Show and Tell Tuesday...is a no show

Taking a break today from 'Show and Tell Tuesday'...decided to paint my whole entire house (inside) right before the Holidays...what was I thinking. 

Be back soon...

Keep Sewing! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pondering this day of 'thanks'...I did a little research and I found a few facts.

• The first recorded religious Day of Thanksgiving was held in 1623 in response to a providential rainfall.
• In early autumn of 1621, the 53 surviving Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest.
• Abraham Lincoln began the tradition of an annual national Thanksgiving in 1863.

I am thankful that the Holiday is still observed and we can pause for a moment to reflect on our blessings.

 

As I reflect on the day...I'm reminded of those who may not see the Holidays as something to celebrate...people are hurting and this time of year can be very lonely.  Reach out and do something for someone in need...we all know someone who could use a little encouragement.

 

Like my pastor keeps reminding the congregation..."Everyone has a need, it may not be obvious on the outside, but we all do"...ask what that might be and help.

 

Enjoy your day...janae'

Show and Tell Tuesday...Bendable Ruler

I have discovered a new tool that is becoming my favorite...a bendable ruler.  I picked it up at an art store, it's 24" long (I think they come shorter), and it's BENDABLE! - the best feature ever.

 I was trying to figure out how to measure a pocket so that I could make one and the bendable ruler was just what I needed to figure out the size...perfect!

 The new pocket will go on a bag I'm making for a friend...the elephants are so fun.

Don't forget to pick up the free 'thread sac' pattern below!  Happy Sewing!  janae'

Free Pattern...the 'thread' sac

Last week I had the opportunity to go to one of my favorite quilt shops - Ladies of Liberty in Independence, Oregon - with my mother-in-law...we were meandering around the quilt shop looking at every thing and enjoying all the beautiful quilts and little sewing items when I saw this little 'thread catcher'.

I immediately wanted the pattern...come to find out there wasn't one...so I snatched up some very adorable civil war prints and ran home to figure out the pattern on my own and make one.

This little sac could be used for a lot of different purposes...the purpose for it in the shop was to catch loose thread so that the thread didn't end up on the floor.  I think I may make a dozen of them just to have in my sewing room for 'whatever'.

Here is the pattern!

 Materials Needed:
-         Outside fabric 12” square
-         Inside fabric 12” square
-         One 2 ½” strip of bias binding (approximately 21” long)
-         12” square of batting – I prefer a thicker batting to give it some poof, I used wool batting.
-         Heavy thread for gathering the bowl/paired with a large needle used for gathering.
-         Sewing machine
-         Hand sewing needle and thread to stitch down binding.

Sewing Directions:

1.    Trace an 11” diameter circle onto a piece of paper or paper side of ‘butcher’ paper, and cut circle out.  *Note: use a compass to make circle or just use a ruler and mark the four sides and connect the circle.  The circle does not have to be perfect. 
2.     Trace circle onto backside of one of the fabrics.  Layer outside fabric, batting, and inside Fabric – cut circle out of all three layers at one time.
3.      Layer inside fabric right side up, batting, and outside fabric right side down.  Pin edges to hold in place.
4.      Using heavy thread and large needle, hand sew a running stitch all the way around the outside of the circle, sewing thru all layers.  Stitch should be fairly big.
5.      Gather thread until sides are raised up to about 1” or the height you desire.
6.       Knot off thread.
7.       Fold and press bias binding in half.
8.       Sew binding onto the outside of the sac by matching raw edges of binding and top of sac.  At the start and stop of the binding, fold binding into a triangle to hide the raw edge.
9.       Flip your little sac wrong side out and hand stitch the folded edge of binding down to the inside fabric – hiding your stitch line.
10.    When done with stitching, flip sac to the right side out and smooth the inside.  Your little sac is ready to be used.  It certainly can be used for a lot more than just thread. J  Hope you enjoyed the process!

Enjoy...happy sewing. janaé

 

How to finish a quilt top...while the chickens cluck!

It's chilly outside today here in Salem, Oregon...my cat was crying "please open the window, please open the window", so I gave in.  As my kitty sat in the cool breeze of the morning I could hear my neighbor's chickens clucking away...I am "wishing for chickens myself", but that will happen in time.  It was fun to hear them clucking to each other while my cat was twitching her ears listening.  Did I happen to mention I live right in town and there's chickens next door...crazy!

Last night I finished up teaching a four week long class on 'beginning quilting' and shared with my students the different ways of finishing a quilt top. 

Today I will share those techniques with you.  Hopefully this will help in your 'quilting' journey.

When teaching beginners, I teach the quick turn/tie method for a quick finish.  I do go over machine quilting a tiny bit, but as you know if you have ever machine quilted a quilt, it's a BIG job - lot's of practice required!

Quilt Finishing Techniques

1.                   Tie method/No Binding

Make a QUILT SANDWICH:
*Note: backing and batting should be at least 2" bigger than quilt top.
a.         Lay Batting down first – tape corners with some masking tape to hold in place.
b.        Lay Backing fabric down – right side up…use one corner as your point of reference to line edges up with, this way you will have only two sides to trim later and bigger pieces of fabric leftover.
c.         Lay Quilt Top Down – right side down

Pin (3” apart) on all 4 sides of quilt sandwhich.  Sew all 4 sides of quilt sandwhich (use a ½” seam allowance and use quilt TOP as guide)…Leave a 10” opening on one side in the middle.

