It's a mystery..........

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Sophie

Happy Birthday to you.

Princess Sophie is 13 today.  She is the special girl that lives
in Irene's home.  She is beautiful and that's me saying that and we
have the most beautiful cat in the world.  LOL

part two.

Remember these from last fall...........

Source: Uploaded by user via Bev on Pinterest

these fabrics were my choices for the mystery quilt.  Charleen and I both chose the same line and we are enjoying this cliff hanger we go through every month.

Clue one was simple and quick.  Do a bit of cutting and put them all away for the future.  We handled that well.

Source: Uploaded by user via Bev on Pinterest

November had us cutting and sewing and cutting and sewing.  It doesn't seem to take long to get these clues done and its fun.

This is just part of clue 2....................well, I can't tell you everything.  Its a mystery you know.

 

December we had to make arrangements to pick up our clue earlier in the week.  Karen obliged and we got it done before the holiday season rolled around.

Source: Uploaded by user via Bev on Pinterest

January we went to class and got clue 4.  This is going together nicely.  I am loving the looks of it already.  Clue 4 took me almost a whole day to put together.  There was cutting and lots of sewing involved.  When I wrote this, I still had some pressing and some trimming to do.  I wanted all the sewing done as I can sit in the evenings and do this little bit of work.

Source: Uploaded by user via Bev on Pinterest

To sew part of this clue we had to sew 5 long strips of fabric together.

When or if you ever have to do this, **make sure you sew two strips together starting at one end and then when you add the next strip start at the other end.  You won't have "wavy" lengths if you do it this way.**

So that today's column doesn't run on and on and on I'm going to pick up here tomorrow with a good tip on doing those l-o-n-g strips.  It never fails to work.

Going back.......

this is the column that popped up last Tuesday by mistake.  Some have read it, others have not.

to Christmas a couple of years ago.  Kristina called and said "you will never guess what Cody wants for a gift."  I said..."oh boy, tell me".  I knew it was going to be good..................her voice said it all.

a sock monkey!!!!!

He was 15!!!!!

but that was what he wanted.

"Mom could you please make him one?"

I could hear the pleading in her voice.  Here he is once again gracing the pages of the blog.

Our youngest wanted one too, but I said that could be a sew day with Grandma when the Christmas break was on from school.  They all agreed.  In the meantime, things changed.  Morgan's teacher made it a class project but readily admitted she didn't have a clue how to make it.  That was the understatement of the year. 

I wish I had taken a before shot of poor old George but I didn't.  He didn't have a "sit down upon", he didn't have enough stuffing, he was just a mess.  I took some stitching out and gave him more legs and Morgan gave him more stuffing.  I made the tail because there was no way this poor child could do it.  The socks were way too small to start with.  You really have to use men's socks.

Anyway, we got it done.  The girl loves her George....................all monkeys are called George, aren't they?

He has teensy tiny ears, and no hat.  Neither monkey has a hat.  It is something that is a pain to make and unless you sew it on, will be lost forever.  Our boys do have scarves.  One is knitted and the other cut quickly from a piece of flannel.  I better get the needles out and start one for Morgan's monkey.  I believe I promised her one.

The instructions are still out there on the web.  I don't know why they aren't in mass production in some place of the world.  They are back in popularity.  Here are the instructions I used, if anyone in your family would like one.  I know Irene is going to make them for her grands and another gal I know is considering it.  Its a fun project.

http://www.supersockmonkey.com/catalog/howtomake.html

You will notice the print on the page has become larger.  I was having trouble reading what I had typed up, so I went in and enlarged the type. (yes, I had my glasses on.)  I hope now I won't haev as mnay typo's and you won't have as many porblems reading the blog.

I know, I put those few in on purpose.

Easy math........

Before I begin today, I must apologize. On Tuesday in my haste to get off the computer when I saw Charleen coming down the road (it was our sew day), I accidentally published a column that shouldn't have been up until next week.  A few of you got to read it, while others are now sitting in anticipation of it.  Ah, well, its wait and see for those of you that came on too early or too late.  Now that's a teaser if I ever saw one!!!

