Online Quilt Magazine.com

Transcription

Premium Online Quilt Magazine – Vol. 4 No. 2
Online Quilt Magazine.com
How to Press &
Piece for Perfect
Points
Leah’s
“Let’s
Wiggle!” –
8 part
A Yarn
quilting
project
About
Threads
THREE New
Projects to
Make
What’s New –
Fabrics,
Books and
More!
© Online Quilt Magazine.com All Rights Reserved P a g e | 1
Premium Issue Vol.4 No.2 – February 2013
Online Quilt Magazine Table of Contents
Let’s Wiggle! ……………..………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………..……….
Page 4
A Yarn About Threads …..……..………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………….……………………………………...….
Page 11
PROJECT – Shabby Chic Cuddle Quilt ……………………...…………………..………………………………………………….…………………………..……………….……………………..
Page 15
Crazy Quilts ………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………….…………..
Page 19
6 Ways To Display Your Quilts Using Creativity and Imagination …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….
Page 21
What’s New From The Fat Quarter Shop….………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………...……….
Page 23
Hints and Tips From Brannie ……..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………..……..
Page 27
PROJECT – Diamond Tote …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Page 29
Pressing and Piecing Patchwork for Perfect Points ……………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………….
Page 37
PROJECT – Cross Stitch Quilt Block ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………
Page 41
Book Review – “The Basement Quilt” by Ann Hazelwood ……………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………..………………
Page 43
Best Sewing Machines Under $100 …………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………
Page 45
Quilting Memories …………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..
Page 47
Recipe – Banana Bread …………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………
Page 50
Reader “Show and Tell” …………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………….……………………………….………………………………...…
Page 51
BLOCK OF THE MONTH – Domino Block ………………..…..……………….………...................................................................................................................
Page 52
Today's Tips..................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Page 55
YES – We Want To hear From You ..............................................................................................................................................................................
Page 56
Letter from the Editor
Jody Anderson
Hi!
Welcome to our new bumper February issue, with more articles, tips and Three new projects to make
too! Now the kids have FINALLY gone back to school, I’m going to knuckle down and get regimented with
work and play… OK – so that means getting myself better organised with computer/office time ( and
actually doing my filing…), whilst play means sewing for one full day each week. That’s my plan anyway…
This month we have a project for everyone. There’s the wonderfully snuggly flannel rag quilt on the
cover (and yes – I did make it over Christmas in the peak of summer!), a good-sized appliqued tote bag,
and for those who are after a change, try our easy cross stitch quilt block.
We’re starting a new series with Leah too this year. For the next eight months we’ll be learning how to
sew some of those wonderful quilted filler designs, and then making and quilting one of her modern quilt
designs to practice sewing them all on.
Well, they say practice makes perfect, so hop to it!
Have a great month!
Jody
Let’s Wiggle!
By Leah Day from www.FreeMotionQuilt.blogspot.com
This month we start an 8-part series from Leah
where she covers 5 different filler quilting designs
before making and quilting a modern quilt to
practice them on. Follow along and enjoy the fun
with us!
play with this design if you truly want to master
it.
Now with my lecture out of the way, let's watch
this week's video:
Click Here if the Video Does Not Appear
Welcome to our first part – Stippling. After
reading these articles you'll find a common
theme: the importance of practice.
Now let's go into a bit more depth about what’s
covered in the video:
I can't stress it enough, I can't say it enough, I
can't do it enough -
First off, Stippling is governed by two very simple
rules:
1. Stitch a wiggly line.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!
Watching videos will only get you so far, drawing
on a notebook will only get you so far, you're
going to have to actually get on your machine and
shut up and quilt sometime during this week and
2. Don't allow this line to cross itself.
This is a pretty simple set of rules, yet Stippling
can be challenging when you try to immediately
simpler version and got the hang of that first,
then slowly added more bends and curves until it
became the complex design it is today.
stitch something like this:
So if we break down those rules into the simplest
format, you will get a Super Simplified Version of
Stippling that looks something like this:
Let's call this U Shape Stippling.
Spend some time drawing and quilting this wiggly
line. Wiggle and Wiggle and Wiggle until you start
to go a bit wiggly, and then wiggle some more!
This is the more complex form of Stippling which
forms a dense, wiggly mass over your quilt. But it
took a few weeks of practice to get here. I
certainly didn't start stippling this complex
version right off the bat, and I don't advise you to
try it that way.
When you're so bored out of your mind with
wiggles you'd like to kill me, move on to a slightly
more complex wiggle:
To learn Stippling, I broke the design down into a
Let's call this Peace Sign Stippling, and make sure
to try the reverse version as well:
Again, draw and quilt this new wiggly line. Feel
free to print this page and trace it if you have to.
Whatever you have to do in order to get the
practice you need!
Only when you're bored to tears again, play with
bending the curve to create a bit more
complexity:
Let's call this one Lobster Claw Stippling and
again, make sure to stitch the reverse version as
well:
I made a 1/2 yard quilt sandwich with black fabric
and stitched across the narrow side several times
with each version of Stippling.
You might have noticed marked lines on my quilt
sandwich. I marked lines about 3 inches apart so I
could work my rows of simple stippling straight
across the quilt:
Do you see where I'm going with this? Each row
of shapes is slightly more complex, but at the
same time they're very simple because it's just
the same wiggles repeated over and over again.
When you're ready, you can start mixing and
matching these simple shapes to create a more
complex version.
Practice Ideas
Really you can practice this however you like, but
here's what I did this week:
You don't have to mark the lines unless you want
to. I like it because it gives me a visual line on a
blank piece of fabric to shoot for. Without it, I
tend to wiggle off into oblivion!
You can stitch even the most simplistic version of
stippling - yes! even those basic rows of U shapes
can go on a REAL QUILT!
If you finish your practice piece and still feel
excited and enthusiastic about your progress,
make another sandwich and keep quilting!
If you finish your practice piece and feel so
frustrated and angry you're ready to throw your
machine out the window, please stop quilting and
go have fun doing something else! This is not a
torture session here!
