Quilter's Thread

With it now being August it is time to start brainstorming new ideas for fall and winter projects for all the festivities and holidays that are about to come. I love the summer but I also love the fall and winter because of all the festivals and holidays that bring family and friends back together again. As a quilter fall and winter seasons give us more time to stay inside and work on quilt projects. So here are some great fall and winter themed quilt projects that are trending right now.

Maple Leaves Quilt Pattern

Maple Leaves Quilt From Freemotion by the River

Beautiful fall colors with earth tones makes this quilt perfect for any home for decoration. You can place this Maple Leaves Quilt Pattern in the middle of the dining room table, living room area or hang in the hall to show off to your guests when they enter your home.

Pumpkin Patch Project

Pumpkin Project from Behind the Mouse the Electric Quilt Blog created by Heidi.

This Pumpkin Patch Project from Behind The Mouse is another great fall season quilt project to make. Fall season is all about picking apples and carving pumpkins but why not sew a pumpkin patch that will last forever! What’s great about this pattern is that you can play with different fall color fabrics and make this pattern your own. Click here to see how different colors of fabric can change the appearance of the quilt pattern on Behind the Mouse the Electric Quilt Blog.

The Sapling Mini Quilt 

Sapling Mini Quilt Pattern by Laundry Basket Quilts

This Sapling Mini Quilt Pattern by Laundry Basket Quilts is a great piece to make for the winter holidays. It’s simple blue and white colors make it easy to blend with any style of home and plus you can use it after Christmas into January and February. Finished quilt size is 8″ x 11″.

More Merriment

Very Merry Tree Skirt by Stacey Day

This Very Merry Tree Skirt from B & P Boutique created by Stacey Day is a great quilt project to make for this Christmas to lie under your tree to place presents on. Quilt size is 48″ diameter. This quilt is made with four wedge groups to make the circled skirt. You can use the fabric recommended in the Very Merry Tree Skirt instructions or you can get creative and pick your own.

Make sure you are prepared for the holidays by getting started on your seasonal quilt projects this week. Make sure to share on Quilter’s Thread Mobile App your fall and winter quilt projects.

Live Well. Quilt Well.

If you are a quilter who prefers machine quilting or are a beginner with sewing machines here are five helpful tips to help make the process of machine quilting go smoothly from start to finish.

1. Make sure to change your needles often and you’ll see all the difference! Just like a razor blade it is never good for your quilting needles to get dull. Needles are cheap to buy so you have no excuse for switching them out for new sharp ones when needed! Some people change needles every time they finish a quilt project but trust your gut and change them when you think it’s necessary.
2. Use a Walking Foot also called an Even Feed Foot to help your fabric feed evenly on the top and the bottom while sewing. Some people use a regular presser foot but that only feeds the bottom not the top as well. This is why it is recommend you invest in a walking foot to ensure your quilt stitches are even on both the top and bottom.
3. Try using quilt gloves for a change! They come in all different styles and sizes, so you’ll find the right pair for you easily. Quilting gloves are a great tool to use when quilting because they give you a stronger sturdy grip while holding the quilt and moving it through the machine. Plus wearing quilting gloves will help reduce the stress of quilting on your hands.
4. Invest in a nice table for sewing. You want to make sure that where you are sewing has a sturdy and even surface with lots of room to work so you’ll never run out of space. Having lots of space will allow for you to move your quilt easily without it falling to the floor causing gravity to drag the quilt limiting your ability to move the fabric while sewing.
5. Match the thread color for both the top and the bobbin. Sometimes you can see dots of the bobbin thread that shows through on the top of your quilt.  If that’s something that will bother you then make sure to match the thread color. The thread doesn’t need to be exactly the same kind of fiber content or weight but should have the same shade of color.

Got any favorite tips and tricks that you use for machine quilting? Make sure to share them on Quilter’s Thread Mobile App!

Live Well. Quilt Well.

We are happy to announce that Quilter’s Thread Mobile App will have a booth at the Quilt Expo this year. The Quilt Expo event goes from September 8th to the 10th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibitions Hall in Madison, WI.

Come and check out all the options of 85,000 vendors, quilt contests, workshops, raffles and lectures. This is a great place to find anything that you have been searching for whether it is fabric, sewing machines, or even help with your technique skills. Tickets to the Expo range from $8.00 to $16.00 for more information on tickets click here.

Make sure to come by and stop at our booth number 727 that is right along the side of the quilt show. We will be at the event each day and will have plenty of patterns and some random prizes for quilters who use the app during the Expo. There will also be copies of Frank Lloyd’s Cabin pattern for everyone who visits the booth during the Expo. Have any questions or need help downloading the Quilter’s Thread Mobile App? Then make sure to stop by and ask us!

For more information and details about the Quilt Expo make sure to check out the website. We hope to see you there.

Live Well. Quilt Well.

Our new pattern prize for this month is Grandma’s Bow Tie quilt pattern. This is a great quilt pattern for trying new colors and fabrics because of the bow ties interlocking with each other making it a playful and fun design.

This pattern consists of blocks that have circles in the middle that connects with the other block and so on, creating the Bow Tie pattern overall. Go ahead and get creative by using random colors of fabrics when making this pattern. This type of quilt pattern would make an excellent I SPY game with kids and friends as well. Use fun patterns of animals and objects to make the game more interesting just like the I SPY books.

Make sure to share with us any versions of Grandma’s Bow Tie quilt pattern that you make on our Quilter’s Thread Mobile App. Also remember to stay active on Quilter’s Thread Mobile App in order to earn points to win this free pattern at the end of the month. Comments, uploading photos, and responding to surveys generate 1 point each. Liking 3 things on the app generates 1 point. Earn 10 points gets you a free pattern and 40 points gets you a free pattern or a Quilter’s Thread cloth shopping bag. Earn 75 points gets you a free pattern, shopping bag, and a $20 gift card.