Food and recipes seem to accompany quilters and constitute an important part of their life, along with their quilting activities.  Pioneer quilters shared recipes and served food at their quilting bees.  In the evening families often joined them for supper and  a social event.
Nowadays, quilters put together cook books and share recipes at their get-togethers.  We often find favorite foods in quilting newsletters, like the Fat Quarter Quilters Newsletter.  I’ve subscribed to this and receive a weekly update on fabrics and quilting ideas.  Deb and Jill usually include a recipe.  This week it’s one for Angel Food Cake.
             You’ll find more …read more

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

Quilting and Patchwork participated in the recent Artist Showcase by b5media’s Arts and Crafts Channel bloggers.  Hosted by Katelyn of Stamping Mad, the showcase features Thanksgiving and November themed ideas. 
Check out Katelyn’s round-up of the blogs at http://www.stampingmad.com/thanksgiving-november-b5media-artist-showcase/ .
This will be a monthly feature at the Arts and Crafts Channel.  I’ll let you know when the December one appears.  

We sometimes think it’s difficult to see our quilting when the lighting is poor or our eyes are tired.  What if we couldn’t see at all?
Some quilters, like Tanya, who is blind, have developed techniques to help them with their quilting art.  She passed along some of her tips, which, as she says, any quilter can use.  Tanya has found they make her quilting easier.
You’ll find these tips in the Oct. 31 issue of Kaye Wood’s Quilting Newsletter at http://www.kayewood.com/newsletter.pdf .

A number of quilting sites offer free information about quilts, quilting, and fabric art.  Some of this you can find right on the site.  Others consist of a series of lessons or how-to’s sent to your e-mail box.
When I visited Penny Halgren’s How-to-Quilt site (http://www.how-to-quilt.com ), I discovered I could sign up for a series of “7 Common Quilting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” delivered to my e-mail.  I’ve received the first one about prewashing fabric…whether you should or shouldn’t and how to do it.
Have you found other helpful information on quilting, patchwork, and fiber arts sites?  We’d welcome …read more

“What are you watching?” I asked my daughter.  “A quilting class?” knowing she takes online quiltmaking classes.
“No, it’s a podcast,” Beth answered.  “One by Bonnie McCaffery about creative quilting techniques.”
Another morning she was watching one by Alex Anderson as she interviewed the editor of Quilting Arts magazine.
Podcasts are becoming popular, these video type clips on the Internet whether they’re interviews of quilt and fiber artists or instructions for making quilt and fiber art.  They are a way to bring you in contact with others in the quilting world without leaving your home.
To view Bonnie Lyn McCaffery go to http://www.bonniemccaffery.com/ and Alex …read more

As I travel around the Internet, I discover many interesting quilting sites.  The most recent one is the World Wide Quilting Page at www.quilt.com.  It’s described as “serving the World’s Quilters since May 4, 1994.
Within its pages, you’ll find many things of interest for the quilter including:
*How to’s
*Glossary of terms
*Quilt Blocks with free patterns
*Mystery Quilts
*Beginning Guide to Quilting
Browse around and you’ll find a treasure trove of quilting information.

It seems that quilters continue to enjoy recipes, as they did in the old-fashioned quilting bee days.  I’ve found a number of of recipes published fairly regularly in newsletters for quilters.  Apparently the Fat Quarter Quilters e-newsletter publishes recipes in most every edition.
The most recent recipe is for Buttermilk Noodle Pudding, which seems to be a variation of rice pudding.  No history is published about the recipe.  But it does sound like one that could have been prepared by quilters of days ago when they used buttermilk a great deal in their cooking.
To subscribe to the free e-newsletter, go to: www.fatquarterquilters.com/news.htm .

Quilting newsletters and magazines are very valuable to quilters and fabric artists to answer questions, keep them up to date, and inspire them.  You’ll eventually find your favorites, yet will still want to know about new ones.
Periodically, I mention here those I enjoy and new ones I discover.
I just received my latest e-mail issue of QuiltedParadise.com weekly newsletter. It contains tips, quilting techniques, and patterns.  The current newsletter gives tips from readers about quilting threads.  There’s also an explanation, in answer to a reader’s question, abut the difference among 4, 5, 7, and 9-patch quilt patterns.
To subscribe for the free quilting newsletter, …read more

The fascination with quilted or fabric post cards has evolved into fundraising. with quilters contributing their fiber art for a cause.  Virginia Spiegel has organized Fiberart for a Cause; funds from selling these donated post cards will go to the American Cancer Society.
This is an opportunity for quiltmakers and fiber artists to share their creations and donate to a good cause.  They will be displayed at the 2006 International Quilt Festival – Houston in October.
Check out the guidelines for sending your post card at:  www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html
My daughter mailed her entry the other day, desiring to be in the early bird group.  I still have time …read more