Quilt Supplies Archives | National Quilters Circle

Caring for Your Self-Healing Cutting Mat

November 2, 2017 By Kelly Hanson & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

I love my self-healing cutting mat. Probably one of my best friends, in the sewing room anyway. But did you know that your mat needs some regular care in order to keep it in tip top shape? Otherwise it will begin to look like my old mat here. (Eek!) Caring for your self-healing cutting mat…

Beginner’s Guide to Quilting: Essential Tools & Supplies

August 12, 2017 By Kelly Hanson & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

I am often asked about tips for beginning quilters. “How do I even get started?” is a more common question than you might think! Not only are there lots of new techniques and terminology to learn, but the laundry list of supplies needed for quilting is a bit long and sometimes confusing for those new…

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…

Exploring Decorative Stitches on Your Sewing Machine

March 20, 2017 By Carole Fure & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

My sewing machine was almost twenty years old before I looked at any of the other stitches it offered besides the straight stitch which I used for piecing and the zigzag stitch which I used for mending. What a waste, yet at the same time, what an opportunity. I decided to explore this neglected resource.…

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…

Why You Should Use a Walking Foot for Quilting

February 22, 2017 By Kelly Hanson & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

There are so many makes and models of sewing machines today, a far stretch from the machines of yesteryear. A recent arrival in machines is the dual feed system which enables the feed dogs and machine foot to work together to move the multiple layers of fabric through the machine. Bernina calls it their innovative…

What to Look for in a Rotary Cutter

May 20, 2016 By Jamie Stone & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

Part of achieving precision and beauty in quilt-making is using the right tool for the right job. A rotary cutter is composed of a wheeled blade and a handle, just like a pizza cutter. Because your hand doesn’t nudge the cloth or otherwise get in the way, it’s easier to cut in a straight line…

Selecting the Right Quilting Ruler for the Job

April 28, 2016 By Editor & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

Precisely pieced historic quilts make it hard to believe that quilters from times past could achieve such accuracy with only cardboard templates and scissors. Since the invention of the rotary cutter in 1979, modern quilters have come to rely on special quilting rulers in their quest for piecing perfection. Rulers are available for every imaginable…

Seeing Red with Sew Red Glasses

April 10, 2015 By Kelly Hanson & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

Walking around the booths at any quilt show can be overwhelming. Our senses are set on overload and we often overlook many of the new quilting products on the floor, unintentionally, because there are so many to view. I recently came upon a new product that would give me the ability to give every quilt…

Sewing Machine Troubleshooting

January 9, 2015 By Kelly Hanson & filed under Blog, Quilt Supplies.

So you’ve cleaned and maintained your sewing machine but you’re still having trouble? There are times when cleaning simply does not fix the problem and you will need to take your machine into your dealer or a certified service shop. Before you do that though, make sure to ask yourself these 5 questions to help…