See Stippling in a Real Quilt
Now you might be thinking that only the most
complex version of Stippling is acceptable to
stitch over a real quilt.
This Pink quilt was my very first free motion
quilted quilt:
I only had a vague idea of what stippling looked
like. All I knew for sure was that you didn't cross
your lines so I just stitched rows and rows of U
shapes:
And you'd be wrong.
nice soft ripply texture you see on my quilt above.
Now let's see some larger, more complex
stippling:
I think this looks really nice! I spaced this stippling
so there was around 1/2 inch between each line
of quilting. While you might think the quilt would
end up stiff, it's actually one of the softest quilts
I've ever made.
Here's another tip if you want to practice on a
real quilt - if you use a cotton batting that has a
slight shrink to it, and if you've not prewashed
your fabric (this is the ONLY time I'll EVER say this
is okay), then when you wash the quilt the first
time, it will shrink slightly and you will get that
This is a much larger and more complex version
stitched over a cheater cloth quilt. The 1 inch
scale here requires a lot of hand moving and
repositioning the quilt so you can see what you're
doing.
Whenever you stop and start, try taking a few
stitches with your machine at a slow speed, then
slowly bring the machine up to full speed again as
you return to stitching the design smoothly.
Now if stitching on a small scale is your goal, you
can follow all the same steps as above, only
instead of stitching big, shrink it down and stitch
each row really small. All the same rules apply for
big quilting or small quilting and the lessons work
either way.
Spend some time working on this design, then be
ready to learn our next one next month.
Let's go quilt!
Leah
About the Author: Leah Day is the author of the Free
Motion Quilting Project, a blog project dedicated to
creating new free motion quilting designs each week and
sharing them all for FREE! Leah is also the author of From
Daisy to Paisley - 50 Beginner Free Motion Quilting Designs,
a spiral bound book featuring 50 designs from the project.
www.daystyledesigns.com
Don't keep this Online Quilt Magazine
all to yourself –share it with your
Quilting Guilds and Friends!
Okay, I think we've pretty much nailed down the
basics of Stippling!
Don't wait - Invite them to
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soon as it's Published!
A Yarn About Threads
By Bev McClune
Depending on the project, you want to quilt, the
thread types available each have something
special to offer. The best way to learn about
threads is to play with different ones and discover
the effects each will have in various situations.
One important tip to keep in mind is you should
always be able to break the thread by pulling on it
between your two hands. If you cannot break it,
do not use it for quilting! It is actually too strong
and in time will wear and perhaps cut through
your quilt. Put it to use in the garden to support
your plants instead.
Threads come in different weights. Unlike when
you step on a scale, a smaller number actually
signifies that the thread is thicker. Remember,
the smaller the number, the thicker the thread
and the higher the number, the finer the thread.
A spool of thread that has 30 wt on it is going to
be thicker than a spool of thread that has 40 wt
written on it. Keep in mind that needle sizes work
like dress sizes which is the opposite of how
thread works. The lower the size on the needle
the smaller or thinner it is, and the lower the
weight of thread the thicker it is.
Ply is another word used to describe thread. A ply
is one strand of thread and one-ply thread will
naturally be a very weak thread. Three-ply thread
is three strands of thread twisted together and
will be a stronger thread.
It is important to consider the characteristics of
thread types when choosing which to use in your
quilting project.
Cotton thread is a natural fibre and has been
around forever. Commonly used in many piecing
and quilting projects it is available in various
weights.
Polyester thread is a man-made fibre. It is quite a
strong thread.
Rayon thread is generally considered a natural
fibre. It is also a strong thread. When used in
quilting it has a beautiful shine that looks a little
like silk.
Metallic thread is a man-made fibre. Historically
this thread was actually fine wires of gold, silver
and copper. Nowadays the fibre content of
metallic thread is not usually so exotic but rather
polyester or a polyester and nylon blend.
Silk thread is a natural fibre (and probably one of
the most expensive threads). It looks exquisite
when used for quilting designs on quilts especially in traditional quilting.
Monofilament is a man-made fibre. Many people
despise this thread but it can be absolutely "tops"
in many circumstances. It comes as 100% nylon or
100% polyester. The nylon is preferable to the
polyester as the nylon is very fine, soft and
flexible - almost like hair. It is not like fishing line!
If the monofilament thread you have tried before
is thick and hard like fishing line throw the stuff
away and make sure you buy a quality
monofilament thread from your quilt store. The
polyester seems not as fine as the nylon and
perhaps has a little less "stretch" to it. A good
quality monofilament will be easy, flexible and
soft to use.
If you tried monofilament thread in the past and
given up on it - do give it another try! With a
quality monofilament thread, you will find that
the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
1. It comes in clear and smoke colour. The clear is
good on light fabrics (e.g. pastels and medium
colours) while the smoke works well on darker
colours.
2. It is great to use "in the ditch", around
appliqués and embroidery, etc. Wherever this
thread is used, it is almost invisible and is very
comforting when you are learning to quilt a quilt,
especially when stitching "in the ditch". If you
happen to oops out of the ditch on any colour of
fabric, it is not noticeable. This makes it an ideal
thread for beginner machine quilters. Straying
from the ditch will leave an obvious sign if using
any other type of thread.
3. It is smart choice of thread when you want to
quilt designs on many different coloured fabrics.
It blends beautifully with the fabric, which is
better than trying to choose the correct tone on
tone colour of thread for every different coloured
fabric you wish to quilt.
4. Do be aware that you need to be careful when
using the iron near these monofilament threads,
as they are a little heat sensitive (the nylon is
more sensitive than the polyester). Generally, it is
not necessary to put an iron anywhere near a
quilted quilt so this should not present a major
problem.
Now that you have decided on what thread you
will use here's a final tip. There are mainly two
different methods of winding thread on to the
spool - parallel and cross-wound. Cross-wound
threads behave better when placed on a
horizontal spool pin. Parallel wound threads
behave best when placed on a vertical spool pin.
To prevent the thread from twisting and knotting,
you may need to place parallel wound threads on
a thread stand, placed a small distance to the
back of the machine.
Join The Club!
