Daily Blog

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Here is a wonderful online Magazine from Bernina!  Click the picture below to go see projects and ideas.

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Reminder: You may have Gift Certificates for Past Shows you haven't used! Check in your "My Account" section.

Did you renew and get a code for a Free Spool of Thread? Hurry and redeem it by Jan 3, 2012. Look in your "My Account" section for the special code and get $8.99 off.

Star Members can print out the 2011 (and 2010) Block of the Month patterns until Dec 31, 2011.

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Over the course of several years, Alex's cat, Sparrow, has seen lots of tips come across her desk. This was an especially good year for ideas on machine quilting, organizing, taking photos, music to work by, and so much more. In case you missed any of them, here are Sparrow's Top 10 Tips for 2011. Pencil ready?

• Parchment paper, intended for nonstick backing and cooking, does not have a silicone coating.  It will not melt under an iron.  Use parchment paper as a placement guide when when building an fusible appliqué block.

• Take lots of photos for quilt inspiration.  With digital cameras, there's no film or processing charge.  Remember, if you are lucky, you get one good shot in a hundred.  Have prints made of your best photographs, the ones you might want to use in the future, and put them in an album.

• Use different types of music for different stages of the quiltmaking process. Music with no lyrics works well for the design period; pleasing rhythms allow the right side of the brain (the creative side) to function. For the construction stage, use music with a beat that keeps you motivated.

• Make a mock-up- Be sure to create a mock-up before you sew.  To create a good proportion, always cut, fold, or scrunch the unblocks to your envisioned size and shape and place them on a background fabric that is also cut to your desired finished size.

•  Using a single hole throat plate will go a long way to help improve stitch quality.  The single hole helps guide the thread straight up and down as you move the fabric in all different directions.  Don't lift your hands while the machine is still running.  Let the machine stop before moving your hands to avoid off track stitches.

• Did you know that you can run fusible web through your printer?  That's right, if you have an ink-jet printer, you can put an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of fusible through the printer.  This way you can copy your designs right onto the fusible.  No more tracing!  The trick is to attach the sheet to a regular piece of paper using double- sided tape.  You don't need much, just tack down the corners.  Then, go ahead and print away. DO NOT DO THIS IF YOU HAVE A LASER  OR THERMAL PRINTER. YOU'LL GET A GLUEY MESS!

• Acrylic drafting triangles - especially the big right triangle make "truing up" cross fabric cuts a breeze.

• An electric mustache trimmer to un-sew long seams. Runs fast, never nicks the fabric. I use my pressure foot on the machine to hold one side of the seam, and hold the other side in my left hand. then I run the trimmer along the inside of the seam, and voila!

• Keep a record of your work in a file.  The file should include notes on inspiration, technique, and the date you completed the piece.  This will make it easy to fill out forms and answer requests when entering your work in shows or for publications.

• Make your own "heavy-duty" starch. Mix 2/3 concentrated liquid starch such as Sta-flo with 1/3 water in an empty spray bottle.

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

TQS is always on the hunt to bring you the "best of the best" the quilting world has to offer, and 2012--with its knock-your-socks-off line-up--is no exception. The new year promises to be jam-packed with learning, and includes shows focusing on paper piecing, color-shuffled quilt blocks, spectacular garments that feature folded fabric, machine-quilting tips from major award-winning artists, art quilts that venture outside the box, perfecting your handwork skills...and so much more. We know you're going to love these shows as much as we do! 

Here are the stars--leading off with quilting teacher extraordinaire, Susan Cleveland in Episode 1001 on January 2--that we will be bringing you in the first half of the new year. 

Jan 16-Michelle Jackson
Jan 30- RaNae Merrill
Feb 13-Nancy Prince
Feb 27-Pat Yamin
Mar 12- Linda Thielfoldt
Mar 26- TBA
Apr 9- Robbi Joy Eklow
Apr 23-Laura Wasilowski
May 7-Debbie Caffrey/Charlotte Angotti
May 21-Carol Ann Waugh
Jun-5-TBA
Jun 18-Susan Shie

Don't miss a moment of this fun-filled learning.  Now is the time to jump in and join or renew.

Get a discount, free Past Series, a $8.99 discount at Superior Threads (ends Jan 3), a free online of the February The Quilt Life magazine, and a 6 month membership to give to a friend.

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This is your last chance to acquire the complete, exclusive TQS Block-of-the-Month quilt pattern that Sue Garman created for us for 2011, and that is available to you FREE as a Star Member through Saturday, December 31. (After that date, the free pattern "goes away" and you will need to purchase it.). 

Even if you weren't able to make our beautiful quilt this year, you may want to have the pattern on hand to make at a later date...so, don't delay! 

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Make your own charming version of the Fabric Frenzy quilt Eleanor's students were working on as featured in Episode 913. 

The pattern which can easily be whipped up in no time using Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, or Charm Squares in a selection of prints that dance together in a frolic of colors.  The 10" block is easy to make with a partial seam in the beginning, and locking seams to the end! 

You can find this and many other charming patterns at Quilt in a Day here.

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Are you looking for a quick-and-easy last minute project? Why not create this charming 'little landscape' called Birch Trees, and sent to us by Joyce R. Becker. This petite woodland scene is ideal for quilters of all  levels. To see more ideas for creating small landscape quilts, be sure to watch Joyce in Episode 912.

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From Capt'n John:

I want to play games with my mother online.  I don't want to play random people.  She has a PC only, no iPhone or iPad.  She loves word games, but all games are okay.  She is not on Facebook and won't be.  I am very willing to pay a small fee if the games are good and easy to set up for the both of us.  

So with those restrictions, what are my best choices?

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Alex gets a chance to visit with friends in Houston on Halloween.  See what Valori is up to and who is the surprise guest?

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Even seasoned quilters love learning new tricks to help them succeed when it comes to quilting.  Check out these great ideas from Joyce R. Becker (Episode 912) a teacher who has been around the quilting poolhall for a while.

1.  Change your sewing machine needle every time you reload your bobbin with thread-you'll save yourself some grief from thread nightmares such as thread breaking or shredding!

2. Make your own "heavy-duty" starch. Mix 2/3 concentrated liquid starch such as Sta-flo with 1/3 water in an empty spray bottle.

3.  When quilting, stitch at a consistent speed, especially when rounding corners.

4.  Always use a Teflon pressing sheet when pressing your designs.  Believe it or not, invisible thread melts if an iron is too hot!

5.  If you include a horizon line in yoru design, make sure that it is straight and level.

6. If you copied an inspiration from another artist, make sure you get written permission from the artist if it will be published anywhere or you could be sued for copyright infringement.

7. Have fun with your projects and laugh at your mistakes.  That's what I do.  There is plenty of laughter going on in my studio day in and day out.