What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

In this week’s episode of 99 Machine Quilting Designs, practice free motion quilting more “shapes on a stick” like Balloon Shapes and Shish Kebabs. Click below to watch and learn:

• Click here to view all machine quilting videos tutorials in the series!

Quilt These Designs on Block Chain

I made this quilt before I started making video tutorials, but it’s a great one to practice these designs! The Block Chain quilt pattern includes a quilting plan showing you how and it’s perfect for your favorite charm packs!

• Click here to get the Block Chain quilt pattern in ...

How are your Beaded Lanterns quilt blocks coming along? It’s time to sew them together to create the quilt top! If you are just now finding the quilt along, be sure to grab the Beaded Lanterns free quilt pattern to join the fun!

• Click here to grab the Beaded Lanters Quilt pattern – it’s free!
• Click here to grab Beaded Lanterns Kits – while supplies last.

To start things off, I like to lay out my blocks on a design wall. Then I’ll spend time arranging them into a pleasing order. I usually take a picture with my camera ...

No fabric out this week. I won a fat quarter at a local quilt show because my program had a sticker.

I decided this week that I need to keep my projects simple. Although work has improved some, I still put in long hours. I don’t have the mental bandwidth by evening to do a lot of thinking. With that in mind, I started a new charity quilt with the jelly roll from the Donation Sale. The pattern is Verticals, free on the Fat Quarter Shop website.

Lucky there is extra fabric because I cut several pieces wrong and ...

This week it’s time to sew all of our cut units from last week into our Lanterns blocks!

Sewing the Beaded Lanterns Blocks

Read through the free quilt pattern for instructions on sewing everything together. To keep the blocks nice and straight I sewed with the light background fabric on top each time. I also sewed with a shorter stitch length (2.0) to strengthen the seams and then pressed them open for incredibly flat blocks.

I like to chain sew or assembly line stitch which means slipping each pair of units to sew under the machine and sewing ...

This week it’s time to cut into your yummy fabrics as we begin to make Beaded Lanterns. If you haven’t done so yet, be sure to download my free Beaded Lanterns Quilt pattern to follow along. Now, let’s get started!

• Click here to grab my Free Beaded Lanterns quilt pattern.
• Click here to grab the Beaded Lanterns Quilt Kit (while supplies last).

Cutting Beaded Lanterns Fabrics

You’ll need a total of 36 precut strips from a standard sized strip roll. Using my Dazzle Dots 2 roll shown above, I took out 2 strips of the ice ...

I’m excited to share my step-by-step process for quilting my latest iteration of Bling. This is one of my favorite patterns I’ve made over the years. Whenever I get a new idea for a fun colorscheme or quilting plan, I can’t help remaking some of my most popular patterns! Click below to watch and let me know what you think!

Get the Bling Quilt Pattern

• Click here to get the PDF version of Bling – instant digital download.
• Click here to view all of my patterns currently in print.

You can choose a similar color story and layout ...

Use a package of 10″ squares on this fun Layer Cake-friendly quilt pattern. Beginner quilters will love how easy and fast it is to finish!

My High Frequency quilt is ready! It measures 56″ x 64″ and the blocks finish at 8″. I made it using one package of 10″ squares of Kaffe Fasset Collective Classic Spots by FreeSpirit Fabrics, an accent fabric, and background fabric! I love its playful and colorful vibe, don’t you?

I chose not to add borders because I wanted to focus on the quilt design. Should you wish to make a larger version of ...

I participated in an online fabric swap last year hosted by redrainbootshandmade. I loved the wonderful variety of all the 5" blue squares that I received but struggled a bit with how I was going to use them. Julia, the swap host, offered a pattern to go along with the swap, her pattern was called "Amarillo Skies". It is a great pattern but revised my version a bit to include a blue/gray sashing

I participated in an online fabric swap last year hosted by redrainbootshandmade. I loved the wonderful variety of all the 5" blue squares that I received but struggled a bit with how I was going to use them. Julia, the swap host, offered a pattern to go along with the swap, her pattern was called "Amarillo Skies". It is a great pattern but revised my version a bit to include a blue/gray sashing

Here are more farm animal paper pieced block patterns for you! I am on a chicken and rooster creating spree. Here are my latest to add to your farm projects.

CHICKEN BLOCK is so easy and cute. I love a fat brown hen!

ROOSTER WITH FLOWERS is adorable with my other Farmhouse Animals wearing flowers.

FARMHOUSE TABLE RUNNER PATTERN

ROOSTER BLOCK PATTERN was so fun to use a chicken wire fabric that I came upon.

SIR CROWS A LOT block will prance right onto your quilt project!

The HEN block is a whimsical chick ready to try to fly. This ...

 As predicted, I didn't even turn the sewing machines on yesterday. I hope today will be a more productive day! I also quilted a quilt, but you must wait to see it! Let's see - what did I do then? 

I have a major computer project on the go. I started it yesterday, and it's turning out amazing! Let's hope it continues in the direction I envisioned. If all goes as planned, you'll see the results next week. 

I had to make an appointment to get our travel shots, and that's next week, as I ...

The time has come!!!!

Say hello to beach days and fancy refreshing drinks while lounging in your backyard!  Tangerine Fabrics by AGF Studio is here and it’s sending us a cool retro Summer, filled with charming florals and playful designs. This collection reminds me of my days living in South Florida and my weekend getaways to Key West. Popping on my me made Summer dresses and my sunnies and riding on mopeds all day weaving in out of the endearing streets of this island's rich history. I am so excited to start sewing up some of the ...

Hello Markers, 

Flowers are more than something pretty to look at and delicious to smell. There is a whole language of flowers out there showing us the meaning and symbolism of each and everyone of them. Marigolds are known for their warmth, joy, and passion. Which is also one of my favorite flowers to plant each spring in memory of my father who passed away 6 years ago. This was a flower we planted together every year since childhood without fail. Because of this Maureen Cracknell’s new collection called Marigold is spreading the most hopeful, energizing vibes. 

Take a ...

Every 2025 issue of AMERICAN QUILTER magazine will include a Made By Marney Collectible Pattern. How exciting!

Each issue has not only the full pattern, but also has a link to a free video with paper piecing tips and tricks. “Bee My Honey” includes this free video Using the Butterfly Effect While Paper Piecing…

The “Some Bunny Loves You” issue includes this pattern and a free video on Connecting Paper Piece Segments Together. This bunny would be great for an Easter project.

The “Think Spring” block will be arriving in the ...

Here’s a quick flannel quilt for beginners, perfect as a graduation gift or home decor. You can make it in one day!

Suede Satchel

My middle son turns 25 today! I had been collecting flannels for a few years to make the Suede Satchel quilt for him, and, while on a retreat at Lake Okoboji earlier this month, I finally put it together! It is smaller than my original pattern – it measures 48″ x 64″ with blocks that finish at 8″ – and I hope he will enjoy it as a throw as he hangs out with his cat, Junior ...

Twelve fresh water fish patterns included in the SOMETHING FISHY QUILT PATTERN, plus directions to construct this lap quilt.

Fish included: PERCH, BLUE GILL, GRAYLING, MUSKIE, TROUT, SUNFISH, WALLEYE, CRAPPIE, BASS, PIKE, SALMON, and BULL HEAD. All of these fish blocks are also sold separately.

POND COLLECTION is a bundle of 4 block patterns. FROG, TURTLE, and DRAGONFLIES.

Plus this CATTAIL BLOCK is an extra block that can be used along with the Pond blocks in a quilt.

And for the gnome lovers…GNOME WITH BIG CATCH is ...

Its time to dust off those bunny decorations. Let me help you with that!

Here are some of my favorite paper pieced Easter patterns…

All 6 of these bunny and peeper blocks are included in one pattern: EASTER TABLE RUNNER AND POTHOLDERS. Easy peasy patterns, and a great way to use up those scraps!

HAPPY EASTER DUCKY and HAPPY EASTER BUNNY are fast and easy and make great gifts.

I sewed tiny little egg buttons in the EASTER BUNNY GNOME basket. Too cute!

The LOP ...

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, here are some clever paper pieced blocks for spring…

The bolster pillow was created by Ann using my LUCKY LEPRECHAUN block pattern. What a clever idea for a sofa or bench pillow.

This is an example of a table runner using my CLOVER LEAF BLOCK with a LEPRECHAUN BLOCK.

Brigitta from Austria created this adorable place mat using my LEPRECHAUN GNOME pattern.

Here are some of my new patterns ...

This week for 99 Machine Quilting Designs we are learning to quilt Triangle Texture, a design that’s great for modern OR traditional quilts! Watch below and let me know what you think!

Get the Surplus Strips Quilt Pattern or Kit
I recently combined 2 motifs – boxes and triangles on the gray version of my Surplus Strips quilt! You can now grab the kit to make this quilt with the gray or white background, or grab the pattern and choose your own colors. It’s fun to make and fun to quilt! 

• Click Here to Get the Surplus Strips Quilt ...

Growing up in rural Wisconsin on a quaint dairy farm, has given me a love for animals which is very evident in my designing. Lately I’ve had lots of requests from customers for more farm blocks and farm quilts, specifically when they are making my FARMYARD STARS pattern.

Since animal designs are a favorite of mine, this is a happy request. Here are some resent quilt blocks that I think will go great in a farm quilt.

FARMER GIRL and FARMER BOY are sweet blocks, and of course have to have chickens are ...