Ready to get a head start on holiday sewing? This Ready to get a head start on holiday sewing? This #holidaytrimmingsquilt is a fast and easy project. The pattern releases TODAY! Head over to Shereece's site @sewhookedontreasures to grab your copy.
It's time to get excited! The #holidaytrimmingsqui It's time to get excited! The #holidaytrimmingsquilt pattern release is coming June 9th. I was happy to test this lovely quilt and even more happy with the way it turned out. Thanks, @sewhookedontreasures. I can't wait to show the full reveal!!
Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top toge Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top together. Look for this fun new quilt pattern coming soon from @sewhookedontreasures!

#holidaytrimmingsquilt #quiltpatterntester #patchworksampler
Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmin Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmingsquilt by Shereece @sewhookedontreasures. 

Does the new Hustle and Bustle fabric by @official_basicgrey on a Grunge Hits the Spot background put you in the holiday spirit?
This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last bit of binding just about a half hour ago! I love the fabrics in this quilt and they were just random fabrics from my stash. The pattern is #theellaquilt by @kitchentablequilting. I may have to hang this in my family room until it finds a new home.

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day14 #patchworksampler
Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat bl Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat blocks and these three items are my essentials for achieving that: white fluffy bath towel, cheap Black & Decker iron that steams like crazy, and a Jackson's Woodworks square clapper.

I have a wool pressing mat, but I like the bath towel better. It has enough nap to "grab" the fabrics for a super flat press and it can be tossed in the washer and dryer. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day12 #patchworksampler
One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. T One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. This album quilt was made by members of a club I ran for many years when I had a brick and mortar shop. Several members continued to meet in my home monthly until COVID hit. 

It is special to me because it is a reminder of what is important; the friendships, camaraderie, and encouragement that developed within the group. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day9 #patchworksampler
This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites fo This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. First it is proof that any fabric works when you cut it small enough and second I pieced it on a little mini retreat with a couple of friends. The pattern is Rectangle Wrangle by Bonnie Hunter.

I love, love, love scrap quilts, the more fabrics the better, and that's how I justify buying all the fabric I do.

This particular quilt was chosen for today's prompt because tomorrow it will be on its way to Poland along with nine others from my "quilt room" (see day 3 prompt).

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day8 #patchworksampler #scrapquilt
Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the th Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the things I've learned through quilting, but one I can't seem to get through my head is that I don't like foundation piecing, paper piecing, or hand piecing.  Slow stitching is a concept I can't wrap my head around.

This String Spiderweb was started at a retreat so I jumped on the bandwagon without thinking it through. I have a bunch of these units made but no interest in continuing. As I was snapping the photo though, I had an idea. Stay tuned.

Are there quilting techniques or methods you don't enjoy?

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day7 #patchworksampler
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Patchwork Sampler

Make quilts. Use fabric. Have fun.

quilting · August 29, 2017

Summer Sewing Part 3: Retreat! String Piecing and More

In March I received an email saying I got into the Jo’s Country Junction retreat with Bonnie Hunter. I was beyond excited!  When the retreat projects were announced, the excitement waned just a bit. One was String Spiderweb.  I know Bonnie does a lot of string piecing, but it is one of my least favorite techniques.  It’s just too messy and tedious. Lou Ann’s Quilt Garden and Retreat Center in Oelwein, Iowa hosted the event at their lovely retreat center. The venue is great with a big sewing area and accommodations in “apartments” upstairs. Even better, it is attached to Lou Ann’s quilt shop for convenient shopping.

I’ve taken dozens of quilting classes and really don’t get star struck but THE Bonnie Hunter. I guess I was a little star struck!

Bonnie Hunter

Day 1: Moth in the Window

This is an easy scrappy project where I used a lot of older stash, and will use even more if I make the half-square triangle border.  I made a bunch of blocks and plan to make a bunch more to make it a good size for donation.  I’m undecided on the border and have been playing in EQ7 to come up with a different pieced border.  The HST border is nice, but would be very time consuming for a charity quilt. Bonnie taught how to organize the sewing so the seams all nested without spinning the four patches. The pattern for Moth in the Window is in Bonnie’s book, Addicted to Scraps and may be purchased here.

Moth in the Window

Day 2: String Spiderweb

Over the years I’ve tried string piecing a few times, but never liked it enough to make a quilt.  I always abandon it after a few blocks because it seems to take forever to piece a block.  I know many people find it mindless and relaxing, but for me it stressful to paw through a bin of strings to add a half-inch to the block!  Being the good sport that I am, though, I went in with an open mind and a big tub of cut strips (leftover from the #100days100blocks project). First off, we had to make a template out of plastic, trace it on fabric, then cut it out with scissors. Grrrr…already a slow start.

Once that was finished, the piecing itself wasn’t bad.  I pieced four units at a time so was able to chain them through the machine.  By adding new strips on both sides of the center, I could piece eight strips before pressing.  That worked pretty well. Most of my strings were long and Bonnie suggested cutting them shorter so I wouldn’t have to trim them at the end of each seam. That was a great suggestion and the best takeaway tip of the weekend. I didn’t make a lot of progress on this, but enough to make me want to finish it. You can start to see the spiderweb start to form in the center of my blocks.  String Spiderweb is a free pattern on the Quiltville website. Click here for the pattern.

string piecing

After I got home, I literally woke up in the middle of the night with an idea on how to make the center without a template.  Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to get back to this project to test it. If it works, it may finally make me a string piecing aficionado.

Day 3: Points of Interest by Jo Kramer and Kelly Hanken

This quilt was in the April 2017 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.  I rarely buy magazines, but I bought this one just to make Points of Interest. I love this quilt! The blocks aren’t hard to make, but take a little time since there are several steps to each one.  I will keep this one and use it in my daughter’s old bedroom once I get her stuff out of there and repaint it. So, no big hurry to finish it!!

points of interest

I hadn’t been to a retreat in a few years. Sometimes, it’s a little overstimulating and I end up with a migraine.  I tried to go to bed at a reasonable hour and walk a bit which helped.  I had so much fun and sat with a great group of women. Quilters come from all over to take classes from Bonnie Hunter and now I see why. She is very professional and just as warm and friendly as she seems on her blog.  She goes out of her way to encourage each student and is very generous with her time and talents.

On Friday night we were even treated to a trunk show of her beautiful quilts and it was easy to see why she is so in demand as a teacher. If you ever have the opportunity to take a class from Bonnie, go for it!  Overall, it was a fantastic weekend of sewing and laughter and I can’t wait until our reunion retreat next year.

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In: quilting · Tagged: Bonnie K. Hunter, Jo's Country Junction, moth in the window, points of interest, Quiltville, retreat, string piecing

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