Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Spell It with Moda: "M"

In May, Camille Roskelley shared her Spell it with Moda quilt on her blog Simplify.  I knew I probably wouldn't make an entire alphabet quilt myself but I filed away the instructions because the quilted letters are so darn cute I knew I could do something with them!

Making a one letter block fit the bill perfectly for my 'quick and easy' summer sewing and creating a monogram mini-quilt for my wall display was a great replacement for my Stupendous Stitching project.  I made the letter "M" (as in a1angieM) in about 10 minutes with two flying geese units and three pieces of fabric.  I added some borders to make it the right size for my magnetic board.  I used some leftover black and white fabric from my Dressed to the Nines quilt because I thought it would be neutral with my decor, look kind of classy, and match the quilt which is draped on the back of the sofa.

I had so much fun quilting the Red Letter Day pillow with the scroll design that I chose to do it again, in a bit smaller scale.  It sure goes quickly when you are quilting rows on a 12" quilt!  I think it turned out great! I whipped up some binding with 2-1/4" strips and after sewing it to the front, hand-stitched it on the back.  I tried sewing the other direction (raw edge towards me) than I usually do but it was too awkward and I reverted back to my usual way of holding the quilt.  It went well (I took pretty big stitches and didn't sew the miters down) but still got one darn stitch on the front!  Grrrr!

The letter M was so much fun that I might just be making an A next!

Red Letter Day Pillow

I got to my Red Letter Day pillow more quickly than I expected.  First, I had to quilt the block so I used some white fabric and layered it with the top and some scrap batting.  I chose the scroll design that Camille Roskelley demonstrates (click to view pictures larger) because even though I have used it before in borders, I wanted to see how it looked as an all-over design.  I used my Hera marker to mark each block in half horizontally so I could keep the scrolls smaller and in a straight line.

I really like how the quilting design turned out!  Some of them are smaller, some are bigger, I had one thread break and went over my imaginary line a few times.  It was a bit worrisome as I was doing it since subsequent rows didn't nest the way I thought they might with the rows above.  But when it was all finished, I think it all looks pretty good.

It's been a long time since I made my first pillows using the French seams (finished inside seams) technique I learned in one of the very first Craftsy classes I ever took, Sewing Studio with Diana Rupp.  I was very rusty and simply went back to the lessons and found the information (and instructions) I needed.  The formula for making the backs for an envelope pillow case is so simple: the length is the same as the front and the width is 75% of the front.  I hemmed my back panels so nicely and pinned them onto the quilt top. When I made pillows in the past, as instructed by Diana, I used a 1/2" seam allowance.  For this pillow, I had to use a 1/4" seam allowance as Camille instructs in her book, so as not to cut off the points on my Red Letter Day stars.

I stitched around twice and backstitched at each corner and where the flaps overlap.  Everything came together great!  I even went the extra mile and serged the edges of the inside seams so they would be finished nicely.  After I inserted my pillow form I manipulated the stuffing inside to get to the corners and make things more even.  During that process one side of the back flap ripped!  It didn't come undone, it completely ripped apart!  I was so mad but I calmly folded under the rip and hand stitched it closed.  I don't think anyone would notice and I don't plan on washing the pillow very often.

I think it looks great and I'm quite pleased with myself.  I totally like the all-over scrolling design for the quilting and would definitely consider that for my next quilt.  I inspired myself to make a few more single blocks of patterns I've always wanted to try, and use them for decoration.  I might finish one as a mini-quilt wall hanging and I also want to replace the Stupendous Stitching project I have hanging on a magnetic display board in my hall.  It's been there for two years now and not only am I tired of looking at it, I never really loved it to begin with!  It's time for a change.

I'm still not ready to start a new full-on quilting project yet so a random orphan block or two will keep me busy until I'm ready to dive in.  I just find with the kids around all summer and the vacation/sports/driving schedules all over the place, I can't settle in to concentrate on what I'd like to do.  The Downton Abbey Double Wedding Ring quilt is going to take some careful cutting and piecing so I want to be able to dedicate larger chunks of time to it.  Once everyone gets back to university and I'm an empty nester once again, I'll be so excited to get started!

Red Letter Day

In between Father's Day activities and our wedding anniversary celebration, I didn't get much time to sew yesterday.  Luckily, it didn't take long to put together my first Red Letter Day block.  I downloaded the pattern from Camille Roskelley's website so I was able to get started right away.  Camille has been teaching classes in Australia and all her students have been sharing the Red Letter Day blocks they've been creating. They are so beautiful and I was definitely inspired to make one!  Purchasing and printing the pattern in a PDF file was so easy and offered immediate gratification!

