Happy upcoming Thanksgiving Everyone. I was thinking about my blog. How many of you are working on your Thanksgiving quilt? How many of you have made one and now are taking pictures of it? How many of you have just started the process or are on the last half of the process of your quilt?

I have just started quilting and am about a third of the way through. I would like to finish my quilt by Thanksgiving but I think I will need to take some time to do other things to get it done.

I started working on this quilt over six months ago. I was going to be gone for work a few days over that time and decided that if I was going to be away for two or three days, I might as well have it all finished so that I would not miss a day of quilting. I have had other projects going at the same time, but I have not had a project like this. I really wanted to have this finished by Thanksgiving because I wanted to put the quilt in my living room for the holiday, but I want to make sure that the colors will match my living room.

I love this quilt. It is so soft and beautiful. I am glad that I have finally finished it because I was feeling so disappointed and sad about it. It is so nice to have it finished and in my living room for the holidays. I have a feeling that it will not get the compliments that it deserves. I want this quilt to be beautiful. It will be a great gift for my sister and my niece.

I want this quilt to be wonderful. I want my friends to enjoy it when they see it and I want it to get them the compliments that it deserves. I want it to be beautiful.

Well, there it is. I am still not sure if I am going to be able to finish this quilt by the holidays. It is very large. I want to put it in my living room as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving. I don’t want the quilt to be near the window. It needs to be in the center of the room.

I’ve asked many of you already about the best type of scissors to use, but I am now on the verge of asking for your suggestions for the best quality of scissors. I’ve found a few, but some you can get by with one of the ones that is in your own home and most people already have.

For example, I am using some that are my mother’s. The ones that are in her craft room are probably the best quality and have straight blades. They also are very good for cutting a very wide variety of materials, which my mother often does.

I also have some other scissors with straight blades that I use for cutting some of the thicker things, like batting or a backing fabric for a bag. I have a very long pair of good quality embroidery scissors that I use for quilting and cutting binding. I love that my mother uses the same pair for shears to cut fabric as well. So I know it’s a good pair.

I just want to find the scissors that work the best for me and my purpose.

There are two types of scissors that people use for quilting. Those that are designed for cutting batting and fabric and those for cutting thread.

I’ve found that those that are made specifically for cutting batting and fabric, cut the best, but some of them are harder to find and more expensive than the thread cutters.

I like them because they are very sharp and will cut better with a steady hand.

However, if you don’t have one of those in your home, then some of the thread cutters will work fine. I’ve cut batting, fabric and thread using a simple pair of cheap scissors. I’ve used some thread cutters, but it works well with scissors that are a little wider and thicker and that is what I prefer to use. They are also easy to clean up afterwards.

What do you use for quilting? I’d love to know and if you have some suggestions, please share them.

When quilting, you are likely to hear many terms thrown around but it can sometimes be difficult to know what they mean or which is best for you. I will be giving my top quilting book suggestions for beginners who want to quilt but not necessarily to become quilt masters.

My quilting book recommendations

The Quilter’s Apprentice by Nancy Zieman and Judy Dunn

This book is a must-have for any new quilter.

The Quilter’s Treasure Box by Nancy Zieman and Judy Dunn

This book has lots of tips and tricks that will help you to learn the ropes when quilting.

The Modern Quilt Workshop by Barbara Brackman

This book has a good mixture of tips and techniques for new quilters. Sewing is often intimidating for beginners. There is such a variety of terminology and jargon used when talking about sewing that it can be difficult to get your head around all of it. This guide will give you some practical sewing tips to make your sewing experience less daunting.

The Sewing Machine Handbook: A Beginner’s Guide to Sewing by Michael S. Kiel

This is an essential sewing book for beginners. Michael has simplified the sewing machine into easy-to-follow steps, so whether you are a beginner or an advanced sewer you will get lots of useful tips and tricks in this book.

The Fabric Bible: More than 1,200 Fabrics, Fabrics for All Quilting Purposes by Amy Herzog

This book has over 1,200 patterns and instructions for sewing with hundreds of fabric choices.

The Modern Quilter’s Handbook by Kathy A. Martin

This is an all-in-one guide to all aspects of quilting including cutting, designing, making, sewing, and finishing techniques.

The Sewing Guide by Barbara Brackman

This is an invaluable resource of all sewing and quilting terminology. It’s a must-have for any quilter’s library.

Sewing Made Easy – A Step-by-Step Guide to Sewing by Kathy A. Martin

If you’ve never sewn before this is the perfect place to start. This book takes you through the basic elements of sewing and shows you how to use them to get the job done.

BASICS – A Beginner’s Guide to Sewing by Barbara Brackman

If you’ve never sewn before then this is an essential guide for you to get your head around the basics of sewing.

And what are your favorite quilting books?

