Burlap Tree Ornament

 

To celebrate my return to blogging and regular time with needle and thread, either at the machine or by hand, I am taking the challenge of making one thing a day.

Last year I had a plan, goal, resolution (?) to make a Christmas ornament each month. That would have given me ten ornaments by Thanksgiving, allowing my grandkids a choice of which one they wanted.

Sounds good, right? Didn’t happen. At all. Not even one ornament got made last year.

This year, I had good intentions and renewed the plan. An ornament a month was still a good goal.

Except. Here it is February and no ornaments in the box. In fact, most of January was spent working on converting the big bedroom into a sewing room. The new sewing room is now  usable, if not finished and I can find the fabric I want to use (at least most of the time).

It just so happens that for the last few years, there has been a February challenge called, THING A DAY. No, I wasn’t good about posting, or even making a thing every day. However, hope is eternal and this was to be the year.

Uh-huh. Today is February 4, and so far just one ornament. But, hey, it’s a start. The little burlap tree might be too big to use as an ornament. I’m sure I’ll find some way to use it come Christmas, in the meantime, it’s a start on one of my goals, to sew or craft every day

 

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas?

Do you make Christmas gifts or ornaments?

Did you receive any custom-made (hand-crafted) gifts last year?

 

Wax Paper in the Sewing Room

 

Save time and money. Shop at home.

The time you save can be used working on a project. The money will go towards your next fabric purchase.

Shopping at home allows us to finish our projects without making a trip to the store. Today we’re shopping in the kitchen for emergency sewing supplies.

There it is. In your cabinets with other kitchen papers.

The roll of wax paper.

What can you do with wax paper.

Allow me to wax on about the benefits of wax paper in the sewing room.

1. The paper can be used for quilting over tee-shirt quilts. Often the presser foot will stick to the design of the shirt, making quilting difficult. Placing the wax paper over the design allows the presser foot to glide.

2. Draw the quilting design on the wax paper and place the paper over the quilt. Since you can see the quilt pattern through the paper, you will be able to tell if this pattern works for this quilt.

3. If you don’t have fusible handy when making a tee-shirt quilt, wax paper will help stabilize the stretching tee-shirt fabric for sewing.

4. Use the paper as a quilting template. Draw your quilting design on the paper then pin it to your quilt top. Stitch through the wax paper following your design. The wax paper will tear away when you’re finished, tweezers will help get the tiny pieces.

5. In a pinch wax paper can be used in place of a silicone sheet when pressing fusibles. The sandwich your fabrics between two pieces of wax paper. The paper will protect both your ironing board and your iron.

Are Yo-Yo Tops Really Quilts?

All quilts are not created equal.

The first time I saw a picture of a Yo-Yo quilt I didn’t quite understand it. It didn’t look like any quilt I’d seen before. It had holes in it.

Okay. To be fair they weren’t “holes” they were spaces not filled in with fabric.  Still, they looked like holes to me and I couldn’t imagine why anyone would make a quilt top that, when finished would have the batting sticking out.

A Yo-yo top is a collection of gathered circles sewn together. While they can be sewn into a pattern, most y0-yos are a lighter version of the patchwork quilt.

A completed YoYo quilt from 2 sisters quilting. The green showing through between the circles (yo-yos) is the background of whatever the quilt is on.

The description I read at the time said these “quilts” were for summer, and topped a colored sheet. At the time, it just looked like an unfinished quilt to me. I’ve since learned more about them and appreciate them for their time and beauty.

While they are not quilts, there is only the one layer, possibly  two if the top is stitched to a backing. They are beautiful, and have their own stories just as their “real” quilt sisters.

I wonder if a yo-yo top wasn’t someone’s idea of a pretty, light weight top similar to a crocheted bedspread, or tablecloth. Maybe the first yo-yo maker couldn’t afford all the thread to crochet a pretty top. Maybe she didn’t know how to crochet, but she wanted something light-weight, and airy for  summer.

Just imagine a woman looking at her pile of scraps and her naked table, or a heavy quilt on her bed in the heat of the summer. She could sew, but really didn’t want a “quilt” to dress her table, and she wanted/needed something lightweight for her bed.

She began to experiment, after all isn’t that how we get most of our patterns, experimenting?  Maybe she had made the yo-yos before as a decoration.

Now, however, she sews them together and before long, viola! A pretty, airy table covering, or bed topper.

The sheet that served as cover for the hot Oklahoma nights could be made prettier by topping it with the yo-yo top.

Now, I don’t really know how a yo-yo top came into being, why or how they were first used. I do know they are beautiful, and perfect for someone who loves to do handwork. That wouldn’t be me. I’ll just enjoy the yo-yo tops others make.

