Just a heads up that Craftsy is offering all classes under $20 bucks this weekend!
It's been a while since I posted about Craftsy and there are literally THOUSANDS of classes now to choose from. It is amazing how this platform has exploded since the early days and you can learn on-line about a zillion subjects from incredible instructors.
You can browse through the course list HERE to see what you want to learn next!
There are hundreds of half-square triangles (HST) needed for the Color Crystals quilt and I am more than happy making them. Things are going along well so far, slowly but without incident. The pattern calls for cutting squares of fabric diagonally into triangles, pairing them with another colour and then sewing them together. This is not the method I have used in the past, having previously taken advantage of the two-at-once way to make HST. However, that involves marking a line from corner to corner and stitching 1/4" on either side. While some commenters have suggested this method, I for one did not want to mark a zillion squares and I think it would actually take longer to sew them. I, like Angela Walters demonstrates, am following the pattern designer's written instructions.
I have been very careful not to stretch the bias edge of the cut triangles and am stitching slowly and carefully for accuracy of the final HST size. The actual time at the sewing machine is very little since chain stitching makes the process very speedy. I am layering the squares of appropriate fabric, cutting them in half, and delicately moving the paired triangles onto my portable cutting mat to move to the sewing area. That, and the pressing, are the lengthiest parts of the procedure and still I have stacked up quite a few HSTs so far. I remember now how much fun piecing a quilt is and the time flies by.
One other part of getting the HST units ready to incorporate into the blocks is trimming. There are dog ears on either side and they need to be snipped off as part of the squaring up of each HST. I remembered that I had a special ruler tucked away in my tool drawer, the bloc-loc ruler. Even though I bought it years ago, I never had the opportunity to need it for so many HSTs. In fact, it still had the cellophane on it so I was excited to try out the 'new' ruler! I watched a YouTube video first to learn how to use it (see below) and I must say, it worked like a charm! Once I got the hang of it the ruler perfectly 'locks' onto the middle seam of the pieced unit. The ruler is moved first to one side to trim and then can be easily moved to turn the fabric to clean up the other side. It is very accurate and easy to use - I find it so fast and efficient! Having so many HSTs to square up I am very appreciative of this ruler and so happy I already had it ready to go!
Although it would be even more efficient to 'assembly line' each portion of the piecing (i.e. all the cutting, all the sewing, then all the pressing and all the trimming), I have decided to do a batch at a time to avoid strain on my neck, or legs, or hands (depending on which task I'm doing) and boredom. There is a sense of accomplishment to see the stack of completed HSTs and I was able to test out the pattern and method of construction before committing fully to the plan. Now that I know everything is turning out just right I can increase the the quantity of each batch. I am in no rush and simply enjoying the time in my workshop and at the machine. I've missed it!!
I have a couple hours before the crew comes home for our Valentine's dinner and dessert so I'd better get over to the machine. Happy Valentine's Day (or Gal-entines, or Ash Wednesday or just Wednesday) to you all!
Have you heard about Craftsy Unlimited? This is an amazing new way to watch ALL the Craftsy classes you ever wanted, as many and as often as you'd like. Like having an all access VIP pass, once you have your subscription in place you can click on any tutorial you desire. There's nothing to lose by trying something new or checking out a new craft or cooking class to see how you like it. That to me is the best part - expanding your learning and experiencing something you might not have before without any extra cost or investment.
Here are some benefits to having every Craftsy class, plus new and exclusive video tutorials, at your fingertips...
"Dive into thousands of hours of expert taught videos and bring your best ideas to life. Whether you love stitches, swatches, pasta or paint, you'll never be without a source of inspiration."
Still not sure? I'm excited to share that you can try it with this 7 DAY FREE TRIAL!!!
Of course, I still have access to all the classes I'm already registered in, but there have been so many cool releases that I have yet to check out. I am really liking the idea of signing up once and then being able to just click on any class I want. My yearly subscription to QNNtv is now over and I know I will make much better use of Craftsy Unlimited. Now that I'm back into quilting (that first set gorgeous ombre fabric for the Color Crystals quilt is now cut and ready to stitch!!!) I really want to sign up for some new machine quilting classes. Angela Walters has one and so does Christina Cameli so those are first on my to-watch list!
The Color Crystals Quilt, the king sized beauty from Angela Walters and the Midnight Quilt Show (see video below), is a daunting project to begin especially after a long hiatus from the sewing machine. However, I know that this beast is made from many, many half-square triangles so I decided to tackle just one set of colours at a time. It might take a minute to refresh my memory on how to do all these steps but for sure I still know how to iron...so I'm starting there!
I've had this kit in my stash for years(?!) so the fabric has been folded ever since it was bundled by Craftsy. There are some pretty good creases and wrinkles and since I haven't taken a road trip to the States in forever, I am all out of my favourite Faultless spray starch. :( I did find an alternative in my ironing caddy, Flatter, from the Soak company. It is in the lovely Celebration scent, my go-to choice when I stock up on Soak wash for gentle laundering of my quilts, bicycle shorts, and bathing suit. It smells so fresh and contains no harsh chemicals so I can spray away with no worry. It also works amazingly well and my first two lengths of fabric are perfectly pressed and ready to cut.
I need to cut 512 triangles of the dark blue and 384 of the jade so that in itself will take more than a few sessions in the workshop. I will sew and square up the first 384 half-square triangles before moving on to the next set of two colours. Those sets, along with some solid coloured squares, will eventually make up 32 A blocks. I can't even think past these steps let alone to the assembly of Block B or the pieced border!
Making a quilt is not usually a speedy endeavour and I think this Color Crystals quilt is going to take me longer than any other I've attempted. The Downton Abbey double wedding ring quilt is the only other king size quilt I've made and it was challenging! The actual construction of this one should be pretty straight forward but I find I'm simply busier now than I was 2014 so I know I am going to take it slowly and really just enjoy the process. I was always anxious in the past to get one quilt project finished so I could start the next but now I'm definitely more calm about letting this one last. I'm looking forward to simply hearing the sewing machine stitch as I chain-sew the squares. I won't rush and just get done what I can, when I can. I can't wait to get cutting in the morning!
Here's the Midnight Quilt Show episode featuring the Color Crystals quilt...Now until Sunday you can get up to 70% off supplies over at CRAFTSY!
One of my New Year's plans is to definitely give myself more time for crafting. I miss my sewing machines and stitching out the monograms on those Christmas stockings gave me a taste of what I've been missing! One of my first projects is going to be an adorable mini Dresden spool pin plate cover for my vintage Singers. It's a great pattern that's not too complicated or lengthy - just ideal for getting back into the swing of things. If the first one goes well I can whip off a bunch of them on my Featherweight, using up some scraps in the process.
I can't wait for the normal weekly routine to resume after the holidays when everyone is back to work and the house is restored from the decorations and tree needles. In the meantime, I'm definitely going to check out the CLEARANCE SALE and see what's on offer for bigger projects in 2018 - I love their kits!!!!
Happy New Year!!
I like a nice 'n tidy house but as I walked downstairs this morning I couldn't help but feel proud of the 'mess'. These photos show exactly what I found...quilts everywhere! Not nicely folded or hanging on the quilt rack, but heaped in a cozy, nested lump where the user left them. Obviously they have been cuddled and snuggled under while my loved ones were either watching tv, reading, or working on a laptop.
I love that my quilts are functional but I also know, eventually, they will be cherished because I made them especially for the recipient. My days have been so full and I am well aware that I haven't sewn since early summer. I think the fall should be less busy with more time to spend on crafting. I am really close to clearing off my table and starting a new project. I think it has to be the Color Crystals quilt from the Midnight Quilt Show. I bought the fabric in April and have yet to even open the package. It's a king size quilt so it will take me all winter (and beyond) to get that top sewn. I'm getting excited just writing this and thinking about getting back to making the quilts I love for the people I love!
Heck, even the dog has several of his own quilts on his various pillows and he loves them too! Seriously, he doesn't get 'into' his bed at night until I straighten out his cat quilt. After he lies down we then have to tuck him in under another baby quilt! It's pretty cute (sad, but cute).
Hey, this is really cool and different. On Labour Day (Monday, September 4th), Craftsy is letting us watch ALL online Craftsy classes for FREE! From 12:01 am to 11:59 pm on Monday we can stream all 1,200+ classes for free. What a great way to check out those classes that you were on the fence about or just try out something completely new and different.
