To knot or not to Knot....

I find it difficult to remember to  KNOT when using the automatic thread cutter on my sewing machine when working on a quilting project I intend to enter into a quilt show.  It has become a habit to hit that button when piecing but for quilting a detailed project with lots of stops, starts and thread color changes it is an absolute no-no.  Actually, for any machine quilting you do you should always tie and bury your thread ends.
But how many of you quilters actually do?

I need to know if there is a special trick when using my machine with an automatic cutter or do I just have to train myself to STOP, raise the needle and pull at least six inches before trimming?

I'd love your input on how you deal with this situation. 

I Neeed Help!!! What to Do!! My Leftover Quilt Block Dilemma!

 

Just a few of the hundreds of blocks needing a purpose.

While cleaning out one of my many quilt closet’s I found a plastic container of quilt blocks. I hate to admit it but… I totally forgot about them.   I’m sure it was one of those ‘out of sight out of mind’ ‘let me forget’ moments when I placed them at the back and on the bottom of two stacks of tubs.  Unfortunately, they’ve been found.  Now I can’t get them out of my mind.  I’m a bit anal about finishing things (when I remember). 

Some of the many blocks from Block-of-the-Months from my shop.

I’ve accumulated quite a stash of orphan blocks from Block-of-the-Month samples from the shop, demos, step outs for both videos and the magazine.  I’ve managed to stuff them away and pretend they didn’t exist…well… until now.  I guess it’s time to deal with them.  I’m sure I have a few options.  The problem is when you’re making samples for a shop or a class it sometimes is something that you probably wouldn’t make otherwise.  My taste runs very different from what is trendy or very different from what I would use in my home therefore, my dilemma. What do I do with them!!!!

Oh My!! I have too many color options!

 

 

Part of closing my shop was and is dealing with all the leftover minutia. Sample quilts are making their way to some of my favorite charities for raffles and fundraisers, but…..those blocks…..

The one good thing about putting out a Quilter’s World Newsletter every three weeks is that I’m always looking for fun and useful quilting information or projects.  I like to help solve dilemmas.  I figure if I’m having issues with something…well maybe other quilters are too.  But with these blocks……I am drawing a total blank. 

What do you do with Orphan Blocks?????

If you’ve got some ideas for these blocks I’d love to hear about them.  Post your ideas.  If I use one I’ll mention you in this blog and the best idea gets a fat quarter collection. 

More blocks needing a home.

Keep Quilting!

Carolyn

Mugs Rugs and Batik Scraps

I can’t believe that my Learn to Make Quilted Mug Rugs book is still in the top  5 on Annie’s Website.  I so enjoyed doing that book and obviously many others have enjoyed it just as much. I found that it was the perfect way to use up my favorite scraps.  I have a tendency to save every piece of batik fabric no matter how small.  I actually sort by size more so than by color.  It’s amazing how many times I’ve found the perfect piece of batik for just the right project.  It’s times like these that I appreciate all those scraps. They are like pure gold. 

 

Photos by Annie's Publishing

 

If you’re a quilter with an over abundance of scraps you may want to check out my mug rug book.  It has a lot of options not only for mug rugs but also for place mats and skinny runners (a.k.a. Toilet Tank Toppers)  I just couldn’t use that term in the book.  But this comes with a warning……These can be addicting.  They’re sort of like potato chips….one is never enough.

Some of the Mug Rugs in Learn to Make Quilted Mug Rugs.

 

 

Photos by Annie's Publishing

 

 

 

 

Cell Phone Station Pocket

I love pinterest.  I find so many wonderful ideas on those pages. Ideas that sometimes solve annoying problems. Things that just make the light bulb go off in my head.   I've seen several different solutions to charging phones. So I've decided to try my luck at one.  I hope you'll play along!

I hate all the cords and plugs needed today for all the electronic gadgets in my life.  If I had it my way, there would be no cords or plugs.  Everything should just work and never stop.  Batteries should be outlawed.  But……until manufacturers agree with me and reinvent these gadgets without all the wired attachments I have to deal with them.  Lately, I’ve seen several cute and really smart ideas for chargers and the cords and since I’m always looking for awesome ideas to solve storage issues and also great uses for my scraps and stash I’ve decided to tackle a Cell Phone Station Pocket Organizer.  Come and play along with me. 