What about you? Do you have a yo-yo top? Have you ever made one?

This post was for the letter Y in the A to Z blogging challenge. Tomorrow is the last day of the month and, of course, Z will be the letter of the day. Hope you’ve enjoyed some of the many blogs who joined the challenge.

 

 

X Quisite and X Quarter Quilt Blocks

Finding words, quilts, ideas for each letter of the alphabet that have quilting in common has been much easier than I’d thought it would be. I mean, even Q was easy. Hello? Q? Quilt?

Others with different themes may have struggled with the letter Q, but not me.

However, X was a different story.

According the the Maggie Malone Book of 5500 QUILT BLOCK DESIGNS, there are two X quilt blocks. The X Quartet and the X-Quisite.

An X Quartet Quilt Block from planet patchwork.com

I could only find one example of the X Quartet quilt block, maybe others call it by another name. After all, it looks fairly simple and easy. Half square triangles set in the pinwheel pattern. Half-square triangle blocks together with solid blocks around the four sides of the pinwheel,  and solid blocks in the corner.

 

For the X Quiste block, I found this  baby quilt  by Mary, of the Tulip Patch done in that pattern. Isn’t it cute? I’m sure the parents of the little boy who now owns it were thrilled to receive such a cute quilt for their little one.

X Quisite quilt by Mary at the Tulip-patch

Lucky you. Since I found a couple of X quilt blocks you were spared the Xylophone quilt idea. I’m sure there are other X quilt blocks out there and now I’m on a quest to find them. Do you have an X quilt block?

Still playing with the A to Z bloggers. Up Monday, is Y, and yes, I have a quilt story for Y.

 

 

Quilts, Tied, Unsewn, Washed and Versatile

Playing catch-up today.

Tied or tacked quilts are most often relegated to the functional uses. In fact there are some, like my father, who don’t consider a tacked quilt a “real” quilt.  In his world, a tied quilt was a comforter and a stitched (quilted) one was, well a quilt.

My father isn’t alone. There are quilt shows that limit the exhibition to those quilts that are stitched together.

I think it comes down to how you were raised and what type of quilts you were exposed to. In my father’s case, his mother made both stitched and tied quilts. However, the stitched quilts were the ones given as gifts, and with the more intricate designs.

The tied quilts were those the family used every day. Thus, for him, a tied quilt wasn’t a real quilt.

I didn’t grow up with quilts or quilters and taught myself to quilt, with the help of my mother-in-law. For me, a quilt is a quilt and I love them all. Plus, every quilt has a story, tied, or stitched.

What about you? Are tacked quilts “not real quilts?”

Tied quilt my mother-in-law made, probably in the late 30’s. The 9patch’s are flour sack fabric.

Almost every quilter has a manually operated Unsewing Machine. Otherwise known as a seam ripper. However, a few weeks ago, Alex Anderson unveiled the latest in sewing innovations, a stitch eraser. Enjoy.

Quilts are one of our most versatile household items. A quilt can wrap and calm a crying baby. Give comfort to a grieving adult. Children love hiding in, and playing pretend in their quilt forts.

There are quilted table cloths for both fine dining, and picnics at the park that can double as a cover up should the need arise. Quilts are perfect cushions at outdoor events, ready to be used for warmth should the  temperatures drop.

A quilt can be folded and placed on the foot of the bed for decoration, yet still available as a cover.

Quilts can be made into clothes, stuffed animals, and totes. Whatever the need, the versatile  quilt is sure to be available to fill it.

How do you wash your quilts? My quilts are made for everyday use, they get thrown in the washer and hung out on the line. However, I do have some special quilts that don’t get washed.

They don’t get used, I place them on the bed from time to time to relax the threads and let them air out. Other than that, no washing.

If a special quilt must be washed I wash it in the bathtub. Actually, it soaks in a solution for delicate fabrics. The water is then squeezed out and the quilt rinsed, and re-rinsed. Then, it’s placed on a sheet outside, with another sheet covering it (to protect it from direct sun and bird droppings) until it is dry.

Yes. It is a lot of work. No, I don’t do it often. However, there are times when a washing is just what is called for.

How about your quilts? Washable? Non?

Sewing and Speaking

It’s Show and Tell Monday! Ok, it’s not, it’s just Monday. But, today is letter S for the A to Z challenge.

Okay, it’s not even Monday, it’s Wednesday. The post was ready, except for a picture on Monday. Still no picture, but a post of words is better than nothing. Right?

I’ve been a little (sometimes I am a master at understatement) behind on the blog challenges.  Last week I almost forgot I had a blog, much less a couple of challenges.

What in the world could make me forget something like my blog?

A speech contest. Speech contest begins with “S”, so I’m good. Right?