I was chatting to a friend on the phone the other day seeking some information from her in regards to our upcoming quilt show.  When I got my info, she asked me a question which fortunately I did have the answer for.

She has a beautiful focal fabric that she is going to use in a quilt.  She has 6 blocks cut at 12 1/2" and now she wants to add a nine patch to it.  How big do I cut the fabrics for the nine patch?  A nine patch is quite simply a block that consists of nine other blocks.

Here is an easy formula for you.  There are 3 blocks across in a nine patch...............see that, count them.  That is all you have to consider. The large block is cut 12 1/2" so it will finish at 12".  Here you go.

Finished size of large block......12" divided by the number of blocks in the top row of the nine patch ...3 which gives you the size of one block.....4".  You have to remember to add seam allowances so your cutting size is 4 1/2"
                             

Therefore:    12" ÷ 3 = 4"..............add the seam allowance.......cut 4 1/2"

It doesn't matter which it is, it will work for all blocks.

A large block of 16" with a 4 patch is 2 blocks

16" ÷ 2 (in this case) = 8.............therefore cut the block 8 1/2"

Prove it.....................8 + 8 = 16

Remember to only count across the number of blocks in one row.  2/3/4, doesn't matter.

These are 16" blocks with a 16 patch.  Count the number of blocks across the top row of the patchwork block.  Its 4.

16" ÷ 4 = 4".......................cut your blocks 4 1/2".

It gets a bit trickier when you have 15" blocks and you divide by 4 as you come up with 3 3/4" finished and then you have to add 1/2".............now you are working with fractions.  I love fractions and decimal points in school.  I excelled in them as a matter of fact.  I must have known I would need them later on in life.  Anyway the answer to that is.....................4 1/4".

Use a calculator if you have to.  It is actually quite easy, although you will have to convert that fraction to a decimal point.  (No, I'm not going to give another math lesson.)

*** TIP....Finished size of block divided by the number of blocks in the patchwork block from the top row only and you have the size of the finished block.  Add your seam allowances and bob's your uncle.......off you go now to cut those blocks.***

Choosing fabrics

 seems to be very difficult for some people, for others its a walk in the park.  For me its my favourite part of quilt making.

When I worked in the store and someone was selecting fabric and had not a lot of confidence in doing so, I would ask them their favourite colours.  Then I would tell them to look around the store to find a fabric that they really, really liked.  Sometimes it didn't have any of their favourite colour in it at all.  It spoke to them, as we say.  I wanted the fabric to have lots and lots of colour in it, not one with only two or three.  Something like this............

Take a look at the possibilities in this one fabric.................black, grey, green, oranges, magentas, white/cream and all the variations of said colours.  This is one magnificent piece of fabric.

Lets do a table runner.  Blocks are on point with sashing and cornerstones, maybe.  This is the border fabric.  I've used EQ to make this up. 

add some sashing and cornerstones next.....................








Now let's fill in the those empty spots.

Start pulling from the colours in your border. 

This is alright, but the one below is so much better.













Let's get them all on here.  All these colours are found in the border fabric.  All of them.  Where you place them is up to you.  You can have cornerstones or you don't have to.  Without gives it a stained glass look.   

 

When choosing fabrics, lay the border fabric on the cutting table and then search the store for co-ordinating fabrics. Open up the bolt of fabric you are using for your border.   Keep stacking them and then step back.  Step way back and look at your choices.  Do they flow?  Do you like the appearance of them?  Is there one that you just don't like.  Then take it out and find another.

Be prepared to spend some time when selecting fabrics.  Don't be in a hurry.  It can take an hour. sometimes more to find that perfect flow. 

I was down at my local shop last week and I knew this red fabric was what I wanted.  Then I looked for a co-ordinate.  I took three different bolts off the shelf and then I stepped back and took a good look at the shelf where I knew I should be finding the fabric I needed.  I spotted it right away.

If you find you are having problems with selecting fabrics, ask at the store for help.  Every good sales assistant can help you pick what you like.

If still in doubt, pick a line of fabric and go with that. 

If picking from your stash, start the same way as above, pick out your border and start selecting fabrics in the same colours as printed on the fabric.  Don't stick with one colour in many shades.  It will be dull, dull, dull and look what "pops" out.

That fabric I selected..................I'm making sewing machine organizers and this

http://www.connectingthreads.com/Patterns/Caddy_Pad_Pattern__D55622.HTML

Now I must say this before I stop for today.  Choosing colours in the store is much easier than finding them in EQ.  I did my best to show examples of what I think works and what I think doesn't work, but doing it Live and in Colour is best.

Where do I start?

I had an email from a friend the other day asking about blocks of the month.  Where do I start?  How do I start?  She quite possibly wanted to ask why do I start, but she didn't.

Where do I start?  I take a good look at the photo of the quilt that is usually provided and go from there.  I don't think I've ever done a BOM that I've known what the blocks will look like until they are posted each month.........................I can't think of one anyway.  From that I take a look in my stash and most times I can find something that works.
I can usually come up with a background fabric.  I either play it safe with a cream/white fabric or choose a subtle colour.  I've turned fabric over and used the back so the print faded away.  I'll see if I can get close ups and give you samples. (hmmmmm, these worked!)  From that I decide on the sashings, if there are any, because I want things to flow.  I just don't like it when I look at a quilt and something there makes it the focal point and it shouldn't be.  If I'm pulling from my scraps I'll audition fabrics on my flannel wall, but we'll talk more about that another day.

actually a soft turquoise

backside of fabric

a print and a plain sewn together

I don't usually choose the border until its time and then I try to continue the flow.  (By the way, I didn't choose the fabric for the "crow block".  My friend Irene told me about it.  It's from Connecting Threads.)

Another question asked was do I pick a colour theme or mix it up?  That's hard to answer really.  This time I did pick a colour theme, but I have the advantage of knowing the blocks.  I chose white which is not my first choice at any time.  I'm not a fan of white................it's too stark, too cold.  It looks like snow!!!  It also looks like mashed potatoes which is a lovelier thought.  I want to use fabric up and this colour was what I had a lot of.

Fall always conjures up visions for me of oranges, yellows, reds, greens.  A fall green is a different colour that a spring green. 

Spring colours are fresher, like a new beginning.  Purple crocuses, yellow daffodils, tulips in every colour under the sun.

Summer to me says "red", as in hot, hot, hot.  Green again but another shade of it.  Yellow for that bright beautiful summer sun.  Hazy blue because we tend to get a lot of smog now.  Too many automobiles and not enough walking.  Signs of the times.
Winter is stark and cold in my part of the world (well, its suppose to be, this winter being the exception).  Blues, greys and whites come to mind.  Take a look at the sky in all four seasons.  Have you ever noticed the different shades of blue?  A winter sky is always bluer than a summer sky in Ontario. The sky on the prairies is always a brighter blue that ours.  The sky over PEI is a different colour too. 

Nature has the best palette for colour you will ever come across. This is the sky over PEI one day last July.  Look how many different shades of blue are in the photo.  Now count the greens.  They all flow too, don't they?

 

Think about what the designer has told you so far about the quilt.  Did she say its a calendar quilt?  Think 12 months of the year.  Did she mention something about spring/fall/summer/Christmas?  Think in those colours.

Sometimes I see a BOM that I think will be a great idea to start.  And I do start.  And I do one block and think, this isn't for me, so I don't do anymore.  I just did that with a BOM.  I decided I didn't really like what was happening.  I dropped it like a hot potato.  The block I did?  I put it in the garbage, that's how impressed I was.  It wasn't fit to be a pot holder.  It was a learning experience because I did something on it, I've never done before. 

Some little pointers for you when doing a BOM. I wouldn't find anything each month if I wasn't organized.  A place for everything, and everything in its place.............

1.  Keep everything together in one place so its easily found.

2.  Keep all the patterns in a folder so you can find them.

3.  Keep all the thread, embroidery floss together until the whole quilt is finished.

4.  Keep snips, seam ripper, needles, marking pens, rulers, in the box as well.  It will save time each month if you don't have to go searching for what you need.  Ask me how I learned that lesson.

