Hello Quilting Friends!!
February has stitched its way in with all the warmth and sweetness of Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re piecing together soft blush and ruby scraps or quilting from a palette that speaks your own love language, this season is the perfect time to celebrate the heart of what we do—creating with care. Quilting has always been an expression of love, from heirloom treasures passed down through generations to small handmade surprises shared with friends. In this issue, we’re embracing all things heartfelt, cozy, and joyfully stitched as we celebrate the season of love—one beautiful block at a time. ????
New Monthly Sale
In addition to Valentine’s Day, February is heart health awareness month. We’re jumping in on RED-HEART Awareness by offering 25% OFF through Sunday, February 15th on all Red, Pink, Peach, Coral, and White & Cream fabrics. This sale is for you only, so use promocode: LOVE25, and remember FREE SHIPPING is available for orders of $75 or more.
We love it when you shop around on the sight, but if you are in a hurry, here is the direct link:
Featured Product(s)
Crushed Velvet—At times, we all need backing fabrics for our quilts that are calm yet not boring. A print that quietly supports the design on the front of the quilt but still looks lovely when the quilt is turned over. A print that provides a beautiful surface for creative quilting. Crushed Velvet is just that print! Imagine running your hand over a piece of velvet and admiring the way that it creates lighter and darker areas. This new wide print was designed to mimic that beautiful velvet look. You'll simply love using any of these colors for your next quilt! (Note: this fabric not actually ‘velvet’. It is 100% premium quilting cotton that has an appearance of velvet.
Elegant Scroll—Add a touch of timeless sophistication to your next quilt with Elegant Scroll from the Beautiful Backing Collection by Maywood Studios. This 108" wide, 100% premium quilting cotton features a graceful, tone-on-tone scrolling vine design that brings subtle movement and refined charm to any project. Perfect for quilt backs, whole-cloth quilts, or coordinating borders, its extra-wide width means fewer seams and a beautifully smooth finish. Available in 9 versatile colors, Elegant Scroll makes it easy to find the perfect complement to your quilt top while adding a polished, cohesive look from front to back.
Elegant Scroll
Culinary Corner
This Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake is a dreamy dessert bursting with fresh strawberry flavor, creamy layers, and a buttery crunch topping that’s simply irresistible. With its moist cake, luscious filling, and sweet crumble finish, it’s the perfect show-stopping treat for Valentine’s Day, spring gatherings, or anytime you’re craving something fruity and indulgent.
Recipe:
Cake Ingredients-
• 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix -This provides the base for our cake. While you could make a cake from scratch, using a boxed cake mix simplifies the process and still yields a light, moist result.
• Ingredients for the cake mix -These include the usual oil, eggs, and water, as directed on the box.
• 1 (3 oz) box strawberry gelatin -The star ingredient that infuses the cake with a rich strawberry flavor. The gelatin is also what creates the poke cake effect, soaking into the cake to keep it moist and flavorful.
• 1 cup boiling water -This is mixed with the gelatin to dissolve it and create the liquid soak.
• 1 cup cold water-Helps cool the gelatin down before it's poured over the cake.Ingredients:
Frosting Ingredients:
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened -The base for the creamy frosting. Its richness adds a nice balance to the sweet cake.
• 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream -This gives the frosting its light, airy texture.
1 cup confectioners' sugar - Sweetens the frosting without making it too heavy.
• 1 tsp vanilla extract -Adds a subtle, warm flavor that complements the tanginess of the cream cheese.
Stawberry Crunch Topping Ingredients:
• 18-20 Golden Oreos, coarsely crushed -These cookies add a buttery crunch and a bit of vanilla flavor, perfect for the topping. They provide the "crunch" that contrasts with the soft cake and frosting.
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted -The butter helps bind the crushed Oreos together and gives them a glossy, golden finish.
• 1 (3 oz) box strawberry gelatin powder -The dry gelatin powder is mixed with the crushed Oreos to create the signature strawberry crunch topping.
• Fresh strawberries for garnish ( optional) -A fresh pop of color and flavor. Adding them on top brings a nice touch of freshness and enhances the strawberry theme.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a 9x13-inch baking pan by greasing it with cooking spray. This will prevent the cake from sticking to the pan and make cleanup a breeze.
In a large mixing bowl, prepare the white cake mix according to the package instructions. This typically involves adding eggs, oil, and water to the cake mix and stirring until smooth. Once the batter is ready, pour it into the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly.
Bake the cake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cake should be light golden brown and spring back when lightly touched. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and set it aside to cool slightly.
Making the Strawberry Gelatin Soak
While the cake is cooling, prepare the strawberry gelatin soak. In a small pitcher or bowl, combine the strawberry gelatin with the boiling water and stir until the gelatin dissolves completely. Once dissolved, add the cold water to the mixture and stir again.
Once the cake has cooled slightly but is still warm, use the handle of a wooden spoon or a similar tool to poke holes all over the top of the cake. The holes should be about 1 inch apart. Pour the strawberry gelatin mixture evenly over the cake, allowing it to seep into the holes. The gelatin soak will make the cake moist and flavorful.