These are, in my opinion the best scissors for quilters.

If you’re a quilter, you know there are lots of different scissors to choose from. There are many reasons to use scissors and you should find the best ones for your use.

There are so many different types of scissors in the market that it can be difficult to figure out which one is best for you.

I’ve found the best scissors for quilters
available online.

Best Scissors for Quilters

The Eureka Zing Plus 5 in 1 Scissor Set, Model 710, 5″ x 5″ is the perfect scissor set for anyone who wants a well-rounded set of scissors.

This set includes a pair of shears, a scissor with a pointed tip, and a scissor with a rounded tip. Each one of these is a 5-in-1 tool and they can be used as a general purpose tool or for any kind of crafting.

Each of these blades is made from high-quality steel so you can feel assured that they’ll last you a long time.

They’re all easy to grip and they’re all comfortable to use because they have a nice balance.

You’re also able to easily adjust the blades for the right size and length for any task.

Each blade is also easy to change. The shears blade is easily removed with a small tool and the other two blades are both held on by a single pin.

You can use these blades to trim paper, cardboard, and more.

It’s great for any type of craft project. They’re great for papercrafts, scrapbooking, art projects, crafts, quilting, sewing, and more.

This scissor set is made of good-quality materials and it comes with a lifetime warranty. It’s a great set of scissors for anyone.

This set of scissors is great for anyone who wants to try new types of scissors.

It’s great for any type of project you’re working on. You’re able to use these blades for paper, cardboard, leather, plastic, foam, fabric, and more.

The handles of the scissors are also great for your comfort. They’re smooth and they’re not too hard to grip.

As I’m just beginning to quilt again, I’ve been wondering what other quilters think are their favourite blogs and sites. There are thousands of blogs and sites around the internet, and many are just passing fads. So, what do you think are your current favourites?

I can’t think of any. There are a few blogs which I like reading and I know what they’re talking about but there aren’t any that I keep up with. There are a few that I follow just to keep up to date with what is happening.

I have to admit that I have a tendency to avoid the more ‘quilting’ based blogs because they seem to all have a strong personality. I’ve read several over the last few years and the ones that I like are either quilting in the UK or just sharing sewing projects. I’ve found those that tend to post more than sewing have a lot of fluff but those who just post sewing have a lot of detail.

I have to admit that I’m one of those who finds it hard to comment on blogs. I’d like to visit some of the blogs, but I get too tired. I just can’t think that I can contribute anything to the quilt world. So, I keep to the ones that I love.

I think my favourites are probably Quilting Soup, Craftsy and Moda Work Shop. I’m a bit slow to join the craze of things – I’m happy to spend hours reading tutorials and looking at blogs but I don’t do a lot of sewing myself.

I think my favourite is a combination of those two, Quilting Soup, because it’s really informative, but also because I love sewing with Moda’s fabrics. I love the way they have made me love sewing again.

I have only visited a few blogs over the last few years. I really enjoy all of them. However, right now, I really enjoy reading about sewing and I like following some of the other bloggers on Facebook. I really love reading about what others are creating with sewing and quilting.

I am not an “in-the-know” quilter. If I find a new blog or find out about an upcoming conference I will definitely follow the link and try to get as much info as I can. In reality, the only bloggers I am interested in reading are those I know. I like to visit blogs that I know are written by folks who have a personal blog as well as the blog of their business and if they have a good following, I will follow the business too. The bloggers I follow are all women who sew but one who does have a quilt show every year which I love going to.

I’m not a huge reader of blogs, but I do keep a couple that are good. I’ve only recently started really sewing again after a long hiatus. I’m on Ravelry and love seeing all the cute sewing projects other people have made.

What are your current favourite blogs or websites? Do you visit more than a couple?

I love this Christmas quilt by Tauny Dann. I really love the colors she used. She used many different type fabrics to make this quilt. It is so pretty! The quilt is made in a king size. It measures 71 x 98.5 inches. I wish I could make a quilt like this!

A few weeks ago I was working on a large quilt for my mother’s bed. The quilting needed to be completed in the next couple of days, and I didn’t know quite what to do. She was looking for something to celebrate her birthday. I have never quilted for her, so I didn’t know if she’d like it or not. I didn’t want to send it until I had it done. I thought about making a quilt for myself, something I could have and wear and enjoy, but not something I’d make for someone else. The only quilt I had completed in a while was for myself, and I felt like I had better things to do than to finish a quilt for me when I was having difficulty making quilts for others. So I had to go back to basics and start a new quilt.

I decided to use a simple pattern. I wanted something simple, but not so easy to do. I went with a simple grid of stars with a simple border. I really didn’t know what it would turn out like, but I knew I could just keep going until it looked right.

I found a design I wanted to use for the back and began to lay it out. As I laid it out I realized that this quilt is going to be a challenge.

