Kits are Cut

I'll be teaching a one hour class at International Quilt Festival Chicago on hand piecing the Lemoyne Star, 6" size.  It's part of the Make It University education opportunity on the show floor.

 

 

They are not hard, but there are some tricks to getting that pesky Y-seam in place.  These are two sample blocks. 

 

The hard part was cutting 50 kits, all the fabrics for the two classes.  Might not need them all, but do have to be prepared.  A few friends are coming over next week so I can run through a practice session and then they will help me mark the registration dots beginners will find helpful.  Here are the bags of parts waiting to be marked and kitted:

 

 

 

I machine piece these stars too, when in a hurry, and cutting them with these templates really helps to get the parts lined up just right. 

 

My other project is Barbara Brackman's Stars in a Time Warp, see the button on the right side:

 

These are 6" blocks too, but lots quicker to cut and sew by machine than the  Lemoyne Stars.  Each week Barbara gives info on the colors/prints used in the past.  Last week was Cheddar /Chrome Orange, a real favorite of mine.  I'm doing 2 each week.

Now that the kits are about done I need to get on to making String Blocks for a small swap I'm in.  I also have to prepare another Simple Whatnots sample--this one will be challenging so I need to get started.

Let's quilt!

Barbara



Featherweight TLC

I had a grand time this afternoon learning how to service and clean my Featherweight sewing machines.

Here is the Centennial, "birthdate" 8/22/1950, after her cleaning:

I installed a new LED lightbulb and she really puts out the light now. 

Diane Lowe, a friend who really knows her way around Vintage Sewing Machines, came to my house and showed me all the things I needed to know about cleaning and oiling the Featherweight.  This is no small feat when it's a 100 mile round-trip from Winchester, TN to Huntsville, AL.   We worked on this one as it is the machine I plan to carry to classes.   I have two more, one I will clean and oil myself for practice, and one I am having painted Candy Apple Red, to commemorate my 2014 year of the Red and White-By the Numbers experience.  Here is that one, before it gets painted:

I found this on Craigslist out of state and had my son pick it up for me right before Christmas.  It's "birthdate" is 4/1/1941 and has the lovely Egyptian Scroll faceplate I really love.  The clear coat and decals are about gone, this machine was really used a lot!  But it sews a beautiful stitch and is the perfect candidate for a fancy red paint job.  That will happen sometime this year so stay tuned.

For all my local friends, Diane is willing to come to Huntsville to give a class if we can get a group together who want to learn about their Featherweight machines.  This sewing machine was designed to be maintained by its' owner and it is not Rocket Science, there are just basic steps to take to keep the machine in tip-top shape.  Let me know if you are interested and we'll get a class put together.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Fun Projects for International Quilt Festival

I've been asked to present a couple educational sessions at IQF Chicago, March 26-28, 2015 and Quilt!Knit!Stitch! in Portland, OR, August 13-15, 2015. 

For Open Studio, I demo how I work on my choice of project.  People come and go over the 2 hour time segment, asking questions, basically they "visit" me in my studio and we converse about the process.  For Chicago I'll be showing String Blocks with several different setting/design possibilities:

Half Red/Half Neutral

1" finished black strip in the middle, color on one side, neutral on the other

 

There are lots more possibilities and I'll be working on samples for the next month.

In Portland, I'll be making Japanese X and + blocks, showing how easy it is to get those intersections to intersect:

I also get tiny bonus triangles from the corners that are cut off.  They finish to 1" and are so cute.  I wouldn't be likely to create 1" finished half square triangles, but these are too cute to throw away so I'll show several ways to use them.

The other event is Make It University!  This is a one hour, hands-on project that costs just $10.  Each student gets a kit with everything they need to make the project.  All they have to do is drop in, buy a ticket, and they are good to go, no pre-registration necessary.

