Sizzle--It's a Wrap!

We have made it to December and Sizzle is coming to an end. My Warm version is done and gifted, it now lives in Texas:

SIZZLE--HOT!

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are not done, and that's OK, BE SURE you download/print/save ALL the instructions by December 31, 2019. After that date they are ALL removed from The Quilt Show and become the sole property of Becky Goldsmith, the designer. Any you are missing you will have to purchase directly from Becky when she has the pattern available for sale. That's the legal, contract, and copyright rules and we have to abide by them.

Let's talk about assembly of the top. It's pretty simple:

1. Sew 9 blocks together into rows, 3 x 3
2. Add Left and Right borders on the sides
3. Add Top and Bottom borders--Done!

Now it's time to quilt. I did this one myself on my Bernina Q20 Sit Down Longarm. I pin-basted it with safety pins, using my dining room table, doing first one side, then the next.

I selected threads that would blend with the various fabrics. I used a tan Bottom Line thread for the back, that blended completely with the back fabric:

When I am quilting my own quilt, I make a test "sandwich" of the same back and batting and several of the fabrics in the quilt. This allows me to test the thread and tension before working on the quilt. This one is pretty skimpy, I recommend a larger "sandwich":

While in Denver in August taping The Quilt Show, I was able to see and photograph both the Cool and Warm versions made by Becky Goldsmith. The Cool was quilted by Becky and the Warm by Angela Walters. This gave me a few ideas for quilting designs.

First, I stitched in the ditch between the rows of blocks. This helps to stabilize the quilt and quite a few of the pins can be removed as this step is done.

Second, I stitched around the large circle of each block. It took me until block 6 to realize I had to SLOW DOWN--I took out quite a lot of the stitching as I veered off course going around the circles. If doing this on a domestic machine, with feed dogs, I would have been more successful from the beginning. Once I slowed down and kept my hands close to where I was stitching, things were much better.

Now it was time to add more quilting to each block. I love ruler work so chose then whenever possible and appropriate:

Stitching in the Ditch where the border meets the quilt

For each block, I used a piece of plexiglass and dry erase marker to "audition" free motion designs I wanted to try:

Ideas for the Background

For the purple wedges that are along the outer circle edge, I wanted to use a design that was easy to quilt and would be continuous around the the block. All 9 would be done the same. Here is what I decided to do:

As I went around the circle, I used the ruler to go down the right side of the wedge, then did a double loop from the point up toward the outside of the wedge, then I used the ruler to move up the left side of the wedge, back to the curved outside edge. If you are really good at free motion, you could do those straight lines without a ruler.

The most important decision was how to quilt the yellow/orange/rust backgrounds. In the photo above you see the path I selected. Here is the result:

I used white school chalk to make marks at the places I needed to hit. To keep it continuous, the center line was stitched up then back out so I could keep going.

When the first pass was done, I decided it needed more quilting so I did a second pass that echoed the first and traveled in the ditch. Yes, that puts a good bit of stitching in the ditch in places, but you can't see it unless you really look close. And that beats starting and stopping all the time.

Each block got additional quilting, some ruler work, some free motion, depending on what I felt it needed. Some were better than others, some I kept adding to, usually after thinking I was done. The next day I would realize more quilting was needed.

For the Borders, first I echoed each applique' shape. Then I filled in with swirls and loops, all of this with thread that closely matched the rust fabric. Then I used thread that matched the applique's and did some decorative stitching on each shape.

All in all, it was fun, I was pleased with my quilting and the overall quilt is one of the best I've ever quilted myself. The entire job took less than 20 hours over 5 days.

Here are shots of each block:

Feel free to quilt yours however you like.

Finishing the quilt requires binding, adding a sleeve and a permanent label. I have written about these topics before. And there are many videos online that show these important steps. My links:

Finishing and Binding and adding a Sleeve

Adding a Permanent Label   I am a believer that every quilt needs a label, just do it.

The label I put on mine, showing the back fabric:

When my Sizzle--Hot! was completely done, I machine washed and dried it with a Color Catcher--if it was going to bleed I wanted to find out before giving it to my friend. That got rid of the chalk marks and left it soft and cuddly. She likes it and I am happy she will enjoy it.

Next up for me is quilting Sizzle--Cool. I will do the backgrounds the same but have a few other quilting motifs in mind for this one:

Pin basted, ready to go

Test sandwich, ready for thread and tension adjustments

I hope you have enjoyed this year-long journey. We have Becky Goldsmith to thank for a wonderful design, and The Quilt Show to thank for giving it to us for FREE!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Faithful Circle Quilters of Downer's Grove, IL

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Faithful Circle Quilters outside Chicago. They are celebrating their 45th anniversary and it was easy to see why--happy people, active guild  with both charitable and quilt-related activities to keep everyone engaged.

As I didn't get any photos of the people I snagged this one from their Facebook page:

Flights up and back were easy and uneventful, the best thing you can hope for with travel. I was met at O'Hare by the delightful Annabelle J and Mary Lee S, who have been my contacts for more than a year.

After getting checked in to the hotel and changing clothes for the evening lecture, we headed out to a great quilt shop before dinner:

Good thing I don't live here, I did a little retail therapy.

After a fun and delicious dinner at Pierce Tavern, we headed off to the meeting location. Once my PowerPoint was loaded and working perfectly, all was well and I could relax. The lecture "Time Management for Quilters" was very well-received--let's just say we laugh a lot as we learn. 

After a good night's sleep under the workshop quilt it was back to the same location for class:

The Antique Rose Star workshop is one of my favorites to teach. 20 terrific quilters of all levels and ages had a good day. Here are a few photos:

Repros on a Featherweight

Such happy fabrics

Not a black and white photo--the fabrics are neutrals

Playing with Magic Mirrors

Diane came from Wisconsin more than 2 hours north to join the fun

This class is the rare one that can also easily be hand pieced. We had one woman who decide to "slow sew" her block:

Occasionally, a student has the coolest thing. How about your own personal cutting table, able to be taken to workshops/retreats. Gail has a handy husband who made this for her:

 Parts are easily purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot, select the size legs that raise the table to your perfect height. Remove them quickly for transport:

Too soon the day was done. Dinner was calling--I can also recommend Cozymel's for great Mexican food. Back to the hotel for one more night. The next morning my friends Annabelle and Mary Lee picked me up early for the trip back to O'Hare.

We had traveling mercies and made it in less than half the time we allowed; TSA Security was quick too so I was at the gate with two hours to spare, just the way I like it. Made it home by early afternoon.

While a quick trip, it was a great one and I truly enjoyed my time with this guild and my wonderful "assistants". If you are in the area, look up the Faithful Circle Quilters--you will be made welcome.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Cranberry Chutney Time of Year

If this is Thanksgiving Week, I am making Cranberry Chutney. A double batch gets us from Thanksgiving to Christmas, with some to send home with those who want some for their leftovers.

I have made this every year for 43 years. The recipe is often shared so it can become part of other families' holiday tradition.

Here is the recipe, in case you want to try it:

CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

The kitchen smells SO good while making this, yum.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Antique Rose Stars

Today I head to the Chicago area to visit the Faithful Circle Quilters.

Tonight is the lecture: "Time Management for Quilters", a topic that always gets good reviews. Find just a few of my top time management tips HERE.

Tomorrow we spend the day making Antique Rose Star blocks, one of my favorite workshops to teach:

I have written about this workshop a few times before, here is one of those posts:

Needle Chasers Guild of Iuka, MS

In case you think all a quilt teacher does is show up to teach a class, here are some to the things I did recently to prepare for this job:

1. Revised the multi-page Handout
2. Had the Handout printed
3. Made half of a 2" sample block
4. Reviewed all the steps in the instructions to be prepared
5. Packed everything needed for the class along with my supplies for demos--this includes the template sets students get--they had to be ordered weeks ago
6. Reviewed the PowerPoint, updated a few photos
7. Selected a variety of quilts to show during the lecture
8. Got excited to be able to present both this particular lecture, which I know helps quilters, and this fun class I love to teach

I am certainly not complaining--I love my job. There is just so much behind the scenes work that people don't see or think about. This contract was booked more than a year ago and since that time airplane tickets were bought and a hotel booked. A detailed Supply List was prepared and sent more than 6 months ago along with a couple sample blocks I made so they could see the actual block.

Here is the half block I made to test the small template:

Some prior student work:

Anna G

Celia J

Jodie L

Catherine B

Cathy R

Look for some great quilts from the Faithful Quilters.

Let's Quilt.

Barbara

Art Gallery Fabrics Garments

I've been asked about the Education Show Team Garments.

Each year, we are provided fabrics from one or two manufacturers to make garments we wear at Market and Festival. We can make whatever we like, and we select up to 5 yards of the fabric lines that are offered.

This started many years ago. I remember telling Judy Murrah after my first year on the team that planning my wardrobe was the hardest part of the job. We are expected to look professional--no jeans, no exercise clothes, etc., but have to be comfortable since our jobs involve a lot of physical activity.

Judy came up with the idea to have fabrics donated to the team. It's been more than 20 years and this is still the way it works.

This year we asked Art Gallery Fabrics to be one the wonderful companies that support us in this way. Their collection "Indie Folk" by designer Pat Bravo, really caught our attention at Spring Market. Happily, they agreed.

I sent out information to the 21 members of our Education Show team and they selected up to 5 yards from the line. After double-checking their selections for accuracy, I sent the order to the company and they sent the fabrics to each person. Each person told me how excited they were about this collection!

The fabrics I selected with the pattern I planned to use:

Here are a few closeups:

The Market Team, Mechelle and Barbara C are missing

Sheryl and Cassie

Anne and Sue B

Sue H

Tanya and Cassie, caught studying the Schedule board

Tanya and Cassie, face front

Each year it is fun to see what our folks make. We wear specific garments on specific days. While we look similar, we are not the same. The garments help make us identifiable as "staff" and planning our wardrobes is easier.  I bring several pair of black slacks, a variety of knit tops and 3 pair of comfortable shoes--it works!

We will wear these garments at our shows for the next 3 years, before they are "retired" as we add new garments every year.

It's a good thing we get 5 yards. The jacket I made was too big, too bulky, too "not wonderful" for these great fabrics. After taking it in some, I still didn't like it so I used the remaining fabric to make a simple tunic top. I could take the jacket all apart, and re-do it for next year, and I might. I might not, time will tell...

The reject

The replacement

A Huge "THANK YOU!" to the fine folks at Art Gallery Fabrics.

We appreciate the generosity of the companies that provide us their newest fabrics. The garments serve us well in our jobs and help to show off these latest prints. And, of course, packing for 13 days in Houston is easier, really.

Let's quilt.

Barbara