Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
I finally finished the first two Double Spiky 16 Patches. It turned out to be 32″ square and I think I will leave it this size. I just don’t feel like adding anything to it.
I am pretty pleased with the way it came out and I had a lot of fun making the second row of larger HRTs.
I am, once again, president of my local library association. Not what I wanted to do again, but circumstances required that I step up. One thing that I did was want people to read my newsletter/”Message from the President”. As an incentive, I offered a fabulous prize, which was a journal cover for a composition book.
Since I didn’t know if a woman or a man would win, I chose neutrals – mostly blacks and greys, but one piece had that great orange triangle, so I used it as a centerpiece. I wasn’t excited about making something with those colors, but I am pleased with the way it came out.
I picked the winner and now just have to get it to that person.
My YM’s girlfriend (YMG??) has a birthday at the beginning of January. I thought I might be a week late in getting her a gift, but here it is a month later and I have not made progress on the tote.
I decided to make her a Superbloom tote. I wanted to try this pattern and her birthday seemed like a good opportunity.
I used some of Tula Pink’s Linework fabric for the outside. YMG likes dark green, which is not a color of which I own a lot (shocking, I know), so black and white it is.
This is a Sew Sweetness pattern (one of the new ones) so I have every confidence that it will go well.
As you can see, I haven’t gotten very far. I still need to get beyond the cutting and hope to work on it this weekend.
Sew Gifts!: 25 Handmade Gift Ideas from Top Designers by That Patchwork Place
I wanted to read this book for a long time. I finally borrowed it from the library and found that the projects were all made from very appealing fabric combinations. Also, the photography was very appealing.
There are several interesting projects. I found that the projects are different from other books on making small gifts. Still, I enjoy seeing how other designers deal with zippers or make a pouch in a different shape.
This book has very little text beyond the patterns. It is a compilation of projects from different designers. Mary V. Green wrote the Introduction, which is very short. It doesn’t provide much information except to talk about how great sewing gifts for people is and mentions the variety of occasions appropriate to give sewn gifts. Readers do get a brief view of the patterns included in the book, because of a few of them are showcased on the page opposite the Introduction.
After the brief introduction, the patterns start. The patterns are divided into four sections. Bags, Bags, Bags includes tote bags, zipper pouches, wallets, a key holder and a few other things. The section called Gifts for Special Interests contains a scarf, a knitting needle zipper pouch, a sketchbook cover and matching pencil pouch, a backgammon game and an owl softie. Kitchen Mates shows readers how to make a Little Girl Bake Shop set, a holiday apron, a casserole carrier and mug rugs. Pillow Perfect is all about pillows.
Patterns are about 4-6 pages each and include a lot of photos, which makes making the projects easier and the patterns more understandable. Some of my favorite projects are the Zippered Dresden Pouch ( pg.10-13), Wristlet Key Holder (pg.23-25), Triangular Knitting Needle Case (pg. 43-47), Artist’s Sketchbook Cover and Pencil Case (pg.48-54), and the Hoot Pincushion (pg.63-69). I also like the felt cupcakes (pg.72,74) included in the Little Girl Bake Shop set (pg. 68-74). I am sucker for felt food, though I have no reason to make it. I just like it. The Casserole Carrier (pg.81-85) could also be used as a project carrier. The Pillow pattern designs are interesting enough to be the start of quilts. Basic sewing techniques start on page 105. The section includes brief overviews of binding, blanket stitch, sewing curves, edge and top stitching, felting wool, fusible applique’, satin stitching, seam allowances and zippers. The ‘Meet the Designers’ section starts on page 110. Each designer gets a one paragraph description with some links to blogs and websites.
The Zippered Dresden Pouch ( pg.10-13) is one of the very appealing patterns. After making the Dresden Sew Together Bag, I am enamored with using Dresden Plates for embellishments. The embellisment brought this pattern to my attention immediately. It also included good skills which were well explained for making future pouches, such as using zipper tabs and boxing corners, two skills not always included with zipper pouch patterns.
The Wallet Key Card (pg.14-17) is interesting. I don’t think I would use such a thing, but it might be a good gift. The zipper might need a zipper tab.