Refrigerate the Cake
Cover the cake with _plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. This will give the gelatin plenty of time to set and fully soak mto the cake, ensuring every bite is infused with that sweet strawberry flavor.
Prepare the Frosting
While the cake is chilling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and fluffy, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Scrape the cream cheese out into a medium bowl and set it aside.
Next, add the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract to the mixer bowl and switch to the whisk attachment. Whisk the mixture on high speed for about 5-7 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. This will create a light, fluffy whipped cream that complements the dense cake and frostmg.
Once the whipped cream is ready, gently fold the cream cheese mixture into the whipped cream until fully combined. This will create a smooth, fluffy frosting. Spread the frosting evenly over the chilled cake, covering it completely.
Making the Strawberry Crunch Topping
To prepare the strawberry crunch topping, start by coarsely crushing the Golden Oreos in a medium bowl. You can use a food processor, a rolling pin, or simply place the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush them with your hands.
Next, melt the butter and add it to the crushed cookies, stirring to combine. Add the strawberry gelatin powder (the dry powder, not dissolved) and mix it into the crushed Oreos and butter until everything is evenly coated.
Sprinkle the crunch mixture over the frosted cake, pressing it gently into the frosting to help it adhere. The topping should cover the entire cake, providing a delightful contrast in both flavor and texture.
When ready to serve, slice the cake into generous pieces and enjoy the delightful combination of moist cake, creamy frosting, and crunchy topping.
Free Quilt Pattern My Woven Heart Mini Wall Hanging
Designed by Colleen Tauke for National Quilter’s Circle
This is a sweet and versatile quilt for Valentine’s Day or anytime for someone you love! The versatility comes in the sizes included in this pattern: a mini wall hanging, a table topper, or a toddler/lap quilt size.
Sorry for the difficulty this week. Our links aren't working for PDF's. So I found a Plan B. If you would like this pattern, you can find it in our Newsletter Archives: Newsletter | Log Cabin Quilt N Sew Newsletter
Look for the title: February 11, 2026, My Woven Heart Pattern
If you have any problem at all, please don't hesitate to reach me at Linda@Logcabinquiltnsew.com
LONG-ARM QUILTING SERVICES
Please allow two to three weeks for completion.
TODAY’S TIPS, TRICKS & TECHNIQUES
To Starch, or NOT to Starch when Quilting???
If you’ve spent any time around quilters, you’ve probably heard strong opinions about starch. And, some never use the word “starch”, the word used today is “Best Press”. I hate to tell you, but it’s the same stuff our mom’s used 50 years ago, dressed up in a new outfit and given a new name!
Some quilters swear by it, while others won’t touch the stuff. The truth? Starch can be an incredibly helpful tool!
— when you use it at the right time and in the right way.
Let’s talk about when starch really shines… and when it might be better to leave the spray bottle sitting on the ironing board.
When Starch is Your Best Friend
a. Before Cutting Your Fabric
Starching fabric before you cut it can make a huge difference. A little crispness helps reduce stretch, prevents fraying, and gives you cleaner, more accurate rotary cuts. A light spray followed by pressing (not sliding your iron around) helps keep everything straight and stable.
b. Sewing Bias Edges and Half-Square Triangles
Bias edges love to stretch — and not in a good way. If you enjoy making half-square triangles or working with curved piecing, starch helps stabilize those stretchy edges and keeps your points sharp and accurate.
c. Foundation Paper Piecing
Slightly stiff fabric behaves beautifully during foundation paper piecing. It folds more cleanly, trims more accurately, and shifts less while you’re sewing. Many quilters find starch makes this technique much easier to manage.
d. When You Want Extra Flat Seams
If you love perfectly flat seams or you’re making a show quilt, starch can help your seams stay neat and crisp, especially in blocks with lots of pieces.
When It’s Better to Skip the Starch
a. Precuts
Precuts like jelly rolls, charm packs, and layer cakes are already precision cut. Heavy starching can distort edges and throw off sizing. If you do use starch, keep it very light.
b. Quilts That Will Be Washed Right Away
If your quilt is heading straight to the washing machine after it’s finished, heavy starch may not be worth the effort. Most of it will wash out anyway and can sometimes leave residue if overused.
c. Dark Fabrics
Too much starch can leave white streaks or flakes on dark fabrics. Always test on a scrap first if you’re unsure.
d. Soft, Drape-Focused Quilts
If you’re going for that cozy, crinkly, soft feel, heavy starch may work against you. It can make fabric feel stiff during construction, even though it softens after washing.
A Few Friendly Starching Tips
• Press instead of sliding your iron back and forth.
• Use a light mist — fabric should feel crisp, not wet.
• Let fabric cool completely before cutting.
• Clean your iron regularly to prevent buildup.
At the end of the day, starch is just another tool in your quilting toolbox. Use it when you want precision and control, and skip it when softness and drape are the goal. The best choice is always the one that helps you enjoy the quilting process and love your finished quilt!
Happy Quilting
Linda
Log Cabin Quilt’N Sew
703-586-3265