Finding a project that can be completed, or almost completed, in a hour is a challenge.  And I have to prepare the 25 kits for class.  This will take some time too.  Since I have 2 sessions to kit for, I think I'll need to call in my troops for a "help me" day.  I'll teach them the one hour class to be sure it works well in that timeframe, then have them help me make the kits. 

In Chicago, I am offering  Hand Piecing the Lemoyne Star, yes, the real one with the dreaded Y seam:

This is a 6" star and one I really enjoy making by hand.  Having a hand project ready at all times is a must for a lot of quilters.  I can't take my sewing machine to the doctor's office, but a baggy with the basics of this block is easy to whip out and sew a bit on. 

In Portland, I am offering the HexieStar, 8" across the middle:

 

 

I found this on Pinterest and have gotten permission from the designer to offer it as a class.  You can find her free pattern here. Her pattern is available for your personal use only, which is why I sought her permission before going forward with this class.  Please abide by copyright rules--artists deserve that respect for their work.

Here is my question to you about HexieStars:  The top one is English paper pieced over freezer paper templates, while the bottom one is hand-pieced, with sewing lines drawn on the back of each piece.  In a one hour class, would you prefer to only be given one set of instructions, EPP OR hand-piecing, or would you like to be able to choose in class which method you want to do?  The kit prep time for this project will be intense, and my friends will come in handy here.  I need your input on this one.

So, along with everything else I'm working on, I've now got another couple of deadlines to work toward.  I love to teach so this is not a chore, it's fun! 

And, if you are in Chicago and/or Portland be sure to come to our shows and look for the Open Studios and Make It University opportunities we bring to you!  It's a great way to sit for a bit and learn something.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

How Does This Happen?

That I have so many projects to work on at once?  Today I was sewing on 3 different projects, one that just has to get done as a class sample, one I need ready in a month, and one was just a Log Cabin leader/ender project.  Three at once, all on or very near my sewing machine--that's crazy!  And I have a bunch of string blocks to make for a swap, deadline is the end of March.  That's next week's project.

The Simple Whatnots Club #2 met last Friday night and 25 of the 30 folks were there to get their patterns and fabric packets.  Boy, did they shop!  We hold the entire Kim Diehl collection back from the shop floor until March 1 so only club members can buy it right now.  They know much of it will be gone by then so they added to their stash now.  We emptied 4 bolts that night.  Today I finished the top for February's class and later this week I'll start on the March project. 

Hen Pecked, 10.5" x 12.5"--those are 1" half square triangles

 

 

Last week I showed the Barn Stars blocks, with a few size alternative options.  Rather than make all these little quilts this time, my plan is to make several of the  various blocks in the quilts, in various sizes and then create a sampler with them.  Of course, I made the entire Hen Pecked but it is pretty little. 

 

Barn Stars 4" and 6" sizes

I'm having fun with Stars in a Time Warp:

 

6" stars--Turkey Red and Prussin Blue

 

I got back to my sample for our guild Quilt-In.  Even though it's in July, the sample has to get done now.   From the first time I saw these blocks on the Internet, in 2011, I've loved them.  The quilt that started this was entered in the 2011 Tokyo Quilt Festival by Setsuko Inawaga.  I have been unable to find a photo of her quilt but the Internet went wild and lots of swap groups popped up.  The block is actually an old Spool Block, Brackman #1970, attributed to Nancy Cabot, 1938.  But done in bright colors, it sure looks Modern!

 

Brights--very fun!

Darks, still fun!

 

 

 



The other day I picked up my quilt, Color in Black and White, from the quilter, Melissa Labella.  She did a great job on it, a real custom job, each color has a different quilting pattern:

 

 

 

Now I have to trim it and add the binding and sleeve.  BUT FIRST, I  have to clean off the cutting table and around my sewing machine--this is a big quilt and it's heavy, there are two layers of batting in it.  And it gets the "Patches" seal of approval, she loves to be in the picture.

