Category Archives: hand quilting

Recreating the Iconic American Beauty Quilt

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Sewfrench

Many years ago while visiting the Michigan State Quilt Museum, in Lansing Michigan, I came across a quilt from 1876. I will never forget it. The boldness of the red and green stopped me in my tracks. Many more years … Continue reading →

Posted in Gifts, hand quilting, Quilting, Sewing, Uncategorized, video | Tagged "paper piecing", American Beauty Quilt, baby quilt, crafts, hand quilting, New York Beauty quilt, quilt, quilting, quilts, sewing | Leave a comment

Designing the Ultimate Sewing Studio for Creatives

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Sewfrench

In a heartfelt journey of transformation, we embraced change, moving closer to our grandchildren, and creating a new dream studio. Through meticulous design and cherished memories, I built a space brimming with intention, comfort, and inspiration. Blessed with love, light, and creativity, it reflects a life dedicated to passion and purpose. Continue reading →

Posted in Crafting, Design, Favorite Things, hand quilting, organizing, Quilting, scrap, scraps, Sewing, studio, Uncategorized, Where I Sew, Where I Sew | Tagged art, before and after, craft room, crafts, decor, fabric, organization, organize, quilt, quilting, quilts, reveal, sewing, sewing room, studio, WIP | Leave a comment

Proud To Be An American

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Sewfrench

For many Christmas’s, my five siblings, and I, rotated through our names and each made a hand crafted gift for another. I almost always make a quilt. I had previously made three (sadly no photo of the first…) for this … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Crafting, Design, fabric, Gifts, hand quilting, Quilting, Uncategorized | Tagged "pure solids", Art Gallery fabrics, crafts, fabric, hand quilting, patriotic quilt, quilt, quilt reveal, quilting, quilts, Quilts of Valor, red white blue quilt, sewing, Verteran's quilt | Leave a comment

Crafting a Custom Sized Freewheeling Single Girl Quilt

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Sewfrench

This is the second time I’ve made this Freewheeling Single Girl quilt. The first time was for our oldest granddaughter’s high school graduation in 2017. Both times I resized the rings so you got more rings per quilt. To make … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafting, Design, fabric, hand quilting, Quilting, scrap, Uncategorized | Tagged cooking, crafts, Denise Schmidt, freewheeling single girl quilt, gifts, hand quilting, quilt, quilting, quilts, sewing, single girl quilt | 1 Comment

Perfectly Imperfect

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Sewfrench

Our family’s penchant for making, and appreciating, art comes from many places. There is no doubt these two ladies had an influence in that department. These two sweet ladies are some of the strongest women I have ever known. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016 Completes, Christmas, Family, hand quilting, Quilting, Quilts and their History, Uncategorized | Tagged design, handquilting, heriloom, quilting, scrap quilt | 13 Comments

How to Mark a Baptist Fan

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Sewfrench

With a little help from my friends, I settled in on the Baptist Fan quilting design for my Garden Party quilt, I shared last week. I do mark the entire quilt top before I start quilting and ideally I mark it before I … Continue reading →

Posted in Design, fabric, hand quilting, Quilting, Tutorial | Tagged 60 degree, baptist fan, diamond quilt, Dream Wool batting, hand quilting, how to mark a baptist fan, Kaffe Fassett, Marking a baptist fan | 5 Comments

New Leaves

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Sewfrench

As for the Bloggers’ Quilt Festival, you vote by going here and then click in the upper right hand corner, of your favorite quilt picture. A red heart will appear when you have voted. Thanks if mine was a favorite!! If not, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015 completes, Design, fabric, Gifts, hand quilting, Quilting, Quotes | Tagged Amit Ray, baptist fan, Bloggers Quilt Festival Spring 2015, BQF, falling leaf, hand quilted, hand quilting, how to make a maple leaf quilt, kona cotton, Maple leaf, Marking a baptist fan, quote, solids, vintage quilt | 16 Comments

I Am Beginning to See the Light…

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Sewfrench

Cleaning up, a quilt before it is completely finished, is probably my less favorite part. After the quilting is finished, and the binding is on but before it heads to the washer, I probably spend 20 minutes inspecting and carefully trimming … Continue reading →

Posted in Design, Fabric Tuesday, hand quilting, Quilting, Sewing, WIP | Tagged constellation quilt, dye bleeding, embroidery, hand quilting, quilting, star quilt, stars | 10 Comments

Echo Quilting

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Sewfrench

Another quilt that has been in progress for a long time is in my lap today. I finally decided on how to quilt it. Spiral quilting it will be. And yes, you can see, I had a change of plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafting, Design, fabric, hand quilting, Quilting | Tagged big stitch, chalk pencil, drawing templates, echo quilting, echo quilting tutorial, hand quilting, how to draw, how to mark echo quilting, how to spiral quilt, quilting pencil | 4 Comments

“Always in My Heart”

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Sewfrench

For my T-Tapp trainer and dear friend, Michelle. Aptly titled because this is where we carry those who leave this place before what we think of as their time. Quilted with hugs, and filled with love, because sometimes that is the best … Continue reading →