Posted in Quilting

Hi Everyone!

This is a post from Teresa/stichesbyteresa... She has come up with this groovy idea and I want to let you all know about it.  So read the post, sign up if you are interested, (make sure you send me your email so I can keep in touch with you if you are not on HSB), and then get ready for some fun!

DETAILS FOR FIRST QUILTING CHALLENGE: (This is going to be so much fun!!!!)  You might want to print these instructions for your convenience.

So far, 5 people have expressed interest in participating in the first Quilt Challenge.  I have spoken w/Chas, Senior Editor and she is going to participate and assist me with the challenge.  If you want to participate, please let me know ASAP by leaving a comment or by pm me. 

Deadline for SIGNING UP: one TWO weeks from today (which will be Thursday, July 10 17).  To sign up, just leave me a comment on this post, or pm me.

Quilting Challenge:  I received a suggestion of exchanging blocks for our first quilt challenge and I LOVE this idea!  To assure safety and security of each involved, all blocks will be mailed to Chas, Senior Editor.  I know we are like a family here, but since it is the internet, I felt this was the best and most secure way to address this issue.

NOW, for the actual details of the challenge:

Theme:  WINTER!  Be as creative and original as you can.  Your inspiration can be whatever this word means to you (snow, Christmas, sledding, cold, stark, just whatever!

Block dimensions:  12 1/2 inches x 12 1/2 inches...this INCLUDES 1/4 inch seam allowance, so please do not extend designs beyond 12 inches x 12 inches (else it will be hidden in the seam allowance when pieced)

# of BLOCKS:  Make as many blocks as there are participants in the challenge (example, if 12 sign up, you will need to make 12 blocks total, 1 for yourself and 11 for the 11 other participants).  On Friday, July 11 18, I will send a message to all participants of the total # of blocks needed from each participant.  Each of your blocks can be all exactly alike, or each one can be different...your choice since you have to make more than one block. 

SIGNATURE:  If you would like to sign each of your blocks with your blog name, you may do so...examples:  sign in stitches, embroidery, or with permanent pen...just make sure your signature is permanent.  ALSO, make sure your signature is not in the seam allowance.  This signature will make our finished projects more special!

Type of Design:  You can choose whatever method you prefer to make your blocks.  examples:  can be a pieced block, applique, embroidery, pictorial, just whatever you choose.  Since you will have to make several blocks, you can make each of your blocks exactly alike, or all different, just whatever you prefer! 

Note:  If you are not comfortable creating the blocks yourself, feel free to pm me for ideas/patterns/individual help.

Time Limit:  Beginning on July 11 18, you will have up to one week for each block, I will announce on Friday, July 11 18 the total number of blocks needed and number of weeks before deadline to turn in blocks. 

Block Distribution:  You will need to include a self addressed, stamped large envelope with your blocks (just use same amount of postage on this envelope that was needed for you to mail all your blocks to Chas).  Mail all blocks to Chas, Senior Editor.  She will soon send you the address to mail the blocks.  Once Chas receives all block entries, she and I will have up to a week to sort the blocks.  Chas will then mail your exchanged blocks to you in the self-addressed stamped large envelope you provided.  (I will keep you posted on my blog and PMs)

Note:  You will keep 1 block for yourself and mail all other blocks to Chas, Senior Editor.

Finished Project Guidelines:  For this first challenge, I will not specify guidelines. You can use your received blocks in any way you prefer.  Examples:  wall hanging, bed quilt, table runner...just whatever you choose.  You can add whatever fabrics you choose to finish your project, no specifications.  Use whatever batting and backing you prefer for this project.  (AGAIN, if you prefer to be given a pattern or idea, just PM me and I will be glad to assist on an individual basis)

Finished Project Picture Guidelines:  Once you finish the project, please send a digital picture of completed project to Chas, Senior Editor ASAP.  DO NOT BLOG ANY PICTURES OF YOUR PROJECT UNTIL AFTER HOMESTEAD BLOGGER HAS POSTED ALL COMPLETED PROJECT PICS ON THE WEBSITE FIRST!  After homestead blogger has posted the pictures of all completed projects, then you may blog to your heart's content regarding the first quilting challenge.

