Various & Sundry 2025 #2

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As you probably know from my frequent mentions of Sue and Carrie, my excellent students, I teach a quiltmaking class. You can find notes and tutorials here on the blog for the class, but no video. If you want personalized teaching there is a fee. Recently, I have added notes and links from the design class that I also teach. For the design class, I will give lectures on one topic to groups. Contact me if you want to discuss those lectures.

Projects, Classes, Patterns, Techniques & Tutorials

I saw this tutorial a long time ago, but found it again when I reviewed my guild’s old blog. If you like the Japanese cute animal style, this is for you. It is useful also.

Kylie and the Machine have a free pattern called Snippy Pouch. The instruction booklet tells you how to measure your scissors for a perfect fit.

I found a new bag pattern designer: Love You Sews. I really like the Leah Travel Bag. It has a nice shape and good pockets. I love the way she has used, what looks like some webbing, as a pen holder. I wonder if that would be better than foldover / doublefold elastic**?

Struggling with wavy borders? Check out this comparison of two methods of adding borders.

I found a tutorial on how to use the Creative Grids 7/8″ Ruler to Cut Half Square Triangles.

If you need a tutorial on how to use and refill your Sewline pencil, the tutorial on the Sewline site tells everything you need quickly. 4-6 leads only to refill was the key to getting my pencil back up and running.

My mom is thinking of finishing her Scrapitude quilt. She sewed hers at the same time I sewed mine, but never had the quilting done. This forced me to go look at Charlotte Hawkes’ site again. She has some interesting patterns in her shop and a new mystery quilt just started. You might want to join to see if you like her patterns.

I am still getting temptation from Pink Door about their Pick-a-Petal BOM. Despite warnings from Friend Julie and the promise of applique’, I am still tempted.

MessyGoat (Elaine P) showed a picture of her Kraken quilt, which is really amazing! Her quilt led me to LegitKits and the various patterns and kits they sell. They have really interesting designs!

I am looking at needlepoint again. I am working on the Ehrman design I bought, but am not finished yet. That means I really shouldn’t buy anymore. In all the QuiltCon hullaballoo, Anna Maria  has been showing off her new website and fabrics. I took a look at the site and found some needlepoint kits. I like them, but I think I like the Ehrman designs better. They have some Kaffe designs I might try next if I continue with a needlepoint project.

I really like the pineapple (fruit) blocks. I have a lot to do, but might make one. I found some directions and noticed when I was searching that people made them from all sorts of different units.

Tinberry is the designer that created the Knitting Needles pouch I made. She also has a pattern called the Oslo pouch, which is different than the Sew Sweetness Oslo Craft bag. She has put a tutorial on the Oslo Pouch.

Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions & Supplies

This isn’t intended to be a photo post, but I do like to throw one in every now and again. A group of fabric seems like a good idea.

I like the colors in this group, but not all of the prints. The prints with the dots are the best. I may actually buy the pink and turquoise dot fabrics.  Too bad the one with the dots on cream is not on white. I want to take a look at that large motif design in person. It is hard to see the entire motif.

Kylie and the Machine have a whole lot of interesting labels.

Jammin’ Threads has a label that warns people about donation a quilt you made to thrift store that I find really funny.

Did you know you can download fabric image files from the FreeSpirit site? Click on a collection and then choose download files.

I really dislike taping patterns together, which is why I usually buy, if possible, the printed pattern. On Sunday February 2, 2025, Sara Lawson presented her Sewcial Sunday show and talked about PDF Plotting. PDF Plotting prints your patterns out on AO paper (very large) and mails them rolled not folded. I haven’t tried it yet, but you can bet I will. Our guild challenge this year is to use a pattern we’ve had laying around. I’ll have to check through my PDF patterns and see what I can use to try out the service.

Judy Martin is updating her Encyclopedia of Judy Martin Blocks & Quilts. It is only an e-book. I with it were in print. “The 588-page Encyclopedia features 957 original block designs shown in drawings and 1029 original quilt designs shown in 247 quilt photos, 197 quilt drawings, and 585 setting variations. It also has 16 original, full-size quilting patterns with sketches showing how to arrange them for blocks and borders. I have added photos for every design that was presented with a photo.” The price is really good for so many patterns and designs.

I am giving up on my main Oliso iron. It stopped working and is no longer under warranty despite receiving a replacement just about a year ago. I LOVE the up and down feature. I also love that it sits on the base, so is lower to the ironing board. I am, however, sick of it giving out on me. I have a backup iron, which is subpar, but works. Either I am going back to buying cheap irons and replacing them when they die or I might get a Reliable iron**. Stay tuned.

Check out the video where Tula Pink introduces her new TTrue Colors for 2025. The variety of prints – the size of the motif on the print – is GREAT. Variety of the size of the motif in the fabrics you choose for your quilt adds a lot of interest.

I bought some fabric.

Media, Books and Articles

Friend Julie had a number of interesting links in her January Cornucopia post.

Parents magazine has an article about “Grandma Hobbies.” Seriously? Grandma Hobbies? I knew many of my grandmothers and all except one I loved dearly. Most of them did some kind of needlework and did it very well. I also have a lot of friends who are mostly not yet grandmas who enjoy quilting, crochet, knitting, needlepoint, and scrapbooking. I currently have a number of quiltmaking projects and a needlepoint cushion on the go. WTH, Parents mag? I am glad teens are delving into pastimes such as these, but why are they called grandma hobbies? Do they know about the thriving knitting community? Crocheters who knit many hats, etc for all different types of communities in need?

Joann Fabric filed for bankruptcy again! An article in BHG talks about it, but it is mostly anecdotal. There isn’t a lot of meaty information. In my opinion, having sales all the time is the big problem. Macy’s has the same problem. Sales bring in shoppers, but too many sales sets the expectation that shoppers can just wait until the next sale. I hope the new owners settle into a routine that includes plenty of help and less mess in stores.

Exhibits and Organizations

Join our guild. We’d love to share sewing projects with you.

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**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.