Some Favorite Tools

As I was quilting away today, I realized how important a few simple tools are to me.  Yes, I have many specialty rulers and expensive templates that I pull out every once in a while for a specific quilt.  But I thought I would share some items that make my quilting time so much easier.  

As a longarm quilter, I really couldn't write a post about the tools I use everyday without talking about Pete. (Yes, my longarm has a name and yes, he is a boy male.)  We have been together almost 8 years now.

Lots of people ask me what machine is best to buy.  Short answer is truly, 1) what you can afford and 2) what you feel comfortable running.  There are a lot of good makers out there.



Beside Pete, there are three other tools I use every day. 

   * Gingher snips on a lanyard around my
           neck.  (Love them!)

   * Self threading needles for burying
           threads.     (Best invention ever!)

   * White school chalk for marking.  
           (So handy!)

The chalk works great for auditioning quilt patterns onto a quilt, marking points or even drawing in actual quilting lines.  It stays put really well.  And once you are done, a slightly damp cloth easily wipes it all away.

Caution:  Only use white chalk.  Colored chalks may stain your quilt!

...and of course the thread.  Oh My The Thread!  I love my custom-made thread racks.  They (yep, there are more than one) are along the hallway leading to my studio and their brilliant colors make me smile every time I pass them.

So what tools do you love? Is there a certain brand you favor or a specific tool you always reach for?  Or better yet, is there something new that you have recently discovered that you want to share?  I would love to hear about them.  And I am sure so would others!

Linking up with Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.  Check it out and see what everyone else has been up to.

Making Progress on the Scrap Front

(Groan) I am still working on getting to the bottom of the scrap bin. Amanda Jean over at Crazy Mom Quilts commented that scrap management is a full time job and I think she is right. Thought I would share the second quilt top I just finished.



For this one, I sorted out all my fabric bits with black or grey backgrounds but also had some bright colors. I cut everything into 2 1/2" squares. As I was sorting, I came across a bunch of different shades of blue and turquoise solids that were old die lots or manufacturers so I thought I would use this opportunity to use them up as well.


When I am sewing scraps, I really don't like to match up seams and I also knew that I wasn't that careful with my cutting.  I took all this into account when I started deciding how to sew this top.





This quilt top is made from 2 blocks.

Block A uses a total of 48 scrap squares.
*sew 4 into a 4 patch for the center
*sew 2 sets of the following in rows (3, 5, 6, 8)
*cuts for 1.5" wide solids (2 ea) are 4.5", 6.5", 10.5", 12.5"

Assemble as you would a square in a square block.  Due to my bad cutting, I always squared up the block after finishing a round with the squares.

Block B uses 36 scrap squares.  The solid center is a 4.5" square.

*sew 2 sets of the following in rows (2, 4, 5, 7)
*cuts for the 1.5" wide solids (2 ea) are 8.5", 10.5", 14.5", 16.5"

Completed block size is 16.5" unfinished.

Then just alternate the blocks and sew them together.

....And celebrate that all those bits are now on its way to being a quilt!

 Many of these scraps have been collecting for years.  I would have loved to make this top in some other fabrics but it definitely worked great for these busy difficult scraps.  I was just happy to find a way to get rid of use them.


BTW - If you like this design, you might like some of my other patterns that can be found here.

Remember this one?

Well, it all quilted up and listed in my Etsy shop.

Whoo Hoo!!











And a little triangle baby quilt I also cut some scraps for is finished too.


I have been one busy girl lately!

Linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, Thursday Threads at 627Handworks and  Finish it up Fridays at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Star Surround Quilt Top - QAL

So many thanks to Melissa at Happy Quilting for hosting this Quilt A-Long and designing this gorgeous pattern.  I have finished my quilt top and I have to say, I truly adore this quilt!

The colors and fabrics in this top are so darn yummy!  Many, I have collected over quite a few years and I think this was the perfect quilt to use them on. 

And the Kona Ash in the background really frames everything so nicely.







Because I had so many fabrics I wanted to use, I decided to make my top a bit more scrappier than the pattern called for.











I love these big bold blocks and how they let the fabrics shine.

I have even carved out a big block of time so I can get it on my longarm and get it quilted.  (yep...sorry quilting customers.)

I have been hoarding a great gray and black Moroccan tile looking fabric that I plan on using for the back.

my....it is even pretty in the shade....

 ...and another little pic of it folded up on the gate.

Okay...I'm through.  But I really can't get enough of this quilt.  Thanks again Melissa!

You can check out all the other finished tops here.

Sharing this lovely top with Sew Cute Tuesday at Better Off Thread, Show and Tell Tuesday at I have to Say and WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.  And as it is the first day of the month, I will also be linking to Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts.