The Quilt Crossing

Travel-Friendly Quilting: Perfect Projects for On-the- Go

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and for many of us, that means travel! Whether you’re
road tripping or flying, it's the perfect opportunity to indulge in a bit of quilting. Smaller, travel-
friendly projects are ideal for keeping your hands busy and your mind relaxed during those long
journeys. Here are a few of my favorite items and patterns that I always bring with me on my adventures:

First, let's talk about notions...
Keeping your quilting projects organized and ready to go is
essential for any quilter. Project bags are the perfect solution for
storing and transporting your supplies, especially when you're
on the go. We're particularly fond of Tula Pink's project bags, especially
the Roar line. These adorable dinosaur-themed bags are not
only functional but also fun and stylish. They're the perfect size
to hold all your small pieces and notions, making it easy to keep
your projects organized.

Whether you're heading to a quilting retreat, a friend's house, or simply working on a project at
home, a project bag is a must-have accessory. It'll help you stay organized, keep your supplies
safe, and make your quilting experience more enjoyable!

The Spring Tension Embroidery Hoop by Colonial is my absolute favorite for traveling.
Its unique design allows for effortless adjustments, making it a breeze to
reposition your project on bumpy roads. Simply place your fabric
and stretch – no fiddling with knobs required. This hoop ensures a
perfectly taut surface every time, making it ideal for quilters and
embroiderers on the go.

The Nifty Needle Pack by Lori Holt is a must-have for any traveling
quilter. This compact needle case is designed to keep your needles
organized and accessible, even on the go. Its flat design and clearly
labeled compartments make it easy to find the perfect needle for any
project.

One of the best features of this needle pack is its slim profile. Unlike bulky
needle cases, the Nifty Needle Pack doesn't take up much space in your
luggage, making it ideal for travel. Whether you're heading to a quilting
retreat or simply taking a weekend getaway, this handy case will
ensure you're always prepared!

Lastly, who hasn't been in a situation where you're all set to start
a project, only to realize you forgot your scissors? Ugh! ?? Well,
fear no more! This leather keychain with built-in scissors is a
lifesaver. It's small, stylish, and always ready when you need it. No
more forgotten scissors, no more searching through your bag for
the elusive pair.
This handy tool is perfect for quilters, crafters, and anyone who
needs a reliable pair of scissors on the go. The compact design
makes it easy to attach to your keys, backpack, or sewing bag, so
you'll always have it within reach. It's the perfect solution for
keeping your scissors safe, secure, and always at your fingertips.

Now that we've covered the essentials, let's dive into some fun and
portable project ideas!

KITS:
Coffee Mugs by Rachel of Greensfield:
One fun idea is stitching up coffee mug ornaments or gift card holders. These quick and easy
projects are ideal for last-minute gifts and can be easily completed on the go. These kits include
everything you need to complete either the gift card holders or ornaments. Simply grab a kit,
find a cozy spot, and stitch away!

Bareroots kits are a fantastic choice for travelers. They come complete with
everything you need, making them perfect for taking on the go. I particularly
love the "Baby It's Cold Outside"; tea towel kit - it's a fun and festive project
that's perfect for the holiday season!

The Warm Feet Ornament Kit is perfect for travel. It includes everything you
need to make six adorable stockings, including wool, felt, embroidery floss, gold
string, and illustrated instructions. Get ready for Christmas while traveling!

PATTERNS:
Got a stash that's bursting at the seams? These patterns are perfect for using
up your extra fabric, floss, or wool. Here are some patterns that we love to do on the go.

Bareroots Turkey Candle Mat:
Make this fun and festive candle mat with wool felts and embroidery stitches
in this charming project from Barri Sue Gaudet for Bareroots Patterns.
Candle Mat finishes to approximately 9" in diameter.

Lily Ann November mini quilt:
These adorable Lily Ann mini quilts are the perfect on-
the-go project! Their compact size makes them easy
to pack in a project bag, so you can stitch up a storm
wherever you go. The November Lily Ann pattern is a
great choice for a quick and satisfying project.

