Cactus Flower, also known as Texas Flower, fitst appeared in Ladies' Art Company in 1898. Watch Eleanor Burns recreate that memory with this easy-to-sew beginner pattern.
Pioneer women created works of art out of their scrap bag or basket. Eleanor shows a unique "strip" method for creating the pattern named after their precious scraps.
Flowers originally supplied the quilter with all the materials necessary for dying precious quilting fabrics. Watch the flower basket block come alive with a simple sewing method of making pieced triangles.
Typical of older quilt patterns, English Ivy is simply composed of triangles and squares. Eleanor shows how to finish the climbing vine with the fast approach of "blind hem applique."
Baskets, a common container around farms, are easily reproduced in fabric with Eleanor's quick piecing techniques for the basket, and applique technique for the handle.
Nature inspired many quilt patterns, such as the Patchwork Posy. The block, which features diamonds in its design, is easy with strip sewing and rotary cutting on the 45 angle.
First popularized around 1910, the Star Basket is also identified as Calico Bush and Tulip Basket. Learn to make the "star" in the basket with an updated, quick method.
The Pine Tree from colonial New England was used as a symbol of freedom in a rich new land. Eleanor "frees" you of time-consuming methods when she shows how to make pieced triangles for the tree.
The Carolina Lily acquired many different names as it traveled across the country. The quilters in Pennsylvania that called the pattern Meadow Lily would have been grateful to know Eleanor's easy methods!
Among the flowers that are featured in quilts, the tulip is one of the most popular. Eleanor's technique is so easy, you can make it from start to finish on the overlock.
Even though Dobbin's Fan is cut from templates, the assembly-line cutting and sewing methods shown on the program turn it into a fantastic project.
Like a "patchwork of blossoms," pieced triangles are arranged and sewn together simply into the last block for the quilt.
Watch as Eleanor sets the twelve blocks together on the point in diagonal rows, and finishes off the beautiful Baskets and Flowers Quilt with borders and binding.
Give this quilt a spin! Eleanor shows how mirror image blocks magically are sewn from strips. No tedious triangle pieced squares in this quilt!
Whirl through two projects from Double Pinwheel left overs - a Four Patch and a room travel bag.
Eleanor and guest Sue Bouchard take Flying Geese patches to new heights. See how to sew different sizes of squares together for a quilt that sparkles!
Non-caloric fun! Eleanor and guest Sue Bouchard tempt you with ice cream flavored fabrics, and show how to applique them atop waffle cones. A visit to Julian's ice cream parlor tops it off!
Come to the birthday party! Eleanor and Sue make fabric candles and party hats to go along with ice cream cones. Dip into the banana split!
Fancy fans and flowers made in a breeze! Eleanor shows you how to assembly-line cut and sew wedges into fans, and then jazz them up with fancy appliqued flowers.
Join Eleanor at an old-fashioned country fair, sampling the wares. See how to turn old-fashioned solid colored squares into a charming basket wallhanging.
Eleanor Burns shares a story passed down through families about a link between slave-made quilts and the Underground Railroad. Slaves reportedly made coded quilts and then used them to navigate their escape.
Eleanor Burns continues the story, showing antique quilts that represent the secret code. She leads you into construction of the same quilts using new reproduction fabric
Traditionally, log cabin blocks were made with red centers, representing the fire, or hearth of the log cabin. Eleanor explains how one black center represented a safe haven for escaping slaves while she demonstrates quilting techniques.
Turning log cabin blocks different ways signifies different meanings, as fields and furrows of the newly plowed field, a directional arrow, and the sun and shadow. Join Eleanor as she builds the blocks into a fin-ished quilt.
Flying Geese heading north for the summer represented slaves heading north as well. They were directed to follow the geese, and stop at the same waterways for rest and water. Follow Eleanor as she flies through a quick way of making four geese from two squares!
Debra Coates, wife of Quaker abolitionist, directed fugitives simply by the way she turned her quilt blocks. Eleanor has a swift way of directing the Birds in the Air blocks into flight
Eleanor sets the blocks on point, and shows you how to create messages in your own quilt by placement of blocks and quilting stitches.
