Articles - Suzy Quilts

Articles

Mindfulness, sustainability, organization, and even a little bit of science. We bring you all sorts of information on sewing and pretty much anything that we find interesting in the world of fiber arts!

In this 5 minute guide to quilt pressing tools we show you the best ways to iron fabric and press seams. suzyquilts.com

5 Minute Guide to Quilt Pressing Tools

We have 5 ways to help you grow your creative community so you can feel more connected and inspired! suzyquilts.com

5 Ways to Grow Your Creative Community

Welcome to a NEW Suzy Quilts digital mini magazine — The Cutting Table! Here is a short video tour to show you around.

A Video Tour of The Cutting Table Digital Mini Magazine

February 28, 2023

A Crafter's Guide to Demystifying Thread: Learn all about thread basics when quilting and sewing home projects! suzyquilts.com

A Crafter’s Guide to Demystifying Thread

February 26, 2023

With the Introduction of The Cutting Table, a digital mini magazine filled with sewing tutorials and articles, here is a mini history of quilt magazines and how they shaped quilting as we know it today. suzyquilts.com

A Mini History of Quilt Magazines

February 23, 2023

The Cutting Table is a monthly digital zine subscription filled with inspiring tutorials, in-depth articles and expert video interviews!

Introducing the Cutting Table: A Digital Mini Magazine

February 15, 2023

Make your next quilt soft and cuddly with a microfiber blanket as quilt backing. We have tips to help you make your quilt extra cozy! suzyquilts.com

How To Use a Microfiber Blanket as Quilt Backing

February 9, 2023

This Ultimate Guide to Picking Fabric for a Quilt is packed with actionable steps and tools help you choose fabric with confidence. suzyquilts.com

Picking Fabric for a Quilt: Part 1 – The Creative Process

February 1, 2023

This Ultimate Guide to Picking Fabric for a Quilt is packed with actionable steps and tools help you choose fabric with confidence. suzyquilts.com

Picking Fabric for a Quilt: Part 2 – Design & Color

February 1, 2023

In this 5 minute guide to sewing needles we cover every kind of machine needle and hand sewing needle you may need as a quilter and crafter. suzyquilts.com

5 Minute Guide to Sewing Needles

January 20, 2023

The best 65 audiobooks and podcasts to listen to while sewing and crafting. A list of our favorite sewing books to enjoy and inspire! suzyquilts.com

65 Audiobooks & Podcasts to Listen to While Sewing

January 1, 2023

5 Minute Guide to Quilt Marking Tools | suzyquilts.com

5 Minute Guide to Quilt Marking Tools

December 16, 2022

We are excited to bring you our top 10 Sewing Stocking Stuffers for the quilters and crafters in your life! suzyquilts.com

Top 10 Sewing Stocking Stuffers

December 2, 2022

Use these 6 Steps to Mindful Making to help you stay excited and joyful to make and create through sewing, crafting or even cooking! suzyquilts.com

6 Steps to Mindful Making

November 14, 2022

Watch Suzy tell her story herself in the Suzy Quilts Oral History Interview presented with the Quilt Alliance! #quilting suzyquilts.com

Oral History: Suzy Documents Her Story

October 21, 2022

Learn about all the best quilting rulers, plus handy tools and accessories, in our 5 minute guide! #quilting #sewingdiy suzyqilts.com

5 Minute Guide To Quilting Rulers

October 14, 2022

Read our review of the excellent new book "Zigzag Rope Sewing Projects" and get ready to learn a new fiber craft! #sewingdiy #ropesewingprojects suzyquilts.com

SQ Book Review: Zigzag Rope Sewing Projects

October 6, 2022

Learn about Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley, one of our Suzy Quilts Gives Back partners for 2022! suzyquilts.com

Suzy Quilts Gives Back: Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley

September 30, 2022

Learn about all the pins you need for different quilting techniques, plus handy tools and accessories, in our 5 minute guide! #quilting #sewingdiy suzyqilts.com

5 Minute Guide to Quilting Pins

September 15, 2022

Learn our best tips for quilting time management and take control of your quilting schedule! #quilting suzyquilts.com

