My granddaughter spread a large quilt on the deck the other evening and proceeded to re-tie it.  This quilt that I’d made for her great grandmother several years ago had come into her possession when Grandma GG went into an assisted living home.
Now Kara is going to college and wants to take GG’s quilt with her.  Many of the ties had come out so it needed re-tying.  As she tied, and then her mom joined her, I thought, “The legacy of quilting goes on in our family.”
Beth, when she was Kara’s age, had helped me tie the original quilt for GG.  …read more

Throughout the years, quilts and crafts have been used to raise funds for many causes.  This is a way quilters and crafters can come together and use their talents to create a piece of art for a worthy effort.
Some of these fund raisers include:

Raffles
Auctions
Bond drives
Silent auctions
Craft fairs

In the article, Quilts on display tell history of Sarnia-Lambton, I learned about the “signature quilts” made by quilting groups to raise money for bond drives during World Wars I and II.  For these fund raising efforts, local residents paid to have their names stitched in the quilts.
It was interesting to learn that the curator of …read more

Creating family history quilts takes many forms.  These have become popular for preserving memories, pictures, fabric and memorabilia.
Reproducing family photos on fabric, generally with the computer and printer nowadays, although some people still like to make sun prints and similar applications.
Gathering fabrics used in clothing worn by family members, either from many or just one person.  Among these are t-shirts that appeal to a particular family member.
Using designs that connect with a person’s interest, hobby or occupation.  My daughter made a quilt for her young son with blocks of different trucks during his truck stage.
Tracing each family member’s hand and …read more

Recently I read, in the McKenzie River Reflections (Oregon) about 5th grade students, who raised $1,300 with a Sunflower quilt they made to benefit the McKenzie Outdoor School.
Although the photo wasn’t in color, the sunflower designs looked lovely and very individual.
Sunflowers seem to be a theme in other schools this year.  In New Hampshire, students planted sunflowers on the front lawn to beautify their school and to promote its “green” theme.
In browsing through my quilting books, I’ve come across three patterns with the sunflower’s name.  Do you know of any more?

Kansas Sunflower
Sunflower
Basket of Sunflowers

Do you ever use a sunflower theme in your …read more

“How did you get started writing about quilts?” I’m frequently asked by readers of my quilting articles, blogs and my book, The Magic of Patchwork.
Since I’m a writer by profession, as well as quiltmaker interested in quilt history, it seemed natural to combine these interests.  I first began mentioning quilts, patchwork items, and crafts in my weekly newspaper column, “Country Kitchen.” From there, I decided to find other outlets for my writing about these topics.
When I was involved in a home-based quiltmaking business, I approached a magazine about writing on the business aspects.  This lasted for eight years until the magazine was …read more

For an American history project at school, my granddaughter Kara decided upon a Civil War era quilt.  She researched the quilts made at that time and the quilters.  Browsing through her mom’s and my quilt books, she discovered fabrics those quilters used.
When a quilting friend heard about Kara’s project, she went through her stash and came up with reproduction fabrics and patterns used at that time.  The resulting quilt was large, but worth the effort Kara put into it.
She uses it for her bed and plans to take it to college with her.  Yes, she got an A+ on the …read more

When discussing Cotton vs. Polyester Fabrics for quilts and fabric art, I’ve had readers ask me, “Where do I find polyester fabric.  Most of the stores carry only cotton.”
My daughter verified that it has become more difficult to find fabric other than 100% cotton in many of the quilt fabric shops and even the general fabric stores.
Nancy asks:  I want to do quilts with a poly cotton blend of fabric, not 100 percent cotton.  Where do I buy it from online stores?  I live in London, Ontario Canada.
Sandra commented:  All the fabric stores carry mostly all cotton. If they do carry a …read more

My post, Cotton vs. Polyester Blend in Quiltmaking, has drawn quite a few comments since it was written.  I’ve enjoyed the various opinions quilters and fabric artists have expressed.
The early quilters used mainly cotton, wool or linsey-woolsey fabrics because that’s what was available.  In the latter part of the 1900s, polyester and poly/cotton fabrics became available and were popular.  However, the traditional quilters looked with horror upon this new innovation and felt to be a “purist,” you must use solely cotton.
Many quilters still prefer cotton, so much so that it’s difficult to find in some quilt fabric stores, I’ve been …read more

When I wrote about making a quilt from vintage hankies, Beth (one of my readers) responded and shared her Butterfly Quilt using folded hankies.
“You use pretty hankies, shape them as butterflies, and applique,” she said.
Then Beth gave the directions, with pattern, at her Studio Beth web site.   Also, you can view a finished Butterfly Hanky Quilt Top at Beth’s site.
Do you have any ideas to share about Hanky Quilts or other crafts using this fabric?

When I was growing up, the well-dressed lady or girl always carried a handkerchief (hankie) with her…in her purse or pocket.  These might be floral, solid colors  or simply white.  Many were made of light weight fabric.
Often they were considered as decorative accents to one’s outfit, and we carried a heavier, more utilitarian handkerchief for actual use.
Nowadays, vintage hankies are sought by many collectors.  Sometimes they’re simply to collect.  But other times they’re used for art in mixed media, fabric collages, and even quilts.
What an interesting concept in the photo above, making an art quilt from vintage hankies.  I’ll have …read more