It’s time to celebrate Labor Day the quilty way — with a sitewide sale at Connecting Threads! From now through September 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST, you can score 20% OFF everything on their site when you use my affiliate link and code. Yes, you read that right — EVERYTHING. 😍
If you’ve been wanting to make a new quilt but don’t want to stress over choosing fabrics, you’ve got to check out their quilt kits. The kits are perfectly curated — fabric + pattern all in one neat package — making it easy to start your next project without the overwhelm.
Some of my current favorites:
Seasonal Kits – Perfect for holiday gifting or decorating your home.
Beginner-Friendly Kits – If you’re new to quilting, these take the guesswork out of fabric selection.
Scrappy and Modern Kits – For my fellow modern quilters who love bright colors and bold prints.
The best part? You still get 20% off these kits with my link and code. That’s like getting an instant upgrade to your fabric stash for less money. 🙌
And while you’re shopping, don’t sleep on their wide fabric backing options (shop them here). I love wide back fabrics because:
No piecing required (hallelujah 🙌)
Perfect for finishing quilts faster
Available in tons of colors and patterns to match any quilt
Honestly, wide backs are a total game changer when it comes to finishing your quilt tops and you know how much I love helping you go from UFO to finished quilt. 🥳
Don’t Miss Out!
Remember, this sale only lasts until September 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST. The good stuff sells out fast, so grab your favorites now before they’re gone.
What’s on your wishlist? Are you going to grab a kit, stock up on wide backings, or treat yourself to a little of everything? Let me know in the comments — I might need to “accidentally” place a second order. 😉
The Adventure Begins: From California to Wisconsin and back again!
In June, I had the incredible opportunity to fly from John Wayne Airport (SNA) in California all the way to Madison, Wisconsin, for in-person training as a Certified Sallie Tomato Educator. My flight from SNA to Phoenix (PHX) was smooth and easy, but my connecting flight from Phoenix to Madison (MSN) was delayed by two hours due to “weather.” Not something I’m used to – I’m a California girl, after all!
When we finally reached Wisconsin, the weather was intense: thunder, lightning, and pounding rain. It was so wild that when we landed, the airport went on red alert and wouldn’t let the plane get close to the terminal for 40 minutes! Once I finally got off the plane, I met my Turo host, grabbed the keys, and plugged my hotel address into Google Maps. That drive turned out to be one of the scariest of my life; between the heavy rain, booming thunder, and lightning strikes everywhere, I was gripping the wheel the whole way.
Once I made it to the hotel, sleep did not come easy. I tossed and turned in a new bed with new sheets, missing my husband (we’ve been married since 2011!) and my own pillow. But eventually, I drifted off. Adjusting to the two-hour time difference, I woke up early (6:30 a.m. CST felt like 4:30 a.m. PST), took a long shower, grabbed breakfast at the hotel, and treated myself to the best cappuccino ever at Caribou Coffee. Thankfully, the weather cleared up beautifully for the rest of my stay.
The Training: Learning, Connecting, and Growing
Training day was incredible. I got to meet Jessica, the founder of Sallie Tomato, in person, and at first, I was completely starstruck, but then I remembered, she’s just a person, too! We’re all just humans, passionate about sewing and sharing what we love.
I met about 30 amazing women who all share the same passion for sewing wallets, purses, and bags. It felt so inspiring to be surrounded by fellow bag-makers and educators. My connections from this group continue to grow, and I’m so thankful to have this supportive community cheering each other on.
(I’m on the right side of the picture in tghe back – leaning in)
At the training, they had samples of all the beautiful purses and bags I now have patterns for—and you’re going to love sewing them as much as I do! I can’t wait to teach you how to make the Lucky Penny Wallet and so many other fun projects.
The Journey Home: Delays, Detours & Family to the Rescue
After the second day of training, I said my goodbyes to my new bag-making friends and hit the road for the airport. Since it was an unfamiliar area, I gave myself plenty of time and arrived about two and a half hours early just to find out my flight from Madison to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) was delayed by two hours… because of weather. Again!
