Tips, Tricks, and How Tos

Do you have holiday gifts to whip up this year? Are you the type who plans months ahead or are you team “Last-Minute Chaos”? Well, let me confess, I’m the reigning champion of last-minute sewing marathons (yes, Christmas Eve, we meet again). But this year, Kate (of Kate Colleran Designs) and I had an epiphany: why not sprinkle a little Christmas magic in July and give ourselves a head start? Enter Nordic Stars! This mystery quilt along is all about festive fun and getting ahead of the holiday rush. It’s packed with 4 super cute small projects that are perfect...

Ever wanted to make elegant cloth napkins, but either: a. didn’t have enough fabric or b. think that a traditional cloth napkin is boring? I was in both camps, so I decided to make napkins with borders! I used 3 fabrics – a big blue paisley, a small yellow print for the border and a large floral for the back. Traditionally a dinner napkin for formal dinner settings is 20-22” square. I chose an 18” square napkin, as these are just for everyday use.  Here is a view of the pieces for the front of the napkin: The pieces for ONE...

Introducing the Happy Hallows Quilt! It’s a collaboration between Kate Colleran Designs and Poorhouse Quilt Designs. It consists of 12 pieced blocks, with a dash of fall and a sprinkle of Halloween! There are 2 layouts included in our printed pattern: a square, perfect for hanging, and a lap quilt, perfect for snuggles! In the beginning: During Quilt Market in Houston (2023), Kate and I discussed a project over coffee and the Koffee Klatch with Kate and Kris was born!  We thought it would be fun to design a BOM quilt with simple graphic shapes that could be customized with the quilters’ stash. We...

It’s week 4, and we are wrapping up this Take-Along Sew Along! This week, I’m going to show you my take on a colorful guitar-style strap for this tote! Here are the previous posts in this series, in case you need to catch up: Week 1 – customize the bag flap   Week 2 – add your own pocket features  Week 3 – bag finishing tips  The Take-Along Tote is designed to take along when you are off on a full day of shopping, doctor’s appointments, or what have you. The tote converts from a generous shoulder bag to a walker...

It’s week 3 of the Take-Along Sew Along - let’s finish up the bag portion of the Take Along-Tote! To catch up on previous posts: Week 1 - customize the look! Week 2 - Add some pocket features. The Take-Along Tote is designed to take along when you are off on a full day of shopping, doctor’s appointments, or what have you. The tote converts from a generous shoulder bag to a walker or wheelchair tote. This means that the caregiver can conveniently carry the tote for the day, or your loved one can attach it to a walker and...