Best of Sewing with Nancy

Piecing traditional quilt block designs, including the drunkard's path, blackbird pie and mill wheel; eliminating concave and convex curves.

Quilt block designs include hearts and gizzards, fan, and wagon wheel; unconventional yet simple techniques for quilting curves; options for making big, dynamic quilt blocks.

Basic border options with ideas for cutting, mitering, working with odd angles, flanges and cornerstones; simple pieced border techniques such as piano key, scrappy checkerboard and 4-patch.

Layering and pinning quilt tops; sewing machine quilting options from basic to creative; quilt layers by stitching in the ditch, decorative tie stitches and fearless stippling.

Cutting and applying traditional binding; binding for unique shapes like curves and hexagons; using prepackaged binding.

Start with a digital photo and create an awesome quilted fabric photograph. Nancy Zieman’s guest, Tammie Bowser, award winning quilter, shares her amazing technique of transforming a digital photo into quilted photography. Learn how to change a photo into pixels, choose fabrics by color value, and create a unique wall hanging.

Add the finishing touches to a gorgeous photograph wall hanging. During this second episode with Nancy Zieman and guest Tammie Bowser, learn how to put the finishing touches on a quilted photograph wall hanging. Also, learn how to improve your design by using specific fabric values and positioning of the fabric pieces in an organic manner.

Nancy shows tried and true methods for simple sewing. Over the years Nancy tweaked sewing and quilting steps to make them easier and for the best looking results. In this program she shares some of the easiest ways to layout, cut, and mark fabric; sew darts; gather four different ways; and add elastic. Whether you’re a new sewer or looking for a refresher class, these techniques are the easiest!

Nancy takes the most requested sewing techniques and simplifies them. Nancy minimizes sewing effort and makes it easy and fun to sew clothing and home dec accessories using nontraditional methods. Learn the “hands-down easiest way” to sew collars, corners, and sleeves.

Learn firsthand about ties that bind a Sewing and Stitchery Expo together. Nancy Zieman interviews people that bring together the largest “sewing community—the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA. Among those interviewed were Pati Palmer, renowned pattern designer; Tula Pink, fabric designer; Kathy Marrone, editor of Vogue Patterns magazine; Candice Jewett, and more!

Nancy shares straightforward advice for making sewing fun using easy techniques. Sew simple pockets, facings, and even an invisible zipper—Nancy shows you how, using the absolute easiest techniques. She includes the easiest method for mitering a corner, grading seam allowances, stitching facings that lie flat, and a new approach for stitching an invisible zipper.

Take the annoyance out of creating quilt blocks that contain triangle shapes.Nancy demonstrates how to make ½-square triangles using the speediest, most accurate and no-math ways. Among the ½-square triangle quilt blocks featured in this program are the Box Quilt, Shadow Play, Godey Design, Square in a Square, May Basket and Nancy’s Spool blocks. Nancy uses these blocks in a sampler quilt.

Make ¼-square and ½-square triangles without cutting a single triangle! Learn to make ¼-square triangles and modified ¼-square triangles—Nancy teaches an easy method where no actual triangles are cut, only squares. Quilt blocks featured in this program range from beginner to experienced levels including the ¼-Square Dance, Boy’s Nonsense, Silent Star, Ohio Star, Star of Hope and Card Trick blocks.

Make easy projects all starting with rectangles and squares. Nancy creates timesaving gifts such as a cosmetic bag, tote, and luggage saddlebag using comparable sewing steps, straight stitching, and double-sided quilted fabric. Plus, all of the projects start with easy patterns—rectangles and squares!

Streamline sewing for modern projects with a little ingenuity. Hold-it Sacks for electronic devices, fabric bins for organizing, and wall pockets with a decorator’s touch create pizazz in your home. Nancy uses easy rectangles and squares for patterns. Work with cotton or laminated fabric in your own customized color range—fresh and functional!

Create different quilt designs from a 4-patch block by changing dimensions and color. Nancy Zieman starts this mini-series with a basic quilt block, the time-honored 4-patch design, and details the piecing techniques. Then watch as she changes it up, adjusting the sizes of the 4-patch design and working with modern color options. The results are dramatic, yet the sewing techniques are the same.

Make a Square Within a Square quilt block; then vary the fabric sizes for creative options. Learn to make a Square Within a Square block the traditional way; then change the mix, varying the length of the fabric pieces to stitch a Rectangle Within a Rectangle and a modern Floating Square block. All blocks and quilt designs are made with Nancy Zieman’s signature streamline quilting techniques.

Make a 9-patch block; then change fabric sizes to show artistic options. Nancy Zieman shows you the basics of stitching the versatile 9-patch quilt block, and then she details how to take a fresh approach toward assembling the block to change it up! Modify the size of the fabric strips, use fabric scraps to make a vintage quilt, or change the color to provide artistic options.

Nancy Zieman teaches pattern fitting using her time-tested pivot and slide techniques. Choose the right pattern size, and custom-fit patterns without cutting the original pattern pieces apart. Practice along using free mini-patterns that you can download online. This first episode centers on easily fitting tops, dresses, and skirts.

Organize accessories, update décor, or travel with these simple yet handy projects—great gifts! Start with rectangles and squares, then add specialty fabric and trim to create attractive usable projects. Nancy highlights projects such as jewelry caddies, ironing blankets, a closet organizer, and a pillow wrap. Sew these simple projects using straight stitches, unique fabrics, and more.

Last pattern fitting episode

Sew Gifts-Make Memories Part One

Sew Gifts-Make Memories Part Two

A Modern Quilting Bee

Quilt With an Embroidery Machine in 8 Easy Lessons Part One

Quilt With an Embroidery Machine in 8 Easy Lessons Part Two