Tuesday, August 20, 2013

another baby quilt

...this time inspired by BunnyHill.
This pattern calls for the use of the Quilt in a Day specialty ruler...Small Flying Geese ruler. I'm leery ( had to look up the spelling for that word!)...anywho, I'm leery of specialty rulers sometimes but this one is actually pretty helpful. I've wondered about Open Gate's flying geese rulers and I don't know if they are the same technique or different but here's a bit about QIAD style.

First, I cut the needed squares.
Then marked and sewed them right sides together as directed.
Then sewed 1/4 inch from the marked line and then cut it down the middle.
And well...I forgot to take a picture of the next step. It results in half square triangles but they are not symmetrical. There is the triangle from the larger square on one side and the triangle from the smaller square making up the other half of it.
Taking the pressed open and (odd) two half square triangles, they are placed right sides together...but not where the seams would butt together. Rather it is where the pointy edges layer each other edge to edge...there's an odd little gap in the middle. Then another diagonal line is marked and sewn 1/4 inch from that line and cut down the middle.
Well, that was probably the most interesting step of the process and not the place to forget a photo...but here is what you get...

 
Two (only one is shown) of these odd shaped pieces to cut out the flying geese. The 2 original squares yield 4 flying geese. The scraps to the right are what I squared off with the final step of yielding the two geese from one piece.
The steps are clearly written in the instructions that come with the ruler. It seems to be a pretty clever way to make flying geese that come out accurate. I was impressed with the surface on the ruler that really kept it from sliding on fabric while trying to cut.

So all that to say...
I'm on my way :-)
Some of the fabric that I am using is from BunnyHill and some from Buggy Barn and one piece even from Robyn Pandolph. And even though it broke the bank purchasing it, I must say the quality is an absolute joy to sew with. It just feels wonderful!
I hope to find out about the Open Gate version someday but this was a nice technique to learn.
More later!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Review of two lights

Awhile back I purchased a Bendable Bright Light for my Bernina and it has worked pretty well for me. I like being able to focus the light where I need it...like towards my lap when I'm frogging stitches! or to the sewing bed when I'm putting those stitches back in :-)














So recently on Bonnie Hunter's blog, she showed someone using a small flashlight that was magnetized and placed on her Featherweight (note...a non computerized sewing machine). This looked pretty cool but it made me wonder about something more flexible. I ordered a Mighty Bright Light and placed it on my machine yesterday.














The Mighty Bright Light comes with a plastic mounting holder and adheres to your machine with padded adhesive...something like the command strips but not as easily removed. The light fixture itself can be easily placed or removed from the holder.



















I put it on the side of my Featherweight...had to readjust because there was a plate screw in the way... and found a nice addition to the sewing light already there.
Since my Featherweight stores in its case and part of the machine bed folds up, I take off the light for storage. This light uses a small battery...no cord and comes with an extra mounting holder in case you want to use it on a different machine. Here it is...Off.....and On.
More light is a good thing!




















Be sure to click the Pets On Parade button...top left hand corner of my blog page...and visit the bloggers showing their pets on quilts :-)
Prizes are offered from sponsors to those visiting!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Quilt Blessings

Joining in here for the 2013 Pets On Parade, mostly in the cat category this year!
I am happy to report that I have some really good help from the staff here. New fabric brought in is checked out thoroughly.














Instructions are read. Ideas 'tossed' around.

 


When inspection is passed, each step of the process is blessed.





















 







Seen here in a rare photo op is proof that harmonious work habits can occur.




























Mosley (of blog badge fame) is actually quite camera shy but Sabra here relaxes in the limelight!




Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed my indulgence of showing off these beautiful 'helpers' of mine. Enjoy the Pets On Parade!
P.S. There are some wonderful sponsors for this parade and prizes are being offered to those visiting and commenting! You can click on the Pets On Parade button...top left of this blog page and it will take you to LilyPad Quilting where all the blogger posts are linked.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

2 opinions :-)

For a fun giveaway head over to Melissa's at Happy Quilting.

And for a fun issue of Quiltmaker...the current issue has some great projects in it. I especially love the one from Kathy Schmitz :-)

Just saying...

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

little things

Still busy here with garage re-organizing and some small remodeling but I have worked in a little stitching here and there. Quite awhile back Julie from Julie K Quilts sent me this big box of already cut triangles with some of them sewn together.  I was close to having all the blocks completed and decided to switch it up a bit and sew the last into sets of just 3. I made it just large enough to be a table runner for my computer and desk area.




 










 
 
 
And for really instant gratification! I sewed together one of those little packs of precut 2 1/2" squares from Moda of Kansas Troubles fabric. This will be a small gift for a friend. Even with tiny pieces, I loved this fabric line called Harvest Moon. While visiting the LQS today, I had to buy more :-)

Friday, July 19, 2013

Potholders and a baby quilt

Visiting friends gave me an excuse to shop in our small town full of gift shops and one small quilty store. Pinetree Patchworks offers classes and gift items but not a lot of fabric. One cute potholder pattern caught my friends interest though. So I bought the pattern and made some potholders with the apples she likes in her kitchen. Then made some easier square ones for DH and another friend.


 
Here's a picture of the pattern by Eva Holen for Classic Crafts.
 
 
I don't find a website on the pattern but here's a spot where it is also sold.  The pattern calls for using the packaged extra wide double fold bias tape but of course, I wanted to use fabric...and not bother with bias cutting! It worked with the straight just as well I am happy to say. These are VERY thick with a layer of Insul-bright and 2 more layers of regular quilt batting. The blue square ones were made with fabric from a fat quarter that I don't know where I got :-) and quilted so it looks like it was pieced. Perfect use for this "cheater" fabric.
The baby quilt is for a co-worker. I was working the day of the baby shower but was able to get some pictures (as I forgot to take them before I sent the present in!) The first picture is of the one I made. This new mama is lucky in that she got 2 more quilts from other co-workers too. We didn't coordinate but they sure look cute together.





 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Old sewing machines

Inspired by Bonnie Hunter again, I finally took a closer look at a treadle sewing machine that I bought back in 1980. The original purpose was to find a sewing table for the machine I was using back then. At some point, I bought a new belt for it but never put it on....still haven't :-/ 
But I did find out that it is a Sphinx Singer 127 (or 27) and was made in 1910.

The front needle plate was missing and I found a reproduction that fits perfectly...after a little sanding anyway. I have ordered a manual to see where to oil and will then attach the belt and hopefully learn to treadle!
Another machine I purchased a few years back has been sitting idle as well. I purchased it because it looked like the machine I learned to sew on. My mom had traded ours in for a zig zag in the 60's. I finally learned that this one is a 15-91 and was made in 1948. This one has already been serviced so I just started sewing on her and found that perfect straight stitch that the older Singers seem to provide.

Sandman Collectibles was the site that helped me figure out exactly what models my machines were and the Singer site gave me their manufacturing years in relation to their serial numbers.
On the actual sewing front...I've been making pot holders as requested by some friends and by DH as well.  And today I purchased fabric to sew another baby quilt. Pictures to follow :-)
Today was the day that Google Reader was to be gone.  I still found all the blogs I follow available on Blogger but I noted in my "stats" that I had no page views. So this post is also a test! Anybody still able to read this?!!
I would love to have some comments letting me know if you are :-)
more later, I hope!