Book Review: Text It!

Don’t you just love projects with words or phrases on them? I definitely do and so really enjoyed checking out Text It! by Sherri Noel. This book contains pillows, wall hangings, smaller quilts, and other projects to decorate your home and quilt studio.

Photo courtesy of Martingale Publishing

One of the things I really liked about Text It! is that it contains 7 different alphabets in a pull-out at the back of the book. All of these alphabets are full-size so you won’t need to enlarge them to use them in the projects. If you want to change the look of any of the projects in Text It!, you can choose one of the other alphabets included in the book and substitute it for the one used in the pattern..

Photo courtesy of Martingale Publishing

Sherri includes information on various forms of appliqué in the back part of the book so you can use your favourite one to create the projects in Text It!.

I loved the cute designs in Text It! and thought that they would make wonderful gifts for quilting and non-quilting friends.

Click on the image below for a detailed look at the projects in Text It!

Get your own copy of Text It! at https://amzn.to/2TLAcYt.

Creatively,

P.S. Are you serious about improving your quilting? Do you want to connect with other committed quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. Don’t wait another day! Join now.

P.P.S. Did you know that you can sign up to receive emails full of FREE quilting goodness? Click here to receive FREE content directly in your email inbox every few weeks from Chatterbox Quilts. I know you'll be glad you did!

P.S. I am an Amazon affiliate and, if you purchase items by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a small amount of commission. This doesn’t cost you any more $$$, but helps me to continue creating free content for you. Thanks!

Easy Appliqué Pincushion Tutorial

If you’ve never made a pincushion before, you’ll want to keep reading. This project is great for using up scrap fabrics and for dipping your toes into fusible web appliqué. It doesn’t take long to make at all, so it’s a perfect “gotta have it done in an hour” gift.

If you have never tried this easy form of appliqué and want complete instructions on how to do it, you’ll definitely want to check out my course, Fusible Web Appliqué Essentials. It goes step-by-step through the whole process of making a fusible web appliqué project. (Or join The Quilter’s Way where this course is included free with your membership).

Now back to the pincushion project. Here’s what you’ll need:

Two charm squares – one for the top and one for the backing

An appliqué shape that is backed with fusible web or you can use a glue stick to adhere it to the top

Perle cotton or similar heavy thread and a long, thick needle

Polyester fill or similar filling

Usual sewing supplies

Once you’ve assembled all your materials,  starch the two charm squares so they are stiff. This makes them easier to work with.

Fuse or glue the appliqué to the top charm square. Finish the appliqué edges by stitching with your chosen stitch. I like to use a narrow zigzag.

Note: You might need a fabric stabilizer underneath the fabric, depending on the denseness of the stitch you have selected.

Place the top and back charm squares right sides together and stitch around them with a ¼” seam, leaving an opening on one side to turn. Clip the corners and turn it right side out, poking out the corners (I like to use That Purple Thang to do this).

Stuff with Polyfil or similar stuffing until very firm. Hand stitch the opening closed.

 If you like the look of your pincushion just as it is, you can stop here, but if you want to give it a bit more definition, read on.

To give it a pincushion shape, I like to stitch through the centre of the pincushion and out the back several ties, pulling the thread taut each time. Use two lengths of perle cotton for this (a regular weight thread might break - ask me how I know!). Knot the thread and starting on the back, push the needle through to the top. Take a small stitch and then go back down to the back, pulling the thread taut. You could add a button on top while doing this if you wished. Do this 3 times and then knot the thread in the back.
Your pincushion is now done!

For a complete step-by-step tutorial on creating this pincushion, click on the image below.

Have you ever made a pincushion before? Share your ideas and experiences in the Comments below.

Creatively,

P.S. Are you serious about improving your quilting? Do you want to connect with other committed quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. Don’t wait another day! Join now.

P.P.S. Did you know that you can sign up to receive emails full of FREE quilting goodness? Click here to receive FREE content directly in your email inbox every few weeks from Chatterbox Quilts. I know you'll be glad you did!

P.S. I am an Amazon affiliate and, if you purchase items by clicking through the links in this post ,I will receive a small amount of commission. This doesn’t cost you any more $$$, but helps me to continue creating free content for you. Thanks!

Book Review: String Frenzy

If you’ve been quilting for any time at all, you probably have fabric scraps, including strips and strings. If you’re looking for projects where you can use these bits and pieces, you need to check out the projects in String Frenzy by Bonnie K. Hunter.

Photo courtesy of C & T Publishing

This latest book by the scrap quilting queen is full of gorgeous patterns, all using leftover strips and strings of fabric. The quilts in this book are large, but could definitely be scaled down to make smaller projects, such as table runners or lap quilts.

