Quilts that sparkle? We love when our medium of fabric and thread can be turned into something completely unexpected! Take, for example, these gemstone quilts by quilt artist MJ Kinman. MJ Kinman’s Quilts Most of us who’ve seen Disney’s “Snow White” have been content to be wowed by the oversized diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. In the Seven Dwarfs’ mine, glinting and glimmering in all their Technicolor glory. For quilt artist MJ Kinman, they were more than eye candy—they were artistic inspiration. “I’ve always loved gems,” MJ says when thinking back on the impact the movie had on her as a yo ..read more

We’ve all experienced the joy—and maybe the anxiety—of creating a quilt for a special someone. We’ve happily volunteered to create it only to, perhaps, feel a little ‘remorse’ once the actual project deadline looms. Fear not! We’re here to help energize your task, give you some project ideas, and encourage you for doing what you do! Here are some tips for personalizing your project. Fact Finding The best way to make a unique project is to receive information directly from the giftee or a trusted friend of theirs, if you can. What do they like: do they have favorite colors, block patterns, quil ..read more

When I returned to New England from QuiltCon in Austin, Texas, I couldn’t help but notice: it snowed again while I was gone. Yes, while I was in the climate-controlled comfort of the exhibit halls surrounded by colorful quilts–and quilters–Mother Nature had thrown another heavy blanket of snow over my region. But I’m a New Englander and a quilter, so I don’t let the weather get me down. From a quilting and surface design standpoint, I know a few ways of turning negative weather into an opportunity to get creative. One, which is today’s topic, is fabric dyeing with rust ..read more

Let Your Creativity Bloom! Aren’t we lucky to have such an abundance of creative inspiration from nature? When the warmer weather rolls around, it’s such a joy to not only revel in the balmy breezes and sunshine, but to bring the beauty of the natural world into our quilting space, and to dream up new designs based on the loveliness all around us. McCall’s Quilting July/August + September/October 2024. With this supersized issue, we’re celebrating the never-ending flowering of ideas that nature’s bounty can inspire. Beautiful flowers, blooming with color and fragrance, attract our attention an ..read more

April is here, and it’s time to celebrate with diamonds! Why diamonds, you ask? Well, apart from being April’s birthstone and symbolizing all things classy and timeless, diamonds make for some seriously fun quilt patterns. This classic geometric shape—with its sharp points and angles—can be incorporated into quilts in several fabulous ways. Lone Star Take the traditional Lone Star quilt. This design typically features diamond-shaped patches radiating outward from the quilt center, creating a mesmerizing effect akin to a bursting star. While maintaining their traditional charm, modern interpret ..read more

Many fiber artists love dyeing fabric. Many want to be sure to use chemical dyes in a safe way to protect themselves and the planet. Today, fabric dyeing expert Candy Glendening of candiedfabrics.com shares information and tips on how to dye fabric safely. Candy uses low-water immersion fabric dyeing techniques to create a range of colors and depth in her fabrics. I love dyeing fabric with Procion-MX Fiber Reactive dyes, they allow me to create fabric that is just the color and visual texture that I need for each of my textile art projects. I’m inspired by all the flora and fauna that surround ..read more

Many fiber artists love dyeing fabric. Many want to be sure to use chemical dyes in a safe way to protect themselves and the planet. Today, fabric dyeing expert Candy Glendening of candiedfabrics.com shares information and tips on how to dye fabric safely. Candy uses low-water immersion fabric dyeing techniques to create a range of colors and depth in her fabrics. I love dyeing fabric with Procion-MX Fiber Reactive dyes, they allow me to create fabric that is just the color and visual texture that I need for each of my textile art projects. I’m inspired by all the flora and fauna that surround ..read more

Our foremothers knew how to make a quilt using only what they had, from scraps of fabric to natural dyes. But, quilt making the frugal and eco-friendly way was easier for them: they didn’t have much of a choice. Pioneer women didn’t have fabric stores, and even our own mothers didn’t have the internet offering fabrics, thread, and surface design supplies available at the click of a button. In this piece, Lisa Kerpoe shows how to make a quilt from dyed fabrics using a rice cereal resist. Lisa wrote a series of articles on kitchen resists for Quilting Arts in 2011 That’s ..read more

Since it was originally filmed in 2015 with Dawn Cavanaugh, the APQS Longarm Quilting Certification interactive workshop has been a perennial best-seller, which we offer twice per year. New and improved for 2024, the AQPS Longarm Quilting Certification for Quilting Daily workshop is taught by Eva Ellison, professional longarm quilter and business owner who received her own certification in 2017. On some levels, the fact that the workshop is so popular is surprising, because it is by no means an easy course. The workshop lasts 14+ weeks, and it involves quite a bit of piecing, as well as free-m ..read more

Since it was originally filmed in 2015 with Dawn Cavanaugh, the APQS Longarm Quilting Certification interactive workshop has been a perennial best-seller, which we offer twice per year. New and improved for 2024, the AQPS Longarm Quilting Certification for Quilting Daily workshop is taught by Eva Ellison, professional longarm quilter and business owner who received her own certification in 2017. On some levels, the fact that the workshop is so popular is surprising, because it is by no means an easy course. The workshop lasts 14+ weeks, and it involves quite a bit of piecing, as well as free-m ..read more