The Wristlet Key Holder (pg.23-25) was another interesting project. I can’t think of a time when I only go out with a key, but this might be a good project to make for a child who doesn’t need a driver’s license when s/he is outside playing.
I like the shape of the Casual Crossed Hobo Bag (pg.4-39). The pattern requires enlargement, which is possible, but may not be so easy without access to a copier. The pattern does show how to manually enlarge it.
Triangular Knitting Needle Case (pg. 43-47) uses a shape for a zipper pouch I don’t remember seeing before. I use circular needles for the most part, but I have been thinking about what I could store in this zipper pouch. Pens when I go to guild instead of having them hang in the loops I made in my last Chubby Charmer? Of course, they wouldn’t be as accessible encased in a pouch.
The Artist’s Sketchbook Cover is not that different than the journal covers I make at regular intervals. The Pencil Case (both projects: pg.48-54) is just a zipper pouch. What makes these two patterns fun is the design on the outside. It is fiddly to do so much piecing, but also fun and cheerful.
The Sewing Kit in a Jar (pg. 59-62) is kind of novel and might make an entertaining, if not very useful gift.
The Hoot Pincushion (pg.63-69) reminds me of my Henry Owl Softies. I like the idea of using buttons for eyes and also the pocket for scissors. I was also pleased to see that the designer included supplies to weigh down the pincushion.
For times where you need appealing gifts quickly, this is a book that you could use. There are patterns you could make over and over in different fabrics and with different embellishments. I would have liked to have brief descriptions of the designers’ inspiration for the project, but perhaps I am the only one as that doesn’t seem to be something publishers like to include. Also, I guess I can check their websites to see if they talk more about the projects.
If you missed the Altoids tin sewing kit tutorial, I have updated the AQ Tutorials page so you can find it easily.
I got a late gift from the YM that didn’t make it into the Birthday Extravaganza post, a Martelli rotating mat**. This is the nicest rotating mat that I have used. I like that the edges are round. They don’t poke me when I am trying to spin it and cut. This is useful right now as I am teaching Peaky & Spike units, equilateral triangles and diamonds. A rotating mat to cut these shapes makes cutting much safer.
I also updated the Sampler Quilt Class page. After posting the setting tutorial, I decided to add a finishing section to my Sampler Class.
Articles, Media, Exhibitions and Shows
I have posted about the EBHQ shows in the past. The EBHQ Voices in Cloth Show that was cancelled last year can be seen virtually now.
Books, Fabrics, Notions
EQ8 and Accuquilt Dies: There are new Add-ons from Lori Miller – Lori has created more EQ8 Block Libraries that work with the Accuquilt GO! Qube and Block on Board (BOB) dies. Check out all the sets she has available in her Etsy shop!
Judy Martin has an index of all of her block and quilt designs available as an ebook.
One of the items I received for my birthday was a Violet Craft seam roller. Friend Julie swears by it. I don’t do much paper piecing, as you know, but I came across this description and it made me think in a different direction. “The Violet Craft Seam Roller is the perfect tool for all quilters & BAG MAKERS! Used in place of an iron, the rounded barrel places all the pounds of pressure right on the raised seam for a crisp press. The Seam Roller is superior to the iron for foundation paper piecing and is the perfect replacement for on-the-go sewing such as English paper piecing and retreats. Use this to flatten hard to reach seams inside your bag, tight corners, or just getting a vinyl or cork seam to lay flat!” (Italics are mine) This thought provoking description came from the Emmaline Bags newsletter.
I am sure most of you have heard that we should now be wearing masks with 3 layers of fabric. Also in the Emmaline Bags newsletter, I saw a link to Pellon Sew In Cambric Polypropylene Mask Filter Material. I couldn’t find it on Amazon, but only did a quick search. I did find 915 Cambric listed on the Pellon site, but the description doesn’t say anything more about mask making. I also found a ByAnnie product called Mask Filter Material that seems to be similar. More research is required.
Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials
I looked through the In Color Order tutorials and found a lot of good ones. There are a variety of her drawstring bag patterns, too.
Need to bring your charger wherever you go? I feel like I do because my phone’s battery routinely dies in the middle of the day. Of course, since I never go anywhere now, I am just planning ahead with the Sallie Tomato video tutorial on making a Key Fob Cord Keeper.