Sons Grant and Orion help Eleanor set up an ergonomic sewing center and design wall for optimum efficiency.
Colonial quilters referenced John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress for the name Delectable Mountains. "They went then till they came to the Delectable Mountains....behold the gardens and orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water." Eleanor shows a refreshing strip technique of slicing rectangles into peaks!
Eleanor scales the Delectable Mountain quilts in all color ranges! See how to sew the Mountain blocks together. Climb to new heights with a pieced or appliqued epi-center!
Mountains come in all sizes! Eleanor shows how to miniaturize the Delectable Mountain quilt. Machine quilting and a computerized label complete the climb.
Eleanor takes some old time favorites and shows how to update them with new stripes, fussy cuts, and floral fabrics. Irish Chain, Log Cabin, and Wild Goose Chase quilts never looked better.
Eleanor travels a different path with this traditional quilt. Now, with her new, easy techniques, you will zip right through it with carefully arranged strips.
Eleanor shows how to take concentric squares and line them in rows, she finishes off the central strip with a wide band of color! Machine quilting and binding complete the sophisticated looking quilt.
Walk our trail to freedom through vintage quilts from the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock in search of Delectable Mountains, forefathers meeting on the Boston Common, to Betsy Ross and the American flag.
Join Eleanor waving the red, white and blue with this patriotic flag wallhanging. Honor our country with extra touches of an embroidered eagle and patriotic slogans. Celebrate as a Fourth of July parade winds its way through the streets of Julian, California.
Eleanor shows how to dress up the neighborhood buffet table with a patriotic fan tablerunner for an all- American neighborhood potluck. Celebrate the spirit of fans, food, family, and friendship.
Eleanor appliqués whimsical butterflies in nostalgic prints to a solid background, and adds final flourish with a charming scallop border.
Inspired by the all-American pastime of gardening, Eleanor shows how to sew strips together and cultivate them with fabric flowers abloom with color.
Celebrate the spirit of America with these country red and white patriotic table runners, a watermelon wallhanging, and star spangled porch pillows. Eleanor shows how to set the stage for country comfort, lazy lounging, and long conversations.
Yellow stars and stripes rally around a high fl ying red and blue proud eagle on Independence Square.
Step back in time to 1978 and join Eleanor as she reminisces with photos and glimpses of her past. Commemorate 25 years of the Log Cabin pattern and create a whole new look with 2 ½"strips for the Quarter Log Cabin Quilt.
Eleanor continues her walk down memory lane as she discusses her beginnings as the Queen of Strip Quilting with memorabilia from the early days. Celebrate with Eleanor as she embellishes the Quarter Log Cabin with appliqued half circles to create a heart out of the Quarter Log Cabin square.
As one of four sisters, Eleanor celebrates her love of family with childhood photographs and memories. Join Eleanor as she slices 2 ½" fabric strips and sews them back together to create the Four Sisters Quilt, in honor of her sisters Kathy, Patty and Judy.
When Eleanor moved Quilt in a Day from her garage to its present location, the party began! Sit back, relax, and watch as Eleanor makes positive and negative Nine-Patch blocks and sets them together with appliqued flowers and a scalloped border.
Quilt in a Day becomes a family affair with Grant and Orion pitching in to help with the business. In honor of her two sons, Eleanor makes two quilts at one time with Nine-Patches and stripes.
Join Eleanor as she reminisces about her first television programs and shares her outtakes for comic relief. Follow along as she demonstrates the methods in constructing chain blocks and stars with the Triangle in a Square Ruler.
Your eyes will deceive you as you view "Stars and Four Patch"! Eleanor dedicates this variation to the "stars" in her life. The grand finish is a Seminole border from 2 1/2" strips.
Eleanor travels extensively all over the country teaching her simplified methods, sometimes she doesn’t know if she is coming or going. Keep pace with her as she goes on a "Gad About" in this lovely new design that’s just 2 ½" strips and squares.
