Do You Re-Purpose?

Re-purpose those plastic and wooden spools ~  Here's how Aurifil Designer and Award-Winning Textile Artist Sheena Norquay is doing just that....an Aurifil blog post with how and why Sheena does that found here.

How ingenious.....the base of a plastic spool used as a decorative pull tab on this wonderful little go-anywhere bag. 

Let's get busy making!  Empty those spools and re-purpose. 

Easy ~ Perfect! Binding Closure Tutorial

How did you do that?  How did you complete that perfect binding closure so easily?  And no puckers!!!   Thank you  The Next Stitch for your blog post -  great pictures and explanations.  I think I can. 

Sew ~ Measure ~ Cut ~ Sew.....that's how we do it. 

Sewing Machine Tension ~

 How to ease the pain by getting balanced!   Do headaches come from tension gone awry?  Rid yourself  of tension problems by getting adjusted to it.

This isn't  a fun read but,  nevertheless, helpful.  Persevere to the end to end all that tension dilemma.

No, this isn't a pretty picture, but neither is that finished project when the top thread is winning the tug-of-war with the bottom thread....or vice versa. 

Thank you, Superior Thread for helping us win the tug-of-tension-war.

Collage? What's that?

 Wikipedia defines "collage" as a french term meaning "to glue". It is an art production created by
assembling different forms. Although collage is hundreds of years old, it became a distinctive part of modern art in the beginning of the 20th century. Modern and art quilters are now using fabric to create this unique art form.

 
“Autumn Ends” by Deborah Boschert


This artist believes there is no scrap too small to use in a collage.
She shares creative techniques to consider on this site.
 Exploring Fabric Collage



 
Laura Heine Shows You How to Do Fabric Collage in this video. 

Working from a pattern, you can create Poki Mini Giraffe,one of Laura's well-known collages.

 Working from a photo you can create an interesting reproduction.

                                                   

Set-In-Circles ~ how to insert by machine

Set-In-Circles ....a most thorough how-to by Judy Gauthier.  Circles don't have to be appliqued (she says)!

Circles are just a hoot to set in....here's the proof in the pudding.    The fun of this quilt was to take improv orphan blocks and insert those plaid circles.  The flower petals were an after-thought.  That's what I get for thinking! 

How to Clean Your Iron ~

Oh, yes....irons get dirty too.   This video might not dazzle your socks off, but nontheless, just watch and see how much gunk ZJ took away from her iron.

 Click the link to watch National Quilters' Circle video  ~   How To Clean Your Iron

Life and Sewing Machine Dust Covers.....neither have to be hard ~

Sewing machine dust cover(s)  made so easily ~ Just gather materials and sew along following these instructions from We All Sew.

and as for life.....for starters, just cut loose and have fun.

Save My Bleeding Quilt~

Great explanation by Vicki Welsh on how to stop the fabric bleed.....Save My Bleeding Quilt .    You can always find Vicki at Colorways by Vicki..... her website where we can catch up with her on her daily blog, where she sells hand dyed fabrics, where she has gallery upon gallery of her quilts and those of her customers.  

Here's Suzy's view on how to save that quilt, blogged about HERE. 

Both Vicki and Suzy agree that working with what may become problem fabric before cutting is the best solution, there is hope in saving a quilt with fabric bleed after construction.   They also both agree that soaking time is our best friend, that Syntrapol (while a good product) isn't required and that Dawn Ultra Pure dish detergent is their go to soap to get that bleeding job done! 

Just the facts, ma'am....just the facts ~

Quilting Questions Answered:  Part 1 - Suzy Quilts

Frustrated over some basic quilting problems - wavy quilts or breaking thread?  Oftentimes we overlook the obvious so Suzy cuts to the chase with just the facts! 

Photo Credit Suzy Quilts

 

'Tis The Good Ole Summertime

………...and it's hot outside!  What a delight to find this easily made pattern to stitch up a summertime swing dress.  Tutorial at We All Sew is just in time to outfit ourselves beautifully while staying cool in our Deep South heat wave. 

Take the first step:  Grab that favorite tank top ~ 












 

X-tra large....now, that's a good thing ~

Like it, want it, make it.....an extra large and very sturdy tote bag made so easily in the Laura Coia Sew Very Easy video. 

 

When a quilt is too large to hold~

If it's too large to hold and there is only one of you in the moment, then how does the quilt maker get the quilt photographed!  Brilliant idea on what's going on behind the quilt posted by Quilting Jetgirl….a quilt photography tool tutorial. 

