Half-square triangles are as basic as it gets, but that doesn’t mean they are boring. Those little easy-to-make blocks are so amazingly versatile, I’ll never stop building with ‘em. Today’s project, Reflective Stars, is a modern mashup of simple and complex design elements. But because we’re using half-square triangles, construction is a cinch! Click HERE to watch the tutorial.
Every year about this time my inner Christmas elf comes sneaking out. I start cooking up ideas for cool handmade gifts that are as fun to make as they are to receive. My applique tea towels combine raw edge applique with free motion quilting, so it’s a win-win for me! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
Stitch in the ditch is a style of machine quilting that simply follows the seam lines of the quilt top. The trouble is, all those layers of fabric and batting can really bog down the operation. My advice? Swap out your presser foot for a walking foot. The walking foot is like “4-wheel drive” for your machine. It gently guides the top layer of fabric in sync with the feed dogs, so everything stays smooth and properly sandwiched. Click HERE to learn how to stitch in the ditch with your walking foot!
A sewing machine is an amazing tool, but it needs regular maintenance to function at its best. If you’re worried about working on your own machine, don’t be! I have over 15 years experience as a sewing machine technician, and I can tell you, cleaning routines and basic fixes are a piece of cake! Today I’m demonstrating how to keep your drop-in bobbin in tip-top shape. Click HERE to watch the video. (Check out more sewing machine maintenance tutorials HERE!)
I’ve got to admit, I’m a bit of a tree hugger. And with good reason! Over the course of one year, a 100-foot-tall Oak can convert 50 pounds of carbon dioxide into 6,000 pounds of oxygen. That’s a lot of fresh air! That same tree can sustain 284 species of insects, which, in turn, support countless birds and small mammals. In short, trees are amazing! Click HERE to learn how to make my latest tree-inspired design, The Tree Hugger Quilt!
If you’ve been following Man Sewing for long, you know I love working with The Burst Block. (Check out the entire Burst Block playlist HERE.) My Burst Block Template makes construction simple, and there are so many cool ways to put these blocks together, I can’t help but rebuild this quilt every once in awhile. This week’s Gator Quilt is my newest Burst Block creation, and with this fun, twisty layout, you don’t have to worry about lining up seams!
Come on, baby! Let’s do the twist! It’s time for another Free Motion Quilting tutorial. This week, we’re working on a Basic Twist. It’s a simple motif that packs a punch when you need to fill large areas. In this tutorial, I’ll show you two versions of this design, so pick your favorite and start stitching! Click HERE to watch the vid. (This is the 17th video in my FMQ series. I’ve gone over techniques, troubleshooting, and tons of cool motifs. Check out the entire collection HERE!)
In many forms of art, there are no shortcuts. No “marble carving made easy.” No “glass blowing for dummies.” Talent must be honed over years of meticulous practice, and even then, it takes a good dose of natural ability to succeed. Luckily, quilting is one art that can be enjoyed by just about everyone, no matter your skill level. Today’s Checkered Cross is an intricate design, but the construction is so simple, even a beginner can tackle this quilt! Click HERE to watch the vid!
There are hundreds of bag patterns out there, but when I make a tote, I don’t settle for ordinary. It’s got to look great, and it’s got to be tons of fun to make. This week, I grabbed a jelly roll, ironed the pieces into narrow, multi-layered strips, and started zig-zagging like a madman. It’s a unique construction, but the result is a cool, durable bag that is unlike anything you’ve seen before! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
Crank up the tunes and get comfy, folks, cuz we’re headed for a piecing palooza! Today I’m stitching together a sea of gray hexagons. Add a punch of rainbow-ordered color, and you’ve got a super-modern color wheel! If you enjoy the piecing process as much as I do, this quilt is going to rock your world! Click HERE to watch the tutorial
