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NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.
 

It’s often nice to go shopping with a friend who kind of has the same items on her shopping list.

I mean it’s no fun at all having someone to just wait for you watching you choose whatever item you are looking for while doing the look.

That look saying “are you done”?

Well, while that rarely happens, as I do try and respect my shopping partner/s (ehem, usually my husband and kids these days) I do wish that I would have more time shopping with the ladies.

Especially the one who loves quilting and sewing.

So today, I am asking you out shopping with me. At least window shopping if not buying.

Come let me show you what is in my shopping cart and let me know yours!

Wondering how you can start organizing your fabric scraps?

Is your scrap basket overflowing and overwhelming you?

How do you deal with leftover scraps from a finished project?

While sometimes I may have the idea for a coordinating project like this pillow here for my quilt,  most of the times, I don’t feel the desire to work with a bundle of used fabrics. So, where do these fabrics end up?

They either; 1. get further cut into smaller pieces or; 2. be left as they already are to be used in smaller projects. 

In this post, I’ll share with you the process of how I organize my fabric scraps starting from the moment they leave the first finished project.

NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.
 

I am a constant learner.

Am sure many of you are too.

In fact, life itself is the greatest teacher, right?

So everybody is actually still learning and will always be.

 

But today in this post, I am going to be talking about a different kind of learning. The one that creates the feeling of accomplishment, the one that ignites that little spark in life, the one that may fill the gap of emptiness.. and I am talking about learning to be creative.

Yes, you heard that right. One can actually learn to be creative. Some may be born with full of creativity, but I have heard so many people that they are just not creative and will never be. And I am so against that.

One can actually be creative IF they chose to be.

Now, creativeness is subjective and broad.

But if you choose to do more in life, to feel the sense of creating and making things, guess what, you are not alone.

That sense is probably your sixth sense telling you that it’ll make you happier.

Cause it does. Being creative creates a happier life. Backed by science.

 

 

So, if you’re a quilter like me – you are on the right track to creating happiness in your life. YEAY!

But being already creative means you will always crave to learn more right? So you are in the right place today.

If you are not yet a creative person and thinking of being more creative in life, you are also on the right page.

In this post, I’ll share with you the top 5 online classes that you can take right now, right where you are to kick-start that creativity in you.

Why Online Classes you say?

Because you just need to act now. And I myself is an online class junkie. I love online classes. They suit my time, my location and I can set my own pace.

Perfect. Just take the class and schedule it on your own time.

I am not against real life-classes though. They have great benefits but if you are short of budget, time and limited to areas or places you can go to, “online classes” is the answer. Believe me. They kick start everything.

So just do it. Kick that procrastination and just start learning. You can if you want to.

5 top online craft classes websites

 


TOP 5 ONLINE CRAFT CLASSES PLATFORMS

There are affiliate links in this post for your convenience. Please find the full disclosure here.

 

NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.

#1 CRAFTSY

You’ve heard me talked about this one before.

I am a big fan of CRAFTSY classes. Purely because there are specific niche areas like quilting, sewing, and baking over at the platform. So, for a big fan of quilting like me, there are tons of classes that I can take to upgrade my level of creativeness in the field of quilting.

However, it is not only limited to quilting and sewing and baking… they have many other niches as well covering various crafts and skills.

Plus+ they have supplies available for sale too including quilting kits and yarns.

My personal favourites:

  • Pre-Cut Piecing Made Simple: Learn easy quilts using precut fabrics. Great patterns in here to use up you precut stash.
  • Basic Crochet: Did you know I crochet too? Crochet is a lot of fun if you haven’t tried it. This class takes you through the basics and beyond of crochet to get you hooked!
  • Scrappy Quilting: For more adventurous quilters. If you have been quilting for a while and want to level up your game in quilting, try this class. Learn Y-seams, putting together scraps in a gorgeous layout, and learn amazing tips and tricks of Edyta Sitar in conquering scrappy quilting.

If you haven’t tried Craftsy yet, try these option to start:

  • Start scouring the SALE section to get classes at a great price.
  • FREE lifetime access DIY classes


#2 SKILLSHARE

I have been a long fan of Skillshare Classes.