Cell Phone Station Pocket 

15” x 6” quilted rectangle
 to 2 strips of 2 ¼” x WOF (width of fabric) strips
1 – Grommet

The first thing I did was sort through some of my stash to find the right sizes I would need for the front and the back. Then a piece of scrap batting.  I found 3 – fat eighths leftover from another project and decided they would work perfect.  They all coordinated.   I layered the three and pin basted. 

  Then I free-motion quilted them together in a simple stippling pattern. 

Next I trimmed the quilted piece to a 15” x 6” rectangle. 

After determining how deep the pocket should be to accommodate my cell phone and cord and how much room I needed at the top for the grommet, (3 ½” inches from the top down to the top layer of the pocket) I was ready to start stitching.    

 

I cut a 6”piece of the folded binding I had prepared and stitched to the right side then folded to the wrong side and slip stitched it in place. 

I then folded the unit back so that I had my 3 ½” at the top.

Using a scant ¼” seam I stitched from the binding on one side down, across the bottom and back up the other side stopping after tacking the binding down.

I then added the binding starting at the bottom (fold). I turned up a ¼” at the beginning, then stitched up the side, across the top and down the other side again returning up a ¼” at the end.

 

 

Using a slip stitch, I then turned the binding the the back side and starting and the bottom and stitching around finished he edges of the pocket.

 

 

 Next, I needed to add the large grommet.  (By the way, I have several of these laying around in my sewing cabinet leftover from the big purse trend.  If you don’t have any of them you can find them in the curtain rod secton of most big box stores) Using the template in the package to center and mark my pocket for placement I used a water soluble pen.

I cut out the marked circle.

Following the easy instructions on the package I inserted the grommet

 

Now, I made this in an afternoon and I can’t believe how easy it was.  I bet I could make several of these and find uses for them all.  Not only for me but also for friends and family.  What a great idea.  Hmmm…..these could make clever gifts. 

Enjoy!                                                        

 

 

 

  

 

Step-by-Step Binding Tutorial - My Way

I’ve had many quilters ask me to revisit bindings.  It seems that the video I did for Quilter’s World magazine has been very popular.  I must warn you that I tend to do things a bit different than the conventional double-folded binding so if my way doesn’t appeal to you, well there are several great ways to do it.  How you choose to do your bindings is a personal preference so look around until you find the technique that appeals to you. 

 

Once your binding has been selected, stitched end to end to make the needed length and pressed in half its time to stitch it to the quilted and trimmed piece. 

1. The first thing I do is fold a 45 degree angle at the end of my binding to be attached to the quilted piece,  I open up the folded and pressed binding, fold a 90 degree which in turn makes the 45 degree angle then fold it back into place.  This creates a “pocket” for the finishing. 

2. Place the folded end pocket on the quilts raw edge you are placing the binding  on and pin into place.

 

 3. Start stitching at or before the 45 degree fold using a ¼” seam allowance and continue until you’re about an inch from the corner.  Stop and using a ruler mark the binding with a pencil ¼ inch from the edge. 

4. Continue to stitch to the ¼” line and stop with needle in down postion.

5. Raise presser foot and pivot, lower presser foot and continue stitching off at a 45 degree angle off to the point.

 

 

6 .Fold up the binding using the 45 degree angle as your guide.

7. Then fold the binding back down and align with the next side of the quilt.

 

8. Starting at the top of the second side stitch the binding into place again stopping about an inch from the next corner and repeat step 4 – 7 at each corner.

 

9. When you round the fourth corner and before you reach the binding pocket stop a few inches from the start and mark a diagonal line on the lose binding end so that there is a ½ inch overlap with the bottom attached pocket start. 

