Category Archives: Quilt Fabric

Confessions of a Quilting Hoarder

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I posted a status update on my Facebook wall the other day, which read:  “I BELIEVE…if you are a quilter, you are a hoarder. Fabric, patterns, gadgets, etc. We hoard them all!”

The responses to my status post were from both ends of the spectrum and all in between.  Most of those who agreed with me, did it with glee.  There weren’t many quilters who disagreed with me, but some took exception to my use of the word ‘hoarders’ – by coming up with different terms, such as CURAtors or enthusiastic collectors.

No matter what you choose to call your quilt, quilt pattern and quilt gadget stash, you have to admit that it sure is nice to be able to go to your sewing room or studio and find the exact fabric you need for a project, all because you liked it and purchased it and saved it for just the right masterpiece.

I shall now present you with Exhibit A – a photo of one of the shelves with baskets that hold part of my quilt hoarding fabric collection:

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I’m not ashamed of the quilt fabric hoarding that I have amassed over 30+ years of quilting…but, the only people outside of my family that I let into my quilt room are other quilters – because they understand what a quilt room is supposed to look like!

The only problem I’m currently encountering is where to put more quilt STUFF!  I have a small chest of drawers that we cleaning out of my son’s room and replaced with a larger chest of drawers (the smaller one has been his since he was born, so it has been way too small for his clothes for quite some time).  This smaller chest will go out to my quilt studio once it’s complete – but, I may have to start filling the drawers up in it now (blush) because there’s barely room to walk in my sewing room!

Kona Solids Jelly Roll

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Once again, I find such beauty in a bundle of fabrics.  This time, it is with the Kona Solids Jelly Roll from Robert Kaufman.  I would like to buy every single one of these rolls just to decorate a wall in my new studio when it’s finished.  Alas, that is not going to happen (the buying part, not the studio part).  But, just looking at the side of the jelly roll is art – fabric art, quilting art, colorful art, the art of my heart.

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And it will probably break my heart when I finally unroll this fabric art – hopefully, I’ll be ready to make some more fabulous art out of re-purposing this luscious jelly roll into a beautiful quilt!

Do you find hidden art in YOUR fabric?

iPad Tote Bag

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I was gifted with my iPad about six months ago.  The only thing I’ve done to it was to purchase a waterproof casing for it.  I think it’s time I treat myself to a bit of my own quilted fun by making an iPad tote bag for it!

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It’s been fun to re-size my ‘normal’ tote bag pattern to fit my iPad.  Sometimes, I design a quilt and just go on remote and memory to make it, sometimes following my own design pattern and sometimes enhancing it.  I really only have to use my own noggin when making a t-shirt quilt.  Hence, although it took me a while to mathematically figure out the fabric dimensions to make it perfect for my iPad size, it was a breath of fresh air to know that I am still able to do those types of things with my diminishing brain power because of my MS.

I haven’t had time to get back into my sewing room to finish the tote – but, I’m anticipating being able to do it sometime this week.  Next up will be a cover for my iPad itself.  Because the waterproof case is thicker than any iPad case on the market, will have to once again use my noggin to figure out how to put it together so it further protects my iPad.  Stay tuned to the continuing saga of the quilted iPad cover!

Beginning Quilter Basics: Choosing Fabric

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ALL of my original quilt designs on BOMquilts.com are beginner friendly.  I try to chose colors that either compliment or coordinate with the quilt pattern I design.  But, one thing my patterns don’t always show is how to pick out fabrics that will make a quilt statement but not be a problem for a beginning quilter.  This is mostly because my friend Linda at AbbiMays.com kits the quilts with fabrics I’ve chosen.

But what if a beginning quilter wants to use some of her stash…or go to her local fabric store to purchase the fabrics?

My biggest tip to new quilters is to avoid fabrics that have directional patterns on them.  This would include gingham or stripes.  Unless you fussy-cut each part of these types of fabrics, you will find that the directional patterns in the fabric do not line up and when looking at the finished quilt, it seems that those areas are what catches the eye very quickly and then you can’t seem to get past them to look at the quilt as a whole.

Let me give an example:

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This is a directional fabric.  The dots/flowers are all lined up in symmetrical rows.

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This is a non-directional fabric.  The flowers are artfully splattered all over the fabric with no clear direction.

If you are a beginning quilter, do you see the difference in the two fabrics?  My best suggestion to you is to stay away from directional fabrics until you are more comfortable with fussy-cutting and/or making sure the pattern on the fabric is going in the same direction in your quilt.

And to find JOY in quilting, you want whatever you make to be a special quilt without compromising the integrity of the quilt pattern with directional fabrics.

Flashback Tuesday: A BlockCentral.com Mystery Quilt

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Of all of the quilts I have made over my 30-odd years of quilting, this quilt has garnered the most loveliest comments, especially my choice of fabrics and the way I used the lights, mediums and dark’s so well:

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I have had a number of folks want to have it, either as a gift or to purchase it from me.  I won’t let them…because there is a very personal story behind my choice of fabrics for this quilt and it means a lot to me.

When I was in my third foster home, my younger (by a year) foster sister was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s disease.  She was the youngest natural child of my foster parents.  For nearly a year, she was so very sick…before she succumbed to the disease.  The grief was the hardest on my foster mother (or at least she was the most vocal about her grief) and it made it hard for me to continue to live through that, especially given that I was already without parents at that time in my young life.

On my foster sister’s funeral card, they used the quote:  “God gave us Flowers so we could have Roses in December.”

That is the reason I chose the ‘rose’ fabrics I did and that is the reason I will never willingly give this beautiful quilt away.  That’s my special quilt and it continues to be a reminder of her beautiful spirit and our short but fun times we had together when I was a young teenager.

You can find the free mystery quilt pattern here.