If Idle Hands are the Devil's Workshop...

Then I have no need to worry.

I've been busy, busy, busy and this fall looks even busier!  But I love to be busy with quilts, so  I don't see a problem with this.   So let me get you caught up on some of the projects that I've been working on.



Remember I shared that I had started a Double Wedding Ring Quilt.  Here is where I left you last...

 

Since that time I have started putting the other side on, as well as one of the two-and-a-half inch squares that will form the four-patches.

 



Here are what my centers look like.  It may be difficult to tell with these pictures, but the centers and melons are a light yellow.



 

This may give you an idea of what the quilt will look like.  I love the colors!  This quilt makes me happy ... it's so bright!

 I've finished the center square of my Dear Jane and have started working on the triangles and kites.  These are very different than the four-and-a-half inch squares.  I think they're harder, they often have more pieces, and triangles just require a different skill set than the squares.  They take more time, too.

And here are two squares from my guild's history club's mystery quilt.  Every month our leader, Susan, gives us directions for a block.  The next month we have to return to our meeting with the block completed and give her the name of the block.  We get points for making the squares and finding out the squares name.  The person that completes the blocks, puts the quilt together and quilts and binds it will win a prize.  Needless to say, with our guild's competitive quilters, this is quite a contest.

So that's what I've been up to this month...I still have a lot to do, but there's a lot happening in my life right now. 

Love and Stitches....

Sherri

And Thursday We Met....

The second Thursday night of every month is my guild meeting....

And since last week the blog had no pretty pictures, just lots of good information, I decided to show you all the pictures I took of the members' show and tell.  We have show and tell at every meeting and it's hands down my favorite "regular" thing.  The men and women I quilt with are so very, very talented and I am always so inspired by what they show.

 This is Alicia's Tumbling Block quilt. We had a Square-in-a-Square workshop with Gloria Stickney a few weeks back and this is one of the workshops she offered.  Alicia took it and this is her top.  It's not quite finished, but the colors are beautiful!

 Since it is July, members were encouraged to bring patriotic quilts that they have done. This is Shelly's flag quilt.  It as made in the early '90's and was her first experience with fusible web.

 Yes...this is the back of a quilt.  I wish I had thought to bring my big camera, but all I had was the camera on my cell phone. Marty made the this at a charity quilt workshop we had (we make chemo quilts for the cancer patients at Hayworth Cancer Center at High Point Regional Hospital).  The picture below is the front of the quilt.  It's a nice quilt, but what sets it apart is Shelly's quilting.  Our guild is blessed with several member who are either really good with quilting on a domestic machine or have a mid- or long-arm.  Shelly has a long arm and free-motioned beautiful flowers in each square of the quilt.  This made a rather plain quilt just "pop."

 Doris brought her flag quilt made from a Fons and Porter kit.  Doris is one of the most talented and prolific quilters I know.

 Doris also had the beautiful Dresdan Plate quilt.  She just recently finished this one.  Last year we had the Pizza Girls in for a workshop and this is one of their patterns.  I just love these colors!

 This is also a quilt that Doris recently finished for her brother. It's a Hawaiian quilt that's dark blue and white. 

 Lisa brought this quilt made of teeny-tiny tumblers that she pieced and quilted.  I don't think the tumblers were larger than two inches. This chick has patience.

 Our First Vice President, Susan, is not only a quilter, but also a pattern designer.  There are two small flag quilts she designed and quilted.

And here is an eagle quilt she made.  Susan designs and makes only small quilts.

I hope the pretty pictures this week make up for the lack of pretty pictures last week!  And I hope you find the same sense of inspiration and awe in the show and tell!

Love and Stitches~
Sherri

Oh,What a Tangle Thread We Weave....

Let’s talk about thread…

Thread is one of those items that seems so mundane that as a quilter or someone who sews other projects, you just kind of take it for granted.  But we shouldn’t.  Not really.  It is, after all, thread that holds everything together.

So this is one of those blogs that’s not going to have so many pretty pictures, but is going to have lots of (hopefully) good information you may want to keep in mind.

When a quilter glances at the top or bottom of a spool of thread, one of the first things that is noticeable is the weight.  Most threads in the United States are labeled either 50, 40, or 30 weight.  The higher the number, the thinner the thread.  So a 50 weight thread is much thinner than a 30 weight thread.

