Daily Blog

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This month, another border will be added: a four-patch border. Making a scrappy border out of an assortment of fabrics is a great way to make your eyes dance across the surface of a quilt. After you finish the four-patch border, you will also make four pieced swag border units. These will be used in Month 12, but starting them now will make the work of Month 12 much easier. 

Come and join the year-long learning--and fun--with us.  For the Introduction and other aired patterns, click on the button below.

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Pam Holland shares a visit with a smaller guild in Kenora, Canada.  This guild represents just one of many throughout the world who share their work through community and philanthropy.

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You are walking through a music store and suddenly your quilting radar is alerted.  Out of the corner of your eye you see a quilt.  You can't believe it, what is it doing in a music store?  Well, it's on the cover of a Mandolin Chord Dictionary, not exactly the usual place to find a quilt.

Submit a comment and let TQS know,  "What other unusual places have you seen a quilt used as a backdrop or advertisement that is completely out of the realm of the quilting world?"

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Martha Stewart takes you on a tour of Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red & White Quilts at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC. She gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how the design of the exhibition came together under the direction of Thinc design and curator Elizabeth Warren. Once you reach the site, click on WATCH VIDEO near the bottom of the photo.

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Spring of Desire label.  This could also be used as a pouch for scraps.

The next time you "gift" a quilt, you might want to spend a few minutes making and attaching a pouch with a repair kit to the quilt. We received this great tip from TQS member Marlette0613. "When I give a quilt as a gift, I make a small muslin envelope (4"x 4") and mark on the outside that it contains fabrics from the quilt for any needed repairs. Inside the envelope, I enclose 3" x 3" squares of all of the fabrics used in the quilt.  I then stitch the muslin envelope closed and slip stitch it onto the quilt backing in the corner opposite the label.

The envelope can easily be removed if desired, but I encourage the recipient to keep it attached as the swatches will be laundered the same as the quilt and will be a closer match if they are needed at any time in the future."  
Great idea, Marlette0613! If you have a great tip to share, please send it to us here.

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WOW! Our community is so incredibly generous - THANK YOU -I have just processed the first group of checks and so far we have raised almost $20,000.00 for our brothers and sisters in Japan!!! AND the pledges continue to keep coming in. You might be interested to know that 4 different countries have participated so far - and the generosity has been over the top. I supposed that means tomorrow I take a fast trek over the the Red Cross headquarters in San Francisco with the first round of our TQS offerings. Remember, if you have not yet pledged (and the winning spoils are pretty cool) go here to learn more (Image from the Red and White Quilt collection NYC).

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Bob Purcell at Superior Threads often gets asked the question "how much thread does it take to quilt a quilt?"  Estimates vary widely depending on the size of the quilt and how tightly your quilting will be. But Bob spent many hours tangled up while figuring out the amount of thread it will take for the average quilt.

Everyone's technique is different so the following are only averages.  Of course it is possible to use much more or much less thread.  The numbers are for the top thread only.  Double them if you plan to use the same thread for the bobbin.  The three sets of numbers following the size represent Light Quilting/ Medium Quilting/ Heavy Quilting.

Laptop/Crib quilt- 200 yds./400 yds./600 yds.

Twin quilt- 400 yds./800 yds./1,200 yds.

Queen quilt-600 yds./1,000 yds./1,600 yds.

King quilt-700 yds./1,500 yds./2,000 yds.

This great tip was found int the School of Threadology manual.  The book and accompanying DVD lay to rest many of the myths we have heard for years, as well as great 'hands-on' tips to make your sewing smooth sailing.  For more great thread tips check out the complete set available through Superior Threads.

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

After viewing this episode, you’ll understand why quilter and teacher Ronda Beyer took the Best of Show award at the 2010 AQS Show & Contest in Knoxville with her friend, Gail Stepanek, for their spectacular quilt, Star Berries. Ronda is an expert on her longarm quilting machine, and she loves to put her own unique spin on traditional designs.

In this episode, she demonstrates ideas that you can adapt for hand quilting as well: how to create cross-hatched and double cross-hatched motifs and how to customize premade quilting stencils to fit your needs. She also shares a few of her beautiful quilts, including the aforementioned show-stopper.

Then, if you’re thinking of entering a show, Photo Man Gregory Case offers suggestions for improving the quality of those required photos.

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You've heard the expression, Quilting Bee, but what exactly is a "Bee?"  Where did the expression come from? When did the expression come into our language?  Are there other kinds of Bees?

Submit a comment and let us know, "What is a Bee?" and also let us know if you have ever participated in one, quilting, or otherwise.