We have 26 great new shows and over 40 new teachers ready to help you make your quilts faster and more exciting.
Plus you can choose to download either Ricky's or Alex's book for FREE.
BOM 2017 is designed by Sue Garman. It's stunning. (Will be revealed during Houston Quilt Show.)
Practice blocks/patterns so you can learn as you watch with TQS Techniques
Full DVD classes included from Featured Guests. (7 are ready for you now.)
That's right! You asked for it and now....
You can download your new book onto your computer for total
access whether you are on the internet or not.
That means NO SHIPPING COST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!
1. Alex's Book "Scrap Quilting"
Use your stash and your scrap bin to make one of these 7 colorful quilts, and get in on Alex’s best scrap quilting secrets.
Learn the secrets of placement, value, settings and style. Scrap quilts are fun
and Alex shows you how to enjoy and
succeed with your next quilt.
2. Ricky's Book "Kool Kaleidoscope Quilts"
Create a spectacular kaleidoscope quilt with Ricky's unique strip-piecing method for making a multi-faceted pattern. You'll see impressive and intricate results from simple sets of strips; it's foolproof with little need for pre-planning.
The beauty lies in the unpredictability of how the fabric unfolds - just like a real kaleidoscope!
How It Works
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Receive a 30% Off Coupon for the TQS Store.
It's that easy. Any problems just write us at tqscustomerservice@gmail.com
SAQA’s 2016 Benefit Auction will take place from September 16 through October 9th, 2016. Don’t miss your chance to bid on 437 beautiful and unique art quilts created by SAQA members. This is SAQA’s signature fundraising event - proceeds from the auction help increase the recognition for art quilts and the artists who make them while supporting SAQA’s exhibition programs, publications, and education outreach.
The auction will kick-off at 2pm EDT on September 16 with Diamond Day bidding - an early bird opportunity to buy ANY quilt for $1000. The 12" x 12" Auction Quilts are then divided up into three sections for bidding purposes. Each week, a different section of quilts will be available for bidding, starting at $750 and further reduced throughout the week until the final price reaches $100.
Every state has their shining quilt star and Oregon is no exception. Tucked in the North East corner of the state is Colleen Blackwood, her husband Jeff, and a whole bunch of 4 legged family members. If Colleen isn't quilting, she is outside!
Colleen has a long history with the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and the Stitchin' Post Quilter's Affair. As a Quilt Instructor she has taught at the Quilter's Affair for many years and is a much sought after instructor throughout the state and beyond. Her husband Jeff, chief household wrangler while she is teaching, is a master woodworker. The creative juices in this household are overflowing. I have found that quilters, although passionate about quilting, tend to have a variety of spokes in their creative wheels. This household is filled with finely crafted wood furniture, jars of canned tomatoes, turkeys...chickens...and a garden that would be the envy of many! Holy Moley is it a busy place. On the cerebral side she is a poet and we are blessed every year at the Quilter's Affair to hear one of her poems which are filled with thought provoking, kind, and loving prose.
One of my favorite quilts by Colleen is Star Crossed Lovers. The talent in this one person is amazing and she wants to share it...so, if you are pondering about which class to take at the 2017 Quilter's Affair you can't go wrong by signing up for her classes. Or maybe have your local quilt shop give her a jingle and see if she'll head your way and spread the quilting and poetic wealth.
Enjoy the slide show and then head over to Quilt Roadies to watch the video interview with this amazing woman!
Amanda is showing a number of quick videos highlighting her tips for free-motion quilting swirls at WeAllSew.com. They give such great texture and movement to a quilt, yet people frequently struggle to find a style that suits them. But once you learn the basic rhythm, there are so many variations that you’ll be sure to find one that you enjoy.
Having the proper table for sewing is important for your body. You are, after all, going to be spending a lot of time at the machine.
When was the last time you thought about your body when sewing? Probably not until your shoulders ached or your back hurt. With the excitement of getting going on a project, we often overlook the fact that our work time can be diminished due to an aching back or shoulders. Having the proper table for sewing is important to your body. You are, after all, going to be spending a lot of time at the machine, so understanding a few important tips will help to make your sewing enjoyable and stress free.
