Newby Quilting Bee - Pinning the Quilt Sandwich

Teri Williams Quilt

We got together this morning for our monthly meeting of the Newby Quilting Bee.  Today we learned how to make the quilt sandwich and pin our quilts.

So to begin, you need to measure your quilt top.  Then you need to have enough batting and backing to go 3-4 inches beyond your top. If you are going to be having your quilt, quilted by a longarm quilter, they will instruct you how much additional fabric and batting you need beyond your quilt top for their purposes.  So, check with them first!  If you are quilting for yourself, on your table top machine, then this will be sufficient for our purposes.

Make sure you have pressed your top and your backing so that they are wrinkle free.  We pushed two or three tables together to avoid having to get down on the floor and pin our quilts.  You may want to do this at home as well.  Folding tables work fine, you don't have to worry about the pins scratching your good dining table.  If all else fails, you can use the floor, you have more stamina than me...LOL.

Brenda Allen's Quilt

First, lay your backing fabric down with the wrong side facing up.  Take your masking tape and tape the edges of your backing to the table so that it is snug and wrinkle free.  Don't stretch it, just smooth and wrinkle free.

Next, lay your batting on top of your backing fabric and start to smooth it from the center out to the edges.  Depending on the type of batting you are using, you may or may not have to tape it as well.  Some of the high loft battings will do better if you tape them.  If you are using a "Warm and Natural" brand you can just smooth it and it will be fine without taping.  Now don't freak out if you bought a huge piece of batting and it is way beyond your quilt, you will trim it in a bit, but not yet.

Now, lay your quilt top on the smoothed batting.  Again, starting from the middle of your quilt top, smooth your top from the center to the edges.  When you have completed this process you are ready to pin your quilt.

SIDE NOTE #1:  See Brenda's cute border on her quilt above?  Well, she was worried about the strips coming apart as she worked on the quilt top.  The easy solution is to topstitch 1/4 inch from the edge all the way around and that will stabilize those edges.

When you purchased your batting, it would say on the package or the bolt end, how close you need to quilt.  When you are pinning, think about what kind of quilting you may be doing.  Stitch in the ditch?  Stitch next to the ditch?  Echo quilting?  Lay your pins out so that you are not having to stop every five seconds and remove and replace pins as you quilt.  Using your safety pins, pin through all layers.  I like to pin about every 6 inches or so.  You want it to be secure so that as you are wrestling it around and quilting, you will not have things slipping.  

Teri's Pinned Quilt

Sometimes, if you are having difficulty getting your pins through easily, remember the trick your mother taught you when you were diapering your babies.  Have a little bar of soap handy and run you pin across it and see how easily it glides through your quilt sandwich.

Janeal, Brenda and Shirley engrossed in their decisions.

Once you have finished pinning your quilt completely, you can trim around the quilt top, 3-4 inches out from the top.  You should have a margin of batting and backing sticking out beyond your quilt top by 3-4 inches.

Ramona Smith's Quilt

Now that you are finished pinning and have trimmed your batting and backing, you can roll your quilt up from one end to the other.  Do not fold it, we don't want wrinkles and folds to have to quilt around, rolling it will keep it in a good state for when we start to quilt our tops!

Shirley Statham's Quilt

Shirley Statham had a good friend who is a quilter and helped her  to deal with odd sized blocks, she simply bordered around each one with a thin strip and then cut them all to the same size and continued on, it's beautiful!  Shirley has been going to town on her quilts and has finished 3 already!

We will meet again on August 24th to start quilting!  Bring your quilt sandwich, your sewing machines, fresh needles, your quilting thread and plenty of bobbins wound with your backing thread color, scissors and a container to place your pins in as you remove them.  You will not need your cutting mats or rotary cutters for this meeting.

Let's talk about thread.  If you are stitching in the ditch and do not want your thread to show, I would suggest you get a clear poly quilting thread.  Here is a link for Superior Brand.  You can find this at most fabric stores and it's available online as well. http://www.superiorthreads.com/product/Brand/monopoly/
Here is another link which offers several brands.  http://www.redrockthreads.com/misc-thread/invisible-thread.asp
And a link for Aurifil.  http://www.aurifil.com/Aurifil/Invisible_thread.html
Get a poly rather than a nylon thread.

You will only use this thread in your top, you will use regular thread in your bobbin.  I can't stress enough that you load several bobbins, nothing is more annoying that having to take everything apart to wind a bobbin, just when you are getting in the groove.  

It was a blast today, seeing everyone's quilts and I am so excited for our next meeting.  Oh!  One more thing.  Please bring a little sandwich to practice on before we turn you loose on your quilt.  A piece of fabric about 12 x 12 inches with batting and backing as well, will be fine, use an extra block or bits of fabric that you have sewn together so we can practice the stitch in the ditch and others.  

Swooning on a Saturday

We were going to go over to see our Granddaughter for her 1st birthday today, but Grandpa is not feeling well and doesn't feel up to the long drive over and back, it would be 7 hours in the car round trip.  I understand, but am disappointed not to be able to share in her day.  He has been having a difficult time lately so I have to respect that.


So, I was up early this morning, hoping to get in some sewing before we were going to leave at 7am.  The power was out yesterday afternoon and I was unable to get any sewing done, not to mention the unbearable heat.  It was over a hundred outside.  Not a good thing to have the power go out in the afternoon.  Anyway, we made the best of it, enjoyed an early dinner of skillet fried chicken and a big green salad.  Spent the time catching up on some magazines and had a generally peaceful afternoon.  Power came back on about 8:30 so we got in a little tv time and then off to bed.


I modified this Swoon block a bit by inserting bits on each of the center sides.  I like that way it looks, we will have to see how it works into the entire quilt.  Thought I would mock up a finished top and see where I am going with the last two blocks that I have yet to complete.

The brightness of each block is different in the photos but in true light, they are all the same intensity.  It will be interesting to see how it looks when it's completed.  Well, off to pour through the fabric and see what I want for the final two blocks.

Brenda and Janeal's Quilt Tops - Newby Quilting Bee

Brenda has now added her wonkie border with curved corners to her quilt top and is anxious to move on to the quilting portion of the event!  We are having a ball!  This is just so pretty and crisp with the red and white.

This sweet top is made by Janeal, a first time quilter in the class.  She even created a little light house scene for her center block, very clever since their last name is Light!  Great color selections for a first time quilter, lovely contrast.  I'm sure this will be something for her too look at with pride in her accomplishment!

We will have five or six more quilt tops that I know of that gals are finishing up...check back, more pictures to come!  Those that may be following along online, if you would like to send a photo of your top when you get the sashing on, we would love to share it!

We will have a catch up day this month, for those that are at the point that their top is finished and they are ready to start assemblying their quilt top, batting and backing, bring that and we will work on that together.

You will need the following materials for your top to get it ready to quilt:

If you will be quilting your quilt on your home sewing machine:

A box or two of 2 inch safety pins.  You want to be able to pin your top every 4-6 inches.

A roll of Masking Tape.  Make sure it is a fresh roll so that you have good stickum on it!  We will be using this to tape your quilt backing to the table and your batting to that before we place your top for pinning.

Batting to stick out about 3-4 inches beyond your quilt top.  Measure your quilt top and add 6-8 inches in each direction.  I like Warm and Natural...just my choice.  Go to Beverly's or Joann's and see all the different types, make a note of what I suggested and compare them.  You can buy it on the roll or in a bag.  You can also order it online on their sites.  Make sure you use one of their coupons to get 40-50% off!  And if you don't have one, if you have the American Quilters Society card (you can get that online here: https://www.americanquilter.com/quilt_world/user_signup.php) they will give you 10% off, if you are older, they will give you a 10% senior discount, just ask for it, I do!  

Backing, you will need a piece of backing fabric, again 3-4 inches wider all around than your top.  Measure your top, add 6-8 inches each direction.  You CAN piece your back, it doesn't have to be all one fabric.  You can insert an extra block, strips of various fabrics, be creative.  

Okay, so you will need, pins, tape, batting, backing and your top.

I think we are all set!

Sandy's Quilt Top!

One of my students in the Newby Quilting Bee Class, Sandy,  sent this along tonight.   I think it is coming along very nicely.  It's going to be so much fun to see everyone's quilts all finished up.  We are getting close now!  


Thanks for sharing Sandy!

Make a Mix Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, A Reflection on the Past

Ice Box Cookies, they harken back to when I was a little girl.  My mother would mix up cookies and store them in the freezer, neatly rolled up and we would slice and bake them.  When my son was little, as a new mother, I of course wanted to replicate those warm feelings that I had as a child with my son. 

I forget how I was introduced to the Make-A Mix Cook Book Series and I had forgotten how fun their recipes were.  Last week I got the book down off the shelf and made up the Sugar cookies, today I made up the Oatmeal Raisin cookies.  There is something inside me that feels smug and wonderful, just knowing I have dozens of cookies at my disposal in the freezer.  It's soothing somehow.  I know that may sound funny, but I am from a generation that absolutely cannot have dinner without a little desert!


So for those of you who, don't have this book, here is the recipe with a few modifications by me (butter instead of shortening and spices where there were none)

1 1/2 cups butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla ( we make our own!)
Cream the butter and the sugar, then add eggs one at a time along with vanilla, cream well.

Sift together 1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice

Add to creamed mixture and mix completely. Then add:

4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup of raisins
nuts if you wish.

Divide dough into 4 portions, Shape into logs on wax paper or freezer paper, roll up, label and freeze.

To bake, slice a 1 inch piece of dough, then cut it into four pieces. (make as many or as few as you like) Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 F for about 10 minutes, cool on rack and enjoy.

Mine are in the freezer right now and will be ready when my son arrives for dinner this evening!  Won't he be surprised!

Swooning on a Sunday

We are waiting for my son to arrive to spend the day with us.  He lives up the hill in Squaw Valley.  We are planning a family Sunday Bar-B-Que together.  I will enjoy his visit.  While waiting for him to arrive, I finished sewing Block #6 for my Swoon Quilt.  I spent the better part of yesterday fussy cutting the fabric for this.  Each block in the quilt will be different and I am playing with placement now, trying to decide what will go where and where the color focus should be for the remaining blocks.


There are many elements in this block that I love...What delights me most about this particular block are the "torches" in the 4 corners.  When you are back from the quilt, they really stand out.  


The Swoon Quilt Block is very easy and completely suitable for a beginner.  I have just taken it to a different level with the Stack center and the fussy cutting.  You do not have to do that.  Here is a link for the pattern:  http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/product/swoon-pattern-142-pdf-pattern

You can see from the pattern that it can be a very modern, stylish and simple quilt, beautiful in it's simplicity.  To see some other examples of how folks have completed this pattern you can look on Flickr at The swooning on a hop along group, here is a link:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1904864@N22/

Now, I am going to look at cutting out the next block while we are waiting for Andrew!  Who knows, I might just get another one done today!

Quick Fun Strip Block

There was a cute little video on this block done by the Missouri Quilt Company.  They have so many great little video tutorials.  I am just replicating the block for my class here.  Enjoy, they are quick and fun!


First cut strips 2 1/2 inches wide, or purchase a precut "jelly roll".  

Now select 4 strips and sew them together in a strip set and press.

Measure the width of your strip set and cut blocks the same length. You are making squares with equal sides.  

Take two of your squares and lay one on top of the other right sides together with the stips going in opposite directions as shown below:

I like to place a pin in each corner, in far enough so that it won't impede my stitching.  You don't have to pin, but I think it helps to keep the corners straight and accurate for a nice final result.

Now stitch a 1/4 inch seam around the entire square, all sides, sewing the top block to the bottom block.  Hard to see in my photo as I am using white thread.

Now take your ruler and your rotary cutter and make your first cut on the diagonal as shown.  Do not pull your pieces apart, leave them.

Now cut across the diagonal in the opposite direction and then press open your bits!

You have four completed block that you can put together any way you want.  

Okay, show me your blocks!!!

Squaring Up The Blocks and Application of Sashing

This is the time that you will start to see the vision of your quilt top come into fruition!  It doesn't matter if you have all the same block, different blocks or some of the blocks.  It's your top, the way you want it!  


