Paper Piecing Help/Quilt a long/Sew a Long

Maybe you are new to paper piecing and want a bit of help, support and community as you find your way around the different techniques, there are a couple of Quilt-a-longs coming up.

First we have Sew Out Loud {Quilter's Word Play}- I don't know what the fancy brackets do but they often come up in crafty projects and blogs- anyway here is the button

the code can be found along with all the other starting info at Kirie's blog and also at Julianna's blog.  There are great prizes and a design competition for the 12th block- as for the judge, it will take your breath away but I am sworn to secrecy!  Flickr group is hereLooking for something at beginner level?  Bought a copy of Fat Quarterly 8 Paper Piecing Issue?  Dolores at A Labour of Love is planning a sew-a-long using the projects from the ezine!  The idea is that you can support each other through the different techniques.

And, thinking ahead now, I will be at the Fat Quarterly Retreat in June teaching a class or two.  I will be doing a technique class on paper piecing using the freezer paper template technique but with a twist-it will be hand sewing, no machine needed.  This will include stitching an inset Y seam- if you can learn it by hand it will be a breeze by machine! And if you can't wait for more help, check my pages link on paper piecing resources!

The Farmer's Wife-

I have started my Farmer's Wife blocks and what betther than to start a new project than a bit of admin.  I designed a simple spreadsheet to keep a progress on my blocks and templates and any of you are welcome to Click here for Google Docs so you can use it too!

I haven't had much experience of using templates before and after a bit of hit and miss cutting I found the easiest way has been to copy all the squares templates into one file and then print out, and then do the same for triangles and rectangles.  I am measuring each square/rectangle so I have a reference of the cutting size.  Many of the triangles will go onto template plastic as they get used a lot.  I will print the more unusual shapes onto freezer paper as these are not in many of the blocks- so a bit of a mix.  Now the blocks.   I am going where my fancy takes me so I started with Number 1 Attic Window 

I have no specific colour scheme in mind but I am trying to include as many of my favourites as I possibly can.  I do my usual fabric pull and then see how they look next to each other and keep getting out/putting bakc until I am happy.  Sometimes a quick process and sometimes not but this is where I like to spend a bit of time getting it right.  Above includes some Sukuko Koseki- calligraphy, Kumiko Fujita-text, Urban Chiks 1974 aqua,  Sharon Kessler- black/cream

This block is Number 39 Friendship

I already knew that I wanted these fabrics and this is a perfect block for fabrics that I only have the tiniest scraps of- Flea Market fancy vines for example.  The red is from Sherbert Pips (Moda), daisies are by Suzuko Koseki, rulers are Kumiko Fujita, text is Michael Miller's Dick and Jane Sentence Structure print.  The blocks are quite small, around 6.5" which I like.  I don't know how many I will do, I am doing this as a long term relaxing type project without deadline and I am hoping the end quilt will be a homage to all my favourite prints.

Have a great weekend :)

Time for Tea

I have had this book for a little while.  I bought it from a Japanese site, second hand but in perfect condition, it can be a bit hard to get hold of

I was really taken with these tea coasters and cozy

and inspired to make a mini mug rug for myself.  Only 6.5" x 4" , it is the perfect size to sit on the arm of the sofa for my large cup of Earl grey and a little snack- giant chocolate buttons are a fav.  I used shot cottons for the background and cup, the letters are linen.  It makes me smile :)

I could not resist joining in this quilt-a-long after seeing the blocks pop up on Flickr.  Quilt a longs are just online groups of people all working towards the same goal- in this case, slowly working my way through 111 traditional block.  I like variety and I needed a quilt block education.  

It is a beautiful book even without a quilt a long, detailed pages, original farmer's wife lettters and A CD with all the templates on.  It is a bit like art, you can only go abstract once you have covered the basics.  Lots of interesting quilters are taking part so it should be interesting.   I am more of an urban chick than a farmer's wife but that doesn't deter me.   I won't get my first blocks done till the weekend.  I am having my kitchen partly replaced- the sink area changes tomorrow, the rest will be happen over the summer.

I can't wait!  You all know how I feel about kitchen things and a slice of retro kitchen action is coming to my little house.  I don't like the upheaval and I can't get to my work space but it should be over quickly!

Swap Goodies

My pincushion arrived today from the Scrappy Pincushion Swap Flickr group.  It was made by Tiffany of Tigglegiggles,what a cute little pinnie- the back is a Heather Ross Spoonflower mushroom print- so pretty and she put a tape measure into the package too- thankyou Tiffany!

