p.s. i quilt a stitch in dye How to Quilt: Scrap Quilts How to Quilt>Scrap Quilts Bonnie Hunter is a quilter who specializes in scrap quilts using fabric from thrift shops or donations from friends' closets. Recently she visited with us for our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation, and the specific topic was how to choose the garments at a thrift shop that will make great fabric for a quilt. Here is a sampling of her answers: Penny: How do you know whether a particular garment would make a good fabric for a quilt? Bonnie: I look for garments the same way I look for fabric. If it says 100% cotton, then that’s the first thing I’ll look for. The next thing I check is how the fabric feels in my hand. I look for the same kinds of things when I look for articles of clothing to cut up for fabric. Penny: You don’t use polyester? Bonnie: No, I don’t. Men’s shirts, so far, have not incorporated spandex. Penny: How do you estimate how much fabric you’ll be able to get from a particular garment? Bonnie: The size of the garment will give you an idea.
Red Pepper Quilts Tula Pink - Atkinson Designs: “Tag Along Tote” Project: Tag Along Tote designed by Terry Atkinson, featuring “Urban Couture” fabrics by Basic Grey. Click here for bag pattern. Click here for fabric collection. Finished Size: 7” x 8” x 2” Skill Level: Confident Beginner Techniques: Free Motion Quilting Binding Basic Bag Construction Useful Supplies: Machinger’s Quilter’s Gloves (click here) Fusible Fleece (click here & here) Aurifil 28 weight thread for machine quilting, top-stitching, and bag construction. Project Description: The pattern states: “For a fast fashion statement, make this tote in your favorite colors. I’ve made a lot of bags lately, and some pattern designers clearly stand apart from the crowd. I love the way this little bag comes together. Also, the fabric requirements are simple. Disclaimer: This blog is meant to illustrate the ease of bag construction, and demonstrate some useful tips. Let’s get started… Quilting fabric “sandwiches” for a bag is a good opportunity to practice free motion quilting.
Ideas for Quilting Denim Chenille Quilt Denim Chenille Quilt This very, very, very easy quilt has no quilting, no batting, no binding… and you can recycle old clothes to make it, so it's inexpensive, as well. It makes a great take-along quilt - a throw, picnic rug, car quilt - because it's so sturdy and washable. Mine is 55" X 66", but you can make yours larger or smaller as you like. It goes together quickly, and it looks equally good with bandanna reds as with pink pastels! Sewing machine in good working order, with denim needles Sewing Thread - gray or to blend with the cotton fabric Rotary cutting equipment ----a 45 mm or larger rotary cutter, a mat 18" x 24" or larger, a 24" long ruler. Sturdy scissors (to cut through several layers of fabric) DENIM: If you are buying denim, purchase 4 yards of 44" wide or 3 yards of 58" wide. COTTON CALICO: The fabric used on the back of this quilt should be all cotton, and it should also be prewashed and pre-shrunk. Rotary Cutting Instructions Do you have all the supplies? and then
I'm actually getting it done... I'm following Vicki's lead and quilting for an hour first thing in the morning. I have been making a lot of progress on my Scrappy String and I'm enjoying it immensely. If I keep up at this pace, this quilt will be done in no time. Since I've decided to make it a tall, narrow wall-hanging I think it will be easy for me to quilt too. In this bottom photo it's possible to see at what stage I'm working. I'm planning on using a black/white polka dot for binding and no borders. Take care,
Stabilizing knits (stay tape, elastic, interfacing) (top: stay tape, middle: clear elastic, bottom: regular elastic) Thanks for following along with the series so far! Today we're talking support systems - stabilizers, elastic, interfacing, etc. To recap, you can read all the Never Fear Knits posts here. InterfacingOccasionally you'll come across a knit pattern that requires interfacing - think wide waistbands on jersey dresses. Yes, they do make knit interfacing and yes, it does stretch. You'll find it in the store mixed in with the rest of the interfacings. Stay Tape Even though knits stretch there are certain parts of knit garments that you don't want to stretch out - like shoulder seams. Elastic For waists of dresses you'll probably need some elastic to maintain the shape. If you want the waistband to lay flat you'll cut your elastic the length of the waist measurement of the dress. Like with Stay Tape you lay the elastic on top of the fabric as you feed it under the presser foot. ***Phew, almost done!
Freebie: The ABC Quilter in PDF · Quilting | CraftGossip.com May Sandra of Sandra’s Craft Corner put up her freebie for the month of May, 2012. This one has complete instructions for 12 quilts, however because it’s dated material there is no mention of rotary cutters, and the preferred method given for piecing is by hand. It tickles me, the editor Virginia Mann, talks about how the traditional patterns in the publication look so modern with current fabric. Go HERE to download The ABC Quilter. Ed. note: Sandra is offering this free download for a limited time only. Image credit: Sandra’s Craft Corner By Scarlett Burroughs
sewing with knits I get a lot of comments after I do a post involving sewn knit fabric. A lot of the wow, you sew knit fabrics kind of comments. Most recently on sewing the bathers I've been asked to share some advice about sewing lycra. All of which I find a bit bemusing. When I started sewing I didn't really understand that knits were a different beast to woven fabrics, and while I admit to many a mistake along the trial and error road, knits have never really scared me any more than any other sewing hurdle. But since I get asked a lot about this topic I'll let you know what I know, for what it's worth. Why sew knits? The tool kitThe tools required for sewing knits is really pretty light on. In the main you do require a machine with stretch stitches (stitches that can expand and contract with the stretch of the fabric) but basic stretch stitches are standard on pretty much all machines now. Another option for a regular machine is to use a double needle (see brown stitches in above shot). And that's it.