Go with It! Quilt as You Go Tutorials

May 31, 2014 by FaveQuilts 2 Comments

Have you ever tried the quilt as you go method? Rather than first finishing your quilt top and then layering your quilt sandwich, you piece, sandwich, and quilt a project simultaneously. This method works particularly well for small projects, so we’ve compiled a collection of small quilt projects for your quilt as you go inspiration!

How to Quilt As You Go

First, learn how to quilt as you go with some of the fantastic tutorials we have on FaveQuilts! This Quilt As You Go Video Tutorial will make you an expert in no time. This video demonstrates the quilt as you go method for a holiday table runner. The project comes together quickly and beautifully! Also, be sure to check out the Quilt As You Go: Strip Quilting Video Tutorial and the Quilt As You Go: Joining the Blocks tutorial as well.

Quilt As You Go Blocks

Quilt as you go blocks come together beautifully. When you use this method for your quilt blocks, the full quilt is a cinch to piece together! This Bloomin’ Quilt as You Go Block is an excellent option. Floral quilts never go out of style, and this is one you definitely should try!

More Quilt As You Go Blocks:

Quilt As You Go Tutorials

Once you become an expert at the quilt as you go method, make one of these stunning quilt projects! Strip quilts are definitely the go-to style, but you’ll find an array of quilt as you go tutorials below!

For more fantastic Quilt As You Go ideas, visit our new collection of Quick Quilts: 15 Quilt As You Go Tutorials and Quilt As You Go Blocks.

Enter to win three wonderful quilt pattern books from Martingale: Animal Parade, Strip-Smart Quilts II, and Scrap-Basket Beauties. The deadline to enter is May 31th at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Martingale/That Patchwork Place is known for high-quality products. Animal Parade, Strip-Smart Quilts II, and Scrap-Basket Beauties certainly live up to that reputation. The books are each laid out in clear, easy-to-follow formats, with high-resolution photographs that make following a pattern a snap. These are absolute must-have additions to any quilter’s library!

Have you ever tried the quilt as you go method?

Stay Sharp: Make Time to Make Something

May 6, 2014 by FaveQuilts Leave a Comment

When was the last time you picked up a new hobby? It is so easy to fall into the same patterns every day—whether it’s your career, your kids (or grandkids), or even the same crafts and activities that you’ve perfected, it’s human nature to let yourself stay firmly in your comfort zone.

Recent studies have shown, however, that breaking out of those ruts can help us not only break new ground in our own lives, but may actually help prevent memory loss.

Dr. Denise Park from University of Texas at Dallas found that his subjects, all older individuals, made great gains in memory retention after they had learned a new skill, be it photography, computer science, or even quilting! “We found quite an improvement in memory, and we found that when we tested our participants a year later, that was maintained,” Park told NPR earlier this week.

As obvious fans of quilting, we couldn’t agree more with this assessment. Hobbies like crafting and quilting require use of your whole brain—the creative side, envisioning patterns and designs, and the technical, mathematical part of actually putting the craft or quilt together. It’s no wonder this mental workout improves memory!

In fact, Dr. Park went so far as to state that “by maintaining a very active brain, you could defer cognitive aging by a couple of years.”

It’s not often that we here at FaveQuilts encourage our readers not to quilt, but why not branch out a little? The best thing about the world of crafting is that there are always new avenues to explore.

DIY Home Decor Crafts

Make an amazing little tissue box with the plastic canvas Hearts and Flowers Tissue Box or light up a room with the Scrap Ribbon Lamp.

Not thinking big enough? Take up glasswork with the Faux Stained Glass Window! The important thing is to try something new, whatever that may be. Let no hobby or craft be too big or too small. Even something like the Pansy Ball Jar, which is so simple to put together but looks so beautiful wherever you put it, is a great way to exercise your brain and get something totally delightful out of the deal.

Make Your Own Jewelry

If DIY home decor isn’t your thing, why not try beading and jewelry? This is one of those creative skills that is fun to do, looks wonderful, and lasts forever. How can you resist a statement piece like the Bright and Tassled Beginner Bracelet or these adorable Flirty Spring Rings?

Learn the basics of DIY jewelry making and you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of fun with fashion. Gorgeous, easy necklace tutorials like the Silver Shade Bead Necklace and the Classic Daisy Chain are the perfect way to play around with techniques you already know by building on a built-in knowledge base.