"One of the key concepts of ergonomics is keeping your body in a neutral position as much as possible. Neutral position is the most relaxed state for your body. Your weight is centered and your limbs are relaxed. Whether sitting or standing, your body should be centered on your work...Since very few sewing tables are adjustable for height, you can choose a chair with adjustable seat height. Your seat needs to be adjusted so that when your arms and shoulders are relaxed, your palms can rest on the sewing machine bed with your elbows forming a 90° angle." (Excerpt from Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space by Lois Hallock)
We will address chairs in our next article, but for this week we want to share ideas that just might be the perfect fit for your creative space.
When shopping for a sewing table or extension here are a few things to keep in mind from the folks at Sewing Furniture:
1. Check Sizing:
Before you shop, take measurements and jot down some numbers:
The amount of room you’ve got in your sewing corner, the size and weight of your machine.
Check to make sure the table you want to buy will fit your space, and that your machine will fit on it.
Weight comes into account if you’re buying a table with a pneumatic lift.
2. Decide on Storage:
Make sure the sewing cabinet or table you’re planning to buy can hold everything you mean to put in it. If your storage is minimal, make other plans.
3. Do Your Quality Check:
Stability, Sturdiness, and Long-life, these are things that won’t come out in the manufacturer’s description, but you should be able to find them easily in user reviews.
4. Don’t Forget Assembly:
Also check the reviews to see the if the other buyers were able to assemble the beast.
If you’ve got that, you’ve pretty much got everything. Of course there’s a bit more to buying your table—you’ll be selecting based on color, style, and aesthetics as well as the practical details—but there you don’t need any schooling. Have fun shopping, and bring home a table that will stay with you through years of comfortable, well-organized sewing!
Sewing Cabinets and Tables
If you are purchasing a dedicated table...
Is it stable? Does it vibrate during quilting?
Is it high/low enough? These tables are generally 28" to 30" high.
Can you position your chair so you sit directly in front of the needle? Craning you neck to accommodate for a poorly designed table causes neck fatigue.
Is there enough room out to the left of your machine? Many of the smaller tables are centered in the cabinet. If you have a machine with a longer arm, there's virtually no room on the lefthand side.
Portable Sewing Tables
If you don’t own a cabinet that your sewing machine sits down into, an 18"x24" (or larger) acrylic sewing table is a MUST for quilting.
You'll need to know the specific make and model of your sewing machine to order the correct one. (The size of the cut out is different for each machine.)
I recommend you DO NOT order one smaller than 18" x 24". There's just not enough room to put your hands while you move the layered sandwich under the needle.
Tabletop extensions such as the SewSteady increase your working surface area and reduce fabric drag. SewSteady
The Sew & Go Table offers adjustable height, folds away flat, and offers easy portability. Sullivan
The SewEzi table includes a handy carrying case and inserts can be purchased to convert the table into a light box. SewEzi
Build your own for a customized and dedicated sewing table that includes storage. Keepsake
In celebration of National Sewing Month, WeAllSew is hosting a fun presser foot contest throughout the month of September!
This month they are inviting all BERNINA sewing machine owners to share one of their favorite sewing techniques.The BERNINA team will choose three winners out of the shared techniques to receive a free BERNINA presser foot and an exclusive blog post feature on BERNINA’s WeAllSew blog.
Click on the button below for all the details. Good Luck!
Alexandra Kehayoglouuses scraps of leftover thread from her family's carpet factory in Buenos Aires to create handmade wool rugs that look like dreamy aerial landscapes. Her laborious hand-tufting process creates carpets and rugs that mimic natural textures like moss, water, trees and pastures. They can turn an entire room into a lush meadow or they can work as a tapestry and flow from the walls to the floor. Her creations can take several months to complete.
One of her most recent pieces is a carpeted runway for designer Dries Van Noten made in collaboration with Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.
To see more of Kehayoglou’s tufted wool landscapes - look on Instagram, Artsy.
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