personalized quilting label - quilted flowers

[purchase]

Swoon in Strawberry Fields

[pattern]

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (book)

I've heard a lot about this book, and I've seen drool-worthy quilts made from its templates.  After getting my own copy (thanks mom!), I'm surprised at how much I've enjoyed reading through it.  I'm a wannabe farmgirl, so I am loving all the letters from the farm wives!  And I'm excited to get started on my own sampler, whenever that may be...  *B

a pressing matter

[source]

One of the tricks to a well-pieced quilt is to press your pieces three times: 1.) press your sewed pieces to help set the seam, 2.) press your seam to one side, then 3.) open pieces and press open seam.  Also, pressing is not the same as ironing.  Pressing means to place your hot iron on the fabric and then lift up.  Ironing involves placing your hot iron and moving it around, smoothing out the fabric as you go.  I used to always iron my pieces, which would inevitably stretch out the fabric and lead to uneven points.  Using steam just exacerbates the problem!  Even 1/8th of a difference can make a big difference...  So if your pattern involves a lot of matching up points, remember to use a dry iron (no steam) and press, don't iron.  *B

Charming Stars Quilt

[tutorial]

work in progress

pattern from this book + fabric from her

I'm further along than the picture shows...  Quite a bit further, actually.  Fabric has indeed been cut, pressed, pinned, and sewn.  I'm probably about halfway done with the top, and I'm excited to see it quilted and bound, and then laid on my bed!  Hopefully I'll be better about posting, and then you can see the finished product ;)

I can always tell Fall is right around the corner because I get the itch to sew up a storm.  Another hint of the upcoming season?  Pumpkin beanies!  That is, if I ever get around to finishing and/or photographing them...  *B