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Welcome to another edition of the Quiltdom Press!

This week we’ll walk you through the basics of needle turn appliqué.

If you’ve never dipped your toes in the appliqué waters, take this as your sign to give it a try! The linked tutorials and fun inspo are guaranteed to entice you. 

Here’s what you’ll get today!

• Tips to Make Your Quilting Life Easier: The Basics of Needle-Turn Appliqué 

• Tools We Love: Magnetic Needle Minder

• Fabric Feature: The Meadow Star Collection

• Make Your Life Quilty: Inspiration from Around the Web

“The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.”— Neil Gaiman

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TIPS TO MAKE YOUR QUILT LIFE EASIER

Needle-turn appliqué is a technique in which the raw edge of an appliqué piece is turned under as the piece is being sewn to the fabric base. It is a fun skill to add to your repertoire and a great way to embellish quilts. 

For needle-turn appliqué, you are essentially using the whip stitch to sew down a shape. You grab your needle and bring it from underneath the applique piece to the top, coming up right through the line you drew when tracing a template.

Fold under the seam allowance and bring your needle back down through the backing fabric and then straight back up through the edge of the appliqué piece, about 1/8” away from where you went down.

Continue all the way around the appliqué piece, sewing on the line you drew. Once you get to the end, simply tie off your thread. 

Here's a more in-depth tutorial from start to finish (plus a video!), including making and tracing templates and securing your thread when finished.

GAME-CHANGING TOOLS

Whether you’re stitching applique or hand-quilting, these magnetic needle minders are a game changer. Say goodbye to lost needles in your couch or on the floor, these keep your needles with your project at all times! Their modern, minimalist design makes them a fun and handy stitching accessory that you won’t be able to live without.

Simply separate the magnet on the back, and place it underneath your project. Then bring the top piece above and let it snap in place!

When you’re ready to hit pause on a project, set your needle down on the magnet and voila - it will be there waiting for you when you’re ready to start working again.

More must-have hand sewing supplies::

Embroidery Scissors - A good pair of embroidery scissors is a must! Having clean cuts through your thread makes the world of a difference, and often determines whether or not you’ll be trying to thread your needle for a lifetime.

Needle Holder  - These boxes are a great way to safely organize all of your needles. They come in a large variety of patterns and designs, making it the perfect personal touch to your sewing stash.

Seam Ripper - Most of us lived with a boring seam ripper for the majority of our quilting lifetime, but it doesn’t have to be that way! We love elevating basic supplies to be more personalized and reflective of our style or aesthetic.

FABRIC FEATURE

This week’s fabric feature is the Meadow Star Collection from Ruby Star Society by Alexia Abegg and obsessed may be an understatement. A beautiful collection full of retro and vintage inspiration, from the granny squares to the polka-dots and the blooming florals throughout the fabrics, this collection will have everyone’s attention.

We’re loving all of these mockups from Amanda Wilbert of Pieced Just Sew, and almost all of them are fat quarter friendly! Such a great way to showcase all of the fabrics in the collection.

This Early Hours Quilt from Modernly Morgan was born to be made from the Meadow Star Collection! Its traditional roots pair perfectly with the vintage charm of the fabrics. 

Another great use for this collection - The Classic Tote by Sprinkle of Sewing! This one, made by @adamsela, will surely inspire you to make one of your own.

MAKE YOUR LIFE QUILTY

Sticking with the appliqué theme from our tips section, we have some beautiful inspiration that is bound to have you itching for a needle-turn project.

The Bohemian Garden Quilt Pattern by Suzy Quilts was inspired by the paper cutouts of artist Henri Matisse. She recommends making her pattern using knits and has several videos to help you along the way!

Another fun way to dip your toe into the appliqué waters - this kit from it’s all in the stitch! It has everything you need to make a small, needle-turn appliqué wall hanging, and is perfect for trying the technique out without committing to a large project.

We are also loving the Gracie’s Garden Sampler by Brandywine Designs. With a more traditional vibe, this quilt is made to be an heirloom, passed down for generations.

The Viral Cleaning Tablets Everyone’s Talking About!

Everyone cleans their clothes and dishes regularly but when was the last time you actually made sure that the appliance responsible for doing the cleaning was clean itself?

Sad Fact: Dirty appliances don't clean well. You wouldn't bathe in a dirty bathtub so why are you washing your things in dirty machines?

Join the over 1 million happy customers who use ACTIVE's viral cleaning tablets and stop worrying whether or not your appliances are actually cleaning like they're supposed to again!

Get Your ACTIVE Tablets Today!

POPULAR ON OUR BLOG

Here are a few not-to-be-missed articles from Quiltdom to round out today's newsletter. 

3-Yard Quilt Patterns: Sometimes, you want to make a quilt with a minimal fabric selection and timeless appeal. These 15 patterns make fabric selection a breeze and are usually wonderful beginner-friendly designs. 

11 Walk-About Quilt Ideas: The walk-about pattern is a straightforward, beginner-friendly quilt design with large squares. Also, check out the instructions in making this quilt.

Wall Hanging Your Quilt: If you make a beautiful applique quilt (or any quilt for that matter), you may decide to turn it into a wall-hanging rather than a bed covering. Check out these wall-hanging ideas and products for your work of art. 

SUBSCRIBER QUILT PROJECTS

This week, we’re featuring a lovely checkerboard quilt from one of our amazing subscribers, Emma. This red, white, and black beauty was created from a charm pack Emma loved and a pattern design she crafted after playing around with the fabrics.

So much talent in our community at the Quiltdom Press. Thank you, Emma!