4 Tips for Quilting Time Management

August 26, 2022

Learn about Love Columbia, one of five nonprofits Suzy Quilts is donating to in 2022! suzyquilts.com

Suzy Quilts Gives Back: Love Columbia

I have found the best sewing cabinet for quilting and crafting! Folding leaves, legs on wheels and lots of storage are just some of the reasons I love my sewing cabinet. This is an honest review with no sponsorship and no affiliate money. suzyquilts.com #sewingcabinet #sewingtable

The Best Sewing Cabinet for Quilting & Crafting

Stay healthy and feeling well with these 5 tips for good sewing ergonomics. suzyquilts.com #sewing

5 Tips for Good Sewing Ergonomics

Learn about Create and Sustain, a new nonprofit dedicated to quilting sustainably in our Suzy Quilts Gives Back series! suzyquilts.com #quilting #sewing

Suzy Quilts Gives Back: Create and Sustain

Prevent tangles, knots, and frays when hand sewing with thread conditioner. Learn how to use it and our favorites! suzyquilts.com #quilting #sewing

The Ultimate Guide to Thread Conditioner

The Quilt Alliance is one of five nonprofits Suzy Quilts is donating to in 2022. Learn more about their important mission to preserve quilt stories! suzyquilts.com #quilting

Suzy Quilts Gives Back: The Quilt Alliance

Giving back has never been easier! Learn about the meaningful nonprofits your Suzy Quilts pattern purchases will support in 2022. suzyquilts.com #quilting

Giving Back: Suzy Quilts 2022 Nonprofit Giving

February 25, 2022

Learn about sustainable quilting and how to manage and discard your fabric scraps and batting! suzyquilts.com #quilting

Sustainable Quilting 101: Scraps & Batting

February 4, 2022

Tackle your quilt works in progress with six simple tips, and use our free download to organize your projects! suzyquilts.com #quilting #sewingdiy

Organize Your Quilt Works in Progress (Plus a Free Download!)

January 21, 2022

How to use scrap fabric in quilt patterns! Use these tricks to make Suzy Quilts patterns with recycled fabric you already have. #scrappyquilt #sewing #quilt suzyquilts.com

How To Use Scraps in Suzy Quilts Patterns

January 7, 2022

Join us for Part Two of our Suzy Quilts Book Club discussion for the book Fabric of a Nation! suzyquilts.com #quilting #quilthistory

Suzy Quilts Book Club: Fabric of a Nation Discussion Part II

December 13, 2021

From December 1-12 we are celebrating the holiday season with 12 days of giveaways on Instagram! Follow along with @suzyquilts.

12 Days of Giveaways on Instagram!

November 30, 2021

Find the perfect pre-cut friendly Suzy Quilts pattern with this handy guide! suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #quilting

The Best Pre-Cut Friendly Suzy Quilts Patterns

November 24, 2021

Join us for Part One of our Suzy Quilts Book Club discussion for the book Fabric of a Nation! suzyquilts.com #quilting #quilthistory

Suzy Quilts Book Club: Fabric of a Nation Discussion Part I

November 18, 2021

Join the Suzy Quilts Book Club and read about 400 years of quilt history with our creative community! suzyquilts.com #quilting #quiltbook

Announcing the Suzy Quilts Book Club!

October 8, 2021

8 tips for quilting with chronic pain and illness! suzyquilts.com #quilting #sewing

8 Tips for Quilting with Chronic Pain and Illness: Advice from an Expert

The ultimate guide to the best children's board and picture books about quilts! These books make a great gift for the quilter in your life and help the young people you love most see quilts in new ways. suzyquilts.com #quilting #sewing

Top 10 Children’s Books about Quilts

Getting flat seams in your quilts using a tailor's clapper can seem like magic. But it's actually science! Read this question and answer with a scientist and woodworker about how tailor's clapper work and why they leave your quilt seams looking crisp and sharp! suzyquilts.com #quilting #sewingdiy

