This is an incredibly massive V&S. Hope you can make it through whole thing as there is lots of important and fun links to explore. Maybe two sessions?
Admin
Reminder that if you ask a question in the comments and forget to come back and look at the answer, you can click the “Notify me of follow-up comments by email.” and get other comments on the one post. This will send you a notification when I answer. I do try and answer all comments, though I don’t always answer that same day.
I put up a new page showing all the improvisational piecing quilts I have made or worked on. This page was inspired by my work on the Tarts. I forgot that I had made or worked on so many. The improvisational piecing is different than Improv quilts now. The work I did was unplanned, but not necessarily wonky.
Reminder: all the photos on this blog are mine or I have permission to use them. The artworks are mostly mine, but occasionally I take a photo of someone else’s work and post it. All photos are generally watermarked which says I own the photo. If the artwork is mine, the watermark means that I own the artwork as well. If you want to use my photos, please contact me and provide a link to the photo you want to use and to the location where you want to post it. I am pretty good about getting back to you quickly. I don’t want to go through a fight again. This talks about photos, but all the words are mine as well.
Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials
I found an extensive video (15 minutes) on the flatback stitch.
Natalie, from SewHungryHippie, has a FB page. Check it out for product information, but also for the 7/11 post talking about using interfacing on vinyl!?!?!
Tula has a video comparing the A Place for Everything v.1.0 to the v.2.0 versions of the pattern.
I was looking through some old emails and came across an email about diamonds. Quilting Cubby has a tutorial on sewing Half Triangle Rectangles any size. I haven’t reviewed this tutorial, but I have reviewed the methods I wrote in a series of tutorials on making Half Triangle Rectangles. Remember the Split Recs ruler** by Studio 180 Designs as well. I love that ruler.
My friend came over to get help making a bag. One of the things she wanted to do was use cording for the handles. I had no idea how to do it, so I searched. I found a tutorial, which makes sense. I had to test quite a bit to get the size right for the rope my friend had, but the process encouraged me to learn something new and now I have another option for handles.
One of the things I wanted to do was turn the bag through the interior zipper pocket. This makes for a cleaner finish. Tim showed me how to do it, but I had to look up a tutorial again. I found one from SewYourTV (???), which was pretty helpful, though I feel like it skipped something between the first sentence in step 8 and the second sentence. Robin of RSIsland Crafts shows how to turn the pocket from start to finish in her video tutorial. It shows the missing parts from the above tutorial, which is finishing the bag by stitching it closed. The tutorial is 8 minutes long, but if you go to the 4 minute mark, you will get the salient details and skip the part about the two different types of pockets you can make to turn your bag.
Do you want to help create a local artist & makers market? Contribute to the GoFundMe campaign for such a space in Pacifica.
I have gotten quite a few comments on the Diagonal Nine Patch. I have made a file to share with you. It is a PDF file for you to use to make your own. I have an EQ8 file, which I cannot upload, but may send to you, if you are nice to me. ? For those of you who don’t have Electric Quilt**, I highly recommend it.
Proceeds from the sale of Ujamaa Baguettes patterns goes to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers (G to G) Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF). SLF works to address the consequences of the HIV/AIDS pandemic upon families and communities in sub-Saharan Africa. The patterns are regular bag patterns. There is a backpack called the Retreat Backpack, which looks similar to the Sew Sweetness Chickadee Backpack with some small design differences. There is a bag called The Laufey, which is interesting. The Liliput Backpack has some interesting design features, though I would probably make it into a crossbody bag. They also have bags with unique shapes. A couple are round and one is shaped like a saddle. The patterns are all PDF downloads which can be found on the Emmaline Designs website.
Marie Bostwick has a great pattern that may work for the guild’s 16 patches. Part 2 was just posted and part one can be found as a link in that post.
The Bag of the Month from the Emmaline Designs website is now available for purchase. They also have hardware kits available.
In her monthly Cornucopia post for July, Friend Julie pointed me to a journal cover tutorial that uses a composition book for the journal.
