Quilting

So much Modern Quilting! Oh, I love it! Let’s talk about my favorite quilting tips, tricks, and how-tos! Learn something new or improve on an old skill.

What to do on the back of your quilt?

So you’ve completed the quilt top! Yay!… now, what do you do on the back of your quilt?

We’ve all been there… It feels harsh just to slap some random fabric on it and call it “good”, right?

Especially if you really challenged yourself and poured out a lot of time and effort into the front of your quilt!

I believe you have the opportunity to create a full 360-degree piece of artwork with your quilt that is beautiful from every angle. And you don’t have to work yourself to death either!

I made a video with some ideas and examples of quilt backs that I have created in the past along with some tips for how to make the back of your quilt interesting!

Check it out below and then read on to see more tips!

5 tips to make the back of your quilt interesting!

1. Don’t follow a specific pattern

I love rules, I do… but I also love to break them… what can I say?

It is so creatively refreshing to be able to do whatever I want and make things fit however I feel like after I have completed a very specific and strategic pattern.

This is a great opportunity to play with your fabric and see what you come up with! It could be that you stick to something very simple and straight forward… or you could do something complex.

2. Try something new that you’ve been admiring

Maybe you’ve seen a technique on YouTube (you can check out my channel and subscribe to me here!) and it looks like an interesting block, but you’re not sure if you’re ready to commit to a whoooole quilt yet?

This is the perfect opportunity to try out a new idea. If you just end up doing one block, you can add borders around it to make a beautiful design focal point on the back of your quilt!

3. Well-placed contrasting strips add interest and hide seams

Nothing breaks up the weird and awkward seams of joining fabric pieces together like some well-placed strips of fabric!

In the quilt back below, the quilt was wider than my fabric. I COULD have just bought more fabric, and did a nearly invisible seam down the center of the quilt… it would have been fine. Hardly anyone would have seen it with the quilting, I’m sure…

But… there was an opportunity to do something fun!

I decided to add some scrap fabric stripes to the center and voila… instant “design choice” status vs. “boring piecing together of fabric”.

4. Don’t underestimate the power of a Jelly Roll

Jelly roll quilts are fun to sew. (Mostly because of the amount of progress that happens really fast at the end of the process… I still love to see it come together!)

Us quilters know what it takes to make a jelly roll quilt, but no one else does!

They make fantastic quilt backs! A little more detail and thought into the quilt that you make. Plus, you don’t have to buy huge pieces of expensive fabric. Use what you have on hand!

5. My favorite tip: Use Scraps!

I can’t stress this enough! Use the leftover scraps from the front of your quilt and incorporate them into the design on the back of your quilt!

It helps create a cohesive design between the two sides AND it helps you use your fabric wisely.

I’ve actually created the habit of using the “fabric requirements” of a pattern as more of a general guideline… and not a hard rule.

If you’re able to buy an extra 1/8-1/4 yard of a few pieces of fabric, not only will you have a little margin for any errors that happen along the way (don’t lie, I know it happens to you too, right?) you will have fabric left over to use on the back of your quilt!

For more information on how to organize your scraps: Scrap Fabric Storage and what to do with them.

I hope that gives you some new ideas and some thoughts on ways you can spice up the back of your quilts! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or comment down below! I love to hear from you 🙂

What is your favorite way to treat the back of your quilt? Do you prefer simple or complex?
What do to when your WIP quilt will not cooperate with you?

Heres the thing… sometimes it isn’t all sunshine and roses in my sewing room! Sometimes its a messy fight to the end with the seam ripper… and “UGH! WHY CAN’T THIS JUST WORK?!” Today I’m going to share with you what to do when your WIP quilt will not cooperate with you.

Heads up, WIP = Work in progress. To understand more quilting terminology, check out this post. Unlocking the quilter’s code. I also have a video!

So, THOSE days… THAT particular quilt… or sewing project, bag or WHATEVER the darn thing is. Sometimes it seems that no matter how hard you’re trying… it feels like it just isn’t meant to be!