The perfect example of a quilt too large to hold.....A beautiful, very large quilt made by Diana Venters, a quilt maker and author.   Diana lives large in quilt math and makes large quilts. 

Out of respect to the (too short) quilt holders, and to protect their privacy, their feet and hands have been edited out of the photo.  Can you see how helpful the quilt photography tool would have been here during this Show 'N Tell photography session! 







 

A quilt pattern and block construction tutorial ~

Pass-along worthy.....Lucara's  triple triangle tutorial.  Her blog post here at Art Gallery Fabric Studio explains the math and method very concisely and also links up to the Coquet quilt PDF. 

Sew creatively ~





Triple Triangle Square featuring
Splendid fabric collection.....AGF Studio



 

Have fun with this one ~





 

Inside & Outside Pointy Binding

Every now and then a quilt deserves points....which, of course, means an inside and outside pointy binding.  What?  How do we do that?  Laura  Ann Coia with Sew Very Easy shares her experience on attaching a binding that isn't a straight line with a 45 degree corner. 
 

Now, there's no holding us back.  Together we can do this thanks to Sew Very Easy where Laura posts videos twice weekly. 





 

Where Did You Get That?

Such a fun Quilters' Guild Acadienne  program that involved every member of the group.  Each member brought a favorite item that had nothing to do with quilting and shared where they got it and how it was re-purposed to support their quilting habit: 

Where Did You Get That Link for your reading pleasure and inspiration.  Yep....thinking outside the box is a good thing! 

A good thing  as in quirky extension cords/plugins ~  how many extension cords does a quilter use?  Let me count the ways we can plug in our sewing machine, iron, extra lights/lamps and don't forget that light box too! 

And how about those department store clothes hangers?   Together at last....all those quilt blocks hanging together for that one special project you'll finish one day.  Hang the binding and extra fabric here too.   Yes, waiting for me all hanging together.

Oh, and be sure to recycle those prescription bottles....they hold used needles and pins and the wide mouth ones will hold used rotary blades.  No more pricks and cuts when emptying the trash. 
Yeah, baby, now that's a really good thing! 


***update edit to include the wide mouth rolling tool bag  Amy uses to transport her sewing machine and sewing needs. Thanks Amy....now this blog post is a wrap.




 

How'd You Do That?

Make bias binding the easy way with Laura Coia @ Sew Very Easy ~

Is it true?  Laura gets 324 inches of 2" wide binding out of a half yard.  And 130-40 inches with just one fat quarter.  Go forth and sew very easy. 




 

One Seam Flying Geese!

Yes, the wonder of it all!  Flying geese blocks made with just one seam as seen in The LookBook published by Art Gallery Fabric Studio.  Go there, page 20.  Sew fun.

With two 2 1/2" blocks (the background) and one 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" block (the center) stacked and with one seam.....you've got a 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" goose that flies. 

In this order: 

2 1/2" block face UP
4 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle face DOWN then folded back over on itself so raw edges are aligned to the left.  Yes, you'll see 1/4" of the background fabric. 
2 1/2" block face DOWN

Keep aligned  and take to sewing machine and stitch across the top.  Manipulate the center and press.  Sew fun, so easy.

Here's my first block using this technique.  And then, there was two!

 

Pushing You Over The Floral Collage Edge ~

Do you love Laura Heine's collage patterns?   (click the link)  But are still a little fearful about her technique?  A video found on Fiberworks  gives an overview of how easily these artful quilts are constructed. 



Lola and Olive
Laura Heine's Fiberworks

 

 

Oh, Deer !
Laura Heine's Fiberworks

Intrigued.....there's more patterns to covet at Fiberworks. 














 

Simply Organized ~

More times than not, when the sewing room is organized, the day just purrs.  It's a feel-good-feeling to walk into the studio and see order. 

Join me in seeing how The Crafty Quilter, Julie Cefalu, goes from mayhem to organized as she reduces her clutter very simply with easy scrap basket storage bins.  And, how clever how all her scraps are organized in color order.

 

 

Do you Moda Bake Shop?

Well, well, well....a baby quilt on point made so easily by Karin Vail.  Yes, Karin rated this one "Easy" and I must agree with her after reading the instructions.  It was one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments. 

Moda Bake Shop:  Now, that's a good thing.  Every day is a new day at The Shop.