HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Out with the old, in with the new. Or, in my case, celebrate finishing this OLD quilt top I began designing almost 30 years ago, so OLD but now it feels really NEW:

Star of Texas, about 72" square

This has been on my bucket list for all these years. Read more about it here:  Star of Texas

Here are my two Game On! quilts, both through month 7, now all I have to do is write the blogs for each month. It is not too late for you to start--this is SO MUCH FUN:

                                                        

Now that I am pretty far along on Game On! I can concentrate on a few more projects I really want to complete this year.

My Old Italian Block Lifetime Quilt is the next top to make:

All 290 of the 3" blocks are done--now it's on to the design wall this week

Quilting needs to be done on Diamond Jubilee:

And soon I will start two online courses on ruler quilting with these two quilts:

panel for Angela Walters class on Arcs and Curves

Quilt of Valor to use for Natalia Bonner's class on 99 strip designs

There is always more to create and I have to come up with my NEXT Lifetime/Leader-Ender quilt project. I have a few ideas. Stay tuned.

Since I am home until mid-March I am determined to get as much done as possible. 

My words for 2026 are "RENEW" and "REBUILD". I don't usually pick a word but was challenged to do so by a friend. These seemed to ring true for 2026.

Do you pick a "word of the year"? 

What do you plan to achieve in 2026? Just keep going, that's my plan.

Happy New Year to all!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

GAME ON! Month 1

Game On! is the 2026 Block of the Month quilt designed by Becky Goldsmith exclusively for THE QUILT SHOW: find Game On! information here. Join as a Star Member to get all the patterns and all the videos FREE. Membership is just $49/year and provides access to over 18 years of shows and tremendous additional content. Join HERE

Prints or Solids, the choice is yours. Buy a KIT or use your own fabric: 

In Month 1 we make the center star points. Becky uses vellum for the foundation paper piecing, sewing through the paper. I will show how I use Freezer paper, not sewing through the paper, so the freezer paper foundations can be used many times.

If you are new to Paper Piecing, I suggest you follow the pattern instructions as written. 

I provide TIPS that may help. They are supplemental to Becky's instructions, use them if you wish.

TIP 1: Watch all the VIDEOS for each month before you begin. Month 1 has 4 of them, each about 7 minutes long. Becky shows you in detail exactly how to prepare the foundation papers, how to place the fabrics for successful piecing and all the steps she uses for making this quilt. Watch them FIRST before you begin.

TIP 2: READ the 18 page GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS in Month 1. There is a lot of detailed sewing instruction in there for Month 1. 

TIP 3: If you are new to paper piecing, know that fabric pieces are cut slightly larger than necessary to allow for proper placement. lt would not hurt to cut this month's pieces 1/2" LONGER than the pattern says. For example, piece 1 is cut 7" long. Cutting it 7.5" long gives just a little bit of insurance. Piece 2 is cut 5.5" long, 6" is a little more forgiving. 

I suggest you cut ONE set of fabrics the size called for before cutting them all. Sew the first Star Point to see if you are happy with the sizes of each piece. If so, cut them all that size. If you would like a little bit extra, cut the next set a half inch longer, to see if you like that better. 

PLEASE NOTE: the CUT SIZES IN THE PATTERN WORK FINE--some people just like a little  bit more fabric for insurance.

TIP 4: if using Freezer Paper, be sure to use small dabs of glue to adhere the wrong side of the fabric to the wrong side of the paper. If the fabric comes off the paper before you have finished sewing the entire unit it is a challenge to put it back on exactly where it goes. This is not a problem when sewing through the paper as with vellum but there are places where dabs of glue help with the vellum too.

TIP 5: if sewing through the paper as the pattern instructs, it is essential you decrease the stitch length--1.75 is the largest I would do. When tearing off the paper at the end you  don't want to have the stitches get distorted or come open. Smaller stitch length is essential. This makes it harder to un-sew should you make a mistake. And you will, at least once. Have a good stitch ripper on hand.

The ADVANTAGE to using Freezer Paper is the patterns can be re-used multiple times. There is no difficulty removing the paper as it separates off completely when the unit is made. There is no need to lower the stitch length, the standard 2.0 length for piecing works well for me. 

Here is my technique with Freezer Paper. If you want more information about this process see my TUTORIAL here:  Freezer Paper Foundation Piecing 

Use dabs of glue to secure fabric to paper. 

