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Ahoy, Sailor! Simple Quilt Patterns for the High Seas

May 18, 2014 by FaveQuilts

Nothing says “summer” like a day on the high seas. Forget beach vacations: we’re talking cruise ships, motorboats, even a fishing dinghy. Quilters are always looking for simple quilt patterns that suit their interests, and for all the sailors out there, your time has come. Today, FaveQuilts is honoring everyone who would rather get sea legs than tan legs, who’d rather set sail than go to a great sale, and who measures speed in knots.

So whether you’re looking for baby quilt patterns, free bed quilt patterns, contemporary quilt block patterns, or just easy quilt designs for your home, these adorable nautical quilts will take you out to sea and back.

Baby Quilt Patterns

Beachy Baby Strip Quilt

1. Out to Sea Baby Quilt
2. Kissy Fish Baby Quilt
3. Beachy Baby Strip Quilt
4. Salt Water Taffy Boy & Girl Quilts

Nautical Quilt Block Patterns

Smooth Sailing Quilt Block

1. Swimming Sea Turtle Block
2. Gone Fishin’ Paper Piecing Block
3. Smooth Sailing Quilt Block

DIY Home Decor Quilt Patterns

A Heart of Sea Glass Mini Quilt

1. Heart of Sea Glass
2. Nautical Applique Pillows
3. Underwater Stripes Quilted Bag
4. Cool Color Checkered Quilt
5. Seaside Chevron Picnic Quilt

And don’t miss…

Fiskars Rotary Cutter and Ruler Combo and No-Touch Blade Change ToolEnter to win the Fiskars Rotary Cutter and Ruler Combo and No-Touch Blade Change Tool!

Cutting fabric is easily one of the most difficult and tedious steps in the process of making a quilt. Whether snipping half-square triangles or fighting with fussy cuts, quilting is all about precision. Fiskars’ Rotary Cutter and Ruler Combo ensures straight, clean lines through fabric while the No-Touch Blade Tool keeps the quilter’s hands safe from cuts when it comes time to trade out an old blade for a new one.

The deadline to enter is May 23th at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Read the full review here.

Filed Under: Quilting Tagged With: Baby Quilt Patterns, FaveQuilts, Free Quilt Patterns, nautical, Quilt Block Patterns, quilting tutorials, summer sewing

Stay Sharp: Make Time to Make Something

May 6, 2014 by FaveQuilts

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

Hearts and Flowers Tissue Box CoverMake 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

Bright and Tassled Bbeginner BraceletIf 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!

Simple Quilled Daisy CardLearning 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?

Filed Under: Advice, Tips, & Tricks Tagged With: crepe paper, easy paper crafts, Favecrafts, FaveQuilts, Howto Make Jewelry, plastic canvas, quilting techniques, quilting tutorials

FaveQuilts Talks with Judy Martin: Author, Teacher, Quiltmaker

May 2, 2014 by FaveQuilts

FaveQuilts works with so many incredible designers, bloggers, and companies, but it’s a special thing when we get the opportunity to speak with someone who is, to some degree, all three!

Judy Martin, one of our latest designers and the author of Patchwork Among Friends: From Patterns to Potlucks and Stellar Quilts, agreed to answer a few of our questions AND to give away free copies of her books!

We can all benefit from Judy’s insight. And of course, don’t forget to enter the giveaway for her amazing books!

  1. What first drew you to quilting? 

My mother had sewn all my clothes, and when I started Junior High School, I started making my clothes in order to have some control over my wardrobe. In 1969, I made my first quilt for my apartment in college, using my dressmaking scraps. I had never seen a quilt before, and I thought they were made from uniformly sized squares. Making a quilt gave me such a sense of accomplishment that I never went back to making clothing. Besides, I envisioned quilts from all the cotton prints I was buying.

  1. You are known for your dedication to beautiful, but complex, patterns. Can you tell us a little about why this has been such a strong through line in your work? 

I haven’t always made complex quilts. When I was a beginner, I made simple quilts. As I gained experience, some of my quilt patterns grew more complex. Often, though, my quilts are easier than they look. In 1994, when I designed the Staggered Star border that graces a number of my quilts, I designed it for simplicity. It is easier to sew staggered stars than stars in the usual row with all their points touching. However, the look is new, and the rows are not so obvious, so people sometimes think it must be harder to make.

