Table of contents for August 2020 in American Patchwork & Quilting

AS WE SEND THIS ISSUE TO THE PRINTER, we are coping with the COVID-19 global pandemic. Things are changing daily, sometimes even hourly. We are working from home rather than being together in the office. Photography opportunities are limited. And as sewers and crafters, we have been using our skills during our spare time to make personal-use masks. To that end we have been watching mask-making tutorials for hours, adapting patterns and fabrics—batiks (tightly woven), flannel (soft for the inside of the mask), and interfacing (or not)—to fit the needs of the groups for whom we are sewing. Sewing machine companies are reporting an increase in sales of entry-level sewing machines as people want to learn to sew in order to help. I welcome these new sewers and encourage…

SELF-CARE. WELLNESS. MINDFULNESS. These concepts have gained importance in our rushed 21st-century society. These days it seems everyone is in a hurry to move on to the next thing. We have increased our amount of screen time and work hours. We are expected to multitask and to always be available via our electronic devices. The result often is added stress, anxiety, fatigue, and exhaustion. "Sewing is a great stress reliever. You can immerse yourself in a project and forget about your problems for a while."—MONIQUE JACOBS, QUILT DESIGNER ALMOST EVERYTHING WILL WORK AGAIN IF YOU UNPLUG IT FOR A FEW MINUTES, including you.—ANNE LAMOTT, AUTHOR For example, in a 2019 Harris Poll survey, 50 percent of women said they often don’t feel present in their daily interactions with people.…

FINISHED QUILT: 77 ½×89" FINISHED BLOCK: 5¾" square MATERIALS Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. To plan this quilt in a different colorway, use the Coloring Diagram on Pattern Sheet 3. ▢ ½ yard solid light green (blocks) ▢ 15—18×21f" pieces (fat quarters) assorted light prints (blocks) ▢ 20—18×21" pieces (fat quarters) assorted medium and dark prints (blocks) ▢ 2 yards solid green (border, binding) ▢ 7⅝ yards backing fabric ▢ 86×97" batting Current Fabrics These light green and green solids are similar to those in the vintage Thin Mints quilt. Bella Solids collection by Moda Fabrics 9900-177 Hometown Sky 9900-126 Betty's Teal Kona Cotton Solids collection by Robert Kaufman Fabrics K001-1852 Sea Mist K001-1259 Old Green Painter’s Palette Solids collection by Paintbrush…

FINISHED QUILT: 40½" square FINISHED BLOCKS: 7" square MATERIALS Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. Fabrics are Cerise, Kale, Blueprint, Honeysuckle, Geranium, Astral, Watermelon, Eggplant, and Capri from the Kona Cotton Solids collection by Robert Kaufman Fabrics (robertkaufman.com). To plan this quilt in a different colorway, use the Coloring Diagram on Pattern Sheet 3. ▢ ⅝ yard solid magenta (blocks) ▢ ½ yard solid green (blocks) ▢ ½ yard solid dark blue (blocks, Pinwheel unit) ▢ ½ yard solid pink (blocks, Pinwheel unit) ▢ ⅜ yard solid red-violet (blocks) ▢ ½ yard solid light blue (blocks) ▢ ⅜ yard solid red-orange (blocks) ▢ ⅜ yard solid maroon (Pinwheel unit, setting squares) ▢ 1 yard solid aqua (setting triangles, corner triangles, binding) ▢ 2¾…

FINISHED QUILT: 68½×90¼" MATERIALS Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. ▢ 2¾ yards total assorted medium and dark prints (rows) ▢ 2¾ yards cream print (rows) ▢ 1½ yards coral print (border) ▢ ¾ yard solid cream (binding) ▢ 5½ yards backing fabric ▢ 77×99" batting CUT FABRICS Cut pieces in the following order. The Diamond Pattern is on Pattern Sheet 1. To make a template of the pattern, see Make and Use Templates, page 90. From assorted medium and dark prints, cut: ▢ 232 of Diamond Pattern From cream print, cut: ▢ 233 of Diamond Pattern From coral print, cut: ▢ 8—6×42" strips for border From solid cream, cut: ▢ 9—2½×42" binding strips DIAMOND UNIT ASSEMBLY The Diamond Pattern size and shape…

brain & mental health Hand sewing, including embroidery, English paper piecing, and hand quilting, has seen a resurgence over the last few years as crafters look for ways to slow down with stitching. Focusing on the smooth, repetitive motion of hand stitching can be a remedy for the stresses of daily life. Let it distract you from the various anxieties that might otherwise occupy your mind. Try improvisational piecing and let your creativity lead you down unexpected paths. hand & wrist health More and more notions and sewing tools are being designed with ergonomics in mind. Test products like rotary cutters in the store before you buy them to see how they fit in your hand. A tool that fits well will be more comfortable during long sewing…