About the Author: Since discovering quilting ten years ago
Bev McClune has become an award winning domestic
machine quilter, a professional machine quilter and a
popular tutor. She has four how-to quilt DVD's available at
http://www.quiltersworld.com.au
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bev_McClune
Project – Shabby Chic Cuddle Quilt
From www.QuiltBlockoftheMonthClub.com
This oh-so-soft flannel rag quilt will be very welcome this winter. Made from a set of 12 Fat Quarters of
flannel fabric, this quilt-as-you-go throw sized quilt featured on our cover this month is both quick and
very easy to make.
You Will Need:
12 Fat Quarters (or equivalent) of flannel fabrics of your
choice
2½ metres (3 yards) printed flannel fabric for backing (if a
minimum of 40 inches wide)
2-3 metres/yards batting - this depends on your batting
width, but you need to be able to cut 42, eight inch squares
for this quilt. We used a fairly high loft polyester batting for
this quilt, for a really soft and puffy end result.
This quilt measures 48 inches x 56 inches.
Cut:
Blocks:
From 1 Fat Quarter, cut 42, three inch squares for
the centre of each pieced block
From 9 Fat Quarters, cut four, 3½ inch strips
along the 18 inch edge of the piece of fabric.
Crosscut at 9 inches, so you have eight 9 x 3½
inch strips.
From those same Fat Quarters cut two, 3 inch
strips and crosscut at 3½ inches, so you have
eight 3 x 3½ inch pieces.
From the remaining two Fat Quarters, cut three
3½ inch strips from each. Crosscut two at 9
inches, so you have four, 9 x 3½ inch pieces.
Crosscut the last strip at 3 inches to cut four 3 x
3½ inch pieces.
The blocks are very simply pieced as shown.
From the backing fabric, cut 42, 9 x 9 inch squares
Join a 3 x 3½ inch piece to either side of the
centre 3 inch square, then sew a 9 inch strip to
the top and bottom.
From the batting, cut 42, 8 x 8 inch squares
Make 42 squares like this and press.
This is a rag quilt, where each block is first
quilted, then joined together so the seams finish
on the right side of the quilt. The seams are then
clipped and the quilt washed and dried to fluff
them up.
Quilt in-the-ditch around the centre square, then
follow one of the seams out to the side about 1¼
inches and sew a second square around the first,
as shown.
Assembly:
This quilt is 6 blocks wide x 7 blocks long. Lay out
the blocks on a large flat surface and arrange as
you like. Sew rows of 6 blocks together, then join
the rows to complete the quilt.
With WRONG sides together (the backing sides),
pin a pair of blocks together, aligning the pieced
seams. Make sure the batting is caught within
the block, and does not stick out past the pinned
sewing line. You will need to use ½ inch seams to
join these blocks together. Sew, and continue
adding blocks in this way.
Layer each block with a backing square facing
down, a square of batting (centred on the
backing) and finally the pieced block, right sides
up. Pin together well.
Next, sew the rows together, again taking care to
match seams and pin the ½ inch seam with the
batting within the block.
When your quilt is completed, use sharp scissors
(small embroidery ones worked best) to cut each
seam allowance at ½ inch intervals to make the
fringe. Be very careful not to cut the stitching
line.
To fluff the fringe up, wash and dry your quilt.
(Washer and drier is OK, but make sure you have
a lint catcher.)
Keep up to Date with What’s Happening
on our Facebook Page –
Do You Love Quilting Too?
Bonus blocks, hints and tips added all the time!!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/DoYou-Love-Quilting-Too/271888039492644
Crazy Quilting
By Penny Halgren from www.How-To-Quilt.com
Have you ever wondered why you see so many
antique crazy quilts?
The answer is really simple. Crazy quilts were
made primarily for decoration. They weren’t
utilitarian. As décor, they didn’t require as much
laundering.
Crazy quilts, made popular in Victorian homes of
the 1800s, were generally used for throws. They
were rarely used as bed coverings at all.
Remember, they weren’t exactly quilted so they
didn’t offer thick warmness like traditional bed
quilts had.
The appeal of the Victorian crazy quilt was in its
fabrics and stitchery. In a way, crazy quilts were
an early form of fussy cutting. When Victorian
quilters made a crazy quilt, it was a sign of their
social status. While many women quilted for
necessity, a crazy quilt was pieced by women who
had leisurely lives.
They stitched for fun and had rich, luxurious
fabrics to incorporate into their works. In addition
to fabric motifs and the use of velvets and silks in
their crazy quilts, these Victorian women of
leisure showed off their embroidery skills. They
used bright threads, often in gold or silver, to add
extra texture and richness.
These beautiful quilts were treasured as works of
art as well as preservations of family history.
Often the fabric used in a crazy quilt was from
clothing or household furnishings such as drapes
or upholstery, and elegant embroidery stitches
included family names and dates.
Crazy quilts are a type of foundation quilt and
sewn together as a quilt as you go project. In a
traditional crazy quilt, the individual fabric pieces
are sewn onto a piece of muslin. Once the
embroidery is finished, the square is attached to
a backing piece and the finished blocks are sewn
together to complete the quilt.
Crazy quilts are still popular today and often
include photographs that have been printed onto
fabric, adding an even more unique look.
(For spectacular examples of this quilted art-form,
check out Allie Aller’s work and book.)
About the Author:
Penny Halgren is a quilter of more than 27 years, and
enjoys sharing her love of quilting with others. Sign up
for her free quilting tips, quilt patterns, and
newsletter at http://www.How-to-Quilt.com
6 Ways To Display Your Quilts Using Creativity
and Imagination
By Valentina Kaltchev
If you want to hang your quilts for display, you
might be concerned about doing so without
causing any damage.
Without knowledge of how to do it right, quilt
collectors will spend years acquiring them, only to
fold them up and hide them in a closet or a
drawer. This is a sad fact that beautiful quilts may
never be gazed upon by those who will
appreciate them, because the owners don't know
how to safely display them, for fear of ruining
their value.
turn it and press with an iron. Hand-sew the piece
to the quilt along the backside at the top. This will
give you a sleeve to run the hanging rod through.