When I got my start designing for Quilter’s Newsletter in 1979, I was known for fairly simple patterns that could be presented in a page or two. This was in the days of templates, when there wasn’t such a distinction between easy and hard quilts. All patch shapes and sizes were pretty much the same level of difficulty. Furthermore, one method once served for all shapes. I suppose that I grew accustomed to the variety of shapes and blocks available to those who made quilts in the days of traditional template cutting and hand piecing, even though I never used those methods myself. When rotary cutting came along, I continued to design quilts made from uncommon shapes because I think they make some of the most beautiful quilts.

Nowadays, I think rotary cutting and “shortcuts” for making specific units have winnowed down the variety of patch shapes and blocks that most quilt makers use. While I am not about to give up rotary cutting, I think the method should serve the aesthetic of the quilts you want to make. For instance, if I want to use true diamonds for their elegant proportions, I figure out a way to rotary cut and machine piece them instead of substituting half-square triangles.

  1. What advice do you have for quilters who are on the verge of (or nervous to) take the next step, from easy to intermediate/advanced quilting? 

Once you are comfortable with your sewing machine and have mastered the perfect scant quarter-inch seam allowance, you have the skill to make intermediate to advanced blocks. That’s all it takes. Having success with patterns should give you the confidence to venture further.

I like making intricate, nuanced quilts because they give me more of a sense of accomplishment. When you would rather make one quilt that takes some time, rather than making several quick quilts, you are ready to take this step. For me personally I feel I don’t have time to make ordinary quilts. I would rather make fewer quilts but make them all special.

  1. When you set out to design a new pattern, what are your first steps? 

I often combine traditional patterns, such as Lone Star and Log Cabin, for example. I visualize the combination in my head or I may sketch the basic idea on paper. Then I head to the computer to work out the details. I work first with shapes, then with colors.

  1. From where do you draw inspiration? 

I tend to work in series. While I am working on one quilt, I am already thinking of what I can do to take my idea to the next level. Most of my recent quilts are inspired by my earlier quilts.

  1. Do you make your patterns on a computer, by hand, or by some other method? 

I may jot down ideas in a notebook or on the back of a receipt. However, I develop these ideas and come up with other ideas in the computer. I use a graphics program, Adobe Illustrator. It allows me the freedom to work outside the grid. I draw shapes based on mathematically precise dimensions and angles. In the computer I can change colors ’til the cows come home. I sometimes make scores of variations before I find the variation I like best and consider the pattern done.

  1. What’s the greatest or most helpful “quilting secret” you’ve learned or created during your years of quilting? (For example, a trick to cutting half-square triangles, the key to mastering free-motion quilting, etc.) 

I learned a tip that I have never forgotten in a 1970s class taught by Beth Gutcheon. She encouraged her students to mix in some clashing fabric in a scrap quilt. She said it added color tension. To this day, in my work, I like to dance all around a color, mixing in neighboring hues as well as tints and shades. I combine fabrics from different lines, different manufacturers, and different eras, as long as the colors work for my plan. As for quilting secrets I have discovered myself, my favorite is finding dimensions that work for rotary cutting diamonds, triangles and squares that fit together, as when making LeMoyne Stars or Lone Stars. Not all dimensions are ruler friendly, as the finished square dimension is based on 1.4142 times the finished width of the diamond. However, I have found some numbers that work together. For example, if you cut diamonds 2” wide (1-1/2” finished), they will fit squares cut 2-5/8” (2-1/8” finished) and quarter-square triangles cut 4-1/4” (3” finished) to make a LeMoyne Star that finishes at 7-1/4”.

  1. Do you have a favorite quilt that you’ve made? 

My favorite quilts that I have made are those based on wholly new ideas, whether it be adding a shadow, superimposing an off-center star over another one, or piecing a Wedding Ring from logs. I don’t have a favorite single quilt, but I love pretty much everything that Ruth McDowell makes. She makes fantastic pieced pictures.  She is this year’s inductee into the Quilters’ Hall of Fame. I especially like her pieced quilts of people and animals.

