Welcome!

In our Moody Monday we spoke of the new Star Trek collection that is launching soon and showed the panel we made in trapunto.    A few people asked me what I meant by trapunto so I thought I should explained this technique on our How To Tuesday!

When I first joined Camelot Fabrics, they asked if I could help by making one of the DIY projects for Spring Quilt Market.  Of course I said yes!  I have another excuse to go in my quilt cave and leave my husband alone with the three kids: This is for work!

Imagine my surprise when I saw that the pattern was designed for templates!  I am not a template enthusiast.  As a matter of fact I am more the lazy quilter type who enjoys simple strip piecing projects.  So I put my thinking cap on and figured out how to make this project without using templates.  And I thought: Why not share this on a How To’s Day post? The pattern is called Saybrook Island Pillow by Stephanie Palmer of Late Night Quilter .

We have made many projects with the Rose Quartz & Serenity collection for the Spring Quilt Market not to mention the ties and handkerchiefs that look stunning (You have to look at the picture Fave Quilts took).  So it is difficult to pick out just one project to feature.  But I am opting for the great Butterfly quilt pattern as it’s a relatively easy Queen Size quilt to make.

Please remember that I DO NOT recommend you starting your quilting journey by making a Queen size quilt!  Although I have heard many stories starting like this.  The fact is that quilting is not necessary the easiest hobby to have.  And starting on a big project might mean a very short lived dream of becoming a quilter.  Quilting combines many disciplines: the cutting, the piecing, the sandwiching, the quilting and the binding.  All very challenging!  I tend to call them pitfalls.  So ensure that you kind of master all of these before contemplating a Queen Size quilt.

You can download the free pattern on our website AND you will be happy to know that the pattern has been tested and all corrections have been made to ensure that you really enjoy making the quilt.

Please do send us photos or simply link us up on your social media by adding #camelotfabrics

Happy sewing!

I have received a very good comment in our Moody Monday featuring the Fleece and Flannel.  And I think this How To Tuesday is a great place to debate whether or not to use starch on flannels.

First of all, let me remind you that it’s important to wash your flannels twice as they shrink more than regular cotton. Which means that if you do not wash your cottons, than you can simply wash your flannels once.  But I do recommend that you wash your cottons before starting a project.  You might also want to consider sewing with a wider seam allowance since the flannels tend to fray more.  Keep in mind that if you have pre-washed all your fabrics, it won’t be such a big deal.

Now that I got this part out of the way, let’s discuss starch!  flannel tends to be more flimsy compared to cotton and that can be problematic.  If this is the case than I do recommend adding starch to the wrong side of the fabric to help your sewing.  You should add some before cutting your fabric.

I have seen quilters using starch in a block that is just a bit short:  by adding starch and ironing the block we can magically see the block become the correct size, even a bit bigger!  But I advise caution at this point as once the quilt will be finished and washed, the starch will disappear and the block will go back to it’s initial size.  So be careful and use starch wisely.

Final question: which starch to use?  that is even a longer debate.  There are home-made recipes and we can buy some in grocery stores but my favorite is only available in quilt shops and is scent free.  I found out in a class several years ago that I was allergic to most starch… I had to leave the classroom as my eyes were irritated.  Since that day, I only use the scent free and ensure that I sign up in no-starch classes.

I hope this clarifies how to use flannels in quiltmaking.

Happy Sewing!

You might have seen these stunning projects already either while attending the Spring Quilt Market or simply when looking in the various social media feeds.  Although the Hello, My Deer fabric collection will not be shipping to Quilt shops before August, we thought might appreciate a heads up to get the patterns ready!

Ayda’s V Back dress  –  Simple Life Patterns

Big Kid Slippers  –   Beautiful Pie Patterns

Blanche Barrel Bag   –   Swoon

Box Trot quilt –  Camelot Fabrics Free Project

Saybrook Island Pillow –  Camelot Fabrics Free Project