NOTE:  So far, there are 5 participants, so if you would like to go ahead and begin making blocks now, you know you will need to make a minimum of 5 blocks.  Please feel free to get a head-start on the blocks.

From My Homestead to Yours,

~Chas~

Chasity L. Burrell

Senior Editor Homesteadblogger

My Cup Runneth Over at Heritage Acres Farm

Posted in Quilting

The two essential parts of quilting is measuring & sewing accurately.

The best way to get your seams at a scant 1/4 of an inch - scant meaning it is a few threads less than 1/4 of an inch is to make a sewing guide on your machine.
Spend a few minutes reading these wonderful instructions I found on the web & make a masking tape guide. It is soo worth doing this now before you sew.

OK to sew our 9 patch.

Lay out your block how you wish it to look finished.

Then pick up the first two blocks going across the row. Place right sides together
sew your scant 1/4 inch seam - do not cut your thread - leave it all on the machine.
Now pick up the middle two first blocks & sew your scant 1/4 inch seam - leave thread on machine
Pick up your last two blocks & sew your scant 1/4 inch seam. Cut the thread.

They should look like this. - And you have just completed your first machine chaining - a very fast way to sew quilts.
Open them out


Now repeat sewing each block your scant 1/4 inch in chain piecing as we did above.

Now take the time & iron your rows.
Do not use a steam iron just dry hot iron.
I always press my seams open - many quilters do also - but others don't they press the seams together towards the dark fabric.
I learned to sew clothing (including my wedding & bridesmaids dresses) and we always open seams.

I also find it easier to get nice points if my seams are ironed open.
Take top row & middle row - and right sides together
Place a pin thru the middle of the top seam
then line that pin up to go thru the middle of the next join.Make sure the two centres of the join marry up.
Taking the time to do this will help you get your centres straight.
Then do the same for the next row
Your block should look like this.
Measure your block - if you have sewed it correctly it should measure 12 1/2 inches square.
But if not don't worry here is a great instruction on how to square up your block

If it is smaller that 12 1/2 inches your seams haven't been 1/4 inch - go back & have another look at these instructions

If your block is not right, be it finished size or your points don't match - take the time to correct it. My unpicker is my best friend - no one likes unpicking - but it is soo worth taking the time now - as you will find if you leave the wonky block - you will always see it in your quilt.
If you are working with a child - they don't like the actual unpicking part - so I do that for them & yes tears happen - but once they see their first block as good as any quilters they will feel very proud.

BUT also remember the  Amish never make a perfect quilt - only God is perfect so in every quilt they have a mistake. And at the end of the day your family will love the quilts you have made them - they care about the love & time you have put into it for them - not how straight your points are. -

Leave me a comment with a link of your & your child's finished block & I'll share it with everyone here. - And for the HSB's that were making blocks of the month with previous lady - here are mine so far.

Oh and tomorrow I begin sharing how to make your scrap quilts along with this block of the month - hope you have been gathering up your scraps. (I am using two colours - scraps in pink & green)

Have fun & make some memories with your family - (oh don't forget to start reading the Little House books)

- Posted by Leanne of At The Good Life.

Posted in Quilting

The first thing you need to do is get your fabric straight.

I've found on the web a good example here for you.For beginners I urge you to cut one layer at a time. - But it will not take you long to learn how to cut double layer.

If you are using a rotary cutter & self healing mat - here is some good instructions.

I cut a strip of fabric using my ruler & then I like to use my square to cut it into blocks. But use what you have just recheck your blocks are square.



If you are using the traditional method and hand cutting
You will need cardboard - cereal boxes work well. - Cut out a 4 1/2 inch square - re check it is square.
Then place on wrong side of fabric & draw around it - if you have a sewing marker use that - if not a pencil (I have been known to use a ballpoint pen) then cut on the line you have drawn - you should end up with a 41/2 inch square.

 The key is measurement - make sure your blocks are cut out straight and are 4 1/2 inches square.

 Practice, practice, practice on some old material And Measure that you have 4 1/2 inch square!