Charlotte Hawkes has another scrap mystery quilt project going.
Gnome Angel has tutorials for all of the Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler** blocks.
Other Artists
Sarah Goer has list of goals for 2021. I like it that she included life and business goals as well as quilt goals. I also really like her quilt goal “use pretty fabric.” That should be a goal for all of us.
Valerie made 36 quilts last year! WOW!
One of my friends, Sonja, has been doing art on paint chips. I know this sounds crazy, but her work is fantastic and these aren’t ordinary paint chips. The Kelly Moore Essential Color Set is like a tablet of small art canvases. You can see the fabulous work that Sonja is doing on her KM Color Set on her Instagram feed. Pokey Bolton spoke with Sonja in an IG Live Interview.
**I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item 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.
I didn’t have much time to sew on Saturday, but I did have enough time to finish the Pink Kaffe top. I am pretty excited about this finish. I really like the top. I am not sure how or where I will use it, but I love the flowers and the pink
Here we are with an almost clean slate. I hope 2021 is going well for you so far.
I decided that I was not going to work specifically on my UFO list this year. I decided I was going to make projects that I have been wanting to make. Some of these I wasn’t making because of the UFO list. I still want to finish the quilts on the UFO list, but I want to give myself a break and try not to feel stressed about the UFOs. I made a lot of progress last year and I am going to rest on my laurels a little bit and make some quilts for which I have the supplies, like the Pink Kaffe quilt.
I updated the Color Improv donation quilt page.
Finished 2021 Quilt Projects
Finished 2021 Small and Non-Quilt Projects
This category covers bags, toys, aprons and knitting as well as other non-quilt projects.
Doing Good
Nothing so far
In Process or To Make
The ‘In Process’ is used to denote projects on which I am actively working or are on the design wall waiting for me to stitch. I am continuing to try not to put away projects. I find putting a project away ensures I never work on them, because I just lose steam.
Quilts
Small Projects to Make or in Process
Most of my progress involves thinking or just cutting.
Handwork
I decided that some of my projects are in a different class because they are hand piecing or embroidery or beading. They take longer. Thus I created a new category and have moved some projects here.
Ready for Quilting
FOTY 2019 – ready to take to the longarmer
In the Quilting Process
In the Finishing Process
Still WIPs
I still have WIPs. Who doesn’t, after all? A project in the ‘UFO’ category means I am stalled. A nicer way of saying UFO is a WIP. The list is a lot shorter and the projects are newer, for the most part.
I am using a different quilt for this tutorial, but I have faith that that won’t make a difference to all of you intelligent readers and students who have been following along with my various sampler class tutorials.
Supply List:
Please note that we are only talking about sashing in this tutorial. We are not talking about borders. I will do a separate tutorial for borders in the future.
I started out with the above group of donation blocks. I have been setting these with plain blocks of the same size. I decided that I wanted to do something different with these blocks. Sashing is the answer. Having something between these blocks prevents the seams from getting too thick and hard to sew. Also, it allows each block to shine a little bit rather than being part of a mass. Adding sashing or plain borders or nothing is a design choice. For any quilt, it is important to decide on the look and feel you want.
Even if you put the same sized plain blocks between these blocks, the method I will show you works the same way.
The first step is to cut sashing and cornerstones. The photo above shows all the sashing and cornerstones cut and laid out on my design wall.
If you don’t want cornerstones, cut your top sashing the same size as your block + side sashing – 1/2 inch seam allowance (1/4 inch + 1/4 inch = half inch). The formula is:
Block size + vertical sashing – 1/2 inch seam allowance = finished size of top sashing without cornerstones
I can’t tell you the exact size, because I don’t have your blocks in front of me. Use a calculator. I do.
Also, notice that my top and side rows are different. I plan to put a straight strip of fabric across the top and sides as a border, which means I don’t need sashing for the top or sides.
Once you have all of your sashing and cornerstones cut, it is time to sew. I like to start in the bottom left hand corner. I start there because it is closer to my sewing machine when all the blocks are on my design wall. As I sew, the blocks shrink (because of the taken up seam allowance) and get closer to where I am sitting.
First, sew one vertical sashing piece to the right side of your block.
Press to the red.
