One of the hottest things among quilters online these days is swapping. People swap blocks, small quilts, particular fabrics and more. I thought it would be fun to show you some of the swap blocks I’ve made and talk about how a swap works. Of course there are endless variations, so this is just the tip of the iceberg! Read More »

A while back I had the idea of using the color windows on fabric selvages to decorate Christmas tree quilt blocks. I can’t be absolutely certain this was an original idea, but I think it might be. I worked out the kinks and today I’m going to show you how to make Christmas tree quilt blocks with selvage lights. Printer-friendly version of this tutorial Read More »

A few years back I had an idea to build a trunk show of quilts based on one simple Windmill quilt block. I’ve been working feverishly on the quilts because I’ll give the presentation for the first time next month in Holdrege, Nebraska. I hope to present it many more times in 2018 and 2019. So you could say I am building a wind farm of quilts. Read More »

On Saturday I was invited to do a trunk show for the Rosebud Quilt Guild during their semi-annual quilt show in Burke, South Dakota. I was there all day so I had plenty of time to look at the quilts. Read More »

Fourteen hardy quilters joined me for a retreat in Arapahoe, Nebraska last week. Ruth Haarberg and Gretchen Kubik of Wagner’s Quilts & Conversation hosted the retreat at Hunt Nebraska Lodge, and I was the guide. We explored string piecing, an improvisational technique using strips or “strings,” so named long ago to describe the narrowest of leftovers. Read More »

You may know that I worked as an editor for Quiltmaker magazine until about a year ago. During that time, I managed the QM Scrap Squad, a team of quilters who made scrap quilts from our patterns. Beth Helfter was one of the people chosen for the Scrap Squad in 2014. I knew from the start that she had talent. She’s smart and wickedly funny, and she makes dynamite scrap quilts. She designs quilts under her business EvaPaige Quilt Designs, Read More »

Some of the best emails I get are from people who make a quilt that I designed. It’s a great compliment for someone to spend the money, time and effort to complete one of my designs! You can imagine how it makes my day. When this quilt appeared on the cover of Quiltmaker last fall, I did a little giveaway that included a stack of novelty fabric charms, so the winner would have them in order to make the quilt. Read More »

Recently I heard a wonderful guild program given by two local quilters. They have quilts made by women over six generations of their family. You read that right—six generations! It was an unusual and interesting approach. Read More »

I’m getting things ready for a String Piecing Quilt Retreat next week in Arapahoe, Nebraska. I decided to make a few more samples because you can never have too much inspiration. String piecing is generally done on a foundation. The “string” name came about when people used their narrowest strips of leftovers—so narrow they could be thought of as strings. The charm in these quilts comes from using many, many different fabrics. Variety is what counts. Read More »

By the time I finish piecing a quilt’s center, I’m ready to be done. In the past, sometimes I’ve attached plain ol’ borders and called it quits. But when I’ve given more thought and effort to a border, it has paid off. Scarlet Spin is a good example. I’ve learned not to rush to the finish line, but to take time to do the border justice. Bonnie Hunter influenced me with her borders, which can be as involved as the quilt center. Read More »