Penny’s Postcard Posse remembers the troops in Iraq again this year on July 4 by sending fabric postcards.  Started last year by quilter Penny Halgren, this project has grown considerably as quilters around the country contribute postcards they’ve made to thank the troops and lift their spirits.
The project has expanded beyond July 4th.  Now it includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Holidays, Valentine’s Day and Easter/Spring.  School children as well as adults take part.
Incidentally, Penny was honored by the State of California for her work with Penny’s Postcard Posse.
You can join the project, learn the details and see pictures of the cards by checking …read more

Penny’s Postcard Posse is rounding up more quilted fabric postcards for the troops and plans to send a great many of them for July 4.  Deadline for collecting the post cards is June 8,  Check this website for instructions.
The idea of sending postcards to the troops in Iraq, now known as Penny’s Postcard Posse,  began last year for July 4.  Now there are a number of times throughout the year when the Possee rounds up colorful fabric postcards from contributors to let the

troops know they and what they are doing are appreciated.
There are directions online, and you can find books to …read more

After finding Penny Halgren’s pin and thread basting tips, I discovered a newsletter I’d received awhile ago from Konstantin’s Quilted Paradise.  There you’ll also find information about pin basting and thread basting and the types of materials to use for each.
These are such simple techniques that experienced quilters often don’t remember their early quandry or realize beginners might find it challenging until they know which to use when.
Check out Konstantin’s explanation here: www.quiltedparadise.com/n/065-qoz.jsp or at www.quiltedparadise.com/issues.jsp and click on issue number 65.

One of my readers mentioned she’s attempting to make a baby blanket for her niece from a pre-printed panel.  She wants to hand stitch the design.
Do I put the top, batting and back together, then do the hand stitching through all three layers.  Or do I just stitch the top layer, then put it together? 
Then she wonders, if she puts them together to stitch, how does she secure them.
ANSWER: You can quilt it either way…quilting just the top piece of fabric or quilting through all three, depending on the effect you want.
If you hand sticth just the top (the pre-printed …read more