I had to rush over to the desk and ask the agent to help me change my connecting flight from DFW to SNA. He did it, but it took a while. Afterward, I treated myself to a glass of cold Sauvignon Blanc at the bar and called my mom to chat. Then I grabbed a burger and a beer at a packed restaurant—so busy that I told my server, “Give me the receipt now and I’ll pay in advance,” to make life easier for both of us.
Once my plane arrived, we boarded but still had more delays. The pilot promised to “fly fast” (whatever that means) and to be fair, he did a pretty good job! But once we landed at DFW, we had to taxi for 20 minutes just to reach the terminal: DFW is huge. The pilot asked, “Raise your hand if you have a connecting flight,” and about 10 of us did. He announced, “Let these folks go first,” and everyone kindly did.
I grabbed my luggage and joined a family of six as we hopped on the terminal train (which I call the “wiki-wiki” after the shuttle in Honolulu). When the doors opened, it was like a scene from a zombie movie – everyone, including me, bolted out, ran down the escalator, and raced through the airport. I barely made it to my gate and was one of the last to board.
My flight was supposed to land at 11:30 p.m., but with all the delays, we didn’t touch down until midnight. Oh – and my home airport, SNA, doesn’t allow flights to land after 10 p.m., so I had to reroute to Ontario (ONT) instead. Thankfully, I have family nearby, and my sister was waiting for me, still in her pajamas, parked at the loading zone. Praise God! I was finally home! I am so thankful for my sister. She drove me to our mom’s house, where I crashed for the night before heading straight back to work the next day. What a whirlwind of a journey, huh?
What’s Next: Let’s Sew Together!
Now that I’m a Certified Sallie Tomato Educator, I’m so excited to offer both online and in-person classes in my local area. Whether you want to learn from home or join me for a fun workshop, I’m here to help you master beautiful projects step by step.
If you’d like more information or pricing for classes and workshops, please email me—I’d love to help you get started on your bag-making journey!
How to Quilt Faster & Get Those Holiday Gifts Done!
Hey Quilty Crew! It’s that magical time of year — no, not December — Christmas in July! ✨
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a list of quilted gifts you swore you’d finish by Thanksgiving… but somehow it’s the day before the holiday party and you’re still binding. So, let’s break that cycle this year! Here’s how you can quilt smarter, not harder, and get ahead with ruler quilting. And my favorite gifts – the smaller projects
Why Ruler Quilting Makes You Faster
Ruler quilting gives you beautiful, precise lines — without marking everything by hand. Once you get your setup dialed in, your designs flow together quickly. Whether it’s straight lines, grids, or simple curves, rulers keep you on track and speed up the quilting process.
Must-Have Tools for Faster Quilting
Here’s my favorite gear for efficient quilting — with direct links so you can stock up and get stitching this week:
✅ Ruler Foot for Your Machine — Make sure your foot is compatible with your machine. If you don’t have one yet, check with your dealer!
One of my favorite ways to stay sane during the holiday rush? Smaller projects!
This is when I pull out my stash of cork and vinyl from Sallie Tomato — they’re perfect for gifts like wallets, pouches, and bags. Quick to sew, super giftable, and no big quilt bulk to wrestle with.
I’m also a Sallie Tomato Certified Educator, so if you want to learn how to make cork or vinyl projects, I can teach you virtually. Grab your supplies and let’s stitch up something special together!
👉 Shop cork, vinyl, bag hardware & patterns at Sallie Tomato
Your future holiday self will thank you! Stay cozy and keep stitching, Quilty Crew!
So you’ve got your ruler foot. You’ve got your favorite quilting ruler. And your quilt top is ready to shine!
But then… the fabric starts flopping around like it’s auditioning for Dancing with the Stars. 😅 Yep—every beginner’s been there.
When it comes to ruler quilting on a domestic machine, success starts under your hands. Handling the bulk of a quilt and working with gravity instead of against it makes all the difference.
Why Holding Matters in Ruler Quilting
Straight lines and curves don’t just happen because you have the tools. They happen when you control the quilt sandwich.
Think of it like this:
“Even the best GPS can’t help if your steering wheel is doing the cha-cha.”