And that’s really about all the numbers really tell you.  The United States adopted this grading system from the Japanese, who really are much better than we are at it.  The Japanese would label their thread 50/2 or 50/3.  A spool of thread labeled 50/2 is comprised two strands of thread and a 50/3 is made of three strands of thread…so a 50/2 is still thinner than a 50/3.  Somehow most of the US manufacturers decided that the second number wasn’t worth the effort and didn’t print them on the spools.  That’s why you can look at two different brands of 50-weight thread and one may look thicker than the other – because one is probably made of three strands and the other is made of two. 

So which is the best one to use?  Well, that depends on what you’re quilting, piecing, or sewing.

It doesn’t have to do with necessarily strength – a three-strand thread would most likely be stronger than a two ply thread.  If strength was the only factor every sewer had to consider, we would all be using nylon.  However, there are lots of other things to consider when choosing a thread.

What is the thread made of?  My hands-down favorite for piecing and most of the time for quilting is long-staple cotton thread.  It’s more commonly known as Egyptian Cotton – which is kind of a misnomer because Egyptian long-staple cotton is grown in Turkey, Romania, Pakistan, India, Brazil, China, and the United States – although Egypt is getting pickier about the name.  It’s impossible to know just by looking at the thread if it’s truly a long-staple cotton, but after you’ve sewn with it awhile, you can readily tell.  This type of cotton thread sews and quilts beautifully, is low-lint, and doesn’t break. 

If you’re looking at polyester thread (and yes, you can use polyester in quilting and should use it in garment making), you want to consider the number of micro strands that make up the thread.  If the polyester is a 50/3, it’s made of three strands, which in turn are made up of numerous micro strands.  A cheap polyester thread may only have six or less micro strands per strand, while a high quality polyester thread may have as many as 48-50.  This is why some polyester threads are so very, very much better than others.

How was it processed? As anyone knows who has baked a cake, you can start with some very good ingredients and still end up with a total disaster depending on how you actually make the cake.  Too many eggs, not enough flour, baking soda, and salt – you have a mess, and nothing edible.  The same goes with thread.  Manufacturers can start with fantastic materials and unless they’re processed correctly, the thread will not be high quality.  It has to be twisted just right.  Too loosely twisted or inconsistently twisted will result in a thread that you will fight with during the entire creative process.  It has to be a consistent smoothness. Slubs or thin spots will result in tension and breakage nightmares.  It doesn’t need to be too “linty.”

Lint…let me just stop here and strongly advise you to clean your machine regularly.  A quilter can use the very best thread available, but it’s still going to leave lint in your machine.  It is vitally important that you clean your machine regularly.  Do it monthly, or at the end of every project, or when you change your needle (which should be every eight hours of sewing time), but make sure you clean it.  And find yourself a good machine guy and have it serviced at least every 18 months.  The machine guy or gal knows how to clean your machine in areas you can’t get to.  This will greatly extend the life of your machine and make your sewing time much more pleasurable. 

Is it easy to use?  The last thing I want to do is “fight” with the thread when I’m piecing or quilting.  It should come off the spool or cone easily.  If you’re using a cone, it should come off of the top.  Is it a crosswise or horizontal spool of thread?  One is not better than the other, but it may make a difference which spool pin to use on your machine.  My Janome likes the crosswise threads on the horizontal pen in the top of the machine, but it likes the horizontal threads on the vertical pin on the top of the machine.  My Juki works better if I use the vertical pin for all thread.  So consult your machine’s manual about this issue.

Am I looking for Attila the Hun thread or Marvin Milk Toast?  In other words, how strong does the thread need to be?  The quilting process needs a stronger thread than piecing.  Machine embroidery thread is not going to be as strong as quilting thread. 

What else does the label tell me?  It may or may not say mercerized, because today nearly all thread is mercerized.  When a thread is mercerized, it means the fibers were treated with a solution that caused them to swell and allow the dye to penetrate the fibers better.  Mercerized thread has a higher luster than non-mercerized.  It should also tell you if it’s a long-staple or short-staple thread.  If it doesn’t say this, assume it’s short-staple.  Long-staple or extra long-staple is worth the bragging rights.  If the label says the thread is gassed or polished or has a silk-finish, that means the cotton has been passed at a high speed through a flame to burn off the excess fuzz in order to create a higher sheen.  Glazed means the thread has been heated and then coated with a wax, starch, or other chemicals to give it a hard finished.  Glazed threads are stiffer than unglazed and are almost wiry.  Be careful about using a glazed thread in your machine…it can gum it up. 

