October Newsletter and SALE!!
Hello Friends and Quilters!!
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! The brilliance of color in the turning leaves, the cool, crisp mornings, the fresh produce at the farmer’s markets, and families decorating their houses for Halloween. Here in Colorado the fall foliage drives are just gorgeous with golden Aspen leaves quivering in the breeze. The corn mazes, apple orchards, and pumpkin patches call to me every weekend. And, of course all of these things make me want to get back to my quilting projects that were tabled for the summer!
New Monthly Sale
To launch the Fall season, this month’s sale is 20% OFF on ALL flannel fabric! The sale begins October 19th and runs through Halloween, October 31st!
No promo code is needed and there is FREE SHIPPING on orders of $65 or more.
There are 65 flannels to choose from in every color and print, and all are quilter’s flannels. That means they wash with minimal shrinkage, do not lose their color vibrancy and fray very little…even when washed and dried in the hottest temperature.
Also, we have lots of new kits available, and more to come. So, check our website frequently. Here are links to make your shopping easier.
Culinary Corner
We all love pumpkin recipes for sure. Another seasonal favorite of mine is butternut squash. It has a savory, nutty flavor that is perfect for a main course, side dishes, or soups and salads. Here’s an easy, cozy butternut squash soup recipe that will warm your family on those chilly afternoons.
Butternut Squash Soup
Pierce the squash several times with a fork, cut off both ends, then microwave it for 3 minutes. Cool and peel. Or, you can also find pre-peeled and chopped butternut squash at your local grocers in the produce section.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 1/2 lb. diced butternut squash
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 2 1/2 c. vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 c. coconut milk, or heavy cream
Directions
- Add the oil to the liner of a 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot and set to SAUTE. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute.
- Add the squash, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and broth to the pot. Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and lock into place. Seal the steam release handle. Select HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer for 15 minutes. When the timer is up, let rest for 10 minutes, then manually release the pressure (unseal the steam release handle). Unlock and remove lid, being careful of any remaining steam.
- Meanwhile, pour the coconut milk or cream in the pot. Blend with an immersion blender. Reheat if necessary.
- Serve warm topped with a swirl of additional coconut milk or cream.
LONG-ARM QUILTING SERVICES
It is that time of year when quilt tops arrive daily to be quilted before Christmas. Currently, the quilting queue takes us through the first week of December. Please note, if you have a quilt that needs to be completed as a gift for Christmas, try to have your quilt to me by November 1st. If a quilt arrives later than Nov 1st, I will do my very best to complete it by Christmas, but I cannot make any guarantees.
Free Quilt Pattern
Jamberry by Cyndi Hershey for PB Textiles
Download Pattern Instructions Here
TODAY’S TIPS, TRICKS & TECHNIQUES
Free Motion Quilting – Like many, you may be struggling in achieving a smooth, consistent stitch when free motion quilting on your domestic machine. We have all heard from YouTube and quilt shop teachers—practice, practice, practice—and you’ll achieve that perfectly balanced stitch. But are there other tips and tricks that could help?? You bet! Here are my greatest discoveries through trial and error over the years of free motion quilting.
-
- Expand Table Area—gravity will drag on your quilt, no matter what size it is, but especially larger quilts. If you don’t have a large sewing cabinet, try extending your area with card tables that are the same height.
- Create a Slick Surface— place a High-Density thin Polyethylene sheet on the surfaces. Thin Plexiglas can be used as well. And, if needed polish both your cabinet top and the polyethylene sheet with car wax. The surface should be so slick that if you tossed a piece of fabric on the surface, it would slide right off.
- Use Matching, Light-Weight Thread—choose a 50-, 60-, or 80-Weight thread that is the same color or blends into the fabric color. Also, use the same thread in both bobbin and top. This will highlight the beautiful texture of your design and significantly reduce the visibility of less than perfect stitches. Quilter’s Select has many 60- and 80-weight thread colors to complement any project.
- Throw Away the Safety Pins! Then how do the three layers stay together?! Spray & Machine Baste instead. I use 505 Temporary Spray Baste. First, lay the backing on the floor (wrong side up). Spray top half, lay batting down; spray bottom half, smooth batting down over lower half. Second, spray the top half of the batting, lay wrong side of top on the sprayed surface; spray bottom half of batting surface, smooth top over lower half. Finally, baste straight lines every 6 inches from center outward and baste around the perimeter. Now you are ready to quilt. This is so much easier and faster than pinning, and stopping every few minutes to remove a safety pin!
Linda
Log Cabin Quilt’N Sew
703-586-3265