<![CDATA[VIRTUAL QUILTERS - Blog]]>Mon, 18 May 2026 01:55:31 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Spray Basting Your Quilts]]>Mon, 18 May 2026 03:23:39 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/spray-basting-your-quiltsThis video by Beth Ann Williams Quilts is really useful.  She goes over her routine to sandwich her quilts using spray basting.  She shares her preferred spray adhesive for quilts, but her techniques can be used for any brand or type, including the Elmer Schoolhouse Glue method. I learned some new tips that I am going to try.  Take a few minutes and watch this video and make your quilting life easier.
   ---Ann
]]><![CDATA[Center Square Quilt Blocks]]>Sun, 10 May 2026 23:49:03 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/center-square-quilt-blocksI really enjoy the tutorial videos that Bob from Sewing Parts Online shares on YouTube.  In this video, he shares this simple block that really can be both a quick and beautiful quilt.  I have myself used this simple block to make a quilt using scraps, or precuts and was very delighted with the results.  As Bob says in the video, you can choose what size of squares you want to use to make this block.
--Ann
]]><![CDATA[10 Tips to Manage Your Scraps]]>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:49:45 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/10-tips-to-manage-your-scrapsI love making scrap quilts, but I probably wouldn't ever get them done if I didn't have a system to manage them.  This video from Karen Brown of Just Get It Done Quilts has some useful tips that you might want to try.
--Ann
]]><![CDATA[Make Scrappy 4-inch Star Blocks]]>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:54:44 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/make-scrappy-4-inch-star-blocksDiane Harris from Stash Bandit shows these easy and cute little 4 inch finished stars.  Great to make from scraps, and use for many projects.  I tried it and very quickly it became quick and easy to just make a bunch of them.  Give it a try!
--Ann
The written instructions are just below the video.
Here are the written instructions provided with the video:
Let’s make scrappy little 4” stars. You’ll need these patches:
  • Background, 4 rectangles 1.5 x 2.5,
  • 4 squares 1.5 x 1.5. Star points,
  • 8 squares 1.5 x 1.5.
  • Center, 1 square 2.5 x 2.5

Use stitch-and-flip to make 4 Flying Geese for the star points as shown, using your finger nail to press.
Sew 2 of these to opposite sides of the center square. Press seam allowances IN.
To the other 2 Flying Geese, sew a background square to each end as shown.
Press seam allowances OUT.
Sew the three sections together to complete the star.
It should be 4.5” including seam allowances. It will be 4” when sewn into the quilt top.

There are many variations: just two fabrics, star points scrappy, backgrounds scrappy, light background, dark background, whatever you can dream up. This is small patchwork so smallish prints work well. Give it a try! They’re addictive!
]]><![CDATA[Quilt Basics - Trim Half Square Triangles]]>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 22:32:28 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/quilt-basics-trim-half-square-trianglesThis is a basic, but very helpful video.  It shows how to trim a Half Square Triangle to size so ready to use in your quilting project.  As she mentions, there are many specialty rulers out there for this, but she shows using a regular ruler and still getting the job done efficiently.  
]]><![CDATA[Does Your Pressure Foot Keep Moving?]]>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:15:49 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/does-your-pressure-foot-keep-movingJust this week I was saying a few bad things about my sewing machine foot pedal.  We have switched from carpets to laminate floors, and my pressure foot keeps running away from me! Very quickly my leg is not long enough to reach it.
This short video gives a solution for that for both carpets and a solid floor.  Yay!  As a bonus, she points out it works well for traveling too, especially since you may not know what flooring situation you will be dealing with.
​--Ann
]]><![CDATA[Quilt Binding - Decorative Stitches]]>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:37:19 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/quilt-binding-decorative-stitchesThis is a really informative video, showing how using your sewing machine's decorative stitches can be a great way to finish your quilt binding.   Take a few minutes to watch the video, and then have some fun with your quilt projects.
]]><![CDATA[Solutions: Use Quilting Paper Instead of Marking Your Fabric]]>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:04:44 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/solutions-use-quilting-paper-instead-of-marking-your-fabric
This video shows a clever way to use Quilting Paper instead of marking your designs for Free Motion Quilting.  It allows you to also create your own designs, and to duplicate multiple papers stitching it with a sewing machine with no thread in it.  
By the way, the paper is available online on Amazon.  Just search for "Golden Threads Stencil Paper" to find it.
