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Flora Joy Plays with Sunbonnet Sue 5 Show Your Quilts With Heartve L Enhance Your Projects with Machine Embroidery p. 46 T H E B E S T O F A M E R I C A N Q U I L T I N G January/February 2021 ��������������������������� �������������������������������� ������������������������������ ����������������������������� �������������������������� �������������������������� ������������������� ����������������������������� ����������������������������� ������������������������������ ����������������������������� ������������������������ © 2020 moda fabrics � all rights reserved Ask for the pattern and fabrics at your local quilt shop! 2 McCall’s Quilting January/February 2021 Contents Up Front 4 Editor’s Letter Expanding our existing skills. 6 Fresh Picks Check out our latest finds. 8 McQ&A Our staff members tell about their most used tool for quiltmaking. 76 Quilt Basics The quiltmaking techniques you need to make the patterns in this issue. January/February 2021 Vol. 28, No. 1 T H E B E S T O F A M E R I C A N Q U I LT I N G Special Interest 32 From Rags to Stitches See the story of a special Sunbonnet Sue quilt. 46 Getting Started Machine embroidery on quilts. 54 Chambray A Material Difference. 80 I Love This Quilt! Anissa Arnold found flannel to make her favorite McCall’s pattern. QuiltingDaily.com January/February 2021 McCall’s Quilting 3 48 36 22 Patterns 10 Warm Apple Pockets Repurposed shirts make this striking one-patch Apple Core quilt. 16 Dusk Natalie Crabtree’s quilt border has curved piecing to challenge you. 22 Folk Heart Explore unusual materials with this table runner using kraft-tex. 26 Heartstopper Charisma Horton’s pieced hearts are a celebration of love. 36 Heart Bandit This foundation-pieced mug rug is SO cute! 40 Meadow Burst Joanie Holton used chambray for something special in her quilt. 48 Heartthrob Focus on Valentine’s Day with appli- quéd hearts on this sweet throw. 56 Riverbank Flowers Combine cork and machine embroi- dery to make this table runner. 61 Denim Star Quilt Denim, linen, and appliqué are all part of this fun quilt. 64 Bloomin’ Hearts Wool, vintage satin, and velvet com- bine in this stunning table topper. 70 Blue Bear Hug Reed Johnson’s two-color quilt sparkles. Free Extras at quiltingdaily.com/ mccalls-quilting-january-february-2021/ Download the Solaris pattern from I Love This Quilt! (page 80). 26 4 McCall’s Quilting January/February 2021 McCall’s Quilting (ISSN 1072-8295) Vol. 28, #1, is published is published six times a year in Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec by Peak Media Properties, LLC, dba Golden Peak Media, 4868 Innovation Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525-5596. Periodicals’ postage paid at Fort Collins, CO 80525 and additional mailing offi ces. A while back when we were talking about free-motion machine quilting possibilities, my friend (and quiltmaker extraordinaire) Ramona Sorensen said, “What do you already know how to do and what else can it be?” Then she sent me a drawing of ways to expand on a simple concentric teardrop design I had quilted and examples of how to add more quilting to make it much “fancier”. That idea of taking an existing ability and adding to it was so helpful that I made a sign and put it on the wall in my studio to remind me to keep growing my skills. As we move into the new year, we are all thinking of ways that we can make ourselves better—how we can do more. I think Ramona’s idea can be applied to so many things. I quilt; how can I make my quilts better? Are there organizations that need a quilt I could donate? What about dropping some pretty small projects like pin cushions or pot holders anonymously in the park with a note saying, “Take me home and have a wonderful day.”? I cook; can I make something for my neighbor who is working from home as well as being the mother of four? Can I step up my game and do more random acts of kindness? I can see that I have things I can do better in this new year. How about you? Let’s do what we can to make 2021 a landmark year. Happy quilting and stay safe, Expanding Skills Editor, McCall’s Quilting EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Denise Starck EDITOR Tracy Mooney MANAGING EDITOR Anissa Arnold ACQUISITIONS EDITOR Lori Baker SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Vanessa Lyman ASSOCIATE EDITOR Eileen Fowler TECHNICAL EDITOR Annette Falvo ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Melina Piotrowski CREATIVE SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Genevieve Stafford Hook PHOTOGRAPHER Molly Stevenson CONTRIBUTING STYLIST Emily Smoot ADVERTISING ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Cristy Adamski