(Don't) Be Afraid...

I had an interesting comment from someone who was concerned about free motion quilting on their sewing machine because they were afraid of damaging their wonderful vintage machine. This person did eventually do some quilting and was presently surprised at how well it worked. I was glad she took the chance because I know how sturdy these older machines are and I would have no qualms about using them to sew in really tough conditions.

Singer 201 has a large harp space, perfect for free motion quilting - and the feed dogs drop too!

This led me to question how many opportunities do we miss because we are uncertain about the outcome. This is where additional knowledge can be a big help. By reaching out to someone who has experience, or reading a blog or taking a course you can alleviate some of that uncertainty and take a chance on more opportunities....

I've always shied away from trying monofilament thread on my quilts. I know that lots of quilters like to use it in quilting, especially when quilting in the ditch where it just seems to blend into the quilt. I had tried to use a monofilament thread years ago and had nothing but problems with it - stretching, snapping - it wasn't a good scene.

Love Superior Thread's MonoPoly thread! Photo courtesy of www.superiorthreads.com

I was recently reading about using Superior MonoPoly thread and thought that I would pluck up the courage to give it a try with my Janome Horizon Memory Craft QCP8900. I wound a bobbin with some 50 weight cotton thread and tentatively placed the spool of MonoPoly into my machine and threaded it up. I took a deep breath and started to stitch. Surprise! I didn't have any problems with this thread at all! I couldn't believe how easily it ran through the machine and how well it worked for me. I loved this thread for stitching in the ditch and for doing the quilting on the rest of the wall hanging. What had I been missing out on all these years? Stitching with a monofilament thread, that's what! Taking a chance and trying something new can turn out really, really well. 

Next time you're afraid to try something new with your sewing machine, just take a deep breath and give it a shot. Like trying a new thread - or quilting on your vintage sewing machine.

If you've ever been hesitant to try something you were afraid of, but went ahead anyway, I'd love to hear how it turned out for you. Leave me a comment in the area below.

Creatively,

Telecast Thursday - Die Cutting for the Clover Yo-Yo Maker

Welcome to telecast Thursday! This week I'll show you how to use your die cutter to prepare fabric and quilt batting to use with the Clover Yo-Yo Maker. While you can free hand cut the fabric once it's in the yo-yo maker, I prefer to prepare my fabric first by cutting it out using my AccuQuilt GO! die cutter.

You can watch the video below or on my Youtube channel.

Subscribe to my Youtube channel to receive automatic notifications when new videos are posted. You can also click on the Chatterbox Quilts logo in the lower right corner on the video itself to subscribe. If you enjoyed this video, please like and share my videos with your fellow creatives.

Creatively,

Telecast Thursday - Die Cutting Quilt Batting Appliqués

It's Telecast Thursday - the last one of November. It's also Thanksgiving for my American readers, so I hope you're enjoying a wonderful day with family and friends.

This week I'm continuing to focus on quilt batting - there are so many more uses than just as a filler for your quilt. 

Have you ever considered cutting batting with your die cutter? If not, you'll want to watch this video to see how easy it is to do. It opens up a whole other dimension for using quilt batting - as appliqué embellishments.

You can watch the video below or on my Youtube channel.

At Chatterbox Quilts Youtube channel we release fresh new content each week. Subscribe to our channel to receive automatic notifications when new videos are posted. If you enjoy watching our videos, please like and share them with your fellow creatives.

Creatively,

Holiday Gift Ideas - Quilted and Stitched Gifts

Yesterday I gave you some embroidered gift ideas. If hand embroidery isn't your cup of tea, you might want to make a quilted or stitched gift. If so, you'll enjoy these patterns:

Snow Cool is a quick appliqué wall hanging project using fusible web and it's FREE! Learn how to do this easy appliqué technique in Essential Guide To Fusible Web Appliqué.  