Paper Crafts for Kids … and For You!

Learning a new hobby can be pricey, but with just a little ingenuity you can sidestep the heavy bill. From paper plate crafts to toilet paper roll crafts, there is no shortage of things to make with inexpensive materials.

This Simple Quilled Daisy Card has a simple process but a beautiful, understated look. For something a little more bold, try the Crepe Paper Tulips, which will turn any room into paradise.

As it turns out, it really doesn’t matter what you make … as long as you’re making something. Challenge yourself to learn something new. And you never know—leaving that quilt project that’s had you stumped for weeks to brighten up your kitchen with easy DIY paper flowers just might shake loose your quilter’s block and allow you to sew forth with ease!

Of course, if you’ve never quilted before… well, now seems like a pretty good time to start. Your brain will thank you!

When was the last time you took up a new hobby?

Top 5 Quilting YouTubers

April 13, 2014 by FaveQuilts Leave a Comment

We here at FaveQuilts are all about mixed media. We love printable patterns, books, eBooks, social media, and of course, YouTube. Video tutorials are such a great way to learn how to make a quilt. The visual component of a video tutorial makes every pattern just that much easier, since you can actually watch the process of sewing a quilt. But it can be a headache to sort through the huge number of posters on YouTube, since it’s a medium that anyone can create content for.

If you love video tutorials, but don’t love watching dozens of unhelpful videos, this is the blog roundup for you! We’ve gone through and found our favorite YouTube tutorial makers so that you don’t have to. Check out these awesome content creators for easy quilting tutorials that you’ll use again and again.

1. Interweave Craft

As the force behind Quilting Arts TV, you can be sure that Interweave always has top-notch content. Their picture quality is unparalleled and their video topics range from teaching you how to make a quilt using a specific pattern to insider tips and techniques that will improve your quilting across the board. They’re not to be missed!

2. Fat Quarter Shop

Fat Quarter Shop is known for its phenomenal quilt tutorial videos. These tutorials have everything you could ask for: great quality, clear instructions, and downloadable patterns to go along what what you see on screen. Each video also includes suggested fabrics and pre-cuts for purchase. Beyond quilt pattern tutorials, Fat Quarter Shop also has a host of instructional videos which teach you about the latest in quilting tools and technology, as well as giving you clever tricks to make your quilting as easy and painless as possible.

3. Marguerita McManus

There’s not enough praise in the world for the videos that Marguerita McManus puts out! These tutorials are so clear cut and easy to follow. A true expert in the quilting arts, McManus is full of secrets, shortcuts, and awesome step-by-steps. You won’t want to miss a single video!

4. Jo’s Country Junction

We’ve got a whole bunch of Jo’s Country Junction tutorials over on FaveQuilts, but did you know that they have a while YouTube account, filled with great video tutorials? If you want awesome extras from the ladies at the Junction, be sure to go through their fabulous instructables for tips on everything from full quilts to dish towels.

5. FaveQuilts!

Not to toot our own horn or anything, but we think we’ve got a pretty great channel. We do our best to make sure there’s a great variety of content, from book trailers to quilt tutorials. Not only that, but we always aim to include videos that will teach you not just patterns, but skills, so that you can get better with every quilt you make. Come hang out with us!

Speaking of TV, our exciting new giveaway is a free DVD set of Quilting Arts TV Series 400! The deadline to enter is April 23rd at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Quilting Arts TV is, hands down, the premiere source of quilt programming. In the Series 400 DVD set, host Patricia “Pokey” Bolton talks every week with experts and designers to bring viewers the best in tips, tricks, and advice.

Read the full review here.

Do you prefer printable tutorials or video tutorials? Sound off below!

“How to Make a Jelly Roll Quilt: 9 Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns” free eBook

April 6, 2014 by FaveQuilts Leave a Comment

What is the worst thing about quilting?

C’mon, everyone has that one step in the process that they just hate. And if you’re like us here at FaveQuilts, it’s pretty straightforward: cutting. It’s such a tedious process that requires so much focus; unlike piecing, which you can do in a rhythm while listening to music and getting into the zone, cutting requires careful attention to detail—both because you want your squares or strips or triangles to be the right size and because you don’t want to lose a finger.

Well, there’s a solution: pre-cuts. Jelly rolls, charm packs, fat quarters … pre-cut fabrics either completely avoid or greatly reduce the amount of time you need to spend snipping and slicing on your cutting mat. Since we love pre-cuts so much, we decided to make a whole book out of them! In How to Make a Jelly Roll Quilt: 9 Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns, you will find some of our favorite jelly roll quilt tutorials from the site. These patterns range in size, shape, and purpose, but trust us, you’ll love them all equally.

Let’s take a peek at what’s inside…

Summer Quilt Patterns

Some quilts are made for snuggling, and some quilts are made for celebrating! Jelly roll quilt patterns like the Rail Fence Picnic Quilt are perfect for picnics, roadtrips, and family reunions. Everybody loves being outside in the summer, but for those of us who are in charge of doing the family laundry, there’s a lot to be said for a protective barrier between our butts and the grass.

Keep your pants stain-free and your food ant-protected with one of these gorgeous summer quilts!

Baby Quilt Tutorials

Baby quilt patterns are consistently among the most popular tutorials that we offer on FaveQuilts, and it’s not hard to see why. Learning how to make a baby quilt in the span of one or two days makes for a serious increase in quilt production—and guarantees that not only will you never show up to a baby shower empty-handed, but your gift will always put all the others to shame.

The easy baby quilts that we chose for this book were picked especially because of how easy and fast they are. Patterns like the Striped Chevrons Baby Quilt are guaranteed to be fun and stress-free.

Quick and Easy Quilt Patterns

Of course, you can only make so many baby quilts before you start to go a little crazy, so add some variety to your To Do list with one of our easy-breezy lap and throw quilt patterns. These are easily the most versatile of quilt patterns, since you can use them for just about anything. They’re big enough to keep you warm and comfortable on the couch in winter, but small enough to be packed up and taken along on a long trip or vacation. (Not to mention their excellence for building blanket forts.)

Still, even bigger projects like throw quilts shouldn’t take you forever, which is why we’ve included awesome patterns like the Four Hour Lasagna Quilt, which you can make in time for dinner.

Download Your Copy!

If, somehow, all this wasn’t enough to convince you, well, we have one more trick up our sleeve. Check out some of the gorgeous quilts in store with our sneak peak video:

So what are you waiting for? Download your free copy of How to Make a Jelly Roll Quilt: 9 Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns today, and get quilting!

What’s your favorite style of pre-cut?

Interview with Quilting Arts TV’s Susan Brubaker Knapp

March 5, 2014 by FaveQuilts 23 Comments

Cool news, quilters! FaveQuilts recently had the opportunity to correspond with Susan Brubaker Knapp, new anchor of Quilting Arts TV, to talk a little about her own quilting and her advice for all those home-quilters out there. She was kind enough to answer YOUR questions, which we collected via our Facebook page and our newsletters. Many thanks to Susan and don’t forget to tune in to Quilting Arts TV!

Is investing in a fabric cutter (such as Accuquilt or Sizzix) economical, or should I just keep on cutting the traditional way?

I think it depends on how you work, and what kinds of quilts you want to make. If you make a lot of quilts with traditional shapes, then fabric cutting machines can save you a ton of time.

Is it okay to sew wider top & bottom borders (& keep side borders narrower) to lengthen a quilt?

Absolutely! Why not? Just make sure that the quilt still looks balanced, and that basic design principles have not been compromised just to lengthen it. The most interesting quilts are those where the quiltmaker has taken a basic design or pattern, and changed it in ways that makes it more uniquely hers.

My binding is always uneven–sometimes it looks great, and sometimes it looks terrible. Is there a trick to it that I’m missing?

I had problems with my bindings when I first started quilting. My mother –who was a former home economics teacher and an excellent quilter – told me so! And I ignored her for a long time (after all, she was my mother). And then I started entering shows and I got marked down for my bindings. I crawled back to her, and asked her to teach me the right way.

My best advice is to find a video or a book by someone who really knows her stuff, and follow the directions exactly. I have several good quilting reference books on my shelf. If you learn better by watching, rather than by reading, you can see my technique in my new Quilting Arts Workshop (available as a DVD or download) called “Fabulous Finishes: Seven Techniques for Binding, Facing, Framing, and Hanging a Quilt.” Or watch multiple videos by experts online, and experiment with them to determine what works best for you.

