Quick+Easy Quilts

SEW MUCH LOVE Every Valentine's Day when my kids were growing up, I made a big deal about the holiday. I wanted to be sure they had a Valentine no matter what happened that day. It got a little out of control when they expected a big Valentine's breakfast of waffl es and strawberries no matter what day of the week it fell—but I felt it was a small sacrifi ce to ensure they felt loved. Are you ready to show a little love this Valentine's Day with some red-hot quilts? There are so many great designs in this issue; let me tell you about a few of them… Our cover beauty is Rail Fence Mosaic by Ramona Sorensen. Ramona loves designing fun quilts that tesselate and have lots of opportunities to…

Nicole Brooks Etsy @nbpossibilities Nicole loves every aspect of quilt making, except maybe binding. Despite her full-time job as a tax accountant and mother of three boys, she always finds time to sew and create new quilt designs. She lives in Colchester, Connecticut. Sandra Clemons sandraclemons.com Sandra is passionate about creating patterns and illustrations that capture life's tender moments. Her work is driven by a desire to leave something beautiful behind that inspires diversity and unity. She resides in Denver, Colorado. Rachelle Craig rachellehandmade.com Rachelle is a civil engineer by trade who enjoys the entire process of quilt making—from the spark of inspiration to the tangible quilt. She lives in Wonewoc, Wisconsin with her husband and two cats. Denise Dacus mavanellstudio.com Denise made her first quilt when she was a teenager. She recently started writing and selling quilt patterns in her…

Buying a Sewing Machine It's a special moment, buying that first machine. But how do you pick the right one? A sewing machine is an investment that should last many years, and buying one can be a stressful decision, especially when it's your first time. There are many great models on the market, some with so much technology built in that they can practically sew on their own—and some are pricey enough to rival the purchase of a used car! We'll help you learn how to buy a new machine that will bring happiness rather than waste your precious time and money. First, a personal story I wasn't always so wise about sewing machines. My mother and sister both sewed garments when I was a kid, and my mom had a top-of-the-line sewing machine.…

I love sampler quilts. They are so interesting to look at. Scrappy is best! The more fabric, the better. With the different blocks and fabrics, you just have to keep looking at the quilt. I love the combination of appliqué, curved piecing, and classic patchwork. This quilt makes me think of a vintage quilt made with feed sacks. I love the farming and rural community that I come from, and the sense of history and family that this kind of environment brings. Kari Plan Get ready for part two of our very first series quilt. Kari Matthews designed this beautiful sampler quilt and we thought it was the perfect design to teach a beginner to quilt or to keep seasoned quilters engaged for a whole year! Look for lessons, tips, and tricks throughout…

There are several ways to make Flying Geese. Which method you choose depends partly on personal preference, but also has to do with how many you need, how large or small they are, whether the fabrics are all the same or scrappy, and how they fit together in the project. Flying Geese are twice as wide as they are tall. Common sizes are l”x 2”, 1½”x 3”, 2”x 4”, and 3”x 6”. Here you'll find four methods to make Flying Geese and suggestions for when each method would be most useful. For our examples, we used Flying Geese to finish at 2”x 4”. The charts give the cutting dimensions for common sizes of Flying Geese, but it's helpful to know how to do the math yourself in case you ever need Flying…

Referring to Diagram VIII-B, draw lines in opposite direction and repeat steps to make 2 unit 2's as shown (one unit is extra). Trim the units to 4½” x 8½”. 2. Join 1 cream B and 1 color #1 B as shown to make unit 3 (Diagram IX). 3. Lay out 12 assorted color C's, 2 cream D's, 1 unit 1, 1 unit 2, and unit 3 as shown in Diagram X. Join into rows; join rows to complete Nosegay Variation block. Scan with your phone camera for a quick tap-able link! Check out all of our beginner resources at quiltingdaily.com/how-to-make-a-quilt/ End of Part 2 The term nesting seams simply means aligning the seams of each row so that they not only line up nicely but seem to almost fit together perfectly like a puzzle piece.…