Same Quilting -- New Location

This blog has been declared "Against Facebook Standards" and there is no recourse.  Half of my readers are from Facebook.

For those who read through a blog feed, please follow my new blog: 

https://debbybrownquilts.blogspot.com/

Watch It Wednesday -- Full Heart Panel, part 2

Seven weeks ago, I posted the first video about how to quilt this panel.  Then my disease flared up when my entire house was under re-construction at the same time.  That took some time from my life, as did adjusting to the Corona Virus life of self-isolation.

Now that I'm home for the foreseeable future and filming quilting videos, here's How to Machine Quilt Full Heart Panel, Part 2:



Learn how to embellish this panel with free-motion quilting on a home sewing machine. Join my Full Heart Panel class here: https://bit.ly/371ON8y Part 1 on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/R_dMbTzJCzo Buy the panel here: https://bit.ly/2GV1eID Subscribe to my newsletter at DebbyBrownQuilts.Com Find me on all social media as Debby Brown Quilts

Stolen Serviettes

At their request, I made my daughter's family Serviettes from Benartex Burlap fabric for their in-home dining experiences.  Which is every meal for the foreseeable future.

I told them to choose their colors and they chose Orchid and Charcoal.

I topstitched in a subtly variegated purple thread.  Only I will know that it's there, but it will make me happy.  And now I need to make all of the quilts for the rest of my life in Benartex Burlap.  Because it is YUMMY!

I joked with my daughter's family that as long as these are in my house, they are still mine.  They should have arrived at their house today, if the mail is on time. 

I am putting together some April Serviettes for my children's families now.  Umbrellas!!!

Bon Appetit, girls!

Video Podcast Episode 2: Sweet Tooth

I'm so excited to share with you my video podcast about my Sweet Tooth Cutie Quilts:



This was so fun to film because my friend Joliene Williams from Dutchess County Quilts visited with me via video conferencing.

Show notes: Joliene Williams, Dutchess County Quilts https://www.facebook.com/DutchessCoun... Cutie Quilt Patterns https://bit.ly/2QMl9z5 Cutie Packs https://bit.ly/2WLyMlD Wool Batting https://amzn.to/2UmdbyI Puff Batting https://amzn.to/3apU2kU Cotton Batting https://amzn.to/3dCQ8aH Omni Thread https://amzn.to/2xrUSiJ DecoBob Thread https://bit.ly/2JfAIuH DecoBob Pre-Wound Bobbins https://bit.ly/3dz1H2z How To Bind A Quilt Video Class https://bit.ly/2wxq53Y Burlap Fabrics https://bit.ly/2y6IKUs Serviette Patterns/Kits https://bit.ly/2WNwpz4 Gudrun Erla https://gequiltdesigns.com/ Elvira Quilt Pattern https://gequiltdesigns.com/products/e...

Going to the Quilt Show!

The typically busy spring quilt show season is quiet this year.  Or is it?

Join in the Cyber Quilt Show!

I've been busy at home getting ready for this show.  They call me the "Special Guest"

but I'm really just a quilt teacher.  I was supposed to teach at some shops, some shows, and on a cruise this spring (all cancelled) so I'm ridiculously excited that I get to teach YOU!

Check the Cyber Quilt Show daily for new classes.  Upload your own quilt photos to be a part of the show!

See you at the quilt show!!!

Watch it Wednesdays -- Stitch curves with a ruler on a home machine

This week's video is quilting some leftover triangles on Pterodactyl One.  I left them unquilted because I hoped the wool batting would fill them.  Once I finished the quilt, I thought they were a little crinkly and could use some quilting.  Did you know that you can add quilting after quilting to the edges of the quilt?  You totally can!



I can't quilt at all without my machine quilting gloves and my Multi Clamshell ruler is always by my side!

That DecoBob thread is working great in my Handi Quilter Stitch 710.  It's adding great texture to my quilt!

Is this quilt finished?  Stayed tuned for the next Watch It Wednesday to find out!

Cuddle Cake Scarf

Somewhere along my travels, I picked up a Cuddle Cake.  I put it on the shelf with the rest of my Layer Cakes.  Over time, the package split open from falling off the shelf one too many times, and it looked sloppy.

I decided to solve this problem by using the Cuddle Cake.  I made a scarf!

I made it up as I went along.  If you have a Cuddle Cake sitting around, though, and want to make a scarf, here's what I did:

I stitched everything with 1/2" seam allowances.

I sewed two rows of 10 squares together, pinning seams open.

I folded it in half with right sides together to form a long tube.  I pinned seams open and stitched along the edges, keeping one side open for turning.

I turned the scarf right side out and hand-stitched the opening closed.

Then I gave my machine a good cleaning, because Cuddle sheds

Now I have a scarf for me for next winter.  Or maybe for someone else as a gift.  

(ok, probably for me)

If you need more quilting information and inspiration, check out QuarantineQuilting.Com.  It's full of links to tutorials, patterns, projects, kits, and quilt alongs from your favorite quilting designers.

Hang in there, quilters.  Keep in touch.

Binding: The Final Stitch

Are you, like me, home and finishing quilts?  Are you unhappy with your quilt bindings?

As I've been finishing quilts, I've filmed my binding technique and put it into a class.

Quilting Essentials -- How to Bind a Quilt

I cover how wide to cut your strips, how turn corners, joining your ends, and MORE!

Check out my binding class and put a fine finish on your quilts.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! -- late

Before everyone's daily schedule went kerflooey, my husband and I planned to celebrate St. Patrick's Day today, our 32nd wedding anniversary.  Due to my weekly medication cycle, I tend to be nauseous on Tuesdays and knew that I wouldn't be able to eat corned beef that day.

That gave me extra time to finish some new Serviettes for our table tonight.

Pattern
Serviettes

Fabric
Green Burlap
Leaf Burlap

Thread
Essential Thread Parrot

I had been sending my children's families monthly-themed dinner napkins.  Due to travel, construction, and my health I skipped March.  I texted my daughter's family to see if they wanted these for next March.

I told them to go to my website and pick which Burlap colors they wanted.  I can't wait to see what they choose!  I'll share pics of whatever I make, so wait for them.

I'm not done playing with Burlap, though; I just cut Burlap Cutie Packs (16 fat eighths) for my shop and now have to decide on which Cutie Pattern I'll choose!

Which would you choose?

If you need more quilting information and inspiration, check out QuarantineQuilting.Com.  It's full of links to tutorials, patterns, projects, kits, and quilt alongs from your favorite quilting designers.

Hang in there, quilters.  Keep in touch.

Watch It Wednesday -- Ribbon Candy

This week's video is a inner border on Pterodactyl One.  I left it unquilted because I hoped the wool batting would fill the border beautifully.  Once I finished the quilt, I didn't think that inner border was as beautiful as I wanted it to be, so I added ribbon candy once the quilt was done.  Did you know that you can add quilting after quilting to the edges of the quilt?  You totally can!



I can't quilt at all without my machine quilting gloves.

That DecoBob thread is working great in my Handi Quilter Stitch 710.  It's adding great texture to my quilt!

Is this quilt finished?  Stayed tuned for the next Watch It Wednesday to find out!

Watch It Wednesday: Uneven Piano Key Border

This week's video shows how I quilted an uneven piano key border.

I chose to quilt quarter-inch lines between the ribbon candy to add some texture.  I chose ribbon candy because I love it and because it fits well in all the different sizes of this uneven border

DecoBob thread: https://bit.ly/38YymMg Quilting Gloves: https://bit.ly/2PmV0px Multi Clamshell Tool: https://bit.ly/3abnHhe Handi Grip: https://bit.ly/3cdeWoT Subscribe to my newsletter at DebbyBrownQuilts.Com Find me on all social media as Debby Brown Quilts

Watch It Wednesday: Freehand Feathers and Ruler Quilting

It's Wednesday, so it must be time for another machine quilting video.

This week's video is a border on Pterodactyl One.  I used a Handi Quilter Multi Clam Ruler to stitch the spine and then free-motion quilted the feathers.



I can't quilt at all without my machine quilting gloves.

That DecoBob thread is working great in my Handi Quilter Stitch 710.  It's adding great texture to my quilt!

Stitching While Waiting

Sadly, my Relapsing Polychondritis flared up this weekend.  Usually I know it's coming when an ear or my nose is inflamed and becomes very painful.  Not this time.  My cauliflower ear was only tingly and I went straight to crippling joint pain while the disease was attacking the cartilage there.  I'm chalking this flare up to the stress of living in an active construction zone. Who knew that could be stressful?  (sarcasm)

I'm supposed to treat a flare-up with steroids and I HATE STEROIDS!  They rot my stomach, make me manic and chatty, make me rather testy, make me hungry, and make me gain weight.  The long-term effects are far worse.  I'm blessed to not be on them full-time any more, but I put taking them off as long as possible.  When I finally took them, I had to wait until they kicked in.

While I was waiting, though, I dug into my basket of 1 1/2" scrap squares.  Quilting is a great distraction.

I made some progress on Dottie (L).  She's now 12" tall.  I hope she grows to be 60" tall, so I still have a ways to go.

I started playing with a new block (M).  I have tons of squares and an entire basket of black scraps so I can work on this for a long, long time.

I have tons and Tons and TONS of blue squares so I decided to put together a 6" blue and white checkerboard block (R).  I might make some blue/black and some blue/gray, or maybe I'll just keep up the blue/white theme.  I'm not sure yet.  Maybe I'll mix in some red/white blocks?  Who knows?

So I made some happy blocks while waiting for the happy steroids to kick in.  I have quite an energy burst now and am able to move around again.  I'll be annoyingly chatty and won't get much sleep for a while.  Hopefully a few weeks of treatment will bring my disease back under control. 

None of us know what life is going to bring us, but fortunately quilting is always there to get us through the rough spots.

Watch It Wednesday: Feathers

Last year, I pieced Pterodactyl One.  Since I've been living in an active construction zone this week, I decided it was time to reward myself by quilting this quilt!

What could be better a better reward than quilting fun feathers on the center medallion of this quilt?

I put on my quilting gloves, threaded my machine with DecoBob, and sat down to enjoy myself:

Have you ever tried quilting with 80 weight DecoBob?  It adds this beautiful texture without showing the thread.  I use it 100% of the time in my bobbin, and it's just as fun in the needle!

In Search Of: Sanity

Nearly 6 months ago, my house was destroyed when a tree fell on it.  We've been living in chaos ever since, waiting for the insurance to come through, the contractors to be available, and the stars to align.  They finally did, and my house is HOPPING!

Since the insurance company couldn't match our damaged, faded, 1974 powder-blue aluminum sidingk (who knew?), my house is now green, shutterless, with fresh white trim.

I now have walls and ceilings.

I picked out paint last night.

To keep sane through this chaos, I'm quilting.  I pulled out my Squared Away Cutie Pattern and a pack of orange fat eighths.  I'm ready to piece today while they (maybe?) start framing a door for my sewing room.  Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Which background would you choose?

Feel free to suggest something that I haven't shown, as well.

Ollie

Did you know that sometimes I make quilts that have nothing to do with work?  That sometimes I buy a quilt kit just because I like it?

Several years ago, I bought this Ollie Cutie Quilt Kit from the Quilt Basket because I needed this quilt in my life.  I pieced it last year and recently I finished quilting it:

Please remember that dreary winter months in New York make for awful photographs.  This quilt is richer in normal daylight.  Spring, please come soon!

I had so much fun quilting this quilt!!!  I used several Full Line Stencils to help mark the blocks.  I posted not one but two tutorials about how I quilted the borders. I didn't film a tutorial of the block quilting, but I made this fun little boomerang for you:

Every time I glimpse this quilt, I fall a little more in love with it. 