]]><![CDATA[Solutions:  Use Walking Foot Quilting]]>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 22:54:49 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/solutions-use-walking-foot-quiltingI often hear of quilters paying someone to do their quilting.  When asked, most admit they jumped straight to Free Motion Quilting and it wasn't for them.  A much easier and still impressing way to do quilting is to use Walking Foot quilting instead.  The learning curve is much shorter, and you can have success almost right away.  Here is a good video to get to started.  She shows 3 methods with variations, and this will get you going.  Trust me, your quilts will look great.
]]><![CDATA[Using Ombre Fabrics for Table Runners]]>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:05:11 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/using-ombre-fabrics-for-table-runnersI feel like I am addicted to Jennifer Sampou's Ombre fabrics.  They just add so much to each project I have used them in. In this video, she tries a few new things and the results are not only pretty easy, but look fantastic.  No pattern needed, just give it a try!
PS- If you didn't catch it in the video, the center ombre section on these table runners are 6 inches.  Of course, you can use whatever you want!
​--Ann
]]><![CDATA[How to Make Half Square Triangles]]>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:30:47 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/how-to-make-half-square-trianglesHalf Square Triangles are in a lot of quilt blocks.  One of my favorite quilts is ALL half square triangles.  So knowing how to make them and trim them to size is a basic skill every quilter should have.  This video is a good tutorial.
]]><![CDATA[5 Quilting Hacks With Masking Tape]]>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:09:40 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/5-quilting-hacks-with-masking-tapeI use Painters Tape (masking tape) often in my sewing room. It saves so much time and gives me the precision I might need.  These 5 uses in the video are use often.  Check it out and see if it helps you too.
​   Ann
]]><![CDATA[Make This Easy Modern Patchwork Block]]>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 03:19:33 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/january-18th-2026This quilt block sure caught my eye.  First reaction was to ask how this was easy!  But watch the video by Patchwork by Nona and you will find it much easier to make too.  Yay!
Pick some fun fabric and make one or more of these blocks.  
]]><![CDATA[Make Scrappy Hearts]]>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 04:08:31 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/make-scrappy-heartsThese are quick and easy, and look very cute.  Fun to gift to people or decorate with.  The bonus is they use up some of your fabric scraps!
By the way, if you don't have pinking shears, you can always use a Satin stitch (close zig zag) to finish the edges.
   Have fun!
]]><![CDATA[A Few Inexpensive Quilt Tools She Likes]]>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 05:21:56 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/a-few-inexpensive-quilt-tools-she-likes
]]><![CDATA[Storing Quilting Rulers Ideas]]>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 02:49:15 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/storing-quilting-rulers-ideas
]]><![CDATA[Use Water Brush Pen as a Tool]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:06:25 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/use-water-brush-pen-as-a-toolArtists know about water pens, and find lots of uses for them.  They can also be used by Quilters for a number of things too.
  • If you do paper piecing, they can make removing the paper so much easier. Watch the video below for a demo.
  • If you want a really flat seams, put a starch like Best Press in your water pen and use it to wet the seam.  Press and all is perfect without having to starch the rest of the quilt.
  • If you need to fold fabric over paper for applique, add the Best Press or other starch alternative on the seam allowance. Turn and press and you have a clean turned edge to work with.
Here is a video showing one use.  By the way, you can search online for "water brush pen" and find choices for this tool in brands available and different prices
]]><![CDATA[Quilted Christmas Card Tutorial - Using Small Fabric Scraps]]>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:54:25 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/quilted-christmas-card-tutorial-using-small-fabric-scrapsWe made these as a group at one of our Tuesday meetings recently.  Our members had a lot of fun creating fun shapes and cards.  I decided to share this tutorial on our blog page so even more quilters might watch it.  Have fun!
​--Ann
]]><![CDATA[Easier Machine Quilting - Tame the Bulk]]>Mon, 01 Dec 2025 03:32:47 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/easier-machine-quilting-tame-the-bulkGreat video by Beth Ann Williams on You Tube.  I recommend watching this video if you do quilting on your domestic machine, especially walking foot quilting.  I especially liked her tip on better ways to manage the bulk sitting in your lap while quilting.
--Ann
]]><![CDATA[Tips for Making a Scrappy Quilt]]>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 03:08:53 GMThttps://www.virtualquilters.com/blog/tips-for-making-a-scrappy-quiltLast Tuesday, our members watched this video together on Zoom.  Karen Brown of Just Get It Done Quilts has some really helpful information to get your scraps into attractive and easy quilts.  Win-Win!
We are sharing it also here, our public blog page so you can also benefit from the wise words in the video.  
By the way, if you want to find the links Karen mentions in her video, click on the "Watch on You Tube" symbol at the bottom left of the video.  It will take you to the same video on You Tube, and her comments and links are directly below her video there.
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