Panel Perks - Cindy's thoughts
As many of you, I didn’t sew during my career years, but retirement has been a wonderful opportunity to create with the sewing machine (and the embroidery machine).
Since 2018, I’ve been sewing quilts like a crazy woman - (I have 3 for every holiday except Ground Hog’s Day). Then Elayne started stocking clothing patterns, and we all know what a frenzy I was sewing a new outfit a week for many weeks!
Since I work in the shop, I see all the gorgeous panels that come in, but I always had the mindset that using a panel was somehow “cheating” because it was a big piece that didn’t need to be “pieced”. So, I resisted buying panels.
Finally, the beauty of the panels overcame me. I gave in and bought some.
I just finished THREE panel quilts and I must say there is definite argument for using panels
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A gorgeous cut of fabric that starts the creativity mindset,
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Easy color choices since you’re matching the panel,
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A faster finish when you need instant gratification (and some days we ALL need this),
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A quick gift, be it baby, housewarming, birthday . . .
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Time to practice free motion or quilting with your embroidery machine because the quilt goes together faster, and you’re not tired of looking at that fabric yet and still have interest enough to quilt it.
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Opportunities for table runners or wall hangings where all you have to do is back and bind the panel with a few, fast quilting stitches.
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More “Ta Da” moments!!
So, if you haven’t given in to sewing with a panel, try it and see how “freeing” it can be!
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