Piecing

Quilt Block Mania is all about "Accessories" this month, and I have such a fun quilt block design for you! We all need an accessory to keep all of our other accessories inside of, so I designed this super cute Tote Bag block. 

I love me a good tote! And I know I'm not alone. My love of tote bags began in the summer of 1987 with my very first ESPRIT bag. I went everywhere with me - school, slumber parties, vacations, and the mall (of course!). Despite the way it dug into my shoulder and its lack of pockets, I loved that tote bag.

The top shelf of my closet is lined with tote bags which are filled with more tote bags. It's like my own little memory lane. My kids' preschool tote bags are covered in their painted hand prints and are my favorites. I also have bags from my favorite quilt shows and vacations which double as the best grocery shopping bags.

Do you have a favorite tote bag? Tell me about it in the comments!

My Tote Bag quilt block design is going to be a fast favorite! There are so many fun color combinations that you can use and ways that you can personalize it. I added a classic star block to the center panel of the tote and included a simple option without the star block - the choice is yours! Here's a design option with solid fabric and one with fabrics from the NEW I Heart Ombre Collection coming out later this month 😍.

 

Be sure to join the Quilt Block Mania Facebook Group for inspiration and to share your own blocks. 

Quilt Block Mania Designers: 

Santa's Belt by Carolina Moore
Bracelet Quilt Block by Patchwork Breeze
Boot by Crafty Staci
Seam Rippers by Inquiring Quilter
Bow Tie Quilt Block by Scrapdash
Lipstick by QuiltFabrication
Favorite Bow by Brown Bird Designs
City Bear by Colette Belt Designs
Summer Hat by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Lingerie by Appliques Quilts and More
Necklace by Slightly Biased Quilts
Quilted Tote Bag by Cristy Fincher
Yes, M'Lady by Epida Studio
ZipZip Purse by Oh Kaye Quilting
Nail Your Style by Orange Blossom QDS

Thank you for visiting my blog for July's Quilt Block Mania! 
This month's theme is "Books" and your designers have 21 new quilt block designs for you! Best of all, they're all free for the month of July 2024. 

I'm really excited to share my newest quilt block design with you! It's definitely my new favorite and I think you'll love making your own. Book Lover is perfect for any lover of books, old and young! There are so many fun ways to customize the quilt block, too. I can see you using fun, novelty prints for the pages of the book, or changing the colors of the heart, or even making the pages out of treasured t-shirts. What you create will be special beyond words.

For my own block, to show my love of sewing and creating I used a favorite print from the "Maker" collection by Art Gallery Fabrics and a paint swatch print by Carrie Bloomston. I also used PURE Solids by Art Gallery Fabrics in Very Berry (the heart), Vintage Walnut (the book cover), and Tranquil Waters (the background).

Book Lover isn't difficult to make, especially if you've made any of my other Quilt Block Mania designs. The pattern features Stitch & Flip corners with other traditional piecing techniques - you totally got this! 

If you signed up for any of my Quilt Block Mania patterns in the past, there's no need to sign up again. You'll receive the pattern in a separate email newsletter.

 

Be sure to join the Quilt Block Mania Facebook Group for inspiration and to share your own blocks. 

Quilt Block Mania Designers: 

Audio Book Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
EAT Cookbook by Patchwork Breeze
Tea and Books by Crafty Staci
Hedwig by Inquiring Quilter
The Library Quilt
Book Shelf by QuiltFabrication
Readers block by brown bird designs
Reading Bear by Colette Belt Designs
By the Book by Happy Hour Stitches
Garden Books
Bookworm by Appliques Quilts and More
Spruce Up Your Reading with a Free Bookmark Quilt Block
Retro Bookcase by Amanda Harris
Adventures of a Burlgar by Sondrasa of Art Quilts by Design
The English Patient by Flowerodg+Co
Under the Apple Tree by Epida Studio
Stack of Books by Oh Kaye Quilting
Read Banned Books by Beth Clifton
Open Book by Manderley Makes
Adventure Awaits
Book Lover by Cristy Fincher

I freshened it up for you and updated links and images - enjoy! 

Glue Basting is a game changer and is one of my favorite sewing and quilting tools. It helps me with efficiency and accuracy when I sew, which makes me happier with my results. Most of the time, when I mention glue basting to new quilters, or to experienced quilters who are new to me, I see confused looks come over their faces. But, they change their tunes really fast when they see what can be done with glue basting and how much it can improve their results. 

The accuracy that I can achieve with glue basting, is addicting. I love when my points match! I know you'll love it too!