 

Time to head out to teach my beginner's class, the second of 3 sessions this winter.  I love teaching beginners and doing my best to get them hooked.  Here is the project they make:

 

Mix N Match Stars, Glad Creations pattern, 48" x 60"

 

 

 It is challenging enough that they really learn something and I am usually successful at my goal of addicting at least one of them totally to quiltmaking.  About half of them do the pieced border and half choose simpler borders.  Whatever they want to do, is fine with me. 

 

Let's quilt!

 

Barbara

 



 

New Week, Feeling Good!

Finally over the head crud and feeling so much better!  I taught a great class on Saturday and have 3 classes to teach this week so it's wonderful to be recovered.

Once again I am leading the Simple WhatNots Club, collection 2, from Henry Glass Fabrics.  This uses Kim Diehl's latest collection, Heritage Hollow, and features 8 small quilts.  We meet at my local quilt shop, Patches & Stitches, one Friday night a month for 6 months and there are 30 students for my lecture/demo type class.   Here is the flyer:  Simple WhatNots Club, Collection 2.

Last year I faithfully reproduced the quilts, usually exactly as shown in the patterns.  Some of the students made changes and I liked what they did.  So this time, I will show the techniques for each pattern but offer some optional changes for the students to consider.  Not only will they have permission to change the patterns, they will be encouraged to do so.  I find when quilters start making changes to patterns, they gain a sense of freedom and confidence that they can make a quilt their own and this is enlightening to them.

The first pattern I'll be teaching, Barn Stars, uses a 4" finished star.  I will also provide the measurements for a 6" star, and teach the class how to calculate the units for an 8" star--teach them to fish, in other words.  Here are my 2 samples, the 6" and 4" stars:

Now that my  Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt is done, I moved on to a terrific new year-long educational opportunity from Barbara Brackman, the queen of quilt history.  It's called Stars in a Time Warp and here is the plan from Barbara's Civil War blog:

Every Wednesday for much of 2015 I'll be posting Stars in a Time Warp QuiltAlong here at   Civil War Quilts..  The block stays the same each week.  What changes is the type of reproduction fabric we'll use. 

Barbara will use several of her books on dating fabrics and quilt time periods.  I own her books, this will be a good time to read them as she teaches about various fabrics and styles.

The block is a simple 6" Evening Star and I've started off making 2 of the first colors, Turkey Red, a real favorite of mine.  These are 2 different reds and backgrounds:

I will enjoy making these quick blocks each week, and learning more about the fabrics.  And digging in my substantial stash of reproduction fabrics.  Thank you, Barbara Brackman!

I'm linking up to Patchwork Times --go see what others have been working on.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

It's a Mystery...

How it got to be January 16 already.  And how it's been a month since I posted.  And how I get myself wrapped up doing mystery quilts before I know what it's going to look like.

I've been under the weather for 10 days with the head crud my husband caught at work.  I'm still coughing and feeling less than 100%.  This week I had to postpone 2 quilt classes and did not go to my monthly guild meeting--only the second time in 26 years I've missed a meeting.  The good news is I'm feeling better and plan to teach a great class tomorrow.

The next great news is I just finished my  Grand Illusion Mystery quilt, from Bonnie Hunter's blog.  Mine is half size and has some variations.  I have more than enough projects going that I had no business starting this one BUT:  it's so easy to get excited by the fabrics and the units as they are released.  So, here is MY version:

Bonnie Hunter selected the colors based on colors used at the Grand Hotel in Michigan and I liked these bright, vibrant colors, especially for winter sewing.  When the reveal came, I decided to change the layout somewhat--here is what Bonnie's quilt looks like:

It took much longer to complete than I anticipated.  I'm glad it's done and know what I'll be doing with this one.  And I really mean it:  no more mysteries until I know what it looks like--OR I finish 20 of my PHDs:  projects half done.

The NEXT great news is:  we found out the sex of our grandchild.  Take a look at my son's
Announcement! video.  We are thrilled!  It's 20 weeks and all is well!  Their due date is June 4, 2015.

