New products and ideas for quilters

There’s always something new popping up in the quilting world and it’s fun to see the latest developments. I’m lucky to work in a quilt shop so I get to see some of those things first hand. I also stay up-to-date on the latest trends by reading magazines and online newsletters. Today, I’m sharing some of those products and ideas that I’m loving as a quilter.

Note: Affiliate links have been provided for your convenience and I will receive a small compensation (with no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase using one of those links. With that said, I strongly believe we need to support our local quilt shops. I hope that you reach out to your local quilt shop first, to see if they carry any of these products.

Stash Tags by Purple Hobbies

If your fabric stash is disorganized (like mine) you’ll appreciate these Stash Tags. They’re genius little disks that you can rotate to show a particular length of fabric yardage. No more guessing how much fabric is in that piece!

The Stash Tags come with perfectly sized safety pins for attaching to fabric and a clear reusable container to hold unused tags. They’re great for yardage or for scraps larger than 1/8 yard. Each Stash Tag can be rotated to give increments from 1/8 yard up to 6 7/8 yards. Four different colors available.

Special discount code

Heather of Purple Hobbies has generously offered a special discount code just for you! Enter the code CraftyQuilter at checkout and save 15% off anything in her shop. This code has no expiration, so shop at your leisure. You’ll want to look around the Purple Hobbies store because Heather has some amazing tools that she has designed especially for quilters. I’ve seen her mind at work (she’s a problem solver) and when she runs into a “situation”, she creates a tool to make it easier. I use her Blade Saver Thread Cutter to cut the threads connecting my chain piecing all the time!

Laser Level

While this is not a new tool and not one that is specific to quilters, this Laser Level is a workhorse in the sewing room. I use it to square up quilts when it’s time to trim. You set the Laser Level in any corner and the guide beams show exactly where to trim for perfectly square corners. After aligning a long ruler with one of the guide beams (they extend farther than the ruler), I can trim confidently. It’s also great for hanging quilts or pictures so they’re level.

Below is my All The Trimmings quilt from 2021 getting trimmed (just yesterday because that’s how it goes sometimes). My sister-in-law just quilted it for me and now I’ll finish it up before the holidays! This is a free downloadable pattern from Fat Quarter Shop that is still available here.

Thimble Tape

If you have a hard time finding the right thimble, Thimtec Thimble Tape may be your answer. You simply cut off a 10″-12″ piece and wrap it around your finger tip several times. You can mold it to your finger size and it helps prevent those painful pin pokes. It’s great for people with long fingernails and it’s fully customizable. You can add an extra layer of protection by folding a small piece into a square and wrapping a longer piece around it. I haven’t tried this myself, but I have some on order.

New Quilt Books

The Quilting Book

I love a good reference book, and I found The Quilting Book to be an excellent resource for new quilters and seasoned ones alike. Published by DK and released in September 2025, this book is packed with all the essentials of quilting and beyond. It includes over 200 step-by-step techniques and 13 quilting projects for both modern and traditional quilters. I recently purchased the Kindle edition, and I’m really glad to have this addition to my creative library.

Fat Quarters By The Dozen

As a collector of fat quarters, I love this new book Fat Quarters By The Dozen by It’s Sew Emma (a Fat Quarter Shop exclusive). It has 12 beautiful quilt designs that all use 12 fat quarters plus background and binding fabric. Each pattern includes a fat quarter cutting diagram and a section on how to turn fat quarters into various precuts. If you have fat quarter bundles in your stash, this would be a great book to have. I’ve got my eye on the Halo Quilt pattern to use with a bundle of Tilda Fabrics!

Just a heads up, Fat Quarter Shop is having an early Black Friday Precut Sale! You’ll find some gorgeous fat quarter bundles up to 60% off!

Quiltfolk special edition: Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

This year, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show celebrated 50 years of quilting, community and creativity. Each year in July, the town of Sisters, Oregon, transforms into an outdoor gallery of quilts. It has become a treasured annual event that includes workshops, shopping and lots of beautiful quilts, of course.

Quiltfolk magazine just released a special edition that captures the vibrant community, the artistry, and the dedication it takes to bring this beloved show to life each year. You’ll find gorgeous photography and heartfelt stories inside this ad-free magazine. I haven’t made the trek to Sisters Oregon yet, but it’s on my list of summer travel plans.

Quilt Block Mug

I have to mention this Quilt Block Mug just because it’s so lovely. I ordered this mug from Wellspring Designs and it makes me so happy! It has a rustic and calm design that makes me want to curl up with a favorite cup of tea and a warm quilt. Each cup is hand thrown and glazed, so colors, shapes and capacity may differ slightly. Put it on your Christmas list and see what happens!

Mug Rugs

In keeping with that theme, any good mug deserves an equally good mug rug! The design above is a free tutorial by me that you can find here. I love making these tiny quilts, and they’re great because they can fit any occasion. Check out all of my free mug rug tutorials here and my Christmas Pocket Mug Rug (shown below) on Etsy here.

Holiday workshop

This may not be a tool, but a workshop can definitely help get things done. Just in time for the holidays, The Elves’ Workshop Summit is a free, 3-day virtual event (Nov 18-20, 2025) packed with creative workshops on cooking, decorating, gifting, and entertaining. It’s designed to help people make this holiday season simple, joyful, and full of handmade magic. It includes 26 expert-led session to help you simplify the holidays. You can get your free ticket here!

It’s always fun to see what’s new in the quilting and crafting world. I hope you found some helpful ideas to keep you motivated and inspired!