Author: Diane

Hi! I've been sewing garments since I was 13 years old when I made a cute little red sundress in HomeEc class. Recently, I became an empty-nester and decided I wanted to have more fun! That's when I started quilting, and now I'm hooked!

Order Your Laura Heine Patterns Now

Posted on by Diane

If you’re attending the Mini Collage workshop on August 12th, you’ll need to bring your own pattern and fabric because our speaker will not be selling any supplies. We weren’t able to find the patterns packaged as singles, so perhaps you and two quilting friends can divide the cost and share the patterns. Here are some links to help you shop (packaged as triples):

– – – – – – – –

Group # 2 – Teeny Tiny Collage PATTERN

This purchase includes 3 patterns, and you can order read more

Church Donations

Posted on by Diane

Instead of bringing food donations to the May meeting, please bring small & medium baby items:

  • onesies, undershirts, & sleepers with feet
  • socks
  • receiving blankets, crib sheets & mattress pads
  • towels & bibs
  • disposable diapers & wipes
  • shampoo
  • pacifiers

Gently used baby and maternity items are also appreciated.

May President’s Letter

Posted on by Diane

So, while putting my stash back together last week, and sharing my mess on the MQG facebook page, I fully accepted  that I have 2 favorite hobbies.  The first, making quilts for friends and family in times of celebration and for comfort.  I love looking through the patterns I have on hand, or online on Pinterest or a variety of websites.  I truly enjoy pulling the fabric from my stash, mixing and matching, adding something unexpected and pulling out the “WOW, that really read more

May Meet ‘N Greet

Posted on by Diane

The next meet and greet will be held  on Friday, May 17 from 10:30-12:30 at the home of Laura and Amy Anderson.

If you have joined the guild in the last few months, or have not been able to attend a meet and greet since joining in the past year, please plan to attend this event. You will meet in a smaller group setting and learn about the guild’s committees, charity opportunities, and other details of the Mudsock Quilters Guild. It’s a wonderful time to ask questions, get to know read more

Secret Quilters’ Challenge 

Posted on by Diane


Are you ready?  I’m excited about the reveal of all the secret quilter challenge projects! It will be interesting to see the variety we get. There are so many talented people in the guild, I’m sure it will be quite a show! Please bring your project in a bag of some kind so your project is not visible until it is your turn to reveal your creation. Be prepared to give a short explanation of how you decided to do the project you chose. Was it a favorite pattern, something different read more

Bus Trip to Grand Rapids

Posted on by Diane

NOTE:  Date change August 20-22, Tuesday thru Thursday.  

The plans are coming along.   The date was changed as we thought people might like to be home on Friday and also traffic on Thursday for the drive home might be easier. We have reserved a block of rooms at the Hampton Inn and Suites Granville.  The cost of the hotel is $119.00 plus tax per night for 2 people. 

On Tuesday we will be having lunch and stopping at a few quilts stores on the way

Pizza Party the first night read more

Patchwork Programs

Posted on by Diane
This quilt is called Crown Jewel and is available as a kit on their website: ModernQuiltStudio.com.

Weeks Ringle’s visit to Mudsock Quilt Guild was a success. We had the biggest turnout at a monthly meeting in our guild’s history. Thank you to all who helped make sure everything went smoothly.

She presented a lecture entitled Color in a Supporting Role and then showed us two dozen quilts that she and Bill Kerr have made over the years. She brought a different perspective of what “modern” quilts look like. She answered questions about pre-washing fabric, her favorite batting, and how read more

Spring Sale

Posted on by Diane

Looking to add to your stash? Gloria Stahlhut of Quilted Glo is having a sale of select fabrics, panels, and wide backings.

When: May 7, 8, & 9th from 9am-3pm

Where: Quilted Glo, 13705 Creekridge Lane, McCordsville IN 46055

Questions? Call Glo at 317-696-5084

President’s letter – April, 2019

Posted on by Diane

I’ve received such an overwhelmingly positive response to our member only program for the first and last show and tell.  The talent, creativity, and enthusiasm demonstrated how dedicated we are to this craft, this passion we share.  No doubt, this program will be repeated in a year or two.  I think this program also got a few of you out of your comfort zone, to come up front and share your work.  It was fun, please come up again and show more of your work! (Except in April, we won’t be read more

March Board Meeting

Posted on by Diane

The meeting was held on March 1, 2019 at 1:30 pm at the Fishers Library.

Attending: Laura Anderson, Carlene Clark, Diane Dimpfl, Becky Moore, Judy Ireland, Lissa Shanahan, April Sterling, Alice Whitaker, Donna Reimer, Marion Newell, and Tameria O’Dell .