It's a new year and I trust I am getting all my sickness out of the way for the whole year.  The coughing has been tough and I've mostly read and slept for the last 10 days.  I'm ready to get more sewing done--that grandbaby will be here before we know it.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

UPDATE:  Go to Bonnie's Link Up party to see what others did with their Grand Illusion.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I decorate with quilts (!) all year but especially at Christmas.

 

A wonderful, lucky find at a Trade Day sale a few years ago.  This is an antique, professionally dated circa 1875.  Because the fabrics are all solids it's hard to get a definitive date.  Besides the lovely feathered hearts and cable quilting, there are 2 small quilted motifs:  one is a "W" and one is a dragonfly.  Oh my!  My husband's last name starts with a "W" and I LOVE dragonflies, often wearing one of many dragonfly pins on my jackets.  This was meant to be mine.  It lays out on a unused guest bed just for the month of December so I can enjoy it and wonder about who made it, what her life was like, and what she would think of my world.  The green was home dyed I imagine--there is one tiny place the green has turned blue.  One of my best treasures!

 

 

I made this years ago, the first quilt I had long-arm quilted.  It was featured on the cover of McCall's Quilting, December 1997--one of my first "cover girl" opportunities.  It hangs in the living room for the month of December and sometimes on into January or February or... The house looks ready for Christmas just as soon as this quilt appears. 

Over the years we have put up less decorations, just our most favorites.  Our sons and their women are only here a day or two and we don't entertain others very much so it pleases us to keep things simple.  I used to feel bad about this but now it feels right.  With a new grandchild on the way we are thinking of doing more next year, time will tell.  Here is the mantel with one very special new stocking in the center--for Baby Mac--what our son and daughter-in-law are calling their baby until they find out, next month, who is in there! 

 

 

In digging through my quilt stash last week, I came upon this quilt:

It is a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt from a few years ago, Roll Roll Cotton Boll.  I named this one Limeade with a Dash of Peppermint.  It is a half-size version of hers.  I thought "this looks like a Christmas quilt" so it is now displayed on the back of our red sofa--very festive! 

Last week I wrapped up the first session of the Simple WhatNots Club at Patches & Stitches, my local quilt shop.  It was a 6 month club that met one Friday night a month for a lecture/demo of small quilts designed by Kim Diehl for Henry Glass Fabrics.  Collection 2 starts in January.  Maximum capacity of the classroom is 30 chairs so that is how many we will have.  At our wrap-up party we had great goodies to share:

And a few people actually brought a quilt to share.  Here is a great one by Anna:

 

It is called Widdlytinks and she used those fabulous acid green buttons instead of the extra small yo-yos called for in the pattern--great little quilt!

My demos were on all the facets of finishing quilts, trimming borders, simple quilting, how to make and apply both straight grain and bias binding, how to sew the border down by hand or machine, and how to add a sleeve and a label--musts for me on all the quilts I make.  Even if the label is nothing more than my name and the date written on the back in Sharpie.  Most of the time my labels are more involved, but not always.

 Now, waiting for one of those very involved labels is Celtic Solstice Fanfare, our guild Raffle Quilt:

The label will list the name of the quilt, the fact that is the 2015 Fanfare Quilt show and sale Raffle quilt, the name of the pattern designer, Bonnie Hunter, and the names of those who pieced the quilt as well as the long-arm quilter.  I have to get that done very soon as we will be unveiling this quilt later this week at the guild's December meeting, our annual Holiday party.  Guild members donated fat quarters 6 months ago in the requested colors and they all seem to play nicely together.

This past week I caught up with Bonnie's 2014 mystery quilt.  Grand Illusion uses colors from the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.  Her instructions are for a large quilt, so I am just making half the units currently until I see what the finished quilt looks like and decide if I want a big one or not.  Parts 1, 2 and 3:

And, now that I am caught up, here is what my cutting table looks like:

It so rarely looks like this!  I will enjoy it for today, then it's back to finishing a few Christmas gifts I need to have ready by Thursday.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara