Rolling a Quilt for Storage

I always folded my quilts and then to my wonder and amazement, Bonnie Hunter taught me how to ROLL one for storage or shipping.  It eliminates so many of those horrid creases that tend to follow along seam lines.  I mentioned this last month in my update (you can find that post HERE) and Sherry M. commented that she would to learn how to do this.  Well, with all credit to my friend, Bonnie, here is a quick tutorial on rolling a quilt for storage.

It seems appropriate to use one of Bonnie's quilts for this so here is Razzle Dazzle all laid out and ready to roll.

Those Paper Plates!!

I have invited Allison to do a guest post on the paper plate method that so many of you have asked me about.  Please welcome her and I have a note at the end for you to check out -

Okay, here goes . . . Allison Bayer here, guest poster at Deb's urging.  Those paper plates you see pop up in her posts?  That's me happily slogging through a mega-tiny-many-pieces-block that I need a bunch of to make a fantastically scrappy quilt.  This is the Tri-Rec unit from En Provence. I did two units per plate (because that is what fit -- no spill over or you can have a disaster).

Papa Bear Slipper Tutorial

My dear, sweet Mister wanted a pair of slippers and we searched all over the stores for what he wanted.  It appears that all slipper makers now believe that men want to go outside in their slippers and have put hard/walking soles on them.  That is NOT what he wanted and so I went through all the patterns I bought a few years ago when I had planned on making some.  As luck would have it, I found one for Papa Bear Slippers by Cool Cat Creations.  After showing it to him, he agreed that they would work.  Now fast forward to this week.

First things first:  A trip to the store for the fusible fleece and some sherpa for the lining.  Yeah, zippers are on sale too and I have an upcoming project for them along with the magnets.  Gotta get out of here.

Side Table Ironing Board

Last year we stopped at a local church garage sale and picked up a set of tv trays that are all wood.  I was determined at that point to make myself a set of ironing and cutting side tables.  Then they sat.  And sat.  And sat.  One took up residency next to my sweetie in his office, but the others just hung out.

I picked up the supplies a couple weeks ago and today seems like a good day to just get a simple project finished.  It will make me feel a wee bit better as I have been in summer camp sessions with my grands for over two weeks now.  A little TA-DA is in order.

Step one is to lay out the grey cover fabric with the right side down, top it with the Insulbrite and then I even add another layer of batting just to make sure the wood doesn't get too hot.  Now to place the tray table upside down on the whole little sandwich.

Seat Belt Shoulder Strap Cushions

While at retreat this week, Sherry Denton brought ready made kits for everyone to make one of these seat belt shoulder strap cushions.  I could not be more thrilled since I constantly complain about how the belt cuts into my arm.  I spend so much time moving it about.

This is a wonder item, thus I am inclined to share with ya'll.  The free pattern is found on therm-o-web's website and you can access it HERE if you wish.

Start with two pieces of fabric (can be the same or contrasting) that are 6 1/2" x 8".  With a 6 1/4" x 7 1/2" piece of fusible fleece, line it up on the wrong side of ONE of the fabric pieces so that approximately a 1/2" gap is left on one end of the fabric.  Fuse with an iron.

Pop-up Bag Tutorial Missing Some Pictures

At retreat I am teaching these fat quarter pop-up bags from Fat Quarter Gypsy so I thought I would keep track of what I was doing and share it with you here.  You need to purchase one of their kits/patterns in order to make these.

Step one:  Using the circle pattern that comes with the pop-up, draw two circles on the top edge on the narrow side of the fat quarter.  (White lines are there - look close)

Drawstring Bag Tutorial

It's been awhile since I have posted a tute on anything at all.  So, today I am going to change that.  TA-DA -- my own little creation using only leftovers.  Are you ready?

I likely need to backtrack a bit so that you understand what all took place here.  I started with a gifted L'il Red panel and three sample cards from United Notion that my dear friend Allison found for my granddaughter, Ophelia.  At the last retreat, I used the panel to make the doll and accessories.  I decided while there that I would use the sample cards to make a dress and hat for her as well.  I cut the sample pieces into squares and then started  sewing those together to make my "fabric" for the dress.

Quilt As You Go Table Runner - January Retreat Project

In preparing for the January Winter retreat, Brenda and I decide on a "snowy" theme and then she suggests a QAYG (Quilt As You Go) project since she wants to learn how to do it.  Well alrighty then, I guess I need to get on the ball and learn how to do it myself.

Over the past month, I have cut up all available batting into squares for this and hunted down "snow" or "winter" fabric while shopping with friends.  Even in Montana, I located fabric for this project and hauled it home with me.

I have spent the last two days cutting it all into strips -- strips everywhere.  I have also made ONE prototype that I am not that thrilled with.
Now guess what?  I am leaving for retreat TOMORROW.  I suppose it's time to learn how to do this properly.  You Tube here I come again.  Okay, I've watched several videos several times and am ready to give it another whirl.  Wanna watch this experiment with me?  First things first:  After cutting the backs into squares, strips have to be sewn onto the little batting/backing sandwiches.  Working two at a time and chaining, it goes rather quick.

Soon, I have covered the squares with strips.

The next step is to trim  and square the packets.  (Isn't this a cute backing?)

I'm making this one with eight 8 1/2" squares so need to cut to that size.