RULE #1.  MEASURE, THEN MEASURE AGAIN.  I cannot stress this enough.  Once you cut your block, you cannot go back, so of course we want to make sure our cuts are accurate.


The first thing we are going to do is learn to square up our blocks....yes, that again.   Squaring up is the use of a square ruler on units, blocks or quilt tops to assure a right angle in all the corners.  


Fabric has give and no matter how careful you are at each step in the construction of your block or your quilt, things may be out of square as you move along in the process.  If you square up as you go, then you'll have a more successful outcome.

A 15.5" block that really is 15.5" and not 14.5" or 15.75" means that your quilt top will be flat.  Your sashing or borders will fit as they should.  The corners on the quilt will be square.  There will be no nonsense about "quilting it out" when you find a bubble.  Why spend a lot of time working around your mistakes when you can do it right in the first place?

You can get a square up ruler like the one shown which is a 16" ruler by Quilt in a Day, which will run you somewhere around $20. they also make larger sizes that are, of course, a little more expensive.  They are a nice addition to your quilt tools.  There are many brands to choose from, this is only one example.  Shop around online for the best deals, watch Joann's for your 50% off one item and use that to purchase for great savings!

Measure all of your blocks and find the smallest one.  We are going to square up your smallest block first and then square up to that measure all of your other blocks.  Square your block up the same way that you squared up your individual units.  Refer back to the video in lesson one:  The Friendship Star Block

Once you have your blocks squared up you can start laying them out to see the order in which you would like to see them in your completed quilt.  Stand back, enjoy the view...it helps to take a photo to get perspective.

Once all of your blocks are squared up we will start to audition our sashing.  A great way to do this is to lay out your potential sashing fabric (before you cut it) and lay your blocks right on top.  If you like it, make your cuts.  You can do this right at the fabric store, just lay your fabric selection out on the counter and audition your blocks.  You may want to refer to your lesson on color before you do this.  Think about what effect you are looking for.  Sometimes a pop of color from the other end of the spectrum can be very exciting, sometimes you may want to have a more monochromatic (all the same color) effect and you will look for differences in "values" (light and dark) to give you the desired pop.  Just play with it until you like what you see.  You can audition several fabrics at once by laying them out next to each other and placing your blocks on top.

Here are a couple links that you will find valuable in completing your sashing. 

Sashing  (http://www.synthcom.com/~val/Quilts/Tutorials/AddingSashing.html)

I am going to suggest for this project, that you cut your sashing 2 1/2 inches wide and I am going to suggest for a first time quilter, that you stay away from "setting squares".  I would just work with straight pieces.  You will piece 3 "rows" with short strips of sashing.  Once completed, you will need to piece your 3 "rows" together using a long strip of sashing that you will need to piece as it will be wider than the width of the fabric.  The link below will show you how to do that.  Center your sashing "seam" in the center of your middle block so that it will not be so obvious.

Piecing Strips  (http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/piecing_sashing_border_binding_strips)

For the first border on the outside of your quilt, I will suggest that you stay with the 2 1/2 inch strip.  Piece several together and you won't have to stop and make more.  I think mine took 5 strips.

When you are finished, it should look like this:

For our next class, I am thinking about perhaps having a catch up day, so everyone can get up to speed.  Drop me an e-mail and let me know how you feel about that.  I would like everyone to have their top completed before we move onto quilting.

Flouncy T-Shirt Dress, Strappy Sun Dress and A Tutu!

We are heading over to Mendocino County the first weekend in August to see our Granddaughter Maliyah who will be celebrating her 1st birthday.  I am whipping up some little frocks to take over.
One of the gals that I work with, Michelle, is having her first granddaughter and she made some little onesies like this.  I absolutely loved the idea so I copied her!


Here's how I made it.  I cut two pieces of fabric for the skirt...one is 9 inches by width of fabric and the other is 11 inches by width of fabric.  I serged together the short ends of each strip of fabric to create two bands.  Then I folded them in half with wrong sides together and laid them one on top of the other (no hemming this way).  To gather them, I placed a cotton string next to the raw edge and zig zagged careful not to catch the string.  Before drawing up the ruffle, I marked the piece in quarters and pinned those quarters to the quarters of the t-shirt. (front, back and sides)  Then I pulled the string to gather the skirt.  Pinned the ruffles in place and then surged them onto the skirt.  It really is that quick and that easy!


