Good morning, I’m Jennifer Rodriguez from All Things Belle. I’m very excited to be sharing a sweet little crochet & fabric technique with you today.

It’s almost time for the International Quilt Market in Kansas City. I can hardly wait! This is my second time attending and I have been missing the excitement since the last one. Are you going? What are you excited to see? For me it’s a dream come true, it’s an amazing combination of so many things that I love. The show is filled with endless rows of new fabrics to adore, new patterns to want, and just about every designer that you would love to meet.

I attend the Market to be inspired, to shop, and of course to connect. This past week I eagerly received my latest shipment of business cards to take with me. All of a sudden my cards did not seem enough. I had just finished reading about how a friend of mine, Topsy Turvy, had created 300 cake pops to go along with her business cards for a blogging conference. I was inspired and realized that I wanted to go above and beyond as well. At Market you receive so many cards and literature, it can be overwhelming. I knew that for a few personal contacts, I wanted my business card to stand out in their mind.

This past year I have been obsessed with crochet surface treatments on fabric and quilting projects. I love the dimension and versatility of this mixed media form. I thought it would be appropriate if I could create a meaningful way to present my card that incorporated both fabric and crochet.

What do you think? I love its sweet and classic touch.

Would you like to learn how to make one? It’s very simple and could easily hold a number of little treasures.

Materials needed:

A small, plain muslin drawstring bag
Soft pink embroidery floss
1.5mm crochet hook
embroidery needle

Directions:

1. Thread a length of the embroidery floss into the needle, following the stitched seams of the bag, embroider a back stitch.



2. With your crochet hook and the same embroidery floss, slip stitch into the first back stitch. Then single crochet into each stitch all the way around.
3. In each stitch you just completed, make a single chain and then flip your work. In the same stitch work a single crochet, half double crochet, single crochet. Then create two single chains, skip the next stitch, and then repeat the picot (single crochet, half double crochet, single crochet). Continue this pattern up until the last stitch, at the end you will slipstitch and weave in your ends.

And that’s it! I adore working crochet into my quilts and you could easily use this method along the binding of a quilt for a feminine touch. The extra color and texture can really make the difference.

I’m hoping to make a few dozen of these before Quilt Market begins tomorrow. If you will be attending and you spot me, be sure to say hi!

Thank you for spending this time with me. If you are interested in seeing more quilting & crochet inspiration, I would love for you to visit my blog, All Things Belle.

Our next swap will be ATCs – Artist Trading Cards. The swap info and registration will be available on later today.

To help us get inspired, I asked three great friends to be guests this week sharing some ideas for making ATCs. See these posts:

• Inspiration from Jill aka The Quilt Rat
• Kim’s Crafty Apple – Making Artist Trading Cards from Orphan Quilt Blocks

Today’s guest post is from upstatelisa and she’s sharing a few of her ATCs with us. Be sure to check out her ATC blog for more inspiration each day. The ATCs featured in the button above hers too.

About upstatelisa

As for a bit about me… I’ve been sewing since I was 13. I took an introduction to quilting class just before my first child was born (she’s almost 19) and since then I’ve been making quilts for my family, friends and the walls of my house. I started art journaling a couple of years ago and that has taken my fiber art to a whole new level. I am lucky to have met Michele and Milo in person (she lives in my hometown!) but home is now in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

ATC inspiration from upstatelisa

I have loved crafts ever since I can remember….and at the age of 13, when my paternal grandmother gave me some money toward my first sewing machine, a whole new world opened up to me!

While I wish I could create quilts and art all day…it just doesn’t happen… life does. So… I made a pledge to myself that even if I can’t quilt or make art or write big blog posts on my original blog, I can try to do just a wee bit of something each day and post it on my new, little blog. As I say….a little art every day keeps insanity at bay!

An ATC (artist trading card) measures 3.5″ x 2.5″. This size can be somewhat limiting at times but it gives me a chance to experiment on a small scale before I get myself committed to finishing a big project (and I have plenty of big projects to finish!) My studio is filled with fabric, scraps, buttons, thread, yarn, paints, rubber stamps, inks, stencils, moldable foam… you name it… I probably have it!

(And it ain’t pretty!)

So how do I start? Usually pretty early in the morning! I am an early riser and often get some art done before I head out to exercise or the rest of my family arises!

Generally, I have already pre-cut pieces of canvas, muslin or heavy weight interfacing to the dimensions of the ATC. And then… whatever tickles my fancy!

