My new binding

For my latest quilt, I used a blanket stitch on the binding, instead of hand stitching it. I sewed the double fold binding from the back, and then used a blanket stitch on the front. Here's how it turned out.

Binding using a blanket stitch

Christmas table runner

Here are a few photos from my Christmas table runner. The blocks were made using crazy quilting techniques, and embellished with metallic thread.

and the back

and the back,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

The front of the new purse I made

The front of the new purse I made,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

I just finished this crazy quilt purse using brown and green Michael Miller fabric.

Sushi, and my new autumn table runner I made

Sushi, and my new autumn table runner I made,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

Here's my kittie sitting on my new autumn table runner I made using a snowball design. I used little brown buttons to tie off.

My Autumn Quilt

My Autumn Quilt,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

Here's my first attempt at flying geese. I think it turned out pretty well.

Quilted tote bag

Quilted tote bag,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

Here's a quilted tote bag I made for Judy's 65th birthday.

Quilted purse

Quilted purse,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

I just finished making this design using Lazy Girl Designs pattern called Town Purse. It's using Daisy Vibe material.

Table runner

Table runner,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

Here's a table runner that I made for my friend Mariana for her 29th birthday.

This was made using material from a series called Manzanita.

Here's my very first tote bag.

Here's my very first tote bag.,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

Here's the front of the tote bag I just made.

Tote bag

Tote bag,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

I just finished this tote bag, made with material from the Fat Quarter Shop. I bought the tote bag pattern from Quilts Illustrated.

The pattern is called Charm Party Tote, and it was fairly easy to make. It has 3 pockets, which makes it convenient for storing stuff.

My new wall hanging quilt

My new wall hanging quilt,
originally uploaded by Karen Chow.

I just finished this wall hanging. I finally have a break from school, so I had a chance to finish this quilt. It's made with batiks, and uses squares as a theme.

Fancy stitch for binding

SV400033,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

I personally hate hand sewing anything, and I always find that hand sewing the binding always takes a super long time. My mother-in-law suggested that instead of hand sewing, I could use a decorative stitch to finish the binding. I tried it first on my Easter quilt, and loved it, so I'm going to do that for all my bindings from now on. Here's what it looks like.

Polar fleece backing of baby quilt

SV400029,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

This is the backing of the baby quilt.

James & Joy's baby quilt

SV400028,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

Here's a baby quilt that I made for James and Joy. It has a polar fleece backing, super soft.

Quickie table runner

Quickie table runner,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

My friend's dad had his 60th birthday party, and I made him this quickie table runner in one evening with pre-cut 5" squares. The fabric was from Fat Quarter Shop, and the fabric series is called Perennial Spice.

Cat Quilt #2

Cat Quilt #2,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

This is the second cat quilt that I made, which I gave to my husband, who also loves kitties.

Dog Wall Hanging Quilt

quilt1,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

This dog wall hanging was made with one paper-pieced square (the dog). The bone and dog house are appliqued with fusible web, with images found from the web. This was made for Sheryl's birthday.

Charm Square table runner

Charm Square table runner,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

My table runner made up of 5" charm squares. It has a polar fleece backing, and a stipple pattern for quilting.

Elvis quilt

Elvis quilt,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

Here's an Elvis quilt that I made with a border made up of 5" charm squares.

Easter Egg Quilt

SV400035,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

Here's a quilt that I made for Easter. I took different strips of fabric, alternating between 1.5 and 3 inches, and I sewed them together. I then found an Easter egg coloring image off the web, and used the shape of the egg there as my egg template. I put my strips on Steam-a-Seam double stick fusible web, put the egg template on the other side, and cut out the shape. I then ironed it on to white fabric, and zipper stitched around the egg with yellow thread I then made my quilt sandwich, and stippled the white background with multi-colored thread.

Using polar fleece as your backing

Polar fleece backing,
originally uploaded by karenechow.

I love using polar fleece as the backing material for my quilts. I've now done this with one baby quilt, one wall hanging, and a table runner. To do this, I skip the batting, and only use polar fleece as the backing material. There's only two pieces of material to sew together, the quilt top, and the polar fleece.

Only buy non-pile polar fleece, because if you don't, it will pill easily, and then your quilt will look ratty. I most commonly use a stipple pattern through the whole quilt, and I find that it works best if I start from the center of the quilt, and stipple in a ring, going towards the outside.

Beginner's Guide to Quilting

I just started quilting in January 2007, and I thought that I would share a few tips with people on the things that I read about and discover on quilting.

I started by purchasing a learn to quilt package. This included:

cutting mat

rotary cutter

pattern for a cat quilt

acrylic ruler

pins

needles

thread

thimble

I separately purchased fabric. I bought the fabric from Michael's, who has fat quarters in sets of 5 coordinating fabrics. A fat quarter is a piece of material that is 18" x 22".

Here is my finished quilt. Quilt #1. I used pink, purple, and green fabric.

General tips:

Buy a beginnger's quilt package. It makes it easy for you to start and finish your first quilt, and you don't have to worry about missing supplies, and having to go back to the store.

Buy a coordinating package of material, so that you don't have to worry about which fabrics go well together. That's something that you can learn as you become more experienced with quilting. The fabric from the fat quarters at Michael's are very hight quality, but the selection is pitiful. The fat quarters from Joann's gives you better selection, but their fabric quality is questionable.