One of the best thing about Skillshare to me is the reasonable pricing per month which is affordable to me. Although you do have to make your pick which classes are great, the pricing per month and the unlimited class you can take is totally worth it.

I take classes of watercolours in Skillshare and some letterings classes. I do like both of these besides my regular sewing and quilting hobby.

Watercolour and brush lettering quilt

 

If you are looking into learning to watercolour, there are lots of classes available in Skillshare for that. Highly recommend that.

One of my favourite watercolour artist that does amazing work and teaches over at Skillshare is Ana Victoria – Check her classes out.

However, they also have a variety of classes covering business, freelancing, photography and many more.

 

I pick my classes based on people I am already following elsewhere or by the reviews and number of students enrolled in the course. That basically gives you the rough idea of how good the course will be.

 

Thinking of trying Skillshare? Here are some options:

 

Learn on Skillshare


#3 CREATIVEBUG

 

Creative Bug is another place I go to to feed my quilting love.

With my favourite designers Anna Maria Horner, Carolyn Friedlander classes on Creative Bug, the $4.95/month subscription or about $9.90 per class, they are worth the spend.

Check out more quilting classes available on creative Bug here.

If you are looking into venturing out other craft classes, there are various to choose from including knitting, crochet, art& design and paper crafts.

Need inspirations to be more creative? Try 30 days to a more creative life.

 


#4 BRIT + CO

Another awesome platform for the bright and the cheeries.

I love Brit+Co’s bright coloured blog and their simple DIY’s.

Recently they launched their online classes including some of the best hot trends in DIY including some of my favourites:

 

I am excited to see more classes coming in Brit+Co as they grow. In the meantime, let’s enjoy some of the ones they already have shall we?


#5 CREATIVELIVE

Here is another platform which is much of a wider coverage.

Topics can be similar to those found in skillshare but these are individually priced. So if you are not just into craft, there are also tons of other classes like bussiness, motivational and other life skills there.

Craft Classes at CREATIVELIVE:

Here is the link to take you right to the CRAFT CLASSES available on creativelive.

Not only that there are craft classes in that category -t here are also tons of classes that teaches you how to build a handmade bussiness.

(related: I previously talked about making money from your hobby here)

My personal favourites:

  • Knit Maker 201 : where you can learn how knit socks! I love sock knitting but just haven’t yet ventured deep into this but I have made a couple of socks myself here, here and here. So this class is a perfect addition to that.
  • Surface Pattern Designing: I love patterns. And I love fabric. Bonnie Christine is an Art Gallery Fabric designer and she takes you through this whole surface pattern designing on illustrator in this class. I love Bonnie’s soft voice and her style of teaching. She also have classes in skillshare which I have previosly taken and LOVE.
  • Love Improv Quilting: Here is one of quilting that I love. Modern vibrant colours. I love Malka’s style. If you are new to improv quilting, you’ll love this class.

Well if you are not sure what you want to be making or creating I would love to suggest you the following:

If you are a maker already, spread the word to inspire others to be a maker too by pinning this image.

learn to be a maker and you will be happier

NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.
 

I am sharing with you today how I quilted block 12 – Right Angle

If you are new here, this post is a part of my quilt-as-you-go my Sewcial Bee Sampler, a sew-along hosted by Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell. I plan to share along the process with some tips and tutorial.

As usual, I have two blocks made for two quilts, one with custom quilting and one with allover quilting. Both would be a great practice if you are looking towards improving your free-motion skill. I am still practicing myself, especially with the custom quilting. I am learning as I go, so let’s do this together!

If you are new here, this post is a part of my quilt-as-you-go my Sewcial Bee Sampler which I plan to share along the process along with some tips and tutorial. Click here to  related Archive posts.

NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.
 

How long after a project is finished do you work with the leftovers?

For me, usually in my head it’s like going to be straight after but usually, it is wayyyyyyy after, not even expected in my mind at that time.

For instance this pillow project – it took 3 years later for me to actually be working on it!

If you have been with me long enough, you know that I made this swoon quilt 3 years back.

