Chatterbox Quilts News for March 2025

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Welcome to the March Chatterbox Quilts’ newsletter!

While it’s technically spring, as I write this, we are “enjoying” another few inches of snow which will hopefully melt away in the next few days. The good news is that cold weather means quilting time so I’ve been working on new projects in my studio.

What happened this month

I created a new project that has been on my bucket list for some time in my role as an Island Batik Ambassador. Our challenge this month was “It’s All Up to You” which meant that I got to use any fabrics from Island Batik and could create or choose my own pattern. I decided to make a cute spool wall hanging for my studio using one of the Island Batik layer cakes that I’ve received from them. One of the other Island Batik Ambassadors thought that the wonky spool at the bottom represented me very well. 🤣

In The Quilter’s Way, we learned a new technique to create a fabric collage using a glue stick and very small bits of fabric. This is a great way to use up all of your little fabric scraps and is very forgiving too. We’ll be wrapping up this project in the next few weeks before starting a new project.

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Tip

Want to keep your pressing surface clean and free from glue, fusible web, etc. (okay, I can’t be the only one who gets the sticky stuff stuck on my ironing surface, can I?!)? Cover it with freezer paper. My pressing surface is 24” x 48” and I pulled out two long pieces of freezer paper, overlapped them and pressed them together to get one sheet that is large enough to cover my entire pressing surface. It keeps my pressing surface nice and clean and I can replace it when the freezer paper is no longer sticking to my pressing board.

Recommended Tools

I’ve got to admit that it’s getting tougher, if not impossible, for me to easily thread needles with small eyes – in the needle, not my own eyes 👀. Enter the Clover Ultimate Needle Threader! Just drop your needle into the slot, press the button and your needle is threaded. I like this particular brand as there is a slot to cut your thread after you’ve threaded the needle and all the sharp, pointy bits are hidden beneath the cover so you don’t get poked (has that ever happened to you?).

YouTube Videos

Here are the new videos released in March for your viewing and learning pleasure (just click on the picture).

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Coming Soon

In The Quilter’s Way, the semi-annual virtual retreat, Energize! 11.0 (yes, this is the eleventh online retreat that I’ve hosted in TQW!) is kicking off on April 11, 2025. I’ll be launching a new design for TQW members during that weekend. If you’re interested in joining The Quilter’s Way for all the learning and fun that members enjoy, now’s a great time so you can join us for this virtual weekend retreat. Click here for more details and to join us for 14 days absolutely free!

Take care,

Kim

P.S. Looking for an online guild/group presentation, check out my virtual offerings here.

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