Finding Pins and Needles

  1. Spray Starch I won't sew without this... Everyone needs a good spray starch when piecing blocks. Using fabric when it's stiff makes a world of difference when running it under the needle, you'll have so much more control and accuracy. I use Marry Ellen's Best Press. I literally buy it by the gallon *. 2. Wool Mat Wool Pressing Mats are all the rage, and you'll know why when you get one! These babies retain heat, which allows you to iron both sides of the fabric at the same time, plus, provides a stiff pressing surface to not distort your fabric. You also might want a small one*  paired with your mini iron* next to your machine! 3. PILOT FriXion Pens & Markers This has been a game-changer for me! These are great for using to trace templates, mark your half square triangles and mark your quilting lines. I love that they come in multiple colors, so they are versatile on different colored fabrics. I do use the  marker version*  on my fabrics too...

Lately I've been inspired by basic 9-patch blocks and the endless possibilities they hold. Although I usually design my quilts in Adobe Illustrator, sometimes it's fun to be hands on. Thus, the creation of my quilt blocks... literal blocks . Materials: Sharpies Wooden Cubes  (they cost a whopping $2) Design: Nine patch blocks are comprised of nine units, laid out in three rows of three patches. Put together, you can make plenty of traditional block designs, or you can go with something more contemporary. Simply color the design with a Sharpie marker onto the sides of the wooden cubes. There are plenty of other design options for your cube's sides besides the ones above,  get creative and start designing your own quilt! Happy Quilting!

I was so excited to do this Dick & Jane Baby Quilt ( Michael Miller's Dick & Jane fabric). Believe it or not, this was a stash quilt! The only thing I had to purchase was the batting. I have made a number of projects with this fabric over the years. Now that my kids are getting older, I'm finding fewer uses. It's pretty much used up now, and I had a ton of fun doing it! A few of my previous Dick & Jane projects are a book caddy for my son's bed and a stuffed monkey doll that was kind of a fail. She's in the first picture, she's coming unstuffed! A book caddy for the top bunk. This was my third quilt, I thought I'd share a few tips I've learned a long the way. All the instructional videos I've been watching on Craftsy & YouTube have made a HUGE difference in the quality of this quilt compared to the last  therefore making it that much more fun to sew. A few tips & tutorials Spray "starch"  has change...

It's taken me a long time to take this step.... my first quilt! Ok, confession ... This was NOT my first quilt. Below is photo evidence circa 1996, a school project. *wince*. Yes I made the matching dress too. Everyone needs apparel to match their quilt. MOVING ON. I. Learned. A. Lot. You'll get much more valuable tips from other blogs and sites, I won't pretend to be an expert after 1... ok, 2 quilts. I will tell you though, I learned I didn't understand triangles, bias cutting, and fabric stretch . If you're a newbie, my suggestion is to look this up before endeavoring on your first triangle quilt. Also, learn the triangle trick (at least I think it's a trick). I thought I was choosing a pattern that would be easy, but it turned out that the fabrics I chose led to... a lot of math.  Don't try to create your own pattern if you're a newbie , too much unnecessary stress! **I used to have a link to the original pattern by Riley...