To maximize your travel quilting time, a little prep work can go a long way. One great way to do
this is by using Stitch Revolution iron-on designs.
Imagine this: you have some extra floss and a tea towel lying around. Before your trip, you
simply iron on a design of your choice. Now, you're ready to stitch up a fun and easy project
during your travels. No need for extensive prep work, just grab your floss and start stitching.

This method not only saves time but also allows you to start your project immediately, without
any hassle. It's a fantastic way to make the most of your travel time and create something
beautiful.

If you have a bit more space in your luggage, consider hand-binding your quilt. Not only will
you end up with a beautiful, finished project, but you'll also have a cozy companion for your
journey.

Happy quilting everyone!

How to Pick Fabrics for Quilts: Color Theory for Quilters

We all know that a quilt is so much more than a blanket. Sure, a quilt keeps you warm like a blanket does. But a quilt is also a physical representation of effort, love, and intention. Each handmade quilt is a celebration of patience and skill. A beautiful finished quilt is the result of a lengthy process:

Pick a pattern
Select fabrics, thread, and batting
Cut fabric into pieces
Arrange pieces aesthetically
Sew pieces together into blocks, strips, etc.
Iron, iron, iron
Arrange pieced blocks into full quilt
Sew blocks together
Baste the quilt sandwich
Quilting- by hand, on domestic machine, or longarm machine
Binding

A non-quilter may not realize the extent of the work that goes into a quilt, but anyone can appreciate a visually stunning work of art. If you aim to create quilts to impress, then you’ll benefit from an understanding of color theory.

What is Color Theory?

Color theory is the study of how colors interact and how they can be combined to create pleasing visual effects. It helps artists and designers in all fields understand how to choose and combine colors in their work to achieve certain effects.

You may already have a strong sense of color theory, even if you haven’t encountered the formal concept. Understanding the basic terms of color theory can give you a better language to use when thinking about your fabric color choices.

Color Theory Terms and Definitions

Hue: The pure color, such as red, blue, or yellow.
Saturation: The intensity or purity of a color.
Value: The lightness or darkness of a color.
Complementary Colors: Colors opposite each other on the color wheel, which create contrast when used together.
Analogous Colors: Colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, which harmonize well together.
Warm and Cool Colors: Warm colors (like red, orange, and yellow) evoke warmth and energy, while cool colors (like blue, green, and purple) evoke calmness and tranquility.
Color Harmony: The pleasing arrangement of colors in a composition, achieved through careful selection and arrangement based on color relationships.

While these definitions in words are a fine place to start, it’s best to consider color theory while looking at visual examples. At The Quilt Crossing, we love to recommend the Essential Color Card Deck.

The deck includes 200 cards that illustrate relationships between colors and how varying hues, shades, and tones creates different looks. The deck is a flexible resource, letting you use it however it works best for you. Here’s how we like to use the deck.

How to Use the Essential Color Card Deck to Pick Quilt Colors

Pick your favorite color. For example, let’s say you’re loving a dark spring green color right now.
Sort through the cards to find your color. If you don’t see your exact match on the solid color front of the card, look on the back of each card for the variations on the color. (See sample brown card image.)
Once you’re on the back, you’re now looking 24 colors that are closely related to your favorite.
Think about the mood and atmosphere you want to convey with your quilt. Do you want it to be vibrant and energetic, calm and soothing, or somewhere in between?
It’s time to play! Spread the cards out on the table in front of you. Pick up cards and set them next to your starting color. What looks good? Experiment with different color combinations by arranging the color cards together and observing how they interact. Create different groupings. Stop when you have a handful of combinations that you like.
Now it’s time to take a break and step away from the colors so you can come back in a day or so with fresh eyes. If you can spare the table space, leave the cards spread out as they are. Or use your phone to take pictures of the color combinations.
When you return to your color combinations, one may stand out right away. Or you might quickly see exactly what you want to change.
Once you have a set of colors you love, take your cards (or a photo of your cards) to the quilt shop. Ask the shop staff to help you find fabrics that match your custom color palette.

