Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Review and giveaway: Tangle Stitches book

by

Tangle Stitches Jane Monk

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher to review. But as always, all opinions expressed here are 100 % my own. 

Review: Step out with Tangle Stitches

Jane Monk is the teacher we all wish we had growing up, in that whatever the challenging subject, she would inspire us to master it. With her new book, Tangle Stitches: For Quilters and Fabric Artists, you’ll feel as if Jane is sitting down with you for a tutoring session on stitching. The premise of her book seems obvious after the fact: she combines Zentangle and needle and thread. Need a way to relax? Hand stitch some Zen. Always been afraid of free motion quilting (FMQ) on a domestic machine? No more with her expert guidance. Afraid to draw? She’s confident you can do it.

In the first part of the book she gives you tools you’ll need, techniques to be successful (such as ways longarm quilters can modify Zentangle for custom work) and patterns for practicing your new skill. The 41 tangle patterns include step outs, these are diagrams for achieving the Zentangle design. The second part of the book includes 10 projects you can stitch using the Zentangle patterns provided in section one. My favorite happens to also be on the front cover, “Pincushion With a Twist”, with instructions on page 71.

Quilters generally fall into 2 categories, those who get more joy from creating the tops and those where stitching is the supreme motivator. With this book, Jane may win the former into the fold of stitching heaven.

Giveaway: Enter to win a copy of this book

The publishers have also given me a book to give away to a lucky Craft Gossip reader. To get a chance to win, leave a comment on this post and tell me the last time you drew something freehand as a creative endeavor and why. It’s okay if it was in grade school.

Contest ends October 4, 2014. Only US and Canadian entrants eligible due to shipping costs.

Next Quilting Pattern:

Comments

  2. I am a substitute teacher and I drew a roller coaster just today to go with a math problem on the white board. I even got a few compliments on my drawing! I like to draw on the board when I teach to spice things up a bit.

  3. I have purchased Zentangle books and “doodled” on paper. It is absolutely amazing how a person with no artistic ability can make something acceptable. I am close to retiring and decided to start quilting. This would be a great way to explore my new passion for quilting.

  4. I free hand drew a manta ray pattern for my son’s school report,then made it out of auto headliner fabric. He got an “A” on his report, that was seven years ago.

  6. As I get older, I find that my need for artistic outlets grows. I found Zentangle and it has sure found me. My DH has had several recent hospitalizations and I have some bags that stay packed. One important bag contains my drawing supplies. That was used one week ago, to relieve stress. I try to remeber some of my favorite tangles and draw from memory. Interesting.

Have you read?

Quick Quilting Projects for the 4th of July

There is something wonderfully satisfying about a 4th of July quilt project that does not take over your entire sewing room, your dining table, and your sanity. I love a full-sized patriotic quilt as much as the next fabric-hoarding woman with “just one more fat quarter bundle” tucked away, but when the holiday is creeping up and the house needs a little red, white and blue cheer, quick quilting projects are the sweet spot.

These smaller patriotic quilting projects are perfect for using scraps, leftover jelly roll strips, fat quarters, and those little red and blue prints we all seem to buy with good intentions. A quilted placemat, table runner, mini quilt, or pillow can instantly make a porch chair, picnic table, guest room, or BBQ buffet feel festive without committing to a months-long project. And honestly, when the teenagers are hovering around the kitchen asking what’s for dinner while Aloo is underfoot giving me that “you dropped fabric, not food” look, I am all for a project that can be cut, stitched, and finished before the next load of washing starts yelling at me.

This roundup is all about quick 4th of July quilting projects with practical holiday decorating in mind. Think patriotic quilted placemats for burgers and lemonade, red white and blue table runners for summer entertaining, flag-inspired quilt blocks that can become pillows or wall hangings, and mini quilts that give you that handmade Americana feel without demanding a whole season of stitching.

