Pressing seams is an integral part of the assembly process of a quilt block. Every time a seam is sewn, it must be pressed before the next piece is added. Seems simple, right? Not always. In a complex quilt block with small pieces, the seams can start to get bulky. Following a few guidelines can …
One of the most challenging yet exciting parts of designing quilt blocks is deciding which features to include in the pattern. If I am making a representational pattern, the subject must be simplified and reduced to geometric shapes that I can measure, cut, and sew together, much like a mosaic. Meet Calypso. She is a …
When it comes to quilting, my favorite part is creating the designs. To make a quilt design that is representational and not merely a geometric design, many people opt to use applique or paper piecing techniques. I am not a fan or either of those methods. I prefer the traditional piecing technique of measuring and …
Hanging quilts on the wall is a great way to display them, especially when you don’t want to make a full-sized quilt. Quilted wall art can be any size and unlike many other types of wall art there is no need to purchase an expensive frame. In this post I will show you a simple …
Quilted bags are fun and functional. I use mine to keep my yarn and knitting needles. It keeps my yarn contained while I work on a project. But there are so many other uses for quilted bags. In this post I will show you the steps to make your own quilted bag. First you need …
In this article I will show you how to make quilted placemats using either one twelve-inch quilt block or two nine-inch quilt blocks. For my first placemat I made a twelve-inch quilt block using my Wine for Two quilt block pattern. Then I cut two one-and-a-half-inch strips to sew on both sides. This makes a …
Looking for a project to make from a small quilt block? Quilted potholders can be functional art or purely decorative. Potholders typically range from five to ten inches. For my potholders I used a six-inch quilt block and a nine-inch quilt block. The first step is to make a quilt block. For this potholder, I …
In this post I am going to show you how to make a quilted pillow using my Cat on a Ledge quilt block pattern. Pillows are great because they can be made any size or shape. The larger pillow is made from four six-inch quilt blocks with some sashing and border strips. The smaller pillow …