So what does all this mean?  For quilters and other crafters, that means we now have hundreds of thread choices.  It means that quilters are no longer confined to piecing and quilting with only cotton thread.  We can freely use polyester because the old fear that polyester thread would cut through the cotton fabric no longer holds true (if it every actually was true).  Rayon thread is never a good choice because it is not always colorfast.  Nylon thread will discolor over time.  Silk thread is beautiful, but it is expensive.  So you have to consider what you’re going to do with the thread.

For me, piecing needs a finer thread.  Heavy thread is going to cause more bulk in the seam and may play with your quarter-inch seam.  For the quilting process, it depends on the look you want for your quilt.  If the quilter wants to show off the fabric more than the quilting, a finer thread is needed – it won’t compete with the material.  If you want to show off your quilting skills, go for a heavier thread that’s going to be seen.  I love variegated thread and if I’m showcasing it, I pick a long-staple medium-weight thread.  If I used a finer variegated, it wouldn’t show. 

Still, even with the best thread, there are still times when the thread is going to break.  When this happens, if the quality of thread is not the issue, check the following:

Your needle – is the right size and the right type?  Topstitching needles seem to work best for sewing, quilting, and embroidery.  It has a wide, deep grove that protects the thread and reduces drag and friction.  The eye is larger, so the thread has more room to move.  It also easily separates the fabric fibers.

The tension – is it too tight?  Most machines have an automatic tension setting and most of the time it works just fine.  However, please feel free to play with the tension.  Some thread is going to require you to loosen the tension.  The factory tension setting is about at medium, but some threads and some applications (such as machine applique) may need to have less tension.  Metallic threads and other decorative threads may even need to be pushed down to a one or two.

Bobbin thread tension is a little tricky, but it can be done (never let a machine tech tell you this can’t be done).  If you use a machine with a bobbin case, there’s a screw on the side.  Think of this screw as a clock and turn it at one-hour increments (righty-tight, lefty-loose).  A thin, fine thread in the bobbin may need it tightened just a smidge and a heavy, decorative thread may need to be loosened a little. 

And let’s address the matching bobbin/top thread issue right here.  In most newer machines now, it’s fine to mix threads.  I always use Bottom Line thread in my bobbin. I buy it by the cone and fill all my bobbins with it.  It’s finer than what I use on top of my machine and  it performs wonderfully.  Sometimes I have to play with my tension, but I really don’t have any issues with it at all.  When I machine quilt, I do have the same weight and brand of thread in the bobbin and on top of the machine. 

Just when you change your tension, be sure to return it to the machine settings at the end of the project.  I can’t tell you how many times I have forgotten to do this and started piecing with too loose of a tension – and the block comes apart when I press it.

Your machine – is it clean?  Is the timing off? Are there burrs on any of the mechanisms?

The thread delivery system – is your machine threaded correctly? 

One last piece of advice about thread.  Thread is like shoes – you get what you pay for.  So if you buy cheap thread, you’re going to get poor, uncomfortable results.  In my mind, it’s never made a whole lot of sense to spend hundreds of dollars on fabric and the scrimp on the thread.  The inferior performance irritates me.  I want the time I can spend piecing and quilting to be productive.  I don’t want to fight with thread.

Likewise, if you see some really pretty old thread on those wonderful wooden spools at an estate sale or flea market or antique store, by all means buy them if they tickle your fancy…

And display them.

Don’t use them.

Older thread has a shelf life.  The thread that’s on the market now will still be useable 50, 60, or even 100 years from now because of the manufacturing process.  The thread that’s so proudly displayed at antique stores – not so much. If it readily snaps when you give it a tug, just display it and don’t put it in your machine.

What kind of thread do you use?  I like Aurifil.  I use it regularly. 

