Table of contents for January - February 2018 in Quiltmaker

It’s that time of year again. At the first of every year, I make my New Years resolutions—get more organized, exercise more—the list goes on, and it doesn’t seem to change from year to year. Resolutions are easy to forget about as the months pass by. This year I’m going to try something different—something that I hope to actually accomplish. What I think might be more attainable for me is to create monthly challenges for myself. I’ve been thinking of where my quilting journey has led me through the years, and where I want to go from here. The one area that I feel needs more time and practice is my machine quilting. This year I’m challenging myself each month to learn a new machine quilting stitch or technique. In…

Easy Finished Size: 98”x 104” Finished Blocks: 6” Bear Paw materials Assorted Gray Tone-on-Tones 1 ¼ yards total for blocks Assorted White Tone-on-Tones 5 ⅜ yards total for blocks Red Tone-on-Tone #1 1 ½ yards for roofs Assorted Green Tone-on-Tones 2 yards total for blocks Assorted Black Tone-on-Tones ¼ yard total for blocks Blue Tone-on-Tone 2 ⅞ yards for blocks and binding Black Solid ⅛ yard for blocks Red Tone-on-Tone #2 1 yard for doors and border #1 Blue Print 2 ⅞ yards for sashes and border #2 Backing 9 ⅜ yards Batting 106”x 112” Fusible web (Although fabric amounts are adequate for foundation piecing, you may need more if you cut very generous patches.) cutting Assorted Gray Tone-on-Tones 72 squares (A) 2 ⅞” x 2 ⅞” 36 squares (C)…

Intermediate Finished Size: 68” x 86” Finished Blocks: 9” materials Assorted Batiks 4 ½ yards total for blocks, border #2 and binding Black Solid 5 ⅝ yards for blocks and border #’s 1 and 3 Backing 5 ⅝ yards Batting 76”x 94” (Although fabric amounts are adequate for foundation piecing, you may need more if you cut very generous patches.) cutting (see Step 1) Assorted Batiks 9 strips 2 ½” x 40” for binding 225 squares (A) 2” x 2” (45 sets of 5 matching) 88 squares (C) 3 ½” x 3 ½” for border #2 foundation patches Black Solid 7 strips 2 ¾” x 40” for border #1 9 strips 4 ½” x 40” for border #3 180 squares (A) 2” x 2” 44 squares (B) 5” x 5”…

Intermediate Finished Size: 38” x 38” Finished Blocks: 6” This is the eighteenth pattern published by Quiltmaker in support of Project Linus, an organization that provides hand-made blankets for seriously ill or traumatized children. Learn more about Project Linus at projectlinus.org  or by writing to: Project Linus National HQ, PO Box 1548, Belton, MO 64012-1108. materials Dark Blue, Dark Orange, Dark Pink and Medium Pink Tone-on-Tone 1 fat quarter each for blocks (a fat quarter is approximately 18” x 20”) Black Tone-on-Tone ½ yard for blocks Yellow Dot ⅝ yard for blocks Medium Blue and Medium Orange Tone-on-Tone 1 fat eighth each for blocks (a fat eighth is approximately 9” x 20”) Green Tone-on-Tone ½ yard for blocks Multicolor Print 1 yard for border and binding Backing 1…

Intermediate Finished Size: 71”x 105” Finished Blocks: 20”, 10” materials White Print #1 1 ⅛ yards for blocks Medium Pink Tone-on-Tone ⅝ yard for blocks Medium Purple Tone-on-Tone ½ yard for blocks Medium Green Solid 1 fat quarter for blocks (a fat quarter is approximately 18” x 20”) White Print #2 1 ¼ yards for blocks Medium Yellow Solid 1 fat quarter for blocks Dark Fuchsia Tone-on-Tone ⅝ yard for blocks White Print #3 1 fat quarter for blocks Medium Blue Print ¾ yard for blocks Medium Pink and Medium Blue Solids 1 fat eighth each for blocks (a fat eighth is approximately 9” x 20”) Dark Blue Tone-on-Tone ⅝ yard for blocks Light Green Print 1 fat quarter for blocks Light Purple Tone-on-Tone 1 fat quarter for blocks Light…