Put the wrong side of fabric 1  to the wrong side of the Freezer paper (FP). Fold the FP back on the SOLID line. This is the SEWING LINE. Put fabric 2 right sides together to fabric 1, being sure to center it. Stitch right along the fold, slowly, not sewing on the paper nor away from the paper: RIGHT ALONG THE FOLD OF THE PAPER:

Fabric 2 placed RST on Fabric 1

Fold FP back so stitches can be sewn right against the fold

Sewing right along the folded edge of the FP

TIP 6: The NUMBER ONE MISTAKE students make as they learn foundation paper piecing--they FORGET TO TRIM.  The process is:

SEW--join fabrics 1 and 2

FLIP--flip fabric 2 UP, the only way it can be flipped

PRESS--use a DRY IRON  to completely press fabric 2 flat on the seam against the paper foundation

TRIM--fabric 2 is oversized and MUST BE TRIMMED, before adding fabric 3

Here I am using vellum so you can see the issue. Fabric 2 has been sewn, flipped, pressed, but NOT YET TRIMMED. There is excess fabric 2 beyond the seam allowance that joins fabric 2 to fabric 3:

Use the Add-A-Quarter ruler and a postcard to TRIM FABRIC 2 exactly 1/4" beyond the sewing line:

Place fabric 3 centered on fabric 2, sew, flip, press, trim. 

Fabric 3 has been sewn to fabric 2 with a perfect 1/4" seam allowance. Fabric 3 is slightly oversized, so it is now ready to be TRIMMED: 

After trimming fabric 3, repeat for piece 4. Be sure to check the placement of each fabric to be added to be certain it will cover the area on the paper it needs to cover.

After adding fabric 4, TRIM the long side where fabric 5 joins fabrics 1-4:

Fabrics 1-4 sewn, ready to TRIM for fabric 5

When adding fabric 5, it is very important to place it so it will completely cover the area fabric 5 needs to cover. Fold the FP back to be sure it fits. Fabric 5 is placed face up on the mat, the FP with 1-4 in place is placed on top of fabric 5--by folding the FP piece 5 back I can clearly see fabric 5 will cover the area it needs to cover for fabric 5 on the pattern:

Once Part one is complete, follow Becky's instructions to use a quality ruler to trim 1/4" beyond the solid lines on all sides. With FP, you simple peel the fabric off the paper and use the FP again for the next unit. With Vellum, Becky leaves the paper on until AFTER the Center Block is almost completely sewn.

For Part two, Becky has an excellent video showing how to place fabrics 6 and 7 to achieve the very acute angle:

Piece 6 is wrong side up on the mat, the FP pattern is placed so it is completely covered by the fabric:  

Use the Add-a-Quarter to trim piece 6, ready to join piece 7:

Fold the FP pattern back, place fabric 7 under fabric 6, RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, you can clearly see the white fabric 7 piece will cover the area it needs to cover: 

Sew the seam joining fabrics 6 and 7. Press toward fabric 7, use a ruler to trim 1/4" away from the SOLID LINES, and Part Two is ready to sew to Part One. 

TIP 7: Because I am using Freezer Paper, the paper is gone from both Parts One and Two before I join them. I work with positioning pins to be sure I have the two units where they need to be once joined.

IMPORTANT: Because I removed the paper I NEED to see where the long point goes so I can join it properly to the larger unit. Very Simple: I use a good ruler and mechanical pencil to draw short lines (about one inch long on both sides) at the very tip of the white fabric 1/4" in from the raw edge--this shows me exactly where to put the POSITIONING PIN:

I machine BASTE about 1" on either side of this important spot, turning my stitch length very long, 5.0 or longer. It only takes a few seconds to sew that inch or two, check it, and, if it's not as perfect as you want, pull out the basting stitches, realign the seam, and try again. This is a FIDDLE PLACE: fiddle with it until it looks as good as you want it to. I was happy with this so I turned the stitch length back to 2.0 and sewed the entire seam: 

TIP 8: While Becky shows where it is essential to back stitch on the pattern, I found it also helpful to backstitch at the outer edges of each seam. It is particularly helpful in Month 2, when we make the four CORNER BLOCKS.

Ask Questions on the Forum. Show your Progress on the Forum. We are eager to see how you play with Game On!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

ARE YOU BUSY?

 

Such a silly question, isn't everyone busy this time of year?

For Christmas I still have a few more gifts to figure out and buy. More cookies to bake. The usual things in the days before Christmas. 

In my Quilt Life, I am having SO MUCH FUN making two versions of Game On!--the 2026 BOM for The Quilt Show designed by Becky Goldsmith exclusively for THE QUILT SHOW. The patterns are FREE for Star Members, only $49 for a year membership gives you so much bang for your buck. 