Sure, speech contest begins with “S,” but what does it have to do with quilts?

Well, the speech was about a quilt. Sort of. In the speech I compared our lives to quilts. To further illustrate the point I made a “quilt” to use as a prop.

I spent last week sewing, and speaking, giving practice speeches wherever and whenever possible including speaking to the dog. Poor baby. This week though, I’m back on track trying to accomplish too many things in too short of time. It was a fun week though. Too bad it didn’t end with a win.

Oh well, there’s always the next contest.

That was Monday. This is Wednesday. Shortly after writing that post and before I could take the picture of the quilt the stomach flu bug found and attacked me. No pictures, no posting, no writing. Just sick.

Better now, and future posts will, with luck, appear on schedule. 🙂 Hope the “bugs” haven’t attacked anyone else.

Patterns, Quiet and Rectangles of Quilts

Patterns are so pretty and make a project go faster and easier. So, why don’t I follow them? Good question.

I do sometimes, however I often, I veer off on my own. Sometimes it’s to make an adjustment (or ten) to an existing pattern. Often, my veering has more to do with my impatience, and the fact that I made an error. Rather than unsew a patch, or several, I just decide that’s the look I intended, and I continue along that path.

Other times, I will see the finished project, or a picture of it, and not have a pattern. I must construct a pattern if I want the project. So I do, making changes along the way.

There are times, however, when making a patchwork pattern, when following the instructions are the best way to have the desired look. I first fell in love with patchwork quilts way back in the day and they are still my primary quilt love. Although, I’ve seen some beautiful non patchwork quilts that offer their own brand of pleasure.

Quilts in general are a source of pleasure, regardless of their type.

Which quilts give you the most pleasure? Do you admire one type of quilt, and make another?

On her blog, Nancy Doyle wrote about quiet being the naturally soothing and wrote and thought-enabling event that is missing from most of our lives.

A quilt helps us create and/or enjoy the quiet. As children we made tents and forts with the quilts and hid inside. In the tent we were far away from the noise of the day. We lived in our own little private, wonderful world, the quilts held the world at bay.

As adults, the cocoon quilt often serves as our fortress of solitude. We wrap up in the quilt. We burrow down and allow the quilt to protect us from the worries of the day, and hold the noise and problems at bay. At least for a few hours.

When sewing on a quilt the noise of the day recedes into the recesses of my mind. The beauty of the quilt in front of me and the process of sewing it together, silences the noise of the day.

Squares. Rectangles. Just think of the quilts  made with only those two shapes. It’s only right, since the finished product is usually a square or rectangle.

Consider these quilts, made entirely of rectangles:

First up is one made by a McAlester Ok quilter. I took this picture at a craft fair a few years ago when she had the quilt on display and for sale. It was one of the few she had that wasn’t a cross-stitch quilt.

flour sack fabric, four patch made with rectangles. made by Pat Cotton, McAlester OK

My version of a rail-fence quilt made for my granddaughter in pinks.

This panel quilt is one of two I made for the two youngest grandsons a couple of years ago. I didn’t even add to it as I usually do with panel quilts. Just added a backing and some quilting and called it good.

What about you? Are squares and rectangles the most popular shape in your quilt block arsenal? Maybe you enjoy including, triangles, diamonds, circles and hexagons? What’s your favorite?

Ok, I am caught back up for the A to Z blog challenge. A bit behind on the UBC challenge, but progress is being made.

 

 

What is a Longarm?

What is a Long arm?

When I first heard the term my mind went silly. A person (most likely a woman) sitting in a chair with arms that reached down to the floor. Or she could be standing, flat-footed and changing the light-bulb on a nine-foot ceiling.

Purhaps the comics I read as a child left that mental image for me. Comics like the Elongated Man. Although, I don’t remember reading about him. My memory conjured up “Rubber Man” or “Elastic Man,” I didn’t even think of “Plastic Man” which apparently was a real comic according to the cool blogger over at LEFT AND WRITE blog. Back when the A to Zers were on the letter “e” he wrote about the Elongated Man, how would you like to have THAT name as a super hero? He mentioned the Plastic Man, but said nothing about the Rubber Man or the Elastic Man, guess my brain just made them up.

All of that to say, that is not what a long-arm means.

Longarm doesn’t refer to the quilter (man or woman) at all. Instead it refers to the sewing machine.  Most sewing machines are 9-12 inches between the needle and the body of the machine, the longarm machine has 18-26 inches (I think those numbers are right) making it easier to quilt.

Most longarm machines are mounted on a frame holding the quilt. The machine is moved along the quilt to do the stitching rather than moving the fabric. These machines are BIG and require space, not to mention they are also expensive. Two reasons most quilters send their quilts out to be quilted, it’s cheaper and more space saving than owning their own longarm machine.

