Innholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2023 i Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting

Like most quilters, you’ve likely given away a quilt or two, or twenty, or even more! There’s nothing quite like that feeling of using your creativity to express your sentiments through quilts. In this issue, we explore designs that will help you honor the cherished tradition woven through generations of quilters—the act of giving quilts. Quilts have always been more than mere pieces of fabric stitched together. Sewn with threads of affection, they embody love, care, and the tenderest of intentions. Quilts can help to bind families, friends, and communities together. They can commemorate times of celebration or serve as a comforting presence in times of hardship; either way, quilts have the incredible power to wrap us in their warmth and embrace. A single quilt can have an immeasurable impact…

COLORFUL COILS I am so happy to share this tip with my fellow quilters. Use pencil grips to keep your small tools from rolling off the table or slipping from your hand. I slide them on the handle and if needed, I cut them to the correct length. It makes those small items so much easier to hold and keeps them from rolling away. Brenda Sturgeon Lacon, IL GARDEN VARIETY I hate to waste the selvage strips from fabric. So, I started using them to tie up my tomato plants. They’re strong and add colorful variety to my garden. I hope this tip helps avid quilters and gardeners. Debbie Shultz Clarksville, AR EXTRA POINTS As a brand-new quilter, I have enjoyed learning quilting techniques by watching your show each week.…

FINISHED SIZE: 72” × 88” FINISHED BLOCKS: 20 (16”) blocks This quilt’s dramatic twoblock design is created from some basic, beginnerfriendly units, like Triangle Squares, Flying Geese, and Hourglass units—all in cozy flannels. Angela made small changes to simple patchwork units resulting in a secondary design with big impact. For fabric efficiency, you’ll use two different Flying Geese techniques. (Psst…turn the pages for a scaled-down color option featuring fun novelty prints!) MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. ► 3⅛ yards yellow tonal flannel for blocks, pieced border, and binding ► 1⅝ yards pink tonal flannel for blocks and pieced border ► ¾ yard red tonal flannel for block Y ► 1⅛ yards light green tonal flannel for block Z ► 1¼ yards dark…

FINISHED SIZE: 15” × 15” FINISHED BLOCKS: 9 (4”) blocks With just two foundation-pieced blocks, this pillow goes together guickly. It’s perfect to make for a gift—or for yourself. Designer Wendy Sheppard made three in a variety of autumn colors. MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. Fabric amounts listed are enough for 1 pillow. ► 4 fat eighths** assorted red prints ► 4 fat eighths** assorted cream prints ► 1 fat eighth** brown print for border 1 ► 5/8 yard red print for border 2 and back ► 1 fat quarter* lining fabric ► 18” × 18” batting ► 16” square pillow insert *fat quarter = 18” × 20” **fat eighth = 9” × 20” Fabric: Selected from designer’s personal collection of assorted…

QUILTING THE QUILT There comes a time when you may ask yourself: Do I want to have someone else quilt my tops for me, or do I really want to quilt all my beautiful quilt tops myself? Ask yourself these 10 questions when searching for the longarm machine of your dreams. 1. What is my budget? If the machine you want is beyond your current budget, consider the possibility of financing the balance or the whole machine. What are the financing options? 2. What kind of space do I need? What size quilts will you quilt the most? If you love quilting large quilts but have limited space, a hoop-style frame may be best, I started out with an 8’ frame but very quickly realized I love larger quilts and…

The Hearts and Gizzards quilt shown in this issue’s Hearts Marry Quilts and Couples by Linda Shepard on page 44 is an example of a Robbing Peter to Pay Paul block design. The expression “robbing Peter to pay Paul” comes from the financial juggling of church construction money by British kings from 1675 to 1739. They took money designated for the Church of Saint Peter (also known as the Westminster Abbey) and used it for the construction of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London. This generated no extra money; it just used money from one fund to build up another. Today we might use the expression “robbing Peter to pay Paul” if we borrow on a credit card to make a house payment. The debt doesn’t go away; it’s just arranged…

Try our quick and easy method to make hourglass units without cutting triangles. 1. From one light and one dark fabric, cut one square 1¼” larger than desired finished size of hourglass unit. 2. On wrong side of light square, mark diagonal line from corner to corner. This will be your cutting line. Mark sewing lines 1/4” away on each side of cutting line. 3. Place light square on dark square, right sides facing; sew along marked sewing lines. 4. Cut along marked cutting line to make two triangle-squares. Press seam allowance toward darker fabric. 5. On wrong side of one triangle-square, draw a diagonal line perpendicular to the seam. This will be your cutting line. Mark sewing lines 1/4” away on each side of cutting line. 6. Place triangle-square…