I'm keeping this quilt.  The only person who will get this quilt from my hands is a grandchild.  Until then... I get to look at this quilt as often as I want!

Isn't it amazing how simple quilting with only one thread color can make a quilt sing???  The wool batting doesn't hurt, either.

Watch It Wednesday -- How to Layer Quilting in a Border

This Cutie Pattern is named Ollie and it's for ME!  The solid burgundy spacer border is a perfect place to quilt to impress!

I chose to use only one color thread (gray/green) and it blends well with the prints and with this border.

I used my 2-inch Circle Grid Stencil and Pounce Pad to mark the center of the border and layered some beautiful quilting.  Watch below!



This border looks complicated but is actually a few simple designs layered together.

Subscribe to my email newsletter, my YouTube channel, and this blog so that you don't miss any new videos!

Watch It Wednesday -- Loopy Ribbon Candy Using a Stencil

This Cutie Pattern is named Ollie and it's for ME!  OK, it will be put aside for any future grandchildren, but it will live with me for a while.

I chose to use only one color thread (gray/green) and it blends well with the prints and with this border.

I used my Ribbon Candy Stencil and Pounce Pad to space the ribbon candy, and then enlarged and embellished the border.  Watch below!



Doesn't that make a plain border look like something special?

Subscribe to my email newsletter, my YouTube channel, and this blog so that you don't miss any new videos!

"Up All Night" Quilting

Yesterday I had one of my periodic infusions to keep my Relapsing Polychondritis under control.  The drugs work wonders and have given me back a somewhat normal life.  The side effects of the meds are moderate but acceptable.  The steroids that they give me with my drugs, however, are pure evil.  I understand why I need them, but I hate them.

Accepting things that I cannot change, I pre-cut fabric for a steroid-fueled sewing binge while I'm not sleeping.

Here's how last night went:

My first quilt finish was Squared Away with a Red and White Cutie Pack. 

In my war against scraps, I decided to use the extra blocks and scraps of leftovers immediately after finishing the quilt.  All went well until it was time to bind the placemats and potholder:

D'oh!  I twisted the binding when I sewed to together.  No problem!  I'll just pick it out and fix it:

Steroids keep me wide awake but sadly, they don't make me smarter.

Normally, at this point I'd say "Time for bed!"  Well, since I am physically incapable of sleeping, I'll just keep at it until I get it right.

It's just not getting any better!

Seriously????

It was all worth it in the end, though:

Still wide awake, I started on another pre-cut project:

This is a Bowl of Cherries Cutie Quilt made with on-hand brown fabrics and hot pink accents and I totally love it! 

I'm off to make myself some dinner since I couldn't eat at all yesterday.  Then maybe I'll try to rest my eyes for a (please oh please let it happen) nap.

Happy Quilting!

I. Am. Ready

Today is an infusion day.  I have a rare autoimmune disease and it is kept under control with periodic IV infusions.  I will sleep for most of the 6-8 hours I'm plugged in, come home and feel punky, and then either sleep non-stop or be WIDE AWAKE for the following 24 hours or so. 

I have the Law & Order DVD set and many good books on Audible to keep me company.  I'm also well-prepared for mindless quilting:

I've pre-cut a few Squared Away Cutie quilts, one in red and white prints and the other using Jillily's This & That fabric line.  They will be fun to piece today and even more fun to machine quilt later.  Can you say Ribbon Candy?

Do you ever prepare for mindless quilting for sick days or snow days or "just because" days?

Color Blocks Scrap Quilt

It was my privilege to make Color Blocks Baby Quilt for Annie's Creative Studio and I had leftover fabric bits.  They begged me to make them into a little quilt:

This quilt will eventually be gifted to a baby or someone in need of a lap quilt.  I'm sure it will make someone happy.

What made me happy, though, was machine quilting this sweet little quilt.

I've heard some rules for choosing machine quilting patterns.

Them:  "You should quilt round quilting if the piecing is square"

Me:  "Oh yeah?"