I used the leftovers to make the binding for the front of the quilt. The star center motif is the binding.

I can only do so much with binding before I run out of scraps. I know I’ll need more if I want to keep doing this pattern.

I’ve been working on this design for months and months now. I made the background with this free pattern from Quiltmaker Magazine, and have been following along with her blog. I finally had time to finish the quilt and I’m so happy with how it turned out.

The top looks like one big cloud. The blocks are made by laying out the fabric in a pattern and sewing it down, so there is always a bit of movement in the quilting, making it look a little different each time you look at it.

I have so many more ideas in my head about quilting this pattern. I think I need to put down some of my ideas in writing.

Are you a quilter? If so, you know that sewing is not only a great creative outlet, but it’s also a necessary step for some quilting projects.

When you have completed your quilting project, your finished work will be showcased and admired by family and friends. That means you need a sewing machine that can withstand all the hard work you will be doing.

If you’re just getting started in your quilting adventure, there’s also a sewing machine that’s right for you. That’s why we’re going to show you a few different sewing machines for quilters so you can choose the one that’s best for your needs.

Best sewing machines for quilters

1. Brother PQ-4190-ZQ

The Brother PQ-4190-ZQ sewing machine is perfect for quilters that want a versatile machine. It can be used with just about every popular thread and fabric.

Quilters can also use the PQ-4190-ZQ to make clothing. In addition to being able to sew with a wide range of fabrics, it’s also easy to adjust. You can use the built-in stitch setting guide to find the best stitch for your fabric.

Some of the different features that make this sewing machine great for quilting are:

3D stitch pattern and stitch width selection

Built-in threading guide

Built-in presser foot control

Threading wheels on foot

Stitch length indicator

The Brother PQ-4190-ZQ sewing machine is an easy-to-use sewing machine that comes with everything you need. It’s available on Amazon at a great price.

Pros:

Affordable price

Easy-to-use

Stitch-width selection

Cons:

Sewing guide not always clear

2. Brother CSU-8100S

If you’re looking for a sewing machine that’s easy to use and has all the features that quilters need, the Brother CSU-8100S is your best bet.

It can be used to sew with a wide variety of materials including cotton, polyester and denim. There are also several pre-installed patterns that can be used to quilt fabric with.

Some of the features that make the Brother CSU-8100S so great for quilting are:

6” touch screen

Embroidery machine

Built-in seam ripper

8 in. embroidery hoop

10 in. embroidery hoop

1.5 in. hoop

This sewing machine is easy to use. It has an easy-to-read display that allows you to easily find the pattern and fabric you’re using. There are also easy to follow instructions to use all the features of the Brother CSU-8100S.

Pros:

Quilting features

Sewing features

Easy to use

Cons:

Touch screen is not always easy to read

3. Brother CSU-6000

The Brother CSU-6000 is a multi-purpose sewing machine that quilters can use to sew both fabric and clothing.

This machine is perfect for beginners because of its easy-to-use interface and its wide range of features. It can be used with almost every type of fabric, thread and fabric.

Some of the features that make this sewing machine so great for quilting are:

Stitch-width selection

1.75 in. zigzag foot

9 in. buttonhole foot

9 in. buttonhole foot

Threading wheels on foot

Stitch length indicator

Built-in threading guide

Sewing presser foot

Threading wheels on presser foot

4. Brother CSU-8000

If you want a machine that has a wide variety of features for quilting and a variety of sewing projects, the Brother CSU-8000 is the sewing machine you need.

The Brother CSU-8000 includes a sewing and embroidery machine, an embroidery machine, a touch screen, two needle threads and an automatic threader.

Some of the features that make the Brother CSU-8000 great for quilting are:

6” touch screen

2 embroidery heads

Built-in seam ripper

Built-in presser foot

10 in. embroidery hoop

1.5 in. hoop

Threading wheels on foot

Built-in threading guide

Threading wheels on presser foot

Sewing presser foot

The Brother CSU-8000 is an affordable machine that can be used for both fabric and clothing.

Pros:

Wide range of features

Stitch-width selection

Cons:

Not easy to read touch screen

5. Brother CSU-12000

The Brother CSU-12000 sewing machine is great for quilters who are looking for a machine that has a wide range of features. It can sew with a variety of fabrics, threads and even buttons.

There are also several features that make this sewing machine ideal for quilting, such as the ability to sew with denim.

Some of the features that make the Brother CSU-12000 so great for quilting are:

5” touch screen

5 embroidery heads

6.5” touch screen

6.5” touch screen

Built-in seam ripper

2.5 in. buttonhole foot

2.5 in. buttonhole foot

2 needle threads

Embroidery foot

Threading wheels on foot

Threading wheels on presser foot

6 in. embroidery hoop

1.5 in. hoop

Built-in threading guide

Sewing presser foot

Sewing presser foot

The Brother CSU-12000 is an affordable machine that can be used for almost any fabric or clothing.

