Stitching the pieces together
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MelissaDallas - So proud of you for starting this quilting class. You will get the hang of it soon enough and then comes the joy and fabric passion! If I had a penny for every stitch I have had to rip out and redo I would be a mulitbillionaire, but then I have been doing this for very very long time. Have fun learning, I am cheering for you. AJ
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On the bright side, I just checked & my wrongly cut pieces are big enough to trim down to the correct size.
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Melissa - I swear, the only tool I needed in the beginning besides my rotary cutter was my seam ripper!!!
I bought plenty to have on hand, because I sure used them a lot!!!
In fact, my first quilt was named "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" since it was covered with all of those....
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I can't even use my rotary cutter on the first two blocks. She wants us to also know how to do everything by hand!
That's why it took all morning to cut out the pieces for one block. Tracing around template, adding seam allowance with ruler & cutting out with scissors.0 -
This block was to be done all manually. No rotary cutter. Template, pencil, ruler & scissors. Hand stitched.
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I still have those quilts that I have to get a new seam ripper to finish! BTW they do get dull and there is no way to sharpen them, so when yours doesn't cut cleanly or smoothly time to get a new one and throw the old one away or you will wind up with a dozen around that do not work right.
Glad the pieces were big enough to cut down to the correct size. Much better than being too small.
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My fabric didn't arrive yesterday so I am at a stand still. I need to stop here in case the dyelots are off, it won't be so obvious. I doubt that it will be an issue, but I am prepared. I should recieve my fabric today. I found this fabric at Beverly's at 9.99/yd, and I bought some. Then I went on Ebay and bought it for $6/yd and $5.90 shipping, no tax. It was like getting one yard free.
Glad you were abel to get your pieces corrected, Melissa.
I've been wondering if I could sharpen my seamrippers with my Dremel.
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Meece - Dremel won't work, I tried it! There is not the right kind of sharpening tip to go into the Dremel and I tried several different one with no luck so now I have about 9 in the trash. If you do try it too, be sure to wear protective eye gear!
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Do any of you have a needle threader that works on the little milliner's needles?
Also, what kind of marker do you use on light-colored fabrics?0 -
Melissa, There is an ink pen that is erasable made by Pilot, the Frixion pen. The package says that it is removable by friction but what they don't tell you is the ink will disappear when heat is applied, like ironing. I found out about this pen at my local quilt shop. You will want to test on a scrap of your fabric.
I don't have a needle threader but my sister in law uses the 'desk needle threader' by Clover. She uses the small quilting needles and she loves the way it works.
alt="" width="119" height="119" />Sheila
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I have an old needle threader similar to the Clover one, but I usually use a standard threader or none at all.
I usually use a chalk pencil on dark colored fabric. I am intrigued by the friction pen.
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Completely off topic, but I received word very early this morning that my lifelong friend who was such a beautiful & smart girl has died. I don't know details yet, but I do know that however it happened it was a result one way or another of complication or result of alcoholism. While I have known for at least ten years that this call was coming, it does not prevent my being angry and disgusted at the sheer waste of it all. Her addiction played hell with our friendship but I can't help being sad at what her life could have been. Another case of how I so believe we could be doing better medically.
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Melissa, you are missing a very important part of the lesson!!! The ripping out! When you go back to the class, you may see women that DID NOT rip out their work and it sucks! You have done the Frog stitch (rippit) and your work shows better for it. They thought their's was "good enough" but they won't be able to fit their pieces together. I feel that I rip out as much as I sew in sometimes. There are times when I've taken the same seam apart so many times that it is ripped to shreds and I have to start the block again! Seriously!! Measuring is THE most important part of quilting. As it is in home building, engineering, rocket science, brain surgery, etc. Do NOT take it lightly! I am SO proud of you to rip out something that you knew was not right. That is a HUGE leap and you DID learn a lot!!!
A plain pencil works well on both light and dark fabrics. It's cheap. Don't worry about washing out lines at this point. Just worry about learning how to measure properly. I would be frustrated at not being allowed to use the proper tools that we have available. I guess it's like baking bread without a breadmaker, but still, it may turn a lot of people off. Keep on doing what you're doing! We're proud of you!!
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Meece, that's a good idea about using the binding to accent the gender! I wouldn't worry too much about dye lots as the blankie will be washed often. You would notice a colour difference but I be the baby who wouldn't.....hehehehehe
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Measure twice, cut once. Famous words of my woodshop teacher but it works with quilting as well.
The fabric still hasn't arrived! It left Tennessee on Monday and was 'expected' here Tuesday. Maybe today is my lucky day because I want to get a move on making this. Baby Whoo will be here six weeks and 30 minutes from now! Well, sx is scheduled for 4/12 at 7 am.