And this arrived last week from Megan of Megs Monkey Beans.  This was a little swap we organised for just the two of us, it was fun to give and receive for such a nice bloggy friend

Isn't this wonderful- lots of turquoise, aqua, kitchen prints, Farmdale- yum

Practical too- you can put your hand in, and nice and thick, although I can't bring myself to use it and get it all covered in food- I am looking at it in the kitchen instead!

She also send a great little pile of fabrics- none of which I had, and the recipe for Cinnamon buns (the ones I made yesterday) along with some extra strong cinnamon.  It was the cinnamon that started the swap idea off.  Cinnamon is such a popular flavour in the US and in the UK this is not really the case.    I can only get the usual stuff here and this is hardcore cinnamon, delicious! 

I made her this

And send a little pile of fabrics and some fancy little chocolate bars.  Pop over to Megs and look at this wonderful purse she made for her Mother in law, I love it.

And now you can have a little visit to the lovely Lynne's Lily's Quilt Blog where I am guest posting for her quilt-a-long.  Can I tempt you with these fabrics?

Or these?  

If anyone in the UK or Europe is interested in buying a FQ of the Michael Miller Sentence Structure print(at the bottom of the pic below)- 'Look, Dick.  Look, look' I just bought a few yards from USA so I am happy to sell a few FQs, I couldn't find it in UK or Europe ( I think it is out of print now) so send me an email if you are interested!

You can do a mini quilt if you don't want to commit to a bigger project, the Flickr group is here.  Lynne is a great host, and there is lots of help available and other quilters to compare ideas with.

Circle of Wonky Stars Baby Quilt- Finished and ready to go

I have been waiting for the recipient of this quilt to arrive before I posted final pics.

She was almost 2 weeks late!  Amy was born last Tuesday, all safe and well.

I will be going to meet her soon but meanwhile she is fussed and cuddled by her lovely older sisters

Making this quilt was such a happy experience.  Many of the fabrics were little pieces and scraps given to me from bloggy friends which always makes a project feel extra special.

Making it as a quilt- a- long shared the making of it with other talented sewers.  I have loved seeing your quilts grow and your different styles coming through in your fabric choices and stars. Keep the pics coming to the Flickr group!

Quilt-a-long Rounded Corners and Binding

I have decided after seeing Nettie's rounded corner quilts here and here that I fancy the effect for this quilt.   Her quilts were a big inspiration when I started quilting and continue to be so.  I used a tea plate with a diameter of 7.5 inches.

The curve runs 3 inches either side of each corner, my quilt corner starts at 1 inches on the cutting mat.

I pinned the curves about an inch from the edge after I cut them just to hold them for the next stage.  I always zig zag around the edges of any quilt before I bind, from  a coaster to a full size quilt.    It makes life much easier to do this with the walking foot as this gives an even feed to bottom and top fabrics so there is less chance of  ripples in the top fabric.

 I worked out how much binding I needed using Julie at Jaybird Quilts wonderful bias tute and calculation table.  I used the second method with a standard 18 x 22 inches fat quarter which, with 2.25 inch wide binding, yielded the perfect amount of binding and some extra for this quilt.  Although you have to cut using scissors, it only takes one straight seam to have a whole reel of continuous binding- fantastic!  I hate joining with diagonal seams and by using this method I will only have to do it once at the beginning and end of the quilt binding.

 Press the binding in half long ways- this takes ages!  I don't use steam as it tends to distort but a bit of that homemade starch spray to stabilze really helps here.  And then roll the binding up ready to use.  If you want right angle corners and straight binding there are links at the end of this post to helpful sites to work out quantities, cut and attach the binding.  You cannot use straight binding for curvy corners just incase you thought you'd try it!  I would zig zag the edges of folded straight binding at this point (see Red Pepper tute below) but I didn't with the bias binding as I want a bit of give round the corners.    If you can manage with it, keep the walking foot on for attaching the binding, it will yield more even results.  I use the foot to help keep a quarter inch seam as I stitch the binding on.

I use the Red Pepper binding method but with some adjustments.  I start by attaching the binding to the back of the quilt and I chose the left side of the quilt, near the bottom before the corner starts to curve as my starting place.  I use 2.4 stitch length.  I don't use any pins, I just guide with my fingers and keep my speed setting slow.  If you are using the rounded corners method, the binding goes on much quicker- no corners to mitre!  I sewed very slowly round the corners with a gentle tension on the binding to curve it round and used a quick unpic to hold the layers together.