Next, sew one piece of the top sashing to a cornerstone. In the above photo the sashing is white and the cornerstone is a red flower fabric.
Take your new little sashing + cornerstone piece to the ironing board and press to the red.
Now, nest the seams and pin the top sashing/cornerstone piece to the block with vertical sashing.
The top sashing should be on the top of the block as it moves through the sewing machine. Sew the top sashing to the block.
Sew the side sashing and the top sashing/cornerstone to all the blocks as described above.
IMPORTANT: The top row, as mentioned above, in my quilt, is different, so just sew the vertical sashing to the blocks in the top row and the top sashing to the blocks on the right edge.
Once you have sewn all the sashing on to the blocks, you will begin to sew the blocks together. This is chunking. I have talked about it before. I ‘chunk’ because 1) I don’t like sewing long rows together and 2) it keeps my piecing more precise.
First take the two blocks in the bottom left hand corner, pin them with matched points and nested seams. You will pin them together so that the top white sashing is sewn to the red cornerstone. The white vertical sashing will be sewn to the red block.
Sew them together. I pin in the seam allowance so that i have a better chance at the seams matching up. When I take the pins out as I am sewing, chances increase that the seams won’t match. In general, to increase my chances of perfectly matching seams, I try to sew towards the seam allowance, but that didn’t work on this quilt, because I pressed towards the red. Use a stiletto to keep the seams in place for as long as possible.
Now you have a block with sashing on two sides.
Once you have sewn all of the sashing and cornerstones to the blocks, you will have completed the first step in putting your quilt top together.
On the right edge of the quilt, you will only sew the top sashing to the blocks. As mentioned before, there will be a border without cornerstones in my quilt, so I don’t need vertical sashing or cornerstones on the edges. If you want cornerstones in your border, follow the directions above for all blocks.
After you have sewn the various blocks together, you will have one long seam left.
Once you sew that seam, the center of your quilt top is done.
I know that the common way of sewing a quilt together is sewing it together in rows then sewing all the rows together. Using the row method is easier to explain than ‘chunking’, but, as I said above, my method is more precise.
**I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item 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.
After writing the Spiky 16 Patch Tutorial I decided to try adding another round of HRTs to my regular block to see what would happen.
I am still using the Split Rects ruler** (By Deb Tucker) from Studio180 Designs for this project, so you will still need to review the how to use video.
The photo looks like a bit of a mess because the pieces are all overlapping and I need two more HRTs for each block.
I have a lot going on and this has been my leaders and enders project, so I haven’t worked on it in a week or so.
I like the look of the double row of HRTs. The outer HRTs are pretty large!
I am not sure if I will make more of these blocks for this project, whatever it is. If it is a donation quilt, I have to make it larger
**I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item 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.
I tend to toss scraps to one side of my cutting table to cut up later. My cutting table is only about 18×24, so this practice cuts into my cutting space. In the last couple of months the pile has become huge. About 2 weeks ago, the pile toppled off the cutting table and I realized I had to do something.
I toss all the scraps into a brown paper grocery bag and decided to cut them all up into 2.5inch squares with my Accuquilt. Whatever didn’t fit into that size would become Pet Bed filling.
I spent a couple of Craft Nights plus one Friday while I was making phone calls cutting up scraps with my Accuquilt. Now I have A LOT of 2.5 inch squares!
In the photo, you can see that I am sorting. I have a couple of bins of stashed 2.5 inch squares. They are handy for a lot of different projects. It was from this bin that I made Scrapitude.I have also used patches from this bin for Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilts like En Provence.
Some of these need to go into the FOTY 2020 bin, but most will be used for donation blocks. I might give some to the BAM Community Giving Team for their kits.
My pet bed is full, so I need to get that to the Pet Bed team.
I recently received a gift subscription to QuiltFolk. My first issue was issue 16 and the theme was family.
One of the essays was called The Time it Takes by Ora Clay and a couple of the things the author said stuck out to me. First, s/he said “As a quiltmaker myself, I am often asked how long it takes to make a quilt. I answer, ‘It depends on how you count’ “.
This is so true! Ora is a wise woman.
Do you count carefully all the number of hours you sit at the sewing machine or stand at the design wall and ironing board? That is definitely one way to count.