Having the tube will give you a stronger sleeve,
rather than just keeping a fabric sleeve on a 0.5"
seam.
Whatever place in your home you choose to hang
your quilt, make certain that it isn't in the direct
path of the sun coming in through the window.
Sunlight will fade the fabric, and quicken up the
fabric's deterioration.
What follows is the right way to hang your lovely
quilt for all to see.
There are a number of creative ways to display
your quilt. Let's look at some of them.
First you will want a section of fabric cut into a
8.5" wide piece that is two inches shy of the
width of your quilt. Fold the sides together and
sew into a tube using a 0.5" seam. After sewing,
1. Buy an old armoire or cupboard and place your
quilts on their shelves. If you pick this way, make
certain to place acid-free paper where you fold
the quilt on the shelves. From time to time you
6. For miniature quilts, or quilts that you have
saved, cover an antique doll inside a cradle with
this quilt.
should re-fold them to keep the folds from
permanently settling into the quilt.
2. Place the quilt across the back of an old rocking
chair, putting a small collection of old dolls in the
chair to display with your quilt.
3. Place them in an old trunk, or even a suitcase
no longer in use. Don't just stuff them in
nonchalantly, but position them attractively, such
that they peek out of the trunk.
4. If the quilts are not as valuable, turn them into
end table covers. Put a sheet of glass on top of
the quilt to protect it from harm or damage.
5. With the quilts you have that are damaged or
not nearly as valuable as those you have hung, try
cutting them into pieces, and frame those parts
of the quilt that are not damaged and can be
preserved in this manner.
After learning all the different, creative ways to
hanging quilts, and have experimented with the
numerous ways to display them throughout your
house, you and those around you can begin to
enjoy their beauty.
Never again will you choose to hide your quilts
away in a drawer or closet. You will want to
always bring them back to life for those who
surround you and follow you to enjoy for
generations to come.
For handmade baby quilts, baby boy bedding and baby girl
bedding, in wide range of colors and themes visit
TheQuiltFairy.com - an online baby crib bedding boutique
for the most discriminating tastes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valentina_Kaltchev
You might even try collecting the pieces of quilts
and stitch them into a new quilt to be enjoyed.
What's New from The Fat Quarter Shop
From Kimberly Jolly at www.FatQuarterShop.com
Take your little one on a ride with Sheri
McCulley’s latest collection, Cruiser Blvd.
We're pleased to be able to bring you a selection
each month of the Newest Fabric Releases and
the new season fabric "must haves".
Every little boy will love all the car prints in blue,
green, red and yellow. Modern hexagon prints,
stripes and textured offer great accent pieces.
The Cruiser Blvd collection by Riley Blake Designs
is available in fat quarter bundles, rolie polies, 5”
stackers, 10” stackers and yardage.
See this range at:
http://www.fatquartershop.com/Cruiser-Blvd-SheriMcCulley-Riley-Blake-Designs.asp
The Cruiser Blvd collection by Sheri McCulley for
Riley Blake Designs
Characters, numbers, and barcodes catch our
eyes instantly – especially when they come in
classic, bold black and white.
Comma also features even cooler nuances of
charcoal and chalk. And the big asterisks make a
pretty cool statement! Mix the lights and darks
up with some colorful splashes, make a stunning
quilt by showcasing the bold large scale graphics,
and also stash the many versatile small scale
basic prints – you’ll need them over and over
again.
The Comma collection by Zen Chic for Moda
Fabrics is available in fat quarter bundles, fat
eighth bundles, jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm
packs, mini charm packs and yardage. Add some
extra details to your next project with Zen Chic’s
coordinating Aurifil thread set!
The Comma collection by Zen Chic for Moda
Fabrics
Check it out at:
http://www.fatquartershop.com/Comma-Zen-ChicModa-Fabrics.asp
Field Notes will inspire you to cultivate a garden
patch of quilts for your home.
The Field Notes collection by Moda Fabrics is
available in fat quarter bundles, jelly rolls, layer
cakes, charm packs and yardage. Show your love
of nature with our Dandelion Basket Quilt Kit!
View this collection at:
http://www.fatquartershop.com/Field-NotesBlackbird-Designs-Moda-Fabrics.asp
Field Notes by Blackbird Designs for Moda
Blackbird Designs’ newest collection reflects their
love of nature with every leaf, stem and flower
that is stitched in place.
Quilts using this collection are like notes scrawled
on bits of paper reminding friends and families of
the joy you find in your gardens.
The Enchanted Pond collection by Holly Taylor for
Moda Fabrics is available in fat quarter bundles,
jelly rolls, charm packs, layer cakes and yardage.
Visit this range at:
http://www.fatquartershop.com/Enchanted-PondHolly-Taylor-Moda-Fabrics.asp
Enchanted Pond by Holly Taylor for Moda
Holly Taylor loves the sounds around a pond, as
they change almost by the hour.
Morning is her favorite time of day, with the
beautiful sounds from all the different species of
birds coming to feed.
Midday there is a peaceful quiet with the
occasional chirp of the cricket.
When nightfall arrives, it is as if the pond comes
alive with the croaking of the frogs. It is truly
enchanting to live on the pond.
LUDLOW QUILT AND SEW
Discover new and exciting projects to quilt
and sew each month with clear and easy to
follow instructions.
Visit our website and subscribe to Ludlow
Quilt and Sew’s free monthly newsletter now.
www.ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk
Hints and Tips From Brannie
By "Brannie" Mira-Bateman
and saying things like "Whoa, look out!" and
"That was close!" (You're telling me it was close!
I didn't think they would appreciated me asking if
they were having any Fun yet.)
It's been really hot here lately and I didn't get
much sleep last night. They'd just put me to bed
in the laundry and shut me in when the flashbang storm arrived. I'm not very keen on them,
so I asked nicely, "Can I come out please?", but
they only called out, "You're all right. It's only
Funder."
So I stayed out and slept on the corner of Mum's
bed. It was quite a hot night. I slept at her feet; I
slept beside her legs; I slept under her arm(s). I
walked up her a couple of times to see if she was
asleep. I'd usually get a pat - and a groan.
