Learn How to Quilt: quilt block basics

Quilt Block Basics
and August Free Quilt Block Patterns

Our up-coming cruise.

Greetings Quilter -

m. mouse is getting a little excited.

For a few weeks now, Jim and I have been talking about far-away places, and now that our trip is right around the corner, m. mouse is starting to hear things like "visiting Stephanie."

He doesn't understand the talk about places in Spain, Italy and France, but he does understand that a vacation with quilting daughter, Stephanie, means even more people tuna, salmon and un-shared attention.

Although he will miss his buddy, Jackson (who doesn't like to travel at all), m. mouse will certainly enjoy getting re-acquainted with all of the nooks and crannies in Stephanie and Cam's house up north.

So much to do between now and the time we leave (August 26), including making sure that you continue to get the great quilting information you expect! But, it will all get done, and we will leave you in the able hands of Cindy and Anita.

And, we'll have stories to tell when we return - I'm sure m. mouse will have his share, too - although I may have to rely on quilting daughter, Stephanie, to do some translation.

And now for the rest of the news - -

Happy Quilting!

penny halgren

EQ7 Quilt Design Software Webinar - 2nd Session

eq 7 quilt design software training

The second training session tof EQ7 is scheduled - Thursday, August 5, beginning at:

5pm Pacific Time
6pm Mountain Time
7pm Central Time
8pm Eastern Time

If you haven't registered yet, here is what's in store:

In this second session, you will see how to:

use the Block Library
find fabric in the Fabric Library
import your fabric into the Fabric Library
set up your own Libraries
use the Thread Library
and much more

The first session was quite successful, and quilters who attended said:

"Dear Penny,

Thank you for the EQ7 webinar. I watched the webinar on one computer and followed along on my other computer. That way I could be doing everything you were. It was very informative and much easier than trying to follow the book. A few times the sound cut out but I was able to figure what was said. Again thank you."

Caron

"Thank you for a most informative and easily accessed session. The live presentation made it feel comfortably personal and the very minor hitches increased that effect. To be able to access the session from so far away at an realistic hour was above expectations. I am looking forward to the second."

Sally. (Perth, Western Australia)

"Hi Penny,

Thank you for the excellent training. I'm just starting to make quilts different than the basic 9 patch. I purchased the program and went through the video's, (which were very good), But I had really wanted to learn about designing my own blocks. After the training I opened my program to see if I could duplicate what you had shown us. I amazed myself LOL, I was able to duplicate it very easily, I changed the colors, added more blocks, and will be using the "Jacob's Ladder" as my next quilt pattern. Again, thank you for taking the time to put this training together. I look forward to the next one, hopefully, I won't miss the online part as my husband and I are going on vacation for the next 3 weeks."

Sincerely,
Chris C MN

Penny,

" What can I say??? You were tremendous! You were so calm and so prepared. I am so happy that you offered this class. I just purchased EQ7 and hadn't used it much yet. I'm a visual learner so your webinar was perfect. Can't wait for the next one...."

Eileen (in upstate NY)

It will all be online, and free!

But you will need to register:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/526258689

Once you register, you will receive the login information as well as reminder emails.

There is a piece of software you need to download in order to watch. If you take care of that the day before the session, you will be sure to be ready the minute it begins.

There will be a hand out that will be ready by Tuesday, so you can see what is in store for the second session. Print it out and use it to take notes, too!

No limitations - you just need to register. It doesn't require a purchase or anything.

This will be recorded and posted so you can watch at your leisure.

But you may want to get your own copy of the training so you can review it whenever you need. The replay will be posted for eveyone for a week. After that, only members of TheQuiltingCoach.com will have online access.

A Quilt Idea - Broken Star or Star of Bethlehem Quilt

Broken Star or Star of Bethlehem quilt

The sun was not kind to the quilt in this picture. The colors of the quilt are blues and peaches. That aside, this quilt design is called a Broken Star or Star of Bethlehem.

The Star of Bethlehem is one of the oldest and most familiar of all the traditional quilt patterns.

The design features a Lone Star pattern in the center which is surrounded by small diamonds to form a starburst medallion.

This pattern is one of the few pieced patterns to come to the US from Europe. In the early 19th century it was normally seen with extremely elaborate chintz appliqués in the setting triangles and corner squares.

Currently a typical Star of Bethlehem quilt has large expanses of solid fabric which is used for elaborate quilting designs. In this quilt, the large solid blue areas are quilted with wreath-type designs.

