I really enjoy this teacher on You Tube.  She makes everything so easy!  This video shows the entire process, including borders, binding, and the quilting. 

I am thinking about using a Charm Pack with Christmas Fabric to make something fun for my home. 
​Enjoy! Thx, Ann

Here are the links that Yoan mentions in the video:
You will need : 40x pcs of charm packs, 5” x 5“ (12.7 x 12.7 cm) fabric squares. https://amzn.to/3iAz1te, https://bit.ly/3y17NTa
21” x 42” batting https://amzn.to/3kSXZXw
2/3 yard backing fabric
1/6 yard border fabric
1/3 yard binding fabric
Note: yardage requirements are estimated, based on standard 44” wide cotton quilting fabric. Machine quilting thread, Basic sewing /quilting notions.

Our local newspaper, The Press Democrat, had a wonderful article about Sandy & Rick and their passion to paint beautiful barn quilts.  They amped up their painting when the pandemic hit, in hope of spreading some cheer with their community.  
I contacted them and asked if I could visit and get some pictures to share with other quilters, and they said yes!  I hope you enjoy these photos of their barn quilts and the lovely gardens they live in.
​--Ann
PS - To read the original Press Democrat newspaper article Click Here

I really like the suggestions in this video to make a sewing room or area more productive.  I thought my sewing room was great, but I have a few tweaks I want to make after watching this video from Tiny Orchard Quilts on You Tube.  Proves once again, we all can learn from each other!

I don't know about you, but I love watching Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  Her teaching videos are not only easy to follow, but she is just fun! 
This video is questions asked by her followers and gives a little peak into her very cute retro camper trailer that she has set up for sewing, of course.  I loved her tips on how to teach young kids to sew.  Enjoy!

I stumbled across this video on You Tube, and thought it was an interesting tip.  So of course I tried it.  I have to say it sure was easier to do than the traditional way I was taught.  Then I turned into a mad scientist to try different glues that are recommended for quilting fabric.  They all worked using the same method shown in the video, but some of them worked easier than others.  My favorite of those I tried?  Appli-Glue by Jillily Studio.  More expensive than the glue used in the video, but it held things a little better and was easier to apply.  What works best for you?

Sometimes a clever idea comes along, and I wonder why I didn't think of it myself!  Watch this video and you might have the same experience...   
From National Quilters Circle:
    Free motion quilting can be tricky to get the hang of when you are just starting out. One thing that can make it easier and less intimidating is drawing or transferring the quilting design or motif onto the quilt top or project.
    Ashley Hough shows you how to do this using freezer paper, which eliminates the need to draw directly on the fabric.
    Ashley begins by talking about the type of paper to use. You can use a standard freezer paper or any other kind of wax backed paper. The idea is that when the paper is ‘fused’ to the fabric using medium heat, dry iron – the paper temporarily sticks to the fabric. The paper can then be easily removed, moved, and reused as many times as the paper will still stick to the fabric.
    Ashley then shows how to easily trace a design onto the freezer paper. Because freezer paper is easy to see through, any design or motif can be traced without the need for a lightbox.
    Ashley then shows how to cut out the design and fuse it into place on the fabric.
   You can then use the design as a way to free motion quilt and trace the outer edges and quilt that shape onto your project, or do simple free motion quilting fill stitches around the design and leave that area un-stitched. While you can always stitch though the paper when quilting as a way to use it as a template, however, if you do so, you will need to rip the paper in order to remove it, making it non-reusable.

Actually, if you watch this video, you don't even need a pattern!
​I have been a fan of Donna Jordan at Jordan Fabrics for a long time.  Her family business is very generous with great videos teaching how to make quilts and use some of the fabrics they sell.  This is a free tutorial technique video to make a Bargello looking quilt without all the hard work.  Like always, if you follow this video, you can have a quick successful quilt too.  Below is her YouTube tutorial with all the instructions you need to try this yourself.

I am a fan of "Just Get It Done Quilts."  She has great ideas and is lots of fun to watch on her videos.  This video has some good tips and well worth the few minutes to watch!  