- Posted by Leanne of At The Good Life.

Posted in Quilting

I really want to encourage frugal quilting - lets face it - it is what making a quilt was all about - cutting up bits of old clothing to reuse as a quilt to keep the family warm at night. We don't tend to do this now as a lot of our clothes are a cotton knit - stretch fabric or have polyester in them.

I personally like the look of scrap quilts - some people don't.

To make an eye appealing scrap quilt you still need to choose your material wisely - use the colour groups I shared in part one. Don't just put any old fabric into your scrap quilt you still need to try & keep to the same colour group.

Quilt shops sell grab bags of scraps
Heres my one I got for $10.00 this week - all greens.

The jewel tones pop out at you first - these I will not be using in my current scrap green & Pink quilt - so they get put away in my stash for another project one day.

These scraps will be then cut up into

1 1/2 inch strips & 2 1/2 inch squares (for scrappy log cabin or scrappy basket quilts)
Log Cabin quilts traditionally the centres are red or yellow - but you can do what you like.

2 inch squares & 5 3/8 inch blocks for a scrappy nine patch quilt

2 1/2 inch squares & 4 1/2 inch blocks for a double four patch scrap quilt.


Nothing get wasted.

I like making scrap quilts as then I can buy a fat quarter here & there when I visit a quilt shop (which doesn't blow the budget)- get the wonderful feeling of holding, choosing & then owning new material - I personally think this is the best part of quilting

So how are you all going on choosing your material for our frugal block of the month? And little did you all know you will begin making a scrap quilt at the same time.

So gather up some material - get some storage boxes - I use plastic boxes & label them - then as I cut my material for a quilt I'm making - the scraps get cut down to 1 1/2 strips, 2, 2 1/2 & 4 1/2 inch squares and put in each container.

Tomorrow we begin cutting our fabric.

- Posted by Leanne of At The Good Life.

Posted in Quilting

I know, I know - yes my personality really knows that all you want to do is get quilting & skip washing your material - but resist. Washing your material will shrink it - if it was going to shrink and also & the most important - washing will remove excess dye from your material.

If a bit of material really runs dye - do not use it - It's just too sad to hear of lovely quilts being washed & dye running onto other fabric and spoiling the quilt.

I did take photos for you all - honest but they didn't turn out - I need to stop dithering which new camera to buy & just choose!!! But I have blogged before about washing material so here is the link with photos

Washing your material.
Take all labels off
wash lights first.

I use warm water & a bit of dish washing liquid & kitchen sink
Give each bit of fabric a soak & gently squeeze out - again start with the lights.

Then I rinse in warm water - again lights first then darks.

I rinse again & sometimes one more rinse until my water runs clear,

Then I hang inside on clothes rack - never on line in sunlight.

When still a  bit damp iron them - I like to use a dry iron no steam as steam can stretch your fabric

- Posted by Leanne of At The Good Life.

Posted in Quilting

I snapped a photo of my tools I like.
The green self healing mat is one of the biggest you can get & I love this size - one day I would like to get a smaller one just for scraps - mmm might have to put that on my Christmas/birthday wish list.

The middle ruler is what I sue the most - wish I had brought this size first 6 inch by 24 inch & watching closely it's what the shops use.

Rotary cutters the top one is what I prefer as the safety catch you hold (can push the red button to keep it in) - the other one has a slide clip to put guard on - I never remembered to use it - and one should put the safety guard on each time you stop using it - esp if you have kids around or wear bear feet & er umm drop the cutter.
The size I like is 45cm - again the same size shops seem to use - good to remember as I could never remember size when I went into get new blades. I tell you, I soon learned the size after having to go home to look.

And my square - I use this a lot - it's not a must have but jolly useful.

Again you do not have to own tools to make quilts - but they do make your work load neater & faster.

- Posted by Leanne of At The Good Life.

Posted in Quilting

All quilters have to start somewhere & why not the same as Laura & Mary Ingalls did with a nine patch - click here
to see a Quilt at the Wilder Museum that is on display made by Laura & her daughter Rose. And do tell me if you ever go & visit.
Laura Ingalls books bring back warm memories of our younger years at home schooling - we did a big pioneer unit & loved it! We used Prairie Primer  I regret selling this & keep my eye out for it to come up 2nd hand here in New Zealand. (we are currently using The Anne of Green Gables unit study & also loving this!)