Once you have your yardage and your pattern, you’re on your way to creating an entirely unique quilt that exactly expresses your intent. Congratulations!

At The Quilt Crossing, community and creativity meet every day. Located in Boise, Idaho, we’re your source for quilt fabric, sewing machines, and ongoing education. Are you ready to start on your custom color quilt? Visit the store, email us, or call us (208-376-0087). We’re here to help you along your quilt journey!

How to Make Your First Quilt: Take a Class in Beginning Quiltmaking

You can make a quilt!

Are you finally ready to give it a shot? We get it. We were there once– admiring quilts made by friends and relatives, but thinking “there’s no way I could do that.” Eventually, though, that thought turns into curiosity: “Maybe I can do that!”

If you follow quilters online, you probably see amazing creations made using machines and tools that are completely foreign to you. The good news is that you don’t need a million fancy tools or an elite sewing machine to get started with quilting. You can create a beautiful quilt that expresses your creativity using simple tools and skills.

Take a Quiltmaking Class

The key to having a great experience as a first-time quilter is to get great instructions. Nothing matches the benefits of learning from an experienced quilter. Though you can find all kinds of quilt-related information online, as a beginner, you don’t know how to sort through all that information to focus on the essentials.

In a class, on the other hand, you have an experienced teacher to guide you through the steps. You’ll minimize your frustration. At The Quilt Crossing, we offer several Beginning Quiltmaking classes throughout the year. (The next series of four classes starts March 11, 2024, then another series starts May 15, 2024.)

In Beginning Quiltmaking, we make the Framed Pattern designed by Carolyn’s Stitches. We love this pattern for beginners because it allows you see how various shapes and sizes work together to create a dynamic effect. By sticking with squares and rectangles, though, we keep the cutting and piecing straightforward. The pattern is designed to be made with a layer cake (a stack of 42 precut 10” x 10” fabric squares in complementary colors and patterns), though you can also choose from yardage. (The Quilt Crossing always has a variety of layer cakes available.)

Example of the Framed Quilt

What does the Beginning Quiltmaking class cover?

Class 1: Quilt Basics

No machine needed in week one. We talk about types of fabric– what works well for quilting, and what you should avoid. We also talk about the principles behind fabric choices– how to combine colors and prints. We’ll walk through the tools you’ll need and get started cutting your fabric. Your homework will be to complete all the cutting and then assemble your pieces into blocks.

Class 2: Start Sewing

Let’s talk about sewing machines! Whether you’re using a hand-me-down machine from Grandma or you have a brand-new computerized machine, the basic sewing functions that you’ll use for the Framed Quilt are the same. We’ll talk about threading, tension, winding bobbins, and how the fabric feeds through the machine. We’ll also spend some time sewing during class. This will give you a chance to ask questions about seam allowances and get tips on how to keep your seams looking neat and even.

Class 3: Sewing Session

We’ll spend most of this session sewing! By the end of this class, we’ll make sure that you’ve sewn together at least one of each style of block.

Class 4: Complete your Quilt Top!

Bring all your finished blocks to class! We’ll play with layouts to find an arrangement that you like the best. We also plan to add a border around the quilt during class. By the end of this final session, your goal is to have a completed quilt top! We’ll also give you guidance toward a completed quilt, including batting, backing, quilting, and binding.

At The Quilt Crossing, community and creativity meet every day. Located in Boise, Idaho, we’re your source for quilt fabric, sewing machines, and ongoing education. Have a question about Beginning Quiltmaking (or any of our other classes)? Visit the store, email us, or call us (208-376-0087). We’re here to help you along your quilt journey!

Class is in session at The Quilt Crossing!