After the next couple of crashes shook the house,
I yelled out "I want to come out NAOW!"
Then they let me out, gave me cuddles and said,
"It's quite OK. Won't hurt you. Just Funder."
Well it didn't sound like Fun to me!! They didn't
seem to be having much fun either! They raced
around shutting windows and switching things off
The Funder faded away eventually and finally it
got light again. Now today, Mum says she is too
tired to quilt and it is really too hot as well.
We've all had a nap-attack this afternoon which
suited me just fine. I was quite sleepy after my
busy night.
I hope more Funder doesn't come tonight; it
really wasn't much fun at all. I wonder why they
call it that?
(Me recovering after a busy night)
Love Brannie,
the Quilt Block of the Month Club Cat!
Project – Diamond Tote
From www.BagMakingPatterns.com
This soft, generous, over-sized and over-theshoulder tote features a gorgeous stylised flower
applique design on the diamond shaped front
pocket.
It also has softly gathered sides at the top, and a
dual cell phone / keys pocket inside. It’s roomy
enough for a day out shopping, or to take all of
your quilting essentials to your next Guild
meeting.
Bag Dimensions are 18 inches wide x 15 inches
high and 3½ inches deep.
You Will Need:
Bag Construction:
1 metre (1 yard) fabric for bag outer
Please read all instructions fully before beginning.
All measurements are in inches, and unless stated
otherwise, a ¼ inch seam allowance has been
used.
1¼ metres (1¼ yards) fabric for bag lining (we
used white, and used this for the diamond
applique block background too)
2 metres (2 yards) fusible light-weight interfacing
1 metre ( 1 yard) fusible light-weight pellon
Piece template plastic measuring 18 inches x 3½
inches
Referring to the Cutting Guide, carefully cut the
required bag pieces from the bag fabrics, pellon
and interfacing. Iron the interfacing to the wrong
side of the bag pieces as indicated in the Cutting
Guide. Fuse the pellon on the wrong side of the
bag outer pieces as required.
8 inch length of ¾ inch width fat elastic
For the Panel: Small amount of 4 different
coloured fabrics for the applique.
We used the same purple as the
bag, pale pink, pale green and light
yellow.
Small amount of fusible webbing
for applique
Embroidery threads to match
Applique Pocket:
Using the template provided, fuse and sew the
flower applique motif to one of the applique
panel squares. You may applique as you wish,
but we blanket stitched around each shape using
two strands of matching embroidery floss.
To finish this pocket, with right sides together
sew around three and a half sides of the block.
Trim corners and turn right sides out. Tuck in the
seam allowances at the opening and topstitch to
secure. Press well.
Handles:
Position on the bag front panel as shown and
topstitch between each of the sets of arrows to
make a pocket on the panel as shown below.
Sew about an inch down each side at the top, and
an inch and a half at the lower edges of the sides,
continuing all the way around the bottom half of
the pocket.
Fuse the pellon down the centre of each of the
handle strips. Using your iron, fold each handle
in half lengthways and press. Open out and fold
in each side to that centre crease and press. Fold
in half again so that you have four thicknesses of
fabric and pin well.
Topstitch down that edge to secure and also
topstitch along the other long edge as well. We
added a further three rows of evenly-spaced
stitching down the length of each handle for
decoration. (You do not need to do this if you do
not wish to.)
Measure in 6 inches from each side at the top
edge of the bag outer panels and position the
handles in place, one handle on each panel. Pin
and sew with a scant seam to secure.
Bag Assembly:
This bag is assembled in a bit of a reverse order,
due to the elastic at the top edges.
First make the pocket for the lining. With right
sides together, sew up each side and across the
top of the pocket pieces. Trim corners and turn
right sides out. Press well and press under the
seam allowances at the bottom edge.
Position on one lining panel, centred and about 4
inches up from the bottom edge. Topstitch in
place and sew another row of stitching vertically
through the pocket to divide it onto two separate
compartments.
With right sides together, sew the bag lining
panels together down both side seams. Do the
same for the bag outer panels too and turn the
bag outer right sides out.
Place the bag outer into the bag lining, making
sure that right sides are together and the bag
handles are between the two layers.
Match raw edges at the top and pin and sew
together.
Turn the bag right sides out and topstitch around
that sewn top edge of the bag.
Cut the elastic into two, 4 inch lengths. Sew on
the marked points as shown to the wrong side of
the bag lining at the top.
Open the bag out as shown and mark the points 3
inches either side of the side seam (on each side
of the bag) on the lining.
This is where the elastic will be sewn for the slight
gather at the top of each side of the bag. If you
want a more gathered look, mark a point 4 inches
from the side seam on each side.
Turn bag right sides out again and starting and
ending where the elastic is joined, pull the bag
outer fabric so it is flat and carefully topstitch
under the elastic so it is encased between the bag
outer and lining. This gives a nice neat finish.
Repeat for the other side.
Now sew in the bases. Lay the un-interfaced lining base strip on the wrong side of the bag outer fabric
base strip and sew together with a scant seam down each long side. This forms a ‘pocket’ for the template
plastic base stiffener to be inserted into later.
With right sides together, pin and sew the base to the bag outer.
Whilst the bag is still inside out, pin and sew the base to the lining bag as well, making sure to leave most
of one side unsewn to turn the bag through.
Turn the bag right sides out through that gap in the lining base. Tuck in the seam allowances at that
opening and topstitch closed. Push the lining into the bag outer to finish.
Diamond Tote Cutting Guide
Cut the required number of each piece according to
the measurements on each diagram.
* Please note – all measurements are in inches.
Side
Cut 2 outer fabric
Cut 2 lining fabric
Cut 4 light-weight interfacing
Cut 2 pellon
Base
Applique
Panel
Handle
Pocket
Cut 1 outer fabric
Cut 2 lining fabric
Cut 1 pellon
Cut 1 template plastic
Cut 2 lining fabric (white)
Cut 2 outer fabric
Cut 2 pellon – 2½ inches wide
Cut 2 lining fabric
Diamond Tote Flower Applique Design
*Increase by 100% or download separate pattern with full-sized template.
