Episode 468: Prevent Back and Neck Pain While Sewing

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Quilting is a very physical hobby. Especially when some of us may be sewing a lot more than usual because we're cooped up in our homes, it's important to be aware of the physical toll sewing can take on our bodies. In order to save your body from pain and stress, it's vital to practice healthy sewing habits. Joanna Burgarino, the editor of Quilts & More, shares some easy changes you can make that will make a big difference in your sewing life.

To see a video of the tips mentioned, visit here.

Joanna shares the story of her most cherished quilt, which was a quilt made for her from her mother.

We will be featuring more My Most Cherished quilts as a regular column on the last page of each issue of American Patchwork & Quilting and would love for you to share your most cherished quilt on Instagram and tag it with #mycherishedquilt.

Jody Sanders, the editor of American Patchwork & Quilting, shares the history of sampler quilts, a type of quilt that features a different block design for each block in one quilt. The blocks can be pieced, appliquéd, or a combination of both. A popular type of sampler quilt from the 1800s is a Baltimore Album quilt. Many times, sampler quilts showcase blocks that were popular at one point is history, so it's a great record to refer to for popularity of techniques and block types for a specific time period.

Our next Virtual Quilting retreat is Saturday, May 2. No need to sign up (or even leave your house). Just follow us on Facebook and Instagram to join us! The day of the retreat, get in your comfiest clothes, grab your favorite snacks, and make progress on a project or two! We'll be asking questions and posting photos throughout the day on our social media pages. It's a great way to connect with quilters from all over the world (especially during a time when we're isolated). You can post pictures of your progress, ask questions, share knowledge, and more, so we can all get to know each other more!

On today's interview, Doris Brunnette, the editor of Quilt Sampler, chats with Karen Styles. Karen is a talented quilter and hand-piecer, fabric designer with Marcus Fabrics, author of the new book Seams Like Yesterday, and lover of antique quilts and reproduction fabrics. She also owns the online store Somerset Patchwork & Quilting in Australia, which we think you'll be able to gather from her accent. On top of all that, she teaches internationally!

Follow Karen's shop Instagram account, personal Instagram account, and Facebook page.