  1. What is your favorite part of the quilt-making process? 

My two favorite parts of making a quilt are: designing the quilt in the computer and binding the quilt. The designing offers so much promise, and the binding makes the quilt real and complete.

  1. And now the big one! A newbie quilter approaches you in a café and says, “Judy, I don’t know if I really want to start quilting. Can you give me three reasons why I should?” What reasons do you give him or her? 

A quilt is a creative expression of yourself. Everyone needs a creative outlet, and this is one creative pursuit that rewards you from the first project you make.

If you want either attention or self satisfaction, there is nothing like a quilt. The time and effort evident in a quilt, as well as the artistry, have a big impact.

Finally, there is nothing like a quilt to wrap your family and friends in love. Your self expression as well as your time and effort in making a quilt are obvious, and the gift of a quilt is everywhere viewed as a gift of love.

Liked what you read?

Judy Martin Pattern Book BundleThen enter to win TWO of Judy Martin’s phenomenal pattern books, Patchwork Among Friends: From Patterns to Potlucks and Stellar Quilts!

Visually complex, colorful, and completely unique, these quilts are not for the faint of heart. But each of Martin’s patterns has a detailed step-by-step which makes even the most complicated patterns accessible to quilters of various skill levels and experience.

Read the full Patchwork Among Friends review.
Read the full Stellar Quilts review.
Enter to win!

 

What first drew YOU to quilting (or crafting)?

Filed Under: Quilting Tagged With: book giveaway, Quilt Designer, Quilt Patterns, quilting tutorials

Top 5 Quilting YouTubers

April 13, 2014 by FaveQuilts

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!

Fat Quarter Shop2. 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!

Jo's Country Junction4. 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!

 

 

 

Quilting Arts TV Series 400

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!

Filed Under: Quilting Tagged With: FaveQuilts, Quilt Designer, quilting 101, quilting techniques, quilting tutorials, Video tutorial

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

April 6, 2014 by FaveQuilts

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…

Rail Fence Picnic Quilt

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

Striped Chevrons Baby Quilt TutorialBaby 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.

Four Hour Lasagna QuiltQuick 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:

 

How to Make a Jelly Roll Quilt: 9 Jelly Roll Quilt Patterns

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?

Filed Under: Quilting Tagged With: fabric, free eBook, jelly roll quilt, Quilting, quilting techniques, quilting tutorials

How to Write a Quilt Tutorial

March 25, 2014 by FaveQuilts

You love tutorials. We love tutorials. Everybody loves quilt tutorials! The internet is an incredible resource for free, step-by-step instruction on how to do … well, pretty much anything. But not all tutorials for how to make a quilt are created equal. There’s nothing more frustrating than a beautiful quilt with an unclear or sub-par quilt pattern tutorial.

As a curator and self-declared experts in the art of hunting down high-quality tutorials for our readers, we’ve noticed a few trends and and criteria that we like to look for when we’re trying to find the best tutorials. So, with no further ado, here are just a few things to keep mind as you’re writing your quilt tutorial! Give your blog its best chance to get noticed.

1. Include a materials list.

This is one of the most important pieces of  tutorial, but it’s something that a lot of bloggers overlook. It is so important that you remember to include a list of the materials needed in order to make a quilt block or full quilt. This includes the size of the finished quilt and any special notes about the materials (if you used a specific type of fabric or pre-cuts, etc), so that your readers can go into the quilt making process fully prepared.

Here’s a great example of a materials list from our Garden District Picnic Quilt.

materials etc

materials2

Note that this list includes the size of the finished quilt, a rough idea of how long the quilt will take, and a brief explanation of what fabrics were used as well as a special note about measurement particularities. It may seem like you’re giving too much information, but always err on the side of too much, rather than too little. Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared!

2.  Don’t assume your readers are as skilled as you are.

Adding Zippers the Lazy Way

It’s easy to forget that quilters of all skill levels and experience may be reading your tutorial, but don’t assume your readers will automatically know what you mean when you say something like, “Now just bind your quilt and you’re finished!”

You are, of course, not obligated to explain (for example) how to bind a quilt every time you post a tutorial, but if you have done so in the past, make sure to link that segment of the tutorial to the more in-depth explanation. Remember that every blogger and teacher brings their own special experiences and techniques to the process, and maybe your insider information will be the final key to helping a novice unlock the secrets of binding without ending up in tears, swearing an oath never to quilt again.

The best tutorials are the ones that take special care to explain specifics and techniques — especially if you have a special way of doing it! Tammie from CraftyTammie has a great tutorial on Adding Zippers the Lazy Way that is a great, fresh look at one of the trickiest parts of sewing.

3. Take lots of photos during the process.

This is always true, but especially when you’re describing a tricky process. Don’t be afraid to have more than one photo per step! The truth is that you may never be able to explain quite as well as a picture can, and of course a little of both is best. A great technique for this is to explain the steps in words and then show a series of photos that demonstrates what you’ve just said. A great example is the Four Hour Lasagna Quilt from Stacey at the Tilted Quilt. She describes the steps of how to piece her jelly roll quilt pattern and then includes demonstrative photos:

Step by Step

It’s helpful to your readers to be able to read the tutorial and then see the steps as you’ve described them. So don’t scrimp on photographs!

4. TAKE GOOD PHOTOS!

The quality of your photos is hugely important to the quality of your quilt tutorial. Keep in mind factors like light, clarity, and photo size when you are making your tutorial. Make sure that your photographs have plenty of light and are of high resolution. Presentation is half the battle! You could have the best tutorial for how to make a quilt in the whole world, but if you have low-resolution, dark photographs you’ll lose readers at first glance. Here are a few great examples:

See how nice the photographs for these tutorials look? Don’t you just want to click on them, even if you aren’t quite sure what some of them are for? That’s the photo quality you want in your tutorial. Luckily for you, the cameras on things like iPads and smartphones are getting better and better, so if you don’t have a fancy camera you don’t necessarily have to buy one. Just do the best you can!

5. Always tag accordingly.

This is one of the best pieces of advice that we can give you. If you don’t have a designated “Tutorials” page, be sure that you have tagged all your tutorials as “tutorials”! It may seem like a tiny detail, but if there isn’t an easy way to find and navigate your tutorials, they’ll get buried in your blog and never see the light of day. If we can’t find it, we can’t feature it. So be sure that all your posts are tagged with consistent, intuitive, easy-to-guess tags (“quilt tutorial” is a good example, or “my tutorials” if you don’t want to limit yourself).

Have you ever made a quilt tutorial?

Quilting HappinessPSST! Don’t forget to check out Quilting Happiness, the amazing feel-good quilt book that we’re giving away right now on FaveQuilts! According to Quilting Happiness, the key to finding joy in your quilting lies in getting to know yourself and your creative tendencies. Co-authors Diane Gilleland and Christina Lane hope to help you accomplish this through a variety of quilting projects, full-color illustrations, and personal reflections on quilting. You’ll also learn original techniques for backing and finishing as well as some new stitches.

What are you waiting for? Enter to win today!

Filed Under: Advice, Tips, & Tricks Tagged With: craft tutorials, FaveQuilts, quilting tutorials, tips and tricks

Pick a Place: Easy Quilted Placemat Patterns, Quilted Mug Rugs, and More

February 12, 2014 by FaveQuilts

I hate tablecloths. It seems as though every single time I put a freshly laundered one on the table, someone spills on it. Rather than policing my guests or having small panic attacks every time somebody passes a dish, I’ve decided to take a different tack: placemats. Placemats are simple to make, easy to clean, and are fun additions to your table setting. At FaveQuilts, we have a ton of easy quilted placemat patterns for every season.

Easy Quilted Placemat Patterns

Perfect Patchwork PlacematsIf I don’t have the time to wash my tablecloth after every meal, I certainly don’t have the time to slave away over placemats. Luckily, there are a ton of easy quilted placemat patterns that I can put together in less than an hour. There’s a wide variety of designs, from rustic patchwork placemats to kid-friendly placemats that will keep the little ones entertained throughout the meal.