Pressing & Piecing Patchwork for Perfect
Points
By Pauline Rogers from www.QuiltersWorld.com.au
Once you've cut your pieces you're ready to move
on to constructing your patchwork blocks.
A 1/4" seam allowance is used in piecing. Before
you start to stitch check that the 1/4" foot of your
sewing machine matches the 1/4" on your ruler.
three 1½" wide strips of fabric. Then press the
seams and measure the centre strip. If it's exactly
1 inch you're ready to proceed. If it doesn't
measure correctly you should take the time to
check the foot again.
Pressing and pinning are important steps in the
piecing process. Using the proper techniques will
help you achieve matching points.
To do so put your ruler (the same one as you
used when measuring and cutting the pieces)
under the sewing machine's foot and lower the
needle until it's over the quarter-inch mark
closest to the right edge of the ruler. The right
edge of your ruler should line up with the right
edge of the foot. If it doesn't you need to move
your needle position until it does.
Tips for Pressing:
1. Use a hot dry iron. A travel size iron is a great
addition to your 'tool kit'. With the smaller sole
plate of these mini-irons you have more control
over exactly where you're pressing.
Once you've aligned the 1/4" foot on your sewing
machine you can test it out by sewing together
2. After sewing your patch together you need to
'set the seam'. Before you press the seam
allowance place the patch on the ironing surface,
unopened with the topside up. Lay iron on top of
the stitching line and press down. Turn over
patch and press the bobbin thread in the same
manner.
3. Generally patterns will tell you in which
direction to press your seam allowance. To avoid
dark seams showing through a lighter fabric the
rule of thumb is to press light to dark. Place the
patch with the fabric facing up that you'll press
the seam allowance towards. Flip the patch open
and place your iron edge on the lower strip.
Delicately work it towards and over the seam
allowance.
4. When you're sewing long straight strips
together (strip piecing) set your machine on a
small stitch length such as 1.5 to 2 - as the longer
the stitch the more twist you will get as you add
strips.
When you've finished sewing the strips together
lay the pieced strips wrong side up on the ironing
board. Place the iron on each seam line to press
the stitching lines, then turn over and press the
bobbin thread.
Next lay the strips right side up and with the side
of the iron gently press back to the dark side.
Repeat this process until you've all your seams
set and pressed. Your strips should lay very flat
with no twists.
5. When adding on your sashings and borders
press in the same manner as for strip piecing.
6. A firm surface specially designed for ironing is
needed. Having an iron mat beside your sewing
machine saves a lot of time. The Clover Portable
Pressing & Cutting Board is compact enough to
keep handy and it folds for easy travel making it
great for patchwork classes. With an iron and
board close at hand, you wouldn't be as likely to
skip the important step of pressing seams as you
work.
7. Don't confuse ironing with pressing. When
you iron you apply downward pressure and move
the iron about on your material. This heavy
handedness can stretch your fabric especially on
small articles like quilt patches. Pressing is a more
delicate technique where you let the weight and
heat of the iron do the work while you raise and
lower the iron.
8. Only use a good quality thread when piecing
your quilts. As setting the seams is a must you
certainly don't want to use a thread that will melt
under a hot iron. Rasant thread is ideal for
piecing. It has a polyester core wrapped with
layers of cotton, making it strong and durable
with the look and feel of cotton.
Tips for Pinning and Piecing:
1. Pinning is an important part of achieving
accurate points and the best pins are fork pins.
These very fine sharp pins are double pronged
like a hair pin. They eliminate the problem of
seams moving during pinning.
Match the seams by butting them up against each
other, and push the pin through, so one prong is
on one side and the other prong on the opposite
side of the seam.
They are such a fine pin they lay nicely and are
easy to remove as you sew, although some
quilters even sew right over them.
2. With Fork Pins when you pin your rows
together they hold the seam at the back down
while you sew over the seam which stops the
feed dogs from pulling the fabric and flipping it
back the wrong way.
3. Fork pins are very flexible when you have a
lot of points to match together like an eight point
star or a pinwheel. Squeeze the pin close
together as you insert it either side of the seam
and it will hold all the point's together - like no
other pin can do!
4. If when you're piecing you find one piece is
larger than the other, put the bigger piece on the
bottom against the feed dogs, pin the top end
where you'll start sewing, line the bottom end up
and use a tapered tailor's awl to hold the ends
together as you sew.
Using this Easy-to-Follow DVD Mentor,
Your Quilt as You Go Project can be a
Beautiful Family Heirloom.
The feed dogs will take up the excess evenly and
the awl will help in holding the ends together
firmly.
Incorporate these tips when you're working on
your next project and you should get the perfect
points you desire.
About the Author
Working with scraps of fabric and small pieces of
batting is easy when you take it one block at a time.
Pauline Rogers has taught patchwork & quilting for close to
28 years. She travels extensively throughout Australia
helping others learn and perfect the techniques of quilt
making. Pauline's Schoolhouse programme is a popular way
for quilt groups to share in her tool expertise. Visit Quilters
World online at www.quiltersworld.com
Using this fine quilting resource, you will know more
than 9 different methods of completing a Quilt as
You Go project.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Rogers
Choose the one that fits your style and the look you
want for your finished quilt.
http://www.how-to-quilt.com/quiltasyougo.php
Project – Cross Stitch Quilt Block
From www.QuiltBlockoftheMonthClub.com
Whilst not technically 'quilted', we had so much fun designing and stitching this Counted Cross Stitch
Quilt Block, that we just had to share! This is the perfect easy cross stitch project for quilters who need
a break from their machine, and we're sure you're going to just love the results when you've finished.
You Will Need:
This design is stitched on 16 count Aida cloth. The
finished size of this block is just over 5 inches
square, but we recommend you stitch each on at
least a 10 inch square piece of Aida, so you have
plenty for framing the finished block properly.
DMC Embroidery Floss in the colours specified in
each chart.
“Dolly Madison Star” Block
All stitches are full crosses and there is no
backstitching required. You may stitch with two
strands of thread, or may choose to use three for
a fatter, fuller finished look.
