Sister's Choice Quilts

Kiss Along With Me?

Here is my first block made from the Fig Tree pattern "Kiss Me".  Isn't it sweet?  I am making my quilt from various Fig Tree corally reds.  The fabric above is from Patisserie, but most of the reds I will use are from last summer's Strawberry Fields collection.  I found my fabrics late in the game, over the internet.  Quiltshops.com and Etsy are both good sources for older fabrics that your local quilt shop may no longer have in stock.  If matchy quilts aren't your thing, don't worry, this would be extremely cute done in a scrappy fashion, with each block a different fabric, or even Super Scrappy style, with individual blocks made from multiple fabrics in the same color family.  How amazing would that be?

When I posted on my plan to make this quilt, several of you said that you planned to make the pattern as well.  If you are in the process of making it now, as I am, let me know and I can link to your blog or post photos of your blocks as you make them.  Kiss Along with me, if you will!

So, here's the thing about Fig Tree patterns.  In general, I do not find that they are for the inexperienced sewer.  This one is certainly not.  The instructions are clear enough, but if you haven't been sewing long, you may wish for more pictures and more explanation.  There are bias edges, sewing of triangles, and lots and lots of points matching.  The results will be a beautiful quilt, and certainly worth the concentration it will take to construct it.

When I use a Fig Tree pattern, I don't like to mess around with it too much.  Just follow the instructions and all should be ok.  However, this time, I thought there might be a couple of tools that I could use that would make the cutting and construction more efficient (easier) for me.   Here's an example:

For the blocks, you need to cut Isosoles triangles.  Remember those from geometry class?  I know.  My head hurts too.  Anyway,  the pattern has you using your regular old rotary cutting ruler and using the 45 degree marks to find your place on the fabric strip.  I could do it, but it seemed (given my penchant for error) to be an unreliable method for me.  I had a couple of other ruler tools on hand that I though might be easier to use.

How many of you have one of these triangular Omnigrid rulers laying around that you have no clue what to do with?  I had one too!  The strips you cut for the triangles are 2 1/2 inches wide.  If you position the Omnigrid ruler so the number 4 lines up with the bottom of your fabric, you can cut on either side of the equal sides of the triangle (on the right and the left) and get the perfect sized triangle you need for this block.  Can anyone tell me what the numbers 1-8 on that ruler signify?  I hadn't the foggiest idea, but since 4 corresponded to 2 1/2 inches, I was good.  Do those numbers reflect the measurement of the long side of the triangle?

But wait, there's more.

I had another ruler called the Companion Angle by Darlene Zimmerman (who also made those wonderful Dresden Plate templates), which would do the job as well.  And look!  Her ruler has lines that actually say 2 1/2 inches so you can't possibly get mixed up.  It also has those same numbers 1 through 8 that I didn't understand, but I ignored them.

Ta da, first triangle.

Flip the ruler and cut another.  Of course you can stack your fabric so you don't end up cutting out individual triangles.  I cut up to four at a time.

To test things out, I made up a block and it seems like everything measured up just right.  I plan to spend the next day or two getting all my fabric cut out for this project.

Have a safe and fun Memorial Weekend everyone!

 

 

Quilt Basting Spray

Do any of you use quilt basting spray?  Helen of the Runquiltknitwrite blog posed the question in her post yesterday.  She was considering getting some and wondering if it works on large quilting projects.  I thought this question made a great topic for discussion.

I love spray baste.  It smells horrendous, but if you use it outside you don't notice it so much.  The smell dissipates in a minute or two and does not linger on your project.  I also have only used it on small projects--Schnibble size projects meant for a wall hanging or table topper.  There are a number of choices out there when it comes to purchasing the product.  The first one I ever tried was made by Sulky.

It comes in a wee tiny can and costs $12.95 for just over 4 ounces!  At least that was the price when I purchased it over a year ago.  It is a fine product.  The stuff is sticky, but not so much that your sewing needle gets gunked up when you do your machine quilting.  It also is not so adhesive that you cannot lift up your fabric and reposition or smooth things out.  They claim the product is odorless (it may smell less than the others I have tried) and that it is friendly to the Ozone Layer--which if true, may be a reason to purchase it over other brands.  Also, it is the only product of the three I have used which claims to be non-flammable.

