Artquiltmaker Blog – Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity

What is a BSK?

I often refer to BSK in my tutorials and when I teach. When I teach I can show a BSK, but that doesn’t really work in tutorials.

BSK is basic sewing kit. I know I have referred to what it is in passing. It is also in the glossary, but I thought I would write about my BSK and give you some visuals. I don’t usually include fabric as part of a BSK, so it is not included here.

A BSK is a basic sewing kit, which includes all the tools you need to make a quilt.

I choose to have a basic sewing kit I keep at home and another one I use exclusively for travel. This way I don’t forget anything when I go on retreat and I have what I need when I am sewing at home. I did not go out and buy second items for my travel kit. I have collected the duplicate items over the years. I suggest you do the same as outfitting yourself or quiltmaking can be daunting.

A basic sewing kit for quiltmaking includes the following:

Sewing

Sewing machine

- Sewing machines come in all price ranges and lists of features. It is important to buy a reliable machine. A new machine is not required. A used machine from a reliable dealer is a great option. I use Janome machines. I have friends with Berninas, Jukis, Pfaffs and Brother machines.

1/4 inch foot – find the one that fits your machine. I like one that has a flange.

Bobbins – I like to have plenty of bobbins. I don’t know what ‘plenty’ is. I wind about 10 bobbins at a time for my basic sewing color (Aurifil Dove, 2600) and maybe a half a bobbin for other colors. It depends on what I am doing. I try to walk the line between having thread sit on the bobbin for years unused and having a bobbin available so I can continue sewing.

Thread – I use Aurifil, but find a high quality thread that your machine likes. My go to all around sewing thread color is Aurifil Dove #2600. This color blends into a lot of fabrics. I don’t generally change my thread color when I change fabric, but might depending on how the thread looks. I do change the color of thread when I am top stitching, for the most part.

Machine needles – I like sharp needles. I don’t use universal needles.

Hand sewing needles – I like chenille needles in size 24 because they have a big eye, so are easier to thread, but the eye isn’t too big

Needle threader – I have lots of different ones and they all break at some point. I just keep trying different ones.

Pins – my favorite are Dritz 64 Pearlized Pins, Long, 1-1/2-Inch**. they are long and don’t bend as quickly as others.

Pincushion

Wonder Clips (especially if you are making bags) – I like both sizes, but use the small clips more often than the large clips. I buy only the Clover brand version as I go through the off brand versions like water. They break very easily with the smallest amount of stress.

Pressing

Iron – I have had good luck with inexpensive irons from stores like Target, Costco, etc. I had several

Ironing surface

- I have a Polder ironing board which I received when I got married. It works fine and I have had no problems with it. I have had to buy new ironing board covers, which I have found at the Container Store.
- I also have a June Tailor Quilter’s Cut ‘n Press** for travel, Sew Days and retreats. It was very convenient when we were in Portland. It also fits in my ruler/mat bag along with my mat

Cutting

Scissors

Snips

Rotary cutter – I like the OLFA 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter (RTY-2/DX) – Rotary Fabric Cutter w/Blade Cover & Squeeze Trigger** because the blade is protected unless you are squeezing it. It is not possible to leave it open. I have other types of rotary cutters as well, but this is the style I use the most. I use a 60mm rotary cutter when I am cutting foam, which means less re-cutting. I use the small size occasionally when cutting curves.

Acrylic ruler(s) – I have a quite the collection after so many years, but the following are what I consider the basics.

- - 4.5 inch x 8.5 inch Creative Grids Quilt Ruler 4-1/2in x 8-1/2in Rectangle – CGR48** is my go-to ruler for trimming and cutting small pieces. It fits well in my hand and is easy to manage.
  - 8-1/2in x 24-1/2in Creative Grids Quilt Ruler 8-1/2in x 24-1/2in Rectangle – CGR824** is what I use when cutting strips
  - Creative Grids Quilt Ruler 15-1/2in x 15-1/2in Square – CGR15** is what I use when cutting binding and large squares for bags.
  - Creative Grids Quilt Ruler 6-1/2in x 6-1/2in Square – CGR6** is a smaller square that is really useful for cutting pieces in patterns and for scrap processing.