You know what I mean… right?

It could be that no matter how many times you rip and re-sew, it is still wrong!

Or it could just be that you’ve just lost interest in the project and it still sits in the corner of your sewing room… mocking you.

If you have come here and you’re looking for someone to pat you on the back or give you a hug and tell you it is ok, I can do that…

*hugs* I get it, sister.

If that is all you want, you can stop reading here.

…

Are you still with me? Good.

I’m going to share with you how to get on with your life after one of these projects because one thing is certain… As long as you are sewing and growing, there will be more of these difficult projects in your life.

You have the option of choosing one of 3 different paths to proceed…

You have 3 choices to make when your WIP quilt will not cooperate.

Choice # 1) Completely abandon the project

That’s right. I said it. Hear me out first, ok?

This is a totally viable option. I know that you have invested money and time into your quilt. It hurts to just throw it all away! — But so does spending hours upon hours being frustrated and not getting anywhere…

I’m simply giving you permission to really look at your time and how you’re spending it. Give yourself GRACE and decide what is adding or taking away value to the end of your day.

You don’t have to throw it in the garbage. You can totally put it in a box on the back shelf of the closet where it is out of sign and isn’t giving you grief or stress. It is ok to kiss it goodbye… even if it is just temporary.

Save it for another day and move on to something you really do enjoy!

Choice #2) Alter your project or plan

You are an artist! Sometimes an artist paints by number and uses rigid guidelines to create, but oftentimes the best masterpieces are created when they fudge the lines and color outside just a bit, right?

It is what makes each quilt unique! Even when we all sew the same pattern, each quilt has its own personality!

Maybe the blocks that you’ve sewn for a giant quilt end up becoming a handbag? or a wall hanging? Maybe you decide not to make a king-size quilt and just go with a double?

Or maybe instead of sewing 9,000 blocks (obviously I’m exaggerating here but sometimes it feels that way), you sew 12 of them and put a few simpler borders in between to take up the remaining space.

Figure out what you can live with, get it done!

Then, move on sister!

Choice #3) You Press on!

(pun totally intended above!)

I have these days too when my WIP quilt will not cooperate and I decide that it just simply is not going to beat me.

I rule this sewing room… I’m the queen and a big bunch of fabric will not defy my rulings! (maybe I do spend too many late nights in my sewing room with a glass of wine?)

You are tough too. I can feel it deep down inside. You really want this quilt/project to be made…

Here are a few tips to help you keep pressing on…

-Look up YouTube videos — See if someone has made a youtube video on the specific pattern you’re working on or a skill that you find challenging.

-Take a break and work on a smaller project for a little bit. Don’t abandon it unless you want to… but work on something that reminds you why you love sewing in the first place and that doesn’t cause you to mutter curse words at stray pieces of string. 🙂

-Drink some tea (or coffee or wine… I won’t judge) put on your favorite song and just do it. Sew through the hard and confusing steps. use scrap fabric while you’re figuring it out and save the good fabric for when you’ve got it down.

Take a deep breath and vow to be victorious. You got this. I believe in you!

However you decide to handle that really hard moment when a WIP quilt will not cooperate… know that you are not alone.

We’ve all had moments where we feel like this…

FYI – This pic was taken after 1.5 hours of quilting just FINE and no problems… nothing changes and then THIS disaster takes place on the back side of my quilt! Why? I don’t know. Just because……

How do you usually choose to handle the really hard and difficult projects? Tell me in the comments below? I would love to know!
Quilty Things To Make For The Holidays

So the other day… it happened. I heard my first Christmas song on the overhead speakers of the grocery store we were shopping in for 2019. I’m not even going to lie… I got giddy! I love this time of year! Ok yes… November 7th is a little too early to be starting the Christmas tunes (even for me) but I left that store with a crafty passion and a need for quilty things to make for the holidays!

Maybe there are a few more of you out there who are like me and are just itching to get into the holiday spirit?

I’ve scoured the internet and collected several projects that are super fun and pair perfectly with a cup of hot cocoa.

