Tutorials

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

New blocks

Here are a couple blocks I cut out over the weekend.  I'm trying a new method.  It was pretty easy.  As you will see they aren't sewn together.  A very bad habit of mine, posting pics before completion.  I would say I will work on that, but I won't :)

Here's Della:


And here's Evangelina


After completing Evangelina I saw a different way I should have done her.  Maybe next time :)

Here is Evangelina finished.  I do not know how I went from 15.5 inches to 11.5.  I don't think I should have lost so much just because I changed machines :( but that is the only thing I can come up with, double :(:(

I'm still pleased with her.  Of course the center blocks seams are my worst but still not bad.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

When I respond to your comments!

For some very strange reason I cannot comment from my home computer only my work one.  Just want to let you know - if you comment, please be sure to check the original post and you will see that I responded through an edited post.  I * the response and typically put the name of the person I am responding to.

I try to make sure I don't ignore anyone but because of my "technology issue" it can sometimes appear as though I am.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Welcome Followers :)

Greetings:

Welcome to my blog and thank you for following me.  At times I am very active and at other times not so much.  I am kinda in my not so much mode now.  This would be because I am working on getting 3 t-shirt quilts done.

When they are done I will post pics here.  I am also signed up for a doll quilt swap and "quilting in the new year" swap.  Both of them are coordinated through quiltingboard.com.  My partner for the "quilting in the new year swap" agreed to exchange blocks with me.  Thanks to Bonni I have two new block designs that I am going to try to accomplish - wish me luck with that :)

So anyway, this is where I put my quilting life.  Please feel free to leave comments, suggestions or maybe even the occasional criticism.

Thank you

Connie

Thursday, August 18, 2011

T-shirt Quilt Tutorial

I have been asked to put this tutorial here.  Wish me luck as I have never done one before.  But hey, a good challenge is always a good thing right?

Here we go!  I dug to the bottom of the t-shirt drawer for this one.

Cut the sleeves off

Cut the front and back apart (up the sides and across the top)
Here is where I missed a step - will try to add it later.  I should have shown how to measure the design so you know how much stabilizer you need.  You will see later I blew it :(
For the sake of this tute I pieced my stabilizer together.  It works and there is no real reason why you can't do it.  Save money! I cut this to cover a 15.5 square ruler.
Next you iron the stabilizer to the t-shirt. Make sure you use enough stabilizer to cover the entire design plus some extra. (too late I realized I should not have used gray - it's hard to see the stabilizer)
Turn the t-shirt over and place your ruler over the design.  I used the 12.5 square but should not have as it was not big enough to cover the design.
Cut around your square and you have your ready to  use block.
Hope this helps you.

I don't know the name of the stabilizer used in this tute but I have Pellon Sof-Shape to use on my next one.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Progress being made

Just a couple of those things from my to do list.  First are the potholders.  I really love these but am wondering about the sanity of using WHITE!  The second is the mittens wallhanging.  The binding is not sewn on but I used a new product tonight.  It is fusible thread. When I first learned about it, the person was using it to secure the binding for hand sticthing.  I don't know how to hand stitch but now the binding is secured for machine stitching :)


check back here for edits as I complete projects from my list!

**edited 8/17/11

Well the mittens wallhanging is done!  Not happy with the binding stitching.  I used a snowflake design but it didn't feed the way I wanted (what's new?)  Anyway, here it is

You can kinda see the attempt of the pattern.  You can definitely see that I can't sew straight!

Here are a couple baby quilt books I did.  They aren't finished either (seems to be a pattern) but that's ok.  They were fun and quick.



And last, but not least, are two runners:  The red bordered one I just love.  Few mistakes in it.  The navy bordered one I like but lots of mistakes.  Oh well, the more I look at it the less I care.  That's good right?  It is pretty.


Cut out evenings are not for me

Yeah, so all those big plans?  Not.....after I finished the potholders I seriously fizzled.  I still had about two hours before Wes came home and could have gotten lots done but just couldn't.  Was even so pathetic as to not put the sticky note on my sewing machine.  Oh well, there is tonight.  So now I will try to get most of those things done this weekend.  Going away all day tomorrow.  Have an idiot coming on Saturday to finish up all the adjustments on the tv and then hopefully we never have to have anything to do with Best Buy again!  NEVER NEVER get anything of a major purchase there.  They suck.

Do need to get some cleaning done as well.  Maybe first thing Saturday morning and then free the rest of the weekend? 

Next week we go back on our regular work hours.  Not sure how I am going to manage that after only working 3 days a week all summer.  The following week school starts and all the students will be back.  To be honest, not as excited about that as I usually am.  Again thinking it may be time for me to leave here.