The meeting was called to order by Alice Whitaker. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written with clarification of remaining quilts addressed below.  The Treasurer’s report was distributed showing January and February read more

Steals & Deals

Posted on by Diane

Ladies,

We have changed the date of the Steals and Deals big sale.  It will now be on Saturday, May 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Fishers United Methodist Church (where we used to meet) in the gym.  The address is 116th and IKEA Way in Fishers. The exact address is 9691 E. 116th Street, Fishers, IN 46037.

If anyone is interested in helping out, I will have a sign-up sheet near the Steals and Deals table(s).  If you have already signed up, check the information on the sheets to read more

President’s letter, March, 2019

Posted on by Diane

Thank you. 

Now that’s an odd way to start a letter, but it’s what comes to mind as I think about everything  the Mudsock Quilters Guild is doing lately.  We’re in our 4th year of making quilts for Community North Hospital to distribute on Christmas morning. We’re making pillowcases, baby quilts, and all sizes for children who are often in unimaginable situations.  You stepped up to help with a request for 4 quilts for a nursing home in Nebraska, not knowing the people read more

Bus Trip News

Posted on by Diane

According to the  poll on facebook, Grands Rapidswon with the most votes.

The quilt show is scheduled for August 21-24.  We will probably stay out two nights just like last trip.  We will have a table set up at the March guild meeting for sign ups.  The deposit will be $25, bring checks or cash.  We need to see how much interest there is, in order to make it cost effective we need at least 45 people to sign up.

Lets make this a great trip, we had so much fun on our first bus trip.

See Becky read more

Upcoming Programs

Posted on by Diane

March 11 at 9:30 at Cornerstone Lutheran Church

Member participation in “First & Last”.  We are asking each of you to bring one of the earliest quilts you made and one of your more recent finishes. We will each share a little about our own quilting journey. We will assign individuals into groups of 10 so that everyone isn’t standing up holding their quilts during the program. 

April 8 at 9:30 at Cornerstone Lutheran Church

“Color in a Supporty Role” presented by Weeks Ringle of Modern Quilt Studio  in Oak Park, IL. This is a lecture and trunk show. read more

Art Quilt Exhibition

Posted on by Diane

April 12 – May 25

The Declaration of Sentiments 1848 – The Struggle Continues
​EXHIBITION OPENING RECEPTION • Friday, April 12, 2019
Exhibit continues through May 25

An art quilt exhibition celebrating women’s accomplishments and honoring their struggles throughout American history. The works by the artists in this exhibition illustrate the passion, anger, hope, perseverance, and celebration of women’s rights.

SHOWING SOON IN ZIONSVILLE AT SULLIVANMUNCE CENTER—
This is read more

January Board Meeting Minutes

Posted on by Diane

The meeting was held on January 9, 2019 at 1:30 pm at the Fishers Library.

Attending: Diane Dimpfl, April Sterling, Alice Whitaker, Donna Reimer, Chris Behme, Marion Newell, Tamera O’Dell, Sandy Metzger, Samanatha Berry, Diane Lockman and Laura Anderson.

The meeting was called to order by Alice Whitaker.  Introductions were made, including position in the Guild. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.  The Treasurer’s report was distributed.  It indicates read more

February President’s Letter

Posted on by Diane

I thought I’d be looking at a beautiful snowy winter scene this morning as I sit in my sewing room.  Instead, it’s freezing rain, gray skies and no hope of seeing any sun today, or even the snow that we expected all week.  Seems like a good time to look forward to what’s ahead for Mudsock in the coming months, make some sewing plans, and get my calendar up to date with our events.

We will have our first UFO Bee on Monday, January 28th at the Community Health Pavillion read more

Smile!

Posted on by Diane

If you haven’t had your photo taken yet for the website, we’ve got you covered! Meet us at the front window during the break at our February meeting, and we’ll take your picture. And if we already have your photo but you’d like an update, come on over. 🙂

Meet ‘N Greet

Posted on by Diane

If you’ve joined the Guild since October 2018, please join us for a Meet ‘N Greet on February 15th @ Diane Lockman’s home from 9:30am to 11:30am. We’ll enjoy light refreshments while Board and Committee members fill you in on all the exciting details of membership as a Mudsocker.

See events calendar for address and google map.

Calling all Mudsockers!

Posted on by Diane

Our March meeting will be called “First and Last.” We are asking everyone to bring one of their first quilts they completed and one of their more recent quilts.