If you’re just getting ideas, make sure you pin the image below so you can come back and reference it later. 🙂

If you need some quilty Christmas gift ideas, make sure to check out this post too! – 25 Quilty Christmas Ideas!

If you’re in the mood for baking, these are my most favorite holiday cookies ever. Make them and your family will be forever begging you to make them again…and again… and some more 🙂 – You won’t regret it.

Quilty Things You Can Make For The Holidays!

A Table Runner for your holiday feast

These are so easy to make a table festive in a hurry. I love table runners because they sew up quick and make a fun gift as well. I have at least a few of these on my to-do list this year! (you don’t have to make them all Christmas Themed! Make some spring ones so you can bring them out all year long…. or make up your own pattern and make it reversible! *woah*

FREE Table Runner Patterns

This one from Folk Modern is classic and a good beginner pattern. Use the same pattern and mix the fabrics for a festive pattern all year long!

If you’re looking to play with applique or you’re itching to use all your itty bitty scraps, check out this Bursting Buds Pattern is fantastic!

A Scrapy Table Runner – I love The Polkadot Chair Blog. (seriously, go follow her, she is so sweet!) It is always full of great crafty ideas. – Check out the blog on the Christmas Table Runner she made!

Christmas Stockings!

Every single year I drool over all of the lovely and cute handmade stockings that I see online and I want to make them!… but then I go back to using the same ones my family used growing up, again and again. Perhaps it is time that I mixed up the traditions (scandalous!) and we can have 2 sets of stockings! 🙂

I love these stockings – and it is another FREE pattern!

This Crazy Quilted stocking is so easy, you can sew them up for the whole family… including all the cousins!

You can also lookup patterns (or create your own) patchwork stockings like these and really crate something so tailored to your Christmas decor!

Let’s talk Ornaments!

Speaking of scrappy Christmas gifts… You’ll want to bring that fabric to your Christmas tree as well!

Scrappy Ornament collection – This is a tutorial I did last year on my fireplace mantle decor. It was so easy and SO budget-friendly, I wouldn’t mind having a few more around my house this year!

A few more Fabric ornament tutorials/patterns that I love:

Mister Domestic (another quilter you should follow because he is super fun) makes these intricately woven ornaments that are to die for. I love them so much!

A project for those pinking sheers to get in on the fun times! Take a look at these pretty star ornaments!

This article from Good Housekeeping has 62 more homemade ornament ideas… just in case you’re really itching to remake your whole tree over. 😉

Easy DIY Gifts

Fabric bookmarks sew up quick and easy! Grab a kid who likes to sew and spend an afternoon making a ton of these for the whole family! I wrote a very in-depth tutorial on what worked for me (and what didn’t… in case you were curious!)

These easy DIY needle minders are so cute! You’ll need like 500 of these if you have a lot of hand stitching projects laying around!

You could also whip up several of these fabric trinket baskets to help control the chaotic little “collections” that any child I have ever met acquires. For my son, it was rocks (he still picks them up all the time because I find them in the washing machine) and my daughter loved to collect acorns. What can I say… we are who we are, right?

DIY Christmas Tree Skirts

I made this one several years back and I still can’t decide if I ever want to replace it with another skirt or keep it forever and ever. Mine was white and I put little pearl buttons on the center of each flower. It is beautiful!

These tiny stitched stockings are the cutest wrapping for small gifts! It’s like two presents in one! Also… you could embroider on them as well… I’m getting so many ideas flowing right now!

But with patterns like this quilted star skirt… it might just make me branch out a little bit this upcoming year and make something new.

This one is another quilted star tree skirt.

If you’re looking for easy and yet still absolutely DIY stunning, this tree skirt pattern is super fun and customizable for every decor style be it super fancy, country farmhouse or modern!

I don’t know about you but my to-do list now has so many quilty things to make for the holidays on it! I have so many fun ideas and things I want to make – I know I won’t get to it all, but I really would like to spice up our Christmas decor a little more in our new house.