For example,

I cut down a piece of blue fabric and added a few scraps and arranged them on the background, holding them in place with a wee dab of glue

and then pressed it to a piece of heavy fusible interfacing. I took the ATC over to my machine and did a bit of what I like to call “thread scribbling”

Trimmed it down et voila!

For another ATC, I couched some glittery threads to a background fabric

and added some buttons to make this ATC…

Other ideas might include (but are definitely not limited to):

collage….

embroidery or punch needle embroidery….

fusible appliqué

marbling

fabric weaving, fabric painting, thread sketching, image transfer, embellishing… the list is endless!

Our next swap will be ATCs – Artist Trading Cards. The swap info and registration will be available on Wednesday afternoon.

To help us get inspired, I asked three great friends to be guests this week sharing some ideas for making ATCs. Yesterday I shared Jill’s inspiration and Lisa will be our guest later today.

This guest post is from Kim of Kim’s Crafty Apple and she’s showing us how she transforms orphan blocks into beautiful ATCs.

Thanks to Kim for this guest post and educating me… here are two acronyms to add to your vocabulary that relate to ATCs:

• OOAK – One Of A Kind
• ACEO is the same thing as ATC basically but it stands for art card editions and originals. This is what you would call them if you plan on selling your ATCs.

ATCs featured in the button above were created by upstatelisa.

About Kim

I am a mother of three beautiful daughters, a wife, a quilter, an artist, and an apple orchardist. I have been creating for as long as I can remember. I made my first quilt for my brother when I was 5 years old. I pieced it by hand from my mother’s rag bin and it even included the furry toilet seat cover! When I met my now husband, I discovered his mother was an avid, talented quilter and a great teacher. She soon taught me the tricks of the trade and I have continued to grow in my quilting endeavors.

Find Kim here: Web site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

And she has two Etsy shops: www.kimscraftyapple.etsy.com and www.theapple.etsy.com.

ATC – with Orphan Blocks

When Michele told me the next swap she was having was ATCs and asked me to share with you some that I have created and how I did them I was re-inspired! I hadn’t made any for quite awhile but my mind was already racing with ideas at the first mention of them.

The possibility with ATCs are truly endless and FUN since they’re little and don’t take much time. I love a project that I can start and finish in one sitting.

I came up with three ATCs that I’m going to share with you today. All of them were created using some of my orphan blocks. If you’re unfamiliar with the term “orphan blocks” they are blocks that were made to be a part of a quilt but never quite made it into the quilt for some reason or the other – hence, they are orphans. I have a secret love for these blocks since I enjoy a challenge of finding a place for everything (probably why my craft room has to keep expanding…).

Supplies:

• Orphan Blocks – Assortment



• Embellishments – fibers, scraps of fabrics with fusing on them, beads, etc.



• Thread
• Light Backing Fabric (light enough to write on in the end)
• Stiff Interfacing (I used Timtex)
• Fabric Glue Stick
• Fabric Pen (I used Micron Brand)

The Modern Orphan ATCs

I started my first ATCs by cutting an orphan block left from the 2011 Modern Solids Quilt Along.

Step 1: Cut orphan blocks in 2.5″ x 3.5″ pieces.

I tend to cut out at least two from each block if I can. This way you can create a ‘series’ of ATCs if you want. If you can only get one 2.5″ x 3.5″ from your orphan block that is completely acceptable as well.

Step 2: With this modern look I wanted to keep my embellishments to a minimal.

I decided to simply quilt each of my ATCs and keep a clean feel to these.

Step 3: Cut out a 2.5″ x 3.5″ piece of thick stabilizer (Timtex).

Step 4: Cut out a 2.5″ x 3.5″ piece of backing fabric.

Step 5: Layer these three together like a quilt sandwich using a bit of quilter’s glue stick to hold them together.

Step 6: Using a satin stitch, stitch around the edges of your ACEO to finish it off. This is the method that personally works best for me. I’ve tried to finish them by flipping them inside out like a pillow but I’m just not that good at getting my corner’s out and finishing it nicely. I’ve also tried binding like a quilt but it’s so small and you really do have to keep it at the 2.5″ x 3.5″ dimensions that binding doesn’t seem to work for me either.

Step 7: Using your fabric pen, label the back of your ATC (or ACEO) with it’s name, if it’s OOAK or which number of a series, your name and the date you made it.

Here are the two ATCs I made from my Modern Solid Orphan Block.

Elephant in the Grass ATC

Using the same method as I described in the Modern Solid ATCs I created this fun “Elephant in the Grass” ACEO. I only made one from this particular orphan block but I’m so happy with how it turned out. My inspiration started with the brass elephant charm. I loved it and knew it would be happy on this orphan block from my Boxed In Spring Quilt.

To start this one out I cut a piece that was about 4″ x 3″.

First I added the fiber embellishments using hand-dyed green fibers and ‘hairy’ green fibers. Next I added the elephant charm. He didn’t seem quite happy yet so I decided to add a fun green flower sun for him. Something was still not quite right but when I added the sparkly pink ric rac I knew this piece was done!

Now that it was done I cut the piece down to the required 2.5″ x 3.5″. I made a quilt sandwich with some Timtex, a light fabric backing and I satin stitched the edges closed. To finish this piece up I labeled the back so I can always remember when I created it!

I had such a great time creating these miniature pieces of art, I know that I will be making more – and soon! I hope this little piece helped inspire you to use up some of your orphans and create your own pieces of art to share with others.

Our next swap will be ATCs – Artist Trading Cards. The swap info and registration will be available on Wednesday afternoon.

To help us get inspired, I asked three great friends to be guests this week sharing some ideas for making ATCs. First up is Jill, her post is below. Tomorrow, Kim and Lisa will be our guests. I’m sure your creative juices will be flowing!

ATCs featured in the button were created by upstatelisa.

About Jill

Please join me in welcoming today’s guest blogger, Jill, aka The Quilt Rat. Jill is a self taught artist who is constantly exploring ways to play with fabric and takes you along for the ride every step of the way.

I have been a follower of Jill’s for some time now, and have seen her use inks, paints, paper, stones, leaves and even aluminum cans in her quilted creations. With well over 250 posts you will find pages and pages of inspiration at www.thequiltrat.com.

Follow along with Jill, as she creates her first Artist Trading Cards and shares ideas on how you might wish to make some of your own.

Jill’s Inspiration

ATCs… just what are they? Artist Trading Cards are a wonderful way to trade, collect and share in the art we love most with other artists right across the globe. It is your chance to express yourself, using your favouite medium, technique and imagery and at just a mere 2.5 x 3.5 inches in size, they require a very small investment of time or resources.

When Michele first contacted me to ask if I’d be interested in doing this guest post, my initial response was that I had never made an ATC…..but then, I thought that perhaps this would be a terrific opportunity, we could learn together.

So let’s get started.

The ATCs you make should somehow reflect something of your style, something that has “you” written all over it. So are you someone who loves to paper piece, work with paints, do you explore various surface design techniques, how about thread embellishments, felting, beading? Well you get the idea…….so decide “what” you’d like to do and follow along with the posts this week to learn the “how”.

Artist Trading Cards are made in a similar fashion to fabric postcards, except that instead of making one little work of art at a time, with ATCs, you’ll be making one larger piece that is cut into several smaller ones.

For my ATCs, I decided to combine a few things many people recognize me for, my doodles, my play with fabric paints and my quilting.

I began by drawing a number of overlapping circles and simply drew (doodled) a wide variety of patterns in those shapes.

Next I scanned this into my computer and printed the image onto a sheet of T-shirt transfer paper (I used the kind available at an office supply store).

The image was then transferred to pieces of paper towel that I had painted some time ago. I wasn’t sure it would work on this, but it did. For more details about the transfer paper I used for this project, you can read this post about it on my blog.

The next step was to place my printed image layer on top of a piece of heavy stabilizer. There are several types on the market, you will want something comparable to Timtex or Peltex. Now, it was time to go to my machine and do a little free motion stitching to bond all of the layers together.

I should mention that I made mine about 8″ x 10″ simply because it was a good fit for printing an image from my computer, you could chose to begin with a larger or smaller piece but the idea is that you will be cutting multiple cards from the larger piece, and once my stitching was complete, I did use my rotary cutter to slice it all into small 2.5″ x 3.5″ sections.

With the front of your cards complete, it is time to make the backs. Again I used my computer to create the look of my back and printed it out on to cardstock…you could, of course, just write directly on to the cardstock if you like. What info should you include? Well, your name, the URL of your blog or web site, perhaps some contact info, like your email address and possibly the technique used to create your masterpieces.

The very last step is to attach the card backs, this is done simply by placing the front and back, wrong sides together and stitch them along the outer edge using your machine’s zig zag stitch. Remember that you are stitching through a lightweight cardboard type paper so you won’t want to have your stitches too close together, I found that a width setting of 3.0 and a length setting of 2.0 worked great.

So, how easy is that? Now you know how to get started on making your very own stack of ATCs.