I love any of the Superior Thread products.  Bob Purcell and the Superior Thread Company have a wonderful website that offers more information on thread than any quilter could ever begin to comprehend.  If you’re ever at a quilt show and they’re vending, stop by their booth and plan to spend some time.  I’ve ordered from them for years and their customer service and products are second to none. 

And again, I’m not on staff at any company I recommend on this blog.  I have sewn and quilted for years and have tried lots of brands.  The brands that I mention on this blog are products that I use and adore. 

Finally, one last note.  I love folks to email me with questions.  I love folks to leave comments on my blog.  However, in the last several weeks, I’ve had advertisers leave comments plugging their products.  This is not what this blog is for.  If you advertise your website, product (even if it’s quilting related), I will report you as well as remove your comments.  If I can find a way, I will block you from this blog.  You have been warned.

Have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July!  We are the Land of the Free because of the Brave!

Love and

Rings, Petunias, and Rows

I have a bucket list.

At 53-years old, this is nothing unusual.  I  have a list of places I want to go and things I want to do before the children decide what home I need to go into before I spend what little inheritance they will inherit.  But aside from that bucket list, I also have a bucket list of quilts and other projects I want to make before I pass over to that great guild meeting in the sky.

For quilters like me who tend to be on the semi-professional end of the art (we quilt for ourselves and quilt demos for classes and stores), sometimes our projects tend to lean so much on the professional end that we forget to create just for fun or just because it's something we want to do. A double-wedding ring quilt has been on my list for years and I've never gotten around to making one.

Until now.

Several weeks ago I shared the fabric I had chosen.  I pieced the fabric into strips and then cross cut the strips so that all 416 strips looked like this....

 

I'm using the John Flynn method, so that meant that now I have to go back and take tiny "darts" into the squares.

 

 

I realize that for some "speed piecers" this may seem tedious.  For me, it's mindless sewing that allows me to listen to my audio books.  However, all those tiny, little darts and a freezer-paper pressing guide allow for beautiful arches.

 

 

And these arches snuggle right up to the "melons" and those concave and convex curves sew together easily with puckers or tucks.

 

 











It's a lot of work, but I do think that this bucket list quilt will be gorgeous when I get it finished.

 

I am really behind on my hand applique projects.  That little one-on-one experience between my thumb and the car door really slowed me down.  I sewed my bandage to fabric so many times I just gave up all handwork until I could take the Band-Aids off.  But I did manage to get my second block on the Country Inn finished this week - the Petunia Block.

 

 I was doing straight-up needle turn with this one, but the pieces are so big that I'm switching to freezer paper with the third one.  I really do enjoy these larger pieces of applique.

 

By the way, if you're interested in making the Country Inn Quilt or Quilting the Garden and you haven't purchased your book(s) yet, you may want to head on over to your local quilt store or Amazon.  I've heard through the grapevine that the publishing company that produced both books has been bought out and the new publisher has not committed to republishing either book.

 

Lastly, if you haven't heard, the Row-by-Row Experience has started!  I purchased my first row this week from Dragonfly in High Point.

 

This is a picture of what it will look like.  I hope to start on it this weekend.  I'm kind of proud of it...I had a little input with this row.  Patti Grubb did a marvelous job with this and I think it's really pretty. 

 

I also purchased my license plate.

 

At this point my plan was to list all the stores in North and South Carolina that are participating in the RBR.  However, this year there are so many!  In Guilford County, Calla Lilly, Ye Olde Forest, Studio Stitch, and Dragonfly are involved.  If you want to have the entire list, go to www.rowbyrowexperience.com/north-carolina and www.rowbyrowexperience.com/south-carolina.  There are also Facebook pages for the Row by Rows.  The experience lasts from June 21 through September 8, 2015.  There is a contest.  Create a quilt using at least 8 different rows, be the first person to bring the finished quilt to a participating quilt show and you win 25 fat quarters.  If you've used that shop's row in your quilt, you receive a bonus prize!

 

And let's face it...it's a wonderfully legitimate excuse to visit quilt shops.  Hope to see you at one!

 

Love and Stitches,

 

Sherri

 

 

 

Legacies and Legends

May 29 was my anniversary -- my 32nd wedding anniversary to be exact. 

Thirty-two years is a long time to be with one person.  I've lived with Bill 11 years longer than I lived with my parents and I've now lived longer in my adopted hometown of Jamestown longer than I lived in my actual hometown of Graham.

