Tuesday, July 22, 2014

celebrating with Olfa

You may or may not have heard, but Olfa is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the rotary cutter. That's a HUGE deal and I was super excited that they asked me to be a part of their celebration.

The second quilt I ever made was done without a rotary cutter. I used a square cardboard template and a pair of not-so-sharp scissors for the cutting. Having that experience, I am very thankful to have a rotary cutter to use daily! And I do...well, almost daily, anyway.
My favorite rotary cutter is the Splash, which I've been using it since they released it last year and I love everything about it....the contoured handle, the quick change blade and the fact that I can use it with either my left or right hand. I am pretty smitten with the color as well! It's wonderful to have functional and pretty tools.
I made a 6.5" block to contribute to Olfa's commemorative quilt that will be made and shown at Quilt Festival in Houston this fall. The only requirements were that the block finishes at 6.5" and it contains yellow. I considered a lot of ideas before landing on this one. I settled on a churn dash block because it is an iconic quilt block and kind of indispensable--a lot like the rotary cutter! I free pieced a tiny 35 in the center block. I like this little block a lot and I am looking forward to seeing the entire quilt.
As a part of the celebration, I'm happy to be hosting a giveaway as well. Olfa is giving away a 28mm rotary cutter and a small cutting mat. These are great tools for piecing small scraps together right at your work station or they would work well for paper piecing, if you are prone to such a thing. :) I've found the small rotary cutter indispensable for cutting curves with a template. If you'd like to be entered into the drawing, please leave me a comment. In your comment I'd love to hear how long you've been quilting/sewing. This contest is open to US residents only this time. (Sorry to my international readers!) I'll pick a winner in a few days!

486 comments:

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Nancy said...

I've been sewing my own clothes for years.... but now that I am retired, I am doing quilting.
thanks for the giveaway.

Brynn said...

I took a sewing class in elementary school, but didn't make my first quilt until grad school, 13 years ago!

Linda said...

These are the best rotary cutters!! I would say I have been sewing for about 45 years....quilting for 10 years. I would love to have time to do more quilting. I do love your blog. :-)

Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty said...

Been sewing for 12 years, quilting for just one. I haven't tried curves yet, maybe winning the 28mm rotary would be the nudge I need?!

RobinSue said...

I think I made my quilt over 40 years ago. I too used cardboard templates and scissors. It took a long time to accept the rotary cutter. Oh, how I wasted time with scissors!

Donna S. said...

Thank you for this opportunity! Hmm, I started real quilting @ 4 years ago? I had made some "rag" quilts before.

Cheryl said...

Quilting for about 5 years. And I love my olfa.

Unknown said...

I started quilting in 1992 once the girls were teens and I was able to have more me time. I would watch quilting show and purchased every quilt book I could get my hands on, I have just about all the rotary cutter out there except the splash which I intend to buy when I go to Joann's. Thanks for the opportunity to win one.
Jean Keeter Lake Lure, N.C.

Kate O said...

I grew up next door to my maternal grandma, a quilter who loved to show me her quilt tops and tell me all about them. I made my first quilt in 1980, so that makes it...34 years!

lsymank said...

I've been quilting almost 30 years. Love the rotary cutter.

Unknown said...

I would love a small rotary cutter! Thanks for a chance to win. My first quilt I designed myself about 38 years ago. I didn't know about patterns so I made it up. I used a bunny picture from a coloring book as a template on some terry cloth. Then I stitched the soft fuzzy bunnies on cotton fabric squares. It was one of the cutest baby quilts I've ever made! Thanks for asking. I love quilting!

susan718 said...

I learned to sew at about age 11, hard to believe but that's over 50 years ago. I started quilting about 6 years ago.
Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!

RockinHairBabe said...

I have been quilting for about 2 years. I also LOVE my splash!

Sew Much For Free Time said...

I started sewing/quilting as a 10 year old in 4-H. My mom was my lewder and sewing teacher. That was 33 years ago. Sigh. Well,actually, I remember lots of hand sewing before I joined 4-H. I could sew a button before I could ride a bike! LOL. I had been inactive for lots and lots of years, but now I am back at it,and LOVING it! So grateful that my mom shared her talent.

Jo Jo said...

I have been quilting since 2011, but have sewn 'stuff' all my life. It's such a creative outlet :)

Cynwood said...

Quilting on and off for 20 years. Nowhere near as productive as you but I'm inspired to complete some projects thanks to your great tutorials. Thanks!

GranChris said...

Do I even dare say this, almost 60 years. Am I really that old? Love the block.

Miggsie said...

Love your block! I've only been sewing for a year. Thanks!

Karin's Design said...

I really like you blog, you are very creative:)) It motivates me to go home and just sew :))
BR
karinsdesign.blogspot.com

charlotte said...

