What's New + 10 Tips for Sewing Machine Success + Free Quilt Pattern

Hello friends!

Lots of good stuff to share today. This week I have some practical tips and advice to share with all of you including Sewing Machine best practices, What's New on my sewing machine, and Father's Day Gift Ideas.

I currently have SO MANY projects in the works behind the scenes around here. I rounded up most of them in my latest What's on my Sewing Table post. It's been a couple of months since I've written one of these posts and a lot is happening!

Click below to check out all of the latest good stuff going on around here.

In honor of the invention of one of our favorite tools, June 13 is National Sewing Machine Day. Since this is a "National" event, I think that you/we are fully authorized to celebrate by spending time with our sewing machines as much as possible that day (or week, if you like.) 😉

I've been sharing sewing machine tips for years now, but I finally put all of those tips and techniques into one handy reference post.

Click below to get the list of 10 Tips and Techniques for maximizing your current sewing machine including maintenance tips, how to choose the right needle for each project, and some great sewing machine feet options.

Free Positively Quilt Tutorial

Here's a project from the archives: a cute little plus mini quilt OR crib quilt version. This project comes together so quick and it's great for playing with scraps or charm squares. It's a perfect quick summer project.

Click below for the free printable tutorial for both versions of this quilt.

​

Fun Finds on the Web - Handmade Gift Ideas for Dad

With Father's Day next Sunday, here are a few handmade gift ideas that would be perfect for the favorite Dad or man in your life:

Make a classy looking armchair caddy to control clutter and prevent lost remotes!

Or maybe make a new custom necktie with this tutorial from Dana of Made Everyday​

This tutorial for a simple cord keeper would be useful to any Dad, (heck, anybody!) to coral all of those charging cords that seem to multiply.

Melissa at the Polkadot Chair also has a cool tutorial for repurposing one of Dad's old ties into a cool zipper pouch. Would make a great sentimental gift.

The Polkadot Chair also has a bunch of free Father's Day party printables to make your day more festive.

Announcements:

I’m so excited to share that I’ll be teaching at The Handmade Collective in a couple of weeks and I’d love for you to join me there!

This is a 3-day virtual event (June 18-20) full of creative workshops, inspiring live sessions, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes fun, all hosted by the team at CutterPillar by Nook & Notion.

I'll be sharing a presentation all about Precuts, including tips, a list of free tutorials as well as patterns for putting your favorite precuts to use. So if you've got precuts collected and are looking for some inspiration come to my live presentation on Friday, June 19. Grab your FREE pass here - and come hang out with me!

The Fat Quarter Shop has announced the limited edition 2025 Liberty Box - details here.

Connecting Threads is having a 50% off End of Bolt Sale here.

A few thoughts today. First a "reality check". I shared a look behind the scenes (or underneath the sewing table) on Instagram this week and it seemed to resonate. In spite of a lot of looming deadlines, I just couldn't take the mess in my sewing room any more and I ended up on the floor for a couple of hours, sorting piles, cleaning up old projects and getting things organized.

I've felt more productive since then as I'm not as distracted and overwhelmed by the mess when I walk in my sewing room. So if you're in need of a cleaning session too, consider this your official pep talk.

I'm also getting distracted (in a good way) by the gorgeous weather we've been having. I'm trying to get out side to exercise and get back into hiking shape. After a somewhat rough winter/spring with a variety of health issues, I'm feeling so grateful that I've felt up to the challenge. I'm slower, creaky-er and sore-er than years past, but grateful to be able to get out and do something that I love.

Welp, there you go. Lots of stuff to share today!

As always, thanks for stopping by! See you next week!

Amy

If you would like to stop receiving this content, please click unsubscribe below.

​Visit my Pattern Shop to see all of the latest designs

​

​​​​

​