Pros:

Great for sewing clothing

5 in. buttonhole foot

Cons:

Not for beginners

6. Brother CSU-8000-ZQ

This Brother CSU-8000-ZQ sewing machine is a versatile sewing machine that is easy to use. There are several different types of thread that can be used with the CSU-8000-ZQ, including regular sewing thread, embroidery thread, satin and zigzag.

The Brother CSU-8000-ZQ has many different features that make it a perfect sewing machine for quilting. Some of the features that make this machine great for quilting are:

9” touch screen

2 embroidery heads

Built-in presser foot

9 in. buttonhole foot

2.5 in. buttonhole foot

Built-in threading guide

Threading wheels on foot

Embroidery foot

Threading wheels on presser foot

Sewing presser foot

The Brother CSU-8000-ZQ is a versatile sewing machine that has a wide variety of features that can be used for just about any fabric or clothing.

Pros:

Versatile

Easy to use

Cons:

Not as easy to read as the Brother CSU-8000

7. Brother CSU-8200

The Brother CSU-8200 sewing machine has a wide range of features that make it perfect for quilting. It can sew with a variety of fabrics and threads and there are many different types of threads that can be used with the CSU-8200.

Some of the features that make this sewing machine so great for quilting are:

6.5” touch screen

4 embroidery heads

Built-in seam ripper

Built-in presser foot

Threading wheels on foot

Built-in threading guide

Threading wheels on presser foot

Sewing presser foot

Sewing presser foot

The Brother CSU-8200 sewing machine is a versatile sewing machine that quilters can use to sew with a variety of fabrics.

Pros:

Great for quilting

Easy to use

Cons:

Not for beginners

Final thoughts

If you’re a quilter, you know that you’re going to need a sewing machine that can withstand all the hard work. You may also want a sewing machine that has many features that allow you to quilt with almost any fabric.

I love this quilt by Jane Binder, it reminds me of the “old” quilts of our family’s quilting heritage. We had a wonderful quilter back in the day named Gertrude Staehle. We’ve just started to bring the quilting tradition back to our family and I love it.

I also am drawn to the art nouveau style of this quilt.

And my favorite part of this quilt is the fabric in the little pockets in the center… I’ve tried to replicate it.

I think this quilt, “Sophia’s Room”, is beautiful.

My favorite quilt in my own home is my grandmother’s “Wishing Quilt” that my mother gave me. It’s made by my grandmother and is filled with embroidered words to her children, including me.

I want to add to that and make my own “Wishing Quilt”. I have a whole stack of fabric and embroidery threads waiting. I just have to decide what to make and how to make it. I’m inspired by the art nouveau style of Jane’s quilt.

I’m a big fan of the book ‘Threads to Quilt with’ by Cheryl Bork, but her book is aimed at beginners. She has many helpful suggestions on how to get your first project started, how to use your machine etc.

I thought it would be useful to post a few hints on things that you might not know about.

Do not be in a hurry to finish your quilt. If it is your first attempt, take your time to enjoy the journey and the process. Learn to do things right. Learn to enjoy making things.

Take a bit of time to do your calculations when you are working out the quilting, etc. Use the ruler, you can measure for a line, measure for an angle, etc. But do not just blindly cut everything up, it is not going to work. You will not know how wide your fabrics will be and you will waste a lot of time.

Read your pattern and think about how you are going to sew. Do you understand how to join the edges together and how the seams will look? Can you match the sewing lines on the sewing machine with the sewing lines on your design? Do not just blindly sew. You need to know how to get it right, or at least get it as right as possible.

Do not over stitch. I often find myself with little tiny pieces of thread and some of them end up on the back. It is easy to put a tiny piece of thread through the sewing lines and end up with an extra line. This may be good for making a very tight, small quilt, but for a bigger quilt it is just going to look messy.

I used to over stitch on my machine (it has a button to turn off the needle thread) and now I turn it off and it is a lot more accurate.

Have a try at different ways of quilting. I find it easy to quilt too tightly (I would not want that on my own quilt) but a bit of slack is good as well. It is good to have a little practice with different quilting styles as it can be a bit of a shock when you first start to use your machine.

Try not to be too fussy when you do a first quilt. I tend to over-think a lot before starting, but sometimes a simple little quilt is more relaxing and a lot more fun.

Try to get everything ready before you start sewing – this means cutting, pressing, ironing and making sure everything is straight.

Try not to think about how the quilt will look once it is finished. I find it much easier if I just think about the quilt top and concentrate on that for now. The rest will come, and it will look better after the fact.

This sounds like a list I could do without, but what do you think, do you agree or disagree? I think I will make a list of what not to do!