Web sites every Crafty Quilter should visit

Craftystylish

There is no end to the crafty ideas on this web site! If it’s not on your “check daily” list, it probably should be. Whatever your craft of preference might be – sewing, quilting, knitting, crochet, embroidery – you will find ideas and inspiration on this web page. Most projects are great examples of thinking “out of the box” and may not appeal to traditional quilters. But for those willing to take a leap into less “by the rule” quilts, you’ll find plenty of ideas on Craftystylish. One example – How to Make a Super Simple Recycled Quilt from two vintage sheets and a blanket. Other projects are great stash-busters, even if they’re not quilt-related.

BurdaStyle

This is another web site you can sit and spend hours and hours looking at others’ sewing creations. The difference? BurdaStyle offers “Open Source Sewing”, which means those who create patterns, share their patterns for free! Do a search for “Quilt” and you’ll find everything from fabric postcards to scrap quilts. Although known for it’s clothing sewing patterns, Quilters will find plenty of “stash buster” patterns here – handbags, slippers, home dec items, and more. You must become a member (free) to download patterns.

Quiltsy.com

Quiltsy.com is an auction-style web site to buy and sell all things quilt-related – fabric, notions, patterns and books. Similar to Ebay, you bid on items or can purchase them as a “Buy it Now”. Still in it’s infancy, this web site has great possibilities!

Oh Fransson

Need a little motivation or inspiration for your next quilt? Check out this creative quilter’s (and crafter’s) blog site. Exceptional color choices combined with simple quilt blocks result in quilts that have a huge WOW! factor. I dare you not to be inspired!

Etsy

Yes, you know Etsy. It’s THE place to go to find the sweetest handmade crafty gifts you’ll find anywhere on the ‘net. But do you know that there are many Etsy shops that sell unusual, vintage or hard-to-find fabrics? Japanese import fabrics are spectacular in their colors, unusual in their prints. One such seller is FabricSupplies (who, as I type this, happens to have a fabric sale going on right now!). A little of this great fabric will go a long way in bring some “wow factor” to your next quilt!

Mary’s Quilts

Mary Johnson is a prolific quilter who shares bits of her inspiring self on her blog, Mary Quilts, but even more generously shares many free quilt patterns on her web site, MaryQuilts.com. Scrap quilts are Mary’s specialty, which every budget-conscious quilter will love!

Learning: Fiber Arts – Yahoo Group

The budget-minded quilter loves “free”. This Yahoo Group, lead by Shirley of One of a Kind Fiber Arts blog, offers free classes on everything from how to create your own blog to thread painting to basic quilting to landscape quilts. Lively on-topic discussion group, classes are conducted via email and done at an at-your-own-pace style.

Quilting on a  Budget – Yahoo Group

Of course, I can’t mention one Yahoo Group without mentioning my own! The Quilting on a Budget Yahoo group is an email group started from my desire to join a quilting group that stayed on the topic of quilting and quilt room organization. We share tips, techniques, online fabric sales and many free pattern sites. We have block swaps, a Secret Sister exchange, and many quilt room organizational challenges. If you can’t afford to pay $12 a yard for quilting fabric, or if your quilt room is in total disarray, come join us!

PaperBackSwap.com - A great source of Quilting books!

Not just for paperbacks, PaperBackSwap.com allows you to easily post books you are ready to find a new home for, and in return, receive a credit to select other books you are interested in. When someone “orders” a book from you, you pay the Media Mail postage (under $2 on the average). When you use your credits to order books from other swappers, they pay the postage. You can even print off pre-stamped postage labels on the site for minimal extra charge. There are currently almost three million titles on this web page, including hundreds of books on quilting, sewing and other crafts.

Yes, there are thousands of wonderful quilt-related web sites, but I’m hoping these are some you’ve not visited before, and will find unique inspiration and ideas as you view them!