That leaves me with this great packet.  Loving it.

Once I have all eight finished, I need a layout before moving on to the sashing step.  Yes, with a directional back, I had to make sure they were all sitting the right way.  Again, yes -- it would have been wise to think that through ahead of time.  Alas, some of my strings are closer to the same fabric than I would have liked.

I think I'll switch to a walking foot now since there will be so many layers going through the machine.  The sashings get pinned to the front and back of one side of a packet. 

 Once I have them sewn onto the right side of the first three packets in each row, then it is time to hook the backs together.  Once that is complete, then the top and bottom rows are sewn together using the same sashing technique leaving me with a table runner that simply needs binding.  I DO take the time to topstitch both sides of the front sashing so that there are not any ripples whatsoever.

A quick attachment of the binding and I'm ready for hand-stitching in the car tomorrow morning as my sweetheart takes me to retreat.  Oh yeah -- I'm REALLY on top of this one.  Look out -- here comes the teacher.

I finish the binding while being driven to retreat and here is a pic of both of my attempts set up and ready for the ladies.  Heaven help them please.

Our Chicken Quilt for Kay

It has been decided that we will make a quilt for Kay, the owner of Brazos House, as a thank you for taking such good care of all of us.  We are going to present it in November and each person is making a "chicken" churn dash block for it.  I offered to make two in case Jen runs out of time getting to hers.  I am going to keep this a running post and will update as I get information and see the progress of the quilt.  It can easily be found by clicking the tab at the top of the blog when you want to see the updates.

I found my two fabrics at the Dallas Quilt show and went to the stash for the complimentary fabrics.  Sharron is in charge of this project and she has asked us to do a dark border and then the pastel color of it for the outer border.  Can do.

I thought I would do a simple Churn Dash tutorial here if anyone needs to see what we are up to.  Cut a 6 1/4" square of the "chicken" fabric.  Then cut 4 strips 1 1/2" x 6 1/4".  Also make 4 2 1/2" HST's by whatever method you desire. Sew one light and one dark strip together with a scant 1/4" seam and repeat 3 more times for a total of 4 strip sets.

Lay out how you want it to look and sew just like a nine-patch.

I webbed mine, but it is not required, just remember to use those scant 1/4" seams.

Don't they look fun.  I can't wait to see how everyone's turn out.  These are from Jen and I.

Let's Rip a Seam!

After discovering that I have to "unstitch" 46 nine-patches, I decide to actually take the time to learn how to use the seam ripper properly.  I'm sitting in an airplane en route to Salt Lake City at 10:00 p.m.  Doesn't that sound like an appropriate time to learn something new?

After practicing the whole flight --- I think I have it down.  This is soooooo much faster than picking out seams or even snipping every 5th one and pulling threads.  AND the tiny threads to pick out are minimal as well.  Here's a quick video my daughter shot after arriving at her house.  Hope it helps.

A Binding Tutorial

Ms. Sharron Evans asked me to do a tutorial on how I apply binding.  It is not my own method, but one that I was taught.  Many use this method but here is the tute anyway.

I make the binding itself by sewing 2 1/2" strips together with a bias seam -- this part is not shown -- then I press it in half with right sides out.  Now to apply:

On one side of the quilt, about halfway down, place the binding on the quilt with raw edges together and leaving about a 6-8" tail of binding behind the starting point, sew the binding to the quilt in a 1/4" seam.  I do not pin --- just place my binding as I sew.

Orange Crush - Clue #6 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt - THE BIG REVEAL

Ah yes --- the big reveal.  Well that is a wee bit funny since one could peek ahead and just about everyone did.  I tried really hard not to and simply moved ahead a couple of times during the clues.  Now we are on the last week.  Whew.  It's time to get to work again.  I have about 45 leftover shaded four-patch blocks (yep, got carried away and it turns out that for a change it is a good thing) and am going to use them in the border.  That means I need about 55 more or so.  They are cut and ready to go.  While I am working on these border pieces and other border strips, I want to get the label made as leaders and enders.  I have a starting plan using some leftover blocks and pieces from cutting the orange squares used in the album blocks.  Once I have the rest of the units put together, I make the border strips and lay everything out.

Four-Patches My Way OR Easy Street - Clue #1 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

It's time! It's time!  Clue #1 for the Easy Street mystery starts on Sunday, BUT I have plans to be in Waco on Saturday and we have family plans on Sunday, so I am cheating and getting a wee bit of a head start.

It seems like I am doing 4 patches right now for almost every project I have going, so I thought I would do a shot tutorial in conjunction with this clue post.  I have developed my own way of doing scrappy 4 patches and even though I know others take more short cuts -- this is what works for me to get the best mix of the fabrics I have available.  Since these have one constant fabric it makes it easy to show my method.  I start by matching up one of the scrappy fabric (in this case black on white prints) with one of the constant (for this quilt it is grey) fabric strips.  I use up everything that is available so my strips are all different lengths.  When sewing the strips together, if one strip is shorter, I don't cut it, I just add another strip to the short side and keep going, thus giving me one continuous length of strip sets until I have used up all 20 of my constant strips.  (They were the one I determined amount with as I could do the math and get the required inches that way.)

Now it is off to the ironing board to press these open and cut them apart whenever a fabric change was made.  Thus the different size strip sets you see in the picture.