I love the little 35 in there. My splash cutter is my favorite too, although I have 2 others. I have been sewing for over 40 years and quilting for 23 of those years.

Anonymous said...

I've been quilting for about ten years. Can't imagine doing it without my rotary cutter! Thanks for your great blog!

Jeanine said...

I started quilting last November, and it was love at first stitch!

Suzanne said...

I've been quilting for about 9 years. I love your block. Now that I know the backstory it's even more endearing.

Unknown said...

I have been quilting for about 5 years and would love to win the Olfa cutter. Jackie Lujan
jackiealu@aol.com

Lana said...

I have been quilting for the past 4 years...but did try my hand at quilting almost 20 years ago...cut out every single piece by hand with scissors...
hmmm...I need to finish that little quilt...

Unknown said...

I have been quilting for 9 years. I don't think I would've lasted more than 1 project if I couldn't use a rotary cutter! Thanks for the chance to win!

Crafty Coffin said...

I made my first quilt 4 years ago but I've only made 3 quilts total, so I still consider myself a beginner.

laura capello said...

i learned to quilt when i was nine, but i've seriously been doing it for about 9 years now

i love it, but i especially love that there's always something to learn.

Sherron said...

I've been quilting off and on for the past 18 years. I've never even attempted to make a quilt without using my Olfa cutter- it was the first thing I purchased when I decided to make my first quilt.

happyallthetime said...

I made my first quilt in 1979. OMG! It wasn't very good. Then the next one I made was in 1997, and that one worked out much better. Nothing more relaxing. 17 years and counting!

Unknown said...

I have been quilting for 5 years

Missenota aka Kristin S. said...

I love your block! (Saw it on IG.) I've been a quilter for 2.5 years and just love it. Plus, I'm about to start cutting from curved templates so I could really use a littler Olfa. Fingers crossed!

Unknown said...

I am 45 and began sewing in earnest a few years ago. As a child, I would make tube dresses and sleeping bags for my Barbies (doesn't get any simpler than that)!

Cheryl said...

I've been quilting for about 15 years and sewing ever since Mom taught me how to make a dress for my barbie doll - probably about 50 years ago!

Unknown said...

I had been thinking about quilting for a number of years and started collecting fabric. lol.
Now I have been quilting for about 12 years and love it. I love your sense of humor!

sewhappy said...

Been quilting well the wrong side of 20 years! My Olfa cutter has been with me all along . I wonder how many new blades I have fitted?

Nana (Mom/Kathy etc.) said...

Love how it pulls the colors from the rotary cutter! I would love an Olfa rotary cutter. I have a different brand and changing the blades is a real bugger.

I have been quilting for a couple years but I recently began my very first bed sized quilt. A decent rotary cutter would sure come in handy!

Unknown said...

I hav beem quilting gor 5 years now. Love yourblock. Churn dash is on my list to quilt. I also use an Olfa cutter and love it

Anne said...

You are so clever with the 35 block! I have been quilting in drips and drabs for 4 years!

auschick said...

I've been hand sewing since I was really young - maybe 8? And machine sewing since I was 12. I'm 32 now! I mostly sew children's clothing these days.

frau z said...

Thanks for the chance to win. But much more thanks for your blog and your book - I just love them, your work is so inspireing! Best wishes from Bavaria!

Becky (My Fabric Obsession) said...

I have been quilting for 5 yrs this fall! :)

Jessica said...

I was taught to sew very young, I can't remember how old. In the 3rd grade I made my very first doll quilt, and have been doing some quilting and sewing since then.(26 now.)

jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

Debbie said...

I've been sewing on and off for 20 years, and quilting almost as long - started when I was in 3rd grade!

Jen said...

I've been quilting for as long as I've been married as a way to bond with my mother in law. I would love to win that little tool!

Love your blog!

Unknown said...

I starting quilting yrs ago and can't stop. I love everything about it and am taking an advanced class to learn other techniques, such as paper piecing. Love to rotary cut because of the peace it brings around me. Thanks for the giveaway.
akk_nana@yahoo.com

Lisa England said...

I've been sewing many years, since I was a kid. I've been quilting about 15 years.

Katharine Yates said...

I've been quilting for just a few months, and I love my rotary cutter and mat. I don't think I would have gotten through my first quilt without it!

Dita Bybee said...

I've been sewing for a couple years but has only started quilting a few months ago!
The block is so cute! Love the little 35 :)

dian said...

I have loved sewing over the years-since since 1956 to be exact. It has been only two years since I began quilting and love building my stash and planning the project. Just wish the machine had a hopper to throw the quilt pieces into and out came a block! All in all, the rotary cutter is a great invention

dian said...