Eleanor has been fortunate in being surrounded by a patchwork of many lives. To them she dedicates this easy quilt design from four fabrics and 2 1/2" strips.
Celebrate the American spirit with Eleanor’s fun methods that explode with colors of red, white and blue!
Eleanor shares her love of fabric as she demonstrates her technique to make two blocks at one time. Get the inside scoop from Eleanor on fabric manufacturing, from concept to design and completion.
Through the stitches of Eleanor’s life she has crossed many pathways. Stay on Eleanor’s "light" path and visit friends along the way.
Get up close and personal as Eleanor shares her hobbies and pastimes at her log home in Julian, California. Learn a simple quilt based on the Rail Fence pattern in eight fabrics cut into 2 ½" strips.
Join Eleanor at a holiday tea in her log home in Julian, California, and meet some of the designers as they share their projects for "Christmas at Bear's Paw Ranch." Eleanor will teach the techniques for making a Tea Cup Wallhanging and a ribbon art Pansy Pin with Gift Bag.
Stitching stars and trees are quick and easy work as Eleanor demonstrates the techniques for the Saint Nicholas Holiday Wallhanging.
Set straight or on point, Eleanor's Bear's Paw Wallhanging is charming. She illustrates her methods for quick and easy piecing and her tried and true technique for applique. Designer Teresa Varnes joins Eleanor to stitch a cuddly Teddy Bear, just the thing to complete your holiday décor.
Sew along with Eleanor and special guest, designer Sue Bouchard, and light up your wall with this lovely wallhanging of baskets filled with holiday cheer. She will guide you through each step of piecing the quilt and making a folded border for the perfect frame. This wallhanging brings the best of the season into your home.
Join Eleanor as she adorns her log home with holiday cheer and stitches these small, whimsical wallhangings. Designer Marie Harper works with Eleanor to create a comical Christmas Moose framed with cheery borders. In cold winter weather, what could be better than snuggly mittens to warm the heart as Eleanor pieces this cute wallhanging, perfect for gift giving.
Christmas Trees have been a holiday tradition for centuries and these festive decorations will enchant your favorite Santa. Eleanor demonstrates her techniques for three projects to make her tree memorable. Her holiday décor would not be complete without a wreath, so she pieces pine trees in a circle with cornerstones and borders for a wintery wallhanging.
Using the Flying Geese Ruler, Eleanor makes quick work of projects with Flying Geese Patches. Follow along as she sews a joyous star wallhanging and a Christmas Tree Skirt to grace your favorite pine.
No holiday would be complete without a quilt made from strips! Join Eleanor as she stitches strips to form a lovely Irish Holiday Quilt. In the Burns' household, everyone receives a gift, even Eleanor's Grand-Puppies, Tabatha and Peanut. To keep them warm in the cool mountain air, she stitches dog jackets. With her tried and true techniques, Eleanor shows how to embellish her projects with quick and easy applique. Special guest appearance by Peanut Burns, modeling her new jacket.
Two techniques, two unique Christmas Stockings! Using strips and sewing them directly to the batting, Eleanor forms a quick Holiday Strip Stocking. She demonstrates how fun and easy it is to make crazy quilt blocks and form them into a beautiful embellished stocking.
Work along with Eleanor as she demonstrates piecing techniques for making pinwheels, trees and a bright center star to provide a holiday note to her dining table. The Any Season Tablerunner and Lone Pine Placemats are great for gift giving too.
One of Eleanor's favorite traditions is to have holiday projects for the kids to make. Join her as she teaches her young friends, Seth and Hyla how to make fun and easy decorations for holiday home décor. Children love that famous reindeer, Rudolph. Eleanor uses strips, four-patch blocks and triangles to make Rudolph's Four Patch quilt to "light up" the season.
Time is running short and still so much to do! Eleanor teaches techniques for a quick quilt that will stand the test of time but can be made in a day! For Candy Cane Lane, she sews strips together, forms a tube, and snips a seam! So simple that 10 year old Jackie joins Eleanor to make "kid's work" of this pattern. Great gift, great fun!
