Another day, another fun quilt from long ago magazines. This was my Palm Block Pillow made with some batiks from Bali Fabrics. We had great relationships with many fabric companies. They sent us their latest collections and we created projects to feature on our pages. They took out ads and that paid our bills! 6" Palm Blocks in a pillow Then I made a larger block using a 10" size. This was a popular workshop in 2007.  Palm block on point in a flanged pillow I sewed several and set them into this quilt. Didn't think you could put 7 blocks together like this, did you? I resurrected it for making a larger quilt and it's a workshop for the upcoming Raleigh Sewing Expo using the 10" size. But I do have it in the 7" block size in my Etsy shop . I was using fat quarters of these shot cottons to make these Palm Blocks. I used a few Kaffe Fassett printsLots of color! 8 Block Palm Quilt : 33" x 43" I don't sell the pattern in the 10" size. You'd...

Back in town again after a few years away. I'm excited to be back in the classroom with motivated students. The Raleigh Show is August 5-7, 2021. What am I teaching? Machine Quilting: Basics and Beyond , Thursday August 5: 8:30 - 11:30 am Start your quilting experience on the right foot --- with Debby’s liberating, beyond-straight-lines, feed-dogs-down process. You’ll enjoy her simple methods for taking your stitches beyond beginners’ meanders and loops. In the dozen years she’s been teaching beginning machine quilting, Debby’s students have been most comfortable following shapes, and so she gives you lots of practice time during class to use stencil shapes and one of her favorites, freezer paper shapes. Discussion includes quilting blocks (no matter the size) and borders, and a treasure trove of samples to illustrate how dynamic her KISS (Keep It Small and Simple) quilting style can be for you, too. I supply all the quilting samples and stencils. Just come ready to play! Playing ...

After a 14 month hiatus at home (but also teaching virtually) I am going back on the road to teach in a real classroom! I'll be in Akron (Cleveland area) Ohio July 15 - 17, 2021 for the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo.  Here is what I'm teaching: Big Block Hexagons  - Thursday, July 15 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. Are you looking for a creative way to use a stack of 10-inch squares? Often referred to as Layer Cakes (yum, yum), we often wish there was some icing to go along with them, right? 32 squares (plus some light background fabric) will make this Big Block Hexagon quilt. We cut our hexagons – and setting triangles - with a multi-sized 60-degree triangle ruler (included in the kit fee). (If you have your own 60-degree ruler, bring it to class and Debby will rebate you the price of her ruler).  Bring your own fabric, see supply list for details. Big Block Hexagons : 50" x 59"  What about using some awesome novelty prints? A perfect child's quilt. NO Y-SEAMS!! Big B...

I have been English Paper Piecing (EPP) for almost 20 years. I have used all sizes of hexagon papers (3/4" to as large as 3"). I was taught by the owner of Paper Pieces, who simplified the technique by showing me that it's not necessary to cut fabric hexagons; just cut rectangles and trim later. Maybe you can join me August 23 in Arlington, Texas , for an exciting class on English Paper Piecing with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo! You can see all 5 of my classes HERE . This is a 3-round GFG block. I thread basted NOT through the papers but in each of the folds. No need to take out the basting; the folds remain nice and crisp. But I used fabric rectangles and it's time for me to trim each of those hexagons to reduce the bulk (and to get to the papers!) Grandmother's Flower Garden with fabric about to be trimmed Here's what it looks like after trimming. You can see more steps in my April post . Block trimmed I should have punched a h...

Year # 11 for teaching with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo! I love being able to create new workshops annually; it really animates me to do new things with new fabric for old and new students. What's happening in  Lakeland, FL  March 15-17, 2018? Well, here are the classes I'm offering. Big Block Lone Star : Thursday, March 15, 8:30 - 11:30 am Big Block Lone Star . Block: 29" x 29". Quilt with borders: 40" x 40" Make a Lone Star Quilt in a day! No need to tediously cut out templates when you can simply rotary cut and strip piece for accuracy with NO y-seams. This is a wonderful BIG block (29”) and makes a great wall or child’s quilt (40” with borders).  Bring your own fabric, see supply list for details. And just to show you that this is one of my "go-to" patterns, a few other quilts made with this VERY easy technique. No y-seams, btw! Big Block Lone Star appeared in my Supersize 'Em Quilts book (2009) And, of course, the...