Table of contents for December 2021 in American Patchwork & Quilting

Q: The holidays are a stressful time for me. Between shopping, entertaining, and cooking, I rarely find time for myself and my sewing projects. Any tips? DIANE BENFIELD Jersey City, New Jersey The holidays can be the most wonderful time of year and also one of the busiest. Here are some ideas for carving out more time for sewing this season. GIFT SMARTLY If you’re making gifts, be realistic about how much time you have to sew. Pick easy patterns you can make in multiples (see our ideas on page 24) or narrow down your recipient list to those who will truly appreciate your gift. BE PREPARED Keep your sewing machine, supplies, and works in progress where they are easily available. That way you can sneak in even just…

Materials FINISHED QUILT: 54¼" square FINISHED BLOCKS: 16¼" square Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. Fabrics are from Charm Holiday collection by Charming Prints for Benartex (benartex.com). ▫ 1¼ yards mottled cream (blocks, inner border) ▫ ¾ yard green print (blocks) ▫ 1¼ yards beige print (blocks) ▫ ⅝ yard red leaf print (blocks) ▫ 1¼ yards red snowflake print (blocks, outer border, binding) ▫ 3½ yards backing fabric ▫ 63"-square batting TO ORDER A KIT of fabrics for $70 + $8 shipping in U.S., contact The Quilt Merchant; 630/480-3000; thequiltmerchant.com. CUT FABRICS Cut pieces in the following order. Designer Valerie Langue prefers to make triangle-squares larger than necessary and trim them to size. To use this method, cut 3½" squares instead of…

Instagram @3dogdesignco I had been designing quilts for more than 10 years when I first tried English paper piecing. Dream Catcher was the result. I enjoyed hand-piecing the top and was excited to discover that EPP is a way to assemble a quilt without the restrictions of standard piecing or foundation paper piecing. I love that the center circle can be used to highlight a favorite fabric and that different fabric choices breathe new looks into the finished project. I designed the quilt to use the Spirit Animal collection by Tula Pink for FreeSpirit. Some friends helped me finish it in about two weeks’ time so it could be shown at the 2017 Spring International Quilt Market, where the fabric collection was being introduced. Teresa Silva of Quilting Is…

GET TO THE POINT NEEDLE CASE Carry needles safely in a 2½×4¼" plastic case that has a magnetic insert to hold them in place. $8.98; fatquartershop.com THE BIG BOOK OF HAND-EMBROIDERY PROJECTS Enjoy a collection of 52 portable hand-embroidery projects from top designers, including Gail Pan, Kathy Schmitz, and Lynette Anderson. Projects include small quilts, bags, and tea towels. How-to information ensures even beginners will have success. $27.99; shopmartingale.com SEAM RIPPER NECKLACE Fashion meets function in a sleek necklace that has a seam ripper hidden in a pendant on a 32"-long chain. You’ll never misplace your seam ripper again! $42; thequiltspotnj.com BOBBIN BOAT TRIO Let a set of three compact silicone carriers transport up to 15 wound bobbins each to a retreat or have them at the ready for…

BROTHER CP2160W SEWING MACHINE This computerized machine comes with 60 built-in stitches, seven machine feet, and a floral embellishment. Its compact and easy-to-use design makes it handy for both beginning sewers and experienced quiltmakers on retreat. $169.99; joann.com SEWLINE ANNIVERSARY SET Add Sewline’s most popular tools to your sewing room. This set comes with water-and air-erasable pens, permanent marker, pencil trio, glue stick, and 5½"-long scissors. $44.98; fatquartershop.com FLYING GEESE RULER SET #6 Trim Flying Geese units faster and easier with a set of Bloc Loc rulers. The three rulers lock into seams for placement so you can trim units at 1½×2½", 2×3½", and 2½×4½". The rulers also can be used to trim Square-in-a-Square and other stitch-and-flip units. $59.20; blocloc.com THREE-PIECE ROTARY CUTTING SET Stock up on essential cutting…

Materials FINISHED QUILT: 92½" square FINISHED BLOCKS: 20" square Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. ▫ 4 yards total assorted prints in red, green, yellow, black, and cream (A and B blocks, middle border) ▫ 5 yards solid black (A blocks; setting squares; inner, middle, and outer borders; binding) ▫ ⅓ yard each dark red print and black print No. 1 (B blocks) ▫ ¼ yard each green print No. 1, black print No. 2, rust print, gold print, and green print No. 2 (B blocks) ▫ ¼ yard each dark green print, red tone-on-tone, and black print No. 3 (B blocks) ▫ 8½ yards backing fabric ▫ 101"-square batting CUT FABRICS Cut pieces in the following order. From assorted prints, cut: ▫…