Photo courtesy of C & T Publishing

If you’re familiar with any of Bonnie’s previous books, you’ll know how much information she includes on getting your scrap fabrics organized and ready to be used in projects. This information in itself is worth the price of the book! It’s definitely worth reading all of the helpful content in String Frenzy that Bonnie provides on getting a scrap system going so you can always have your extra fabric pieces ready to use in any project.

Photo courtesy of C & T Publishing

String Frenzy includes 12 projects from scrap fabric and each pattern follows a similar format with text as well as a section called “At a Glance” for visual instructions.

Click on the image below to see more detailed information on String Frenzy and the beautiful quilts in it.

Are you a scrap quilter? If so, give me a “yes” in the Comments below.

Get your own copy of String Frenzy at https://amzn.to/2I7kEw2 and start clearing out that scrap bin.

Creatively,

P.S. Are you serious about improving your quilting? Do you want to connect with other committed quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. Don’t wait another day! Join now.

P.P.S. Did you know that you can sign up to receive emails full of FREE quilting goodness? Click here to receive FREE content directly in your email inbox every few weeks from Chatterbox Quilts. I know you'll be glad you did!

P.S. I am an Amazon affiliate and, if you purchase items by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a small amount of commission. This doesn’t cost you any more $$$, but helps me to continue creating free content for you. Thanks!

What Feet and Accessories are Included with the Janome MC9450?

Have you ever bought a sewing machine and then needed to buy additional feet or accessories as they weren’t included with the machine? I’m sure we’ve all been there, but this isn’t the case with the Janome MC9450. This machine comes pre-loaded with all the feet you’ll need whether you are a quilter or another type of sewist.

As a quilter, you are looking for a machine that has an accurate ¼” foot, a walking foot, and a free motion foot The Janome MC9450 has you covered with an assortment of feet in all of these areas. There are several foot choices for stitching that perfect ¼” seam (any deviations are definitely operator error in my case!) from the O foot – with or without seam guide - to the definitely-my-favourite HP foot and needle plate.

If you like to use a walking foot to add borders or binding, you now have the choice of either the AD Dual Feed foot or the new HP2 AcuFeed Flex professional grade foot. You’ll quickly become obsessed with this foot which is the perfect combination of a ¼” foot as well as a walking foot. It doesn’t get any better than this for stitching on long borders or binding strips since that perfect ¼” seam is guaranteed.

When it comes to free motion or ruler quilting, again, you’ll have all the feet you’ll need with the Janome MC9450. Whether you want to do some ruler quilting with the QR Ruler Work foot or need to do some free motion quilting around an appliqué with the QV Free Motion Quilting Zigzag foot (yes, it’s for variable zigzag stitching, but its dish-shape works so well to avoid catching on appliqué pieces) , the Janome MC9450 comes pre-packaged with these and many more free motion friendly feet.

What if you’re a garment sewist? No problem! The Janome MC9450 has feet for that purpose too. The HP AcuFeed Flex foot can help when you want walking foot capability in a narrow area. Need to add a zipper to your dress or pillowcase? The Janome MC9450 comes with the E Zipper foot that allows you to stitch zippers with ease (i’ve used it for pouches). The Janome MC9450 includes the Automatic Buttonhole Foot  R with a Stabilizer Plate that allows you to create different buttonhole styles. You’ll also receive the Button Sewing Foot T so you can use the Janome MC9450 to sew on your buttons – no hand stitching required!

If you need help with blind stitching your hems (no one wants to see the stitches on hems!), you’ll find the Blind Hemming foot G very helpful. The Cloth Guide will help ensure that your seams are stitched exactly where they need to be and it is included with the Janome MC9450.

Now you’re probably wondering how you are going to store all of these feet and accessories. Again, the Janome MC9450 has you covered with a two-sided accessory storage bin that fits around the machine bed. New with this machine is the separate accessory case which has a lift-out tray and additional storage underneath it. Lots of room for the feet and accessories that came with the Janome MC9450 and room for any additional accessories you might purchase.

I’ve only mentioned a few of the feet and accessories included with the Janome MC9450. Click on the image below to see all that you’ll receive when you purchase the Janome MC9450. You’re going to be amazed!

Whether you’re a quilter or another type of sewist, I’d like to know what your go-to foot or accessory is on your sewing machine. Let me know in the Comments below.

Creatively,

P.S. Are you serious about improving your quilting? Do you want to connect with other committed quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. Don’t wait another day! Join now.

P.P.S. Did you know that you can sign up to receive emails full of FREE quilting goodness? Click here to receive FREE content directly in your email inbox every few weeks from Chatterbox Quilts. I know you'll be glad you did!

P.S. I am an Amazon affiliate and, if you purchase items by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a small amount of commission. This doesn’t cost you any more $$$, but helps me to continue creating free content for you. Thanks!