I have loved sewing over the years-since since 1956 to be exact. It has been only two years since I began quilting and love building my stash and planning the project. Just wish the machine had a hopper to throw the quilt pieces into and out came a block! All in all, the rotary cutter is a great invention

Brenda C said...

I've been quilting for about 2.5 years. I love it, but with every quilt I make, I learn more of what I need to work on!! :)

Sew Happily Ever After said...

I've been sewing for about 8 years. Lovely quilt block!

Emily said...

I started my first quilt when I was 10....and finished it when I was 24...I'm 26 now and have a huge pile of UFO's in addition to that one completed quilt ;)

Beccy said...

I sewed some clothes in 4h as a kid, but did not sew after I left home till about 5 years ago. I started with some quilted bags, then quilt tops, and finished my first completely quilted and bound quilt this year. Thanks for the giveaway!

Jeneta said...

I love the colours you have chosen for your commemorative block.

Sunanda said...

Started English paper piecing 34 years ago!!! Machine piecing and me got to know each other five years ago.

Katherine said...

I love my Olfa cutter and mats!
I've been quilting for 15+ years; I started as a kid with my Mom!

Ann said...

I do need a small mat for quilt retreats! Great block.

lisa shenk said...

I don't know what I would do if I couldn't sew any time I wish, I would say every day, but we like to play, too!!

Jessica Young said...

I've been sewing (on and off) for 8 years now :)

Sandy said...

Thanks for another giveaway. The cutter and mat would make my paper piecing so much easier.

Sandy said...

Oops! I forgot to say I'd been quilting for about 10 years. Again, thanks for the giveaway.

quilter said...

I started quilting in 1991, my friend and fellow quilter decided it was time

bee said...

i learned to quilt in high school, and have been quilting since for the last 15 years!

mackenzie said...

I made my first quilt 27 years ago when I was 8 months pregnant. It was a king sized bedspread. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Luckily I did have a rotary cutter!

Unknown said...

I unfortunately haven't had the opportunity to use an Olfa rotary cutter but with all the hype going on I know I need one!!! I'm still working with one that was just cheap, when I first started. LoL It has worked though, but feel that I will be going tot he Olfa side here soon!

Vikki B said...

I have been meaning to get a small cutter. Love the splash, I think it needs to be on my birthday list!

Anita said...

I've been quilting for just about 35 years, and I am in need of a new rotary cutter!

✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾ said...

I have the splash too, and LOVE IT!

Christine said...

I am going to my first quilt retreat in November. This would be in my bag if I win.

Kathleen said...

Probably too late to get in on the giveaway, but I just started learning to quilt in 2012 and am enjoying the process!

Afton Warrick said...

I've been quilting for nine years.

Teresa S. said...

I've been quilting for about 14 years after taking a sampler quit class at a newly opened quilt shop in my community. I had taken a beginning quilting course in 1985 where everything was done by hand (the piecing, appliqué, etc.) but I didn't finish the project and didn't do anymore quilting until taking that sampler class. That hooked me and I've finished many quilts since then!
tstanulis@verizon.net

Julie said...

I've been quilting for 7 years and love it! I'd love some information on the MQG of Mpls.

Lori V. said...

I have been sewing since I was about ten years old...true quilting for about three years now and loving it! I don't have this size cutter. Thanks!

Cathyg said...

I have been sewing and quilting for a very loooooong time. I learned from my mother and grandmother. We used to make templates from plastic coffee can lids and cut with scissors.Rotary cutters an amazing tool!

Megan said...

I've been sewing for about 12 years....started in high school!

Kathleen said...

I've been sewing for 46 years. That's a bit longer than Olfa has been around. Rotary cutters sure make life easier!

Barbara said...

I made my first quilt 14 years ago. I've not made much since making a 50th anniversary quilt for my parents last year. That one was so much fun I've caught the bug!

patty a. said...

Your block is cute! I have been sewing ever since I was a kid and I have been quilting for a very long time 20+ years.

Katie Cohagen said...

I've been quilting for 17 years. My mom taught me in high school and the first quilt I ever made was for my high school sweetheart who happens to be my husband. He still loves his quilt!

Lynne said...

I've been sewing for 40+ years and started quilting about 10 years ago.

Unknown said...

I started quilting in 1976 when everything was done by hand. Last year I bought a new sewing machine to update my 20 year old model,and this summer I made 3 quilts! So much faster than hand sewing! I also love my Splash rotary cutter.

Lori L said...

I've been quilting for about 12 years now. I joined a small group of older ladies and they showed me everything I needed to know. I now am teaching them a thing or two from all the wonderful free things shared on the internet. I love my rotary cutter but still am using the standard old yellow one that you manually close the blade. Would love a new one. Thanks

Brenda said...

I learned to quilt in High School in 1978. I took a class called Creative Home Arts. We had to quilt 5 different kinds of quilts. I loved it and was hooked!

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