Sad to admit, I did have the plan to make the pillow sham or square pillowcase to match it right away, so I can display it nicely on the bed. But I didn’t get right to it. It took me more than 3 years to actually finally did it…

NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.
 

I am sharing with you today how I quilted block 11 – Four Square

If you are new here, this post is a part of my quilt-as-you-go my Sewcial Bee Sampler, a sew-along hosted by Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell. I plan to share along the process with some tips and tutorial.

As usual, I have two blocks made for two quilts, one with custom quilting and one with allover quilting. Both would be a great practice if you are looking towards improving your free-motion skill. I am still practicing myself, especially with the custom quilting. I am learning as I go, so let’s do this together!

If you are new here, this post is a part of my quilt-as-you-go my Sewcial Bee Sampler which I plan to share along the process along with some tips and tutorial. Click here to  related Archive posts.

NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.

 

I am sharing with you today how I quilted block 10 – Butterfly Crossing

If you are new here, this post is a part of my quilt-as-you-go my Sewcial Bee Sampler, a sew-along hosted by Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell. I plan to share along the process with some tips and tutorial.

As usual, I have two blocks made for two quilts, one with custom quilting and one with allover quilting. Both would be a great practice if you are looking towards improving your free-motion skill. I am still practicing myself, especially with the custom quilting. I am learning as I go, so let’s do this together!

If you are new here, this post is a part of my quilt-as-you-go my Sewcial Bee Sampler which I plan to share along the process along with some tips and tutorial. Click here to  related Archive posts.

I’d like to share with you in this post some of the ways that you can stitch together your basted English Paper Piecing blocks. Be it hexagons, diamonds or even square or any shape possible really :).

This is following the series of English Paper Piecing Technique I have previously on the blog:

5 Ways How to Baste English Paper Piecing Templates

How to Cut English Paper Piecing Printable Templates

I’d like to share with you in this post some of the ways that you can stitch together your basted English Paper Piecing blocks. Be it hexagons, diamonds or even square or any shape possible really 🙂

Yes, EPP isn’t limited to the conventional shape. Check out these awesome EPP projects with non-common shapes if you are into diving in EPP adventures.

I am sharing with you today how I quilted block 9 – Wedding Ring.

If you are new here, this post is a part of my quilt-as-you-go my Sewcial Bee Sampler, a sew-along hosted by Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell. I plan to share along the process with some tips and tutorial.

As usual, I have two blocks made for two quilts, one with custom quilting and one with allover quilting. Both would be a great practice if you are looking towards improving your free-motion skill. I am still practicing myself, especially with the custom quilting. I am learning as I go, so let’s do this together!

Some links provided here are affiliate links for your convenience. Please find my full disclosure here.

Quilt as you go

Quilt as you go block-by-block is one method you could opt for when you want to make quilting large quilts on your domestic machine feasible. It is one of my go-to methods especially if I want to skip the heavy work pushing through large quilts within my machine throat space.

Besides, I love the fact that I can easily finish blocks by blocks and even have a fancy backing like this one I made earlier. If you are interested to learn how I piece the block together, here is one way how to do it – using small sashing strips.

Spray Basting Quilt Sandwiches

In order to quilt-as-you-go block-by-block, I first made each block into a quilt sandwich, basting with Spray Baste adhesive. I love spray basting as it removes the need to undo pins as you quilt especially for small blocks like these.

You can choose to use the same fabrics for the backing, however, I decided to do mine scrappy solid for the allover quilting quilt and scrappy printed for the custom quilt. The scrappy solid backing will look something like this one I made earlier.

 

Allover Quilting Motif: Woodgrain

For the allover quilting, I chose to do the woodgrain motif.

Woodgrain motif is fairly simple motif, mostly organic wavy vertical lines across the quilt. I love this motif for a small quilt or small area, and I am yet to try it with larger quilt someday.

To add features to the woodgrain motif, spiral knots are added in here and there in random places to fill up areas and to bring more life to the quilt motif. If you would like to try this motif, I have a simple tutorial here for you.