The Science of Getting Flat Seams Using a Tailor’s Clapper

Quilting with fork pins is the best way to match seams perfectly! suzyquilts.com #quilting #sewingtools

Fork Pins: The Best Way to Match Seams Perfectly

How to Read a Quilt Pattern: 7 Tips for Beginners and Pros

Learn all about ice dyeing from professional hand dyer Brooke Biette, who shares tips for using ice dyed fabrics in quilts, how to care for ice dyed fabrics, and what inspires her hand dye quilting fabric. suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #quilting

Using Ice Dyed Fabrics in Quilts: Interview with Brooke Biette

Simple steps for quilting fabric organization that can be easily adapted to your unique sewing room and fabric stash. Follow these steps with photo examples, links to resources and supplies, and tips to start organizing your fabric stash today. suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #quilting

Simple Steps for Quilt Fabric Organization

The ultimate guide to folding fabric of different sizes to neatly organize your fabric stash. Step by step photos and instructions show you how to fold fat quarters, half yards, and yardage so you can get started on cleaning your sewing studio. suzyquilts.com #fabricorganization #sewing

The Ultimate Guide to Folding Fabric (with Video Tutorial!)

February 19, 2021

3 Tips for Best Practices in Fabric Storage

January 29, 2021

Bisa Butler is an American fiber artist who makes life-sized quilt portraits retelling African American history through fabric and texture. suzyquilts.com #fiberart

Meet a Fabulous Fiber Artist: Bisa Butler

August 28, 2020

Join with hundreds of sewers, crafter and quilters as we make handmade quilts for charity! This annual sew along, led by Suzy Quilts, offers fabric coupons and prizes as we sew quilts to be donated to charities around the world. suzyquilts.com #quiltalong #sewalong

We Sew Together 2020: A Sew Along for Charity

August 14, 2020

A comprehensive list of charities around the world that want quilt donations. Share your love of sewing and give away a quilt! suzyquilts.com

The Ultimate Guide to Quilt Donations: A List of Where and How to Donate Quilts

August 11, 2020

6 quilt photography tips from an expert! How to take photos of your quilts with just an iPhone! This photo is BEFORE editing suzyquilts.com #quiltphotography

6 Quilt Photography Tips from an Expert

How the invention of the sewing machine changed sewing, and specifically quilting, forever – a quick and entertaining history! suzyquilts.com #quilt

How the Invention of the Sewing Machine Changed the World

Learn how to press seams in a quilt. Included is a video tutorial and links to the best tools to use. suzyquilts.com #quilting #quilttutorial

How to Press Seams in a Quilt (with Video Tutorial!)

A list of 6 of the BEST beginner quilt patterns for new quilters! Jelly roll friendly, fat quarter friendly, scrap friendly – perfect for a newbie quilter. suzyquilts.com #quiltpattern #freequiltpattern

The Best Beginner Quilt Patterns For New Quilters

Cotton Batting is the most popular batting choice for quilters for a lot of reasons. Read tips and where to buy too! suzyquilts.com #quilting #sewingtutorial

Why Cotton Batting Is The Most Popular Choice For Quilters

A wool pressing mat can be a wonderful tool in quilting. Portable, lightweight, and made of only natural fibers, these mats can also help iron fabric in half the time! suzyquilts.com #quilting #quiltingtools #sew

An Honest Review of Wool Pressing Mats

A small textiles company, based in Duluth, GA, makes rainbow baby quilts for a cause. suzyquilts.com #rainbowbaybquilt

How One Textiles Company is Making Quilts for a Cause

Raising a toddler has created new levels of chaos in our home I never knew were possible.

SQ Thoughts on Toddlers

February 17, 2020

Desi's First Birthday Party

Desi’s First Birthday Party

February 3, 2020

This 4-step guide will help you plan your quilts this year and maximize your productivity! A clear plan is the best way to have fun and get creative. suzyquilts.com #quiltingtutorial

Plan Your Quilts with this Foolproof Guide

January 22, 2020

Get the inside scoop on the Houston Quilt Festival through interviews with leaders, crafters and teachers in our quilting community | suzyquilts.com

Bluprint All-Access: Houston Quilt Festival

January 21, 2020

An honest review of the Oliso Iron. It's called a smart iron, but what makes it different than other irons? Is it the best iron for you? suzyquilts.com #sewingiron

An Honest Oliso Iron Review: Is It the Best Iron for You?