By the way, I think double, straight-grain bindings are the easiest to do and achieve great results.

Common binding mistakes:

Cutting off too much, or too little, or cutting unevenly, when squaring up your quilt before binding. This leaves you with the wrong amount of fabric and batting to fill up the binding, so some places are wide and plump, and others are skinny and flat.
Not sewing a uniform ¼” seam allowance when you sew the binding on.
Not paying attention to your corners (or simply not knowing how to handle them) when you machine stitch the binding on, so that they are not square or full. Corners are what separate the newbies from the pros.
Rushing through the step where you hand stitch the binding to the back of the quilt, or failing to align it uniformly (it should just cover the machine stitching line, so that the binding is the same width on the front as the back).
Going too fast, or not caring enough to do it right, because you are desperate to be done!

What do you do with the blocks that just don’t turn out for some reason? Perhaps due to color combinations or you just don’t like the block. You spend a lot of time and money into the block, hate to just toss them in a land fill.

Hmmm…. Here are some ideas:

Take them to a friend, or offer them up to someone at your guild.
Put them into a sampler quilt with neutral sashings and borders. Donate it to a charity so that you will never have to see it again! Not nice enough for a child, vet, or the elderly? It would still make good pet bedding!
Sew a bunch together, and then sandwich them with batting and backing and use them to practice machine quilting.
Make them into potholders and donate them to your guild’s quilt show boutique. Or give them to someone as a birthday or holiday gift.

What marking method do you prefer?

I don’t mark very much (I am usually free-motion quilting and thread sketching), but when I do, I really like the mechanical pencils with ceramic leads by Bohin and Sewline.

What has been the most difficult quilt /quilt block you have done personally?

The two that have been the most challenging for me are probably Pickle Dish and Feathered Star.

Do you have any tips or trade secrets about how to master free motion quilting?

First, relax. If you partake, have a beer or glass of wine. (Not too much; you don’t want to stitch through your fingers!) Put on music that makes you chill out (for me, it is classical. For some reason, music with words doesn’t work for me.) If you are tense, your quilting will be tight and jerky. Tell yourself that this is going to be fun, and liberating.

Start on a project that is not dear to you. Make a sandwich from solid fabric, batting and backing fabric; pin and use it to practice. Consider buying one of those panels – you know, the ones with teddy bears or flowers on it – and use it to practice quilting around the elements. Practice, practice, practice. Chances are, you won’t be good at free-motion quilting unless you practice MANY hours. Set a goal of doing five to ten minutes of free-motion stitching each day, and use this time to practice different motifs. I’m convinced that anyone can learn to be a great free-motion quilter; it just takes practice.

What are some of your quilt inspirations? Where do you get your ideas for your quilts?

Almost always my art quilts are based on my original photos. I take photos almost every day, where ever I am – even when I’m out walking my dog – and choose the best ones to convert into works of art made with fabric and thread. For my traditional (contemporary) quilts, my inspiration may come from a great fabric or fabric collection, or a color combination I’ve noticed in nature.

What is your design process?

For my art quilts, I start by taking a great photo and tracing the basic color areas in the photo onto tracing paper. I enlarge my drawing to create a pattern. I use this pattern as the basic template, and then create my pieces using either wholecloth painting (painting with acrylic textile paints on white fabric) or fusible applique (using fusible adhesive to fuse down the pieces). Then I heavily thread sketch (free motion stitching through the surface of the quilt and interfacing/stabilizer) before I machine quilt.

For my traditional/contemporary quilts, I often design using graphic design/illustration software (I use Adobe Illustrator), so that I can scale elements, and move blocks around on my computer before settling on a final design. If you don’t have this kind of software, you can often do the same thing with graph paper.

Are there any shortcuts to cutting and measuring triangles?

I can’t really speak to this, as I’ve always done it the traditional way.

Scrap quilts can be a little overwhelming–many quilters have huge scrap fabric bins and no idea of how to start using them. Any advice?