ZJ has been a professional longarm quilter for 14 years and has been quilting over 20 years. She’s the owner of Dream Stitcher Quilt Studio. Hand-guided vs Computer-guided Longarm Machines The longarm industry offers a variety of options to consumers. Two of the most popular are hand-guided and computer-guided machines. In this article I will explore some of the more important options available to you when purchasing a longarm machine. Hand-guided machines are the mainstay of the industry. With this type of longarm, the machine quilts and you guide it manually (photo 1). The machine runs in constant mode. This means the needle is moving constantly at a set speed. You cannot set a stitch length with this type of machine. The stitch length will be determined strictly by the…

Getting Started About our Patterns We recommend that you read all of the instructions before starting a project and that you cut and sew one block before cutting all of your fabric. Using a rotary cutter, mat and an acrylic ruler, cut the shape to the size indicated in the cutting list. Pressing tabs indicate the direction to press the seam allowances. Our patterns list finished block sizes, which are typically ½" smaller than unfinished block sizes because they do not include seam allowances. Basic Quilting Supplies • Rotary cutter and mat • Acrylic ruler: Many shapes and sizes are available; a good one to start with is 6"x 24" with ¼" and 1/8" markings • Scissors: A separate pair for paper and fabric • Sewing machine • ¼" foot…

Monday’s Washday My daughter asked me to make a quilt for a 6-year-old boy. When I saw Monday’s Washday in the May/June ’17 issue (No. 175) I fell in love with the pattern. I changed the focus of the pattern from dresses to cars, trucks and tractors. I think it worked equally well for a little boy’s quilt. Jane Mounce • Athol, Massachusetts Peekaboo Bears My friend Jean Brown and I used the Peekaboo Bears pattern from the May/June ’96 issue (No. 49) to make these quilts. Jean’s is for her great granddaughter Ivy and mine is for my grand nephew Rex. I remembered seeing Peek-a-Boo-Bunnies in the March/April ’17 issue (No. 174) and added more blocks so I could include bunnies. Charlene Wilkinson • Van Nuys, California Sand and…

Easy Finished Size: 96” x 96” Finished Blocks: 6” materials Light Blue Tone-on-Tone 7 yards for blocks Assorted Teal Prints and Tone-on-Tones 1 ½ yards total for blocks Assorted Green Prints and Tone-on-Tones 3 yards total for blocks Assorted Purple Prints and Tone-on-Tones 1 ½ yards total for blocks White Print 1 yard for binding Backing 9 ¼ yards Batting 104”x 104” cutting Light Blue Tone-on-Tone 128 squares (A) 4 ⅞” x 4 ⅞” 512 squares (B) 2 ⅞” x 2 ⅞” 256 squares (C) 2 ½” x 2 ½” Assorted Teal Prints and Tone-on-Tones 32 squares (A) 4 ⅞” x 4 ⅞” 128 squares (B) 2 ⅞” x 2 ⅞” Assorted Green Prints and Tone-on-Tones 64 squares (A) 4 ⅞” x 4 ⅞” 256 squares (B) 2 ⅞” x…

Easy Finished Size: 62” x 62” Finished Blocks: 9” materials Cream Print 1 yard for blocks Green Tone-on-Tone ⅜ yard for blocks Yellow Print 1 ⅝ yards for blocks and setting triangles Brown Print ⅜ yard for blocks Coral Tone-on-Tone ⅞ yard for blocks Yellow Tone-on-Tone ½ yard for blocks Medium Brown Print ⅜ yard for blocks Dark Brown Tone-on-Tone 1 ¼ yards for blocks, border #1 and binding Peach Print #1 ⅜ yard for blocks Peach Print #2 ⅛ yard for blocks Brown Floral 1 ⅛ yards for border #2 Backing 4 ¼ yards Batting 70”x 70” cutting Cream Print 64 squares (A) 2 ⅜” x 2 ⅜” 192 squares (D) 2” x 2” Green Tone-on-Tone 64 squares (A) 2 ⅜” x 2 ⅜” Yellow Print 4 strips 2”…

