Courthouse Steps Quilt

Today at the quilt shop where I work, a customer brought this jaw dropping quilt in to find a backing.

 

We all just stood there speechless as we oohed, and awed!

 

The blocks measure approximately 5", and we figured it was made in the 1930's.

 

It was bought at a garage sale for $10!!!!!

 

We all wanted to take it home.

Tonight I will be dreaming of making these little blocks...and if I can't sleep I just might have to make some.



Ta Da!...a new pattern

I've been hard at work this past week finishing up this fun new pattern...

just in time for Valentine's Day.

This little quilt measures 26" x 30" and is super easy to make.   The heart is made with a strip of fabric cut on the bias.  The edges are raw and are snipped to make it have a frizzled look.  The banner is made using Osnaburg fabric (a type of linen), ribbon, and attached with buttons.  The border is made up of prarie points...and with my easy to follow pattern with diagrams anyone can make it...even a beginner.  The fabrics I used are from Amy Butler's newest collection...I just adore her designs.  To purchase or for more information click on pattern.



Show and Tell Tuesday

This morning my Ipod 'blinged' and I ran over to see
who sent me an email...it was a new post by Angela Walters from "Quilting is My Therapy".  She is an amazing quilter who has published two books on quilting designs, and she is a teacher.

I'm linking up with her post today because she had some really good advice when it comes to compliments on our work...basically she said her 'rule' in class when she is teaching is...if someone says your quilt is beautiful...

just say 'thank you'. 

DO NOT POINT OUT THE FLAWS.

To my dear students...I think this is my new rule. ;)

It must just be human nature for us to not be able to take a compliment without first pointing out the defects...when most, if not all, the time no one will see the defects but the maker. 

We need to learn to take the compliment as a gift, and just say 'thank you'.

Should I pre-wash my Fabric????

This morning at 3am I woke with a sense of panic...I didn't think anyone was breaking in the house, my kid's were fine, my husband was sound asleep too...I was panicked because I thought I could possibly slowly be  poisoning my family or increasing our risk of cancer with my HUGE fabric stash because I am not washing the fabrics when I bring them home from the store!  I know, this may sound absolutely crazy, but I was so worried.

You see I do have a lot of fabric and I do realize the fabric is treated with lots of chemicals in the construction process and I do not wash my quilting fabrics when I bring them home for several reasons:

1.  I love the way it feels when it hasn't been washed.

2.  I'm anxious to use it and don't want to take the time to wash.

3.  I hate the way washing the fabric makes the raw edges all frizzled.

4.  The fabric always gets so balled up in the washing machine and dryer.

But...I'm really starting to think that for the health of my family I should wash my fabric when I bring it home and commit to washing a little bit of my stash each week.  Which should result in less quilting fabric chemicals floating thru the air in my house.

I would love to have your thoughts on this matter.  Please tell me if you wash/not wash, or if you have any great tips.

Happy Washing!  janae'

How to Make a Circle for Applique...Show and Tell Tuesday

I have so much fun teaching applique...I know sometimes making a circle when appliqueing can be a bear. Hopefully this tutorial will take some guess work out of the process. It a very simple process and the result will be a perfect circle every time. This method would work for any size circle.

Step 1

Cut the desired size circle out of a thin cardboard or card stock.

 Step 2

Trace circle onto fabric using the template just made.  I used a Pilot Frixion Pen which draws a nice dark line and disappears with heat.  Roughly cut circle out leaving at least a 1/2" of fabric beyond pen line.

 Step 3

Lay template onto circle.

 Step 4

Using an iron, press edges of fabric over edge of template.

 Continue around circle until all edge are pressed over.

 Step 5

Using a sewing machine or needle and thread, sew a basting stitch around the edge of the circle.  A basting stitch is a very big stitch.  One in which can be snipped and removed very easily.  Also, trim seam allowance down to 1/4" if desired...this removes some of the bulk to the circle.

 Step 6

Press circle with iron...now it's all ready to applique to a piece of fabric.

Step 7

After appliqueing circle to fabric, very carefully remove basting stitch.

Oregon Garden Quilt Challenge 2013

I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  Yes, it does rain, but nothing like when I lived in Alaska...now it can really rain up there.  With all our rain comes a beautiful green lush landscape with lots of flowers and gorgeous gardens...which is what you will find when you visit the Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon, especially in the Spring/Summer months.

The Garden is hosting a quilt show at the end of January...

and along with the show comes a Quilt Challenge.  "I'm always up for a good challenge".

...they pick a focus fabric
...a 1/4 yard of the fabric must be used in the quilt
...the quilt can only be 36" square or smaller
...and it must pieced, quilted, and bound

The focus fabric is the bright yellow with pink Iris.

I chose a chevron pattern for my little quilt then cut out some of the iris and sewed them on the top with a raw edge, clipped the edge and made it look frizzled.

I  love my little quilt and even if it doesn't place I can't wait to get it back and hang it in my newly painted kitchen.

Stop by and see the show...it's January 25th, and 26th.

Show and Tell Tuesday....and Serger LOVE!

Happy New Year my dear readers...I'm really excited for this new year, new possibilities, new patterns, and new goals, oh, and did I happen to mention a new Serger!  Well, new to me...I found one that is used, but in very good working order.  It's a Viking Serger and it has about 11 stitches.  I am having a blast sewing with it.  I've already serged 8 pillowcases and made my daughter swim shorts.  I'm still learning what my new machine does, but I can tell you it has already been so nice to have...and I've only had it about a week. 

 

I had talked to my friends at Whitlock's Sewing and Vacuum store to let me know when they received a trade in and two days before Christmas they called and said "you better come quick, this machine won't be here long"...I ran downtown and snatched it up, came home, finished the pillowcases for Christmas presents, then 4 days later sewed my daughter the swim shorts.

 

I don't have a picture of the pillowcases, but I just did a simple 3 thread rolled hem on the inside seams.  This finished the cases so nicely...no frayed seam on the inside...Yay!

Then I set out to make the shorts.  I had purchased the green swimsuit fabric at The Rain Shed, and the pink from Joann's and also grabbed some swimsuit elastic.

 BUT...the most important thing I found was this fantastic double needle. I didn't even know they existed until someone at The Rain Shed introduced me to it. This little needle is amazing. And the best part about it is...it fits on a normal home machine like mine.

 

 

The double needle sews two straight lines of stitching on the front and on the back is a zig zaggy stitch...which helps the fabric stay stretchy.  I feel like the double needle turns a regular sewing machine into a serger for lack of a better description.  I was jumping up and down with joy over this needle discovery.  You should really try it!  you will be amazed.  And so handy for making a hem or attaching elastic to a skirt or pant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only thing you really need is for your machine to be able to hold two spools of thread on the top.

This photo shows you the beautiful work on my serger...my sister says I'm now performing lots of  "Sergery"...she's so right! :)

I found a really good pattern for the swim shorts by Kwik Sew...also purchased at The Rain Shed

I am beginning to realize it's not easy to find swimsuit patterns, but this one is a keeper.