I put my walking foot on my machine and cross-hatching this quilt.  I didn't follow the lines, though; I dropped a pair of chopsticks and however they fell determined my quilting lines.

Yes, really that's how I did it.

To make this quilt even more fun, I quilted it using FabuLux Rocking Horse variegated thread, because it just goes with EVERYTHING!

Choosing Background Fabrics

Choosing background fabrics can be tricky.  I have a new red and white print Cutie Collection (16 coordinating fat eighths) in my shop and I want to make a Squared Away Cutie Quilt with them.

But....

Which background should I choose?

The problem is, I like all of the choices.  Yellow is so bright.  White is so crisp.  Black is so stark.  Khaki is a muted choice.

I have another infusion treatment next week and will be Wide Awake from the IV steroids that accompany it.  I want to pre-cut this quilt to piece during my recovery time.

Which would you choose?

Watch It Wednesday: Full Heart Panel, part 1

I'm trying to make the most of my time at home.  When I quilt, I often film a tutorial at the same time.  Win/Win!

I pulled out the Full Heart Panel by Timeless Treasures, basted it together with wool batting, and started machine quilting.

I am filming how to quilt this and will add videos to my Free Online Class as I finish each step.

The first video is on YouTube now:



Join my Free Online Class so you won't miss a step.

Buy a panel and quilt along!

New Online Class: Color Blocks Baby Quilt

When I'm not traveling to teach machine quilting, I film quilt classes for Annie's Creative Studio at home!

I was so excited to make the Color Blocks Baby Quilt:

I'm sending this quilt to my cousin's new baby.  I know they'll just love it!

Here's the intro to the class:

I love that the pattern is included with the class!

Class description:

"Choose coordinating vintage-style prints to make a baby block quilt perfect for a boy or a girl!

In this Learn, Make, Create! video class brought to you by Annie’s Creative Studio, quilting expert Debby Brown demonstrates how to make the classic half-square triangle and assemble a basic 16-patch block.

In this online video class, you’ll learn how to:

·               Make half-square triangles.

·               Assemble the center Color Blocks.

·               Add the borders.

·               Mark off and machine-quilt spiral flower motif to complete Color Blocks Baby Quilt.

Annie's Creative Studio is a subscription-based platform where you can learn from experts (like me!) how to quilt, knit, crochet, and more!  If you aren't a member yet, sign up for a free trial to watch the entire episode.

Dottie: An Ongoing Project

I am trying to finish some old projects, finish everything I start new, and make progress on some long-term projects.  I've previously shown you my Dottie quilt.  I used my scrappy four-patches as a leader and ender project this weekend and made some good progress!

I now have 90 four-patches waiting for an equal number of hand-applique blocks so I can add a few rows to this quilt. 

Stepping Stones Cutie Quilt

I just finished this Stepping Stones Cutie Quilt:

This quilt started out as a pile of scraps from my self-replenishing 2 1/2" scrap bin:

It was a group effort.  I asked for help choosing the background:

I received nearly 100 responses and every single one voted for the gold fabric on the right.  Sorry, brown!

I pieced the top together and had a fun plan in mind for the machine quilting:

I loaded the quilt on my Handi Quilter Forte (named Jason Momoa) and started stitching ribbon candy in the border, as one does.  Then I noticed a problem that made me change my entire quilting plan.  One of the blocks was mis-pieced:

There are four gold vertical strips in each block.  The middle two are wider than the outer two.  It's hardly noticeable (which explains why I didn't notice it) but if I quilted the way I wanted to, it would be VERY noticeable.  

I make quilts because I enjoy making quilts.  This quilt has no home and will be gifted to someone or given to a charity at some point.  Since the recipient will likely not measure each individual piece, I decided not to unquilt the border, unpiece the quilt, repiece the quilt, and start again.

Instead, I left the ribbon candy border and stitched my favorite edge-to-edge design over the blocks.

I pulled out my pile of green fabric scraps and cut a scrappy binding:

I love the way this scrappy, plan-B quilt turned out!

No one (except any of the hundreds of people who see this post) will ever know the difference!