Easy Finished Size: 68” x 68” Finished Blocks: 12” materials Cream Batik 2 ⅛ yards for blocks Medium Orange Batik ¾ yard for blocks and border #1 Multicolor Batik #1 ¾ yard for blocks Dark Orange Batik ⅝ yard for blocks Dark Blue Batik 1 ⅜ yards for blocks Light Orange Batik ½ yard for blocks Dark Teal Batik ⅞ yard for blocks Multicolor Batik #2 1 ½ yards for border #2 and binding Backing 4 ⅝ yards Batting 76”x 76” cutting Cream Batik 11 strips 1 ⅞” x 40” for bands 26 squares (A) 3 ⅞” x 3 ⅞” 26 squares 4 ¼” x 4 ¼” cut diagonally twice to yield 104 triangles (E) 12 squares 7 ¼” x 7 ¼” cut diagonally twice to yield 48 triangles (G)…

Quilting free motion style really feels like you are mastering free thinking–well, a little. Tricia takes a leap with free-motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine. Tricia is Managing Editor for Quiltmaker. Part 5: Free-Motion Quilting I’d like to tell you that free-motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine is easy peasy, just pick up and go. But, to be honest it’s a lot like learning to ride a bike. You have to learn how to keep your speed under control while learning how to maneuver around objects. If you don’t turn the right way you’ll run into the curb. (In this case, stitches you don’t want to cross, the block outside the one you are working on or even off the quilt top.) Nevertheless, all can be managed with…

Intermediate Finished Size: 56 ½”x 73 ½” Finished Blocks: 8 ½” materials Assorted Prints and Tone-on-Tones 1 ⅜ yards total for blocks Cream Solid 2 ¼ yards for blocks Tan Print 1 ⅝ yards for blocks and border #1 Brown Tone-on-Tone 1 ¼ yards for border #2 and binding Red Print 1 ⅛ yards for border #3 Backing 4 yards Batting 65”x 82” cutting Assorted Prints and Tone-on-Tones (see Step 1) 36 rectangles (A) 1 ¾” x 6 ½” 136 rectangles (C) 1 ½” x 3 ½” 68 squares (D) 1 ½” x 1 ½” 18 squares (F) 4” x 4” Cream Solid 72 squares (B) 1 ¾” x 1 ¾” 408 squares (D) 1 ½” x 1 ½” 36 rectangles (E) 1 ¾” x 4” 72 squares (H) 3”…

Easy Finished Size: 83” x 93” Finished Blocks: 10” materials Assorted Bright Batiks 3 ¼ yards total for blocks (see Step 1) Cream Batik 3 ¼ yards for blocks Blue Batik ⅝ yard for border #1 Orange Multicolor Batik 1 ¾ yards for border #2 Orange Batik ⅞ yard for binding Backing 8 ⅛ yards Batting 91”x 101” cutting Assorted Bright Batiks 28 matching sets of: 3 rectangles (A) 2 ½” x 6 ½” 2 rectangles (B) 2 ½” x 10 ½” 56 rectangles (A) 2 ½” x 6 ½” Cream Batik 140 rectangles (A) 2 ½” x 6 ½” 56 rectangles (B) 2 ½” x 10 ½” Blue Batik 9 strips 2” x 40” for border #1 Orange Multicolor Batik 10 strips 5 ½” x 40” for border #2…

Meet in the Middle Simple 4 patches are a go-to unit for me. Four Patches are great everywhere, as block centers, block corners, cornerstones in sashings, borders–you name it. Four Patches always have a place in my quilts! I used my Bonnie K. Hunter’s Essential Triangle Tool and 2 1/2" strips for the triangles in this block. Quiltmaker’s instructions will guide you to make the block using traditional methods. Rotary cutting instructions are given below. Refer to the “Triangle-Squares” technique in Basic Lessons and use the white #1 and green A’s to make 8 units. Join 2 teal B’s and 2 white #2 B’s to make a Four Patch. Make 8 Four Patches. Sew the Four Patches, units and patches together as shown to complete the block. cutting Finished Block:…