Some of us have been making blocks of the month here at hsb - sadly the lady left without saying goodbye - she started us off using 12 inch blocks - hence our beginners block will be 12 inches also. I will share a new block o the 1st of each month

You can make the nine patch in any colours you wish - as we are aiming for our block of months to have 1 background colour & 8 fat quarters you could do a block of each colour.
You could use just two colours as Laura & Rose did here
Or you could have the centre with a main feature as I have.

Ok so you need to cut 9 blocks 4 1/2 inch square.

This is mine 4 yellow (my background colour), 4 blue & 1 feature all 4 1/2 inch square.

Here is my 9 patch all laid out ready for sewing.

Tomorrows lesson will be on sewing your patch.

Have fun cutting your block

And here is an example of a finished quilt using th 9 inch block - but just smaller blocks.
I should of laid it out flat instead of just snapping the photo of quilt sitting folded up on end of bed - but you get the idea.

Have fun & let me know how you go cutting out your blocks.

- Posted by Leanne of At The Good Life.

Posted in Quilting

A few must haves tools I feel you need. - However you can do without them - women many years ago did - they used paper templates & scissors.

But  I'd recommend getting a few basics. Get decluttering & sell off those unwanted things around your home on trade me - or Ebay to get your fund.

1. Clear plastic ruler - I personally don't like the yellow ones - I like clear & the best size I like is 6inch wide & 24 inches long

2. Self healing mat - these are an expense to begin with but ooh look after it & they last - looking after I mean don't leave in sun & store flat. I personally love the biggest mat - but you can work with a smaller one.

3. A rotary cutter - and get a spare blade if your budget will push.

4. Pins

Nice but not a must have is a 6 or 8 inch square,

If you are having a play to see if you like quilting & do not want to spend any money then you will need
A good ruler (school one will be fine)
pen - ball point fine
cardboard
good dressmaker scissors
paper scissors.
pins

But I would encourage you to get the quilting tools above - look on ebay, trade me etc... it's amazing how many women clear out things...

Tomorrow we learn about preparing your material. - I went quilt shopping yesterday so will take photos to share of my finds - including my scrap bag I got for $10.00

Posted in Quilting

Kris  asked me to blog about Quilting - mmm what to blog about???

I thought I would begin a Beginners Block of the Month for beginners. PLUS try & make it a frugal Block of the Month.
Hobbies can be expensive but they don't have to be THAT expensive.

You will need material. 100% cotton is best. There are plenty of shops that have sales & even on line shops with great bargains. - look in op shops, garage sales, scrap bins of friends who quilt or do dressmaking. As long as it is 100% cotton. Don't buy or use polyester fabric it is not as hard wearing and it's hard to work with.

You will need approx. 1 metre of material for your background fabric. Then about 8 fat quarters - you don't need to buy all 8 at once three would be good - a light, medium & dark plus background fabric

Also watch out at quilt shop for their bags of scraps - buy them up as I am soo into scrap quilts & such a frugal way to make another quilt (Yes I'll share here too how to make another quilt out of scraps as you make your blocks of the month)

I remember the feeling of what to buy?? If you have no fabric & are starting out here's a few tips. Oh I also feel strongly - don't give your kids yucky bits of material to begin with - they will not love the finished result as much. It is worth letting them having some nice fabric - you too mums!

Colours fall into these categories.

Pastel - soft, baby, feminine, sweet. - suit backgrounds of white or cream

Light Dusky tea stain, hazy, desert, patina suit backgrounds of cream, light grey, Taupe

Dusky Old, foggy, storm, worn suit backgrounds of cream, medium grey, taupe.

Dark Dusky antique, moody, Victorian, Rembrandt suit backgrounds of black, dark grey

Jewel Tones Mardi Gras, fireworks, dramatic, neon lights. suit backgrounds of black

So when you are choosing your fabric for a quilt keep to one category.

The next thing to think of when buying fabric is light, medium & darks. you need a mix.
Plus scale - do not buy all your fabric the same scale eg look out for geometric patterns, checks, & stripes bring interesting dimensions to your quilt.

Another tip I learnt is to keep away from plain coloured fabric. Whit & Cream are fine, but colours look better if tone on tone ie material which is one colour but has some pattern or dye interest.

Another tip I learned & Personally love is each quilt is to have a small amount of yellow in it - it just seems to make the quilts sing. - But if you don't like yellow don't buy any.

Have fun shopping for your material.

Following quilting beginners block of month will be about:
 tools of the trade,
 preparing your material,
block of the month pattern,
Cutting your block
keeping scraps of material from your cutting
sewing your block
Ironing your block
Storing your block

Let me know if you want to join in.

Leanne At The Good LIfe

Posted in Quilting

I am LITERALLY in my realm here.  I just found some pictures of a more experienced quilter who has done several "quilts of faith".  Now I haven't finished yet with my basic classes, BUT this is definately something I'm interested in accomplishing.

 

 Quilting the names of Jesus

 

     Quilting the Psalms

Women Of The Bible

 

Mothers Of The Bible

 

SO FAR, I've only been able to find the patterns (which are quite pricey so be prepared) HERE If any of you have done these patterns and know where to find them cheaper.  Please let me know!  I'm pretty thrifty and the cost of these patterns make me cringe!

There's a woman who's made these beautiful quilts and posted them. I thought I'd share her pictures with you all. Women Of the Bible Blocks  and Names of Jesus Quilt

 

****Before I go,I wanted to share a fellow Homestead Blogger who's started a "Block of The Month" Tutorial on her blog.  I can't believe I'm just finding it, but was very blessed that I came across her blog today while lurking around.  So without further Ado, please stop by Little House in the Valley  if you haven't already, and learn from a more experienced quilter how to make a few new Blocks.  If you continue to go along with her, you'll have yourself a nice quilt in the end.  It's THE BEST way to learn how to Quilt.  Come join me again on February 28th to learn about Batting.

Rebekah Shearer

Contributing Editor

Posted in Quilting

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Quilt At The Beginning

Class Preparation

Fabric, Needles, and Threads

 

 

 

Hello Everyone!  Happy Valentines Day!!  I pray you each enjoyed this day we celebrate Love.  Loving our Lord, Our Husbands, Our children, or our neighbors and friends.  Never taking for granted what we have and grateful for those in our lives who love us without condition.

 

Today is all about Fabric, Needles and Threads.

 

The difference in Fabric Quality

I must say before this class, I thought fabrics were just fabrics.  They all looked and felt the same.  Who knew that while beautiful cotton fabric looked the same, some could be pre-washed, have tighter weaves, some with more quality dyes. Truth be told, cotton fabrics sold in mass merchandise stores are different from those stores that sell only quality tight woven fabrics specifically.  Never would I have thought I’d start being choosey about fabrics.  BUT, I’m told that many quality quilts made to last beyond our lifetime are and always have been made with quality fabric.  Not many Manufacterers make the quality fabrics anymore that our ancestors used when they hand-quilted their quilts to use for long, hard winters out of necessity.  Today we are able to choose.  With the economy the way it is, we can get by with buying what’s on sale at our local stores.  However, if we’re consciousely making a quilt with character and intend to keep it long past our years for our childrens children, or enter them in the State Fair, well, then we’d want to choose the more expensive, quality, cotton or flannel which won’t pull or shed.

 

Less expensive threads tend to be loosely woven with fewer threads per inch and later will cause your quilt to stretch or distort. For quilts we are warned to stay away from Poly/Cotton blends  which shrink like crazy or Iron your shapes together for the squares.  THIS IS NOT something you want to happen.  It’s a waste of money for the fabric when this happens and adds extra time to the quilting process.

 

Choosing your Fabric Colors and Styles

 

With most quilts, you will need the following:

 

 Focal Fabric:  The big pink fabric

 

Light Fabric:  The teal floral

 

And a Dark Fabric:  The dark green pattern

 

 

Nina as well as the author Alex Anderson express the importance of choosing your fabrics carefully.  They dictate the mood and look for your quilt overall.  The idea is to be sure to pick light, medium and dark-colored fabrics to compliment one another.