Materials FINISHED QUILT: 66½×90½" FINISHED BLOCKS: 12" square Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. ▫ 2¼ yards total assorted black prints and tone-on-tones (A–G blocks) ▫ 1½ yards total assorted white solids and tone-on-tones (A blocks) ▫ ¾ yard each dark red print and red text print (B–F blocks) ▫ ⅞ yard each mottled black and black mistletoe print (B–F blocks) ▫ ⅜ yard black text print (C–F blocks) ▫ 1¼ yards total assorted green prints and tone-on-tones (G blocks) ▫ ¼ yard brown print (G blocks) ▫ 1⅝ yards black-and-gray print (border, binding) ▫ 5½ yards backing fabric ▫ 75×99" batting I created this project as a mystery quilt as a way to encourage members of the Bay Window Quilt Shop’s Fabric…

I use ice cube trays to keep hexagons organized by color so they are easy to find for piecing. BETH JOHNSON Jerseyville, Illinois I love to have the fronts of the quilts I make monogrammed with the season and year that I completed them. I do this in addition to putting labels on the quilt backs. The monograms are lovely reminders of when the quilts were made. CHERYL JOHNSON Washington, Texas When I have a long length of binding to fold or wrap, I hang it over my balcony railing and let it fall to the floor below. This eliminates twisting and tangling, allowing me to easily roll it up. I do the same thing to straighten out a long length of fabric. CONNIE S. SILBER Bryan, Texas For…

THE GINGER QUILTER BOX Enjoy a monthly subscription box featuring fabric, notions, patterns, and other treats. Natalie Pratt, The Ginger Quilter, curates the collection of goodies based on themes. $55/month; gingerquilterbox.com HOLIDAY QUILTS PUZZLE Gather family and friends to put together a 1,000-piece puzzle featuring artwork by Tom Wood showing holiday quilts in a wintry scene. The finished puzzle measures 20×27". $16.99; puzzlewarehouse.com QUILTING WITH LIBERTY FABRICS Author Jenni Smith celebrates the widely known Liberty of London designs from 1875 to the present. The book features 15 quilt patterns, one from each decade in Liberty’s rich history, along with stories of changing fabric and fashion trends, developments in the store over the years, and the history of their classic fabrics. $40; luckyspool.com CRAFTSY MEMBERSHIP Explore more than 1,500 online…

scissors cases Stylish holders keep small snips safely stored in your bag or sewing room. Fusible web and simple embroidery make them quick to finish. EVERY QUILTER WILL APPRECIATE THIS USEFUL GIFT. PLUS, THE CASES ARE A BREEZE TO MAKE! ELIZABETH STUMBO, ART DIRECTOR PERSONALIZE HANDMADE GIFTS Just because you’re making a gift in multiples doesn’t mean they have to look the same. Try one of these ideas to individualize your gifts in a meaningful way. Choose fabrics and colors that match each recipient’s decor and style. Fussy-cut novelty fabrics to showcase things they love. Add embellishments like appliqués, monograms, or embroidered messages. Use fabric scraps from the project on the gift tag or card to extend the handmade touch. Pair a handmade gift with a store-bought item like…

Materials FINISHED QUILT: 75½" FINISHED BLOCK: 21" square Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. ▫ 4¾ yards solid white (blocks, sashing, border, binding) ▫ ½ yard total assorted prints in nine colors: red, orange, green, pink, yellow, aqua, purple, light blue, and dark blue (blocks) ▫ ⅜ yard each solid red, solid orange, solid green, solid pink, solid yellow, solid aqua, solid purple, solid light blue, and solid dark blue (blocks) ▫ ½ yard solid black (blocks) ▫ 7 yards backing fabric ▫ 84"-square batting ▫ Lightweight tracing paper or other foundation material of your choice Top Tip Make foundation paper piecing (FPP) more effcient by setting up a small cutting mat, a pressing mat, and a mini iron next to your sewing…

Materials FINISHED QUILT: 56½×67½" FINISHED BLOCK: 10×13" Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. ▫ 10—9×21" pieces (fat eighths) assorted green prints (blocks) ▫ 10—9×21" pieces (fat eighths) assorted red prints (blocks) ▫ 2¾ yards solid gray (blocks, sashing, border) ▫ ⅜ yard each solid green and solid red (blocks) ▫ ⅝ yard green-and-red print (binding) ▫ 3⅝ yards backing fabric ▫ 65×76" batting ▫ Stiletto or chopstick ▫ Double Wide Dresden Ruler (optional) TO ORDER THE DOUBLE WIDE DRESDEN RULER for $19.95 plus shipping, U.S. only, contact meandmysisterdesigns.com. Alternate Cutting Method To cut the 100 wedge pieces using the Double Wide Dresden Ruler instead of a wedge template, complete the following steps. 1. Cut five 4" squares from each assorted green print and…