FINISHED SIZE: 36” × 36” FINISHED BLOCKS: 8(12”) blocks Perfectly sized for a tabletop centerpiece, the lively 3-D pinwheel “bows” seem to jump off the quilt to add to the day’s excitement and make it feel like a party! The blank patch in the quilt’s center is ideal for showcasing a cake. Make this thoughtful gift for someone you love or yourself, and it will keep giving joy year after year. MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. ► 1/4 yard black dot for blocks ► 1 yard white solid for blocks and patch ► 1⅛ yards total assorted dot prints for blocks ► 1/2 yard aqua dot for binding ► 11/4 yards backing fabric ► 40” × 40” batting Fabric: Hole Punch Dot…

FINISHED SIZE: 60” × 73” FINISHED BLOCKS: 31 (9”) blocks When it comes to making quilts for giving, every quitter, from beginner to advanced, needs a few fast and simple go-to patterns that can easily target the recipients’ taste—this is one of those patterns! A single pack of 40 precut 10” squares gives you a huge jumpstart on planning, the on-point setting creates additional visual interest, and two complementary solid fabric borders keep all the excitement contained. If you choose to use yardage instead of precut squares, you’ll need 3⅛ yards total of assorted color prints. MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. ► 40 (10” precut squares) assorted color prints for blocks ► ½ yard red solid for border 1 ► ⅞ yard…

After five years together, it was time for my oldest son and his girlfriend to commit. A visit to a used bookstore presented a possible solution. An old quilting book revealed that, according to folklore, gifting a couple a quilt with hearts on it would result in an engagement within the year. Worth a try. At the time, I was reading Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood—a book that incorporates quilt patterns in the section headings. The pattern Hearts and Gizzards, section nine, fit the bill. By Christmas, the project was finished. Without revealing my secret plan, the quilt was gift wrapped and presented to the young couple. Just a few months later, on a trip to Ireland, my son proposed. Fast-forward a decade, and son number two was also in…

In our January/February 2023 issue, we invited you to join our quilted postcard swap. For several weeks, we anxiously waited for the first postcards to arrive. As they started pouring in, we “oohed and aahed” over every reveal—so many creative cards and inspiring stories! All of the postcards have been swapped and mailed to participants, and we’ll continue to share more imaginative reader postcards in our upcoming issues! “I saw a painting with the tree by itself, surrounded by autumn leaves and snow, and thought it was perfect for a postcard. I used commercial fabric, Inktense pens, Sharpie and painted batting (for the snow), and embroidery thread.” Melanie Eber Westminster, CO “Greetings from Oregon where we have abundant wildlife and the elusive Bigfoot (do you see him?). Can’t wait for…

FINISHED SIZE: 60” × 72” FINISHED BLOCKS: 30(12”) blocks Using just three colors and two patch sizes, Rochelle cleverly designed this Quilt of Valor® to be fast to cut, piece, and sew. Vet the complex appearance of the finished design with two pairs of color-mirrored blocks belies the simplicity of construction. You'll be amazed at the efficient use of fabric with very little waste (sorry, scrap bin!). MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. ► 2 yards blue tonal for blocks and binding ► 2¾ yards white tonal for blocks ► 1½ yards red tonal for blocks ► 4⅛ yards backing fabric ► 68” × 80” batting Fabric: Wave Texture by jackie Robinson and Color Weave by Contempo Studios, both for Benartex Fabrics Batting…

FINISHED SIZE: 79” × 102” Liz created this cheerful quilt using vintage prints, framing the patchwork center with rickrack and embellishing the borders with a pretty leafy vine. Our instructions for cutting 60-degree pyramids from pre-pieced sections and making bias strips for the appliqué stems help bring everything together smoothly. MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. ► 8 yards white solid ► 7 yards total assorted 1930s prints and solids ► 1 yard green print for vine ► ¾ yard red solid for binding ► 8½ yards 1/2”-wide red rickrack ► Template material ► 3/8” bias bars (optional) ► 1/4”-wide fusible web tape ► Paper-backed fusible web ► 7½ yards backing fabric ► 88” × 10” batting Fabric: Selected from original designer’s personal…