Starting on dress #2 which will be completely different!  More to be revealed!  Finished #2 and a tutu this morning.  Have to go get some pink and lavender ribbons to work into the tutu...on our way to town now!  

Grandma is having fun!

Tutorial - Creating the Stacked LeMoyne Star center for the Swoon

In the center of the Swoon block, there is a Lemoyne Star.  I love the Swoon Pattern by Camille Roskelley....

 ...but wanted to take it a bit further and create some interest in the center by using the Stack N Whack method as outlined in the book Magic Stack n Whack by Bethany S. Reynolds.  I have had so many requests for additional information on this that I am blogging it today.

 To get started you may want to get a copy of her book which also has a number of other stack ideas and options.  You may also want to use some template plastic, some scotch tape, a fine tip permanent marker and two mirrors which you can attach on the backside with duct tape.  (you'll see as we go along how these are useful)

Step one is to select a fabric that has sufficient repeats for your pattern.  I need 8 pieces to make my star so I need 8 repeats of my fabric.  I purposely selected a fabric with close repeats.  That means that instead of seeing that image once every 36 inches, I am seeing it once every 4 inches.  This lets you get a lot of bang for your buck as you will not have to purchase so much yardage to achieve your design.  

The fabric I selected is called Deja Vue by Paula Nadelstern.  Google her, you will be amazed at her work, it is something to aspire to.

Okay, now that I have picked out my fabric, I am going to cut 8 repeats and stack them one on top of the other.  I will carefully stick a fine point pin though an element in the design which I can easily match up.  I will match this up through all eight layers.  Then, holding my pin perpendicular to the fabric I will carefully pin next to it through all layers to secure it.  I will do this in several areas around the fabric.

Okay, right about now, I can hear you saying, this is way to much work.  Well, it's not and it's worth it.  All the hard part is at the front end and if you take your time and carefully do your pinning, you will have stunning results and you too will be hooked!

Once you have everything pinned the way you want it, take your two pieces of mirror and duct tape them together on the backside of one short end.  They sometimes come with a slit so you can just hook them together, but for this project, duct tape works better as it allows more flex in the range of motion.  (you can purchase these at Joann's, Beverly's, Online at Connecting Threads, Amazon, just about everywhere)

Now you can pick out something on your fabric that looks interesting, and using your folded mirrors, slide them around till you get an effect that you like.  Below I have placed the mirrors on the fabric and I am just sliding them back or forward a bit to change the image, or side to side.

Here are the images in the mirror.

Okay,  so you get the idea, this is all from the exact same fabric!  So you have found a design that pleases you.  Now what?  Well, in the book Stack n Whack, Bethany Reynolds has kindly printed templates.  Get yourself an old school folder, a piece of translucent plastic from an old can lid, or milk carton...or if all else fails, you can purchase template plastic.  Use a ruler and trace the template onto your plastic and carefully cut it out using an old rotary cutting blade (I save my old ones for this or cutting paper)  Now you have your template.  Take your ruler and the permanent marker and draw from tip to tip in both directions.  This will help serve as a guide.  Get your scotch tape and make a loop, stick it to the underside of your template.  This way you can put it on your fabric, move it around and when you are ready to cut, there is nothing to pin!

The plastic is just see through enough to let you see what is on the fabric and line up your design.  You can also randomly place your template, which I did in some of my blocks, and it will give you a rotating effect in the fabric. 

Once you have your template in place, carefully place your ruler along the edge and cut your fabric with a rotary cutter, this way you are not cutting your template, your template should be underneath your ruler.  You will end up with 8 perfectly matching pieces!

When you are all done cutting your bits out, you will have some swiss cheese looking fabric, but you will have some amazing blocks!

You could stop here, make several stars and put together a beautiful quilt.  I am continuing on to make my version of the Swoon!

The next step in this process, is to turn these into "Swoon" blocks.

More to be revealed!!!