Anyone else in panic mode trying to finish holiday gifts?! That’s exactly what is happening here at May Chappell HQ! And I needed three 7″ metal zippers. Despite having a drawer of hundreds of zippers, I had exactly zero 7” metal zippers. I did however have A LOT of 9” zippers. But you can’t really tuck in extra metal zipper length…stitching over the metal teeth is a no-go. But then I got the idea to remove the teeth with my pliers! I made it 7″ of teeth. I just pulled hard and they popped right off. I cut the excess off with pinking shears. Voila! Don’t forget to pin the pieces together so ..read more

I originally did this tutorial for Olfa as it uses some of their awesome specialty blades. However, it is no longer on their site and I’ve received a few messages about it. So here it is again! And for those of you that did not see it the first time, please enjoy! Supplies:Two 4×11” pieces of thick wool/wool felt One 9” zipper 40 wt thread Print one copy of Pencil Case Template Olfa Supplies:Rotating Mat 6×12” Frosted Ruler Scissors Rotary with straight blade and decorative blade Step 1: Place two pieces of wool together with the template on top. You will cut through all pieces at once so t ..read more

This summer I was able to cross something off my Bucket List. I took a class at the John C Campbell Folk School. The school is located in Brasstown, a beautiful part of western North Carolina. They offer a variety of classes in art, craft, music, writing and so much more. The classes are amazing, but the experience is what will stay with you forever. I left feeling creatively fulfilled and inspired. The Gardens, including a dye garden The school has a bit of a vibe of an intense camp for adults, but with way better lodging and food! Some mornings offer Morning Song which is full of song, music ..read more

I love a good scraptastic adventure! When you’re working on being scrappy, it can be challenging to keep things looking random. Put the scraps into a bag and blindly choose them. It’s tempting to cheat and sneak a peek, but resist. If you look, you will create the same combinations over and over, unintentionally creating a pattern. My favorite patterns for scrappiness are Cross the Scraps, Scrappy Star and Serendipity. I have even more that are scrap friendly. Making a scrappy quilt feels like it’s free because you’re using “trash”. Ha! xx LC ..read more

Hello friends from snowy North Carolina! If you’re weather looks anything like mine, you’re inside and stitching away! It’s also that time of year when we all commit ourselves to finally getting organized and start making plans for the year ahead.  That’s why I’m so excited to share some news. I’ve partnered with 13 amazing designers to create this fantastic Quilt Pattern Bundle of scrap busting patterns just for you. This way, you can just sit down and sew, instead of shopping for supplies.   The Quilt Pattern Bundle has everything you need to finally take control of your scra ..read more

Lee Chappell Monroe on The Quilt Show Trailer I’ve been a fan of Alex Anderson since before I was a quilter! So when I was invited to be on The Quilt Show, it felt like a homecoming. And she lived up to the hype! Sometimes when you meet one of your heroes, it can feel like a let down, but she is even more delightful than I could’ve imagined! Plus Ricky Tims!! I had met him a few years ago at AccuQuilt. He tells the best stories and has endless knowledge about quilting. The reason The Quilt Show is an enduring and amazing success is these two people in front of the camera and the many equall ..read more

Do you know someone who’s always wanted to learn to stitch? Or are you looking to hone your skills? Great news! I’m offering a new course Jump into Sewing: Basic Tools & Techniques on Creative Spark online. It’s the same platform where I’ve done The Quilting Hour (season two coming soon!) and Tips of the Trade. The best part of Creative Spark is everything is recorded for easy reviewing. Jump into Sewing Book The course will follow along with my book, Jump into Sewing! In fact, an ebook is included with the course. Student’s will learn all the basics, starting with the sewing machine, how ..read more

Who doesn’t love a scrappy pattern?! I know I do and one of my faves is my Cross the Scraps pattern. It can empty a scrap bin and turn tiny treasures into a masterpiece! I partnered with several other scrap loving designers to create a Scrap Pattern Bundle. It’s only $19.99 for sixteen patterns! This deal only lasts until Friday, October 1, so act fast! You can read all the details and grab your bundle here! Cross the Scraps xx LC ..read more

Inspiration is everywhere. And the inspiration for this quilt is a place near and dear to my heart…the mountains of western North Carolina! In the heart of Jackson County, there is a tiny creek called Cane Creek with mountain peaks all around. Obviously, the mountain peaks needed to be flying geese. And obviously I needed to make a quilt! This pattern uses the convenient and efficient four-at-a-time flying geese method. I’ve modified it a bit in order to allow for trimming which means accuracy. If you’ve worked with my patterns before, you know that piecing a slightly oversized flying geese u ..read more

Most of us have a go-to piecing thread. Mine is Aurifil 50wt 2600 Dove which is a versatile light grey. I use it for 90% of my piecing and quite a bit of my quilting. But today’s tip is not about choosing the perfect thread or color, but more about buying in bulk to reduce waste and save some cash. I used to buy the 1422 yards (1300 meters) spools and I’d go through many each year. Seriously, I sew a lot. Now I buy the cones a few times a year. The cones are 6452 yards (5900 meters). The cone is typically $35-40, while the spool is $12-14. For three times the price, you’ll get four and half ..read more