Self healing rotary cutting mat

Unsewing

Seam ripper – I have a lot of seam rippers. I have them everywhere as I don’t want to go hunting for them. I like the Clover ergonomic seam ripper**, because it has a fat white handle. I received a Clover Grip Fit seam ripper** as a gift. Even though the handle isn’t as fat, it fits in my hand pretty well. I also have a couple of Kaffe Fassett seam rippers which have a super fat handle, so far very comfortable. the blade isn’t as thin and I can’t always get it under the stitches.

Marking and Measuring

Quilting

Machine quilting gloves

Walking foot

Basting pins

Painter’s tape

Masking tape

Optional

Pen

Notepad – I like graph paper notepads or journals so I can draw quilt blocks, if I need to

Bobbin boat/bobbin holder (something to keep your bobbins from rolling away)

Tweezers – I like the ones called Swiss Precision Angled Tweezers 4 1/2″ 507SP on the GEQuilts website. I use them for bagmaking and also sometimes for removing threads

Pinking shears

Applique’ scissors

Stiletto

Flatter

Free motion quilting foot

Travel iron

This is my first effort at describing a BSK so I may make updates.

**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 website.

Lucky Blocks

The Pacifica Quilter’s Club also has a donation block program called “Lucky blocks”. I missed the first round, but picked up the instructions at the last meeting. I have slowly been starting these blocks and over the weekend made some good progress.

I have to trim all the HSTs, so the work takes longer PLUS I am working on about 12 projects at a time.

I accidentally cut 4 blocks. Either I didn’t read the instructions carefully or I skipped reading them. I made a bunch of HSTs and there were enough for 4 blocks. I’ll sew them together in time for the April meeting. If I can’t make it, I’ll drop them off with the coordinator.

I was able to use some 5″ squares I had cut from scraps for this project, which made me very happy. That scrap processing effort isn’t wasted!

White Journal Cover

I think the last white scrappy journal cover that I made was in 2016.

2016 seems like a long time ago, well, it is 10 years!. That is what I came up with searching the blog. It makes sense, though as I am not using the Miquelrius journals now. I also have a recollection of making one for an older journal that got lost in the shuffle last year.

White Journal Cover #2 - back — White Journal Cover #2 – back

This journal cover was actually mostly made when I pulled out the white drawer recently. I put a back (inside) on it and stuck the journal in. It was a bit small, but I made it work, since it isn’t going to be entered for any prizes. I wasn’t in the mood to rip it apart. I the fabric will stretch anyway.

White Journal Cover #2 - inside — White Journal Cover #2 – inside

The inside fabric was a large piece of Crimson Tate eraser fabric that was in my scrap bin for some reason. I don’t usually put large pieces like that in my scrap bin. Who knows?

More 1-2-3 Mosaic Blocks

1-2-3 Mosaic blocks - March18 — 1-2-3 Mosaic blocks – March18

I have been working a bit at a time on more Mosaic blocks.

I think I need to sew some of them together, so I can figure out how many more I need and where.

I have added some more fabrics to vary the contrast and make each block stand out. A two color (ish) color palette can be tricky.

I have been working on making a ton of smaller (2.5 inch) blocks. Lorraine said we would need a lot of them. The size of the blocks I made after I got home from the workshop kept creeping up. I suddenly realized that I wouldn’t be able to put the thing together without more small blocks, so that is my current focus.

Friend Julie wrote a really good post about the workshop. She got some great photos that I neglected to take.

All the Table Runners

Table runners are a great project to make when you want to try out a technique or use up the bits and pieces from a class. I decided I didn’t want to make a whole quilt when I took the Jen Carlton Bailly class and made a table runner we love.

I am making a table runner from the 1-2-3 Mosaic class I took the other day and decided to do an inventory. What a bonanza!

I have made a couple of table runners and given them away.

The bat table runner was for Amy. I just made it. She gave me all of the supplies. I think it was a kit or something.

The Christmas table runner was a gift for SIL#4. I saw that she used it during the Christmas season, which made me really happy.

I think I could make a table runner for each holiday. It is an opportunity, but I am not signing up for it at the moment.

Sewing Machine Shopping

After finishing the Pandora Charisma and thinking about what I want to do next time, I decided to go sewing machine shopping. Kind of an extreme reaction, I know, but my machine has been bugging me. The stitch length has a problem that seems to only be a problem for me. Making the Pandora Charisma made the problem worse.