Tools, Books, Fabric, Notions & Supplies
Lauren Moremino of MoreMeKnow has glitter clips! They probably work the same as regular clips**, but GLITTER!!!
Modern Handmade has a revamped subscription box. I subscribe briefly to their previous version until they cancelled it. The latest incarnation is only $12/month, which is eminently reasonable. It still includes a project, but smaller projects like pillows, tablerunners and bags. There is also a private FB group so you can meet other people who subscribe.
Some interesting zipper pulls, zipper heads (I saw a hedgehog!) and interesting zipper tape can be found on the Gigil Zips site. There are a lot of Star Wars and Disney models, but they are not listed by their trademarked names so you have to be a little creative to find them.
I really like the Essentials Tote available on the Sew Hungry Hippie site. I am tempted to buy the pattern, but think I could make something similar without a pattern, so I have, so far, resisted. I am also afraid I just like the fabric.
Moda had this lavishly illustrated review of Red, White & Blue Star Quilts. (Thanks to Judy Martin’s newsletter)
My friend, Lindsay, shared the New Song Quilt Shop with me. Yes, they have a website. They make quilts and pouches and home accessories for sale.
You might remember that we did a Creative Spark project a few years ago. The last prompt is posted and you can work your way through them now, if you want. This project was based on Carrie Bloomston’s , The Little Spark. She has a follow-up book called The Big Book of Little Sparks Creativity Journal: A Hands-on Journal to Ignite Your Creativity**. It’s described by Carrie in this way: “It’s full of beautifully illustrated pages for you to fill with reflections on YOUR creative process and journey. There are new sparks to inspire you on your journey, as well.” You can join the launch party, if you are in Phoenix, “at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix to celebrate the launch of the book with some bubbles and a conversation about living life wide awake” on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 6pm. If you attend, let me know how it went.
Articles, Tips and Other Information
Tula talks about quilting quilts in a recent video. I like this video, because she talks about all-over quilting patterns vs. custom quilting and I found that I agreed with her philosophy. Check between the 5 and 8 minute marks for the bulk of this discussion if you don’t want to watch the whole video.
I finally sent DH to the carpet recycler with the old life sucking beige carpet from my workroom. It was hard to find the address and all the guidelines and DH had lost heart. I had time so I found all the information, but made him go and do it. The hardwood floor needs to be redone, but I don’t care. I am so glad that carpet is out of my life.
Media, Exhibitions and Inspiration
Tula has remade the various bags she likes in her coming soon Moon Garden line. I love these videos where she shows her bags. She mostly uses Byannie patterns, but has branched out this time to a Minki Kim mini iron carrier pattern and the Aneela Hoey Booklet Pouch. I like it that she branched out this time. I did get a good idea for my going to Sew Day problem and that was the Oslo Craft Bag by Sew Sweetness. This is a free pattern given as a thank you if you sign up for the newsletter. The newsletter doesn’t come out very often so it isn’t a hardship. I made one of these for Cyndi. Now I am thinking I may make one for myself and see that will be a good partial replacement for my Going to Sew Day bag.
The one Tula made is the Catch All Caddy by ByAnnie. The bags are essentially the same, though the sizes and features may be different. I find the style of Sew Sweetness bags to be easier to sew, though, as you know, I have made several ByAnnie Bags and they have come out pretty well.
Frances from the QuiltFiction Club shared a video on the Jane Stickle quilt, which is in the Bennington Museum Collection.
Curated Quilts has a post on using neutrals in quilts
Not Quilt Related
Some quilt people are also puzzle people. During the pandemic i might have mentioned that we worked on a 10,000 piece puzzle. It is still in process, but I am working on La Pass at night not a puzzle. DH shared a blog post from the LA Public Library about the history of jigsaw puzzles. The post says that jig saws were related to sewing machines and, thus operated by women.
**Obviously, you should shop at a local quilt shop. However, I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.