It doesn't seem possible.  These three decades and some have flown by. In that time we've had children and watched them grow up. In turn we have become grandparents of the two most adorable munchkins ever.  We've had careers of our own and now own our own business.

I guess life is what happens when you're busy...

So, to commemorate 32 years of marriage, I gave my husband this...

It's a lap quilt.  I wish I could say I spent months choosing the pattern and fabrics, but that would be an untruth.  I started this quilt as a charity quilt for my guild, but when Bill saw it, he loved the colors and commented that "I would like to have it.  It matches my den."

So there you have it.  By that point it was already quilted.  I put the binding on, put a label on the back, and gave it to him.  And he loves it.

Isn't that part of what your quilting legacy is?  People loving your quilts? I have written about your electronic quilting footprint and the importance of labeling your quilt, and I have mourned and griped about knowing nothing about the antique quilts in my possession. But that is just part of what you will be leaving behind as quilter.

The other part -- the "heart" part, if you will, is just how much people love the quilts you make and if you've passed the craft on to another generation. 

I've also written about the quilt that started me on this journey -- the simple utilitarian quilt my great-grandmother made.  From what my mom has told me, Grandma Perry would be appalled at my reverence for such a simple quilt.  It wasn't her best work.  But as I sleep under the quilt or refold it, there is a feeling I can't explain, a connection to my past and quilting history that is simply precious to me.

Whether Grandma Perry knows it or not, that is part of her quilting legacy to my generation and hopefully future quilters in our family.

Not every quilt you make will be perfect.  Not every quilt you make will be entered in a quilt show.  Not every quilt you make will win a fist full of ribbons.  But every quilt you make can be an expression of your love.  Quilts have a way of hanging around for decades after it's maker has gone to meet her Maker.  Every quilt can carry that legacy of care and concern and love. 

So yes, it is important who inherits your quilts.  I've always told my children that if my quilts ever end up in a thrift shop or antique store, I would come back and haunt them for the rest of their days in the worst way possible.  While some quilts are made to be used up and loved up, there are certain ones that are meant to be heirlooms and should be treated as such.  That is your right as a quilter to protect your legacy. 

And who knows?  Sometimes these legacies become legends.  Back in the 1800's when Jane Stickle began to make her quilt, I'm sure she had no idea how important that quilt would become to this quilting generation.  But that quilt with it's four-and-a-half inch blocks and kites and triangles has spawned quilt groups, Facebook pages, websites, blogs, books, and software.  In my guild alone there are at least five members who are making this quilt and three who have completed it. 

Dear Jane is a legacy and  a legend. 

Don't think that can't happen to one of your quilts.

Love and Stitches,

Sherri

Quarter Inch Importance

Ahhhh the elusive quarter-inch seam. 

Every standard American quilt pattern calls for it, as well as most Australian and European patterns.  It's importance is imperative in order to make blocks consistently come out the correct size.  It's almost taken for granted by most quilters.

But actually achieving it takes some time, practice, and planning.  The right needle position, presser foot, and sewing machine can and will vary.  It's a fact of quilting life. 

There are different feet and tips that can help any quilter achieve a consistent quarter-inch seam allowance.

Let's deal with the feet first.

If you have purchased a machine that was designed with quilters in mind, you probably possess a quarter-inch foot, such as one of these:

My primary piecing sewing machine is my Janome 7700.  These are the O2 feet that come with them.  The black phalange on the right side lines up with the edge of the fabric and when my needle is in the first position, I get a consistent quarter-inch seam.

 

 

If your machine didn't come with a quarter-inch foot, consult your sewing machine dealership or search the internet to see if there is one available that fits your shank (high or low).  It will be money well spent, and they're not too expensive anyway.

 

There is another foot I use when I'm piecing a quilt that has lots of seam intersections, and that's my walking foot.

 

 

As you can see it's a bit larger than a typical foot.  It has a slot underneath the foot where the dual feed device fits in ...

 

This dual feed device literally helps "walk" the foot over the fabric (even thick fabric areas where several seams converge) so that the material doesn't slip and you end up with mismatched seams.  I have friends that only piece with their walking foot. 