The next time I purchased spray adhesive I picked up the June Tailor brand at KMart.

It was WAY cheaper than the Sulky and you get three times the amount of product.  My can doesn't have a price tag on it, so I can't tell you what I paid for it, but I think it was around $13.  This product works just fine as well.  It may be slightly less sticky than the Sulky, but not so much that it caused any problems.  No sticky sewing machine needles and you can fudge around with positioning your fabric until things are as smooth as you like.  No Ozone claims that I could see on the can.  It is also extremely flammable, and makes no claim to be odorless (it was the stinkiest of the three).

The next time I had to buy spray basting adhesive was this past Fall, when the first two cans I showed above were packed who-knows-where out in the garage.

That time I picked up 505, which was $12.95 for an amount somewhere in between the Sulky and the June Tailor--just over 6 ounces.  It worked exactly the same as the other two products.  No negative issues.  It has a warning that it is extremely flammable and claims to be odorless.  No mention of the Ozone Layer.

So, my feeling is, there doesn't seem to be much difference in terms of functionality between the three products I have tried.  They all worked to stick the three layers of the quilt sandwich together and caused no problems with my sewing machine while I was quilting.  The Sulky may have an edge over the other two products as far as being more environmentally friendly and non-flammable.  You will have to ask yourself if those plusses are negated by the high price and smaller amount of product.  Being constantly watching my pennies, I lean towards buying the cheaper products that work just as well.  If anyone has a differing experience or opinion, please weigh in so we can all be educated.

Here is how I do my spray basting.  I go outside and just use a cleanly swept patch of concrete patio or driveway.  Don't judge me.  It has worked fine--no dirty fabric or any other problems.  Just make sure the concrete is clean and not covered with dust, ants, oil drippings from your car, leaves, or other debris.  If you are appalled by this idea, go ahead and lay down a drop cloth or clean sheet and have no worries. 

I press my backing and batting and lay the backing fabric face down.  I spray the wrong side of the backing liberally with the spray adhesive and then immediately position the batting on top of it, making sure it is fairly centered on the backing.  Smooth the batting down in place.  Then I flip the piece over and smooth the heck out of the backing.

Smooth, smooth, smooth.

Flip the piece back over so the batting is on top again.  Spray the heck out of the batting and position the quilt top on it.

A word of caution.  Do not spray your shoes accidently.  You will be very sorry the next time you walk through leaves or sand, ending up with shoes that look like jungle camo, or in the case of being covered with sand, weigh 5 pounds each.  That happened to me once.  I accidently sprayed my new espadrilles with what I thought was Stain Guard, and turned out to be spray adhesive.  Then I took my kid to the park sandbox.  It wasn't pretty.  I looked like the Mob had given me cement booties and was going to toss me in the East River.

At this point, when the spraying is done, I take the project back inside to my cutting table or other large flat surface and smooth things again like mad--on both the top and the back.  If you need to lift up the top or backing to reposition things slightly, the spray adhesive is fairly forgiving.  If you really mess around with it, you may have to respray though.  This has not happened to me.  Just be vigilant to be sure there are no puckers on the backing, quilt top, and batting layer.

You can strategically place a few quilt basting pins if you want to, but it really isn't necessary with a small project.  I would stay stitch around the edges of the project to secure things around the border.  Then you are ready to quilt!

So, to address Helen's question--will this work on a large project???

Hanging Out In the Studio

What a lovely day I had yesterday.  I hung out in my studio a good part of the day, puttering with this and that.  No deadlines, no pressures, just futzing with whatever my heart led me to do.

Since I am working on my Fig Tree Dresden Plates, I decided I needed a thread catcher to match my project.

I am kidding, sort of.  My other thread catcher lives up in the house next to my embroidery work, and I have been wanting one down in the studio next to my sewing machine.  I grabbed a layer cake of "Fresh Cotton" and pulled out two coordinating 10" squares and whipped up this little thread catcher in about 15 minutes.  Gosh those things are quick.  This time I left out the fusible interfacing, and to tell you the truth, it doesn't seem to make any difference if it is in there or not.  If you haven't gotten around to making one of these for every gal in your sewing group, you should consider it.  Here is a link to three tutorials, including mine.

I only constructed two more Dresden Plates, but sure do like looking at how cute they are.  These could become seriously addictive.  There are my Granny Squares smiling down at me from the design wall as well.  Those things make me happy!  Right now I am so in the mood for feminine, springy colors.

