Quilting Tutorials — Inspiration

We are working on using up as many of our fabric scraps as we can this year! Between full quilts and mini projects, we may not have used up everything, but we’ve made a dent. This week we are sharing a fun scrappy leaf quilt block based off of the traditional bear claw block.   This block finishes at 15″ square. Fabric requirements: White 2 @ 5 1/2″ square 2 @ 6 1/2″ square Scraps An assortment of Reds, Greens, Yellows, and Oranges ranging from 3/4″-2″ wide and 4″-8″ long Making the Blocks First, head to our subscriber library and...

Each month, we are sharing multiple ways to quilt our Online Quilting Bee Skill Builder Blocks. When I’m creating a quilting plan, I always start with a picture and doodle with a pencil. This allows me to try lots of different ideas without much time commitment. Doodling is also one of the best ways to practice free motion quilting. It helps with muscle memory and finding a quilting path.   Quilting Plan 1 This first quilting plan creates a continuous ring around the center shape. I started with straight lines echoing the octagon around the center square. Next, I put...

Starting a new quilting project is always exciting, but how do you pick out the fabric? This week we are going to talk about 3 different aspects to look at when picking out fabric for your quilting project. We will talk about scale, value, and color. With some simple tips and tricks, you’ll soon be picking out fabric combinations you love.   Fabric Scale When a designer creates fabric, they create a repeat design that covers the entire piece of fabric. These designs can vary from large to very small. The size of the design is considered the scale. When...

I love star blocks. There are so many different varieties and you can use them in lots of different projects. They work great for babies and adults alike! Along with the versatility of star blocks, there are lots of different ways you can quilt them! I’m going to share 4 different quilting motifs you can use to finish your star quilts.   Quilting Motif 1 For this motif, start in the middle, swirl at the widest point in the block and then curve back into the outside point. I chose to swirl them all in the same direction to create...

While I do a lot of custom quilting, every once in a while a quilt just needs some good all over texture. This Diamond Ribbon Candy quilting motif is a great way to do that. It’s an easy motif that is perfect for beginners and can easily be done on a domestic or longarm.   Marking the Quilting Motif The first step in quilting this motif is to mark the diamond grid. If you have blocks that will work, it’s the easiest way to do it. The thing to keep in mind, is you want it wider than tall. For...