Pretty, right?!

Glue basting is so simple:

Prepping my strips with glue basting, before sewing, makes chain piecing more accurate and pretty darn quick.


Glue basting rows together keeps my points matched up, and I never accidentally sew over pins.


Glue basting makes Paperless Paper Piecing possible. This technique will rock your world!


I use glue basting with Piec-lique to make any type of curve, including inset circles.


When I glue baste my appliqué pieces to the background fabric, I can easily sew them down by hand or by machine. Without pins in my applique pieces, I get no puckers or distortion. Love!

I also glue baste when I make clothing. Here, I used glue basting to attach the binding/strap onto the edge of the bodice of a dress for my daughter.


Quilt bindings is probably the most popular place to use glue basting, largely due to my mom's wonderful binding video. The best part of the video is at the end, when my mom shows you how to do that final join for the binding strips. It's life changing!


When I glue baste my binding, I can stitch it down by machine or by hand, without the need for any pins or clips. It stays in just the right place, until I sew it down. Magic!


If you have the fine glue tips, my favorite way to keep the clogs away is to use the thick end of a price tag holder. Clip off about an inch and put the stick of it into the glue tip to prevent clogs. To make it easy to find on your pressing board, you can color the "T" of it with a Sharpie, or put a washi tape flag on it. (Big thanks to my friend Becca at SewPixie for these fabulous ideas.)

 

Welcome to my stop on the Wanderlust Quilts blog hop! It is an honor to share this incredibly special book with you. I hope you enjoy my review. At the end, you'll have a chance to win your very own copy, courtesy of C&T and Stash Books.

I am not a world traveller. I've had many dreams of jetsetting around the world and visiting places like Greece, Rome and France. In high school and college, I studied French and came quite close to taking a magical trip to Paris. In college, I filled general education requirements with as many non-western civilation classes that my schedule would allow. Classical art, architecture and literature inspired and intrigued me. I found myself always wanting to know more about the stories of those that created such works. For one semester, I even considered changing my major to anthropology or archeology. Even though I didn't change my magor, my deep love for classical art and architecture remain.

Wanderlust Quilts by Amanda Leins reignited my love for the beauty and ingenuity classic art and architecture and how design principles like proportion and balance influence us all today. Amanda (whom I lovingly call Mandy) is a classically trained archeologist turned artist and quilter. In her book, she expertly translates her work with classical designs into fresh and exciting designs for quilters to create and enjoy. Plus, she passes on her technical knowledge as she guides quilters through each beautiful project. As a quilter and teacher, I know you'll enjoy and appreciate Mandy's attention to detail in her clear and thoughtful instructions.

Wanderlust Quilts is a not-to-be-missed. Through any of Mandy's inspiring 10 projects, you'll learn techniques and tips that will help you uncover the depth of your own quilting skills. You'll find techniques for joining Y-seams, turned-edge applique, improv quilting and much more. Mandy also includes wonderful images of the art and architecture that inspired her designs and shows how she translated them into her designs. 

One of my favorite projects from Wanderlust Quilts is Aquaducts. The bright colors and the various scale of the arches bring this piece of ingenuity to life in a whole new way.

While I haven't traveled to far off lands, I do find inspiration from places that are very special to me. There are many, and you might find me taking random pictures of the floors, walls or small details that inspire my quilting. One of my favorite places is Disneyland. Besides being The Happiest Place on Earth, it is inspiring and has clearly been inspired by patterns, art and architecture from our collective past. For Mandy's blog hop, she asked that we incorporate her book in a picture of a place or quilt that inspires us. It may be no surprise that I chose the center of the Disneyland, where each magial land awaits you. From the simple herringbone design in the bricks, to the details of Sleeping Beauty's castle, it's clear that classical design has and always will guide and inspire us all. (photo note: all photos of Disneyland were taken by me)

This image of Sleeping Beauty's castle is perfection to me. The colors (aqua, pink and gray) make my heart smile. The shapes in the brick, and the scrolling iron on the castle wall are inspiring. I see so many ways to use the patterns and designs to create unique quilts and quilting designs.

It's a Small World is full of inspiration from the simple patterns and shapes, to the incorporation of subtle and bright color. 

As I was looking for pictures to share with you, I found this one of Molly and Aaron as they prepare to battle Darth Vader in the Jedi Training Academy. The wall just beyond the sign for the Jedi Training Academy is a fabulous inspiration for a quilt! I think I need to pull out my graph paper and pencils and get to sketching! Plus that floor!! The floor is a quilt just waiting to happen.

