Sewing Machine Day - August 12
"Will work for FABRIC!"
Greetings Quilter -
Happy Quilting!
A Quilt Idea – Journal Quilting
Have you done any journal quilting? Journal quilting really takes the craft to an art form. With journal quilting, you let your emotions inspire your project. Then, you note the emotion or special event that caused the emotion. It really is like keeping a journal, only in quilt form. Just because your journal quilt is inspired by emotion does not mean it cannot be made of a traditional pattern. If you’ve been reminiscing about the stories your grandmother once told of life growing up on the farm, piece a “Corn and Beans” quilt in colors that remind you of her. Maybe even incorporate photos of your grandmother into the quilt. In your journal block, tell why you were inspired to make it, favorite memories of your grandmother, etc. Just like writing in a daily journal, the more you journal quilt, the easier it becomes. Maybe some day you will even feel comfortable enough to design your own quilts with either pieced blocks or appliqué. Until then, using patterns is fine. And however you can record your emotions is fine. Maybe you will hand stitch your journal entry into a fabric block. Maybe you’ll leave a panel empty to write out your emotions with a water-proof, fine tip pen. If you have an embroidery machine, stitching your journal entry will be easy. Remember, the important part of journal quilting is getting those emotions and words of inspiration recorded onto your quilt. Sometimes, the difficult part of journaling is actually writing out your emotions. There’s something about seeing our emotions in print that make them become a reality. Not many people have trouble expressing happiness, but emotions like loneliness, anger, or sadness sometimes take a while to be comfortable with. Each year quilters take part in the Journal Quilt Project for the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Quilters challenge their quilting styles and methods beginning in January and create a journal quilt displaying their feelings about how their quilting is progressing - one for each month until the show in October. The quilts are typically 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, and are not judged - they are simply a reflection by quilters of their craft as they grow during the year.
Spool Quilt Block
The Spool Quilt Block is a very traditional quilt block pattern and is a great pattern for a beginner quilter. You can create some interesting designs for a quilt by placing some spools up and down and others lying on their side. It's also interesting to use some striped fabric in the center square to make it look like thread on the spool.
Postcard Quilts for the Troops – Birthday Roundup!
Please remember there are still only a few days left to submit your birthday postcards for our soldiers. This came about thanks to Diane, whose idea was to make birthday fabric postcards that could be handed to service members on their actual birthday. August 10 is the deadline for the Birthday Roundup postcards. Send your cards to Diane Malaznik Diane will send a box of our postcards to be distributed to soldiers on their special day. Remember, if you have sent a postcard already, you can see pictures of it at www.Fabric-Postcards.com. And, as always, free postcard patterns are available at www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com. If you won’t quite make this Birthday Roundup deadline, don’t let it stop you from making some birthday fabric postcards any way. You’ll have some ready for our next deadline, or will have some of your own to send to friends and family. This year seems to have gone by quickly. Already into the month of August, it isn’t too early to plan to make your own holiday fabric postcards to mail to friends and relatives. Make your holiday card list to see how many you will need to create, then have fun with the free patterns at www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com. Be sure to make a few extras to send as last minute gifts or just to be a step ahead for next year! Fabric postcards are also a very special way to say “thank you” for the holiday gifts you receive.
Featured Block in Video Spool Quilt Block
With this week including Sewing Machine Day, I thought it would be fun to demonstrate the Spool quilt block. This block is an old and well-loved block - probably because it is very easy to sew and makes some fun designs. In this block, I have used a brown fabric that has a wood grain for the spool portion and a white fabric with a kind of strip for the center square - making it look like thread on the spool. These blocks can be lined up so the spools all face the same direction - like soldiers standing at attention. Or, often the blocks are rotated so that some of the spools are standing and some laying down. Get a free download of this pattern at www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com and check out the other patterns there, too!
Enjoy!
August Quilt Block Patterns The August selection of free quilt block patterns includes
Click here to download your August FREE quilt block patterns |
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