Although each little diamond piece of this quilt was cut with scissors and hand sewn together when I made it in the late 1980s, if I were making the same quilt today, I would use strip piecing techniques and cut the fabric with a rotary cutter.

This is a relatively easy quilt to piece – the most difficult part is getting the center where all of the star points meet to lay flat.

Cool Block of the Month Website

block of the month club

If you love to get quilt block patterns and quilt ideas, our friend Jody and her mom, quilters in Australia, have a cool site that provides original quilt patterns.

This mother and daughter team shares a passionate love of designing and creating quilts. Over the years, they have made many quilts from others' patterns, but they have always been searching for more striking and unusual designs or traditional ideas with a twist, to make their quilts a bit more special.

They have been designing their own quilts for years now. The great comments and praise we've had from friends, family and our Quilting Group have encouraged us to share our unique quilts with you.

You can enjoy creating special "one of a kind" quilts that your loved ones will treasure, from their original Quilt Block of the Month Club Patterns... exclusive quilt designs you won't find anywhere else.

Join "Quilt Block Of The Month Club" and start downloading multiple quilt patterns from our growing BOM range. It's simple and fun!

August Holidays for Quilters

Thank goodness that August 15 is National Relaxation Day! We quilters are going to need of R&R&Q after all the other busy holidays this month.

The month of August is officially “Get Ready for Kindergarten” month. If you have a sweet child who is starting school, you will definitely want to quilt a special nap mat for the occasion. Many kindergartens, even if they provide the mat, will allow students to bring a quilt from home for nap time. Some allow one toy, but quite a few schools ban toys from home. As a quilter, you can accommodate both and your child can slip into nap time with a quilt so fun, he doesn’t even need a toy.

Applique fun designs onto the nap quilt. Or, make small stuffed objects like a car or a doll and sew it directly to the quilt. Be sure to stitch it securely in a spot where the child won’t be lying. You can even use your knowledge of photo quilts to send them to school with a nap time mat that has a family photo or picture of a favorite pet to let them know they are not so far from home after all.

Girlfriend’s Day and Sister’s Day are both on August 1. That’s appropriate since our best girlfriends really are like sisters. Spend the day with your quilting sisters to make patchwork aprons or lap quilts to donate to a local women’s and children’s shelter.

One of my favorite “holiday” sites lists Aug. 12 as National Sewing Machine Day. I’d say that’s pretty important for a quilter! Searching for more information about the special day, turned up the fact that National Sewing Machine Day is also celebrated in June and September as well. I’m not sure why the discrepancy, but I’m a quilter and I believe it’s fine to celebrate National Sewing Machine Day more than once! I know that the Sewing Machine Day in September recognizes the anniversary of the patent on the sewing machine. It sewed 200 stitches per minute, by far faster than any hand could do!

If you are not superstitious, you’ll probably not care that the second Friday of the month is Friday the 13th. The next day can be important for quilters who enjoy the hunt for old or antique quilts. It’s National Garage Sale Day on Aug. 14. If you buy an old quilt, remember to launder it carefully, especially if the fabrics or threads already show signs of deterioration.

After August, we head into the fall stretch of the year. It’s not long til those gift giving holidays arrive so don’t let the heat of the dog days of August shift your focus too much!

Postcard Quilts for the Troops

Halloween Roundup Next - Deadline September 29!

Wow! We sent more than 1,900 fabric postcards to the Middle East for the 4th of July!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this worthy event. I know it will mean a lot to the soldiers who receive those greetings of thanks on the 4th of July.

This year, we've decided not to do the Birthday Roundup, and focus our efforts on Halloween and the end of the year holidays.

So the next Roundup is Halloween -

Halloween, like the 4th of July, in Iraq or Afghanistan is just another day unless it becomes something different by virtue of quilters' intervention!

Now you can send postcards for our Halloween Roundup. This is just a fun time of the year - with Trick or Treat fabric, memories of Halloween costumes and marching around the neighborhood begging for candy.

You can bring those memories back for the soldiers stationed abroad by sending them tiny quilts - fabric postcards decorated for Halloween.

We want to keep Diane doing the Penny's Postcard Posse project, but she is terribly allergic to smoke. So, if you can be sure that your fabric postcards are smoke-free, it will be much appreciated!

Check out the postcard patterns on www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com I will continue to add designs, and patterns for the fabric postcards are always free.

To make the Halloween deadline, get your cards to Diane by September 29

Please send your cards to:
Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149

Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com

Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

August Free Block Patterns

These free August quilt block patterns will make your summer quilting fun. These quilt blocks include easy blocks as well as some that are a little more difficult.

Click here to download your August FREE quilt block patterns