December 16, 2019

SQ Thoughts: I have a very complicated relationship with my umbrella. Join me in another Dear Diary entry on why I love to hate this perpetually annoying tool | suzyquilts.com #funny

SQ Thoughts on Umbrellas

November 12, 2019

Why wool batting makes the warmest quilts! Learn how to quilt with this beautifully fluffy and sustainable fiber. suzyquilts.com #quilting #quilttutorial

Why Wool Batting Makes the Warmest Quilts

November 4, 2019

Quilters and crafters notoriously have multiple works in progress, or WIPs. These 3 steps will help you sift through those WIPs, clear them out or get them finished! suzyquilts.com #sewing #WIPs #HST

3 Steps to Finish Your WIPs

October 9, 2019

There's so much to think about when picking shoes! Let's walk through the process together | suzyquilts.com #shoes #funny

SQ Thoughts on Picking Shoes

October 2, 2019

How to troubleshoot sewing machine tension! Loose, tangled stitches are a problem and there IS a solution. Use this thread tension checklist to fix your sewing machine problems. suzyquilts.com

How to Troubleshoot Sewing Machine Tension

September 25, 2019

Annabel Wrigley is the founder of Little Pincushion Studio – a creative please that teaches sewing workshops to children as well as adults! Annabel is known for her colorful doodle quilts and bright fabric designs. suzyquilts.com #sewingclasses #kidsewing

Mentoring the Next Generation of Sewists: Meet the Maker

September 23, 2019

Is it a compliment to say, "that handmade item is so nice, it looks like it was bought in a store?" An interesting discussion of how to speak about hand-crafted goods. SuzyQuilts.com #handmade

“I Can’t Even Tell It’s Handmade!” A Maker’s Dilemma

September 18, 2019

All of the reasons Baking Shows make the best TV | SuzyQuilts.com #baking #bakingshow

SQ Thoughts on Baking Shows

September 16, 2019

A list compiling your advice on how to be a working mama. I polled Instagram for your input, and came up with advice from 50 career moms. Suzy Quilts #workingmama #workingmom #familybalance

How To Be A Working Mama: Your Advice

August 12, 2019

Learn all about different rotary cutter sizes, handles, and blades in this complete guide to quilting rotary cutters. Find the best rotary cutter for you! Suzy Quilts #rotarycutter #quiltingtools #quilting

Quilting Rotary Cutters: A Complete Guide

August 12, 2019

3 Strategies to Get Out of a Sewing Rut! Inspire your creativity for sewing! Suzy Quilts

3 Strategies to Get Out of a Sewing Rut

Closet Case sewing patterns come in a range of skill levels and styles. As part of the Suzy Quilts Maker Series, different indie pattern writers are being featured so more craft love can be spread!

Chic, Beginner Friendly Garments: Meet the Maker

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

A Complete Guide to Glue Basting Seams

Bamboo batting is the perfect summer quilt batting! It's lightweight, strong, breathable and has a beautifully soft drape.

Why Bamboo Batting Makes the Perfect Summer Quilt

Meet the Maker blog series: Anna Gaham of Noodlehead creates simple, elegant, easy to follow bag patterns. Follow this blog series to learn about more pattern writers and artists in the sewing industry.

Totally Tote-errific Bag Patterns: Meet the Maker

Meet the Maker blog series: Jenny Gordy of Wiksten creates simple, elegant, easy to follow garment patterns. Follow this blog series to learn about more pattern writers and artists in the sewing industry.

Timeless Basics for Every Wardrobe: Meet the Maker

Your ultimate guide to longarm quilters in the USA and Canada. Find a quilter in your local area, or one that takes mail-in orders.