5.  Mark the date on the calendar that the blocks will be published. You can keep track on your computer calendar too.   Some are available all year, others only for the month they are given out and then you have to buy them.
6.  Try to use up the scraps in your stash instead of buying fat quarters for one tiny little piece.  You aren't getting rid of much fabric, if you have to go out and buy more.  I'm trying desperately to rid myself of some fabric.  Its not working!!!
7.  Tuck a notebook in your box.  Write yourself little notes about what is important to you in regards to the BOM.
8.  If you do a blanket stitch around your fusible web, mark down the length and width of what you used.  Your blocks will look better if the stitching is consistent in each one.  I even keep track of which sewing machine.  For some I write down whether I used my 1/4" foot or I moved the needle over to 1/4". 

9.  Read all the directions carefully.

Good luck with your BOM's.  I really enjoy doing them. 

   

Hedwig

You remember her don't you?

I purchased this little gem, from Sewing Machines, etc., in Burlington, On, way back last July and I've had lots of time to really work it.

I did get the book out to  learn how to thread it.  There are two little  "thingies" up on the top and I wasn't sure about them.  One for sure is for winding the bobbin, a universal bobbin by the way.  The system they have developed with this machine for bobbin winding is fabulous.  I have never had a bobbin wind badly.  Bonus #1



I've used several of the stitches, some for fun and one especially because it is my favourite ~~ the blanket stitch.  I use it a lot and adjusting the stitches is as easy as 1, 2, 3.  Just press the button for the stitch and then do your width and length. 






I gave it a work out at a UFO day last fall.  I bought this machine for workshops so I took it with me along with all my work for the day.  I wanted to make some sewing machine organizers for the upcoming quilt show.  I put the walking foot on that I bought for my Sapphire. I didn't have to buy another foot which I appreciated, because at $90 I really don't want to spend that kind of money.  I cannot say enough about how well the machine performed.  It went through the layers like it was melted butter.  Bonus #2

I needed the storage box Miss Birdie was stored in and as the weather had turned cold, which means my basement is cold, I set Hedwig up in the back bedroom.  I sewed the blocks together and then the rows.  In some places the layers are 8 fabrics deep.  I didn't have the walking foot on, just the 1/4" foot, but the machine took it in stride.  There was no hesitation with it going through all the layers.  Bonus #3

The only thing I can say against this machine is the spool holder.  It does not stand upright........always horizontal, never vertical.  That means I can't put a cone on the machine. 
I figured that out though.  I've order the new Superior Thread Cone Holder.  I'll put my cones on that and set it at the back and the thread the machine as usual.  That will work.

Now I can't say how well this machine will free motion quilt as I don't have a free motion foot for my Sapphire.  I broke it when that machine was acting up.  I bought the Mega Quilter so no need for it.  I did ask about it and it was recommended to only use it for small projects.  Just in case you were wondering.

If you are looking for a light weight machine that goes the distance, I highly recommend this machine.  It's going to stay upstairs for the rest of the winter.  The foot pedal doesn't get as cold in the back bedroom so therefore, my foot doesn't get cold.  I came up with a  solution for that too.

I sew with one shoe off and one shoe on.  I can feel the foot control better with a stocking/bare foot.  I knitted myself some slippers, so I slipped those on my feet the other day and it worked out really well.  No cold toes for me.  I hate cold toes.  Once my toes are cold, my whole body is cold and you never get a hot flash when you need one.


By the way, this would make a great beginner sewing machine too.  I'm keeping that in the back of my mind for some little person who likes to sew.  I think I'll let her use it the next time she comes over.

Hedwig, peace in battle..........we haven't had a battle yet, don't think we are going to.

I mentioned at the beginning that I purchased this little gem at Sewing Machines, etc., in Burlington.  What I failed to also mention is that if you ever need service on your machines ~~ any machine ~~ give them a call.  They do fabulous work in servicing all makes and models.  I did a feature on the store awhile back but you can check it out here.

The baby quilt

I have a favourite baby quilt pattern.  I have only made it once and was thrilled with the outcome.

Remember this?

It is called Watching the Caterpillar and it was created by Eye of the Needle.  It is no longer available.  This is going to become my "go to" quilt to make for new babies.  I love it!!!!  It was time to pull the pattern out again last week and get ready to make it up once again.  I remembered I had taken photos of each block that I made  ~~ close ups so I could see the machine quilting I did.  I am so glad I did.

