Have you seen the new Technical Editor’s Quilting Tip video on an easy and smooth way to join binding ends. Here’s a little peek into how the video was shot.
One of my very, very minor claims to fame is that my hands are in a number of C&T books in the how-to photography, so I was asked if I would be the hands for the video clip.
So, with 2 technical editors watching my every move, the video camera nestled by my left ear and the photo-flood light just above my right shoulder, I had to very carefully (without moving my head or shoulders) go through the steps of sewing and joining the binding ends, carefully pausing between each step so the video could be edited as needed and matched up with the voice-over.
Some quilt blocks require that small, pieced units be joined together to make a larger block. Oftentimes, there are individual seams that should be aligned and straight within the larger block. These continuous seam lines that need to be lined up will look better if you plan ahead and press them in opposite directions, so their seam allowances fall on alternate sides of the crossing seamline.
Follow these steps to join 2 such units.
Place the 2 units with their right sides together, matching the seam lines. Note that in the photo, the seam allowances are pressed in opposite directions, so that the 2 units to be joined “nest together”.
To keep the 2 units nested, follow this suggestion before you start stitching:
As you stitch, you will approach the cross seam and your presser foot will move onto the thicker area. At this point, the top fabric can be pushed forward, out of position. To prevent this, place a pin on the far side of the seam, close to the seam line. This pin keeps the cross seams aligned and prevents them from separating.
Sew up to, and just beyond, the seamline before you remove the pin.
The exhibit will be up until September 13, so if you have a chance to get over there, I highly suggest you take it. There’s really nothing like seeing Paula’s quilts up close.
Here’s an example of her workmanship. These photos were used for the notecard set. The cards are round with quilt tops on front and the underside of the quilts on the back.
Thank you to all the readers who shared their wonderful experiences and great love for birds.
As a special thanks to our blog readers, for the next two weeks you can get 20% off your purchase of Feathered Friends. Simply mention discount code WG10647 when you place your order with C&T via phone (800.284.1114) or at our web site (enter discount code where noted during checkout) on or before May 4, 2009.
Why is it that bobbins always run out just before you get to the end of the seam? Then you have to go through the process of unthreading the machine, winding a bobbin, and threading the machine again. To non-quilters, this might sound minor, but for all of us who throw up our hands in disgust when the bobbin runs out, it’s a major annoyance.
Enter the Sidewinder Bobbin Winder. With the Bobbin Winder, the bobbin will still run out just before the end of the seam, but now you don’t have to unthread and rethread your machine. This handy gadget comes in it’s own little carrying case and winds bobbins.
Here’s what I’ve learned from using mine:
Keep an eye on it so the bobbins don’t overfill. If it stops too soon, hold the green button to keep it going. If you don’t want the bobbin to fill all the way, you can stop it by releasing the sensing lever.
If you use different types and weights of thread you can adjust the tension using the white tension knob.
For slippery thread (metallic, etc.), I threaded a long tail onto the bobbin, and slowed the winding down by keeping a finger on the spool. Once the thread was securely started, I let it go full speed.
Make sure bobbin is all the on the winding spindle, otherwise thread may wrap around the spindle instead of the bobbin.
The Sidewinder works for most, but not all bobbins.
Would you like your own Sidewinder? Post a comment with your most tangled bobbin story and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free Sidewinder (we have 12 to give away). The winner will be chosen at random from all comments made by 9 AM PST on Friday, 4/24.
Thanks to the manufacturer, Wrights, for providing this fabulous give-away!
On a Friday night a while back, we went out to Chevy’ s for dinner. It was the perfect night to sit outside, and I know they have a big patio area. I reminded my 5 year old that she had been there once before on a school field trip. Being a 5 year old, she says, “You mean the place that only has tortillas to eat?” I explained to her that we were just doing a restaurant tour with her school and told her about all the yummy things they have to eat, she thought it sounded great so she got all dressed up, purse and all.
