Quick+Easy Quilts August/September 2022

ALL ABOUT PRECUTS How do you feel about precuts? To me, they are absolutely irresistible. What a wonderful way to get a piece of every fabric in a collection—no matter my budget. The problem is that if I don’t have a plan for them, they sit on my shelf and collect dust. Do you have the same problem? This issue started out with an idea last year in September. Instagram was filled with so many quilters making quilts using 2½" strips. So, I thought perhaps you, like me, would like a nice selection of patterns using them. Included are five patterns for strips, one that uses 10" squares, two that use 5" squares, and one that uses mini charms. Scott Flanagan joins us again with his design, Long Division. It started with a…

Mary Ann Castrogivanni @quilt.crochet.knitter Having degrees in Chemistry and Computer Science, Mary Ann started quilting in 2000 when the public library offered a class. She enjoys making quilts for friends, family and charities, as well as creating her own designs to share with others. Jen Daly jendalyquilts.com Jen is a designer, quilt book author, and Etsy shop owner. A soon-to-be empty-nester, she plans to lean heavily on her Goldendoodle Casey to make the transition. She lives in Grantham, New Hampshire. Scott Flanagan 4thandmaindesigns.com Scott started quilting alongside his grandmother at age 7. He is a prolific quilt designer, and has his first fabric collection with Banyan Batiks coming out this fall. Pam Goggans sagercreekquilts.com Pam is an avid stitcher, crafter, and quilter and enjoys teaching and sharing her skills. She and her husband Cliff are the owners of Sager Creek Quilts…

Measure Twice, Cut Once Any quilter who has sliced incorrectly through a piece of fabric they can’t replace knows this all too well. So in today’s lesson we are offering tips for accurate cutting. The old adage “measure twice, cut once” comes from carpenters, however it could not be more true for quilters as well. Especially since we use clear rulers that may be difficult to see at certain times of the day (and night!). Let’s dive in and learn to properly cut fabric… 1. First, cut straight strips from a fat quarter. Fold fat quarter in half with selvage edge at the top (Photo A). Tip! Holding the top edges of the fabric, shimmy the edges until the fold is lying smooth prior to laying the fabric on the cutting mat. 2.Straighten the…

It’s hard to imagine a time before pre-cut bundles of fabric were available. It seems as if they have been around for years; however, did you know that Moda Fabrics was the first to make them commercially available? More than 30 years ago, when you wanted to purchase fabrics via mail, the shops sent you fabric swatches. Stores that catered to quilters offered monthly memberships where you would get 1½" squares of each new fabric. You could then order yardage by mail, knowing exactly what the fabric print looked like. “One of the first quilting projects I ever made used those 1½" squares,” says Lissa Alexander, the marketing director for Moda Fabrics. “I just started sewing them together—I thought I had so many, but it turned out to be about the size…

finished size: 48" × 60" finished blocks: 20 (12") BLOCKS I wanted a scrappy look with stars floating here and there, not in rows. By offsetting the star within the block, you can get that look easily by turning the block in different directions. The scrappiness is very forgiving, as seams that are slightly off don’t show up as much in a scrappy project. The star can be hidden a bit, too—depending on what fabrics you use for the triangle-squares. This is also a great introduction to making triangle-squares and using them in a quilt without the worries of lining them up straight. You can easily use your stash for this design, too. Or leftover 2½" strips from other projects. We all love to use up our leftovers! I love scrap quilts,…

1. On wrong side of lighter square, mark diagonal line from corner to corner. This will be your cutting line. Mark sewing lines ¼" away from each side of cutting line. Repeat for opposite diagonal. 2. Place marked square on top of darker square, right sides facing; sew along marked sewing lines. 3. Cut sewn squares vertically and horizontally to make four equal sections. 4. Cut along marked cutting lines to make eight triangle-squares. 5. Press seam allowances toward darker fabric. Products used: Havel’s Self-Healing Cutting Mat, Havel’s 6" x 24" Fabric Ruler, and Havel’s 45mm Rotary Cutter. Fabric from Garden Glory collection by Maja Ronnback and Abstract Collage collection by Ampersand, both for Paintbrush Studio Fabrics. TIP: This method works for any size triangle-square unit. Cut squares twice the finished size of triangle-squares plus 1¾". Watch…