Professional quilter, Sandy Thompson, joins Eleanor to teach machine quilting techniques. Sandy discusses the phases of preparing the quilt top for finishing and gives tips on sewing machine maintenance. From "layering" the quilt components to clamping and pining, learn the steps involved in stenciling, free motion and stippling your quilt.
Eleanor takes you back to the 1930’s as she selects feed sack fabric to for a beautiful Egg Money Quilt in two layouts. Eleanor starts us off with Grandmother’s Flower Garden. You will delight in her quick new methods to make this old time favorite as a block or as a stylish purse.
Pack up your belongings and take a journey with Eleanor across the dust bowl to the promise of California. Her lying geese technique is so quick and easy, you will be soaring through this pattern. Eleanor shares a hand made cross- stitched quilt made for her by her Aunt Ann.
To honor the boom of turkey farming in the late 1930’s, Eleanor brings this traditional template pattern to the table. Enjoy a visit with Tom and Drumstick, rescued from Thanksgiving, as Eleanor shares her collection and stories of Mother’s vintage aprons.
Using half-square triangles, Eleanor’s garden grows in beautiful roses in shades of red, pink, and yellow. Enjoy a history lesson on FDR’s New Deal and the most beautiful quilt from the Depression Era designed by Ruth Finley and gifted to Eleanor Roosevelt.
Eleanor adapts two 1930’s traditional applique patterns to the 21st century with her fusible interfacing technique. “Waste not – Want not” was the motto of the 1930’s and Eleanor shares some of the clever ways quilters used up every bit of their fabric.
From her German heritage, Eleanor shares the history of this beloved pattern. She demonstrates the versatility of the pattern by color selection to create a totally new look: a wreath to adorn the home for the holidays and a scrappy sunflower quilt to brighten the sewing room.
The most popular pattern since sliced bread is made quick and easy with Eleanor’s applique techniques. She also shares variations of the pattern from some very clever quilters.
The quilters of the 1930’s were not only thrifty but also creative with their scraps of fabric. Their days may have been dark and dusty but their quilts brought sunshine into their lives. Join Eleanor for a fun way to use up scraps and create lovely quilts.
Join Eleanor in the garden for her “easy to grow” Peony wallhanging. Pieced with lying geese patches and easy applique, this elegant quilt will add grace and charm to any home.
Life in the 1930’s was centered on church and home. Follow along as Eleanor revs up her sewing machine for assembly line sewing techniques for these cherished patterns.
The shortages of the 1930’s drew people together to share with each other. There’s no shortage of easy techniques in this lovely pieced block, also known as “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight.
Eleanor shows you how to stitch together and frame 12” blocks with lattice and cornerstones to it a queen-size bed.
Eleanor chose 1930’s newspaper patterns to create a sampler quilt with many different size blocks. Delight in a quilt made from feed sacks by one of Eleanor’s students. To adorn her quilt, Eleanor finished with a scalloped border.
Eleanor embellishes a paper pieced festive valentine with silk ribbon embroidery by machine.
Eleanor chops up fabric and strips it into a tall tree block with appliqued Cardinals perched in branches.
At Winter’s end, the Morning Star rises with perky flying geese points and fussy cut centers.
A delightful quilt for children, colorful fish from triangle in a square patches swim through waving seaweed.
Eleanor makes a challenging looking quilt simple with two blocks emerging from one set of strips.
Eleanor digs up some large floral prints and plants them in a charming checked basket.
Eleanor salutes America with appliqued blocks of peaks and crowns made with fusible interfacing.
Eleanor is refreshing with her repeat blocks in fresh checks and flying geese chevrons.
Quick as a bug, Eleanor sews triangles to strips and squares them to a perfect size.
Give thanks for techniques in this easy Horn of Plenty filled with leaves, sunflowers, and squash.
Make a charming scrappy quilt for cool fall evening from bits and pieces just too good to throw out.
Stroll along with Eleanor as she strip pieces chain blocks and sets them together with large floral prints.
Learn tips and techniques on how to turn those tops into beautiful works of dimensional artwork.Program Descriptions