I updated the Minikins page after I made another project from the Minikins series. I am not making great progress on this series of patterns, but I am making some progress.
Articles, Media, Exhibitions and Shows
Friend Julie had a great February Cornucopia on her blog at the end of February.
Barbara Brackman posted a wonderful article about Arnold Savage, a quilt historian of sorts who shared his family’s quilt legacy with others. I didn’t know she had designed a fabric line using his fabrics as inspiration.
AllPeopleQuilt has an article about where to donate fabric scraps. If you have a lot, this might be a good article to start with. If one of these places takes your scraps it is much better than putting them in landfill. You can also make pet beds and fill them with your scraps and schnibbles.
I was looking up information about circles on Latifah Saafir’s website when I saw she was part of a ‘Back to School’ blog hop. Her post is about accurate seams using masking tape. Other entries in the blog hop are about sewing long seams without stretching, Say Yes to Y Seams (or just read my tutorial) ruler slipping and a lot of other basic-adjacent topics.Take a look at the whole list included after the end of Latifah’s post.
Sharon from ColorGirl Quilts has posted a video on making HSTs from scraps. she uses the method where you have to draw a line. This is a fine method and you don’t need additional tools. However, check out the Simple Folded Ruler for another method with no drawing of lines.
Weeks Ringle is starting a lecture series about color … “She is a modern quilter and taught at a college along with her husband Bill Kerr …. They always have interesting videos. ” The first video is now available.
Melly Sews has a post called “9 Things Sewists Do That No One Understands”
Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials
I was surprised to the see the Emmaline March Bag of the month club pattern, The Tumbleweed Toiletry Tote. It looks just like the Cavalcade Travel Bag by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness, though smaller. It makes me suspicious about copying, though it is also none of my business. I do like the smaller size of the Tumbleweed.
The Bagineer Bonanza is coming from Mrs. H and her affiliates. By joining you can sew along with Mrs. H and friends. There are a number of bags you will make.
Vanessa at Crafty Gemini has a new Snappy Wristlet video tutorial. She says that it is a quick weekend project. This was part of her 12 Days of Christmas series of small projects from a few years ago, so you may have seen it already.
In case you don’t have enough machines associated with quiltmaking, there is a tutorial on making templates using a 3D printer.
Bonnie Hunter shows readers how to make a zillion HSTs with the Simple Folded Corners ruler in a recent (for me) tutorial. I wasn’t able to find any tutorials on how to use that ruler for more than flippy corners, like I talked about in my tutorial. I am sure there is a discussion in the many patterns available, but I was hoping to see something so I could make HSTs or other units when I wanted not as part of a pattern.
Zen Chic has a tutorial on getting a perfect 1/4″ seam every time.
If you want to learn to read a knitting chart (not quiltmaking, I know), check out the Maker’s Mercantile video on that subject. I actually sat in on the class and it was great. I have a much better understanding of reading charts. I wouldn’t say that I am an expert, but it was very useful. Perhaps I’ll try a knitting project that requires a pattern!
Olfa has a tutorial on making HSTs. It is the two triangles method. This is great if you want scrappy HSTs.
Books, Fabrics, Notions & Supplies
The new and improved updated Blockbase is now available. To celebrate EQ is hosting a BlockBase quilt-a-long. Starting March 29, the team will feature a block to sew from BB+ every two weeks. Each blog post will highlight a different feature of the BB+ software. You will choose the size and method you want to use to make the blocks. “At the end of each two week period there will be a link up post” on the EQ blog “so you can share a photo of your sewn block and we can all oohh and aahh over each other’s beautiful blocks!” The only requirement is that you have the new BlockBase software installed on your computer. You can purchase it (no affiliation!) on the EQ website. Check out the chart comparing the older version of BlockBase with the new version.
Here is a chart for hand sewing needles.
Want to know about the new Tula Sew-Tites? Friend Julie has a review.
Craftsy has a sale going on. I get notices in my email, via FB and IG. You get a premium membership for $2.49 per year for one year. Yes, 2 dollars and forty-nine cents. I almost did it, but then I read the rules on cancelling. The good part is that you can cancel any time. The bad part is that you have to call their customer service and request cancellation. That means talking to a person who will, probably, do a really big and hardcore sales job on me to try and get me to keep my membership. I completely understand why they would want to do that, but it makes it hard to cancel. I’ll think about it. I haven’t watched many of the videos I have there now, which tells you how much I might use it.
I saw a box called The Sew Stack by Noble Notions in the Maker’s Mercantile newsletter. It is mostly a knitting/yarn related newsletter, but they are starting to have fabric and I can pretend I am an experienced knitter. There are two versions of the Sew Stack. One is for machine feet and the other is for bobbins. They also have one for thread. The thread color would be protected by the solid colors. I love the shape and style of these things. I can’t tell whether they are a soft plastic or hard. They are latex free & made in the USA.
For those of you who used to work in offices and have been working remotely for the past year, you may have heard rumblings about going back to the office part-time. I read a WSJ article that said that a certain pouch would be critical for carrying cords, chargers, etc to the office as we would not have desks to stash these items ever again. Of course, by the time I clicked on the link, the pouches were sold out. I could still see them and though they were very basic. I have started to troll my favorite bag designers for something similar. I think the Crafty Gemini Zip Away Organizer is the perfect type of bag. You no longer have to buy the club, but can buy the pattern (with video!) on its own. I think it might need a wider spine and more cord holders on the inside, but it is the right shape and the zipper all the way around would make it fit a lot of those types of items. If I figure out how to make the modifications, I will definitely let you know.
Other Artists
Need to pass on some good quality materials? Friend Julie provided a list of Native Americans who accept good quality fabric for mask making and quilts.
I watched a video from Ehrman Textiles about Kaffe Fassett and color in his house.
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