fabric Archives | National Quilters Circle

5 Fabric Flower Ideas for Your Next Quilt

July 24, 2019 By Editor & filed under Blog.

Flowers are a fun way to add some 3-dimensional interest to any quilt. Whether you are looking for ideas for your next art quilt or you are looking for the finishing touch to make your quilt come together perfectly, this list of hand-selected tutorials highlights exciting ways to create a variety of fabric flowers. We hope these tutorials will inspire you to look for fun ways to incorporate different flowers or 3D embellishments onto your quilts.

Organizing Your Sewing Room Part 2: Fabric

May 7, 2017 By Kelly Hanson & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

Have you ever looked around your sewing area and thought, “There has to be a better way!” Personally, I’ve been struggling with a bit of fabric disorganization as of late. I’m always so busy finishing a quilt or cutting out the next project that I often start piling up fabric on the side of my…

Add Excitement to Your Quilt Top by Breaking the Rules

March 31, 2017 By Victoria Benson & filed under Blog, Tips & Ideas.

Have you ever looked through a quilt magazine and wondered why your quilts don’t have that extra something like the ones on the magazine pages? The odds are pretty good that the quilter broke one of the hard-and-fast rules of quilt design. We’re taught to follow the rules while we’re growing up, so our eye…

15 Reasons to Buy More Fabric

March 16, 2017 By Editor & filed under Blog, Just for Fun.

“I don’t think I need any more fabric; I’ve got all that I need”… said no one ever! In case you need any motivation to go out and buy more fabric for your next quilting project (though we highly doubt that you do!), here are 15 reasons to help you support your case! Special thanks…

Quilting Fabric Quality: Is More Expensive Always Better?

March 2, 2017 By Victoria Benson & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

Photo by Hank Hession Most beginning quilters have one of two competing mindsets about fabric: either they want to be frugal (like our quilting ancestors) and plan to use the least expensive fabric they can find, or they want to create something that lasts centuries (like our quilting ancestors) so they use the most expensive…

Quilted Jewelry Part 2: Creating the Gem Stones

January 25, 2017 By Colleen Ansbaugh & filed under Projects.

In Part 1 of this project, we talked about how quilted jewelry can be a great project for using up all those wonderful fabric scraps we tend to have lying around. We also talked about design ideas for your jewelry, as well as how to audition fabrics to select exactly the prints and patterns you…

Quilted Jewelry Part 1: From Scraps to Gem Stones

January 13, 2017 By Colleen Ansbaugh & filed under Projects.

Do you stifle the urge to part with lovely leftover fabrics, but unsure of how to use them? Many of us save cut-offs and tid-bits, tossing them into containers to be consumed on a rainy day. Or, perhaps you clip leftover fabrics into strips which seldom see the light of day. Or maybe just collect…

Make Your Own Gift Bags, Tags, and Greeting Cards

December 7, 2016 By Editor & filed under Blog, Projects, Tips & Ideas.

Are you tired of buying wrapping paper and gift bags year after year only to have them be thrown away as soon as the gift they are concealing is opened? Why not make your own gift wrapping materials that are not only reusable but beautiful and customizable enough that they become part of the gift…

Can I Mix Old and New Fabrics?

October 25, 2016 By Editor & filed under Ask a Quilting Expert, Blog.

I have inherited some hand piecing work from my mom. They were probably pieced during the 1920s or 30s. I’m thinking of making borders from new fabric (with an older, heirloom look), but I am a little concerned about incorporating old and new because of strength, durability, etc. What do you think? Submitted via email…

Where Should I Place My Ruler?

September 14, 2016 By Editor & filed under Ask a Quilting Expert.

In terms of measuring, I have often wondered whether the line on a ruler should sit ON the edge or BESIDE the edge of the fabric? I know it might only be a whisker difference but should I only see fabric beneath the measurement line? Submitted by Denise What a good question! I personally prefer…