PATCHWORK T-SHIRT QUILTS Author Amelia Johanson takes a fabric-lovers approach to use sentimental concert, band, superhero, favorite hobby, et cetera t-shirts (or even baby onesies!) in your quilting and sewing projects. Explore 14 step-by-step projects and patterns, from quilts and tote bags to pillows and more. Includes skill-building tutorials on working with T-shirts, quilting basics, patchwork techniques, and other helpful overviews for quilters of all experience levels. foxchapelpublishing.com FLOWER SHOW QUILT This delightful book by Erica Kaprow shows how to add simple hand embroidery embellishment to fusible-appliquéd blocks for a fresh and vibrant look. Twenty-four different blocks in varying sizes, plus a beautiful floral vine border, assemble into a showstopping finished quilt measuring 42½” x 49½”. Quilters could easily use individual blocks to make smaller quilts, pillows, or framed blocks…

FINISHED SIZE: 58” × 70” FINISHED BLOCKS: 6(18”) blocks 3(10” × 18”) blocks This dramatic design showcases two primary colors, ideal for making school colors pop! You’ll use three techniques to make this quilt. Paper Foundation Piecing sections feature just three large patches and the Quick-Pieced Hourglass Units technique is used in just a few units, making this quilt a great way to try both skills. The simple Stitch-and-Flip units sew up quickly, and the remaining piecing is very straightforward. MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. Although fabric amounts are adequate for foundation piecing, you may need more if you cut very generous patches. ► 2⅛ yards gray solid for sections and blocks ► 2 yards red tonal for sections, blocks, and border…

TRUNK SHOW Lessons from a Lifetime of Quilting Heather Peterson designs quilt patterns and fabric lines, teaches, lectures, and has authored over 30 books. If that’s not impressive enough, she started her business, Anka’s Treasures, while a sophomore in college! Whether she’s working on a new design for a fabric line or a new pattern, color is crucial to her work. “It’s what draws me in and stands out the most—both if it’s wrong or if it’s right,” she said. Peterson said she loves experimenting with different color combinations and bold ways of using color. She discovered that one of the easiest ways to work in a bold color combination is to use a colored background in a quilt. “In my Midnight Garden quilt, the navy background makes the pieced…

FINISHED SIZE: 60” × 76” FINISHED BLOCKS: 63 (8”) blocks From her deep scrap stash, Diane found a place for every color in the rainbow! Sweet four-inch blocks have considerable interest due to a wide variety of subtle hue variations. Diane says, “I thought it would be fun to sew a rainbow from my stash, and I learned a lot about how one color can flow into another. Also, this: Yellow is a monster with a mind of its own!” MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. ► ⅝ yard each pink print #1, teal tonal, red print, gold print, blue print #1, light orange print, medium violet print, chartreuse tonal, and medium green print #1 for blocks ► 2½ yards navy solid for…

FINISHED SIZE: 42 ½ ” × 42 ½ ” FINISHED BLOCKS: 9 (12 ½ ”) blocks With four essential quilting skills in Sew Easy Lessons, this delightful baby quilt is ideal for beginners and fun for experienced quitters alike. Just two analogous hues in light-to-dark values make it easy to customize colors. Creative placement of straight-line and ribbon quilting gives this quilt a trendy, modern vibe, sure to be treasured by both babies and parents. MATERIALS Fabric yardage assumes 40” usable width of fabric (WOF) unless otherwise noted. ► 1½ yards white-on-white print for blocks and border ► ⅞ yard dark pink solid for blocks and binding ► 1 fat quarter* each dark orange solid, medium orange solid, and medium pink solid for blocks and border ► ½ yard light…

Try our quick and easy method to make 3-color hourglass units without cutting triangles. 1. Cut one set of matching squares and one set of non-matching squares, 1¼” larger than desired finished size of hourglass unit. 2. On wrong side of one matching square, mark diagonal line from corner to corner. This will be your cutting line. Mark sewing lines 1/4” away from each side of cutting line. Place marked square on square from non-matching set, right sides facing. 3. Sew along marked sewing lines, then cut along marked cutting line. Press seam allowance toward darker fabric. Repeat to make second set of triangle-squares. 4. On wrong side of one triangle-square, draw diagonal line perpendicular to seam. This will be your cutting line. Mark sewing lines 1/4” away from each…