Oh, and here is an apparatus that I am currently enjoying very much.  It is a thread holder.

It was sent to me by a very thoughtful friend, and I have really been appreciating both its beauty and its functionality.  Here is another picture of it, without any thread strung through it.

This is made by Paul's Metal Petals.   The cone thread holder is such a stable way to hold your thread while you piece or machine quilt.  The thinner spindle on the right can be used to stack extra bobbins.  A very decorative and extremely practical addition to any sewing table!!

What's In My Sewing Basket?

Sara and I bought these fun little faux wicker baskets at Target over the weekend.  They were only $5.99 and we thought they would be pretty cute along side our sewing machines, full of needful things. 

They did not come with the snazzy little cloth liners--I made those from a fat quarter when I got home.  I just measured the bottom and sides of the basket and cut out the fat quarter accordingly.  The bottom measured 7 1/4" x 9 1/4".  The sides were two strips 7 1/4" long by 5 1/4" tall, and two strips 9 1/4" long by 5 1/4" tall.  I sewed the sides together to make a rectangle and pressed and stitched the top hem down about 1/4".  Then I attached the sides to the bottom, fitted it into the basket and folded the top over the edges of the basket.  Easy peasy.

We plan to fill these with the items we tend to grab most often and keep them ready, right by the sides of our sewing machines.  Here is what mine looks like all filled up.

What the heck is all that stuff?

A divided pencil cup (also from Target) which holds my extra glasses, sharp little scissors, Pigma marking pen, ruler, seam gauge, and a funny little daisy pin cushion that just looks cute in there.  I could put my seam ripper in there as well, but the ones I like to use are so short they disappear.  I need to dig out my wooden finger presser and stiletto and put them in there as well.

The little wooly pin cushion I use to hold my U pins.

A little bag of hard candies.  These have been unexpectedly popular, and I think they will figure heavily into my future.  My sister gave them to me in a Grandmother's Survival Kit she made up for me.  Turns out the things that Grandma needs to survive are also essential for the well stocked sewing basket.  Here are some other goodies she put in the Kit that are must haves in my basket:

Hand cream, lip balm, bandaids and a pretty hankie.

Not as exciting as the Grandma's Survival items:  Special feet for my Bernina that I reach for often (open toe applique & zipper foot), those little seam rippers I like, extra bobbins (filled and unfilled) in old prescription bottles, extra needles, and the "key guide" for my Angler 2.

Last but not least, small scraps for "leader/enders" for beginning stitching and keeping my thread from making a tangled knot on the back of my unit.

So, what did I leave out?  What's in your next-to-the-machine sewing kit?

 

TipTo End the Week

Such nice comments I got in response to my post yesterday.  Those of us who have lost our moms really do have a sisterhood.  I am sorry for all your losses.  Time heals the wound, and our memories provide solace, but we never stop missing our loved ones.

Remember me posting a photo of this tree a week or so ago?  Well goodness gracious, look at it now!  It reminds me of a preschool song--

"I looked out my window, and what did I see?  Popcorn poppin' on the apricot tree.  Spring has brought me such a nice surprise--popcorn poppin' right before my eyes"!

My studio is nearly ready for the grand tour.  Just need to get the design wall up and hang a few things.  Hopefully on Monday I will have lots of pictures! 

To end the week, here is a little tip that has served me well.

Need to have some filled bobbins handy, but don't like leaving them loose to rattle around and get all unwound and tangled?  Turns out they fit perfectly in a small prescription bottle!  I keep some filled ones ready in one and empties in another.  They are super portable and fit just fine in my catch all sewing necessaries basket.  Next week, I will tell you what all else I keep in there.

 

 

More Notions and Ozzie Takes Advantage

I swear, my husband goes out of town and Ozzie thinks he can take all sorts of liberties.  I had just staggered out of my nice warm bed this morning, and when I tried to return, someone had slipped in and taken my place.  Yes.  Under the covers!

Yesterday I mentioned that a number of blogs have been discussing various notions and sewing tools recently.  Here are some links to some great product reviews:

 !Sew We Quilt!  

I Have A Notion

Insights From SewCal Gal  (you will not believe the product she is reviewing!)

Green Fairy Quilts