 About 12 inches before the end of the binding meets the start,  stop, secure and get ready to join the binding ends together.  I used Julie's method which is pretty standard but I find this bit the hardest of the whole quilt making process!  Take your time, you might even want to tack/baste it before you machine together to check it works.  I had to do mine a couple of times.  Now, I do a good press and use the homemade starch spray.  I press the binding away from the quilt.

 Use the tip of the iron to get right in the seam and the corners- the binding won't lie flat here but it will be fine when you flip it over.  A small iron helps, I use a good quality travel iron all the time!

Turn the quilt over.   I fold the binding so it lies a little over the stitch line and press lightly and without starch. All that pressing is a faff but it will make the binding finish so much better and lessen the chances of having to unpick bits if you are machining for the final stage.

I now follow Rita (Red Pepper Quilts) method but with the right side of the fabric facing up.  I have a colour to match the binding as top reel on the machine (YLI Machine Quilting in grey 011) and a colour to blend into the backing fabric on the bobbin (Gutermann Sulky col.1071), Stitch length 3mm, no pins but my fingers and where necessary a quick unpic, and the walking foot again.   The top thread tail is lying to the left and the bottom thread tail to the right- to stop tangles underneath.   I hold the binding just over the stitching line, and stitch as close as I dare to the edge of the binding.

The aim is to have front stitches at the edge of the binding where it joins the quilt and the back stitches blending into the quilt backing on the reverse.

I never get this perfect in one go, but I usually only have a small amount to redo and it works out quicker for me than hand sewing.
 Here is a neat machine sewn edge on the front...

and a line of invisible stitches close to the binding on the back.

And yummy rounded corners, I will be sewing a lot more of those!  I love this method!

So the quilt is finished, needs a label and some decent light to take finished photos.  How is yours going?  All the tutorials to make this quilt are here and you can do it any time and put pictures in my Flickr group,  I'd love to see your work!

Binding links- 
Binding basics, working out quantities and cutting binding Jaybird Quilts
Cutting bias the easy way and calculating quantities for bias from a square of fabric Jaybird Quilts
Continuous, straight or bias, attached by machine, hand sewn finish Jaybird quilts

Continuous, straight or bias, attached and finished by machine Red Pepper Quilts

Quilt-a-long Quilt Sandwich and Quilting

Now to make your quilt sandwich.  If you want to add a quilt label to the back before this, go ahead!  I always use basting spray, 505.  I lay the backing fabric (in the background of pic below) out on a Durabac board which is a big foldable fabric cutting board made of cardboard, good for fixing fabric on with pins. You could use a table of a clean floor or carpet.  I put some pins round the edges to make it taut.    I always spray the batting, not the fabric and I do this outside on a washing line as the glue smells and gets everywhere inside.  I lay the batting on to the backing fabric first.

 Then repeat the spraying process with the partial sandwich hanging on the washing line, spraying the batting side and then laying it backing side down on the durabac, the tacky basting surface is on the top.  I then pin out the edges and lay the quilt front on top.  As 505 is temporary you can do as many readjustments as you need and I stuck some safety pins in as well to be extra safe.

My quilting was simple, just a quarter inch echo around the star and stitch around the edge of the central squares. I don't want it to be too dense so I kept it simple. For the quilting thread- I am using Gutermann Sulky col.1071 which matches Kona snow perfectly.  I did try a contrast thread but I didn't like the look of it (you can see below), I'll use this in the binding instead.

The lighter colour is less dominant.

I used my walking foot and you can see how I lined up the foot with the star points to keep a regular quarter inch.

When I quilt I always position my needle start a quarter inch ahead of where I want to start, set the stitch length on the smallest setting, 1mm, and make sure the top thread tail is going right and the bobbin thread tail is going left- stops lumpy knots underneath.  I backstitch to the point where I really want to start, change the stitch length to 3.5mm and stitch away.  These longer stitches make for great quilting and cover up the tiny securing stitches at the beginning.

Before you stitch all the way round and back to the beginning, trim off the thread tails.  This is how it should now look, securing stitched are hidden, all nice and neat.

This is how it looks on the back.

At the end of the stitching I reverse about quarter inch again changing the stitch length from 3.5mm to 1mm.

And this is how it looks on the back.

For general help on making a quilt sandwich without basting spray see: Oh Fransson!

Quilt your Circle of Wonky Stars baby quilt any way you want and I'll see you back for the binding!