I'd love to know what place, near or far, that inspires you. C&T and Stash Books, the publisher of Wanderlust Quilts, is giving away a copy to a lucky winner at each stop on the blog hop. To enter to win here, leave a comment telling me about a place that inspires you. I can't wait to hear about each one! Entries will end at midnight November 18th. I'll choose a winner on November 19th. 

Be sure to visit all of the stops. Each one is inspiring! 

November 2: Kickoff with Maddie Kertay at Bad Ass Quilters Society (official link available now!)
Mandy's podcast interview with Sandi of Crafty Planner (official link available now!)
November 3: Stephanie Palmer the Late Night Quilter
November 4: Christa Watson of Christa Quilts
November 5: Gen Q
November 6: Casey York Designs
November 7: Bill Volckening
November 8: Angela Walters
November 9: Kitty Wilkin, the Night Quilter
November 10: Lynn Harris of the Little Red Hen - you are here!
November 11: Latifah Saafir Studios
November 12: Rose Hughes
November 13: Rossie Hutchison of Rossie Crafts
November 14: Sam Hunter of Hunter’s Design Studio
November 15: Cristy Fincher of Purple Daisies Quilting
November 16: Wrap-up with Mandy Leins

 

Welcome! Today is my stop on the Back to School Blog Hop, organized by the wonderful Sam Hunter.

Today I'm going to give you a little "crash course" on glue basting - one of my favorite techniques for getting great results for many quilting and sewing projects.

What is glue basting, you ask? It's probably much like you imagine, but a lot less messy than you fear. Glue basting is a simple techinique...

Sharon Schamber's Iron Shoe Pattern & Tutorial are fianlly here! And they're free for you!

Have you ever pressed your precious fabrics with your iron only to discover that the metal base made a shiny spot on your fabric? Sharon designed the Iron Shoe to help keep your pressing sheet close at hand, as well as to protect your fabrics as you press.

Making your own Iron Shoe is quite simple and requires...

Hello!

I'm so happy that you've found you're way here. Last month, I came across a fabulous pattern for a flying geese keychain and just had to make one. After making it, I couldn't wait to share it with you.

 3. Draw a line of glue 1/8" (ish) below the crease. Keep in mind that the crease is your actual seam line.

 4. Place piece two in its place and heat set. This glue basting and heat setting will keep piece #2 from shifting around as you move to sew at your machine. Don't worry, you're not sewing through the glue. And even if you did, the heat setting dries the glue and removes any gumminess. It's safer for your needle and machine than any fusible webbing.

5. Sew along the first seam line. I prefer to backstitch at the beginning and end of my seam.

7. Press piece #2 over. Repeat each step for piece #3.

8. Fold along the long seam for the "geese" piece to create a crease.

9. Again, draw a fine line of glue below the crease.

10. Place the "geese" piece in its place and heat set.

11. Sew, trim and press the piece in place.

12. Continue glue basting and sewing each piece in its place until the pattern is completely filled in. Once sewn, there are no papers to tear away. Isn't that wonderful!! Simply trim the keychain according to Michael Ann's instructions, then add the backing and finish the ends as you like. If you use the foundation paper, you won't need to add any interfacing or batting. The foundation will make the keychain stable, but not overly stiff. It will feel wonderful in your hand.


I always love to see what you're creating. If you're on Instagram, use the hashtag #purpledaisiesquilting when you post a picture of something you've made that's been inspired from a tutorial here, or a design by me.

Happy Quilting!!
~Cristy

QuiltCon 2013 was an incredible experience. It was nonstop fun and alive with energy. Returning for 2015 was definite for me, but this time will be a little different, in the best of ways.

10 years ago, I started my business, Purple Daisies, LLC. My mom's (Sharon Schamber) quilting career was growing larger by the day, and I knew that online exposure was the next step for her. I started selling her...

If I could, I would scream it from the rooftops: "Glue basting is life changing!!"

I get a bit of reluctance from some quilters, and sewists, who haven't tried glue basting, or are cautious (maybe even scared) of trying it. Almost always, once they try glue basting, they "get it" and understand why it works so well. Then they discover how it can work for them and their sewing. This simple technique...

Half square triangles are a staple in almost any quilter's repertoire. They are simple, playful, and versatile. Rotating them around, to the right, left, or upside-down can change the look of your quilt completely. The posibilities are endless!

You might already have a favorite way to make HSTs. I'm offering you a different technique that you just might like a lot. I really hope you give it a try....