How to free motion quilt woodgrain motif

You will need:

  • Pen and Paper
  • Free motion quilting foot. Read here for more detail info which foot is best.
  • A good thread. I use Superior Threads for all of my quilting
  • The right needle. I suggest using top stitch needle as it has a larger eye to avoid wearing off your thread.

How to free motion quilt woodgrain motif

  1. Start with a wavy line as far as you like – it doesn’t have to be all the way down to the other side of the quilt (especially if you are quilting large quilt). For this quilt block, since it is fairly small, all of my lines are from one edge to another.
  2. Echo back about a quarter inch from the first wavy line all the way back and begin to create the first knot by making a hook away from the wavy line.
  3. Fill in the hook with spiral hooks coming back out to echo the rest of the wavy line down and back up echoing around the knot.
  4. Keep going by echoing the lines and create another knot to balance the first knot.
  5. Fill up areas with just echoes to avoid too many knot shapes.
  6. repeat echoes. and create a half knot in edges area by simple echoing in v-shape as in figure 6.
  7. continue the pattern and if required, move on to the next area to fill in.

I do suggest you try this pattern with pen and paper first. This will give you the idea on how the final look will be, how you are to navigate from one place to another, and how the motion is.

Free motion quilting woodgrain Sewcial Bee Sampler Custom Quilting Quilt As You Go Blocks

After having the confidence practicing on paper, you can move onto free motion quilting on scrap fabric basted with leftover batting. This is to ensure you have good tension and have a good sense of moving your quilt in the direction you want it to go. Then you can move onto quilting your block.

 

make sure you pin this to try them later!

how to free motion quilt allover woodgrain.more free motion quilting tutorials on the blog

Custom free motion quilting on quilt as you go blocks

For the other quilt, each block is going to be custom quilted, which means each will be designed accordingly with the block pattern.

The benefit of using quilt-as-you-go block is that it is so much easy to maneuver with small blocks and custom quilting is made easier under the throat of a domestic machine. Plus, your shoulder should thank you too!

I planned the custom quilting using Sharon Holland’s colouring page which  Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell have available for download in the Intro section. I simply view them in magnified mode on my screen and crop each block into JPG on its own (You can use (shift+command+4 on Mac) or use snips in Microsoft.

Then, I printed the block individually and plan out the quilting with pencils. While doing it with the pencil I also plan how will I be moving the needle from one place to another.

Custom free motion quilting Sewcial Bee Sampler Custom Quilting Quilt As You Go BlocksI

 

No marking Custom Quilting

For this block, I did not do any markings prior to quilting.

I basically have something in mind on how I would quilt it, sketch them on the printed block and went straight to the machine.

I use a lot of dot-to-dot quilting in this block. In the centre and the yellow rectangles.

For the centre, orange peel again, making a small cathedral window effect. I added some pearls in between echoed lines to bring more details.

To continue with the feather theme I have with all of these custom quilted blocks, I added circular feather around the centre square. I am falling in love with feathers around a curved line. Especially if they go all the way around completing the whole round.

As for the half square triangle corners, I decided to keep it simple and make the printed fabric pop even more by dense matchstick quilting the solid background fabric.

Since I will be piecing these blocks together, I decided to make the points of the triangles in the yellow rectangle about 1/4 inch away from the edge. This way, my points are still going to be there once the blocks are sewn together later when putting the quilt together. I just eyeball this, if you are not confident with eyeballing, you can go ahead and do some marking.

 

 

Well, if you decide to join along or have any questions, drop me a comment. I will be happy to help where I can! In the meantime, you can also check these free motion quilting tips!

How to Quilt As You Go A Sampler Quilt

Click here to related Archive posts.
until next time, have fun sewing and quilting!

NOTE : I no longer promote Craftsy/Bluprint as I used to due to the way the subscription is currently being carried out. I had the issue of cancelling my subscription when the company changed hand and I find that cancelling through calls is inconvenient. However, I do still stand behind these classes I promote and if you are subscribed, you can surely check these classes I recommend on the platform. If you are looking for another online platform to learn craft such as quilting, do check out CreativeBug. It is much cheaper in subscription (subscribe now 3 months for only $5). Thank you.
 

For more dot-to-dot quilting ideas, I highly recommend this Craftsy Class!