We’re huge supporters of Erin & all of the work that she and her team have done to bring what began as a really good idea to life.  They put on the first Sewing Summit in Salt Lake City last October and it was an undeniable success.  So much so, that its attendees hadn’t even returned home yet when everyone was already itching to make reservations for the 2012 event.

Well, good news, friends!  The dates for this year’s event have been announced: October 11-13, back in the same venue in SLC.  Registration’s not open just yet, but you can sign up for the Sewing Summit newsletter to be among the first to be notified when it does.

And some even more exciting news: our very own Katy Jones has been selected to be an instructor for Sewing Summit 2012!  You won’t want to miss her (sure to be) awesome class on English Paper Piecing.  The chance to learn English Paper Piecing from a genuine Brit?  Yes, please!

Oh, and you also won’t want to miss the unique spectacle of seeing Katy cross the street in Salt Lake City.  TRUST ME on this one.

Photos taken in Salt Lake City during Spring Quilt Market 2011!

The Modern Quilt Guild announces Quilt Con in Austin, TX, February 21-24 2013 with keynote speaker, Denyse Schmidt.

But what is QuiltCon?

QuiltCon will be the first modern quilt show and conference of it’s kind, and will incorporate a juried quilt show (with cash prizes), vendors, lectures and workshops  from top modern quilters, including Denyse Schmidt, Anna Maria Horner, Elizabeth Hartman, Malka Dubrowsky, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr.

In less than 3 years the Modern Quilt Guild has expanded rapidly to include thousands of members in over 100 chapters, all across the world. Founder and board member, Latifah Saafir says ‘it became obvious to us that the next step for our (Modern Quilt Guild) members was offer an event that was custom tailored for them’.

‘We hope our conference attendees can learn new techniques and strengthen their quilting skills with the most influential and recognized modern quilters in the world’ said Alissa Haight Carlton, founder and president of the Modern Quilt Guild.

Sign up to the newsletter at the QuiltCon website, follow on twitter for updates – don’t miss out on the news!

First, here’s Renee‘s version of Lynne’s Summer Trees pillow that’s featured in our most recent issue, Issue 8.

Next up, here’s a quilt inspired by Katy’s Constellation quilt from Issue 5, made by members of the Brit Bee virtual quilting bee and assembled and posted by member Hadley (Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle).

We couldn’t help but add Jeanne‘s little fox, made from Tacha’s Mr. Fox cushion pattern that appeared in Issue 4.

Our friend JulieFrick made this stunning modern mini quilt, based upon Chawne‘s “Bob” quilt, also featured in Issue 4 (our solids issue).

These two cuties — named Evie & Kat! — were made by Shannon from a pattern by Katy in our 2010 Holiday Special issue.

And finally, Tiffany made this gorgeous Hexed In pillow in shades of green & purple, mixed with natural linen.  The Hexed In pattern, designed by Tacha, was in our very first issue of Fat Quarterly.

Have you made anything recently from a Fat Quarterly pattern?  Please be sure to add it to our Flickr pool.  We’d love to see it, and maybe feature it in an future blog post!

For the second year in a row, Cara Wilson from Cara Quilts has issued a challenge to the quilting community.  Cara, the host of the ever-popular weekly #talknt chat on Twitter for quilters everywhere, is asking for us all to help those less fortunate in our communities and, in return, she’s offering up some fantastic prizes.  Here’s more from Cara’s post on the 2012 challenge:

In our daily lives we have a lot of things we think of as basics.

This morning you brushed your teeth with a toothbrush and tooth paste.

You used toilet paper.

Had soap to wash your hands.

Put on some deodorant.

Ran a brush through your hair.

Maybe took a shower with shampoo, conditioner, body wash and a razor.

Put some make-up on.

You were able to put on clean underwear and socks, that no one else has ever worn.

In the kitchen did you grab some paper towels to clean up a little spill?

At some point during the day you probably grabbed a coffee or tea.

Used some tissue to blow your nose. Maybe sanitized your hands after.

I could go on but you probably have the point by now. We have a LOT of things that we consider basics.

In each of our communities there are places that people don’t have the very basic things we all take for granted. Shelters — for abused women/children, homeless, men’s missions — exist in virtual every community. They are a necessary safety net for people in our communities who for an array of reasons need help. But these shelters are almost always in need of the basic items. Many of the people have had to leave everything behind, or don’t have anything to begin with.

She’s set up a Flickr group, FQ8 Paper Piecing Sew Along.  Don’t worry, if you don’t have a Flickr account, she’s going to set up a linky party at the end of each month and everyone can add their links to that.  Here are some of the projects you might choose from.

So the nitty gritty about the group. This is not a “how-to group” with tutorials. You will need to have your own copy of Fat Quarterly Issue 8 (it’s a download so you get to have it straight away!). The group is a place for everyone to support each other through the process of making the projects.

You may wish to concentrate on one particular technique like foundation piecing or freezer paper piecing or English paper piecing or have a go at all three. You may be planning to make every project or just concentrate on one or two, it doesn’t matter, everyone is welcome.

Let us know if you’re joining in and make sure you also add your pictures to the Fat Quarterly Flickr group so that we can admire your work too!

Today’s the day! Fat Quarterly Issue 8 — our paper-piecing issue — is now available for purchase. What will you find in issue 8? In addition to all the instructions you’ll need to make the ingenious wall clock above, the perfect accessory for a quilter’s studio as designed by Sylvie Roussel, as well as 6 original quilt patterns, 4 pillow tutorials, a potholder, a tea cozy, gobs o’ new quilt blocks, and a whole lot more.

At only $8, it’s still the best value in all of quilt-land!

Head on over to our Buy Now page to order your copy and, as always, we can’t wait to hear what you think!

These two variations of the same pillow top pattern represent Aylin Ozturk‘s contribution to issue 8.  Full paper-piecing templates are available for the Starflower pillow as well as for its counterpart, the Flowerstar pillow.

Our own Tacha Bruecher made the above pillow, a variation of the classic apple core pattern hand-sewn using paper templates and made with Lotta Jansdotter’s new Echo line.

And here’s a striking pillow that Lynne calls her Summer Trees pillow.  She used fabrics from Lucie Summers’ upcoming line for Moda Fabrics, Summersville, to give this pillow its fresh and modern look.

Would you believe me if I said there were even more pillow patterns in issue 8?  ’Tis true, along with 6 original quilt patterns, tons of quilt block patterns, all-new features, and more.  You can purchase issue 8 of Fat Quarterly through our buy page starting tomorrow, Tuesday 31 January.

When we set out to compile an issue all about paper piecing, we didn’t want to do it without the fabulously talented Penny Layman of Sew Take a Hike.  That’s why we’re thrilled that issue 8 features this whimsical Elixir Bottle wall hanging, a Penny original.

Find this fun project and lots, lots more in issue 8 of Fat Quarterly, on sale for single issue purchase this Tuesday, 31 January.