Summer is in full swing and so are we at TM Quilt Shop,

Just a few more weeks and we will be celebrating our 4th Anniversary. Our theme for grown ups is “Be A Kid Again”, details will be coming as the days draw near. Be sure to enter your name each day for our big prize drawings on July 1st.

What’s New at TM’s:

Voting for our Quilt Challenge Viewer’s Choice is ongoing. The judges’ awards and announcement for Viewer’s Choice will be done on June 30th. We so appreciate those of you who participated.

Block Party pick up is next week and we want to remind you to look over the border and binding kit choices. You must prepay next week in order to pick up your finishing kit in July. The samples are displayed in the shop.

Our Quilting Class Calendar has been updated to include July, August, and September.  Be sure to check out our new classes coming this summer.  The new Knitting Classes will be posted tomorrow.

The New Block Party sign up and samples will also begin on June 30th.
Andrea has been busy collecting and displaying all of our “Employee Favorites”, she has displayed books and patterns, notions are next.

Our home decor area has been recreated with an Asian theme, we invite you to come in and get some simple ideas for your home.

New fabric:
Benartex: Riverbed-beautiful muted colors with reeds, dragonflies, rocks, we will be getting the full lines of “Christmas Treasures” by Susan Winget and “Peppermint and Holly Berries” by Nancy Halverson. We will email you as soon as they are in.
Timeless Treasures: “Noir” several bolts of deep indigo, “Dream Catcher” southwest design, “Heads, Shoulders, Knees &Toes” a fun fabric for kids to color and then assemble to make goofy kids!
SouthSeas: “Good Ship Noah”,
Moda: “Visions” by Sandy Gervais,
M&S Fabrics: from Australia, 10 bolts of interesting Aboriginal designs, perfect for wearables
Free Spirit: 20 bolts of “Field Study”, these colors really glimmer
Loralie: finally, several bolts of her new “Teachers” theme fabric
Michael Miller: desert vista, three new bolts of Cuddle Up,

New Yarn:
Gorgeous selection of Noro Kureyon – it felts beautifully.
Karabella: Boise, Margaritte and new light weight Supercashmere
Novelty yarns: from Crystal Palace: Splash and Blippity, new Fizz and Fizz Stardust
*watch for our July coupons – we will add 20% off of yarn each month.

New books/patterns:
Quilting: New Asian Fabric magazine, “Quilts Through the Seasons” by Eleanor Burns, Super Simple Triangles from Possibilities, 9-Patch Pizzazz and Puzzle Quilts are back in.

Knitting patterns: Felted Fish, Demi Brim Felted Hat, Felted Fish Pajama Bag and Pillow, restock of 2nd Treasury of Magical Knitting, restock of needle felting kit.

New notions:
Finally, the pompom maker is in and it is really fun. Come in and try it.

Marti Michell’s new “My Favorite Log Cabin” rulers in two sizes are in.

I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful customers who have made the last four years so wonderful. A special thanks to our new Knitting Family, including “Mom” Barb, your support and friendship mean so much. And more than ever, to my staff. A group of women whose talent, inspiration and sense of humor I value more each day. Thank you for all that you do.

Hope to see you soon, have a safe summer,

Cassy and Staff

It’s both nice and fun to make a patchwork quilt for a baby as it gives you the chance to use all the cute bits and pieces left over from your previous sewing projects. You may use all sorts of fabric, which is great as you find use for the scraps, but also end up with a pretty amazing quilt for your baby or your friend’s baby.

You only need some various fabrics for this project that combine nicely when it comes to patterns and colors.  A heavier fabric (fleece, faux minky fabric) would give you a luxurious blankie and you may definitely use the fabric for both the backing and for the quilted side. A heavier fabric is nicer as it gives a soft feeling and some texture to your baby quilt.

What you need

You may choose a different fabric for the backing of your quilt. A full yard may be enough for the backing of your quilt.

Get some fat quarters or ½ yards for the opposite side of your quilt. You may also use the scraps. You need to cut them into squares or strips to obtain the patchwork quilt.

Making a baby quilt with fabric strips

If you already got a fabric or have large pieces of fabric around the house, it’s better to work with fabric strips.

This may be the easiest and the most popular method to make a baby quilt.

You only need to cut long strips of fabric of same width. You may go with 5” long strips. You’re going to sew the strips together the long way, obtaining a striped quilt piece. You may cut the blanket into 5” strips all over on and on, using a yard stick or a quilting ruler, in the opposite direction. This way you get a long strip of fabric squares sewed together.

You’re getting to the end of it as you sew the strips back together, resulting into a nice, cute little baby quilt.

How about making a fabric stash quilt

You can either use some fabric stash leftovers from previous projects or get a specific fabric for the baby built. Either way, you may choose various methods to do it.

It’s very likely that you will have to use smaller bits and pieces of fabric on your baby quilt if you use some leftovers from a previous project. You start with cutting the fabric into small square blocks with the same size.

You have to make a square block to use as a baby quilt patter. You simply cut out a square shape from heavy paper or cardboard. The square may be the size you want. You may always print and use a quilt block, skipping a step.

Don’t think big when it comes to baby quilt. After all, the baby isn’t that big after all.

Cut all the corresponding fabrics into squares with the help of the baby quilt block “pattern”. Sew the squares together, end on end, to obtain your baby quilt.

Make an idea about how wide you want your quilt to be and count how many square give you the width you want. If you go for a quilt four squares wide and five squares long, you sew the four-squared end on end for a strip. The fabrics should definitely alternate for nicer appearance. You continue by sewing the second strip, still alternating the fabrics and holding the both strips together. Avoid as much as you can to have two identical fabrics touching.

Hold the strips so that the tops are facing, pin them and sew the strips together the long way. Sew the squares together, end to end, to obtain another strip, until you get the size you want for your quilt. It’s important that all the stitching have the same seam allowance.

Ending your baby quilt project

When you sew together quilt squares, some finishing detailing wouldn’t hurt. You may sew across the quilt some nice, matching ruffled ribbon trims. You cover the seams where the squares meet like this. You may also add some pretty bows (hand sewed), right where all the fabrics meet.

Don’t be afraid to add some minky fabric on the back of the quilt to add some bulk. Cut the minky fabric as big as your quilt is, with the right sides facing inward, pinning it along with the quilt in place.  Sew the blankets together, going ¼” in from the edge. Leave an inch for turning when sewing the four edges of the baby quilt. You get closer to the end after turning the fabric inside out and hand stitching the opening shut.

Any quilt looks better when you pay attention to all details. It’s important to iron and smooth the stitching on your baby quilt, especially its edges. Use a zigzag stitch at ½” from the edge, making a nice border all the way around your baby quilt. As for the thread, a bright one that matches the quilt may be the final touch that your baby quilt needs.