I am still considering what the valance should look like.
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I ripped out all my squares & re-marked & cut all my pieces. I finished the three & took apart plus a fourth last night, so am ready to assemble the block now. Still have another block to cut & finish before Monday. I also have eight pounds of apples that I need to get on to make & can apple butter. My projects are getting ahead of me. Thank goodness my wrong-template triangles were adequate size to redo.
I actually kind of like the hand work. I like the idea of having something to stitch while I watch TV rather than being bound to the sewing machine in the other room. Now the cutting witout a rotary cutter...that is a different story.0 -
I made my first few quilts the old way. In fact although I have been sewing for 44 years, I didn't learn how to use a rotary cutter until around 12 years ago. I went to a quilt clase for rag quilts and learned the basic concept and have become proficient since then.
One tip, if you are ever going to use a rotary cutter on a rag quilt for cutting flannel and warm and white, I recommend you get a separate self healing mat or use an old one because the lint "heals" right into the mat and it never gets real clean again...unless Barbe has a trick of the trade. Barbe????
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DS and DIL bought me a three piece self healing mat which fits on my dining table. I now use the small one one the linty projects.
Oh, and never leave your mat in the car trunk, or passenger compartment for that matter, in the heat. It will buckle and there is nothing you can do to flatten it again.
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We are in the process of cleaning out my grandparent's house. She was a prolific seamstress but most of the leftover fabric is so old I fear it is rotten. I am, however, trying to think of what I could do with old high-quality table linens of damask & such, as well as an old silk sari that might be o.k.
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Barbe will be able to give you hints on caring for old fabric, I am sure. I would be excited over all of the sewing notions!
I have a lot of old 'tea party' linens from my grandmothers and aunt. I would love to incorporate them in some way into a new project.
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I have old linens as well. I've thought of applique on a white or colored cloth. One set is a Mexican theme with embroidered napkins. They belonged to my great Aunt. As far as I know she never had a tea party.
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Here's a pillowcase I have been embroidering:0 -
And here is my unpressed first block. Ironing is for our next lesson, so she asked us to wait. Everything lines up nicely & is nice and sharp.
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I'm impressed.
And I'm sorry to hear about your friend Melissa. It's tough to lose those we love, no matter the circumstances.
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Melissa I am sorry to hear about your friend. I have life long friends who have gone off in different directions and it is hard to have seen their potential that is never going to be realized. Your remembrance will sweeten over time.
Your square is really nice. After you press maybe you can show us the results. Your pillow case is lovely, crewel embroidery, yes? I have some of my Grandmas pillowcases with her tatting along the edge. I treasure them. I also have some table linens that I love.
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Melissa - very nice work!!!
Sorry to hear about your friend. Alcoholism is a monster that hurts everyone, not just the alcoholic.
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Melissa, let me add my condolences here. You have done a great job with the hand stitching and putting the block together!
My fabric arrived yesterday! I cut more borders and began sewing them together. DIL texted me yesterday and asked if I would be willing to paint the tree and owls on the wall when I get there. Baby is scheduled for 6 weeks from today, but DIL doesn't know if she is going to make it that far. I think it is only because she is more tired this time since her day consists of keeping a headstrong 20 month old in line.
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It's weird to complete a block without pressing!! It will never truly lie flat probably. I wonder if your teacher is showing you WHY do you certain steps? Also, Melissa, sweetie, it looks like you cut into selvedge on the top centre white triangle. Be careful of that as there are holes in that piece that might show when it's all stiched together. It makes for a strong edge, true, but it has the holes where the fabric yardage was attached to a maching. Those holes might not be captured in the seam allowance. Otherwise...GORGEOUS and VERY well done!!! Do you see the beauty that we do???????
Sorry I missed your post about your friend.
Old textiles make great shadow-box or framed art work!! Don't be afraid to cut them. Those pieces have been lying in a box wrapped up for a looooong time with no one seeing them. Displayed, you can share them with more people! I once found pillowcases that were embroidered in white (on white) (forget what they said now). I got them puffed up a bit with stuffing and then the words area mounted in a matted frame (no glass) and hung them in my store. They sold!!! For hundreds!! The words just really hit someone who read them and they would have paid anything. So get those old pieces out there to share. It's selfish to keep them all to yourself!
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Thanks Barbe. It's not holes in the selvage - I tore it off. It is where I had to take a seam out.
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Melissa, it does look very nice, love the embroidery on the pillowcase as well. I was also wondering why she didn't have you press as you went along. I have a friend who does a lot of hand piecing and I have seen her finger press (using her fingernail) on each seam to get it to lay the direction she wants it to go before she adds the next piece.
Also, sorry to hear about your friend.
Sheila
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