Patriotic Quilted Placemats – Freemotion by the River
 These patriotic quilted placemats are exactly the sort of quick project that makes a 4th of July table feel intentional without going overboard. The finished placemat uses a star block with red and white strip piecing, and Connie’s tutorial includes fabric cutting details, piecing, quilting, and binding notes. They are practical enough for burgers on the deck but still pretty enough to use as handmade holiday table décor.

Patriotic Table Runner Tutorial – Mary Go Round Quilts
 This beginner-friendly patriotic table runner uses sawtooth stars and classic red, white and blue fabrics, making it a lovely centrepiece for a buffet, picnic table, or entryway console. The tutorial notes that it can be made in a day, which is exactly what we want when the holiday decorations have somehow been left until the last minute. I also like that the same idea can be adapted into placemats or even a wall hanging.

Stars & Stripes Pillow and Runner Tutorial – Diary of a Quilter
 This project gives you two quick patriotic quilting options in one: a 20-inch pillow or a 14 x 32-inch table runner. It uses two different quilt blocks and includes a printable PDF pattern, which makes it especially nice for quilters who prefer not to keep scrolling on a phone while sewing. The design has that cheerful summer porch feel and would look beautiful with slightly vintage reds and blues.

Simple American Flag Quilt Block Tutorial – Polka Dot Chair
 This free flag-inspired quilt block is a smart one to save because it can become so many things: a pillow front, a mini wall hanging, a table topper, or one block in a larger quilt. The block finishes at 14 x 20 inches and uses 2 1/2-inch strips, so it is a lovely way to use jelly roll leftovers or red, white and blue scraps. The designer also notes that it is inspired by the flag rather than being an exact replica, which gives makers a bit more creative breathing room.

Red, White & Blue Quilted Flag Pillow Patterns – Polka Dot Chair
 Quilted pillows are one of my favourite seasonal swaps because you can keep the insert and simply change the cover as the holidays roll around. These patriotic quilted pillow patterns include flag and star designs, and the article also suggests turning the larger pillow design into a table topper. It is a good option for a polished-looking 4th of July décor piece that still feels handmade and homey.

Patriotic Mini Quilt – The Seasoned Homemaker
 This 20 x 20-inch patriotic mini quilt is a sweet table topper or wall hanging with a sawtooth star and log-cabin-style strips. The tutorial walks through flying geese, adding borders, quilting, squaring up, and binding, so it is a nice skill-builder without becoming too large. I’d use this one on a small side table with a jug of flowers and call the holiday decorating done.

Fireworks Wall Quilt – AllPeopleQuilt
 This patriotic wall quilt has a finished size of 36 1/2 inches square, so it is larger than a mug rug but still very manageable compared with a full quilt. The starburst-style blocks give it a fireworks feel, making it especially suited to Independence Day decorating. It would be lovely hung in an entryway, over a mantel, or even folded over a porch bench for a handmade red, white and blue touch.

Ladybug Liberty Mini Quilt – SewCanShe
 This mini quilt is a playful patriotic project with stars, piecing, and appliqué, plus a charming ladybug feature in the centre. It is especially nice if you want something red, white and blue that is not strictly flag-themed. The post includes free templates and cutting details, making it a cheerful project for a sewing afternoon.

Patchwork US Flag Quilt Tutorial – Diary of a Quilter
 This patchwork flag quilt is a great scrap-buster and still fairly quick because it is based on simple squares. The finished quilt measures 36 x 48 inches, so it works beautifully as a wall hanging, porch quilt, or summer throw. I like this one for anyone who wants a bigger statement piece but still wants straightforward patchwork rather than fiddly piecing.

Simple Strip Quilt – Polka Dot Chair
 This simple strip quilt is not limited to the 4th of July, but it becomes instantly patriotic when made in red, white, and blue fabrics. It is a good beginner-friendly option because strip quilts come together quickly and let the fabric do most of the work. Make it with bold solids for a modern porch throw, or use tiny florals and ginghams for a softer farmhouse-style patriotic quilt.