One of our Virtual Quilters members, Jeanne, recommended this video to share with the rest of the quilters.  Thanks Jeanne!

This interview was very moving, and it is well worth a few minutes to watch it!

I found versions of this quilt pattern all over the internet.  Good reason, it looks good in almost any color and is relatively easy to make. 
​The first video, from Shabby Fabrics uses 5 inch charms.  She also gives some good tips on useful tools and rulers.  The half-square-triangles are made one at a time, but she does chain piece them to save time.

This video from Sew Very Easy uses fat quarters to make 8 half-square-triangles at a time. 

This video by Jenny Doan at Missouri Star Quilt Company uses 10-inch Layer cake and makes half-square triangles 4 at a time.

I love to research and the internet is my favorite place to explore.  Recently, I found a very cute quilt kit that was perfect for Spring.  The pattern was pretty simple and I thought I might want to just draft it out myself.  Done.  Then I just kept going.  I found it under several names, lots of colors, and each one was fantastic. The pattern comes in 3 versions:  Using 5 inch charms, 10 inch layer cakes,  or 2-1/2 inch mini charms.  Each one results in a different size project, of course.  What a nice way to use up some of the pre-cuts in your stash.  Add some borders and you can have some fun there too.
Best yet, I located a video on YouTube showing how to make the quilt by one of my favorites, Donna Jordon from Jordan fabrics.  They also offered a free pattern download from Moda.  See details below.
So I decided it was a "classic" to keep and should share it with all our virtual quilters.  So below, you will find the results of my fun adventure!
​    -Ann

Here are a few of my favorite choices for fabrics.  If you want to find more, go to Pinterest.com and search "Moda Love Quilt."  You will be amazed at how many beautiful suggestions there are.

I needed a bigger design wall, and so I went to the internet to research for an easy solution.  I wanted to be able to move it around, but still be big enough to be useful.  I wasn't too hopeful, but of course someone had figured it out already and shared it on the internet.  My go-to for this type of research is Pinterest or You Tube.  Pinterest is popular for blog posts, and You Tube is nice for a video tutorial.  I combined a couple of different solutions I found, but they were pretty similar...   Make sure to read the tips below & then Click here to read the article by Quilter Krista Moser.
A few of my tips to add to the article
   1.  Buy an 2 inch thick insulation board at a home improvement store like Lowe's or Home Depot. I found it in the lumber department. They make them thinner than 2 inches, but you want this to be sturdy when you move it around.  The core is styrofoam so they are extremely light weight. It bet the one I bought weighed less than 5 pounds!
  2. They are big, usually 4 feet wide by 8 feet tall. If you don't have a vehicle big enough to get it home, you can have it delivered (expensive), ask a friend for help, or if you don't need it that big, you can easily cut it with a serrated blade knife when you load it in your car.
   3.  I did this part differently: I used low loft batting to cover mine, and secured it on the back with duct tape. This was recommended on another site, and I am happy with the results. You can also use flannel.  
   4. I also put duct tape along the bottom.  Since I am going to move it and lean it against walls, that will protect it from excessive wear.
   5.  Another quilter shared with me that she cut her insulation board to 4 foot x 4 foot.  She placed it on her table behind her sewing machine, and lean it against the wall.  She reports it is a good size to travel with to retreats or classes.
        -Ann
   

I absolutely love this little bag.  It is made with jelly roll strips, you get to do some basic or advanced free motion quilting on it, and I can think of so many uses for it.  It would hold craft projects on the go, be a wonderful gift for a friend, and even make a nice bag for kids to hold their toys.  Enjoy!
​Ann
PS - Here is a link to download her instructions from her website.  Click here

A big thank you to Mary Ann for sharing this video from Shabby Fabrics with us.  It really is a clever way to make a panel into an Attics Window quilt.  It really doesn't get any easier than this!  -Ann

I know Easter is only a week away, but this fun project is quick and there is enough time to get it made to decorate. In this case, it is an adorable pillow with easter eggs made from your scraps.  Trapunto stuffing gives it some extra dimension. 
Anyway, here is a photo of the finished Easter pillow project, and use this link to see the complete instructions from Krista Moser: Click Here