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In 1969, Jimi Hendrix electrified Woodstock with his rendition of the national anthem. He was playing a white Fender Stratocaster. In 1964, Keith Richards rocked out on his Les Paul at the Rolling Stones’ very first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. And in 1992, Eric Clapton strummed an acoustic Martin as he recorded his smash hit, “Tears in Heaven.” These guitars are as iconic as the stars who played them. I’m such a superfan, I couldn’t help but capture their cool, classic lines in quilt form. Click HERE to learn how to make my Unstrung Hero quilt. (Great news: This project is available asRead More →

Pineapple Peekaboo

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  We love following trends. In the 70s it was bell bottoms and disco. The 80s brought perms and acid wash to the masses. Grungy jeans and flannel were all the rage in the 90s. And today? Well, it’s all about pineapples! Pineapples are everywhere in fashion and decor. I’ve seen lamps, socks, earrings, and even a little pineapple-shaped dog house for your pampered pup. The whole world is in love with these golden fruits, and it’s no wonder; pineapples represent sunshine and warmth and far-off adventures. This week I’m making a reverse applique pineapple quilt using fantastic batiks and my trusty Shark Applicutter. ThisRead More →

FMQ Simple Squares Motif

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I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed with this new FMQ motif, so I’ve prepared a couple of questions to help you gauge whether you are up to the challenge: 1- Can you sew a straight line? 2- How ‘bout kinda-sorta straight? If you answered yes, you’re ready to tackle Simple Squares! To create this motif, simply follow a chalk grid. No curves. No corners. Just long, straight lines. And when you’re done, you’ve got an awesome “plaid” design that can be further embellished or left alone. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

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If you love exact measurements, rules, and instructions, it can be hard to let loose with Free Motion Quilting. How do you know if you’re doing it “right?” Where should you stitch next? How many swirls is the right number of swirls? Luckily, the Circle Grid Motif is the perfect mix of creativity and structure. You’re working on a grid, so all you have to do is swoop from point A to point B. And swoop by swoop, your FMQ confidence will grow – and your quilt will look awesome. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Quilting a T-Shirt Quilt

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Leaving a quilt unfinished is like shaving only half your moustache. It’s like mixing up cookie dough and never baking the cookies. It’s like planting an apple tree and letting the apples fall to the ground unpicked. What a waste! If you’re going to spend the time and effort to construct an awesome quilt top, do yourself a huge favor and finish it so it can be used and enjoyed! This week I’m demonstrating how to baste and quilt a t-shirt quilt. (You can learn how to make the quilt top HERE.) Click HERE to watch the tutorial. I think you’ll find the finishing touchesRead More →

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You did it! You successfully pieced, sandwiched, and quilted a cool new project. It’s looking great, but before you finish it off with binding, there’s one more step you just can’t skip: squaring the quilt. This week I’m demonstrating how easy it is to achieve perfect straight sides and 90-degree corners. Click HERE to watch the tutorial and learn how to take your quilts from “good enough” to first-class!

Make a Foldover Bag with Man Sewing's Rob Appell!

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  I’m here to tell you, no matter who you are, you need a bag! Today I’m working on a lined Foldover Bag with a zippered pocket, a heavy-duty strap, and a super durable cork fabric bottom. This bag would look awesome on a man or woman, and construction is a blast. Click HERE to watch the tutorial! (You may remember that I used cork fabric in my Streamline Wallet tutorial. Cork fabric is a high-quality product, so you pay a little more upfront, but it wears like leather so it’s an investment worth making! Plus, you can order one roll and get two awesomeRead More →

Buffalo Plaid Quilt

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Inspired by lumberjacks, cowboys, and Scottish warriors, the Buffalo Plaid Quilt is quite possibly the manliest quilt of all time. This is the quilt you reach for after a chilly wood-chopping session. This is the quilt you sleep with in a snow cave carved with your bare hands. This is the quilt that will keep you warm after a long day of wrestling bears and alligators. It’s rugged stuff. Of course, with a soft-as-butter flannel backing, it’s also super cuddly, and strip set construction makes it a cinch to put together. Click HERE to watch the tutorial. (A big thanks to my pal, Shea Henderson,Read More →

Make a Stars, Stripes and Diamonds Quilt with Rob!

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The half-square triangle is one of the simplest elements of quilting; I can crank out entire stacks in my sleep! But the really cool thing is how versatile they are. No doubt a thousand years from now, we’ll still be using half-square triangles to make new and innovative designs, (Of course we’ll probably be able to control sewing machines with our minds by then.) Today I’m working on the Stars, Stripes, and Diamonds Quilt. This design is packed with action, but it’s as easy as laying out your half-square triangles in the right order. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Make a Hot Iron Travel Cover with Rob!

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I’ve been lucky to travel all over the country to share my love of quilting. After so many trips, I’m pretty good at packing my gear quickly, but waiting for the iron to cool off can really slow me down!  That’s why I made this week’s tutorial, the Hot Iron Travel Cover!  This little insulated cover slips right over the hot plate of your iron!  Click HERE to watch the vid!