Making a quilt sandwich for machine quilting can be easier than making a quilt sandwich for hand quilting. First there is not hand basting. It is a waste of time. Start with the bottom layer, right-side down. I try to get it as smooth as possible. If the quilt is large, I pin the back to the carpet. Then lay down the batt. Batt is always wrinkly. I have been known to iron my batt [...]

Selecting a quilt motif is a source of minor stress for me. I want the quilting to enhance the piece work. I see too many quilts that lose visual appeal due to poor quilt designs. Machine quilting in a continuous line is a different ball game than hand quilting. Some designs are better suited to hand quilting than machine quilting. The same can be said for machine quilting. My goal is to find designs that [...]

I have more projects than time allows. None the less, I like to spend my time thinking of new quilt ideas. Today, I’m thinking about a quilt for by brother-in-law. He has an interest in the Asian culture. I’d like to use some of the beautiful fabrics by Kona Bay. He’d be impressed by the jesture. Oriental fabrics are out of my element. The prints are large and bold. The quilt design needs to show [...]