Best Sewing Pins for Quilting

Are you a pinner like me? I find that when I pin, I get better results and have fewer
seams to rip out. And I like really good quality pins, since cheaper ones are often dull 
and not as smooth. Since many of you are pinners like me, I thought you might like
a comparison of some of the most popular pins for quilt-piecing.

Below are four different pins - three Clover brand, and one Tulip.  Here are the pros
and cons of each:  

CLOVER GLASS HEAD PINS #2509

These pins are thin and strong; great for quilt-piecing

Stats: .5mm thick (fine)  X 48mm (1⅞”) long  

Pros: Long, thin and sharp; can be ironed over

Cons: Hard to spot when dropped on the floor

CLOVER GLASS HEAD PINS #2507
These pins are super thin and strong; great for quilt-piecing

Stats: .4mm thick (extra fine) x 36mm (1⅜”) long

Pros: Very thin and sharp; can be ironed over

Cons: Hard to spot when dropped on the floor  

 

CLOVER FLAT HEAD PINS #2506
These pins are long, and strong enough to hold thicker fabrics 

Stats: .7mm thick x 54mm (2⅛”) long

Pros: Strong, long and sharp; easy to find when dropped

Cons: Not as thin as others; can't be ironed over

TULIP CELLULOSE-HEAD PINS
My personal favorite; strong and thin, and glide through fabric

Stats: .45mm thick x 48mm (1⅞”) long 

Pros: Thin, long and sharp; easy to see when dropped

Cons: Pricey; can’t be ironed over

There you have it. What are your favorite pins for quilt-piecing?

Each of these pins is available in my shop, just click on any of the photos. 

 Sign up for my email list here and get 15% off your first order!

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Quick & Easy Christmas Table Runner Tutorial

Now that the leftovers have been eaten and the dishes put away, it's time to get sewing for Christmas. 🎄  And since some of that sewing will be for gifts, I've come up with a quick and easy table runner that would make a great gift (think neighbor, teacher, gift exchange, hostess gift).  It uses 16-patch blocks and can be made in just about any color scheme (I made this one using Little Joys).  I quilted mine with a simple serpentine stitch using my walking foot, but you could quilt it even faster using a free-motion foot.  Great for scraps or leftover 10" squares.  Let's get started: 

Materials needed:

• Total of (32) 5" squares (2 each of 16 different prints - you can repeat if necessary)
• 1/4 yard fabric for binding
• 1/2 yard fabric for backing
• 18" x 34" piece of thin batting 

Block size: 8" finished
Finished size: 16.5" x 32"

For each of the eight blocks - take a set of two matching squares and team up with a different set of two matching squares.  You will now have 8 sets of 4 squares.  Keep sets together.

Take each set and cut squares in half: 

Each set will now have eight 2.5" x 5" strips (4 of each color).  For each set, take a strip, and lay an opposite color strip on top (right sides together) and sew on the long side to make a strip unit: 

Repeat for remaining strips in each set (you should have 4 strip units for each set). Press the seams to the darker side, or open.  Now take each strip unit and cut in half:

Make a 4-patch by taking one cut half, flipping it around, pinning and sewing to other half.  Repeat for all strip units.

Lay out each set of 4-patches, and sew together to make eight 16-patch blocks.  Wait to press.

Arrange your blocks 2 down and 4 across.  To make sewing easier, press each block the opposite way of its neighbor.   Sew blocks together.  Do a final press.

Layer your top (right side up), batting, and backing (right side down).  Quilt as desired.  (I quilted mine going diagonally in one direction with a large serpentine stitch.)  Trim sides even, making sure corners are nice and square.

Prepare binding and attach using your favorite method.  I like to finish my binding by machine - here is a good tutorial if you need one. 

This table runner can be made larger, or quilt-size just by making more blocks.  Forty-eight (arranged 6x8) would make a nice throw size quilt - 48"x64"). 

Fabrics used:  Little Joys by Elea Lutz/Riley Blake

Farmhouse by Fig Tree is Here and On Sale!

This fabric collection is so me!  Joanna of Fig Tree Quilts really captured a farmhouse feeling with this collection. For the next week, all of these new lovelies, including yardage and precuts, are 20% off in my store (above is just a sampling).  Sales ends Oct. 16.  

Fabric Panel Project Ideas

Have you ever bought a panel because you loved it, but didn't know what to do with it when you got it home?  Today I'm going to show you three projects I made with panel parts, and share some other ideas.   Here's the panel I used in my projects:

Moonlight Manor panel by Deb Strain/Moda

I chose three of the motifs and made a place mat, snack mat and kitchen towel.  Each of them were simple, easy projects.

For the kitchen towel, I chose a square motif with a black background, then purchased a very inexpensive black kitchen towel ($1.50) at my local big box store.  (It's hard to see the motif background in the photo, which is kind of the point).  I adhered Heat-n-Bond Lite to the back of the motif, ironed it onto the towel, and used a narrow zigzag stitch to finish.  I added a band of fabric at the bottom by cutting a 2 1/2" strip, pressing it in half lengthwise, stitching the raw edges approx. 1/2" from the bottom, flipping it downward and stitching it down.  So easy and I really like how it turned out. I did pre-wash both the fabric and towel before I began, so the fusible film would adhere properly.

In making the place mat and snack mat, I chose motifs and then just kind of built around them.  I did have an idea (from Pinterest) on what sizes I wanted them to be.  I layered them with cotton batting and backing, and did some simple quilting.  Then applied binding which I finished by machine.  Each one didn't take long at all.  I plan on giving them to my grandkiddos.  

8 1/2" x 11 1/2" finished size

9" x 13 1/2" finished size

As I cut the individual motifs apart and started playing around with them, I could see the possibilities were endless: 

• For the kitchen - snack mats, place mats, potholders, embellished towels, table runners
• For the home - small and large pillows, banners, quilts, wall hangings
• For kids - treat sacks, small treat bags, baby bibs, appliqued t-shirts
• For you - gift bags, tote bags, zipper bags, aprons

 All of these items would make great gifts too, especially with all the great holiday panels available. 

Individual pieces

I applied fusible web to this one, before cutting, so it can be used as an applique

The panel used for these projects is available in my Etsy store for 25% off, if you'd like to make any of these projects for your own little goblins (or yourself).

Linking to Quilt Story Fabric Tuesday
                My Quilt Infatuation Needle & Thread Thursday 
                Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday

Tote Kit Winner!

I loved your comments about where you're going (or would like to go) for summer vacation.  Most of you would like to hang out at the beach, go camping or travel to Europe.  Those all sound great to me! We hope to spend some time working on our cabin in the Utah mountains (a life-long project!).  

Congratulations to lucky number #20 - Lucy Ferguson.  Lucy, please email me with your address and I'll get the kit right out to you. 

I plan to list some of these tote bag kits in the store soon.  Email me if you'd like your own.

Dream Vacation Tote Kit Giveaway!

Today I'm participating in Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day.  Woohoo!  My giveaway is this cute tote kit.

 
This kit will make the perfect bag for taking along on your summer vacation.  The fabric I chose has lots of famous cities to dream about visiting someday!  The tote is easy to make and sturdy enough to stash beach necessities or trip souvenirs.  The kit includes a free pattern sheet from Robert Kaufman, Robert Kaufman Dream Vacation fabric for the outside, and Moda Bella Solid Black for the inside of bag and handles.  

Just leave me a comment telling me where you're going (or want to go) for your summer vacation.  I will choose a winner randomly on Monday, May 11, and will ship by Wed, May 13.  Happy commenting!  Oh, and be sure to go check out the other great giveaways on Sew Mama Sew blog. 

 

 Come see what I'm up to on Instagram.

Happy Go Lucky Quilt Top Done & Another in the Works

It's been a little while since I finished this quilt top, but haven't shared it before now (I don't think?).  It's made up of simple strip-pieced pinwheel blocks (8" finished) using 18 Happy Go Lucky prints  (by Bonnie & Camille/Moda).  I really love the happy colors of the collection and how they look in the top.  Just one problem though; I used two different whites for the background - Bella White Bleached and Bella Bleached White.  Oops.  I couldn't remember which one I started with, and well, they look so similar in my sewing room, I didn't think it would matter much.  When I went to take a photo of the top outside - WOW - different story. 

