum soda cans. She was featured in Quilt Folk a couple of years ago and I am lucky enough to have one of her woven and quilted aluminum pieces in my art collection. Anyway, she led us through an exercise that really hooked me. She calls it an Improv Meditation, and it is a handwork project.

The pieces are small, about 5 inches square. They are random placements ...

Learn how to sharpen your quilting skills without the overwhelm!

I’m so excited to share that I’ve teamed up with some amazing quilt designers and teachers for the Quilt Skills Academy Bundle. This is your chance to grab a whole collection of classes, patterns, and resources all in one place—at a price you won’t believe. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been quilting for years, you’ll find tools and training to help you sew with more confidence, organize your projects, and even try new techniques you’ve been curious about.

The best ...

The edge to edge design Cogs is based on a soft curl surrounded by a boxy echoes and hops.

This funky design would be lovely on a quilt for a person who likes to know the inner workings of a piece of machinery. On the other hand, this freemotion design would work well within a mix of various flower designs too. 

The elements within the sequence of Cogs are pretty simple. A soft curl, a series of boxy shapes as an echo around to the curl and then to complete the shape, add a series of hops around it all ...

Learn how you can use the EQ program without leaving your home. There are now online EQ classes available – three total!

I was able to work through class #1 – it’s a fantastic place to start. Super easy to follow and watch when you need. You know I’m a big fan of things online. Not having to travel, haul all the stuff, etc. So this is such a great opportunity for any quilter who uses the program (new or returning) to learn a bit more.

These classes are designed for all levels of quilters—not just pattern designers.

Whether ...

Learn how you can take a candy wrapper and make a zipper pouch with it. You’ll even learn how to make the outside wrapper more durable by using iron vinyl.

Did you know that you can repurpose those candy wrappers into a zipper pouch?! yes! Those large share sized M&M bags or even those chocolate covered pretzels are the best bag and after a bit of fussing can become a super useful and cute zipper bag.

Materials Needed for the zipper pouch:

• Candy of your choice
• Iron on Vinyl found here
• Zipper found here
• Fat quarter fabric (lining ...

Crochet - Sewing & Applique 

 My Month in Stitches 

Stitched Robin 

Applique & Stitched

Mouse ...

Learn how to make a braided key ring with this quick and easy sewing tutorial. This is a fun project to whip up with fabric scraps, ribbon, or strips of fabric you already have on hand. The finished keychain is not only practical but also a great way to add a little handmade flair to your everyday items.

This key ring project is perfect if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly sewing idea, a thoughtful handmade gift, or a way to use up leftover fabric. It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll end up with something both useful ...

If you didn’t know this about me, I am a very deliberate person. When making a quilt for a person, sometimes it takes me years to come up with the design and color options for that specific person. This one … Continue reading →

I've been busy, and it’s a good thing.

I am forever prattling about my never-ending quest for knowledge and techniques for the crafts I love, mostly textile related. For a long time I have wanted to get back to sewing clothes for myself, and it finally happened in July.

I took a class at Stitchin’ Post to make a t-shirt using my new serger/cover stitch combo machine. I used the Concord Tee pattern by Cashmerette. The class was all day, and I had a blast. We started with tracing our pattern and, by the time the class ...

It is exactly a year since I ran away from home to Devon and lived in an old caravan until I found my wee cottage. I have now experienced all of the seasons, including what seems to be an early, wet autumn. The conkers on the trees in the park are huge. Nessie and I are now familiar with the regulars in the park, including the 2 resident geese. I was glad that I invested in a decent second hand raincoat and have now added some reflective heat-press flowers so cars can see me in the dark. 

I have done ...

Let me tell you about the SewTites for your longarm! I am excited to share my experience and how it works for me.

These magnets are mega strong and perfect for longarm machines… you know how loading the backing fabric using pins is kind of tedious.

I’ve tried another system for loading them and didn’t really like it (I tell you about it in the video). So I was a little hesitant on using the SewTites, but I really do like it!

Currently I don’t have the pieces stitched in place on the longarm leader or ender ...

Learn how to sew a DIY smock apron with this simple sewing tutorial. This beginner-friendly apron pattern is perfect for quilting, cooking, crafting, or even working in the garden.

It slips right over your head, so there are no ties to fuss with, and the roomy fit makes it extra comfortable to wear.

With just a couple of yards of fabric and a little sewing time, you’ll have a handmade apron that’s not only practical but also a great scrap-buster project.

Whether you’re looking for a handmade gift idea, something to keep your clothes clean while you ...

Buying a new sewing machine can feel overwhelming—there are so many brands, features, and price points to consider! To make things easier, here are my top 10 tips for choosing your very first machine.

1. Buy the Best Sewing Machine You Can Afford

Cheaper machines often have plastic parts that won’t hold up over time. Also, some of them are not built very well and will fall apart after a few uses. New and inexpensive machines (I'm looking at you - Amazon) may work for a while but can be frustrating and short-lived. That said, don’t overspend ...