After sewing…trim all 4 sides to the ½” seam.  You mostly will only be trimming the batting and backing fabric.

Place arm thru opening and grab out one corner of quilt at a time, shake and wiggle quilt thru opening until it’s right side out.

Smooth quilt top and with a friend stretch on both sides of quilt to make sure quilt top and backing is laying smoothly with no curled edges.

Pin quilt top thru all layers in the spots where you will be tying.

Using pearl cotton thread and a rounded needle, tie quilt.

Close opening with needle and thread or ½” steam a seam.

2.                   Machine Quilt/requires binding

*Note: backing and batting should be at least 2" bigger than quilt top.
a.       Lay backing down first – wrong side up.  Tape corners with masking tape to hold in place.
b.      Lay batting on top
c.       Lay quilt top on top of batting – right side up.
d.      Pull back half of quilt and batting and spray (using quilt spray adhesive 505) BATTING, fold batting onto backing, spray top of batting and lay quilt top back down.  Repeat with other half of quilt and quilt will be spray basted and ready to machine quilt.
e.    Trim all four sides of quilt.
f.     Sew on binding.

3.                   Hand Quilt

4.                  Commission a long arm quilter

Blog Header...Thank u!

I give a very big Thank YOU to Megan at Red Pearl Designs for creating my new blog, website, and Etsy banner.  She does amazing work and is gifted in creating the perfect look for you.  And the best part is she is local here in Salem!  Yay!

Wool, Ribbon, and 'Happy"

Yesterday was a good day, although I'm sorry I did not post for show and tell Tuesday...I guess today will make up for it.

After work I took my daughter to Portland for Volleyball training...and after I dropped her off at the gym I went looking for coffee and I literally stumbled upon a place I've been wanting to go to forever...Pendleton Woolen Mill OUTLET!  Unfortunately, I arrived 8 minutes before they closed, but it did save me from spending way too much because I didn't have time to really shhhhhhhhop.

Unfortunately, I don't think the Outlet has an online store, but I did link to the Pendleton site for quick reference.  In a nutshell, the outlet has yardage of beautiful wool, ribbons, wool roving, yarn, zippers, as well as some premade wool items, like bags, blankets, etc...

I, very quickly, ran thru the store and chose two pieces of wool, ribbon, and a bag of zippers (I got about 20 very long zippers for a buck).

 

I took a close up of the price because this in NOT what I paid.  For the plaid I paid $10, and the pink I paid $18.  Yay!

 The ribbons were so fun, I could have bought them all, but chose to refrain myself and only buy two.



Even 'Happy' got excited over the new purchases, so I had to take his photo too.

Have a very happy Wednesday!  janae'

Passions

I know without a doubt that we all have things we are passionate about and I wanted to share one of the many things that I have a passion for...buying local and homemade.

For many years I have made items to sell at craft bazaars.  Many of you can relate to the very long hours of hard work that you put into getting your craft items ready right up to the very last minute!  I remember sewing handbags on Christmas Eve to fill orders all the while thinking "I will never do this again, I will never do this again..."

So I know how much work and tears go into getting ready for a craft show/holiday faire/Etsy shop, etc...

Forgive me one moment while I step onto my 'soapbox'....  I will say this loud and clear "MAKE A CHOICE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO BUY HOMEMADE" we need to support the men and woman who are working so hard to make a living selling their creative wares...I think especially of all the stay at home parents who need a form of income.  Stop in to a local craft bazaar and buy your holidays gifts from the local vendors.  You will be supporting something made in the US, you will be supporting a local crafter, you will be boosting the crafter's self esteem, in most cases you will be buying a product that is constructed better than something store bought, most likely you will be buying one-of-a-kind items as well, etc...

A friend of mine who makes beautiful aprons and bags told me today she is not sewing anymore for shows...I felt sad.  Her work is outstanding and she uses only the best fabric for her items, and they are all priced low.  I am pondering why she and others are not getting the sales they need to stay in business.  I know the economy is bad.  But we all still spend some money on birthday gifts and Christmas gifts so instead of buying from a store where who knows where the stuff is being made...hop on down to a local holiday craft bazaar or shop on Etsy this holiday season and spend your money there.  That's what I'm doing this year and I'm excited at the possibilities...if my family is reading this, don't worry...I won't be buying any crocheted TP holders, unless they're really cute, of course.  But I will be buying lots of wonderful soaps, aprons, washcloths, pillowcases, and whatever else homemade I can find.

 

Happy Shopping, Local and Homemade!

Tech Cover

Today I am sewing up a storm...okay not really a storm just a Tech Cover :)  It will go to Greenbaum's Quilted Forest for awhile as a shop sample and then I will get it back to use.  Yippee!   I used Denyse Schmidt fabric...I LOVE her fabric!

 

This is the pattern...

 I give the pattern a 3 out of 5...it's a bit confusing on the cutting and it calls for Foam Board for the lining.  That's just kind of strange to me...I used Craft Fuse instead.  I didn't Fuse it, I just cut it to size and placed it inside before stitching the bottom.  That way it is washable and it won't "break" like the foam board would.

 One of the other changes I made to the pattern was using a piece of 1/4" elastic instead of ribbon for the closure...I paired it with a vintage button.

I'm off to sew a quick and easy table runner that I will share later.  Toodles!...janae'