10. Trim to the line.

11. Tuck the loose diagonal point into the pocket and pin into place.

12. Continue to stitch along the raw edge until you’re back at the beginning and it is stitched all the way around. 

 

13. There should be a upside down “V” where the two end meet. 

14. Trim off the extra length of binding that was folded to make the pocket.

15. Your binding is ready to stitch down.  Starting on the front side of the binding bring your needle in from the back and slip stitch the diagonal seam together.

16. Slip stitch the diagonal seam together to the top edge.

 17. Flip the binding over to the back side of the quilt and finish stitching all the way around and bury your knot.

 

 

 

Ten Ways to Get a New Sewing Machine...

 

                                

Last summer, my best friend and faux sister, Laura, and I were brainstorming fun newsletter ideas.  You know those crazy ideas that start with a single crazy thought and grow.  It’s what good friends do when they get together.  It all came about because I was thinking about buying a new sewing machine. Not that I needed one, but if you’re a quilter, you know how that is.  What’s need got to do with it?  One idea lead to another and then we were off. Even the husbands joined in. 

I recently found our list and thought I’d share the craziness. It brought back good memories and…well, if you’re looking for a creative way to get rid of the old sewing machine and make way for a new one these are a few options you may want to consider.

Ten ways to dispose of your old sewing machine to make way for a new one.

1. Boat anchor – Tie your old machine to the boat anchor rope and throw it overboard.

                       

 

2. Machine chucking – You know what they do with pumpkins and a catapult.

3. Barb-a-que it! – Imagine your husbands surprise when he goes to check the burgers and finds your machine.

4. Yard Art (machine on a stick) – Wouldn’t it look great in your flower bed?

                                                                     

5. Target practice- Take a few pot shots at it.

6. Muscle man weightlifting – Donate it to the local gym.

7. Tenderizing meat – Drop it several times on your round steak. 

8. Turn it into a mail box ornament – attach it to your mailbox to let all know you’re a quilter.  Besides what a great decoration. 

9. Turn into a Christmas ornament – Hang it on your tree with a note telling Santa you need a new one.

10. Car hood ornament – Put it on your car to show the world your special talent.

 

Just a few great ways to repurpose that old machine and I’m sure you could come up with at least a dozen more if you wanted to.  And I need to add a disclaimer here…This is just for fun and not really a solution to disposing of your old machine.  This was just a group of very dear friends having a bit of fun.

 

Carolyn   

 

 

 

What To Do With 600 Quilts....

 

I seem to have a bit more time on my hands now and with that time I am concentrating  putting my quilting ducks-in-a-row.  Meaning, I plan to do more quilting, both in design and in actual stitching.  For the past fifteen years it’s been about the shoppe and/or the magazine and getting those patterns published.  It’s time for me to do more of what I want to do than what I have to do.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love what I do but……well…..I want to take it a step farther. I want to explore my options.  I want to quilt for myself.  Selfish as that may seem it’s what I want to do.  I want to take my time and make something fantastic, creative and without a deadline. Something special, challenging and just for me.

 

Now that our shoppe has closed and I am totally overwhelmed with how many quilts I actually have, I’ve opened a store on etsy.  I’m slowly listing some of the 600 or so quilts I’ve managed to make over the years that were in books, magazines, newsletters, store samples or quilts I just had to make.  If you’d like to visit my shop the address is   https://www.etsy.com/shop/VillageQuilt

 

Quilts sorted for my Etsy store.

 

 

I’ve also sorting a stack of quilts for my favorite charity, Genesys Health Foundation, I haven’t forgotten them.  I owe them so much. 

 

Quilts sorted for my charity. 

I will also be adding some of my patterns as PDF downloads in the coming months to the etsy store along with rebuilding our shoppe website.  It’s a work in progress.  As I’ve mentioned before, computers and I are not on the best of terms.  I choose to think it has to do with my age or maybe that I tend to be creative more that technical, so bear with me. 

If you have suggestions about… What to do with 600 quilts, I’m all ears.  I'm interested in your opinion.   Feel free to leave a comment. Let me know what you think.  What you’d like to see me address on this blog.  I want to craft a site for quilters about quilters.  A place to sound off, get information, share information and of course be inspired.  

 

After all, It Takes a Village…

Carolyn