Floss:
Book Review
By Annette Mira-Bateman from www.QuiltBlockoftheMonthClub.com
Author Ann Hazelwood has published several
books on quilting and travel, but this is her first
book of fiction.
"The Basement Quilt" is a 'feel good' book just
full of 'Kodak Moments'. You'll meet the
Colebridge Community in Missouri through the
eyes of a member of the Brown family, 29-yearold florist, Anne.
The story is centered around the quilting frame in
the basement. Enjoy the convivial family
atmosphere as you read about the lives and loves
of the three generations.
“The Basement Quilt” by Ann Hazelwood
Good food and wine, sadness and happiness,
falling in and out of love, quilting, more wine and
homely family celebrations fill this story to
capacity. Add a few more chocolate brownies
and a dash of friendly family ghosts (and perhaps
another bottle of Merlot) and you've got an
interesting little read.
Best Value Bag Patterns!
“Favourite Bag Making Patterns 3”
This is the first book in a series. The next two
books, "The Potting Shed Quilt" and "The Funeral
Parlor Quilt" will continue the story threads
started in the basement with Aunt Julia's quilting
bee.
“The Basement Quilt” by Ann Hazelwood is
published by AQS Publishing and is available
from: American Quilter's Society, P.O. Box 3290,
Paducah, KY 42002-3290 or online at
www.AmericanQuilter.com
It is also available as an audiobook and eBook.
24 NEW Bag Patterns on Easy-to-Use CDRom. Available Now Only through
www.Quilts-n-Bags.com
Best Sewing Machines Under $100
By Dominic H Milner
Finding an affordable sewing machine is not as
difficult as it seems. There are many basic
machines that come with a low price tag.
automatic needle threader. This model is
lightweight and easy to use.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced
sewer, you can buy a decent machine for less
than $100. As you gain more experience, you can
purchase a more expensive model.
A portable sewing machine that produces a
straight stitch will fit your budget. It doesn't make
sense to pay a few hundred dollars on a machine
with lots of features that you aren't going to use.
Here are some of the best sewing machines
under $100:
Even though it is not good for thick fabrics, you
can use it for easy jobs and quick repairs. Brother
XL2600I gets much better reviews than other
sewing machines in its price range.
Despite its reduced price and small size, this
machine packs lots of features, including auto
winding system for the bobbin, drop in bobbin,
thread cutter, twin needle for decorative
stitching, drop feed capability, and one step
buttonhole.
Janome 2070
Brother XL2600I
Brother XL2600I is an affordable free arm sewing
machine featuring 25 stitch types and an
This lightweight free arm machine has a stitch
length adjustment and a front loading bobbin. It
features 14 built-in stitches and comes with an
additional free motion quilting foot.
The machine weighs approximately seven
kilograms and has lots of great features such as a
four-step auto buttonhole, satin stitches, stretch
stitches, variable zig zag width, and a convertible
free arm for circular sewing. It operates smoothly
and quietly, and can be used both by beginners as
well as advanced sewers.
Baby Lock BL9
Brother UJ417
This model is reliable and durable, offering lots of
features and accessories such as built-in
accessory storage, electronic foot control, seam
ripper, zig zag foot, four-step buttonhole, and 11
stitches.
Brother UJ417 is a limited edition sewing machine
that comes with a free carry case. This model has
17 built-in stitches, LED light, top load bobbin,
and four-step automatic buttonhole.
Brother UJ417 is easy to use and highly portable,
great for beginners and so much fun to look at!
This machine has been created in recognition of
the Queen’s Jubilee and features a unique design.
It has an electronic foot control and provides
greater needle penetration even at slow stitching
speeds.
This simple yet powerful sewing machine has a
variety of stitches and adjustable stitch lengths.
The buttonhole foot will help you make perfect
buttonholes, while the free arm is ideal for
sewing in hard to reach areas.
Shopping for affordable sewing machines can be a fun
experience. As long as you know what to look for, you can
easily find a machine that suits your needs and your
budget. Check out http://buysewingmachines.info to learn
more about the best machines on the market and get the
latest sewing tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dominic_H_Milner
Brother UJ417 produces smooth stitches on
various fabrics from heavy denim to light silk.
Quilting Memories
By Lanette Herrmann from www.somethingandmore.com
were not just for sewing, it was a day to spend
with their friends to share their day to day
experiences or possibly share a recipe or two.
The early settlers brought with them their skills
and techniques for quilting on cloth. From there,
quilting grew in many ways.
From decorations on cloth, to layers of cloth
quilted for bedding and up to elaborate quilts and
wall hangings. Quilts were known to have
become family heirlooms and handed down to
the next generations, it is even reported that
George Washington's mother left him a quilt.
For years women would often get together in
quilting bees during the spring and summer
months to make quilts on larger frames, and then
the smaller hoops that they would typically use at
home.
After getting some quilt tops made during the
winter, women would get together to have a
Quilting Bee to finish the quilts. Quilting Bees
Today, we still have quilting bees for a lot of the
same reasons. Some churches or other
organizations have groups of women that will get
together to make a quilt that can be sold as a
fund raiser or possibly given as a gift for someone
special or someone in need.
It was a tradition for mothers to hand down the
skills that they had acquired to their daughters;
hopefully that tradition will never end.
Not only was quilting a means of utilizing worn
clothing, but it was also used to tell a story in
many cases.
Women who didn't have the skills to write, the
courage to voice a political statement or to voice
their opinion, would often tell their story with
material by quilting.
floor that kept it warmer downstairs then
upstairs where our bedrooms were.
In a time of war, women would often quilt in
memory of a loved one that they had lost using
bits of their clothing, or give direction during the
Underground Railroad era, or just a way to record
and remember their heritage.
It always seemed that the wind would find its
way into the house and up the stairs, particularly
to my room, so we had homemade quilts to help
keep us warm.
Recently, I was going through the Hope Chest
that I had gotten from my grandparents when I
was young and came across the beautiful hand
tied quilt that my mother had made.
I can remember when I was younger not
appreciating all the time and love that Mom had
put into the quilts that she made for us.
Little did I know then that I would be a quilter
one day and have a whole new respect for
quilting.