 For instance, this quilt made by one of the many quilters at Calico Gals (where I’ve taken my class). You’ll see light greens, dark greens, medium greens, light reds, medium, and dark reds.  Using fabric with print variety adds a touch of fun and elegance as well.    While you would think none of them would match with one another, it looks REALLY cool in the end.  As Alex Anderson puts it in her book Start Quilting with Alex Anderson, If you use only one size prints, your quilt tends to look as though it has the chicken pox. So don’t be afraid to use small print with big, lines with floral, It may just surprise you and you should SEE the quilts these women make at the Calico Gals store. Utterly Astounding!! Experiment with your quilts and HAVE FUN!

 

Go With The Grain

 

Fabric is produced with threads that are woven two directions which give you your length and your width which is called the “straight of the grain” If you cut triangular from the top corners, you would be cutting along the bias (for those like me who’ve never sewed in their lifetime). Nina is a stickler for ALWAYS pressing the corner biases with an Iron because they stretch and if not pressed correctly, will make your square and maybe even the full quilt off a tad bit. 

 

The long finished edges are called salvages (notice the white edge on the far lefthand side of the fabric in the picture?  That’s a Salvage!) and should always be cut off because they are hard to sew through and could also distort your block.  I am told that hand-quilters  LOATHE the salvages.  I’ll be learning to hand quilt sometime soon as well. That’s my next class.

 

Preparing the Fabric

 

While many advanced quilters can work with both, as a new quilter, I was urged to be sure my fabrics are pre-washed to prevent them from shrinking or bleeding into the other lighter fabrics which would ruin the whole quilt and be a waste of hard-earned money to buy the fabrics to begin with. If your fabrics continue to bleed, you can soak the fabrics in a Retayne, Synthopol, which can both be found in fabric stores, OR if your like me and want to keep away from chemicals, Get the good ol’ water and vinegar solution out (1/2 to ½).  If your fabric runs yet again, get rid of it.  It will ruin the rest of your colors in the quilt later on and probably isn’t a very good quality fabric to use in your quilt anyways.

 

Thread

 

Use ONLY a 100% cotton thread.  Nina, my teacher,  LOATHES the poly/cotton blend and says it’s a bad choice to use in a machine and sometimes is flimsy and will break.  Cotton holds well and just works the best overall.  Be sure when you are getting your thread you are matching it with the neutral color of your focal fabric.  You want the thread to blend in, not to take over the piece you worked so hard to make.

 

Machine Needles

 

Usually the needles used for machine quilting are size 10 or 11/ 70 or 75.  If you end up using a cotton/blend go ahead and use the Universal.  Just be sure you have a bunch of extra needles on hand that are nice and sharp. You don’t want the dull needles ruining your nice fabrics.

 

Another asset to have is the Walking Foot which is used when your sewing layers of fabric and batting so your machine will glide nicely and won’t make your fabrics pucker.

 

So there you have it.  Now your ready to pick your batting. Which we’ll discuss in the next lesson on February 28, 2008.

 

So come back again and Happy quilting!

Rebekah Shearer

Contributing Writer

 

 

Posted in Quilting

Hello Everyone!  I pray you’ve all been enjoying the first month in the New Year?! Have you started any new hobbies for the New Year that you’ve always wanted to do? 

 

I must say that I’m enjoying Learning the “Quilt from the Beginning Class” here in my hometown at a store called Calico Gals.  We are learning to use tools that are foreign to me that I’ll be discussing in a minute and I’ve had the pleasure of using quite an awesome sewing machine that I was allowed to borrow during the class made by the company Baby Lock.  The machine was SO much easier than the one I bought at Walmart a few years ago.  I had a friend get frustrated trying to feed the bobbin in mine and after an hour of fussing with it, she let me use hers.  Needless to say, the bobbin feed was on top instead of on the side and it also has several types of sewing capabilities not to mention that it feeds itself pretty straight. This new hobby of mine may turn out to be quite an expensive habit if I don’t exert some self-control.

