Penny Halgren - Articles

 (626)

Penny is the author of 9 books for beginner quilters and a self-taught quilter of more than 26 years who seeks to interest new quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create beautiful quilts.

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Popularity
58

Quilt Blocks on Iowa Barns
Iowa quilt blocks on barns bring in tourists and promote the art of quilting. Read
By: Penny Halgren | 10/02/2008 | Art and Entertainment
Popularity
53

The Origin of Quilt Block Names
As you look through a book with hundreds of quilt blocks, several interesting things pop up. You will probably discover quilt blocks with a different design while having the same name. Likewise, you will find quilt blocks that look the same yet have different names. How did this happen? And what is the inspiration for naming quilt blocks in the first place? Read
By: Penny Halgren | 04/02/2008 | Home and Family
Popularity
53

Those Small Antique Quilts
Girls in the early nineteenth century were trained from the time they were very young in what was thought to be their life's work. Before sewing machines were common in homes, hand sewing was important for girls to learn since they would likely be stitching all of the clothing, linens and bedding for her home. It seemed natural, then, that doll quilts would be the perfect practice piece. Read
By: Penny Halgren | 21/01/2008 | Home and Family
Popularity
50

Making Needles in History
It has been said that the invention of the wheel was the milestone that changed the future of mankind. But, consider this. The man who invented the wheel was wearing animal skins that had been sewn together with a needle. Being able to sew skins together to craft clothing for warmth and protection enabled Stone Age men to remain in northern areas of the globe, thus breaking away from their nomadic existence. Read
By: Penny Halgren | 12/01/2008 | Home and Family
Popularity
52

Did you Know That the Sun Can Create Beautiful Fabric?
Sunprints are fun and easy to make, and the good news is that you don't need to be a chemist to make them. You don't even need to have the chemicals around. It is easy to find pre-treated fabric to make your sunprint, yet the process is basically the same, and your result can look modern, or take on an antique look Read
By: Penny Halgren | 03/01/2008 | Art and Entertainment
Popularity
102

Finish your Quilt With Tying
Quilters want to finish their quilts, but often by the time they get to the quilting stage, the quilting design presents a challenge or the time to actually quilt the quilt is overwhelming. So the quilt just sits in a box or on a shelf. Tying a quilt can get the quilt finished in just a few hours for someone to enjoy. Read
By: Penny Halgren | 30/12/2007 | Home and Family
Popularity
50

Create a Complex Quilt Design Using Only Simple Shapes
Quilts and quilt designs are created by combining blocks. By changing the shapes of the pieces within a block and/or changing the placement of the colors of the pieces, you can create a whole new quilt design while keeping construction of your quilt the same. Read
By: Penny Halgren | 22/12/2007 | Home and Family
Popularity
51

Quilting With Memorabilia
Have you ever looked at a box of memorabilia or trinkets and wondered what to do with it - other than close the lid and put it back on the shelf? Maybe you have a collection of hankies from your grandmother. Or what about the bowl of buttons and the box of lace you've been saving for some project? Or maybe your husband, son, or boyfriend has a box of military medals. Read
By: Penny Halgren | 16/12/2007 | Home Business
Popularity
54

Cutting Quilt Patches With Scissors
For those quilters who hand cut their patches, here is a shortcut way to hand cut the patch and know that your finished piece will be the right size. Read
By: Penny Halgren | 13/09/2007 | Hobbies
Popularity
58

Choosing Fabric Color Using the Ives Color Wheel
Several years ago, I decided that I would explore the world of fabric dyeing. It was in dyeing fabric that I really learned about color, and the difference between yellow-green and blue-green. By mixing the colors to make the dye, all of a sudden the resulting colors make more sense, and now, many yards of dyed fabric later, it is easier for me to pick out colors for a quilt. By actually seeing what color results from mixing 1/4 yellow and 3/4 red versus 1/2 yellow and 1/2 red, it all makes more sense. Read
By: Penny Halgren | 09/09/2007 | Business