I’ll keep you posted on any projects I work on!

Happy Sewing!

If you find yourself flustered and unable to remember what all you’ve got planned or you simply want a place to write it all down and keep track of your progress… check out my FREE Downloadable Christmas Planner! You won’t regret being on top of things instead of drowning in the chaos 🙂 Enjoy the holiday season and create!
International Quilt Festival 2019 – A Recap Video!

What a fun and amazing weekend I just had in Houston at the International Quilt Festival 2019!

If you ever have the opportunity to attend this show… you have to.

That’s the rule, ok?

I don’t care if you’ve barely picked up a needle and thread or you’ve been sewing for years and years or you just have a family member that sews… you will learn something by attending this show!

Check out my post from the 2018 show here for more information.

Also, you can check out Part 2 where I shared my finds and deals.

First of all… It is fantastic people watching. 🙂 Us quilters come out to play in all of our handmade garments and sparkles galore… like, so many sparkles. We are dressed to impress!

Second of all… the sheer level of talent and number of amazing quilts in one room is just astounding. It is incredible to witness.

You will leave the show feeling so inspired and so ready to go home and lock yourself in your sewing rooms until your fingers fall off 😉

I did something a little different this year…

Finally, instead of writing out a post that is 1.5 miles long, I created a video to share with you so you can see first hand what it’s like to be at the International Quilt Festival 2019.

The first half of the video is the show and the second half is my loot! You will be seeing some of the fabrics from my loot in upcoming projects!)

Please let me know what you think in the comments!

I feel like this is easier to load for more computers? Can you be my judge, please and let me know how you like the video format? Let me know if you prefer it over the long photo-intensive posts.

Thanks so much!

For more information:

Check out the International Quilt Festival Website

And Cherrywood Fabrics
Keeping A Clean Sewing Space: A How to

Sometimes I manage that amazing superpower of keeping a clean sewing space!… where everything has a place and the tabletops are clear of clutter… ahhh, It is so nice to know that creativity could happen at any moment!

However, more often than I like to admit, my sewing room used to look like a tornado a path of destruction. I couldn’t find a single thing. Like that rotary cutter, I swear was on the table a minute ago? oh, it’s over on my desk now… Why? I don’t know. It just is.

I felt uninspired when my sewing room was a mess… There was so much going on, I couldn’t even think… much less find room to create!

Maybe you know how I feel?

Are you drowning in clutter and fabric scraps?

Is your space to cramped and feels like it’s impossible to work in?

Are you overwhelmed or don’t even know where to start to make it better?

I got so tired of feeling frustrated and out of control…

How I fixed it: Keeping A Clean Sewing Space

I decided that I had had it one day. No more was I going to let the place that I called my “sanctuary“, “my happy place” and “my very own little slice of sanity” be a major source of stress for me!

When I thought about it like that, it was absolutely ridiculous that I couldn’t be happy in my own happy place, right?!

It took a while to figure out how to make things work and I have had a lot of trial and error over the years. My space isn’t “fancy” and you probably won’t find it in the pages of HGTV magazine… but I LOVE where I sew.

You can take a tour of my sewing room in this post.

Steps to Keeping a Clean Sewing Space: The Space Itself

1. Give yourself a good talking to and be honest with yourself

I mean like a mom talking to her toddler threatening to give away all the toys unless she cleaned them up kind of tough love talk.

If you have too much stuff that there is simply no way that it will fit nicely in the space that you’ve allotted for yourself, you have 2 options: 1) find more space or 2) get rid of some of your stuff

You can be as tough or as lenient in this that you want to be. After all, you are the only one who is the boss of you.

2. Assess Your Storage Needs

I used to have a bins and boxes problem. Do you know how I had a problem? I had empty boxes FOR my empty boxes!

It is the crafty/DIYer curse… you just NEVER know when you might need it right? So I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away or pass up a good deal on a pretty box.

I knew I really needed to be more organized and I was sure that not enough boxes to put things in was my problem. It absolutely was not! I would forget what was in my boxes and be unable to find things so I would end up buying duplicates or forgetting what I owned.

3. Sort and purge everything you possibly can

Purge the things that you know you will never end up using. Just get rid of it. Also, even though it is hard, let go of the things that you once were absolutely in love with but either realize that you will never have the time or just you simply just don’t feel that spark for anymore.

It does you no good to hold onto and let it take up physical space for years and years.

Don’t hold on to it unless it has a purpose or it really brings you joy.

The items you are purging, you can give to friends who are just building their collections or bring your stuff to a guild meeting to see if anyone wants it. You can donate your scraps. There are tons of charities that take fabric too!

Click here to read more about my favorite charities for quilters.

Or you can see if your guild is interested in doing a remnant sale! Everyone brings in unwanted scraps and remnants and sells it for a bit of cash. Win win!

4. Downsize your collections

Gather all of your tools and make piles of the duplicates. Make a goal to only own 5 scissors or whatever it is that you have.

Sometimes all it takes is putting everything into one place to realize you miiiight just have a problem.

After you’ve cleaned out your space it is time to organize it and keep it that way!

Ok, once you have it down to the essentials in your space and you are not wasting any space… you need to realize something…

Your space can still get messy! Ugh, I know. I’m so sorry.

I turn around after a particularly good sewing session and my space looks like someone left a toddler unattended for 10 minutes!

1. Have a specific place for everything.

Every tool, every pattern, every project.

Give everything a home and do your absolute best to return everything to its spot as soon as you are done with it.

Read more about how to organize your space with items from the dollar store!

2. Create zones in your sewing/crafting room.

If you have more than 1 hobby, create sections for each hobby and try your best to keep all the supplies in that area. Not only is it easier to reach, but it helps keep you organized and from things quickly spreading to the whole room!

3. Always Clean up 3 times.
- Do a quick tidy before you start any new projects.
- Clean up while you’re working on your project. Make sure you’re working as efficiently as possible. Keep trash off your worktable.
- Always do a thorough cleaning after you finish a project. (Like the queen is coming to visit!)
4. If you work on multiple projects at a time…

If you take no other advice from this list, do this one thing! It will help you immensely in the sewing room.

Have a dedicated box for each project and all its pieces/instructions. When you have to switch projects, pack everything up and put it on the shelf. You won’t accidentally misplace anything and when you’re ready to start again, you’ll have everything you need

I really hope this list helps you in keeping a clean sewing space.

Remember that it is your space and you can make it however you want it to be… as long as you make sure you surround yourself with the things you love and you leave yourself room to create!

Need more of an Action Plan?

Check out this 25 Day Guide that I created to give you a step by step plan to creating the sewing/crafting space of your dreams!!

I will be with you every single step of the way with detailed instructions!

So many people have used this guide to clean up their act in their sewing space and make it a place that they just can’t wait to get into! It is now the space of thier dreams!

Click here to learn more information about how YOU can create the space of your dreams too 🙂 You won’t regret it!
10 Great Places to Donate Quilts!

I love sharing the warmth of a beautiful handmade quilt with someone who truly needs it. You know exactly what I mean… to be able to share the LOVE of quilting is a wonderful thing. Here are 10 great places to donate quilts to!

I have another post on a Quilt I made for Charity here

Donating Quilts For Children

Project Linus

I love this charity! It’s such a sweet one. Project Linus aims to provide love and security for seriously ill, or children in need. Many children find comfort in a ‘blankie’, and Project Linus delivers them to hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere else love is needed.

Project Linus has chapters in all 50 states. You can find the location nearest to you on their FAQ page. Learn more about donating quilts here, and learn more about the organization here.

Wrap Them in Love

If you want to help on a more global scale, Wrap Them in Love distributes donated quilts to children around the world. In 1980, founder Ellen Sime, adopted two children from Korea. While waiting for her adopted children, Ellen thought “Was someone holding her when she cried? Was he fed and taken care of properly? Did someone hug him?” So she began Wrap Them in Love, to send love and hugs around the world for children who need them. Learn more about the organization here.