FINISHED TABLE TOPPER: 23¾"-diameter octagon MATERIALS Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. ▢ 1⁄8 yard solid yellow (A units) ▢ ⅞ yard solid gray (A–C units, binding) ▢ 1⁄8 yard each pink, red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, blue, and purple tone-on-tones (A and C units) ▢ ¼ yard solid black (B and C units) ▢ ¾ yard backing fabric ▢ 28"-square batting ▢ Lightweight tracing paper or other foundation material of your choice CUT FABRICS Cut pieces in the following order. From solid yellow, cut: ▢ 8—2×3" rectangles From solid gray, cut: ▢ 2—2½×42" binding strips ▢ 8—2½×11" rectangles ▢ 16—3×5½" rectangles ▢ 16—2×5" rectangles ▢ 16—1¾×2½" rectangles From each pink, red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, blue, and purple tone-on-tone, cut: ▢ 2—2½×5½"…

CUT BIAS STRIPS Strips for curved applique pieces and binding curved edges should be cut on the bias (diagonally across the grain of a woven fabric), which runs at a 45° angle to the selvage, because it has the most stretch. To cut bias strips, begin with a fabric square or rectangle; if necessary, square up the left edge with an acrylic ruler. Make a cut at a 45° angle to the left edge (Bias Strip Diagram). Handle the diagonal edges carefully to avoid distorting the bias. To cut a strip, measure the desired width from the 45° cut edge; cut parallel to the edge. Cut enough strips to total the length needed. MAKE AND USE TEMPLATES MAKE TEMPLATES A template is a pattern made from extra-sturdy material so…

01 | ORGANIC FREE-MOTION QUILTING IDEA BOOK Get free-motion quilting ideas from Mother Nature. Author Amanda Murphy’s handy guide showcases more than 170 ideas inspired by water, air, flowers, and more. With step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to add organic texture to your quilts, no matter your skill level. $19.95; ctpub.com 02 | FEED SACKS Author Linzee Kull McCray explores the history of feed sacks in a 544-page book that features color photos and at-scale fabric reproductions. Originally published in a limited quantity by Uppercase Publishing in 2016, this reprint now is widely available. $29.99; shopmartingale.com 03 | PICTURE PERFECT Stitch the afternoon away with 16 embroidered designs, each measuring 2½×4½". Author Kathy Schmitz shows you how to turn your finished embroidery into sachets, pillows, and note cards, or…

FINISHED QUILT: 48½" square FINISHED BLOCKS: 8" square MATERIALS Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width. Fabrics are Snow and Enchanted from the Kona Cotton Solids collection by Robert Kaufman Fabrics (robertkaufman.com). To plan this quilt in a different colorway, use the Coloring Diagram on Pattern Sheet 2. ▢ 2⅝ yards solid white (blocks; inner, middle, and outer borders) ▢ 2 yards solid green (blocks, middle border, binding) ▢ 3¼ yards backing fabric ▢ 57"-square batting CUT FABRICS Cut pieces in the following order. From solid white, cut: ▢ 9—2½×42" strips ▢ 13—1½×42" strips ▢ 48—2½×3½" rectangles ▢ 12—2½" squares ▢ 2—1⅞" squares ▢ 100—1½×2½" rectangles ▢ 376—1½" squares From solid green, cut: ▢ 6—2½×42" binding strips ▢ 12—1½×42" strips ▢ 13—2½" squares ▢…

FINISHED PINCUSHION: 3⅝×3⅝×3⅝" MATERIALS FOR PINCUSHION ON STAND Fabrics are from the Moments collection by Minki Kim for Riley Blake Designs (rileyblakedesigns.com). ▢ 6"-square each white floral and pink floral (pincushion sides) ▢ 5"-square cream print (pincushion base) ▢ 6×12" piece solid beige (pincushion sides) ▢ 1½"-square pink wool felt (applique) ▢ 10"-square batting ▢ Freezer paper ▢ Embroidery floss: dark pink, white, green ▢ Decorative label no bigger than 17/8" square ▢ 3"-long piece ½"-wide ribbon: cream stripe ▢ Polyester fiberfill or crushed walnut shells CUT FABRICS Cut pieces in the following order. Patterns are on Pattern Sheet 1. To make a template of the Triangle Pattern, see Make and Use Templates, page 90. To use freezer paper to cut the Strawberry Pattern, complete the following steps. 1…

latifahsaafirstudios.com The quilt that started my career as a designer, Neon and Neutral, above, is my most cherished quilt. Ironically, I made it for myself. It represents everything I love about a quilt: graphic, clean, interesting fabric; unexpected color combinations; classic shapes; and modern construction. I exhibited it at Quilt Con 2013 in the Modern Traditionalism category. I’m glad I love it because I’m pretty sure I’ll be 80 years old and still teaching classes based on it! Glam Clam, its original name, also prompted a line of products that I sell on my website, including patterns and Clammy rulers Latifah Saafir in four different sizes. Share your most cherished quilt on Instagram using the hashtag #mycherishedquilt.…