Snow Cool by Chatterbox Quilts uses hand embroidery and fusible web appliqué to create a small wall hanging.

Bundle Up is the perfect table runner or wall hanging, again created using fusible web appliqué. I've made this as a table runner and as a wall hanging: just change the orientation of the appliqués to create a vertical design. With its blustery theme, Bundle Up can decorate your house all through the winter.

Bundle Up by Chatterbox Quilts can be either a table runner or a wall hanging.

If you like circles, Bubbly Stripes is the pattern for you. This can also be either a table runner or a wall hanging. Change the look of Bubbly Stripes for the holiday season by creating it in Christmas or winter fabrics. Use the various decorative stitches on your sewing machine to finish the edges of the fusible web appliqué circles or stitch across the circles with decorative machine stitches to create ornaments from the circles.

Bubbly Stripes by Chatterbox Quilts would look great in seasonal fabrics with decorative machine stitching around the appliquéd circles.

For frosty appeal, create Snowflakes a' Fallin'. This is also a fusible web appliqué design by Chatterbox Quilts that can be either a table runner or a wall hanging - you don't even have to change the orientation of the snowflakes for this one. There is lots of opportunity for embellishment with this pattern, so get out your metallic threads and hot-fix crystals!

Snowflakes a' Fallin' by Chatterbox Quilts makes a lovely table runner.

If you're new to fusible web appliqué, enrol in my on-line course, Essential Guide to Fusible Web Appliqué to learn all about this easy appliqué technique.

Enrol in Essential Guide to Fusible Web Appliqué to learn how to do this fast technique.

 If you have stitchy friends who own a vintage sewing machine, they'll appreciate Vintage Sewing Machine Covers. This pattern includes a table runner just the right size for most vintage sewing machine cabinets as well as a bed extension cozy for the singer Featherweight sewing machine. Both of these are very easy and quick to make.

They might also appreciate the gift of an on-line course on how to repair, rejuvenate and care for their vintage sewing machine. The Joy of Vintage Sewing Machines teaches these skills and more as well as the pattern and instructions on how to create both of the projects in the Vintage Sewing Machine Covers pattern.

Learn about purchasing and rejuvenating a vintage sewing machine in The Joy of Vintage Sewing Machines.

If you're looking for a quick stitched project, these make wonderful gifts:

Myrtle is a little owl that is perfect for sewing friends to hold quilting or sewing supplies or just to keep them company in their studio. I like to create Myrtle using recycled suiting fabric. You might even find yourself making a second Myrtle just for you!

Myrtle by Chatterbox Quilts is a cute and helpful studio companion.

Use upcycled vintage linens to create detail on Myrtle's back.

With just a few supplies, you can create a project in the hoop. This is the quickest gift to whip up and it's so fun to embellish it to add that personal touch. Learn how to create the project in the hoop by watching the video below or on my Youtube channel.

Looking for a really quick gift - and no sewing. Create this quick project in a hoop and you'll be done in no time. Lots of embellishment opportunities with this project.

If you have any quick gift ideas for the holidays, I'd love to hear them. Please share them in the comments below.

Happy creating!

Class sale at Craftsy!

Just a quick note that Craftsy is having a HUGE sale. You can save up to 50% off any of their classes.

I've been enjoying several quilting classes lately. You might enjoy enrolling in them too, especially now with the reduced price.

I never thought learning about quilt bindings would be fun and interesting, but Susan Cleveland makes it so in her class, "The Perfect Finish: How to Bind a Quilt". You'll definitely want to check out this technique class.

I've also been enjoying learning with Debby Brown in her course, "Free Motion Quilting with Lines, Curves and Loops". Debby uses 5 letters to create stunning free motion designs and she makes it look so easy.

Enrol in great courses at fantastic prices - but only until November 1!

Creatively,

P.S. I am a Craftsy affiliate and receive compensation if you enrol using my links. This helps me to continue to create videos, tutorials and share with all of you. Thanks!