, Do you have a memory to be quilted?

Sew in the Know Newsletter!

Are you in your garden yet? What about that quilt in your sewing area? Can you hear it calling you?

Each season brings new opportunities to squeeze a few minutes in here and there to start or finish a new quilt top. A rainy day... a cancelled retreat where no one thinks you are home....hmmm...you might think that happened to me!

And yes it did - so here is the result! It was a mystery quilt that for whatever reason I never started until the last retreat I attended. I had almost completed it at the retreat but had borders to make to finish it. When the spring retreat was cancelled (darn it) I decided not to tell anyone I was home! I finished the quilt, quilted and bound it. It was not my favourite quilt but in person it is quite stunning.

Because the quilting pattern (bohemian leaves) was one I really liked - I backed it in 118 inch white muslin (yes I have some in stock) so it will make a lovely fresh white quilt if I flip it over. ( be sure to ask about all the lovely widebacks I have in stock - see them here)

This issue I decided it was time to share a few quilting secrets I have up my sleeve - mostly that are tool related. Using great tools often helps with accuracy and final outcome... so read on!

I also have a special "mother's day offer" at the very bottom of the newsletter!

Studio Tuesdays are still on - and Marsha - one of my regular attendees has just completed a pattern I designed that I call "Alberta Bound". It is a Delectable Mountain block that is quick finish using Northwoods from Northcott. Here is the top before it gets quilted:

I am working on the pattern directions and will have it available for sale soon!

There's much more below including a bit on "it's hip to be square" and some design products I use as well as a small section on memory quilts. (there are 2 short videos below as well)

Am I headed your way? Well .... yes I might be! Make sure to send your pick up requests to be added to me pick up and delivery schedule...

In the meantime - quilt on (in between yard clean up, gardening and all the other outdoor activities)

Mandie (the quilter)

Located in Limerick (Near Bancroft) Ontario, she travels hither, thither and yon to spread quilting merriment!

Pick up and Delivery Request

Next Pick up and delivery will take place May 7th - 12th

I will be in Newmarket on Wednesday the 7th of May

Request your pick up here

Did you know... filling out the pick up request helps me AND you.

I print these sheets out and put them with your quilts so that all the instructions and your address are with your quilt. It also helps me to plan my pick up and delivery routes!

May 4th, 2025

Saying goodbye to a fellow quilter

Thirty-one quilts and a lot of laughter later - Jaquie G and I said goodbye to Lynda Farrell. Lynda and Jacquie in addition to being neighbours - were stitched together at the hip - best of friends. They helped each other with their quilts - binding quilts, fabric shopping and workshopping together. Lynda always had something funny to say, was fiercly loyal to those she cared for and a fairly new but accomplished quilter. Since 2020, I have quilted 31 quilts for her - each one better than the last. And all of them beautiful. Quite often when delivering their quilts, the three of us would sit and have a coffee on Jacquie's porch in Hamilton. One of my first videos featured Lynda's "Goodnight Irene" quilt. Lynda passed on Wednesday night after a short stay in the hospital - where in even her last few hours she found reasons to laugh. I am so grateful to have met her and privileged to quilt her creations. Sleep well my friend.

NEW! I have updated the website to reflect new longarming training I am offering!

You can book a six hour training session, enjoy an after training hike in the woods (if you like) and work in a bright studio with 8 large windows showing off the beauty of nature! Learn more here

On a personal note.... for those who know a little about me - my quilting journey has been therapeutic in more ways than one. The change of the seasons for me brought an end to a long darker personal trial. It has prompted me to unleash my creativity so stay tuned. If you want to read a little of an 8 year journey you can read it here.

Longarm Quilting Services

Backings and Battings

Tools I use for designing quilts

I am terrible at reading a pattern. That being said - the mystery quilt I just finished is exactly finished as it was written. But I have to tell you that took great concentration.

I love designing my own quilts with speed, accuracy and cost in mind because I know we often are short on time AND funds.

I used to use graph paper - and even used draw on my computer. Four years ago my guy bought me "Remarkable 2" for Christmas. Wowzers!

No email interruptions and I can draw and write with a pencil just like paper. I can copy and paste like in draw programs. And VOILA - I have a quilt designed and I can super-impose quilting on it as well. I can even import a pdf picture of a quilt and super=impose quilting on it as well.

I love it! I highly recommend something like this if you like to see it before you sew it. As you can see in the images I have a designed quilt with quilting and in the other image it shows just some of the quilts and files I have been working on. Want a quilt designed....just ask me!

Another program I like to use is called "prequilt". Along with to scale quilts the program also tells you how much fabric you will need and allows you to sell your pattern as well. Take a look at 2 of my new patterns that will soon be available here.

Whatever you use - get creative this spring and try designing your own creation!

It's hip to be square...

I have always been interested in a lot of things that I eventually explored as hobbies. Cooking, baking, decorating, gardening and even woodworking are things I have dabbled in and I have developed a little skill in all these things - except for woodworking.

I love to build things, but no matter how I try, I just can't seem to get the knack of squaring things up. I also struggle with measuring twice and cutting once. I have mastered the use of a drill - and I have no issues using a circular saw - but the construction of a thing is best left to someone with more skill than I can muster. Wood is not nearly as forgiving as fabric is!

Quilting memories - treasured remembrances

Memory quilts are not always my favourite to make - but I try to keep in mind the reason for the quilt. Over the years I have created many t-shirt quilts. Some were for sports or event t-shirts and others were t-shirts for a loved one that had passed. The one to the left is an event t-shirt quilt.

Some of the best quilts however were made from cotton shirts. Instead of simple large blocks like t-shirt quilts have - I cut and pressed the largest parts of the shirts and cut them into triangles or other blocks and create an actual quilt square. I also use half square triangles to create simple designs. On the left below is a quilt made from plaid shirts.

Once the quilt is quilted - I often add a personalized label on the back that tells a small bit of the story about the quilt.

Below on the right is another quilt that was made from "gramdma's favourite shirts and her living room curtains". What a project and what a great quilt it turned out to be! In the end memory quilts may not be the most beautiful of designs - but they are often the most treasured quilts because each fabric represents a memory.

Mother's Day Offer!

Do you have a friend who is also a quilter? Why not get them a gift certificate to help them finish their next quilt? If you would like to purchase a $100.00 gift certificate for a friend. They will actually get a $125.00 gift certificate. I will also send you a $25.00 gift certificate for quilting just for giving one away! THat's a $50.00 savings on longarming! You can purchase the gift certificates here. I will e-mail you and your friend a gift certificate - or I can email both to you! (Give me 24 hours to process the certificates please) Happy Mother's Day to All - even if you are a pet Mom!

Occasionally life gets in the way of our hobbies, addictions and compulsions! If quilting is your therapy and life has gotten in the way of your ability to pay immediately - please let me know!

SHORT ON FUNDS?

Please do not let a temporary 'shortage of funds' delay you from getting your quilt longarmed! Contact me - and we can work out a payment plan. (yes - we can!) And I can also offer Visa and Mastercard options. Contact me here to learn more.

Thanks for reading to the end!

Please pardon any typos... I am a quilter and still brushing up on my editing skills!

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Have questions or comments - please be sure to let me know. Email me at info@janestreetquilts.com

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