If you make a lot of scrap quilts, I highly recommend getting into the habit of cutting up fabric remnants (from other projects) into the shapes you use most often in your scrap quilts. Do this each time you find yourself with a remnant that it is not big enough to use for a new project. This could be 2” strips, or 4” squares, for example. Then put them into zippered plastic bags or bins according to color or value. This way, they will be ready to go when you want to make your next scrap quilt.

Need new fabric?

Inspired by Susan’s advice and want to get started on a new project? We’re giving away a FREE jelly roll, the Lily Ashbury High Street Jelly Roll, courtesy of Moda Fabrics!

Moda Jelly Rolls are always a great investment, as the pre-cut fabric drastically cuts down on preparation time without sacrificing piecing accuracy. They are cut specifically to minimize fraying while you work, and are perfect for a wide variety of projects, from home decor to clothing.

The Lily Ashbury High Street Jelly Roll comes with 40 2.5X44-inch die cut fabric strips (including duplicates), so there is plenty of material for you to work with. Lily Ashbury has done an absolutely fabulous job of blending softer pastel shades with a bolder, almost neon spring palette. The fabric design has a sweet bohemian feel, very easygoing and light, which would be appropriate for any season.

Do you watch Quilting Arts TV?

Let Me See That Jelly Roll! 10 Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns

January 31, 2014 by FaveQuilts 1 Comment

I absolutely love jelly roll fabric. They’re so versatile and fun. You can make almost any project with a jelly roll, from home decor to clothes and accessories to full bed quilts. They’re great for any season and any skill level. Are you a beginner just learning piecework? A jelly roll race quilt is the pattern for you. Are you an experienced sewist looking for your next project? Jelly roll quilts are a great way to mix and match, use up scraps, and even create your own designs.

My favorite thing about a jelly roll is how much variation there is. From race quilts to patchwork to chevron, no two jelly roll quilts look the same. You can use jelly rolls to make improv quilts that challenge your skill level or stick with something simple that you can make quickly. Add free-motion or applique to make a simple quilt just a little more personal or detailed. There’s really no limit to what you can do with a jelly roll, which is why I’ve put together some of my favorite patterns—so what are you waiting for? Your next quilt is waiting in the wings!

10 Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns for Your Next Quilt

BONUS! Like these patterns? Find more with our newly updated pattern collection, 34 Jelly Roll Patterns!

And if that’s not enough, win big with our Henry Glass & Co. fabric bundle giveaway!

We’re giving away the Honey Bee Mine fabric bundle from Henry Glass & Co.! It may not be a jelly roll, but this adorable fabric bundle will be perfect for your spring quilts. Whether you use them all together for a cute baby quilt or spread them out across a couple of throws or lap quilts, these will be the perfect new addition to your stash.

How to Make a Quilt: Trivia Edition

December 14, 2013 by FaveQuilts Leave a Comment

Okay, quilters. The holiday season has started and we’re all beginning to plan out and piece together our Christmas quilts. But have you ever looked at a finished product and wondered where the techniques came from? Whether your mother, grandmother, or one of FaveQuilts‘ amazing YouTube tutorials taught you the difference between a quilt binding and a quilt border, you’re participating in a process that has been practiced and refined through centuries. Pretty cool, right?

Well, it’s time to put all that knowledge to the test! How much do you know about the art of quilting? Take our quiz, “How to Make a Quilt: Trivia Edition” to find out.

Q: In what country did archaeologists find the world’s oldest quilt?

A: Mongolia!

The oldest quilt in existence is currently housed at the Saint Petersburg Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The quilted linen carpet was discovered in a Mongolian cave. Other candidates for World’s Oldest Quilt are an Egyptian leather quilt discovered on a carved ivory statue (dating to about 980 B.C.) and the Tristan Quilt (1360-1400 C.A.) in Italy. The Tristan Quilt, like this Stars and Loops Pattern, is a free-form quilt pattern which uses artistic stitching as the primary design feature.

Q: Should you wash your quilting fabric before you use it?

A: Yes!

It’s always a good idea to prewash your fabric before you begin to work with it, particularly if you’re working with cotton. This way you can be sure that you won’t find yourself facing any unpleasant surprises that might ruin your beautiful finished product, such as bleeding or uneven shrinking. If you want to be sure your quilts are going to come out as neat and tidy as this gorgeous Sleeping on Squares Quilt, be sure to give the fabric a run through the washer before you begin to quilt!

