When it comes to quilting notions, what makes one a necessity?

McCalls' Quilting had some great thoughts on what makes a notion indispensable.

From needles for your sewing machine to quilting rulers and mats - there's a lot of tools & notions to choose from. Find the perfect craft supplies for your next quilting project and beyond.

Key Takeaways from McCalls':

• Out of 6 necessary items, 3 are used for fabric prep and 3 are used for sewing (and 2 of those need continuous replacement). You can make a million quilts with just those items (assuming access to fabric and batting, of course, but those are not notions).
• While there are a few items that every quilter needs to make quilts, many of the absolute necessities have to do with fabric preparation. Have you noticed that? For example, most quilters would not be able to work without a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat (I know I couldn’t)
• As for me, I like the Clover Wonder Clips. When I first encountered them, I was a little skeptical, thinking they wouldn’t be much better than pins to hold binding in place. I was totally wrong!

"You don’t need much to make quilts, but anything that makes the process easier is worth trying."

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/blogs/blog/2017/07/19/workshop-wednesday-ideal-notions/

Got stacks of fat-quarter singles that you couldn’t resist at the store — and now you’re not sure what to do with them? If you have fat quarters that aren’t in pre-bundled form, it can be challenging to figure out how to choose the right combination of colors, values, and prints and sew them into a quilt you’ll be proud to display. But in Me and My Sister Designs’ book 12-Pack Quilts, you’ll find smart tips for combining fat quarters, all from a bona fide professional fat-quarter bundler.

Three sneak-peak tips:

• Strive for variation in color between your fat-quarters fabric and your background fabric color. If your background is light gray don't use light gray tones in your fat-quarters.
• A rookie mistake in choosing fat quarters is not getting enough contrast between your quarters and your background fabric color. Lay your fat-quarter fabric on top of your background fabric before you get started and make sure they separate.
• When choosing fabric colors try to stick to color palettes you like. If you're having a hard time with this just look at what you're currently wearing - there's usually a color palette you like there.

"If you include high-contrast lights and darks in your 12-pack, think about choosing a strong medium tone for the background."

A picture of 10 assorted flower prints

This is the best month to look at fabric with new eyes. Flowers give everyone a happy feeling. Stitchin' Post chose ten supplemental fabrics for this month and they were selected with more traditional piecing rather than a modern collage in mind. All of them are meant to let the florals pop.

Key Takeaways:

• April is the perfect month to look at fabric with “new eyes."
• Fabrics with flowers help ease us into the new season, infusing our world with color, delight, and sweet moments.
• Read on to learn about some of this season's best new fabrics.

"At the Stitchin' Post were are committed to creativity and inspiration and we are now embarking on a journey opening to new options together as the "Alchemy of Fabric" unfolds each month."

Read more at: http://stitchinpostinsisters.typepad.com/stitchin_post_in_sisters/2017/04/alchemy-of-fabric.html

If you have towers of fabric teetering as you dig for the precise color and print, it may be time to roll your sleeves up and get to work. When Spring cleaning, there are 3 simple tips to help you categorize your fabric. You can organize a fabric stash without having it get out of control. Categorize by the sizes and shapes in your inventory.

Key Takeaways:

• Fat quarters and larger pieces
• Strips of various widths
• Everything else that's too small

"So, what’s the best way to organize a fabric stash that’s starting to spiral out of control?"

Click here for the full article @ http://blog.shopmartingale.com/quilting-sewing/best-way-to-organize-fabric-stash/

Create fashionable dresses with a collection of sewing patterns for plus size ladies. With these patterns you will be able to make your own wardrobe at home. These selections were made with Spring just around the corner. The patterns include tops, skirts, and dresses. Photos feature flattering fabrics to accompany the patterns.

Why do it yourself?

• Since every body is unique and beautiful, one of the best reasons for making your own spring wardrobe is to avoid ill-fitting clothes found in stores
• Plus size sewing patterns include dresses that are great for showing off your legs, playful skirts, and some fun refashioning projects.
• The patterns are budget friendly, fashion forward, and can easily be made smaller or larger, depending on your own personal needs.

"Spring is in the air, and that means one thing to sewists: the perfect opportunity for making some fabulous spring dresses, skirts, and more!"

See the Playful Plus Size Sewing Patterns Here!

If you look in the sewing aisle of any store you'll see different kinds of scissors. The blades are different. They serve different purposes. They're good for different kinds of projects. It can be hard to know which to buy and use since there are many choices. This guide shows you which scissors are which so is helpful.

Key Takeaways:

• Paper scissors can be ruined if you cut fabric with them.
• Fabric scissors can also be called dressmaker's shears.
• Using the right scissors for your sewing project can keep them from being ruined.

"Paper scissors aren’t typically as expensive as a nice pair of fabric shears, but going through pairs does add up."

The Guide to Using the Right Kind of Scissors for Your Sewing Project