I know the first one I'm going to watch is the new Angela Walters Dot to Dot class. I already own her former Dot to Dot course so I want to compare before I buy the new one. Also, there is a Calligraphy class I've been eyeing and I can't wait to see what it's all about. Now that I've been journaling for a couple years it would be nice to add some pretty penmanship to the pages.
You can get to Craftsy's All-You-Can-Watch Day by using THIS LINK on Monday. All you have to do is enter your email address! Have fun exploring all the great classes!
Oh my gosh, I hope you are reading this today!!! Wednesday!!! You can get a FREE Pie baking class from Craftsy only for today. I just got it but haven't had a chance to watch yet because I came here first to tell you about it. I quickly reviewed the Lesson titles and it looks amazing! Everything you could want to learn about making a homemade pie - the types of pastry, recipes, and fancy finishes. Hurry! Go! HERE'S THE FREE LINK.
24 HOURS ONLY:
"Just in time for the 4th of July! We've teamed up with our friends at TodayFood to bring you a baking experience like none other! Join pastry chef Gesine Bullock-Prado and learn the secrets to her amazing pies & tarts. For today only, you can enroll in this class for FREE"
I'll catch up with you tomorrow for more!
I have tried both thread basting and glue basting my fabric to the hexagon paper templates for English Paper Piecing. I 100% prefer glue basting! It is much faster to do and I feel the hexie shape is maintained better as I stitch. Also, because the paper templates aren't perforated with the needle they are in better condition to be reused.
For my first batch of work I used my Fons & Porter glue pen. It was in my supply kit already but I hadn't really ever used it. I can't recall why I purchased it in the first place but I'm glad it was there ready and waiting. I quickly used up the glue and pack of refills but it is a breeze to apply and works so well. I had to search a bit to buy more refills and realized it is quite an expensive way to baste (because I have so many hexagons to do!). In a pinch, when my pen was empty, I tried both a regular Elmer's school glue stick and Lapel Stick (fabric glue for collars and hems) and neither stuck as well and were very cumbersome to use. So, I have resolved to keep on with the pen-shape glue and suck up the cost (still a relatively small price to pay for excellent results and ease of application).
While I was in Florida I picked up a Sewline version of the fabric glue pen and a pack of refills. The various brands are really actually almost identical and in fact, the refills are interchangeable. Some have blue glue, some have pink but they work the same way. Sewline is made in Japan and darn that cute pink & butterfly pen barrel - just so pretty in the hexie project storage container!
One thing I found initially is that I had no idea how to insert the refill cartridges. I know it's not rocket science but I just couldn't figure it out. Apparently I'm not the only one and I found an excellent quick video demonstration on how to refill the glue pens (watch below). It so happens that the tutorial is by Helen Stubbings herself - the amazing Craftsy instructor who teaches the Quick & Easy English Paper Piecing class! She also shares some great tips on what to do with the empty plastic cartridges - I love that! I highly recommend glue basting for this type of quilting. It is so quick, convenient, and very effective.
You may be wondering about having the glue residue on your fabric (and quilt) but of course, it is perfectly safe, water soluble and washes away when the quilt is laundered. There is also no concern or problem removing the paper hexie templates when the time arrives. I save up a stack of the flowers over the week and then simply use my old Cricut spatula to gently run under the edge of the seam allowance. The papers pop right out and there are no threads to cut or pick. It's awesome!
CRAFTSY got me again! They have an amazing April SUPPLIES SALE on right now and the first thing I HAD to buy is the kit for Angela Walter's Midnight Quilt Show's latest episode, the king size Color Crystals quilt! I do not really want to stitch another king-sized quilt but this one is just too gorgeous not to attempt. The piecing is extensive, yet simple, so it's something I can work away at almost mindlessly (as Angela says). I hope so!
The fabric is a stunning ombre (Boundless Blenders Ombre) and there are 16 yards of it in the kit. The price was really good and the shipping to Canada is great - I love that I can pre-pay the taxes so there is nothing else to deal with at the door. You can buy the kit with or without the backing fabric but I always choose to add it to my order so I don't have to go searching for some substitute later. The pattern is included so for a couple hundred bucks I have a king size quilt all ready to go.
The SALE is on until Sunday and this particular kit is 50% off!! That is just too good to miss in my book! You can watch Angela make the stunning quilt in her video below...I think these episodes are so cute and funny!