Q: But wait! Prewashing fabric can lead to fraying. What’s the best way to prevent frayed edges?

A: Cut a little piece from the corners.

It’s true that prewashing can cause fabric to fray. But cutting a little piece from the corners can help prevent fraying. If you find that your quilt still looks a little rough around the edges, try adding a border or binding! This gives a quilt a professional, finished look like the Scalloped Binding that you see here.

Q: True or False – Using fabric scraps for patchwork quilts comes from Colonial America.

A: False!

Surprised? Not when you consider that while there were dressmakers and tailors in Colonial America, many women made their everyday clothes (and those of their husbands and children). Fabric at the time was costly, and scraps were more likely to be put to use than collect in a “stash.” Homemade quilts like this Brick Pattern Fat Quarter Quilt were almost certainly deliberate projects which required fabric of their own to be purchased. It wasn’t until the 1850s, when the cost of fabric lowered drastically due to new commercial technology, that quilting began to become anything that resembled a “hobby.”

Q: Which is the best type of needle to use in hand quilting: sharps, milliners, crewels, or betweens?

A: Betweens.

Betweens are short and sharp, which make pushing through a quilt’s many layers much easier. They’re a bit tougher than some other needle options, which can help keep your hands from getting too sore! If you’ve never hand quilted before, the Fluffy Flannel Baby Quilt is the project to begin with. Go back to quilting’s roots by making this blanket the same way that your ancestors might have!

During the Crusades, women used to sew quilts as protective armor to be worn under their husbands’ and sons’ chain mail. You probably won’t need to pad anybody’s armor, but a cozy baby quilt will go a long way to fighting off the cold!

How’d you do? Tell us your score below!

Take an International Staycation with European-Inspired Quilt Patterns

November 25, 2013 by FaveQuilts 4 Comments

My little sister recently returned home from studying abroad in the United Kingdom. As we wrestled with the zipper of her over-capacity suitcase, I was reminded of Mary Poppins’ magic satchel that could store any number of items. The suitcase was literally a treasure-trove containing a huge amount of flower-embossed tins of English tea, luxurious Parisian scarves, multiple newspapers about the birth of the English prince, and other lovely artifacts from across the pond.

As my eye caught a photograph of a Gothic cathedral full of stunning stained-glass windows, I was hit with a burst of inspiration: the gorgeous antiquity of European style would make an exquisite quilt pattern!

Creating a quilt pattern inspired by another country is a trendy and thrifty way to decorate your home without leaving the U.S. In celebration of Western Europe’s unique icons and culture, FaveQuilts presents our popular patterns inspired by our friends on the other side of the Atlantic.

English Quilt Patterns

If you adore Kate Middleton or just enjoy the way British accents sound, these elegant quilt patterns inspired by England are just the thing for your home. Get inspired by the most famous family in the world with the Royal Family Heirloom Quilt, which is made of a gorgeous hst design of ruby red and deep purple fabrics. Give any room a prim and proper touch by paper piecing the vintage prints of this Union Jack Patchwork Cushion Cover (shown).

For an even daintier design, the Tea and Roses Table Topper Pattern celebrates all the beauty of the legendary English Rose with traditional tea time. Finally, give your bathroom a tiny London applique pattern with the Little British Taxi Towel.

Irish Quilt Patterns

Perhaps you’d like to celebrate the land of St. Patrick and emerald green meadows? FaveQuilts has a wide selection of Irish quilt patterns that can be used to celebrate St. Patty’s Day or your family’s own Irish heritage. For example, this Four Leaf Clover Quilt (shown) is a wonderful way to show off your Irish pride and embroidery skills during any time of the year. In addition, the Green Beer Quilted Table Runner is the perfect accessory to dress up your table as you sip your Irish breakfast tea in the morning.

French, Spanish, and Italian Quilt Patterns

Perhaps the most timeless designs come from the artistic tradition of romance languages. One way to honor the revolutionary progress of Italian art is with the sophisticated scalloped design of the Red Renaissance Waves Quilt.

For a more modem European-inspired quilt, simply use famous icons. Well-known structures, such as Eiffel tower, can easily be appliqued to make a French-themed quilt pattern like the Love from Paris Quilt (shown).

Finally, if you dream of someday riding your bike down the sweltering streets of Spain, the Valencia Street Bike Basket is the perfect way to live out your vogue European lifestyle.