My PRINTS VERSION, and I am making my borders on this one symmetrical, this has me through month 7:

My SOLIDS VERSION, I created a different left border--for Month 4: 

Both of them on the design wall. The SOLIDS version has the border for Month 5 made and waiting to be added:

The great thing about this design is how easy it is to make it your own. Not crazy about one particular border? Change it--I will show you how. Want to play with colors--so easy, I'll help you.

Becky's show premiers Sunday December 28, 2025, it's FREE FOR ALL to see.  Watch Becky show you how she will walk you through the year. And today you can see an interview with Becky and Alex Anderson in which Becky explains how she was inspired to create this design after seeing a museum exhibit of antique game boards--watch now: BECKY AND ALEX She discusses the exhibit starting at about 10 minutes in. 

I will be LIVE Monday December 29, 2025, noon Central time, to help get you started, with tips and tricks, and "what could possibly go wrong?" suggestions. I hope you'll join thousands of us as we get our "Game On!". 

Since I am home until mid-March 2026 I decided to take two online classes in January to improve my ruler work longarm quilting skills. 99 Strip+ Strip Designs by Natalia Bonner is a FREE class. My project is a Quilt of Valor I am making specifically for someone and the strips are just the right size to learn those designs:

Angela Walters has a new class coming in January: FREE MOTION CHALLENGE QUILT ALONG, featuring Arcs, Curves and Points with Rulers. I ordered both the large and small printed top, making it easy to be ready for the first class mid-January--I am doing the SMALL version:

42" x 56"--I just need to put it together with batting and a back

I will also have a little time to teach TWO LOCAL CLASSES: 

THE VILLAGE, January 23, 2026:

and CHARMING SAMPLER, March 5, 2026:

"Kaffe Charming"

Reproduction fabrics

Each teaches a lot and if you are local and ever want to take a class with me, now is your chance. Register online at SOUTHERN CHARM QUILTING

I do plan to submit proposals to teach at International Quilt Festival in Houston November 10-14, 2026. They will decide which classes of mine, if any, they want to offer. Let me know if there is one you really want to take so I can propose it. ALL my WORKSHOPS/CLASSES are listed in the tab above: WORKSHOPS. 

It is a good idea to offer at least one handwork class. I have a new one in mind--/big Hexagons for English Paper Piecing, 3 hours, with a Kit that includes everything except your fabric. This sample is still a "work in progress"--just enough to teach the basics. What is started in class can become a larger quilt or a single placemat. Sometimes that is big enough to teach you all you want to know about a technique. 

I always have a hand piecing project available and EPP is good for this purpose. The papers are still in this, I am not finished yet. I will finish off the edges the easy way--by appliqueing the piece to a background--no fussy edge treatment necessary:

I won't know until late February or so if I will be teaching there but I will let you know as soon as I get the word.

The other long-term project I am working on is my SECOND LIFETIME QUILT--the Old Italian Block, 3" size, that has been my "Leader/Ender" project this year. I provided lots of information on this as my SUMMER SEW A LONG 2025. 

I have 270 of the 289 blocks needed done so I am starting to think about layout and design. I'm not sure I want to do such careful color placement but it might be more fun than strictly random. Time will tell:

Well, I better get back to that Christmas shopping and baking. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa or simply peace and happiness now and in the future.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

LAST CHANCE FOR EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2026

Registration for Empty Spools Seminars at the beautiful Asilomar Conference Center near Monterey, CA closes January 9, 2026. There are still a few spots left in my class OH MY STARS! 

    

My quilt

Detail of the quilting by Patty Wilson

Detail of the back showing the quilting

Quilt on cover of the pattern

This quilt has a LOT to teach: precision piecing, color/fabric selection, how to have points that match perfectly, more than one way to make many small stars for the sashing, and so much more. All skills that will enhance ALL your quiltmaking going forward.

Having the opportunity to work on one project for 5 days with one teacher is such an incredible experience.  Find registration information for Session 5 here:

SESSION 5 EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2026

And I can't say enough expressive, exuberant words about the location: Asilomar Conference Center. I describe it as a "Magical Place".  For so much more information about what you can expect as a student, see these previous posts:

My Trip 2025

My Trip 2024

If you are flying, you may rent a sewing machine for your use in class. A few of those are still available today, be sure you reserve one when you register.

Personally, I cannot WAIT to get back there, it is the highlight of my year. I hope you will invest in yourself as a quiltmaker/creator and join me!

I will end with a few special photos of the place:

Let's quilt.

Barbara

WHAT AM I DOING?

By the end of Thanksgiving day I had come down with a big head cold that kept me in my easy chair for 3 days, reading, sleeping and eating. No exercise, no energy, just sneeze, cough and repeat. All better now and ready to get back to several ongoing projects.

