Quilts and More Fall 2021

It amazes me sometimes how fearless people can be when they don’t know what they’re attempting is difficult. Back when I quilted my first project, I had no idea free-motion quilting had a reputation for being tricky, so I picked a design and got to work. Sure, I had a few tension issues, but overall my swirls swirled and my loops looped more or less how I envisioned them. I was quite proud of what I achieved. Imagine my surprise when my quilter friends informed me that what I just had done was hard! The next time I free-motion quilted, I was so nervous I’d mess up my quilt top that I procrastinated for months before mustering up the courage to try again. It’s been years since then, but I still…

1. THE STEADY BETTY PRESSING BOARD Measuring 12" square, this portable and lightweight surface can be used for pressing small pieces close to your machine or while traveling, as a design board to hold units in place, or as a hard surface for handwork. $36.95; missouriquiltco.com 2. OLISO MINI PROJECT IRON The mini iron, which comes in four colors, offers the equivalent heat settings and steam control of a full-size iron in a compact size that is great for pressing small pieces or packing in a travel bag. It comes with a silicone trivet to set the hot iron on. $49.99; oliso.com TOTE TRIVET Keep notions organized on the go. The zippered pouch holds supplies securely while in transport. Then, fasten the corner snaps to form a trivet to hold supplies and your project pieces…

1. 100% COTTON Best for most quilt projects. Soft and drapable, the natural cotton fibers breathe well. Cotton batting shrinks when washed, giving the quilt a puckered appearance. Readily available and fairly economical. 2. INSULATED Best for food-related quilted projects. Polyester fibers are needle-punched onto a mylar layer to create a heat-resistant batting. Often paired with a layer of cotton batting to protect hands from hot dishes in casserole carriers or pot holders. 3. COTTON/POLYESTER BLEND Best for most quilt projects. Combines natural cotton and synthetic polyester, which provides the breathability of cotton and the durability of polyester. It still has good drape and shrinks less than 100% cotton batting. Readily available and economical. 4. WOOL Best for extra warm and cuddly quilts. Batting made from fibers of different breeds of sheep. Soft, drapable, and warm, it…

DESIGN #1: Use free-motion quilting to stitch a meandering, or stippling, design to fill space. Begin by stitching in the ditch around the piecing, and then stitch a curving, continuous line in the background fabric of the block, stopping and starting with each section. Stitch on a diagonal to keep the finished curves from looking too linear. The dense quilting in the background will make the unquilted motifs puff slightly, giving a three-dimensional look overall. PRO TIP FROM HANDI QUILTER: As you quilt the curves, visualize a dime or pea in order to keep them consistent in size. DESIGN #2: Enhance Design #1 by adding quilting to the piecing. Use free-motion quilting to make a looping design in each square. Then use a quilting ruler to add intersecting lines spaced ¼" apart along the straight…

MATERIALS Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. ⧠ ¾ yard each food print and text print (or 1 yard each if using directional prints) ⧠ ½ yard aqua check FABRICS are from the Food Group collection by Ruby Star Society (rubystarsociety.com). CUT FABRICS From each print, cut: ◼1—24×34" rectangle From aqua check, cut: ◼2—4½×42" strips ◼ 1—2½×42" strip ASSEMBLE APRON Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. 1) With food print 24 × 34" rectangle right side up and short edge on top, make two marks 7" across and 10" down from top left corner. Draw a line connecting marks and trim (Photo 1). Repeat on top right corner. 2) Repeat Step 1 using text print 24 × 34" rectangle. 3) Fold aqua check 2½×42" strip in half lengthwise, right side inside, and sew along long edge (Photo 2). Press seam…

QUILT Finished size: 26½ ×34½" Finished blocks: 8" square MATERIALS Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. ❑ 18 × 21" piece (fat quarter) each dark orange print, gray dot, and black star print (Churn Dash blocks, star blocks)❑ 18 × 21" piece (fat quarter) light orange print (Churn Dash blocks)❑ 18 × 21" piece (fat quarter) black speckle print (Churn Dash blocks, star blocks, sashing)❑ 18 × 21" piece (fat quarter) gray print (Churn Dash blocks, sashing)❑ 18 × 21" piece (fat quarter) white star print (star blocks, sashing)❑ 18 × 21" piece (fat quarter) white-and-black print (star blocks)❑½ yard total assorted orange prints and black prints (binding) (Designer Katie Hennagir used leftover pieces of the orange and black prints in the kit.)❑ 1¼ yards backing fabric❑ 35×43" batting CUT FABRICS Cut…