We grew up out in South Dakota, and like so
many areas, the winters were cold and often
times windy. We had a big old farm house with a
wood heater in the middle of the living room
I can remember complaining to Mom that they
were too heavy to be bedspreads, and when they
were on the bed I could hardly move underneath
them at night.
Dad would often hang a quilt at the bottom of the
stairs to keep the heat downstairs and I'm sure
Mom would love it when he would nail them to
the wall.
We didn't have today's technology of easy to
hang and remove hooks, and being on the farm,
Dad never seemed to have a shortage of nails and
a hammer laying around to tack them up with.
One of the quilts that I treasure today is a velvet
one where Mom used her favorite stitch, the
feather stitch, which she would use to tie a lot of
small pieces of different colored fabric together.
That is one of my favorite types of quilts. As like
the early settlers, Mom would use fabric from
clothes in her quilts. I can still look at those quilts
today and remember one of my dresses that a
certain piece of fabric had come from or maybe
one of Mom's blouses.
A lot of the patterns that we can find today for
patchwork quilts have been passed on for many
generations and will hopefully continue to be
handed down to future generations.
About the Author: Lanette Herrmann is co-founder of
Something and More Hand Crafted Gifts,
http://www.somethingandmore.com, and has enjoyed
woodcrafting and other types of crafts for many years. She
started out learning how to braid rugs with her
grandmother. She got her love of hand stitching and
weaving rugs from her mother. She also enjoys quilting,
using the scroll saw and many other woodworking tools.
When she isn't working at her full time job, Lynn's favorite
pastime is spending time with her family. If she isn't playing
with her grandson, you can probably find her down in the
sewing room or out in the shop being a woodcrafter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lanette_Herrmann
3DollarBOM.com
Imagine Downloading An
Exclusive Quilt Pattern For
Only $3 Per Month!
That’s Right – for Less than the Cost of a Cup
of Coffee per Month, You will Receive the
Pattern for One of Three Original Block of
the Month Quilts, emailed Directly to Your
Inbox Each Month.
Check it out at
www.3DollarBOM.com
*** NEW Quilts Coming This Month!!!
Recipe – Banana Bread
Best Banana Bread
This is one of our family favourites, and I'm sure it
will quickly become one of yours.
Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 cup caster/fine white sugar
2 small cups Self Raising Flour
2 eggs
2-3 bananas, mashed
In a bowl cream butter and sugar, add eggs and
mix well. Add your flour, then mashed bananas.
Mix together well.
Put into greased loaf tin (I find that baking /
greaseproof paper works brilliantly to line your
tin) and cook for 50-55 minutes at
180 degrees Centigrade (350 degrees Farenheit).
Test with a skewer to ensure it's cooked.
For a variation or two – add a teaspoon of
cinnamon, or a good handful of chocolate chips.
I have also made this as pear bread – add a
chopped tin of pears instead of bananas. It really
should work with most other fruits too.
----------------------------------------------------------------Amendment:
Whoops – my conversions weren’t so good last
month. I am really sorry (and thanks for pointing
it out), but last month’s recipe had 125g butter.
This is not the same as 4.4lb – That SHOULD have
been 4.4oz or ¼ pound butter.
Reader “Show and Tell”
This month we continue our regular segment of
“Show and Tell” quilts made by our Online Quilt
Magazine Readers. We will include them as long
as you can send them to us, and that way we can
all share in the wealth of creativity and
inspiration abundant within our quilting
community.
-----------------------------------------------------------Please keep them coming – we’re missing a few
over the Christmas/New Year break.
---------------------------------------------------------------Amber made a lovely cot quilt for a friend’s new
baby…
Block of the Month
This Month’s Domino block is a fairly simply
pieced chain Block. You could use it for a whole
quilt pattern, a border or feature block as well.
To make this 12 inch block as shown, you will
need 4 different fabrics, and once you have
rotary cut the pieces according to the Cutting
Diagram, you can piece them together as shown.
Today’s Tips:
•
If you are a new quilter take the time to
learn good practices and techniques, and
once you have the basics right, your skills
will naturally develop.
•
If at all possible, try and keep a special
place just for quilting, so you can leave
your tools and projects out, and don't
have the hassles of constantly pulling
them out, and putting them away again at
the end of that session.
•
Quilting can be good exercise too! Keep
your ironing board well away from your
machine and get in the habit of getting up
to press every seam as you sew.
Here’s a few tips we came across this month that
are well worth remembering…
•
To trace a pattern using dressmakers'
carbon, draw with a crochet hook. It will
not damage the original. (Alternatively,
we’ve used a pen when the ink’s run out,
or the tip of a knitting needle.)
•
For invisible machine appliqué, use the
blind-hem stitch on your machine set at
20 stitches per inch and an open-toe
appliqué foot.
•
•
Press the seams in quilt blocks from the
wrong side by lifting the iron and setting
down on each new area without moving
the iron across the fabric.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Remember to send in your handy hints and tips to
share too…!
Visit your hardware store to find masking
tape in many different widths to use for
no-mark quilting of parallel lines.
"Quilt-y" Quotes…
YES, We Want to Hear From
You!
* Old quilters never die, they just go batts.
* Our lives are like quilts - bits and pieces,
As our Online Magazine continues to grow each
month, we need your feedback in order for us to
continue to improve our publication for you.
joy and sorrow, stitched with love.
* My soul is fed with needle and thread.
•
We want to know how you liked it.
•
We want to know the topics you're
interested in.
•
We want to know if you have any
suggestions, Hints or Tips of your own that
you'd like included, or if you know anyone
we should include a story on!
Please send me an email with your Testimonial,
Tip, Suggestion, “Show and Tell” Quilt or
Enhancement – I'd love to hear from you!
Send all emails to:
[email protected]
To subscribe to our Monthly Online
Quilt Magazine, please go to
www.OnlineQuiltMagazine.com and
register so you don’t miss another
issue!
If you'd like to submit an Article, or a Project
for Publication, or take advantage of our Very
Very Reasonable Advertising Rates, please
email details or queries to Jody at
[email protected]

Online Quilt Magazine.com

Transcription

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