 

The problem with this foot is that the quarter-inch mark is not clearly notated on the foot.  The best way to find this spot on any foot is to take a strip of fabric and accurately mark a quarter-inch line away from the edge.  Position this where your needle will intersect with it perfectly and use a Sharpie to mark that spot on your foot. 

 

If you have any doubt that any of your feet are hitting that quarter-inch seam allowance perfectly, there is a way to check it.  Cut three strips of fabric, two light and one dark, exactly an inch-and-a-half wide.

Sew them together with the dark strip in the middle.  Press the seams towards the dark strip.

Now measure the center strip.  At this point, the center strip should measure exactly one inch wide.

 

If it doesn't, you can play with your needle positions.  Even the most basic sewing machines should be able to move your needle position to the left.  My Janome can move my needle several different ways -- right, left, and center.

When you find that spot on your presser foot, be sure to mark it and make note of your needle position.

 

If your quilts contain lots and lots of pieces where seams have to match and  points can't be cut off, you may also want to invest in a walking foot.

 

There is another quarter-inch seam that is sometimes called for in some quilt patterns and that is the scant quarter-inch seam.  This means that it's not quite a whole quarter-inch seam.  It's a thread or two short of that amount. 

 

How do you know if you need to use a scant quarter-inch or a regular quarter-inch seam?  Sometimes the pattern will tell you.  If the fabric used is thick, a scant quarter-inch seam will probably be needed. And the more pieces a quilt block has, the better the chance that you need to use a scant quarter-inch seam.  But sometimes, you have to make the first block to find out.  If you make the block and it comes up short of the unfinished size required, make it again using a scant quarter-inch.  Press the block and re-measure.  If it's the exact unfinished size required (the size needed for each block before they're all sewn together in the quilt), then a scant quarter-inch is needed.  And you probably want to make a note of that on your quilt pattern for future reference. 

 

If you've done all this, and your block is still a smidge too small, try pressing all the seams open.  It will give you an additional 1/8th to 1/4th of an inch. 

 

All of this gives grounds to the argument that everyone should make a sample block out of scraps and measure it before proceeding to use the actual fabric intended for the quilt.

 

There is a scant quarter-inch foot.

 

This foot is called the "Little Foot." I don't think it comes with any sewing machine.  It can be ordered through the Big Foot website.  You have to know if your machine is a high shank or low shank and that information is usually found in your sewing machine manual.  Janomes and Pfaffs take a special type that is indicated as a low shank for Pfaffs, Janomes, and other machines that use snap-on feet. 

 

This foot is worth every penny.

 

And please remember, anything I promote in my blog, I do so because I use it and like it.  I am not recompensed in any way from any company.

 

Speaking of...Nancy's Notions has a really great seam guide out.

 

 It helps with all seam sizes and button holes.  You may want to grab one of these jewels.

Getting My Tops On....

For those of you who worked on At Piece with Time with me, I got my center together week before last...

I really like the way the teal setting triangles and squares made the blocks pop.  I am looking for a coral color for the inner border and already have my outer border fabric.  I'll go fabric shopping next week.  But I'm very pleased that this part is complete.

Now, those of you that know me or have followed my blog for awhile know that about three years ago, I undertook a Jane Journey.  Several of us at Dragonfly's Tuesday Night Sit and Sew decided to make a Dear Jane Quilt.  Of that group, two have completely finished and I'm coming in a distant third.  Every week, for at least one day a week, I would complete at least one Dear Jane block.  Some weeks I would do two or more if the blocks were easy.  When I would go on a trip, I would pack several of the blocks that required applique. 

So here it is, a good three years  and 169 4.5 x 4.5-inch blocks later, I have my center.

My Jane is made out of feedsack reproduction fabric.  I'm not hype on the Civil War reproduction fabric that is normally used.  It's a little too dark for my liking.  I have started working on the kites and triangles for the border, but that work, like the blocks will be slow and steady.

For those of you that have been so kind as to ask, my cold is better.  I'm still a little congested, but overall I feel much better.  And the thumb that had the up close and personal experience with my car door is better too.  It's just about completely healed.  I don't even wear the bandage any longer at home.  The nail has just got to grow out a little more.

Next week I hope to have a completed quilt to show you. 

Until then, Love and Stitches...

Sherri