Quilts and More Fall 2019

I think you are awesome. I don’t get to say that often enough. Many readers have told me that they pick up Quilts & More™ magazine for inspiration, but I want you to know that you inspire me. When I hear your stories about how you engineered a creative solution to a sewing problem, braved a technique you found intimidating, or changed a life through your stitching, I can’t help but feel empowered myself. When I see someone post an image of a completed Quilts & More project on Instagram, I want to celebrate along with you. Finally, when I am feeling creatively discouraged, I turn to the kind words and advice on the Facebook groups of AllPeopleQuilt.com. Each day I am reminded how lucky I am to be editor of…

1. FISKARS ROTATING CUTTING MAT A 14"-square mat rotates to help you cut pieces or square up units without the hassle of repositioning your fabric. No matter which way you turn, you’ll have clear measurements and bias cutting lines. $39.99; fiskars.com 2. BLOC LOC HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLE RULER Ranging in sizes for 1½" to 12½" triangle-squares, the rulers have a groove that locks onto the seam allowance so you can square up units easily. Starting at $16.50; visit your local quilt shop or online retailer. WITCH’S NIGHT OUT Highlight spooky Halloween motifs with a sampler quilt outlined in this pattern book from It’s Sew Emma. The finished throw quilt will warm you on “fright night”. $14.95; fatquartershop.com FLATTER SMOOTHING SPRAY Ease wrinkles from fabric with a starchfree spray that relaxes fabric while ironing. $12 for 8.4 fl. oz.;…

TRUE BLUE For the block’s classic colorway, use the same fabric placement in all the triangle-squares and Nine Patches for a more unified look. Fabrics are from the Ayumi collection by Ana Sanfelippo for P&B Textiles (pbtex.com). FIENDISHLY FUN Novelty Halloween prints give the block a seasonal flair. Fabrics are from the Elegantly Frightful collection by Northcott Studio for Northcott (northcott.com). CONTROLLED COLOR Add contrast by placing dark plus signs against a light background. Rotate the triangle-squares to form straight lines. Fabrics are from the Anagram collection by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society (rubystarsociety.com). The blocks’ strong diagonal motifs draw the viewer’s eye across the quilt top. By rotating two opposite blocks 90 degrees, a center Square-in-a-Square layout emerges. Rotating the top left and bottom right blocks creates an X pattern instead of a diamond. The corner…

1. PINKING SHEARS Best for trimming woven fabrics that might fray and for creating decorative pieces. Pinking shears cut a zigzag edge, limiting how much fabric will fray. You also can use pinking shears to trim curved seam allowances instead of notching them. 2. SEWING SCISSORS Best for all-purpose sewing. Both blades on regular sewing scissors taper to a point so they can make small and large cuts. These blades come in many lengths, but about 5" long is common. 3. DRESSMAKER SHEARS Best for garment and all-purpose sewing. These blades tend to be longer—usually 7"–10". The pairing of rounded and tapered blades helps prevent fabric snags. 4. EMBROIDERY SCISSORS Best for cutting threads. The short blade allows you to easily clip threads and embroidery floss close to the fabric. 5. BATTING SHEARS Best for cutting large pieces of…

QUILT Finished size: 25½" square Finished blocks: Apple–3¾ ×4¾" Pie–10 ×4¼" Steam–2½ ×3½" Mug–7 ×5¼" Kettle–9½ ×9" MATERIALS Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. □ ⅛ yard total assorted green prints (apple blocks)□ 1½ yards solid cream (blocks, background)□ ¼ yard brown print (apple blocks, pie block, steam blocks)□ ¼ yard total assorted red prints (apple block, pie block, kettle block)□ ⅛ yard yellow print (apple block, pie block)□ ⅛ yard teal print (apple block) □ ⅛ yard solid brown (pie block)□ ⅛ yard red floral (mug block)□ ⅛ yard aqua text print (mug block)□ ⅓ yard aqua print (kettle block)□ ⅛ yard red gingham (sashing, border)□ ⅓ yard multicolor print (border)□ ¼ yard yellow gingham (binding)□ 1 yard backing fabric□ 33"-square batting□ Lightweight copy paper, tracing paper, or foundation material of your choice□…

HOW TO FOUNDATION-PIECE 1. On the unmarked side of the foundation paper, place the position 1 fabric piece right side up over the position 1 foundation area; pin (Photo 1). Turn over and use a light box or window to ensure that fabric completely covers position 1 area, with about ½ " extending past all lines (Photo 2). 2. With marked side of foundation paper facing up, fold paper back on line between positions 1 and 2. (Because the paper is folded over, it will look like the unmarked side is facing up.) Line up ruler so that ¼ " of fabric extends past folded edge of paper; trim fabric (Photo 3). Unfold. 3. On unmarked side, align edge of position 2 piece with edge trimmed in Step 2; pin. Turn paper over…