I have been out twice and have looked at 3 different machines, the Elna 792 Pro, the Janome Memory Craft 9480 QC and the Janome 6700, which is the newer model of the machine I have now.

The Janome 6700 is similar to the machine I have now. I looked at this machine on my first outing. It doesn’t have Accufeed capability, so I would basically be buying better stitches. I probably won’t buy this machine.

Yesterday, I went back to the same shop and looked at the Elna 792 Pro again and the Janome Memory Craft 9480 QC for the first time. Laura came with me to provide moral support. I am assured that the Elna 792 Pro is the exact same machine as the Janome M8, which I went in to look at. The differences are white vs. grey color of machine and the AccuSpark app. The Elna does not use the AccuSpark app. I probably wouldn’t think to use it anyway.

The Elna has 13.5 inches of throat space and is a flat bed machine. My current machine has 10 inches and is also a flat bed machine. I can tell the difference. It feels very spacious under the throat.A flat bed machine means that there is more space under the needle for the engineering/motor/mechanical bits. I learned that today, which I thought was interesting.

There is a separate bobbin winder, which I enjoy now on my Janome MC 6600. The added bonus is there is a thread cutter that is part of the bobbin winder. I didn’t bring my own materials to sew. I meant to, but never got around to it. A, the person helping me, brought out some pleather and I was able to sew on it. The machine doesn’t come with a Teflon foot, but I can buy a Teflon foot and throat plate combination pack. It means that when sewing vinyl or pleather, both top and bottom will be slippery. We really put the machine through its paces with the pleather. It sewed a really nice stitch even with about 5 layers of pleather. The key is to keep the foot level. Someone told me that I should not be sewing fabric thicknesses that force the foot not to be level and I should never use a hump jumper**. ‘A’ said that that was why the machine came with a hump jumper. That made me feel better since I use my hump jumper all the time.

The machine comes with a lot of feet, though not all that I think I would want. It also comes with 3 stitch plates, which are SOOOO easy to change. What a difference between trying to unscrew the plate I have now. The stitch plates on the Elna automatically lift up when the button is pressed. The machine is very smart. It has a plate sensor so you can’t move the needle into a position that is incompatible with the stitch plate.

I tried a hand stitch ‘look’ stitch and that was amazing! It really looked good and I can see using as a top stitching.

‘A’ said that this Elna (or the Janome M8) is the strongest home sewing machine they sell without getting into industrial machines. I do not want an industrial machine. I think I can rent one at a local sewing store if I need one.

The Janome Memory Craft 9480 QC was the second machine I looked at yesterday. The motor isn’t as powerful as the Elna 792 Pro and there is an extra charge for the stitch regulator. It has 11 inches of throat space and I could tell the difference when compared with the Elna.

A bonus is that this machine has a pull out light that provides even more light than what is given in the throat space. There is no separate bobbin winder on this machine so I would have to un-thread, wind the bobbin and re-thread. Not earth shattering, but not ideal either.

The stitch plate is not electric, but pops off easier than the machine I have now. No screws required. This machine has the same accessories. It only has a horizontal thread stand, though a vertical option is available at an extra price.

Neither machine uses the AccuSpark app. I probably wouldn’t use it though you never know.

I have a lot to think about! What machine do you have? What is the best feature?

1-2-3 Mosaic Workshop

I spent Saturday with the guild and with Lorraine Woodruff-Long. The guild arranged for her to teach her 1-2-3 Mosaic workshop. I have to admit that I wasn’t excited, but I am pleased to report that I loved it. I created a lot of little jewels, which makes me very happy.

The photo, left, shows the blocks I made during the workshop.

After the workshop you end up with enough blocks (or almost) to make a 20 inch or 24 inch cushion cover. DDH has warned me off anymore throw pillows for our living room, but he has not said anything about table runners. As a result, I went into the workshop with the idea of making a spring/start of summer table runner for my buffet. Our buffet is probably our nicest piece of furniture and the top is still pristine. Anyway, I started out with the idea of making a tablerunner, which I will actually use.

As an aside, I am going to have to do a table runner inventory and see what I ‘need’. Thanksgiving and Christmas are well covered, but I could go for all the holidays and have an easy way to change the decor.

