Precut Fabric

Quilters have their own vocabulary so which non-quilting relatives and new quilters find so confusing.  Print out this list for your gift giver to take shopping for you.  Highlight your favourite precuts so they know what to buy.

Candy         2 1/2" squares, usually 42 squares from one line of fabric by Moda

Charms       5 inch squares with 40 to 42 in a set.  Some companies have other names:
                    Hoffman has Bali Snaps, Timeless Treasures has Tonga ,  Moda has charm squares

Squares       10 inch squares with 40 to 42 in a set.
                    Moda is layer cakes, Timeless Treasures is Tonga Squares, Hoffman is Bali Crackers
                    Robert Kaufman has squares for the Kona cotton collections. I'm thinking about them.

Jelly Rolls   2 1/2" strips with 40 to 42 strips in a set but may have less.
                    Timeless is Tonga Treats, Hoffman is Bali Pops, Moda is jelly rolls

Hexagons    Moda is producing 6 inch hexagons.  We have some in solid colours and a few from
                    fabric collections.

Triangles     Moda has had turnovers, triangles made from 5 inch squares but we haven't had them for
                     awhile.  Moda introduced Slices at Quitl Market this fall which are triangles made from
                     10 inch squares.

Fat Quarters   These are one quarter of a yard or metre.  Instead of cutting 1/4 from the bolt so it is
                       9-10" by 42", we cut 1 metre in half horizontally and vertically to make each quarter
                       about 19" by 21".  It is a much more versatile size than a long skinny quarter.  Because
                       we are Canadian we cut fat quarters of a metre.  I stay away from buying them already
                       cut because they would be one quarter of a yard which is smaller than store made ones.

More companies make precuts.  I think this is enough for now!  I'll add photos when Tim is done with the computer....

The Perfect Scissors

Karen Kay Buckley spent about 3 years working on the perfect pair of scissors.  I think she has accomplished something great.  There are 3 sizes, each useful for quilting tasks.  One of the suppliers had an open house in August and I was able to meet her and hear what she wanted in the perfect pair. 

large

These scissors have micro-serrated blades that cut to the very tip.  The blades cut through multiple layers of fabric easily because the micro-serration grips the fabric and pulls it in toward the blade. 

Medium and Small

The finger holes are large and soft to fit your fingers comfortably.  One day I noticed I had arranged my fingers in an unusual way but it gave me so much more control over my cutting.  The small size blades do a wonderful job with applique points and valleys.

Perfect for snipping

Check out her website for a video explanation.  Seems she has perfect pins now too.

Day 1: Where To Begin? How About Some Candy!

For several years now I have posted one idea per day for the 24 days in December before Christmas.  The ideas are things quilters would like to give or receive for Christmas.  I try to find new notions, patterns or other items that have come out over the past year. 
This year I have become stressed trying to decide which is the most exciting for this year.  Brenda's wonderful new patterns for her 'Among Brenda's Quilts and Bags' pattern line?  Best new notion?  My favourite new fabrics and designers?  Wonderful quilters I have met who are doing fabulous things?  Where to begin?  Yikes!
So to overcome the stress, let's start with something small, something quilters would love to get and would love to give to other quilters.

Moda Candy

 

This candy has no calories and provides hours of enjoyment.  It is 42 squares measuring 2 1/2" each.  Think of a charm pack (5") cut into 4.  Cute little squares made from one fabric line that are available long before the bolts arrive in a store. 

You can play with them to plan a future quilt, make them into small projects or dream about which ones you will add to your stash in larger amounts.  Moda has printed small sized pattern books with projects.  Here are some of the ideas we have made as store samples:

 

This tablerunner is from "Crossroads Table Set' by 'Among Brenda's Quilts'.  We decided not to bind it but to turn it through to show off the candy squares. 

 

This is Karen's modern mini quilt.  Some people think it is a placemat but that is your choice.

 

  

Ela sewed rows together and added piping around the outside.  What a great way to make an easy gift: all co-ordinated fabric with some bits from your stash instead of having to find 36 fat quarters.



So, what about tomorrow...

Snow Walk

Finally the sun came out so Nellie and I went for a walk to the conservation area behind the store.



No one had headed this way through the parking lot.

Nellie lead the way and plowed through.

Nature' shelter for animals, snow on plants and bushes to burrow under.

Nellie got to the pond first.

 


Winter can be beautiful!


 

It was hard walking through the snow so the store up ahead was a welcome sight.  Home to lunch and a rest for tired Nellie.



Hope you enjoyed the walk with Nellie.  There are so many ideas for quilt colours on a bright and sunny winter's day!



Snowy November

Our autumn season seemed to last longer than usual.  I didn't need to find a warm coat until early last week.  Christmas seemed so far away.  But it started snowing last Saturday with a snow storm warning and we ended up with knee high snow.  Today we have another warning and could have another foot of snow.  Looking out the window shows some snow but it has been heavier than that and more is on the way.

This year the staff are making Christmas stockings to hang in the window.  Is that why we are getting so much snow so early?!  There is one more to come.  December 1 is Sunday and I am planning to start the 24 days before Christmas blogs.  Every day I will post about something a quilter would like to give or receive.  I collect up all the new notions, patterns and wonderful ideas from over the year.  I have my list ready and just need to start taking photos and typing.

Talk again Sunday.  Out to play with Nellie and Tim in the snow.....

Christmas Placemats - Quilt As You Go

 

 

Make quick placemats for Christmas with this 'Twelve Days of Christmas' panel.  You can make all 12 as placemats or use a couple for potholders or trivets.  I made the placemats to finish 14" by 17".

 

 

Cut the panel designs into 7 1/2" by 7 1/2" squares.  I lined the 7.5" marks on my ruler with the design of the square.  There is usually a little difference in the printed design so it isn't quite square but it was easy to fudge this print to make it look square.

 

Cut the backing and batting to 17" by 14".  Spray or pin baste the batting to the wrong side of the backing.  Draw diagonal lines from corner to corner of the batting for placing the centre square. A chalk marker or heat removable marker work well on batting.  You could try pencil or pen but it could be harder to draw with the nappiness of the batting.  I used scraps of backing and batting which weren't perfect but there is extra on all sides so knew I would be okay.  I didn't have any more squares of the Twelve Days so I am using turquoise and lime.  Your red is my lime.  Your border print is my gray background with turquoise and lime. 

 



Lay a centre panel design on the batting right side up. 

In the bottom photo I found the centre of the square and matched it to the crossing of the diagonal lines, looking to see that the corners were about the same distance from the blue lines.  In the top photo I lined the upper corners on the blue lines.  Either way works to keep the square in alignment.  Pin the square to the batting.

 

 

Cut strips 1 1/4" wide.  You need one strip for each placemat.  Cut 2 side strips 7 1/2" by 1 1/4".  Place right sides together on the sides of the centre square.  Pin.  Sew, making sure to backstitch at the ends because you are quilting through all layers.

 

 

Press the strips away from the centre.  Cut top and bottom strips 9" by 1 1/4".  Add to top and bottom and press away from the centre.

 

 

 

Add the side pieces of the second border.  I cut mine 3 1/2" by 9".  You can make them wider or narrower, depending on the finished width you want.  Here is the calculation:

 

Decide on the finished width.  Measure the width of the centre square with strips sewn on. 

Subtract finished width - current width, then divide by 2 and add 1/2" for seam allowances. 

Cut and add to placemat.

 

Add the top and bottom border.  I cut mine 2 1/2" wide to finish 2" wide.  The length doesn't matter as long as the strips are greater than you need.  After they are sewn on, press away from the centre.  Trim placemat into a rectangle.  I trimmed the Christmas ones to 12 1/2" by 15 1/2".  You can add more quilting now if you wish.  Bind as you do your quilts. 

 

Hope this makes sense.  Enjoy!

 





 









Quilting Celebration

Quilting Celebration

 

Monday September 16

7 pm

Komoka Community Centre

133 Queen Street

 

 

Join us for the 4th annual celebration of a new year of quilting.  Sew Creative and The Marsh Store are having an open house tomorrow night in Komoka. 

 

We have been selling advance tickets for $5 at both stores.  If you have a ticket, it will be stamped at the door.  When stamped it becomes a coupon for you to use at either store.  Your $5 will be donated to the Rural Women's Resource Centre in Strathroy.  Over the past three years we have taken over $1500 to them. 

 

There will be displays for each store to show things that are new and what is coming up in the fall.

 

At about 7:30 pm Joan and I will begin a presentation. 

 

Store samples will be available for purchase.