 

Today I am going to get into preparation and the tools you need to start quilting. It’s amazing how much “out of my comfort-zone” I am.  I’ve only used my sewing machine to make straight stitches for curtains.  Simplistic curtains at that.  So I really baptized myself with fire at this class.  Not only did I NOT know how to quilt, but I barely got by with the sewing machine.  Thing is though, with the Baby Lock machine, I was able to zip on by. It was SO easy that my fear became time of fun. 

 

The basic and most obvious preparation is SPACE.  You need to find some kind of working space to give yourself or you will find yourself frustrated. The first thing my teacher Nina told me, was that the best way to work with quilting is to make sure you’re organized and have enough space to get everything together that you need, be able to cut your pieces, prepare them for sewing and then piecing your squares together.  It’s like a production line.  The more space you have, the more preparation you can have done before you need to sew.  It’s just that simple.  I’m sure everyone will have their own way of working once you get into it, but for newbies, Nina suggests taking the time to have everything ready ahead of time which is what will help to ensure your quilt is done nicely. If you have a Craft Room that’s awesome, but for most, you’ll find that a dining room or kitchen table will suffice!

 

TOOLS

Rotary Cutter: To start, you’ll need a 45mm, which is medium size.  First thing Nina taught me was that This is EXTREMELY SHARP!!  Please note that this instrument is an excellent cutting tool that is a round razor blade mounted on a plastic handle.  Mine has a little button on the side that each time I expose the blade, should be pushed to close it again right away or someone…INCLUDING children, could get severely cut.

 

Rotary Mat:  Should be a Self-healing mat that is used in conjunction with the rotary cutter. I would get a medium or large size as in my own experience thus far, if you have too small of a mat, when you get into bigger projects, you’ll just have to dish out more money for a bigger one.  I like the extra space on my medium.

 

Rotary Ruler:  Is specially used to again in conjunction with the rotary cutter and mat.  Note:  I bought all three in a package together at Joann Fabrics with the 40percent coupon.  If you can, learn from my mistake.  I bought mine with a grey mat and the lines are black.  It really makes things hard to see when your trying to be very careful at measuring your fabrics to cut.  Nina had a green mat with some really cool rulers.  Some even rotated around for your convenience. 

 

The Rotary Ruler has 1/8” increments and is marked in both directions. You should start with a 6” x 12” size, which will help when you start measuring your fabric for squares, backing, and batting which I’ll get into in the next segment.

 

Sharp Scissors: Oh how I learned how nice a good pair of sharp scissors can help when you need to cut batting or anything else for that matter.  Just be careful around children.  It doesn’t really matter the size, but it’s suggested in my book to use four or five inch long Sheers.

 

Pins: suggested is extra-long, fine glass-head pins which won’t cause distortion in your fabric like most others.

 

Thread:  Quality Cotton thread for those first starting.  We’ll get into the blends I learned about again in the next segment.

 

Seam Ripper: good QUALITY seam rippers that aren’t dull.

 

Iron:  Any kind will do, but it’d be a blessing to have steam iron around.

 

Sewing Machine:  One in good working condition with variety of stitching options and sharp size 80 needle.  Again, we’ll get into more about needles in the next segment. If you’re in the market for a new sewing machine, my suggestion is making sure you pay for a quality one that will have a bobbin feed from the top and REALLY take the time to feed itself without you having to spend time doing it.  It’s REALLY worth the money!  Baby Lock is expensive, but the warranty is good on it and after borrowing it, I would definitely like one now!!

Well, that’s it for the tools you’ll need to start your project.  One suggestion is I totally recommend the book Nina taught from.  It’s called “Start Quilting 2nd edition with Alex Anderson. It has 6 projects for first time Quilters AND Alex is the Host of Simply Quilts on HGTV.  This book is the easiest I’ve found so far. I actually understood what I was reading and appreciated the author.  Nina definitely taught from an awesome book!

Please Join me again on Thursday, February 14th, 2008 for the Class entitled Fabric, Needles, and Threads.                                            

  

Rebekah Shearer

Contributing Writer