Oh well, I still love it.  Not sure how I'm going to quilt it yet.  Maybe with straight or curvy lines, or a curvy design in the white areas. Have to give that some thought.

I strip-pieced the blocks using 2.5" strips, which left me with some pieced scraps, which I decided to turn into 4-patch units.

So, I went looking on Pinterest for ideas on how to use them, and found a few I liked.

Link to Pin

Link to Pin

Link to Pin

Link to Pin

The layout right above is my favorite and the one I think I'll go with.  I'm thinking of making all of the star points solid red or navy to give it a modern touch.

Come see me on Instagram to see what else I'm working on.

Linking to:  Sew Many Ways Sew Darn Crafty
                  Quilt Story Fabric Tuesday
                  My Quilt Infatuation Needle and Thread Thursday
                  Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday

Simple Project: Ruffled Kitchen Towel Tutorial

I've been wanting to make a ruffled kitchen towel for the longest time, and when my order of Moda Mochi Dot Linen/Cotton fabric arrived, I knew this was the perfect fabric.  It is a bit heavier than regular cotton, and has a nice texture.  Once I figured out the steps to make the towel, a tutorial seemed in order.  If you want to make one of your own, gather your materials and I'll show you how.

You'll need:  5/8 yard of linen/cotton fabric for towel (or a purchased one), 1/3 yard fabric for ruffle, 1/8 yd fabric for band, thread to match towel, ruffle and band.  I recommend pre-washing all your fabrics, especially the linen/cotton (or purchased towel) which shrinks about 10% (air-dried), and any that are dark.  The black rooster fabric bled quite a bit.  After pressing, cut fabric as follows:

Towel fabric - 20" x 30"
Ruffle fabric - 11" x WOF (width of fabric)
Band fabric - 3 1/2" x WOF

We'll make the towel first. Press a 1/2" hem on both long sides of towel fabric.  

Fold under 1/4", pin hem and sew on each side. 

 Repeat on short sides.  Your towel is now ready for the ruffle.

  Fold fabric ruffle fabric so that selvages are together and trim them off. 

Fold in half right-sides-together so that the fold is along the long edge.  Pin each short edge and sew a 1/4" seam on each one. 

Clip the folded corners only (not shown), turn right side out, match raw edges and press.

Now it's time to gather the ruffle.  Choose your longest stitch length, loosen your bobbin tension and run a line of basting stitches 1/4" from the raw edge.  Leave thread tails on both sides.  Tip:  Write down or snap a quick pic of your settings before changing them.

Carefully gather up your fabric until the ruffle is approx. 1/4" longer than the width of the towel.  

Place the ruffle on the towel so that the bottom extends about an inch lower than the bottom edge of the towel. Let ruffle extend a tiny bit over the sides of towel (like 1/16"-1/8").

Stitch in place over the basting stitches (don't forget to put your stitch and bobbin settings back to where they were).

Now it's time to make the band.  Measure the width of the ruffle at the top.  Add a scant 3/4" to the measurement and cut band that width.  (We are adding a little bit for turning.)  

Fold in half right-sides-together like you did for the ruffle, and pin along short edges.  Sew a 1/4" seam on each end. 

Clip folded corners only.

Turn right-side-out and press with raw edges together. 

Place band on top of ruffle, raw edges together and pin.  Be sure your band is straight and even across the towel. If your ruffle edges peek out a little on the top, don't worry, just make sure the band raw-edge is no higher than the ruffle raw-edge.  Sew 1/4" from top edge of band. 

Flip band up and pin in place. 

Sew sides and top of band with matching thread.  Edges of band should extend a tiny bit (1/16"-1/8") over the sides of towel for good coverage. 

Pin and sew sides of ruffle to towel.  Ruffle should also extend a little beyond the sides of the towel.  

Enjoy!

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Linking to:  Sew Many Ways: Sew Darn Crafty
                  Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday
                  Crazy Mom Quilts: Finish It Up Friday
                  Sunny Simple Life: From The Farm Blog Hop