KarenSampsonSewing.com - Projects #Continuing EducationKarenSampsonSewing.com - Projects #Continuing Educationhttps://www.karensampsonsewing.com/projects/tag/continuing-educationMon, 16 Feb 2026 10:13:28 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Bird Quilt for Grandma]]>https://www.karensampsonsewing.com/projects/post/bird-quilt-for-grandmaThis is one of my favorite quilts that I have made!]]>

Every year, my mom and I attend the Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, always aiming to learn a new technique. Before my kids were born, we often took classes together, but once I had little ones, we started picking a quilting book or block style to focus on each year.


My grandma loved birds, so the year before her 85th birthday  I told my mom I wanted to learn paper-piecing to make a bird quilt for Grandma. I found a book with paper-pieced bird patterns, and my mom and I each made one bird block a month. I used my twelve blocks to create this special quilt for my Grandma.

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]]>Sat, 19 Jul 2025 16:26:46 +0000<![CDATA[Learning to Shirr using Elastic]]>https://www.karensampsonsewing.com/projects/post/learning-to-shirr-using-elasticLearning a new skill: shirring fabric using elastic]]>

    I try to continue to challenge myself to learn new skills and try new things in my sewing. As part of that, I purchased the Isla pattern from Violette Fields Threads during their black Friday sale. I chose this pattern because it is pretty, but also because it has shirring with elastic thread. In the past I have done shirring by threading 1/4" elastic through casings that are evenly spaced, but shirring with elastic thread is a skill I have always wanted to have and I feel Violette Field Threads does a great job explaining how to execute different techniques.

    Today I did a sample of shirring and it went better and was easier than I expected!

I started with two layers of fabric that were 3" x 10".

After sewing multiple rows of elastic thread shirring, my finished size is 3"x5.5".

And it is Stretchy! Yay! Check out the video of it Here on YouTube.

I will be sewing the Isla dress with a couple of other people later this month. I can't wait to use this technique on a garment!

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