December 31, 2012
It’s rather interesting to talk about quilt beginnings on the last day of the year.
On the other hand, why not?
In this week’s news, you’ll read about Pepper Cory’s first quilt – how she was inspired and her thoughts for new quilters as they decide upon their first quilt.
You’ll also see a picture of a crazy quilt Jim and I saw in Hawaii:
http://how-to-quilt.com/newsletter/first-quilts.php
January 2, 2012
This is the last year we Trojan fans will have to suffer a “no Bowl Game” football season, which will make next year’s Bowl Games somewhat more interesting than this year’s.
However, we will enjoy cheering for the Wolverines in the Sugar Bowl!
Anyway, today it’s time to relax and enjoy a day full of college football games – and maybe even some quilting!
This week’s How-to-Quilt.com news includes a little about some quilt block history, fusible batting tape (a nice invention), and – of course – brand new quilt block patterns for January.
Today is the last day to reserve your copy of the Stay Sane with Crazy Quilts Webinar Replay and Bonuses.
The Bonuses include video showing how to do some of the wonderful embroidery stitches that embellish crazy quilts – and are almost impossible to figure out just by looking at the weird diagrams trying to show how to actually make them.
Enjoy both football and the news:
http://how-to-quilt.com/newsletter/quiltblockhistory.php
December 27, 2011
I’ll readily admit that it wasn’t until last year that I even considered creating a crazy quilt.
I’m a traditional patchwork quilt kinda gal, and I just couldn’t imagine that it would be that much fun to cut random-shaped pieces of fabric and sew them onto a foundation.
Yet once I decided to take the plunge, I discovered that making one of these little quilts can be fun while still providing the satisfaction that I get from making a traditional quilt.
And, it takes less time!
The biggest time saver is that most of the work is done on the machine.
And once you piece the quilt, you simply add some embroidery stitching, and you’re almost finished.
No hours and hours quilting – either by hand or on your machine.
No working with a bulky quilt as you quilt it.
Just like quilt as you go projects, you typically finish one block at a time and then stitch them together – on the machine!
And today is the day for our One Time Only, Free Live Webinar about how to create crazy quilts.
It’s all about staying sane, after all, and having fun – because there are some tricks to creating these wonderful quilts.
The thing is that in the several references I used to plan and sew my quilt, I ran into several pitfalls – places where the “experts” “forgot” to include critical information in order to complete the quilt.
But not today.
You’ll get the detailed step-by-step, with all of the tips and techniques you’ll need to complete your crazy quilt project.
As always, this is a free live event, but you will need to register to get the login information and the link for the handout.
Whether you plan to attend or not, you’ll want to get a copy of this webinar replay.
Because I can’t do realtime video using this webinar service, I am including two videos showing how to finish the quilt as well as how to do some popular embroidery stitches.
This valuable information will save you hours of research and frustration.
The webinar begins at:
4pm Pacific Time
5pm Mountain Time
6pm Central Time
7pm Eastern Time
Visit the page to get all of the details of what will be covered as well as the link to register and reserve your copy of the video replay, full size handout and bonus videos:
http://how-to-quilt.com/crazy-quilts-webinar.php
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
Master Quilter
P.S. you’ll get all of the information you need to create a beautiful crazy quilt:
http://how-to-quilt.com/crazy-quilts-webinar.php
December 25, 2011
We hope you are enjoying your Christmas, and still wanted to bring you some great quilting information!
Some quilters shy away from crazy quilting.
It seems so ornate and must be very difficult – after all, how could fabrics so randomly placed give such an exquisite look?
The truth is that crazy quilting provides an opportunity to use stitches, techniques and fabrics you might not otherwise get to use in your craft.
If a bed quilt seems like too much to try, start with a smaller project.
Crazy quilting is really more appropriately called crazy patchwork.
Most of the crazy quilts we see are never really sandwiched with batting and quilted. The squares are layered with muslin, tied and then sewn together to complete the quilt or wall hanging.
The patchwork of the crazy quilt can be as simple or as intricate as you like.
Crazy quilts give you the chance to use all the fabrics you want – even velvets and satins if you like.
http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1170-crazy-quilts.php
Section of a Crazy Quilt
December 24, 2011
The Victorian Santas displayed during this time of year are very pretty and reminiscent of years gone by.
Many of them are clothed in beautiful, rich, crazy-quilted coats. If you have been inspired to create one of your own for next Christmas, consider stitching a spider and web into the coat quilting.
What?
While it may sound like I’ve mashed together two very different holidays together, I have not.
Make your Santa’s long coat using a crazy quilt pattern. Incorporate various silks, velvets, and velours in a variety of reds and burgundies.
Add swirls of gold or silver cording along with beautiful embroidery that is traditional to crazy quilts.
Find out more about this interesting tradition when you visit:
http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1461-crazy-quilts.php
August 8, 2011
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This and That Quilt Block
While in Scotland, I was surprised to come across a sand castle. If you don’t know what a sand castle is – or the only ones you’ve seen were made with plastic buckets – you might be surprised at how they’ve evolved.
In today’s artistic and ultra-competitive world of sand castle building, you probably won’t find many castles. You’re more likely to see sand structures that look just like a city skyline, a human statue, or any other animal, vegetable or mineral you could think of.
In this week’s newsletter, you’ll find a pic of that Scottish sand castle and a link to a lovely pottery workshop in Crail, as well as:
http://www.how-to-quilt.com/newsletter/yoyos.php
Happy Quilting!
Penny
July 30, 2011
When we think of Victorian quilts, the “crazy quilt” seems to be the one that comes to mind. It is the one from the era that represents the luxury exuded by Queen Victoria herself.
However, crazy quilts were not the only popular quilts from that era.
We’ll talk about charm quilts, redwork quilts, puff quilts and more when you visit:
http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/7002-victorian-quilts.php
Happy Quilting!
Penny
March 29, 2011
In the late 1880s and early 1900s, quilters got creatively crazy and began using a variety of different fabric types. Where traditional patchwork quilters had been using cotton and wool, some of the more bold quilters began using fabric such as velvet and silk.
It’s believed this trend led to the emergence of “crazy quilts” and the necessity for paper foundation piecing.
You’ll learn more about crazy quilts, as well as how to create a wall hanging with crazy sashing made from old silk ties, when you visit:
http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1203-crazy-pieced-sashing.php
Happy Quilting!
Penny
March 28, 2011
Have you ever looked at a box of memorabilia or trinkets and wondered what to do with it – other than close the lid and put it back on the shelf or send it to the landfill?
In this week’s newsletter, I’ll give you some ideas for turning your treasures into beautiful quilts or wall hangings.
You’ll also find news and information on:
http://how-to-quilt.com/newsletter/memoryquilts.php
Happy Quilting!
Penny
November 9, 2010
In the late 1880s and early 1900s, quilters got creatively crazy and began using a variety of different types of fabric.
Where traditional patchwork quilters had been using cotton and wool for their patchwork, some of the “crazier” quilters began using velvet and silk in their quilts.
You’ll learn a bit about crazy quilts, and how you can use the same technique in your sashing, when you visit:
http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1203-crazy-pieced-sashing.php
Happy Quilting!
Penny