There are longarm machines that can be placed on a table allowing the quilter to sit, and move the quilt sandwich under the needle to do the quilting. These machines are less expensive (although still pricey) and take up less space.

Many quilters purchased their longarm to build a home-based business. It gave them a way to earn money while staying at home, and allowed local quilters a way to have their projects machine quilted locally.

It’s also possible the men in the quilt world is a direct result of the longarm machine. After all, it’s just a big power tool. I have no proof, just my opinion.

Now you know, a longarm is not a strange person, but a very handy machine. Do you have a longarm machine? How do you get your quilts quilted?

Linking up with Blogging A to Z :

And, the Ultimate Blog Challenge:

Felting to Freemotion

Day Six. Letter F. After a little research I realized many quilting terms begin with the letter F.

There’s Felting. I have no interest in felting. I think it’s pretty and I enjoy watching others work at it, it’s just not for me. Plus, felting feels more like an quilt embellishment to me.

Do you use felt in your quilts?

Foundation piecing is another quilting F word. Also something else I have little interest in conquering. It just takes too  much prep work for my way of thinking and sewing. I’m not big on prep work. Stick around, you’ll see why improv quilts are among my favorites.

However, for those of you who might be interested in foundation piecing here’s a video from Connecting threads to help you along:

Moving right along we come to Fusible web. This is a handy product that allows us to fuse two fabrics together. There are several different weights of fusible. Those of lighter weight will hold the fabrics together, but still allow for stitching while the stronger weights make it more difficult to stitch the fabric in place.

For a couple of the grandsons’ first quilt, I used the lighter weight to fuse the overall Bills, and other appliques in place. This allowed me to zig-zag around the figures to insure little fingers didn’t pick them off.

The Bear Paws in the corners are pieced, everything else is appliqued with the help of fusible webbing.

The “About Me” wall hanging that I attempted a few weeks ago, here, for another challenge used a stronger fusible. This way I didn’t have to stitch around the edges to hold them down.

The lady has some stitching, especially in the hair. The fused letters have no stitching

Then, of course, there’s Fabric which also starts with today’s letter, F. We couldn’t have quilts if we didn’t have fabric.

Most quilters prefer to use 100% cotton in their quilts because cotton has a good feel, it’s easy to sew either with a machine or by hand, and we know it will last. Many of our grandmothers’ quilts are still around, after 100 or more years, and most of them were made with cotton fabric.

Of course, they didn’t have a lot of choices. Still, I have seen, and owned, older quilts of flannel, wool (not felted),and corduroy. I’ve made quilts with denim fabric (from the kids’ jeans), and hanging on my quilt rack is a double-knit quilt, using fabrics from the sixties and seventies. Satins and silks have even been sewn together for quilts. Almost any fabric will work in a quilt, but the preferred is cotton.

After fabric, of course, comes the pattern. Now I know pattern doesn’t start with an F, but you’d be surprised how many patterns do begin with the letter. Being a country girl, I noticed all the block patterns starting with the word, “farmer.” Farmer’s daughter, Farmer’s Delight, Farmer’s Field, Farmer’s puzzle, Farmer’s Windmill and, naturally, Farmer’s Wife, are just a few of the “Farmer’s blocks I found. They don’t even make a stitch in the number of other block patterns beginning with F.

Maybe next month I’ll make, and post about, blocks from the alphabet.

Finally, we come to free motion quilting. I’m working to improve my quilting, so have none of mine to show. But, quilter Leah Day has several videos on free motion quilting. This is a good one for getting started.

Do you use any of these “F” supplies? Which is your favorite?

Linking up with A to Z and Ultimate Blog Challenge

Embroidery and Embellish for Quilts

Today, for the A to Z challenge the letter is E. In my quilting world E is for embellishment and embroidery, two things I do very seldom. Other quilters though often combine the two and embellish their quilts with embroidery.

For the letter D, here, I shared some album quilts with names embroidered on them. Trisha Faye over at Calico Connection shared  Sunbonnet Sue blocks with identifying name and date.

However, names on quilt blocks and album quilts weren’t the only times our great grandmothers embroidered their quilts.

They also used embroidery to embellish their crazy quilts. It was a good practice, after all how many samplers does a household need? Plus, it allowed the girls to perfect their stitches before embarking on the samplers.

DMC Threads has a good embroidery tutorial if you’ve never tried.

If the video inspires you to take up embroidery, you might want to check out Kassiah’s Blog. For the letter E she discussed ways to organize and store embroidery thread. Enjoy.

Linking up with A to Z Challenge and the Ultimate Blog Challenge.