Perfect Patchwork Placemats
I Spy Quilted Placemat
Charming Charm Pack Placemats

Table Crafts Made from Fabric Scraps

Easy Strip Pieced PlacematsUnless I win the lottery soon, I don’t have as much money as I’d like, so I’m always looking to save a couple bucks. I’m also a bit of a neat freak, so crafts made from fabric scraps are definitely appealing. Give your neglected scraps new life with some of these patchwork placemats. Although they use a mishmash of patterns and colors, these easy sewing projects with scraps can still look gorgeous. Plus, once you’re done crafting, you’ll have a ton of room to start collecting your next batch of scraps.

Scrappy Rainbow Placemats
Easy Strip Pieced Placemats
Scrappy Stripes Quilted Placemats

Quilted Mug Rugs, Quilted Coasters, and More

Colorful Log Cabin Quilt Coasters FaveQuilts has hundreds of sewing crafts for the kitchen like free quilted mug rug patterns, quilted coaster tutorials, table topper patterns, and more. A mug rug is a fun and simple way to dress up your desk at work. Quilted coasters are a surface-friendly alternative to stone coasters, and table toppers give any table setting instant style.

Elegantly Embroidered Mug Rug
Colorful Log Cabin Quilt Coasters
Sunshine Sunflower Table Topper

 

Home Sweet Quilt: Fresh, Easy Quilt Patterns from Jillily StudioThe projects listed here are only a few of the decorative crafts that quilters can make for their homes. If you’d like to freshen up your home decor, check out Home Sweet Quilt: Fresh, Easy Quilt Patterns from Jillily Studio.

This book contains 12 new quilt patterns organized by room. Within these pages you’ll find patterns for table runners, dish towels, pillows, lap quilts, and more. This book is also full of great tips that will inspire you to design some of your own projects.

Enter to win a copy of Home Sweet Quilt: Fresh, Easy Quilt Patterns from Jillily Studio. Read the full book review here, and check out our giveaway page to enter the contest. The deadline to enter is February 18, so try your luck today.

 

Do you use a tablecloth or placemats to protect your kitchen table?

 

Filed Under: Quilting Tagged With: FaveQuilts, home decor crafts, kitchen decor, Molly Fletcher, mug rugs, quilting tutorials, Simple Quilt Patterns, table decorations

Ready for Love: The Best Valentine’s Day Quilts to Make This Year

December 31, 2013 by FaveQuilts

Heart Embers Quilt Block

Can you feel the love tonight? Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s time to start on those romantic quilts and quilt projects for that special someone! Whether you’re sewing a new bed quilt or just a little something, these projects are a wonderful way to show you care. What everyone forgets about Valentine’s Day is that you don’t have to limit your gifts to a spouse or significant other. Give all your loved ones a token of your affection this February and bring a little warmth to the dreariest time of the year with projects like the Heart Embers Quilt Block.

Home Decor: Romance Your Man…tel

Be My Valentine GarlandThis collection of adorable table runners, garlands, wall quilts and more is perfect for quick, easy decorations. You don’t have to completely deck out our house to get into the holiday—just a little touch here and there will make all the difference. Make this gorgeous Be My Valentine Garland in no time flat and let it put a smile on that special someone’s face.

1. Hearts a Flutter Table Runner
2. Improv Valentine Wall Quilt
3. Checkered Heart Wall Quilt
4. Heart Strings Table Runner

Knotty Little Valentine's Day ApronCook Up Some Romance

They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, so get your kitchen in tip-top shape with these adorable quilted kitchen crafts! They’ll be sure to add a little extra warmth to any cup of cocoa, piece of chocolate, or dinner for two. Make the adorable Knotty Little Valentine’s Day Apron to keep you and anyone who’s cooking with you nice and tidy! Remember: love doesn’t have to be messy. (But just in case, wear the apron.)

1. Knotty Little Valentine’s Day Apron
2. Cross Your Hear Mug Rug
3. Ruffled Mug Rug Valentine
4. Valentine’s Day Table Topper

Quilted Valentine Hearts PillowLove Cushion

Soften the blow of lost love with one of these gorgeous Valentine’s Day pillows. You can keep these adorable pillows out all year long, but they’re especially relevant in February! This precious Quilted Valentine Hearts Pillow will make any couch look just a little more inviting. Some may say that love is a battlefield, but we here at FaveQuilts don’t see why it can’t be something a little bit softer.

