Red Pepper Quilts A few weeks ago I received an email from Diana. Diana asked if she could send me some fabrics: "I would like to send you some fabrics. Because i like them and because i love your quilts. I don't want you to make me a quilt, I don't want you to buy them from me. And without further ado these gorgeous fabric arrived in my letter box during the week all the way from Romania. I don't know anything about these fabrics except that they are a beautiful cotton fabric, and that they are bold and colorful. As promised to Diana, one kind deed deserves another, and as such today I am giving away the pictured bundle of the much coveted Flea Market Fancy fabric from my stash. Four FAT EIGHTS To be in the draw all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, with the only requirement being that you provide either in your profile, or in your comment, an email address so that I can contact the winner! Enjoy Sunday!
How to Quilt: Scrap Quilts How to Quilt>Scrap Quilts Bonnie Hunter is a quilter who specializes in scrap quilts using fabric from thrift shops or donations from friends' closets. Recently she visited with us for our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation, and the specific topic was how to choose the garments at a thrift shop that will make great fabric for a quilt. Here is a sampling of her answers: Penny: How do you know whether a particular garment would make a good fabric for a quilt? Bonnie: I look for garments the same way I look for fabric. If it says 100% cotton, then that’s the first thing I’ll look for. The next thing I check is how the fabric feels in my hand. I look for the same kinds of things when I look for articles of clothing to cut up for fabric. Penny: You don’t use polyester? Bonnie: No, I don’t. Men’s shirts, so far, have not incorporated spandex. Penny: How do you estimate how much fabric you’ll be able to get from a particular garment? Bonnie: The size of the garment will give you an idea.
p.s. i quilt Atkinson Designs: “Tag Along Tote” Project: Tag Along Tote designed by Terry Atkinson, featuring “Urban Couture” fabrics by Basic Grey. Click here for bag pattern. Click here for fabric collection. Finished Size: 7” x 8” x 2” Skill Level: Confident Beginner Techniques: Free Motion Quilting Binding Basic Bag Construction Useful Supplies: Machinger’s Quilter’s Gloves (click here) Fusible Fleece (click here & here) Aurifil 28 weight thread for machine quilting, top-stitching, and bag construction. Project Description: The pattern states: “For a fast fashion statement, make this tote in your favorite colors. I’ve made a lot of bags lately, and some pattern designers clearly stand apart from the crowd. I love the way this little bag comes together. Also, the fabric requirements are simple. Disclaimer: This blog is meant to illustrate the ease of bag construction, and demonstrate some useful tips. Let’s get started… Quilting fabric “sandwiches” for a bag is a good opportunity to practice free motion quilting.
A Fabric Case Aligning the Quilt Sandwich I have finished the Mini Quilt and in doing so have also prepared a simple tutorial to show you how I go about aligning a pieced quilt back with the quilt top. The back for this quilt was pieced with a horizontal strip of small squares of fabric and was at least three inches larger than the quilt top. To baste the quilt the backing was taped right side down on a hard surface. This image shows where the backing, batting and quilt top were marked for both the top and LHS and RHS. The next step is to place the batting on top of the backing ensuring it is centered. Each edge of the quilt top was then also marked with its center point using a pin. Guide lines for quilting The plan for quilting the Mini Quilt was always going to be a squared off spiral, starting in the center of the quilt and spiraling out to the edges of the quilt. I then pin basted the quilt and commenced quilting using a walking foot. I hope this answers the often asked question as to how to align the quilt sandwich.
Red Pepper Quilts Denim Chenille Quilt Denim Chenille Quilt This very, very, very easy quilt has no quilting, no batting, no binding… and you can recycle old clothes to make it, so it's inexpensive, as well. It makes a great take-along quilt - a throw, picnic rug, car quilt - because it's so sturdy and washable. Mine is 55" X 66", but you can make yours larger or smaller as you like. It goes together quickly, and it looks equally good with bandanna reds as with pink pastels! Sewing machine in good working order, with denim needles Sewing Thread - gray or to blend with the cotton fabric Rotary cutting equipment ----a 45 mm or larger rotary cutter, a mat 18" x 24" or larger, a 24" long ruler. Sturdy scissors (to cut through several layers of fabric) DENIM: If you are buying denim, purchase 4 yards of 44" wide or 3 yards of 58" wide. COTTON CALICO: The fabric used on the back of this quilt should be all cotton, and it should also be prewashed and pre-shrunk. Rotary Cutting Instructions Do you have all the supplies? and then
In Color Order miteredbordersworksheet Ideas for Quilting Stabilizing knits (stay tape, elastic, interfacing) (top: stay tape, middle: clear elastic, bottom: regular elastic) Thanks for following along with the series so far! Today we're talking support systems - stabilizers, elastic, interfacing, etc. To recap, you can read all the Never Fear Knits posts here. InterfacingOccasionally you'll come across a knit pattern that requires interfacing - think wide waistbands on jersey dresses. Yes, they do make knit interfacing and yes, it does stretch. You'll find it in the store mixed in with the rest of the interfacings. Stay Tape Even though knits stretch there are certain parts of knit garments that you don't want to stretch out - like shoulder seams. Elastic For waists of dresses you'll probably need some elastic to maintain the shape. If you want the waistband to lay flat you'll cut your elastic the length of the waist measurement of the dress. Like with Stay Tape you lay the elastic on top of the fabric as you feed it under the presser foot. ***Phew, almost done!