QikPik Sewing Thread Cutter Pikki Design’s new QikPik Sewing Thread Cutter has two replaceable blades and attaches to your work surface for ease of use. The top blade is protected by a safety cover and made for unstitching long seams. The smaller traditional seam ripper blade to be used as a hem ripper can be placed in the slot facing either to the left or to the right. The QikPik is equipped with LED lights to more easily see the stitches. pikkidesigns.com Matchbox Quilts by Moda Each small Matchbox Quilt box contains fabric, backing and batting to complete a 6" quilt. Printed on the fabric are the cutting lines and instructions. These little kits are the perfect take-along project and a good way to make a small quilt for a…

Intermediate Finished Size: 100”x 100” Finished Blocks: 8”, 16" materials (see Step 1) Assorted Blue Batiks 4 ¾ yards total for blocks Assorted Cream Batiks 4 ⅝ yards total for blocks Light Blue Batik ⅞ yard for border #1 Medium Blue Batik 3 ⅝ yards for border #2 and binding Backing 9 ⅝ yards Batting 108”x 108” cutting (see Step 1 before cutting) Assorted Blue Batiks 52 squares (A) 1 ½” x 1 ½” 52 rectangles (B) 1 ½” x 2 ½” 52 rectangles (C) 1 ½” x 3 ½” 52 rectangles (D) 1 ½” x 4 ½” 52 rectangles (E) 1 ½” x 5 ½” 52 rectangles (G) 1 ½” x 7 ½” 52 rectangles (H) 1 ½” x 8 ½” 224 squares (I) 2 ⅞” x 2 ⅞”…

Intermediate Finished Size: 84 ½” x 84 ½” Finished Blocks: 12” materials Cream Batik 4 ⅜ yards for blocks Dark Green Batik ¾ yard for blocks Tan Batik ⅜ yard for blocks Light Green Batik 2 ¾ yards for blocks, sashing and border #2 Medium Brown Batik ¼ yard for blocks Orange Batik ¼ yard for blocks Dark Brown Batik ⅜ yard for blocks Dark Blue Batik 3 ⅞ yards for blocks, cornerstones, borders and binding Light Blue Batik 1 ⅛ yards for blocks Backing 8 ¼ yards Batting 93”x 93” (Although fabric amounts are adequate for foundation piecing, you may need more if you cut very generous patches.) cutting Cream Batik 32 squares (A) 2 ⅞” x 2 ⅞” 24 squares (B) 2 ½” x 2 ½” 4 squares…

Easy Finished Size: 62” x 80” Finished Blocks: 9” materials White Dot 3 ⅞ yards for units and blocks Dark Pink Tone-on-Tone 1 ⅞ yards for blocks and binding Medium Pink Tone-on-Tone and Medium Pink Print ½ yard each for blocks Green Print 1 ⅛ yards for blocks and border #1 Dark Pink Print ⅞ yard for border #2 Backing 5 ¼ yards Batting 70”x 88” cutting White Dot 8 strips 2½” x 40” for bands 20 strips 1½” x 40” for bands 4 strips 3½” x 40” for bands 48 squares (A) 2 ⅞” x 2 ⅞” 192 squares (B) 1 ½” x 1 ½” 62 squares (C) 2 ½” x 2 ½” Dark Pink Tone-on-Tone 8 strips 2½” x 40” for binding 18 strips 1½” x 40” for…

Wall: 31 ¼”x 35” Finished Blocks: 3 ¾” materials Assorted Batiks ¾ yard total for blocks (see Step 1) Cream Batik ¾ yard for blocks Blue Batik ½ yard for border Red Batik ½ yard for binding Backing 1 ⅛ yards Batting 36”x 39” cutting Assorted Batiks 28 matching sets of: 3 rectangles (A) 1 ¼” x 2 ¾” 2 rectangles (B) 1 ¼” x 4 ¼” 56 rectangles (A) 1 ¼” x 2 ¾” Cream Batik 140 rectangles (A) 1 ¼” x 2 ¾” 56 rectangles (B) 1 ¼” x 4 ¼” Blue Batik 4 strips 3” x 40” for border Red Batik 4 strips 2 ½” x 40” for binding Use up your stash to make a mini version of Scott’s throw-sized quilt. Refer to the Equalize pattern.…