Edey's Vintage and Current Needlework : quilting

My favorite marking tool, for Quilts and Crafts

Edey — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:22:00 GMT

There are many different tools available for marking seam lines and cutting lines for marking quilting patterns, but my all-time favorite is just a plain old mechanical pencil. It always has a sharp point, doesn't require a sharpener to keep on hand, and makes a line that is just dark enough to see what I'm doing but doesn't smear the way an ordinary pencil line would. I've tried many kinds of markers; yellow wax pencil, white art pencil, chalk, soapstone, blue washable marker, disappearing markers and soft lead art pencil, and none of them were satisfactory, usually producing a thick line that could throw off the width measurement of the seam allowance.

One other marker that I found useful was a white gel pen that I used for marking on dark fabrics. It, too, made a thin line, and was easy to use when marking next to a ruler for making seam allowances, or when making placment marks for applique. Both types of markers, the gel pen and mechanical pencil, washed out of the fabric without any problems; that was another problem with some of the other markers, in that the lines wouldn't wash out. These are simple tools to use to make my quilting time easy and enjoyable. Edey

Omnigrid "Come Quilt With Me" template sets

Edey — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:45:00 GMT

I found these at Joann's. They are laser-cut thick acrylic templates for making quilt pieces, either for rotary cutting or to draw around with a pencil or marker. They already have a 1/4 inch seam allowance added and cutout holes for marking the stitching line. There are several different sets for making Half-square triangles, diamonds, squares, hearts, etc. for making many different styles of quilt blocks. I really like using these, and they are so sturdy that they will last a lifetime.

After buying the one set at Joann's with a 40% off coupon, I thought I'd look them up on-line. There were many different sellers on e-bay that were selling them for about half of the price at Joann's. I'm happy to know that there is another source. The set that I bought was $19.99 at Joann's and with the coupon got $8.00 off. The e-bay prices ranged from $5.00 to $12.00, plus shipping. It would pay to look for the best price, and not just on e-bay.

These quilt templates can also be used for other crafting, whenever a shape is needed for something, so they are not just one time only tools. I think they are a good investment if you are getting into making quilts.

Edey

Rotary cutting vs. using a template

Edey — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:11:00 GMT

When I started quilting in the early 1970's rotary cutters and the rulers and cutting mats used with them didn't exist. The common way to cut out pieces to make a quilt block was to first make a template of the pieces needed out of cardboard, plastic or folded paper, then trace around the template, leaving room between shapes to add a 1/4" seam allowance all around. The shapes would then be cut out with a good sharp pair of scissors. I left quilting behind when I got busy raising a family so it was several years later when I got interested in it again. When I found the rotary cutter I thought that was the best invention of all time for quilting and sewing. Of course I saved my pennies and bought one and all the goodies that went with it. Learning to use them properly was something of a challenge; it seemed like it should be easy enough to get the fabric all squared up and then cut into strips, but somehow for me I never could master making accurate cuts. Sometimes the ruler would slip, or I'd eyeball the wrong mark on the ruler to line up where it would cut, so I'd have one or two oddball strips in a batch of strips. I would suddenly realize that when I would sewed a piece together it would be the wrong size. Having the space to use the long rulers and big mats was also a challenge. I fought with the whole process of getting the fabric laid out just right, lining up the ruler just right and hoping it doesn't slip only to find I've cut them wrong. It was frustrating, but this was the modern way, and if I wanted to produce lots of quilts, this was the way to do it.

But I've come to realize that my enjoyment of the process of piecing and stitching is more important than rushing thru the cutting simply to mass produce quilts as fast as I could. I wasn't in it for the competition but to enjoy the activity of working with fabric and thread. It is more comforting to sit in my recliner with a board on my lap, a small piece of fabric on the board, a little sewing basket nearby holding my supplies, and tracing out my pieces using a template. I can mark my fabric and have it waiting for me to cut out a few pieces as I have the time to do it. I'm not hovering over a table, straining to see and trying to accurately cut a large piece of fabric, hoping I've done it right.

Like any tool, the rotary cutter has its uses. The ergonimically shaped handle is easier on the hand then the original designed straight handle, and they are made safer now with automatically covered blades. For quickly cutting a piece of fabric that is several yards long and you want to cut into 1 yard lengths, the rotary is ideal. For precise cutting it takes more skill, something I found difficult to develop. I will always have a rotary cutter for general cutting. But for its intended use of cutting fabric precisely and quickly for quilting purposes, for me it just didn't work out. Maybe I'm too much of a traditionalist; I like the older, simpler way better.

Edey

String Quilts

Edey — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:06:00 GMT

String quilts are real easy to make. The "strings" are long strips of fabric, not cord type string. Usually it's left over strips of fabric that are too narrow for other purposes; this is a good way to not waste those scraps.

Basics for making a block: Cut a large square of a backing fabric, like plain muslin, but use whatever you want. Make as many blocks as you want for your quilt. I have a large 12 x 12 ruler that I just lay down on the fabric and cut around it. Then cut lots of strips of different fabrics at least 1 1/2 inches wide or wider. Varying the widths make an interesting quilt block

Next: You will be stitching down a strip with the wrong side up and stitching the right side with a 1/4" seam , then flipping the strip over. Fingerpress or iron it down. Lay the next strip down against the raw edge, stitch it down and flip it over, keep going until you have the whole square covered with strips. Then turn over the block and using the edge of the backing for a guide, trim off the overhanging pieces.

Make several blocks and lay them out in several different designs before sewing together. Cut a backing the same size, quilt to the top, then attach a binding. For small projects I used store bought bias binding, but you can also make you own.

I've made several of these for arm chair covers and for putting on the back of chairs, to keep those areas clean. They can be made into pillows, cushions, lap robes. It's a good way to use up fabric you aren't using and it's just taking up space. Edey