I came across an online swap with other quilters  and decided it might be fun to give it a try.  Over the next seven weeks we will make and exchange at least 3 project with fellow quilter.  Quilters are participating  from all over the world.  It seems like a fun way to meet someone with similar interests. I am a “secret angel” for a stitcher from Canada and am looking forward to getting to know her through the swap.

The theme of this year’s swap is Roses. All the projects are small (like a needle case, scissor keeper, thread catcher etc.) and very in technique and difficulty.

The first project is a small embroidered bag that can be used as a gift bag or possibly a small tote for notions.

Yesterday a few of us got together at the  local library for a day of quilting and camaraderie.  Tom and I have done a bit of RVing this summer so I’ve only been able to make two of the monthly sessions.

It’s a great opportunity not only to have a full day dedicated to quilting but also to problem solve.  One of the quilters brought in a quilt top that needed to be sandwiched and not only received help pin-basting it and suggestions for quilting, but also was shown how to make sure that the  quilt would lie flat.

Sometimes we are lucky enough to have two or more quilters available to help stretch and baste a quilt sandwich.  The website at EHow.com gives some tips on pin basting.  It’s important that:

• the backing and batting are 3-4 inches larger than the quilt top.
• the backing is pulled taunt and secured with no wrinkles.
• the batting is removed from the packaging and unrolled the day before sandwiching the quilt.  It can also be fluffed in in the dryer on the no heat cycle to eliminate wrinkles and folds in the batting.
• pins are put in the center first working your way to the outside of the quilt, and that
• the pins are placed no more than 4 – 6 inches apart.

What a great way to spend the day.

There’s always time to quilt!

I am now working at finishing a quilt for our guest room.  The piecing is finished – and now I am adding the borders.  I decided that I wanted to add pieced borders along with the straight borders in the pattern.  The patchwork in pieced borders can be very simple (blocks) to more  intricate (Seminole Patchwork) designs.  I’m using both for this quilt.

The first border is spaced squares from the EQ5 library

Border of Spaced Squares

and the third border will be Seminole Patchwork.

Third Patchwork Border

I am constructing this border from strips left over from the strip-pieced blocks in the quilt – a true Seminole Border construction technique.  If you’ve been following my posts, you know that Seminole women developed this patchwork technique to use up fabric left over after clothes construction.  Nothing was wasted.  The patchwork embellished the clothing they made.

Pieced blocks ready to be assembled

Of course I used my Shape Cut ruler to quickly cut the pieced strips into 1-1/2 inch units.  A demonstration video for using the ruler can be found on  June Taylor’s website.

Cutting units with Shape-Cut Ruler

To make sure  that the borders lie flat, I always cut the borders with the straight of grain for wall hangings.  When making a bed quilt, I find that using the crosswise grain works well as long as I measure the quilt in the middle and not on the sides. (Adding Borders at Quilt Qua).

There’s always time to quilt!

As we’ve heard a thousand times, the label is very important for any quilt we make.  It’s a record for future generations.  Many families have quilts that have been handed down generation to generation with no record of who or when the quilt was made.  There is no history of the occasion or thoughts of the quilter who made many of these antique quilts.  What stories they could probably tell!  Most of these quilters didn’t think that it was important to sign the quilts since they were normally made to keep their family warm and not as a way to show off their creativity.

I designed this label for the wedding quilt given to my daughter and son-in-law on July 25, 2009.

This picture was taken by my husband.  Marianne and Dan had wanted to use it on their wedding invitation, but changed their minds when they found an invitation they liked with a pre-printed design.  the verse is from  A Patchwork Collection of Inspirational Stories by Kathy Lamancusa.  The author is anonymous.  I think it is the perfect sentiment for a couple who is just starting their life together.

There’s always time to quilt!

UFO’s - We all have them.  We laugh about them, move them from one place to another in our storage area and vow that “one” day we will finish them.  Instead we continue to buy new fabric and kits whenever we are in a quilt store – and – never seem to get to the UFO’s.  I’ve decided that it finally time to put a dent in my collection!

I’ve chosen two projects to start on – both are table runners that are ready for quilting.

I haven’t done any machine quilting in a while, so I decided some practice was needed before I began the final pieces.

I made two 15 x 15 quilt sandwiches and filled them with some meander and outline quilting.  It’s not hard – just takes a bit of practice and patience.  Using Sortkwick moistener makes it easier to control the fabric as it’s guided under the needle.  I always keep a container handy, on top of my machine, when quilting.  Using the moistener is more convenient to use than quilting gloves or rubber finger tips.   I also like to raise my chair a little higher than I normally have it when I sew, so that my arms can rest comfortabley on the top of my sewing table.

Next I put on some of my favorite CD’s  and I’m ready to roll.  I finished quilting about half of the Rainforest Rings table runner today.

My goal was to spend at least 15 minutes at a time working on a project, but I find that I get caught up in what I’m dong and an hour quickly goes by.  That’s really not a bad thing though – I am enjoying myself while accomplishing something.

There’s always time to quilt!