We will have an extended Show ‘N Tell  for our program, and we are asking members to comment on their quilting journey. If each of us could keep those comments to a minute it will allow us to include quite a few members.

Thank You, Cornerstone!

Posted on by Diane

Every month Cornerstone Lutheran graciously hosts our Guild meetings at no charge. Please show your gratitude by bringing food pantry contributions, or make a small suggested $ 1.00 donation from your piggy bank.

In February, the church will be collecting new socks for Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne and The Sharing Place.

Thanks so much!

“Secret Quilter” Challenge

Posted on by Diane

We had a great response to the 2019 “Secret Quilter” challenge. It will be so fun to see all the projects that will be created. If you were not at the January meeting, you can still participate.

Download instructions

If you want to do the challenge, you need to bring your 4 fat quarters to the February meeting and you can get your bag, envelope, etc. at the meeting. Please keep your fabrics out of sight since this is going to be a surprise! You can put your fabrics read more

President’s letter – January 2019

Posted on by Diane
pixabay creative commons quilt pic

CHALLENGE:  “a call to take part in a contest or competition” or “a task or situation that tests someone’s abilities”   

 As I looked up the definition and synonyms for CHALLENGE, I found just as many positive words – call, enliven, rally, as I found really unpleasant words—agitate, goad, provoke.  So, for this year, let’s just stick with that first group, stay positive as we rally together!

We all have challenges in life, and yes, many of them are very unpleasant. But read more

October Board Minutes

Posted on by Diane

The board meeting of the Mudsock Quilt Guild was held on 10/12/2018.  Sandy Metzger called the meeting to order. 

Those in attendances were as follows:  Sandy Metzger, Lissa Shanahan, Diane Dimpff, April Sterling, Lois Levine, Alice Whitaker, Judy Elwartowski, Sally Sandilands, Diane Lockman, Marion Newell, Samantha Berry, Carlene Clark and Tameria O’Dell.

The Board Meeting minutes from June were sent by email and accepted as read.

The Treasurer’s Report was distributed.  read more

First Meet ‘N Greet

Posted on by Diane

A fun time was had at our first New Members Meet ‘N Greet with lots of great conversations and plenty of yummy food! BOD and Committee members chatted about the Guild and opportunities for learning, serving, and of course, quilting!  We’ll be doing this on a quarterly basis.

If you’re a new member and missed our first event, please join us on February 15th for the next one.  Or if you’ve been around for a while and want to serve our new members, contact Alice Whitaker read more

2019 Workshops

Posted on by Diane

February 1 – Workshop: Succulent Garden pattern, with Heather Givans. Community Health Pavilion at 9669 E. 146th St, Noblesville., 9:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. Cost, $45

If you missed Heather Givans’ November workshop, you’ll have another opportunity to spend time with this creative force! Heather will be returning to Mudsock on February 1 for a 6-hour workshop using her Succulent Garden pattern. Sign-up for this workshop has already started, and only six spaces remain. Sign up now and pay for read more

Get Ready: Steals & Deals

Posted on by Diane
creative commons license unsplash

The Steals & Deals sale is the number one fundraiser that we do throughout the year.

How it works: 

Mudsock Guild members clean out their stash, sewing and craft rooms (to make room for more stash, of course). Bring your pre-priced items to the monthly guild meeting and offer it up for sale to our guild members.  The money raised each month goes to the guild helping pay for speakers, special events, and programs.

Items not sold at the meeting are stored until we select a date to offer it for sale to the read more

Children’s Charity Needs

Posted on by Diane
pixabay christianabella creative commons license

After speaking with the coordinators of our Children’s Charities, here are some more specifics on their needs. Labeled tubs will be at our meetings for your donations. Questions: Sally 317 747 4104 or Max 608 692 2020.  Thanks for all you create and donate!

DAMAR: Mostly boys ages 6 through 18 with autism.    Standard size colorful pillowcases.

BIRTHRIGHT, INT’L.:  Support for teens and women with unplanned pregnancies. Larger (36”x 40” up to 36”x 50”)baby quilts read more

The Secret to Neat & Easy Hand Applique

Posted on by Diane

image (c) 2011 – PurlSoHo.com

Have you ever tried hand applique? This finishing method gives your quilt an added dimension and pop. There are two or three methods in the sewing community for attaching appliques like flowers, animals, and birds to your quilts:

  • needle-turned & fusible web
  • starch & freezer paper
  • raw edges & fusible web

Purl Bee’s simple applique method will give you a beautiful clean finish that doesn’t fray or come undone.  The finished edges look like you invested the time and effort in turning them under with your needle when, in fact, you took a shortcut.  Here are 10 steps to neat (& easy!) hand applique:

  1. make template on scrap or craft paper
  2. trace your template on wrong side of fabric
  3. roughly cut around the outline on your fabric
  4. pin it to the wrong side of fusible web interfacing (fusible side up)
  5. sew all the way around the pencil line of your template
  6. trim seam allowance to 1/8″

read more

Dear Stella’s “Meadow II” Quilt Pattern is Free

Posted on by Diane

Stacey Day of Stacy in Stitches designed this cute quilt using eighteen 12″x12″ star blocks.  Quilting techniques include the four-patch, flying geese (or half-square triangles if you prefer), and basic sashing. The finished quilt is 58″x77″ and requires nine different fabrics plus 3.75 yds of backing fabric and batting.  Hawthorne Threads asked Dear Stella Designs to share it with their email list; be sure to sign up for the HT newsletter…there’s always inspiring fabrics and patterns to jumpstart your imagination.

Get the free quilt pattern

If you want to replicate Stacy’s quilt, you can find Dear Stella fabrics online or in your local quilt shop.  If they don’t have the “Life’s a Beach” collection, ask them to order it for you.  These splashy prints are so much fun!

Download FREE Quarter Log Cabin Pattern

Posted on by Diane

If you’ve been sewing for any length of time, you’ve probably made the “log cabin” quilt, but have you ever tried a QUARTER log cabin?  Seven inch blocks are set on point with sashing in between to keep it all from looking wonky.  This free quilt pattern works great with precuts, too, which makes your job as a seamstress even easier!  The finished quilt is 51″ x 70.”

Get your free pattern

Now quilting a quarter log cabin is easier than ever because Craftsy has done all the work for you!  Measurements, fabric requirements, illustrations…everything you need to get started quilting this cute design today is included in the FREE pattern from Hilltop Custom Designs.  Digital download is delivered as soon as you sign up for craftsy and put the pattern in your shopping cart.  Easy peasy!

P.S. Share your quilt photos to our facebook page.  🙂

How to Make a “Ribbon Star” Block

Posted on by Diane

Faith Jones of Fresh Lemon Quilts has put together a helpful tutorial (with photos) for making an adorable 12″ square “Ribbon Star” block using half-square triangles. You’ll need four primary fabrics along with your white background.

Go to the quilt block tutorial for measurements and cutting instructions.

And if you like this block, you’ll want to sew the other four blocks from her “Solstice Stars” series. She shows you how to make the swirling star, the star of mystery, the two color star, and one she calls “another” star.  Faith also shows you some possible quilt layouts using these blocks.  Have fun!

6 Steps to Easy Half-Square Triangles

Posted on by Diane

Half-square triangle units (also known as HSTs) can be daunting for a beginning quilter, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be making them all the time from your stash scraps.  Pieced together, they make some very beautiful patchwork quilts; you’ll love rotating them around until you find the exact look you want.

So what are HSTs?  They’re fabric squares made up of two 90 degree triangles.  But don’t get ahead of this lesson by cutting two triangles and sewing them together…there’s a much easier way to get perfect half-square triangles.

  • Put two fabric squares together, right sides facing each other
  • Draw a diagonal line from either upper corner to the opposite lower corner
  • Sew a 1/4″ seam along both sides of your pencil diagonal line
  • Cut the square on the diagonal line (rotary is faster)
  • Finger press your seam open then lightly touch it with the iron
  • Trim dog ears

And voila!  You’ve just sewn a perfect half-square triangle.

Here’s a visual tutorial from Janet Wickell at The Spruce to help you see the steps.

Don’t you just LOVE that HST patchwork design in the photo?  It’s from Debbie Moyes from A Daily Dose of Fiber.  Check it out!

12 Quilting Tips from Karen Burkett

Posted on by Diane

These tips and tricks are from Karen Burkett, who passed away recently. She was such a  talented artist and we will really miss her.

1 – When you are having trouble threading a needle turn it over and thread from the other side. The whole is punched in the needle and it is easier to thread from one side than it is from the other.

2 – To help the thread not twist while sewing, put the knot in the end that is cut from the spool. This is the direction the thread is
read more

Quilt Block Tags

Posted on by Diane

(c) Nova @ A Cuppa and a Catch Up

Do you have a system when you lay out a quilt, shuffling blocks before deciding on the final cut? If you don’t have one that works for you, this tip could come in handy. Let me introduce you to my Quilt Block Tags.

Learn more about these helpful little labels from Nova at A Cuppa and a Catch Up.

Originally shared by Pat Adams on June 29, 2016