Quilts for Kids

Quilts for Kids was founded by Linda Arye, a quilter who saw the waste of discontinued fabric samples being sent to landfills. She decided to start a charity to save that perfectly good fabric from the garbage, and create it into something beautiful. Quilts for Kids has saved millions of pounds of fabric and donates roughly 30,000 quilts yearly. You can request a pre-made quilting kit from them, and only need to pay for the shipping ($6.00)! Learn more about the organization here or request a kit here.

Quilts Beyond Borders

Quilts Beyond Borders provides quilts to orphans around the world. Originally, Quilts Beyond Borders focused on Ethiopia but has now expanded to spreading love and hope to 25 other countries. Currently, Quilts Beyond Borders is focusing on Syrian refugees, and children living in the Navajo Nation. Learn more about their quilting criteria here and more about the organization here.

Sew Powerful

I’m adding this charity here because they are als slowly changing the lives of young girls and it is amazing! You can download a free purse pattern from their website, create the purse and donate it back to them to deliver all over the world. – If you’re looking for something to shake up your sewing skill (but is super easy to follow) this is for you!

You can read more about Sew Powerful in this post.

Donate Quilts For Veterans

Quilts of Valor

Quilts of Valor near and dear to my heart. I love this charity and supporting the military.

Quilts of Valor is dedicated to creating and distributing quality quilts to veterans. Catherine Roberts, founder of Quilts of Valor, has one basic principle: quilts = healing. Quilts of Valor has specific requirements for their donations, as they pride themselves on quality and durability. Find their quilting requirements here, and learn more about the organization here.

Quilting In Honor (Island Batik)

Quilted in Honor is a fundraiser led by Island Batik, and is part of Operation Homefront. Quilted in Honor has 24 locations nationwide where you can donate quilts to veterans and families. They also run quilting challenges where the entry fee proceeds are donated to Operation Homefront, and you are able to donate your finished quilt when the challenge completes. Quilted in Honor also has a shop of specialty fabrics and thread that when purchased, provides more donations to Operation Homefront. Learn more about Quilted in Honor here.

Quilts of Honor

Gail Belmont, creator of Quilts of Honor, is a Vietnam era veteran who has been playing Taps at military funerals since 1969. To ensure that no warrior would be forgotten she began Quilts of Honor. Additionally, Quilts of Honor was asked to by the Navy Seals to make a “Presidential Quilt” in 2007 for President Bush. It was installed in the “9/11 Memorial Display Case” that Fall. Quilts of Honor has chapters nationwide, and like Quilts of Valor, has special requirements for their quilts. Find their quilting requirements here, and learn more about the organization here.

Other Places to Donate Quilts..

Victoria’s Quilts

Victoria’s Quilts aims to provide comfort to cancer patients. Deborah Rogers hopes these quilts will help cancer patients be able to feel a little more comfortable. Victoria Morrison was an avid quilter herself and helped Deborah start her quilting journey. She honors her memory by helping others with the love and warmth of quilts. Learn more about the organization here.

Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS

Hopes and Dreams is not an open quilt donation organization, but they host quilting challenges for ALS patients and donate to ALS research. Participants vote on the best quilts of each challenge, and winners are eligible for some great prizes! If you are interested in participating in an ALS quilt challenge, you can learn more here.

The Giving Quilt, Inc.

The Giving Quilt is an organization that distributes to all kinds of non-profit agencies. This ranges from children’s hospitals, neonatal units, military organizations, and many more. You can donate a quilt at any time, or take part in their sponsored sew days and biennial quilt show. Learn more about the organization here.

Even More Places to Donate Quilts

There are so many places around the world to donate quilts to but in reality you don’t have to go very far… there are a lot of charities right in your own back yard!

You can always research where to donate quilts locally. Depending on your area, you may be able to donate quilts to senior centers, homeless shelters, churches, animal shelters, and hospitals! Start researching, get quilting and spread your love of quilting as far as your fabric can take you!