The pattern is very straight forward and clearly written but I will admit, having completed my Swoon quilt already really made it extra simple to follow.  Since I watched Camille construct the Swoon block in her Craftsy Pre-Cut Piecing Made Simple Class I kind of knew the process to expect.  She uses simple smaller blocks to make one big block.  For the Red Letter Day I cut the two fat quarters (using my prized Scrumptious fabric find) and background fabric and then made some half-square triangles, strip-pieced units, and some 9-patches.  Once those are combined with some solid squares - voila!  A gorgeous block! 

Since I only just finished my Swoon, and the Red Letter Day quilt is so similar, I'm going to use this single 22" block to make a pillow.  There should be a bit of extra sewing time available this week and I plan on getting it done.  It is such a fun block to stitch (I think Camille has another blockbuster on her hands!!!) that I am pretty sure I will eventually make all 9 to complete a full quilt (the centre block is slightly different).  Bonnie & Camille's new fabric, Miss Kate, will be out soon enough and I think it will be wonderful to use it for Red Letter Day, as Camille did!  I'm on a 'notify me' list for when it's released - can't wait!

Another Binding Shortcut & Quilters are REALLY Smart People!

So of course, once I figured out how to join the ends of my binding strips without even looking back at my reference notes, I found another way of doing it!  I got the link from my forum friends and I have to say, quilters are very clever people!

The new method allows you to prepare the ends of your binding with no measuring.  By simply adding a notch in the seam allowance where the two ends overlap (see picture below) you can easily determine where to sew them together.  It worked like a charm and the binding was the exact length needed.   However(!), it did take me three tries to sew the ends together without twisting them!  I kept doing it the way I always successfully have, and each time it resulted in a flipped edge.  Then I realized I was holding the quilt the opposite way (raw edges towards me rather than away from me) and once I switched it around, a perfect join!

You can watch the tutorial on The Daily Blog from The Quilt Show HERE.  I thought my method was pretty easy before but this one works even better!

Finally Finished Swooning (For Now!)

I was Soon to Swoon at the beginning of April and now I am all finished swooning - for now!  That doesn't seem like too long to work on a quilt (just over two months) but you can see how it is very difficult to part with a piece of work into which you have invested that much time!  It took me about three days alone to hand-sew the binding down on the back of the quilt.  It went much better than the last time when I had my hand-sewing struggles but I still feel like the slowest sewist in the world!  Is that just my hurry-up and get it done Type A perception or does hand stitching actually take a bit longer than the pedal to the metal 1000 stitches a minute Janome???  Regardless of my snail's pace, I enjoyed the process much more and didn't rush.

The quilt turned out as beautifully as I'd hoped and I am happy with all the design decisions I made along the way.  The label even has a photo of one of my favourite blocks!  Still, I'm pleased this project is done and I can move on to some piecing.  Quilting is perfect for me: as soon as I get bored with one part of the process it's time to move on to the next task.  Now that I'm done with all that straight-line quilting I'm ready for some patchwork.  My mother asked me if I was going to start the Downton Abbey Double Wedding Ring quilt but I think after the size of the Swoon, I need to do a smaller project.  I'd like to make something I can quilt with some fun free-motion designs that isn't too big to manoeuvre under the needle (or too big for my frame, if I decide to give that a turn!).

I am leaning towards another Camille pattern - I have a few I want to make AND she has the beautiful Red Letter Day available now!  Ms. Roskelley has been in Australia for the past week or more and sharing the stunning photos of not only the gorgeous scenery Down Under but of all the stunning Red Letter Day blocks her Aussie students have been making!  So inspiring!!!

So...I bought a pillow form that is just the right size for a giant Red Letter Day block...maybe that will be next!  Here are some pics of my Swoon quilt...

 

Quilting Inside the Lines

I saw Pam Clarke on QNNtv.com on the Longarm Quilting Show (a paid-for segment so I can't share it here) and was intrigued by her easy method of quilting designs with minimal marking.  She uses simple templates to add registration lines or target dots to the quilt top and then expands the designs from there.  It's similar to the Angela Walters: Dot to Dot Quilting Craftsy class in that the designs are free-motion quilted but within a defined space - 'marked' either by registration lines, patchwork seams, or visualized in negative space.

You can order Pam's stencils, books, and kits on her website but I thought I'd start with the Quilting Inside the Lines book, which I purchased locally.  She includes practice grids of various configurations throughout the pages which can be photocopied and enlarged.  Drawing the designs first helps solidify the muscle memory and make the movements more natural and fluid.  The method works for home machine quilting, sit down machines, and frame and longarm quilting set-ups.