** TIP.....I have now printed off all the photos I took of this quilt and I have tucked them into their own envelope inside the pattern.  Now it will be readily available for all the quilts I make.**

I didn't quite make the pattern................surprise, surprise!  It calls for a thousand little scrap blocks for one of the borders, but I find that distracting so I just made up the borders on quilt number one as I went along.  This time I actually went into EQ and printed off the cutting instructions.  This quilt will be slightly different than the first one.  (I'll post a photo of the actual quilt once it is done.)

The real reason for today's posting is to tell you about the thread I purchased for the blanket stitch around the animals.  I emailed Anita of Cotton Mill Threadworks about a week ago and told her I needed three spools of thread (cones actually) and what I wanted them for.  **TIP.....Always always give people heads up what you are going to do with their product.  They have the knowledge and they know what is best for your needs.**

I needed a black and a neutral for regular stitching and I wanted a black for the blanket stitch.  This time I wanted the stitch to be seen, not to fade away once its on the animals.  I drove over to Anita's on Friday afternoon and had another "thread class".  I learn something new every time I go.  Anita suggested one of the NEW BRYTES, by Superior Threads in black.  Wow, do I love this thread. 

My blanket stitch looks amazing.  I used a 4 length and a 3.5 width for the large areas of the animals,

however, for the smaller areas I made the width only 2.5, same length though.   

You don't use a bobbin thread, you use a thread about the same weight ( #30) in the bobbin.  You could actually put the black thread off the spool onto the bobbin, but I used a regular thread I had on hand.  No one is going to see the inside of the quilt and I didn't want to use up my thread.

This time while making up the quilt I'm keeping notes all the way through. I have every intention to make this quilt again and again and its much quicker to have the information on hand than to start designing the quilt every time I make it.

Once the notes are all compiled I'll put them in the envelope with the pattern and the photos.  I will be taking photos once again of this quilt to have them on hand for comparison.

**TIP......This was taught to me when I took a machine quilting course a couple of years ago.  Remember this little dittie next time you are purchasing thread......

Forty is fine

Thirty is thick

The lower the number on the spool the thicker/heavier the thread.**

I know, I know

Christmas is over, but I have started for the one coming up.  I've joined the gift of the month club on my quilting forum and I'm doing my gifts one at a time, once a month. 

I have the greatest plans to make 7 embellished tea towels for the girls in the doctor's office.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to find cotton tea towels?  I checked Bed, Bath and Beyond (B, B & B in my house) and all they had were those micro fibre things.  I hate micro fibres.  I finally found some at Home Outfitters at the far end of town.  I bought a 3 pack to get started and start I did.
  This is one of them.  I can use two from the package.  100% cotton.  I love the feel of these.

I decided to do a snowman embellishment as that can be left out for the entire winter.  I have this one Nancy Halvorsen book that has the best snowman for this job.  It is actually suppose to be the "O" in Noel, but I'm dropping the n, e and l. 

I washed the towel, then pressed it.  Cotton tends to crease, so I spritzed it with water, then with spray starch and steam press.  The wrinkles were gone.  It works like a charm every time.   I laid the cut out fusible web on to the tea towel to make sure it fit before I proceeded with pressing the web onto the appropriate fabric. It fits.



Then I auditioned fabrics having problems with what I thought would work.  They didn't.  They faded away as if they weren't even there.  I choose these.............golds and greens and I know they will work because they "pop" off the fabric.
    I fused all the pieces together on a pressing sheet (1st photo) and then applied the whole thing directly to the towel.  After that was done I sat

at the sewing machine and did the blanket stitch around the whole thing.  When that was finished I added the embellishments................the snowflake, the holly, the eyes and the nose.  I glue everything on.  I take the hook off the back of the buttons with a pair of side cutters so it will sit flat.  I glue on the eyes............they are mini buttons I found at Michaels and the nose is a wooden heart painted orange.
I intend to wrap the girls gifts in these.  Two butter tarts for sure and whatever else comes to mind in December.  Only a few to go, but I have the towels in stock now..............not the same ones, but close enough.