Hello and Happy New Year Quilting Friends!!
It’s the final day of 2025!!! As we step into a brand-new year, I want to take a moment to thank you for supporting the Log Cabin Quilt’N Sew community, for being a loyal friend and customer. I am grateful that you chose me and my small business to join you in your sewing journey. A new year always feels like a chance to pause, reflect, and gently turn the page toward new beginnings of all kinds. Especially our new sewing projects! If you are like me, my ideas and quilt stash have been building up the last few months just waiting for the holidays to move on so I can get to the good stuff—the new projects!! Here’s to all of you—may the coming New Year bring new friendships, opportunities and lots of fun FABRIC!!!
New Monthly Sale
In the coming year, we have decided to move away from selling quilt kits and focus on bringing in new lines of quilting fabric. So, to make room for new arrivals and clear our shelves, we’re offering all quilting kits at 50% OFF! That’s a SMOK’N DEAL!! The wonderful thing about quilt kits is you can skip right over the fabric color selection because all the colors are preselected. And, our Jiffy Kits are even pre-cut for you and the backing is provided!! So hurry fast, while the supply lasts. When the current inventory is gone…it’s gone! Beginning today through January 10th! Just use promocode: Kits50.
And remember our End-of-Bolt Cuts. Due to end-of-year sales, we cleared many bolts and what was remaining was packaged as an End-of-Bolt cut. This is yardage that is not as small as a remnant but really needs to be cleared from the shelf to make room for the new fabrics. The yardage cuts range from 1/2 -yard to 1 7/8-yard cuts. These 108” & 118” wide cuts are 30% OFF!!
Also, FREE SHIPPING is available for orders of $75 or more.
For your convenience, here’s the link:
Culinary Corner – New Years Eve Appetizer Ideas
Are you running around crazy after the Christmas rush and forgot all about New Years Eve? Appetizers don’t have to be elaborate or complicated to be enjoyed and talked about into next year! Here are some of my go-to fast appetizer ideas.
1. Dips are first up. Combine some sour cream and Miracle Whip with a little dried onion, beef bouillon powder and parsley. Mix it up and let it sit in the fridge for about an hour before serving with chips, bread or vegi’s. Very Yummy!!
2. How about some little bites. Shrimp cocktail from the freezer at your local grocer. Deviled eggs are pretty on the table. And the classic pigs in a blanket. Cut Pillsbury croissants into 1”x 2” slices and wrap around precooked tiny sausages and bake at 375 degrees until golden brown.
3. Finally, try an old-fashioned cheese ball. Take a softened block of cream cheese and mix in 1 Cup each of marble cheese and sharp cheddar. Mix in onion, garlic powder, 1 tsp of Worcestshire sauce and parsley. Optional is a small jar of pimento that makes it look festive for the holiday! Mix together and form in a ball. Wrap in Saran wrap shaped as a ball and refrigerate until the party starts!!
Free Patterns Summer Snow by Colleen Tauke for Quilter’s Circle
LONG-ARM QUILTING SERVICES
Please allow four to six weeks for completion.
TODAY’S TIPS, TRICKS & TECHNIQUES—
Sewing a Straight Line – 10 Top Tips
The quickest way to a professional look in our sewing projects is to master the art of sewing a straight line. Yep, it’s that simple. Without a straight seam allowance, we get uneven seams that don’t lay flat when we press them, we get excess fabric in places we don’t want, we get points that don’t line up where we want them too, and our quilts don’t come out square. YIKES!!
Whether you’re a beginner or a confident pro looking to refine your technique, these tips are designed to take the stress out of sewing. From clever hacks for guiding your fabric to some “secret” machine accessories you might be overlooking, we’re breaking down the art of the straight stitch into easy, manageable steps.
1. First and easiest fix is our stitching speed. This is probably the most obvious but needs a reminder from time-to-time. Sometimes we just need to slow down a little. Fabric is movable and slippery so the faster we go, the harder it is to control the fabric under the presser foot. Sometimes it’s the needle, and sometimes it’s the fabric, but start by turning that speed dial down or easing up on the foot pedal.
2. Our primary sewing machine tool for sewing straight lines is the built-in guideline on the throat plate of our domestic machines. However, depending on the project they can be hard to see or the fabric may cover them entirely if you need a really wide seam allowance.
3. Consider using a Sew Straight Tool by Quilt in a Day. This is really helpful if you are unable to see the throat plate’s guidelines. You adhere this tool to your sewing machine’s bed with masking tape. It’s great for ¼” seam allowances and pivoting for perfect mitered corners.
4. Try a DIY adjustable seam guide with blue masking tape. It’s the ultimate low-budget fix. This fix works for sewing straight seams and edge stitching (topstitching on edge) and distance from your needle.
5. Consider using Sticky Notes. Sticky notes are an inexpensive seam guide with an edge, to keep you from going over the seam guideline. Peel off a stack of sticky notes about 1/4” tall and place it where you want your seam allowance (e.g., 1/8, ¼, 3/8 or 5/8”, etc.). Then when the stick wears off, you can just remove the bottom paper for a fresh guideline.
6. Try a Seam Guide Ruler with a magnetic guide. You place your needle inside the hole that corresponds with the seam allowance width you need. Then place the magnetic guide adjacent to the edge of the seam ruler and remove the ruler. This little gadget is very effective.
7. You can use or an Edge-Guide Foot or a Compensating Foot. An edge-guide foot is depicted on the left and the compensating foot is depicted on the right. Both of these feet can be purchased in many common dimensions (e.g, 1/8”, ¼’, and 3/8” presser feet)
8. You might want to try marking a sewing line using a disappearing marker or a Frixion pen. This tip works really well for sewing curves.
9. Try Diagonal Seam tape.
This tape is awesome in so many ways!! Not only is it a great for straight line sewing, but it’s a handy tool for making fast half-square triangles! The red line is centered between two 1/4″ seam allowances for very accurate measurements.
10. Finally, try using a strip of 1/8” double-sided tape. Place it just to the right or left of the seam allowance and stitch along the side of the tape. Remove the tape when finished and place on the next seam to be sewn.
None of these tips are a one-size-fits-all solution. Some of these will be great for sewing garments or piecing quilts. Others may be better if you are quilting several layers together or bagmaking. Try several of them to see which works best for you and in what situations.
Happy New Years and Happy Quilting!!
Linda
Log Cabin Quilt’N Sew
703-586-3265