Pam suggests 'practicing with a purpose' the basic quilting shapes she builds upon: swirl, leaf, loop, curves, E & L, heart, and feather.  There is also a pattern provided for a sampler quilt on which to actually stitch the designs as you work through the groups of motifs.  There are lots of tips and tricks, as well as suggestions where to use the designs.  There are some very complex-looking motifs but they are created the same way with no marking.

The only problem I ever have with these types of instructions is remembering them when the time comes to quilt them!  I think I will work my way through the book and then make a point of planning to use the particular designs I like best (and can quilt well!) in an appropriate quilt.

Amy Alan is Having a Baby!!!!

Oh, I'm so excited for Amy Alan (Beginner Serging Craftsy teacher extraordinaire!) who just posted she is expecting her first baby!  Check out how beautiful she is!  I love happy news first thing in the morning!

Pie, etc.

There's nothing like hosting company to suck the life out of you keep you busy!  I have barely had time to sit down between the cooking, cleaning, driving, and celebrating.  We had a lovely graduation day and several days of visiting, baseball, and al fresco dining.  In between, I snuck away a few times to breathe and binge watch the new season of Orange is the New Black on my i-pad, which, I have discovered, is a way to watch a few minutes at a time without interruption!  You eventually don't even notice that the screen is less than 10"!

I served the first strawberry-rhubarb pie of the season (recipe and video HERE- always a hit), and a mini blueberry pie for my son, as well as my English Cream Scones with some wonderful Greaves jam.  For meals we had my Chicken Cacciatore, Grilled Buffalo Chicken Wings and salmon, and Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes, Garlic, and Basil.

Sadly, I didn't even get to my workshop to visit my Swoon quilt, which IS ALL QUILTED!  I worked so hard last week to finish it so daughter could play her piano.  I got the binding sewn onto the front of the quilt and now just have to join the ends and start hand stitching on the back.

And here's a bunny and a chipmunk in my yard just because they are so cute!!!!

Amazing Day!

My first baby is GRADUATING from university today!  We couldn't be more proud.  We have a busy day with family joining us for the ceremony.  No time in the workshop today but I think this is a pretty good reason! See you tomorrow!

A 'New' Quilting Tool and/or Eating a Grapefruit

I have always used 505 basting spray to join the layers of my quilts together.  It is easy to do in my garage (see photos and details in the link to my post above) with a couple of folding banquet tables and the adhesive has always done an excellent job.  With my latest quilt I've found that the weight of the fabric has been causing the layers to shift - perhaps I didn't use enough product to hold such a large quilt together.  As I smoothed and reapplied some 505 I also added in a few safety pins here and there as a bit of extra insurance.

I'm not sure why I was so opposed to pins from the beginning and chose the spray method, but I've discovered that it is really no trouble to insert the pins and physically secure the top, batting, and backing together.  However, In order to refresh my memory and learn some tips and tricks to pin basting, I went back to rewatch one of the most informative quilting classes on Craftsy: Machine Quilting taught by Wendy Butler Berns.  It is also one of the first ever classes I registered for and is full of great lessons teaching how to complete the quilting process from start to finish.  Wendy covers all aspects of preparing the quilt, basting, stabilizing, walking foot designs, free-motion work (3 whole lessons on that alone!), thread choices, wholecloth quilts, and binding and finishing a quilt.  It is a VERY full course (I think some of the older ones are!).

Anyway, it was great to pop back through the class to the pin basting section (Wendy's preferred method for basting) and get some guidance.  I also saw this video with Pat Sloan and she used a cool tool called a Kwik Klip which helps close the safety pins.  I'm not sure where I heard or read about it, but after seeing that I recalled that a grapefruit spoon can be used for the same purpose.  Since I own a grapefruit spoon, I ran to get it and gave it a try.  It works wonderfully!  The ridges of the spoon hold the pin in the groove so you can lower the head and close the pin.  Works like a charm!

So I think I might actually LIKE pin basting and I am probably going to try it exclusively on my next quilt.  I do like 505 spray but it is ridiculously expensive in Canada (and they generally won't ship aerosols over the border).  I'm ready to give pin basting a fair try and hope it holds layers of a bigger, heavier quilt together better than the spray.  It's not too much of a pain to stop quilting to remove them anyway and I think the layers may come out smoother.  I just need to buy some more pins...(about 100 average needed to baste a twin quilt).

One other thing.  I was inspired to actually eat a grapefruit with the spoon after reading this post from Mary Fons.  It's a tale of eating grapefruit adorned with honey and microwaved.  I couldn't not try that, even though I enjoy my citrus plain and natural.  It was interesting...and different.  Too sweet for me but worth a try!  Whether eating a grapefruit or pinning a quilt, I'm glad to have a grapefruit spoon on hand!