In 1820 – for the very first time – thread was sold on spools. (Before that, it was skeins or hanks. Can you imagine the tangles?!)
The spools were made by a local woodturner, and the thread was wound by hand at the Clark Brothers’ factory in Paisley, Scotland. Like old fashioned soda bottles, these wooden spools came with an extra half-penny charge that was refunded when the empty spool was returned to the shop. My, how times have changed!
This week, Jenny is whipping up a homage to the magnificent spool with a brand new jelly roll quilt.
Spool Stars and Stitches starts like a classic fence rail with easy strip sets. Then, a bit of clever cutting transforms those basic strips into pretty little cross-stitch x blocks and stars made of spools! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
There’s a pretty big football game this week. Best of the season, they say. And while I do enjoy a touchdown or two, those yards of turf just can’t compare to a yard of brand new quilting fabric! So while those football stars are racing to the endzone, I’ll be stitchin’ up a team of my own all stars!
The All Stars quilt is based on a design by Jenny’s cute husband, Ron. It’s a quick, modern pattern that makes use of two of our favorite precuts: 10 inch squares and 2.5 inch strips.
The first star of the evening seems to shine alone for quite some time until, gradually, another twinkle appears in the night sky. Then another and another, until suddenly an endless sea of sparkling stars fills the dark horizon.
Today’s new quilt is a star pattern, and while you work to put together one pretty star, you’ll find that sweet little pinwheels appear as if by magic! Before you know it, those beautiful blocks come together in a stunning display of stars and pinwheels. Click HERE to watch the tutorial.
Click the above image to download the FREE printable PDF.
Have you ever heard of Fabriflair™? It’s a brand new product from Indygo Junction. Paper piecing with mat board templates to create beautiful three-dimensional projects that are eye catching and so much fun! You can learn more about it in our latest issue of Block Magazine.
Think…
Dimensional paper piecing
“Material” amusements for needle and thread
Eye candy for quilters
Fabriflair™ kits are such a clever, unique way to showcase favorite fabrics, embroidery and fiber art for quilters and sewers alike. And they’re quick projects, so it’s a nice break from always feeling like you have to finish those UFOs and PHDs.
Here’s how it works: Cover pre-cut, rigid mat board templates with your favorite fabrics and piece them together into decorative and functional projects. It’s English Paper Piecing with a twist and it’s dimensional so no need to remove the “papers” or “templates”. Whether you pull from your stash for a more eclectic look or grab a precut pack from your favorite designer’s new line, once you start stitching you will find it’s addictive!
Take a look at this short video for a peek at the process:
My name is Amy Barickman. Check out my book Vintage Notions and RJR fabric lines for more of my story. My company Indygo Junction has produced patterns and books inspired by my extensive collection of vintage patterns, fabrics and embroidery designs. Fabriflair™ was inspired by a dimensional star I found created with feed sack prints with buttons accenting the center of each star! It started with a star and now we have 6 kits available!
Fabriflair™ is the perfect on-the-go project for quilters. Easily portable and perfect for pre-cuts! If you love to keep your hands busy, these can easily be stitched in your leisure time while watching sporting events (kids or on TV) or listening to your favorite podcast!
While you can make Fabriflair™ for yourself showcasing your favorite new charm pack, you can also personalize Fabriflair™ for friends and family using all kinds of themed/novelty fabrics!
We are huge Royals Fans here in Kansas City! 2016 World Champs! How about combining your team’s fabric and up-cycling shirting for this Brio Sphere. I am also Kansas Jayhawk Alumni and die hard fan!!! Here’s my Radiant Star showcasing a combination of several novelty team fabrics.
Christmas will be here before we know it! I love the large Radiant Star as a centerpiece or even a tree topper!
My favorite ornaments on my tree are hand made with a story! Try making a Trilliant Ornament or Brio Sphere with vintage fabric and beads or personalize with an embroidered name. A perfect keepsake to make with leftover fabrics from your quilt. Stitch up an ornament to accompany a quilt you are giving as a gift!!
Enter to win! Now it’s your turn! Share your ideas for personalizing Fabriflair™ in comments and choose 1 (or all) of the options to enter above and could win all six kits along with a Fat Quarter pack of my new RJR line Vintage Made Modern- Stitcher’s Garden OR a second winner will win $25 MSQC Quilter’s Cash.
There are so many basic quilt blocks that become the building blocks of other new designs. For example, the half square triangle can be put into thousands of different arrangements to create completely new quilt patterns. Then add other basic blocks to it and you’ve got so many more new options! That’s how today’s pattern was born. Put together some half square triangle blocks and four patch blocks and you get the Four Patch Stars Quilt! It’s beautiful and super simple to make!
Click on the button below to watch the video and find everything you’ll need to get started!