You need a stable surface, grippy gloves, and the right posture to glide smoothly. Otherwise, your stitches will look like your quilt had one too many cups of coffee.
Tools That Help You Win the Quilt Wrestling Match
Let’s talk tools—these are my favorites (and yes, they’re affiliate links I personally use and love):
Mentioned in This Episode – Must-Have Tools:
Quilting Gloves. Better grip, less slip! These help control fabric without tension in your hands. Shop quilting gloves on Amazon (affiliate)
Slip Mat / Supreme Slider. Reduces drag and helps your quilt glide across the machine bed. Find one at Sewing Parts Online (affiliate)
Grippy Spray. My go-to to keep rulers from sliding on fabric while quilting. Get Grippy Spray on Amazon (affiliate)
Silly Moon Quilting Rulers. A favorite for beginner-friendly, beautiful designs. Shop Silly Moon Rulers (affiliate)
My Sewing Machine: Juki TL-18. It’s a powerhouse for domestic ruler quilting.
😖 Problem: My stitches are uneven. 💡 Fix: Practice on samples and remember—this is free motion quilting! Your stitch length is controlled by your hands, not feed dogs
Ready for More?
Handling the quilt is just one piece of the puzzle. In my course Quilting with Rulers Academy, I show you step-by-step how to quilt with confidence—even on your home machine.
So, you’re curious about ruler quilting. Maybe you’ve seen those dreamy straight lines, graceful curves, and perfectly spaced echoes and thought, “Can I really do that on my home machine?”
🎉 The answer: YES, absolutely!
In fact, if you can steer a shopping cart, you can probably steer a quilting ruler. Just with less risk of crashing into a cereal display. 😂
Whether you’re a free-motion newbie or have tried quilting with your feed dogs up, ruler quilting is like adding a GPS to your free motion adventures: more guidance, fewer “oops” moments.
Let’s break down what you actually need to get started — no fluff, no overwhelming shopping list. Just the must-haves that’ll get you quilting with rulers today.
Supplies You’ll Love (with links!)
Ruler Foot for Your Machine
Like Cinderella’s slipper, the right fit matters. 🧵 Check with your machine’s manufacturer to make sure you get a compatible ruler foot — or you’ll end up with a foot that’s all dressed up and nowhere to stitch! Find yours at 👉 Sewing Parts Online
💪 My Juki TL18 – A True Workhorse
I use this beast of a machine for all my ruler work. It’s fast, strong, and dependable — kind of like a golden retriever that sews. 👉 View on Sewing Parts Online
Creative Grids Rulers – Especially Angela Walters’ Collection
Angela’s rulers are like the stand-up comedians of the quilting world — they always deliver the good lines. 👉 View on Fat Quarter Shop
Let’s be honest — when you first start quilting with rulers, it can feel like patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time. But don’t worry — these beginner-friendly designs are like training wheels for your inner quilting rockstar.
✅ Straight Lines and Grids – Classic and confidence-building.
✅ Curved Arcs – Simple swoops that add elegance in seconds.
✅ Stitch-in-the-Ditch – With a ruler? Totally doable!
✅ Echo Designs – Like an encore for your stitching. Bravo! 👏
✂️ Dad Joke Break: Why did the quilt go to school? Because it wanted to make the grade! 😆
💡 Pro Tip: Download the Free Checklist
Want a simple one-pager you can keep by your machine to remind you what to grab before you quilt? 🧷
If you’re nodding along, saying, “This sounds great, but I still feel nervous,” I’ve got you. I teach beginner ruler quilting inside my full video course Quilting with Rulers Academy.
You’ll go from “what’s a ruler foot?” to confidently quilting mini quilts, blocks, and even full tops — all from your domestic machine.
Quilting with rulers doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right tools, a little practice, and a sprinkle of fun (and bad jokes), you’ll be stitching like a pro in no time.
Why did the quilter break up with the seam ripper? Because it kept bringing up old stitches. 😅
Now get stitching, friend — and remember, the only thing better than straight lines… is finishing the quilt!
