Blog Posts

There are multiple methods for pressing quilt blocks. Ultimately, you want an even, correctly sized, very flat block without puckers or thick, hard seams. This helps ensure your quilt is square and makes the quilting process more successful. As a longarm quilter, I cringe when my machine 'thunks' on a thick seam. Broken needles can often throw these machines out of proper timing. In most cases, I like to press my seams open. No matter how much I press, use tailor’s clappers, steam, or starch, pressing seams to one side just does not often produce a perfectly flat block. In...

I find the whole process of quilting so satisfying. Yes, even the binding! There's something very restful to me about the whole process. Colors make me happy, and there's something about the milestones along the way that make me feel like I've accomplished something. I have a longarm, and when I take the quilt off the frame, I'm always amazed how different it looks--and wonderful. All those digital designs can turn a plain quilt made of simple squares into something spectacular. But by far, my favorite part of the process is designing. So it was beyond exciting when Riley Blake Designs featured my latest quilt pattern and kit in their September 2 blog post! There are so many talented quilt artists and pattern designers out there. Who knows, maybe I'm becoming one of them! You can see the blog post here: https://blog.rileyblakedesigns.com/new-elegance-quilt-kit/

The Elegant Stars pattern and kit debut on my site today. This pattern was particularly challenging to write, not because the blocks are complicated—they’re actually quite basic—but because (a) I kept changing the design (back to the drawing board!), and (b) because color placement is the secret to the medallion-quilt look. All that color placement means lots of pictures and detailed instructions. The fun part—I got to test the blocks! The kit features fabrics from the gorgeous Elegance collection by Corrinne Wells of Frannie B. Quilt Co for Riley Blake Designs. I knew I had to design a quilt with...

Lori Holt's new Bee Vintage collection has arrived! There are 42 adorable fabrics in the collection, and she's designed several patterns using this and some of her other Bee Basics collections. You can view her Storyboard for the fabric line here. The Sew Simple Shapes for this collection, as well as her September collection, Bee Dots is available here. By the way, did you know the Sew Simple Shapes for this fabric collection will also be used for multiple quilt patterns for the Bee Dots collection, coming in September 2023? We've also received 5" stackers, 10" stackers, and fat quarter bundles!...

I'll be offering a limited number of kits for this 64" x 76" Vintage Kite quilt made with the Bee Vintage collection by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet for Riley Blake Designs. Lori Holt's Bee Vintage line is due out in March (I'm hoping early March!) Pre-orders for this kit are still available. Just click here to claim yours!