1. Quilted Valentine Hearts Pillow
2. Beginner’s Patchwork Heart Pillow
3. Pocket Full of Love Pillow
4. Reverse Applique Gathered Heart Pillow
5. Cross My Heart Appliqued Pillow

What’s the most romantic Valentine’s Day you’ve ever had?

Filed Under: Valentine's Day Tagged With: FaveQuilts, Free Quilt Patterns, How to Make a Quilt, Mollyhall Seeley, quilting tutorials, Simple Quilt Patterns, Valentine decor

Take an International Staycation with European-Inspired Quilt Patterns

November 25, 2013 by FaveQuilts

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.

 

Union-jack-Patchwork-Cushion-CoverEnglish 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.

 

Four-Leaf-CloverIrish 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.

 

 

Love-from-Paris-QuiltFrench, 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?

 

Filed Under: Craft Trends Tagged With: Claire Hawkes, Craft Trends, FaveQuilts, Free Quilt Patterns, inspiration, quilting techniques, quilting tutorials, thrifty crafts

Today’s Learn How to Quilt Tips: Quick and Easy Quilting Tutorials and Techniques Our Readers Love

November 14, 2013 by FaveQuilts

The editors at FaveQuilts are always trying to update our techniques and tutorials section because we know if that there’s always something new for even the most experienced quilters to learn. We’ve learned a lot about what tutorials our quilters find most important, and we’re sharing these important lessons with you (thanks to The Graphics Fairy for all the cute images!):

Dresden Plates

The gorgeous Dresden Roses from V and Co have been a hit since the very first day we featured them on our site. Not only does this tutorial show quilters how to make a Dresden plate, but also how to add those perfect flourishes that will ultimately make your quilt blossom.

More Dresden tutorials:

  • Flower Petal Dresden Plates
  • Dresden Plate Video Tutorial
  • Making Dresden Plates with an AccuQuilt GO!
  • Dresden Plate Patterns Decoded

 

Sewing Machine

It’s important to remember maintenance, and our readers made sure to get the best advice possible with the How to Clean a Sewing Machine tutorial from Amy’s Creative Side. Take a break from your pattern and look through these up-close images that will help you zoom in on the most important details and really take care of your machine.

More Machine tutorials:

  • Machine Quilting for Beginners
  • Straight Line Quilting
  • How to Do Free Motion Quilting

 

Rag Quilts

Keeping the family warm as the cold weather starts to blow in is a task many of our quilters faced head on. They referenced the Rag Quilting Video Tutorial from our Youtube channel and made some cuddly and shaggy quilts to keep their home looking cheery and feeling snuggly.

More rag quilt tutorials:

  • Rag Quilting with AccuQuilt Video

 

Quilting Supplies

Starting a project without having the proper supplies handy can be a big mistake. Worried about costs? Then like our readers, you’ll be interested in smart tips and tricks like Stocking Your Station with School Supplies from Patchwork Posse. You can learn some smart ways to save that will really come in handy during your future craft store trips.

More ways to save:

  • Make Your Own Pressing Board
  • Make Your Own Quilt Design Wall Video
  • Tips for Buying and Selecting Fabric

 

These tutorials aren’t the only way you can work on your quilting. We’re offering two exciting giveaways that encourage learning, as well as being prepared.

Annie's Quilting ClassYou can enter to win an online class from Annie’s Catalog and get a step-by-step breakdown of how to make a quilt from start to finish. You’ll learn how to make the gorgeous Bric and Stones pattern using chain piecing and plenty of half square triangles. Both beginners and experienced quilters will enjoy this. Enter by the 23rd.

 

TrueCut Tools Prize PackReady to start your next pattern? That won’t be a problem if you are stocked with the innovative materials in the TrueCut Tools Pack. One lucky winner will get cutters, rulers, and plenty of tools that will help you maintain the quality of your new materials for a long time. Enter by the 19th.

 

What’s your #1 quilting tip?

Filed Under: Quilting Tagged With: crafting tools, FaveQuilts, giveaway, Kathryn Wright, quilting tutorials

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