Lorraine did a nice job teaching.

She has clearly thought through the process and was clear about how to do it. I was super excited about the organization of the pieces to make the blocks. It is a game changer for chain piecing, no question. You really need to take this class!

Lorraine said there were no mistakes, because the blocks could always be enlarged. I found a way to have to use a seam ripper. LOL!

I actually just cut the fabric after I sewed the correct piece on the correct side. I didn’t use a seam ripper all day, though I could have.

I sewed a third batch of blocks at the very end of the day, but didn’t press them until I got home.

This is about the width I will use for the table runner, but I have to make it about three times as long.

I might sew blocks I like together into chunks so I can move them around more easily. We’ll see.

MaryC brought a huge pile of ‘scraps’ (some were half yards!!) to share. I pulled some blues and pinks from that pile, so right now the piece is made up mostly of solids and tone-on-tones. I have a couple of fussy cut motifs in the center of blocks, but I think I need to break up the solids and tone-on-tones with some prints on the outside of a few of the blocks.

Above are a few of the blocks other people created as well as the first blocks that I made. Lorraine made an awesome video of all of us in her workshop. Check it and see how fun the guild is. You should join us. 😉

Copyright is only claimed on the photos. Permission is NOT granted to take any photos from this page and use them without permission. Designs of quilts and blocks are copyrighted by the creator.

Finished: EPP Ball #11

I finished another EPP Ball a week or so ago. This one is heading off to a Farmer’s market for my friend to sell. It’s a new adventure for me and we will see how it goes.

I have never wanted to sell my creations, because I love making things and want to continue to use it as a method of expressing my creativity as well a way to reduce stress.

This foray has a fairly low commitment. I am sending her two items to sell. I priced them on the high side, so we will see. I don’t want to encourage orders or people telling me what colors to use.

This one does not have any Beanie Baby pellets inside it. I had a reason for not including them, but I don’t remember what it is. I am working on another one and will add the pellets.

Working on this project has made me want to get back to La Passacaglia, which is languishing.

I really enjoy EPP.

My Enigma Rivets

Bone Enigma side panels - pre-assembly — Bone Enigma side panels – pre-assembly

When I sewed the Bone Enigma I followed the directions exactly with regard to rivets. The directions say to add rivets before assembly. The rivets can go anywhere, but I wanted to put them on the ends of the handle, just to reinforce it. It is at the stage of assembly shown in the photo where the directions say to add rivets.

Peony Enigma with rivets - full — Peony Enigma with rivets – full

This is great except for Enigma bags already completed. I decided I wanted rivets on my Enigma bag. The bag is already complete, so I consulted with Mary and we decided it could be done. We had to squish the top a little, but the overall procedure worked and my bag now has rivets on the handle.

Peony Enigma with rivets - detail — Peony Enigma with rivets – detail

I wanted silver, but Mary thought a gunmetal finish would look better. I am pleased not to worry about ripping out the handle.

Finally: Pet Bed

I have had the fleece for a Pet Bed sitting around for a long time. I finally sewed it together last week in order to bring it to Sew Day.

One of the things that spurred me on was the bits of batting I had laying around from the various quilts that I have mostly finished recently. The guild is not using schnibbles for pet beds any more as they don’t make for soft and comfy beds. Also, they are hard to wash. This is sad as I still have a lot of schnibbles. We are working out a plan for their use in another way.

This wasn’t my fabric so I don’t get any credit on my Fabric Used spreadsheet.

JayeL on Sewing Machine ShoppingThursday, March 26, 2026
I read some differing opinions on top loading versus front loading bobbins and stitch quality. The top loading bobbin is…
JayeL on BAM BOM QSTsThursday, March 26, 2026
Thanks! I am using a different for me selection of fabrics.
Sherri D on Sewing Machine ShoppingWednesday, March 25, 2026
Oh ya, I totally agree with you on the older ones vs the newer ones. I bought my second older…
Jeff Rutherford on BAM BOM QSTsTuesday, March 24, 2026
Love these! Very colorful.
JayeL on Sewing Machine ShoppingMonday, March 23, 2026
The older Pfaffs were excellent machines. I haven't tried the newer ones as the reviews are less than stellar. My…