Next, she said ” I’ve made many quilts of my own, but I still don’t know how to count the time it takes to make one. I like what the writer John McPhee said about writing: ‘It takes how long it takes.’ I don’t have to plant the cotton for my quilts, but should I include the time I spend researching, designing, and planning before I take a stitch?”
The above is the crux of the matter. As I move about the world doing chores, I think about things including my quilt designs and my quilts in progress. I don’t even know how long I spend thinking about what I am going to make next or how I am going to finish a WIP. Sometimes it feels like an idea or a solution to a problem appears in my head while I am doing something else. I am sure there are hours where the problem is percolating in my subconscious. How do I count those hours?
What about the years I have spent honing my skills? If I didn’t know how to piece very well, then the basic construction process would take much longer. So, do I tack on years to each quilt?
I don’t think this hours problem is unique to quiltmaking. I think woodworkers and card makers and auto restorers have the same question.
It depends.
I really want to call this quilt something like “My Childhood Bedroom”, but the “Pink Kaffe Quilt” seems to be sticking as the name.
I made more progress over the weekend, but wasn’t able to finish the top. I tried, but had some measuring issues. While I worked them out, it took longer than just sewing some long seams.
Still, the top is looking nice and, as an added bonus, it sticks really well to my design wall.
Julie made me a Mini Maker Case! I know I mentioned it the other day, but I am pretty excited about that. I am excited to be ready to take my mini Oliso to Sew Day [sometime in the safe future]. I am also excited to go on some quiltmaking adventure with Friend Julie and my new iron.
I am also excited that I don’t have to make one for myself, though I may make another one fun anyway.
I like the way the iron fits in the case, though the cord, when viewed from the top seems to screw up the symmetry of the case. However, once the zipper is closed, the case looks fine.
Julie picked out some great fabrics for me and did a fantastic job sewing it.
The inside binding is not for the faint of heart. I am impressed by anyone who does it. I like the pop of red she added on my case.
I have had an ArtGirlz charm for a long time. I finally decided that this was the case to which I would attach it. I don’t remember when I bought it, but it has been sitting and waiting for a home for a long time. Time to use things! Life is short.
Julie was worried about not putting in zipper tabs, but the charm will act as a pull so the zipper will work fine.
The top also looks great. I think the handle will hold very well.
Thanks, Julie!!!
I added this bias tape to my syllabus. My current students are very gung ho and want to learn more. I had gotten it to the point where I had all the bias tape pinned down, but hadn’t finished the sewing until the weekend.
I had a couple of small half finished projects laying around and they were annoying, so I just took the time to finish them.
I am pleased with how it came out and will probably use this block again when teaching.
I also used Saral Transfer Paper, because it is a great way to trace and transfer at the same time without using something like a Frixon pen or the blue pen that may come back to haunt me later. Saral paper is super old school, but works amazingly well. I couldn’t find the pack I had so I bought a variety pack, which means that I can use it on different colors of fabric.
I recently bought a tracing stylus to use with the Saral. This made Saral paper even more awesome. The stylus has a ball on the end and won’t rip through the relatively thin Saral paper. I can’t believe how smoothly it worked.
Using bias tape with Red Scribbles and now this block have made me rethink its usefulness and how I can use it in other pieces.
**I use affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item 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.
Some time ago, I though about making some eye masks as gifts.This came up when my eye doctor said to put a hot compress on my eyes every night to prevent something I can’t remember now. I was suffering from whatever it was (stys?) at the time and the doc was concerned. I had never had them before, but when I told my mom, she said she gets them all the time. Then another friend said the same thing and here I am.
I know the side I closed after filling the eye mask is oddly shaped. The others came out better.
I used the Chloe Mullaney pattern with some changes. I guess I basically only used the pattern piece. This isn’t a difficult project: cut out the pattern piece from fabric, sew right sides together, fill with rice and close up. Yes, I used rice, because I wasn’t sure how other fillings would act in the microwave.
I bought a hand towel at Tuesday Morning to use as the back, which was not part of the pattern. I thought a towel would be more comfortable and more absorbent than quilting cotton. I wanted something pretty for the front, but purely functional for the back. I was able to get 3 pieces out of the fluffy part of one hand towel. The Tuesday Morning towel was very good quality, but not expensive.