How to Quilt: The Airplane Quilt Pattern, binding techniques, tips for flannel quilts, Free Quilt Block Patterns

The Airplane Quilt Block and November Free Quilt Block Patterns

"Old quilters never die, they just fray away."

Greetings Quilter -

Layer Cake fabrics for my Stack'n'Whack Quilt.

Since the Fat Quarter quilt is now finished, it's time to begin a new quilting project, and next on the list is a Stack'n'Whack quilt.

This is a very popular type of quilt to make, since cutting the fabric is really easy.

The technique I will follow is to stack 4 squares of fabric, cut the patches and then switch pieces among the blocks, creating a different look for each block.

That being the process, I decided that using Layer Cake fabrics would shortcut the fabric cutting even more.

For those unfamiliar with Layer Cake fabric, it is simply a stack of fabric squares - usually 40 - 42 squares, each 10 inches.

Some quilt shops cut the fabric, but I found an interesting collection at Rosie's Calico Cupboard, and decided to use it. The collection is one made by Moda, and is a Civil War assortment.

This is going to be a live project in www.TheQuiltingCoach.com which means that each week, you will get detailed step-by-step instructions for making the quilt.

Where I can, I will include video clips, but at a minimum, there will be written instructions and photos of the steps along the way.

Rosie has set aside some of the same Layer Cake Fabric for us, so if you are interested in using the same fabric, please contact her:

Rosie at Rosie's Calico Cupboard - rozgonzalez@cox.net

We'd love to see you in www.TheQuiltingCoach.com for this project - it should be really fun!

And now for the rest of the news - -

Happy Quilting!

penny halgren

P.S. m. mouse sends his love and wants you to know that he is enjoying the Fat Quarter Quilt:

Featured Product of the Month - Creative Binding Techniques DVD

Striped binding is just one of the techniques you will see in the Creative Binding Techniques DVD Quilting Mentor.

Are you secretly looking for some out of the ordinary way to finish your quilt that will impress your family and friends so they will finally know that you really have some quilting skills - and that this isn't some trial and error thing that you are still trying to figure out?

For some quilters, binding is even more difficult that choosing the fabrics for your quilts – and we all know how hard that can be!But, creating binding just got easier.Last year, we introduced The Ultimate How to Bind a Quilt DVD Mentor, and since then binding quilts got much easier for thousands of quilters.

Quilters were so pleased with their new-found binding skills that they began asking for other techniques for binding quilts.

We are pleased to formally announce The Creative Binding Techniques DVD Quilting Mentor.

In this fabulous How-to-Quilt.com video, you’ll see how to bind a quilt using:

French Fold binding where you add the binding on one side of the quilt at a time.
A technique for adding Prairie Points using one piece of fabric on each side. This method is really easy and fun, since you don't have to keep track of all those little individual Prairie Points.
A technique for adding Prairie Points so they face inside your quilt.
Striped binding - sew strips of fabric together and cut it on the bias - this fun way to bind a quilt is
easier than it looks and very forgiving because it is so "busy."
Binding quilts with curved edges - this will make any quilt with curves easy to bind. And you will learn a technique for figuring out how to cut the curves on a quilt that might otherwise have straight sides.
Binding quilts with hexagons, or any other kinds of inside and outside corners. This technique is great for Grandmother's Flower Garden, Tumbling Blocks or other kinds of quilts with many edges.
Double fold straight grain binding. One of the basic and simple ways to bind a quilt. You'll see how to miter perfect corners and stitch the binding on so it is smooth.
And as a Bonus method, you will see how to create reversible binding - where the binding is one fabric on the front of the quilt and a different fabric on the back of the quilt.
- - - making 8 techniques for binding quilts, in all!

For a limited time, we are paying shipping for this fantastic product. But, time will run out - so Get all of the details about the Creative Binding Techniques DVD Quilting Mentor.

Tips for Using Flannel in Your Quilts

Quilters use a variety of fabrics year long, but as our seasons shift toward the winter, it seems like more flannel finds its way into our quilting projects. We love flannel for its warmth and softness, but sometimes it can be a little challenging to work with. Here are a few tips for quilting with flannel:

Prewash your flannel fabric – always! No two flannels are guaranteed to shrink alike and flannel often shrinks more than cotton. Keep this in mind when you buy your flannel, too. Add another yard or two just to be on the safe side.
When you prewash your flannel, you can keep those fraying ends at bay by putting your fabric in a pillow case. Stuff the flannel fabric in a pillow case then close the case with two or three safety pins. The fabric – and any fraying threads – will stay inside the case.
Keep in mind how much flannel frays and add a little extra space to your seam allowances. Instead of 1/4 inch seam allowances, you might have to increase the seams to 3/8 of an inch to accommodate the fray.
Consider overlocking your edges, if you have a serger. If you have time to overlock or serge the edges of your fabric pieces, this will help hold down the fraying. However, it might add unwanted weight to your seams. Experiment with a few pieces to see.
Think about a rag quilt project. It’s like the old saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” When your flannel frays, make a rag quilt. Many traditional and contemporary quilt patterns look fabulous as rag quilts too!

Flannel fabric makes wonderful Baby Quilts.

This rag quilt is made using flannel, making it nice and cuddly!

For step-by-step instructions for making this fast and fun rag quilt, click here - Heart Rag Quilt in a Weekend!

Postcard Quilts for the Troops

Christmas Roundup Next - Deadline November 18!

It’s November already! Most of the year as flown by and now we’re facing the busy holidays. This holiday season, don’t forget to show our military men and women how much we appreciate their dedication to our country.

While many of us are home enjoying traditional holidays with our families, they will miss their own families and traditions.Why not start a new holiday tradition of your own this year – one that says thank you to our service members in a unique way?

Work a few fabric postcards into your holiday season. Use some scrap fabric and create a special fabric postcard to send to our soldiers. The directions are very easy. You’ll find free designs to get you started at www.fabric-postcards.com.

Last Christmas, more than 2,200 postcards were sent to American soldiers in the Middle East. Send yours in soon and they’ll be part of the 2009 shipment of Christmas fabric postcards.

The deadline to submit your Christmas postcards for the troops is November 18

You'll find tons of free fabric postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Please send your cards to:
Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149

Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com

Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Special Note - we are in the process of changing the Picture Gallery on the Fabric-Postcards.com site. It may take a few days, so bear with us. Not to worry - We have all of the pictures and will get everything squared away soon.

Featured Block in Video - Airplane Quilt Block

No big celebration this week, just a fun Airplane quilt block that would be great for a quilt destined for an airplane lover or a child. This block actually looks like an airplane, and is really easy to sew together.

It’s easy to sew together and will make a fun block for just about anyone. Because it has a large rectangle piece for the wings, you can even use it as a Friendship block and have your friends sign on the wings!

Visit www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com to see other quilt block videos and get free patterns, including free fabric postcard patterns for Penny's Postcard Posse.

Enjoy!

airplane quilt block

Download the Airplane Quilt Block Pattern

November Quilt Block Patterns

The November selection of free quilt block patterns includes a variety of 4 patch quilt blocks, ranging from the easy to make to some that are a little more complex.

Click here to download your November FREE quilt block patterns