The Ultimate Guide to Longarm Quilters in the USA and Canada

How I Learned to Hand Quilt with the Mod Mountains Pattern: A fat quarter friendly design that lends itself to lots of creative interpretation. This pattern includes fabric requirements for queen/full, twin, throw and baby quilt sizes.

How I Learned to Hand Quilt with the Mod Mountains Pattern

10 newborn baby essentials - the ultimate guide to a basic baby registry

My 10 Newborn Baby Essentials

Suzy Quilts had a baby!

I had a baby!

The 5 best underrated quilting notions that should be in every sewing room.

5 Underrated Quilting Notions

January 23, 2019

Quilting with knits is not hard, there are just some tricks and tips to know. Learn all about how to sew with knits!

Is Knit a 4-Letter Word? How to Sew with Knits!

January 16, 2019

Step by step how to care for a new quilt. Are you giving a quilt away? Easy instructions and a printable card on how to wash and care for a vintage and new quilt.

How To Care For Your New Quilt

January 9, 2019

If you are a planner, or maybe have trouble picking fabrics for a quilt, check out this video tutorial showing you how to edit digital quilt mockups to test out various colors and swatches. This is an Adobe Illustrator tutorial.

How to Edit Colors of Quilt Mockups Using Adobe Illustrator

January 2, 2019

24 Instagram accounts to inspire your personal color and style!

24 Instagram Accounts to Inspire Your Personal Style

December 14, 2018

Do you have questions about hiring a longarm quilter? This in-depth guide answers all of those questions from fabric to price to turnaround time.

Hiring a Longarm Quilter: An In-Depth Guide

November 7, 2018

The 5 Best Books to learn to quilt - a beginner's guide!

Learn to Quilt: The 5 Best Books to Read

November 5, 2018

6 Ways to tackle your fear of wasting fabric. Have you ever been crippled by indecision because you're afraid to mess things up and waste fabric? These techniques will help.

6 Ways to Tackle Your Fear of Wasting Fabric

October 3, 2018

Judith Scott was a fiber artist who overcame immense obstacles throughout her life, only to be made stronger and more creatively-driven by them. She designed and made mixed media sculptures now seen all over the world.

Meet a Fabulous Fiber Artist: Judith Scott

September 26, 2018

Rachel Clark is an amazing fiber artist who combines quilting techniques with garment sewing.

Meet a Fabulous Fiber Artist: Rachel Clark

September 19, 2018

Marti Michell is not just an author, pattern writer and fabric designer, she almost single-handedly saved quilting from being a dying art and has continued to revolutionize the industry ever since.

Meet a Fabulous Fiber Artist: Marti Michell

September 12, 2018

Faith Ringgold is an accomplished painter, writer, professor and quilter. By combining all of these things, she tells stories through painting in her quilts.

Meet a Fabulous Fiber Artist: Faith Ringgold

September 5, 2018

Nancy Crow is a modern quilt pioneer who has inspired generations of artists with her creativity. This quilt is from her Riff series.

Meet a Fabulous Fiber Artist: Nancy Crow

August 15, 2018

Add canvas to your latest quilt to add texture and depth. Learn tricks, tips and tools to sew with canvas

A Quilty Adventure Part VIII: How to Sew with Canvas

5 secrets you must know before quilting with 12 wt. thread!

5 Secrets to Machine Quilting with 12 wt. Thread

What's the difference between cotton and poly thread? Both are great sewing options, but each one has difference strengths and weaknesses.

The Difference Between Cotton and Poly Thread: A Hard-Hitting Interview

The Paper Cut-Outs of Henri Matisse are a huge inspiration for the Bohemian Garden quilt pattern

Henri Matisse Paper Cut-Outs: Bohemian Garden Inspiration

Should you prewash fabric before quilting?

Should You Prewash Fabric Before Quilting?

a lit of the 5 best machine quilting books that will help you sew like a pro on your home sewing machine

The 5 Best Machine Quilting Books: Quilt Like a Pro at Home!

How is Fabric Made?

How is Fabric Made? Understand the Process in 3 Steps

Daylight-Slimline-Lamp

5 Reasons You’ll Love the Slimline Lamp