A New Finish + Tips: Glue Basting + Back-to-School Sewing

Greetings friends!

Hoping this week's edition finds you well!

Last year I released a new pattern that was exclusive to a quilt kit. I'm excited to share that the Quarter Star Quilt pattern is now available as a independant pattern in both PDF and Paper options

This 72" x 72" throw-size quilt is Fat Quarter Friendly (only requires 12 FQ's) plus background yardage. And the pattern includes short-cut piecing tips that make this quilt come together really fast! The original quilt was made with a spring Liberty of London collection, but thinking a Christmas version would be really cute as well!

This week this pattern is marked down 25% as the pattern of the week!

Click button below for more details + quilt kit info.

Tips + Tricks: Glue Basting

Have you ever tried using glue - or Glue Basting - when quilting? Guest writer Cristy Fincher is the master. I took a class from her at Quilt Con one year and it blew my mind a little.

Cristy has a post with LOADS of tips for different ways you can use a common, back-to-school staple: Washable Elmer's Glue to make your piecing perfect and precise. It's great for piecing curves too!

(And now's a great time to grab some Elmer's Glue with back to school sales!)

Fun Finds on the Web - Back To School-Inspired Sewing Ideas

Looking for a fun way to use up scraps for something practical? Jennifer Long of Sew A Story has a free tutorial for a darling patchwork iPad case (easy to customize to any size tablet). Jen has lots of other project organization ideas too.

This simple oil cloth zipper pouch tutorial from Tea Rose Home is both practical and easy to make.

Or for something more decorative: Melissa from the Polkadot Chair has a fun Rainbow Quilted pencil pouch tutorial.

For someone going to college: check out this Padded Laptop Case tutorial from Suzy Quilts.

Sew up a handy zipper pouch or chapstick holder (tutorials by Ameroonie Designs) as the perfect back-to-school gifts for any student.

Current Sales and Specials:

​Sojo Faric is having a Back to School Sale with great discounts on marked-down bundles and yardage.

​Connecting Threads is having an up to 50% off Clearance Sale right now. Plus get an extra 10% off using code QUILT10. A great time to stock up on some basics, notions, thread, etc.

The Ingrid's Flowers Embroidery Kits are back in stock at Missouri Star Quilt Company. Use this link to get 20% off the kit! (Discount taken at check out.)

As I mentioned (and you can probably already tell by the theme of this newsletter): school started in our neighborhood this week. The absolutely bonkers part for me is not that it's already here (although that is somewhat bonkers) but the fact none of my kids went "back to school" in the public schools for the first time in 20 years!

My oldest two (daughters) have finished school and work fulltime, the fourth is preparing to go on a mission/service trip next week. My third (oldest son) just returned home from his mission on Wednesday and will start college at the end of September. So he'll be our only student this year.

As I mentioned last week, for two weeks I've got all four kids at home at the same time for the first time in two years - and possibly the last time for another two years. Having them all here is bringing back memories of busy summers when they were all growing up and yet it's different too, now that they're all adults!

To all of the people who say things like "watch out! It goes so fast!", well, I finally believe you.

And, at the same time, in the thick of all of those years going to parent teacher conferences, managing homework, figuring out carpools, buying school supplies, etc. etc. ... it didn't always feel fast. lol.

So if you're still in the "thick of it all", I'm sending some love and sister-solidarity your way.

I know some people feel sad hitting these milestones with kids growing, but I'm not going to lie - I've kind of loved it. There are definitely parts that are bittersweet, for sure. For example, for the past 20 straight years I've pretty much had life mapped out for me - at least as it related to being a mom and planning around a school schedule and calendar. (Except that part about dealing with school during a global pandemic. That part was pretty out of the ordinary.)

And now, for the first time I'm not beholden to a school schedule and because of that I'll have a lot less structure in my mom-life. It's both a both exciting and dis-orienting thought. The reality of this new life probably won't hit until 2 weeks from now when they're all in their own respective homes. We'll see how it goes. I'll report back. Wish us luck!

As always, thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

Amy

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