Want more European-inspired quilt patterns and techniques? Check out our wide variety of Irish Chain quilts and English paper piecing tutorials.

Which country would you choose to inspire your next quilt pattern?

In Case You Missed It: “17 Quilting Tutorials: Quilting for Beginners and Top Tips for How to Quilt” eBook

October 2, 2013 by FaveQuilts Leave a Comment

No quilter could have gotten to where they are now without starting with the basics. At FaveQuilts, we’ve been happy to frequently update our techniques and videos section with the latest tips from experienced quilters looking to give our readers the best ways to improve and challenge their skills. We thought it would be a great idea to make these tutorials even easier for quilters to access 24/7, and we’re excited to share our latest free eBook, 17 Quilting Tutorials: Quilting for Beginners and Top Tips for How to Quilt.

These quilting tutorials cover a broad range of topics that will guide you through many of the most important steps involved in making a quilt. You’ll find not only technique-based tutorials that demonstrate how to quilt, but you’ll also find some very helpful guides and tips for things like choosing fabric, getting to know your sewing machine, and even cleaning your finished quilt. First time quilters will appreciate the break down of basic cutting, stitching, and finishing techniques, while more advanced quilters can not only brush up on the basics, but find a few new challenges when it comes to things like quilt binding and finishing a pattern that will help you achieve a new level of mastery in your quilting.

What you’ll find in this eBook:

Trouble Free Straight Line Quilting – It’s so frustrating when your lines aren’t looking as clean as you’d like them to, which is why this list of 10 tricks to straight line quilting is a must-read. It doesn’t simply list ideas; you’ll find a comprehensive list that includes plenty of images, in-depth explanations, and links to further reading that you can take a look any time you’re in need of some extra advice. Once you’ve improved your straight line quilting, there will be many more opportunities to do bold and creative things with your stitches.

Single Fold Binding Tutorial – Presentation is very important; who doesn’t want their quilt to get noticed? We think quilters will be proud to show off any project if they have used quilt binding techniques like this to finish them. The quilting tutorial is simple, easy-to-follow, and is an excellent starting point. If you’re ready for something beyond a basic binding technique or quilt border, you can check out our more advanced quilting tutorials that will show you how to add curves, shapes, and more to really add that stand-out wow factor to any pattern.

Download a copy of 17 Quilting Tutorials: Quilting for Beginners and Top Tips for How to Quilt – It’s free!

If you like this eBook, you’ll love:

FaveQuilts Giveaway: Flip Your Way to Fabulous Quilts

May 18, 2013 by FaveQuilts 2 Comments

What’s the most important part of your quilting presentation to you? For some, it’s the pattern itself, while others may be more focused on how finishing elements complete everything. As we all know, quilters have so much to be aware of when it comes to making a quality quilt, and the best way to get better at the elements are through learning experiences. When it comes to the corners of a quilt, few are quite as skilled at designing them as Donna Lynn Thomas, author of Flip Your Way to Fabulous Quilts: Take Folded Corners to New Heights. You’ll be amazed at how clean your next quilt pattern looks once you apply her methods to one of the 14 impressive patterns she includes! Make something as simple as a triangle to something as complex as a series of pinwheels, all with the finesse of a master quilter.

What left me so impressed with this book was not only the original designs by Thomas, but the way in which she organized them. After a brief introduction, readers are given a quality education on the way to properly fold fabric corners and use the technique to make more intricate patterns. The color illustrations along with the easy-to-follow instructions make this book a winner from the start.

After readers are more comfortable applying the technique, they can choose from a series of patterns which are separated into three categories, “Try Me Quilts”, “Grow with Me Quilts”, and “Master Me Quilts”. This helps guide readers who are unsure of their skill level to see what patterns are giving them the best challenge, as well as helping them learn the process. Each and every design in Flip Your Way to Fabulous Quilts is gorgeous, so there’s no reason quilters in any particular level will feel any less excited about their results.

Ready to try a new approach to your quilting patterns? Then all you need to do is enter our latest giveaway on FaveQuilts for your chance to win your very own copy of Donna Lynn Thomas’ Flip Your Way to Fabulous Quilts. You have until the 21st, so head on over to our site and enter today!