Quilting Techniques and Tips | Sewing Blog
ByCaroline Fairbanks-CritchfieldUpdated on
See all of the Color By Number Quiltalong Videos that we have so far here.
Join me and lots of online quilting friends sewing my Color By Number Quilt and then quilting 14 simple designs – it’s going to be so much fun!
The livestream video where I introduced this quilt along will play automatically in the video player on this page. If it doesn’t automatically play, you can see it on YouTube here.
There’s also a schedule of the video releases for our quilt along below.
Even a free motion newbie quilter can quilt along with us because…
The quilt is only 63” x 54” so it is easily quiltable with a regular home sewing machine
We’ll break the free-motion quilting into 14 sessions so each time we get to practice a simple design in a 4 1/2” square.
Sometimes I’ll use rulers and share ruler quilting tips, but I’ll show you how to quilt the designs without rulers too
The free Color By Number quilt pattern is perfect for a quilt along because there are 14 different fabrics in this quilt and each fabric is repeated exactly 12 times. That means we will be able to practice 14 simple quilting designs 12 times each.
How to Quilt Along With Us!
Pick out 14 fat quarters for your quilt.
Arrange the fat quarters in an order that you like.
Print up the coloring sheet and tags found in the Color By Number tutorial to help organize your fabrics.
From each fat quarter cut 3 strips 5’’ x 22’’ (or the width of your fat quarter).
And that’s all for now!
Keep reading for more information about fabrics and rulers plus our Sew Along Schedule.
Here are the fabrics that I’m going to use on my Color By Number quilt. I chose solids because they’ll make it easy for you to see what I’m doing when we are quilting.
I found this pretty Robert Kaufman fat quarter bundle on Amazon, but I still need to add 2 more fabrics because the bundle only has 12. I’m adding a light cream color fabric (Kona Snow) to the middle of the pile and then I’m adding a dark pink (Art Gallery Cherry LipGloss) to the bottom. But I am going to make the darkest pink fabrics #1 and the orange fabric you see on top in the picture will be my #14.
You totally don’t have to use the same fabrics as me! I just know that someone is going to ask what mine are, so that’s why I’m sharing specifics. 🙂
As I mentioned in the video, I’ll use quilting rulers for some of the designs on this quilt, but I’ll also show how to quilt the design without rulers too. You can use the same quilting rulers as I have, or others that you have already purchased or that you like, but please don’t use cutting rulers! They are too thin and can cause damage to your sewing machine.
For most of the rulerwork designs, all you will need is a straight edge ruler or an arc ruler. I shared this one from Sew Steady because it has both the arc and the straight edge in one, plus great marking lines. You can buy it separately or together with a rulerwork foot for your sewing machine.
I don’t want anyone to go out and buy a lot of rulers and then not have the ones that we’ll be using in this quiltalong, so I will limit our rulerwork designs to the rulers seen in the above photo. All of these rulers are found in Westalee Designs Template Set #1. They are great basic rulers to add to your collection (or start a ruler collection!) but if you already have similar rulers, you’ll probably be able to make yours work.
And don’t forget, I’ll show you how to quilt all of the designs without rulers too, for people who don’t like quilting with rulers.
I can’t wait to get started on another Color By Number quilt with you! Post pictures of the fabrics that you picked and tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe or #sewcanshe so I can see! Also use the tag #colorbynumberquiltalong so other people can find it too!
Happy quilting,
Featured
16 Fabulous Sewing Ideas for Fall – free sewing patterns and tutorials
How to Sew a Closet Organizer with lots of pockets – Free Sewing Pattern
Sew an organizer covered with pockets that you can hang in your closet! This easy sewing project is great for organizing sewing and craft supplies, fashion accessories, bathroom necessities, gift wrappings, and more. There are pockets on both sides plus a big interior pocket so every bit of space is used. I’ll show you easy step by step instructions for sewing this organizer and putting it to use in your home. Get sew organized today.
How to Sew a Closet Organizer with lots of pockets – Part 2
Are you sewing a Closet Organizer with me? I hope so! This is Part 2 of our free sewing tutorial for an amazing organizer with a coat hanger inside so you can hang it anywhere.
If you are getting started, make sure you start at Part 1 of the free pattern.
DIY Woven Basket – with optional handles! {free tutorial}
Be a basketmaker! Sure, you can sew, but did you know that you can make amazing baskets too using your sewing machine, some fabric and the same materials that you use for your other projects?
Quilt As You Go (QAYG) Tote with Pom Poms – easy sewing tutorial
Have you fallen in love with Quilt as You Go yet? It’s a fun technique for quilts, of course, but I’m having lots of fun using it for pouchesand tote bags too.
Monthly Mini Quilt for January 2018 – Flora!
I’m so excited to share with you the pattern for our first mini quilt of 2018… Flora! This beautiful little quilt was designed by the very talented Lauren of Molly & Mama…
Easy Peasy Lunchbag – Free Sewing Tutorial
At my daughter Chloe’s high school (can you believe my baby started high school???), the lunch lines are so long that she has been skipping lunch! She’s always starving by the time she gets home because she doesn’t want to carry a big lunch bag as well as her heavy backpack – poor girl!
25+ Beautiful Table Runners for Your Table – All Free
Looking for free table runner patterns? I gathered up all my favorites in one place – here are free quilt patterns for table runners for fall, winter, spring and summer!
How to Sew an Easy Patchwork Quilt using 2 1/2” Fabric Squares – Postage Stamp Quilt!
I am so in love with the beautiful look of simple patchwork quilts with lots of squares. This is the perfect way to use up fabric scraps like I did, or you can make a beautifully coordinated quilt with pre-cut 2 1/2’’ square fabric pieces that come in mini-charm packs.
I’m also in love with the process. If you feel like quilt making is your escape from the world and sitting down to sew for a few hours makes your troubles fade away… this is the quilt for you!
1 Yard Magic Apron {free sewing pattern}
Sew an easy beautiful apron with this free sewing pattern that only uses one yard of fabric! Whether you are sewing for yourself or for a friend, an apron always comes in handy and makes a great gift. This blog post includes a link to a free template that I digitized for you.
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂
