Knots. Tangles. Fraying. Breakage. UGH! These are the most frustrating things that can happen while hand sewing. What can you do to prevent them? Use thread conditioner! Most thread conditioners are made with all-natural beeswax, and while using it or not is an optional and personal choice, this handy little notion has many benefits. AndContinue Reading…
This quilt tying tutorial is the most beginner-friendly way to finish a quilt. If you are a new quilter, using yarn or embroidery thread and these simple steps will secure your quilt layers quickly, effectively and last but not least, beautifully. Even if you are not a new quilter, quilt ties can be a fun additionContinue Reading…
In 1970s Argentina, mothers marched in headscarves embroidered with the names of their “disappeared” children. In Tudor, England, when Mary, Queen of Scots, was under house arrest, her needlework carried her messages to the outside world.
From the political propaganda of the Bayeux Tapestry, World War I soldiers coping with PTSD, and the maps sewn by schoolgirls in the New World, to the AIDS quilt, Hmong story clothes, and pink pussyhats, women and men have used the language of sewing to make their voices heard, even in the most desperate of circumstances.
Threads of Life is a chronicle of identity, protest, memory, power, and politics told through the stories of needlework. Clare Hunter, master of the craft, threads her own narrative as she takes us over centuries and across continents—from medieval France to contemporary Mexico and the United States, and from a POW camp in Singapore to a family attic in Scotland—to celebrate the age-old, universal, and underexplored beauty and power of sewing. Threads of Life is an evocative and moving book about the need we have to tell our story.
Before sharing my 5 secrets to machine quilting with 12 wt. thread – travel with me back in time to a few weeks ago (cue dreamy music)… It was a rainy day in May and I was teaching a Sew Mojo Mini workshop (watch the video class here and get the patterns here) in Grand Rapids,Continue Reading…
Ever wonder what’s the difference between cotton and poly thread? Both can be great sewing options, but they are pretty different in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Lucky for you I’m a part-time P.I. with an insatiable drive to answer quilting’s toughest questions and solve our sewing mysteries. Last week I got the chance to sitContinue Reading…
Welcome to Part Two of my “Ode to Thread: The BEST Quality Sewing Thread,” a series of blog posts dedicated to that little old thing that none of us could quilt without. If you missed Part One and want to hear about our thready superhero’s origin story: How Thread is Made, click here. If youContinue Reading…
How is thread made? From magical worms, rows of cotton plants, or crude oil? Possibly all of the above! Did I just confuse the heck out of you? I promise to bring clarity, so stay with me. In this two-part thread series I will explain first how thread is made (so you know which toContinue Reading…
It’s happening! It’s finally happening! In Week 5 of the Shining Star sew along we get to put all of the pieces together and see our finished quilt blocks. Yay! This week we assemble quilt blocks. I’m extra excited about the tips I have for you today because they are easy to apply and truly work.Continue Reading…
In this blog post, you’ll learn how to make your own creamy low volume version of the Glitter & Glow quilt. I’ll walk you through how to select fabrics, how to adjust the fabric and cutting instructions, and how to lay out your quilt. And for a limited time, you can even buy kits toContinue Reading…
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