We arrive at Chevy’s and who do we run into? My co-worker Matt and family. They were just finishing up as we were sitting down, so we didn’t sit with them. Had we known we could have met there, our kids are the same age and are friends, and could have kept each other occupied. Oh well, no one was bored at our table, regardless… I brought a box of craftivities! (Is that a word? Well, it’s a good description!)
I brought our little blocks that we like to make. They are the perfect size for travel or as “occupiers” while waiting for dinner.
Paper (precut to the exact size of these blocks. This is key because what mom has time to cut a hundred little squares? I found the paper in square, circle, heart and flower shapes in the scrapbooking section at Michael’s.)
Glue Sticks
Stickers
We were able to make a block and then dinner came. Perfect! I quickly put everything in the box, closed it up, and we were ready for dinner.
My plan is to turn our Ready-to-Go Indie File Box into a Craftivity Case. You may be hearing about this in a future blog post.
When I found out that Wendy Mathson’s new Quilters’ TRIMplates® not only make it easy to sew Storm at Sea Blocks, but also claim to help you do it with perfect accuracy, I had to get more information. I wouldn’t call myself a pessimist, but sometimes, if it sounds too good to be true…well, you know how it ends. So, I put on my reporter hat and went to work. I will now disclose my findings, but in case you feel like skipping the details, my scientific evidence concludes that YES, Quilters’ TRIMplates® really do allow you to create perfect, gorgeous, Storm at Sea Quilts.
First things first, visual evidence. Check it out. This is Wendy Mathson demonstrating how to use fast2cut® Quilters’ TRIMplates to sew a Storm at Sea block.
Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, took a bunch of lucky people on a cruise and made some fabulous embellished cloth books with them.
The foundation for the piece was our very own Ready-to-Go!® Blank Canvas Book. Isn’t it impressive that a few hours and some Crafty Chic paints, glitters, and iron-on embellishments can take you from blank to beautiful! Look at some of the wonderful art the cruise participants created:
Did you know there’s a National Bird Day? Who knew! Check out www.nationalbirdday.com to learn more about this day dedicated to the well being of all birds.
In our family wild birds are cherished. We feed, observe, listen to, log and paint all the visitors in our yard and local parks. On occasion we’re called upon to rescue those that mistake our window for wide open skies and cheer once they (hopefully) dizzily fly away The arrival of spring has all those birdies busy as bees making the perfect nest and hunting down the tastiest bugs and worms for their fluffy offspring.
If you love quilting and bird watching, you’ll want to make every one of these lovingly detailed and realistic paper-pieced blocks. The focus is on the paper-piecing patterns, with a chapter of the author’s tips for successful fabric selection.
To enter the giveaway, post a comment here and let us know your favorite bird story or experience. Can’t wait to hear your stories!
The winner will be chosen at random from all comments made by 9 AM PST on Monday, April 20th.
A number of years ago, friend and I made a baby quilt for a colleague at work. We had so much fabric left over that we made a 2nd quilt figuring we could surely donate it somewhere. It didn’t take us long to find the Children’s Quilt Project at our local guild—East Bay Heritage Quilters (EBHQ). This project has been a part of the guild since 1996 and makes and distributes about 1,000 quilts each year. The quilts go to hospitals, foster homes, crisis centers, women’s centers, police stations, homeless shelters…anywhere there are kids in need.
The EBHQ group officially meets once a month to work on quilts, but the quilts get made, quilted, and finished by many different people. Some people just make quilt tops, some do the quilting, some finish the bindings, and some make the whole quilt from start to finish. Others donate fabric or batting. Some of the quilts are tied others are machine quilted.
Working through an already organized group makes it easy to join in, but if there are no groups in your area, consider starting one. If that’s more than you want to take on, you can make quilts on your own or with a small group of friends, and donate them to a local organization that works with kids in need.
C&T Publishing is a group of quilters and crafters dedicated to publishing products tailored to our audience. This blog is where we break away from book schedules and marketing campaigns to focus on what drives us to be creative and how this creativity manifests itself in our every day lives.
Congratulations to Suze who won last week’s giveaway. She will be receiving her very own copy of 
When I found out that 
Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, took a bunch of lucky people on a cruise and made some fabulous embellished cloth books with them.