Here is what I am working on:

TEXAS STAR: begun more than 25 years ago, this BUCKET LIST QUILT has come back out to play. More borders are yet to come, one from the 2026 Block of the Month quilt Game On!  To read more about this quilt see this post: TEXAS STAR

Texas Star, more borders to come, currently about 65" square

Speaking of GAME ON! the 2026 Block of the Month quilt designed by Becky Goldsmith exclusively for THE QUILT SHOW, I am having SO MUCH FUN! This quilt will teach you a lot and it's fun too. The Solids version is the Kit available, if any are left, from The Quilt Show Shop:                            

In progress, more tweaking needed then a trim and double borders are added

This Prints version is from my stash. It is fun to select fabrics, everything goes, and a few of my most favorites get featured. The top half needs the large circles appliqued in place, then the Medallion center block can be completed. 

These take extra time because I make notes and take photos as I go for the Blogs to come and the LIVE broadcasts I do each month: 

I always have a LEADER/ENDER project going. Old Italian Blocks are one of my most favorite. 

Currently this is my Summer Sew-a-Long 2025--find all the details with several size options here: SUMMER SEW A ALONG 2025

230 done so far, bagged in color families--I have a layout plan that uses color as a feature

Leader/Ender blocks laid out beside my machine, these are 3" finished

When I want a break from piecing I work on machine quilting my DIAMOND JUBILEE quilt, started 13 years ago. The end is near...

Read more about this quilt here:  DIAMOND JUBILEE:

Deciding WHAT to quilt is always the most challenging for me. After a few failed attempts that involved lots of time with my stitch ripper, I figured out what I wanted in the stars. 

The wide outer border has yet to be decided on though I have a few ideas. The paisley fabric is so busy no intricate designs will be noticeable. And I will draw the ideas out on plexiglass first, BEFORE stitching them, to be sure I like the designs, lesson learned: 

Detail of the quilting designs

When I am not at my sewing machines, I am on my computer, writing blogs, booking future airplane trips and hotel reservations, etc. It's also holiday season so I do have to decorate a bit before the Sunday Sew and Sews Christmas potluck party here. And buy a few gifts, and bake cookies. And so on and so forth...

My LIVE broadcasts are always available here: The Quilt Show channel on YouTube. This month I am doing two: Friday December 5 we wrap up Laurel Ridge and get very excited for Game On!  Monday December 29 is the kickoff for Game On! I have tips and tricks to help you be successful with a variety of foundation paper piecing skills. 

QUILT OF VALOR

More than 4 years ago I was happy to be part of an award ceremony for Quilts of Valor, presenting quilts I made specifically for two great veterans: my husband and a long-time friend of ours. It was the first Award Ceremony by the local Quilts of Valor chapter, Liberty Piecemakers of Huntsville. To read about that occasion see this post: Quilts of Valor Award Ceremony

Recently I was honored to receive a QUILT OF VALOR.  The Quilts of Valor organization began in 2003 with the of goal of providing veterans touched by war with the comfort of a quilt. As the QOV website says:  "A Quilt of Valor unequivocally says thank you for your service,  sacrifice, and valor in serving our nation." Today any veteran is eligible to receive a Quilt of Valor.  

The quilts are meant to be presented in  a public forum, honoring the veteran for their service and recognizing when, how, and where they served. 

From the front

From the back

All of us and women from the local QOV chapter, Liberty Piecemakers of Huntsville

It was a cold and blustery day in early November. The quilts were awarded alphabetically and I was happy to be first:

In  my brief remarks I said "The smartest thing I ever did was go to an interview with the USMC Officer Selection Officer my senior year of college. His first question was "What makes you think you are good enough to be in my Marine Corps?"  I now know that is the EXACT right first question to ask anyone who thinks they want to be a Marine. It was 50 years ago I earned my Eagle, Globe and Anchor and it feels like yesterday.

I was later told my quilt had been made specifically for me by two dear friends. While the pattern may look simple, "nothing says Love like partial seams!"

April and Suzie hard at work on my quilt:

Veterans are now often told "Thank you for your service". I always felt odd about that and wasn't sure how to respond. Now I say "It was my honor to serve."  Those were the greatest years of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Thank you to all who are currently serving our country. And to their families, they share the sacrifice too. I hope all veterans who want a Quilt of Valor will receive one.

For more info on Quilts of Valor see the official website: Quilts of Valor Foundation

Thank you to the Liberty Piecemakers of Huntsville for this wonderful gift. I will cherish it always.

Barbara