Looking for even more inspiration? A wide variety of ways to create postcards are shown here on my blog, the same techniques could be used when making ATCs. There are 4 full pages of posts regarding postcards so be sure and click “older posts” at the bottom of the page.

Remember, make your ATCs reflect “you” and don’t forget the most important part… have FUN while doing it :-)

By: Pat Sloan

Almost all quilters start to quilt by learning how to “Piece”. You know… cutting perfectly good fabric into small squares, rectangles and triangles. Then sewing those back together to make an awesome quilt block. Then we do it again, and again, and again!

Many of you stay at piecing your entire quilt career and many venture out into the wild world of other quilt techniques.

Michele and I wanted to explore the very base of our craft, the pieced block.

• When was the last time you pieced a block? I bet many of you say this week!
• When was the last time you had some trouble with that block?
• Or maybe your a very new quilter and still working through what a block is.

I invited Faith Jones of Fresh Lemon Quilts to guest post a basic piecing tutorial… take it away Faith!

Quilt Piecing 101

By: Faith Jones of Fresh Lemon Quilts

Basics:

• Piecing a quilt is the process of sewing your cut fabric pieces together.
• Typically in quilting, your seam allowance is 1/4″. Your sewing machine may have markings so you can easily line up your fabric for piecing.



• You may also purchase additional sewing machine feet to help accurately piece your quilt blocks. I have two 1/4″ piecing feet. You can see that one of the feet below has a metal guide to help achieve a consistent 1/4″ seam allowance.

In this tutorial, we are going to piece together a 9-patch quilt block which will measure 9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ unfinished. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Using a rotary cutter and quilter’s ruler, cut 9 fabric squares measuring 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″.

Step 2: Let’s start by sewing the top row of 3 blocks together. Take the first 2 squares and place them right sides of fabric together.

Step 3: Line up the edge of your fabric along the 1/4″ markings on your sewing machine. Stitch a straight line down the entire side of the squares.

Here is how your fabric will look once you are done sewing your 1/4″ seam.

Step 4: Time to press the seams. There are a couple ways to do this, and it typically comes down to personal preference. Some like to press their seams open.

However, when I’m sewing rows of squares together, I like to press my seams to the side. (I will explain more on why later in the tutorial.)

Step 5: Repeat this process with the 3rd block in the top row. Press the seams in the same direction as the first seam you pressed to the side.

Step 6: Repeat this process with the 3 blocks in the second row of squares. Press the seams in the opposite direction as the first row you pieced.

Step 7: Repeat this process finally with the 3 blocks in the third row of squares. Press the seams in the opposite direction as the second row you pieced.

Step 8: Now we will sew the rows together. Place your first and second row of squares right sides of fabric together. Line up your seams.

This is where you will see the benefits of alternating the pressing of the seams to the sides. When your blocks are lined up, the pressed seams will lock the blocks into place keeping everything aligned perfectly.

Pin your rows together:

Sew down the full length of the row:

Press your seams either open or to the side:

Step 9: Repeat this process to attach row three. Congratulations! You’ve pieced together a 9-patch quilt block!

I hope you picked up a tip or two … I personally love the foot with the edge on it!

On Feb 13, 2012 Faith was on my radio show… why don’t you get to know her a bit better by listening to our chat!.

Be sure to check out her blog, Fresh Lemon Quilts, too… it’s filled with awesome tutorials and inspiration.

Question For The Day

I asked my Facebook group… “What problem do you encounter most when piecing?”

Matching seams

• A TIP from Laura at Facebook.. “Fork pins from Clover are the answer to perfectly matched seams. Fantastic product!”
• Roseann Kermes has a blog post on them: Stick a fork in it!

Maintaining 1/4 inch seams and a quarter inch can vary quite a bit from one machine to another

• Sandi from Piecemeal Quilts has this great tutorial: Quarter Inch Seams
• Another write up on the The Perfect 1/4″ Seam
• Also for a video look under ‘Machine Minute Section’ for the 1/4″ seam video at All People Quilt site.

I have trouble Understanding some Directions

As a pattern writer and someone who also teaches hundreds of quilters in my workshops each year… I totally hear you on this one! Everyone understands directions differently. My recommendations for understanding directions that are not clear to you…

1. Read through all the steps before starting. Sounds simple.. but I know we are very impatient and often just ‘jump in’ and go!
2. Write to the pattern designer or publisher for clarification. They are more than happy to get you going!
3. Have a friend read over the directions, one who does not learn the same way you do.
4. If there is no diagram, sketch one yourself. That way you’re sewing with your pencil first.
5. Try looking on YouTube for a video of the technique.
6. Search online at places like AllPeopleQuilt.com for a similar block and see if they gave different directions that work better for you.

Stretching the fabric and how do I keep everything square

I do find that Fabric can have a life of its own. It stretches, and some fabrics stretch more than others. Our pressing, seams and everything else we do to a block will have an effect on it. Lots of people Starch or use Best Press on the fabric before cutting. This helps to ‘firm up’ the fabric so it does not stretch on bias. Experiment with it and see if it helps you out.

Here are some tips: How to Square Up Quilt Blocks and I found this great PDF write up Squaring Up Quilt Blocks.

Give-Away!

Click on over to my blog today.. I’m hosting a giveaway of TWO copies of Quilt Album quilt tracking software!

And in the true spirit of Quilters Helping Quilters… can you answer any of these questions your fellow quilters sent in?

• “Finding Time” or “My impatience. oh, yeah, and kids’ needs (aka “demands”) distracting me”
• Trying to press open 6 or more seams…getting them to spiral open correctly
• Y seams, square blocks, and those multiple seams
• Matching seams on half-square triangles and keeping true 1/4″ seams
• Stitch and flip not lining up properly once flipped – seems like I’m always having to adjust a line
• Running out of bobbin thread and not knowing it when chain piecing

My Books: Learning to Quilt

I have 2 books for learning to quilt. “I can’t Believe I’m Quilting” and “Beyond the Basics”.

Pat Sloan is owner and founder of the quilting design and publishing company Pat Sloan & Co. She has published over 25 books, more than 100 patterns, nearly 10 fabric lines, and has had her work featured in all the major Quilt magazines. In January 2010, Pat started hosting her weekly Internet Radio show called Creative Talk Radio.

Find Pat here:

Web Site | Blog | Radio Show | Facebook | Twitter
Quilt Forum | Pinterest | Newsletter

Michele and I are having an exciting time building this new Learning Center here at the Quilting Gallery!

One of the most asked for items we both hear is ‘how to do better binding’. I thought this would be a terrific day to share two binding techniques.

Let me share what I do first. I decided a few years ago to ‘time’ how long it took me to hand stitch my binding. WOW! What an eye opener that was. I do enjoy hand work, I do enjoy that relaxing stitch stitch stitch… but I’d much rather appliqué than bind. So I went on a search for a binding technique that was pretty much ALL machine. I have fine-tuned it to a blanket stitch that I pull to the front… mitred corners and all… then stitch on the machine. I finish my bindings in a fraction of the time it took me before.

And the bonus is, they are much sturdier than a hand stitched binding. After 12 years of hauling my quilts around to presentations and workshops, I’m having to repair my bindings… and these quilts are really not ‘used’ that much! Take a look at my online binding tutorial… give it a try… let me know if you like it! P.S. there is a printable version at the end of the page.

Then I asked my friend Dana Bolyard of Old Red Barn Co. to guest post about binding… she makes it sound so simple! Also listen to my interview with Dana at the recorded show from Feb 13, 2012.

Quilt Binding – A Primer by Dana Bolyard

Ah! Binding a quilt is the last step towards completion of a quilt and it’s no secret that it’s my absolute most favorite part of the process. I love everything from choosing the fabric for binding, making the binding, attaching it and then hand sewing it to the back. I think it has something to do with being able to sit under the quilt while I work and slowly sewing.

And admiring the nearly completed project as I go.

Of course, the binding is the narrow strip of fabric at the outer most edge of the quilt that finishes off the quilt and covers the raw edges. But really it’s more than that to me. It’s the frame around the picture.

The binding is that last finishing touch. It’s like a picture frame to a photograph or a gold gilded frame to a fine art masterpiece. It literally frames your quilt … especially if the quilt is borderless.

You take time choosing just the right frame for a prized photograph and the same should be true for choosing the binding fabric. Start with quality 100% quilters’ cotton. The binding will be handled and pulled and tugged on much during its service and must be strong and durable.

You’ll notice in all of the pictures above that each of the bindings are a bold hued color marking the outer edge of the quilt. Walk into any quilt shop and study the quilts on display throughout the store. Do the same at any quilt exhibit. You will notice that 95% of the time the color of the binding picks up on the darker hues within the quilt top itself. I like to think of it as the final punctuation on the quilt top.

Or, as I’ve said repeatedly, the outer most beautiful frame of your masterpiece. By picking up on the darker hues in the quilt itself, the binding serves it’s framing function perfectly.

Making the binding, machine sewing it to the front, mitering the corners and then hand sewing it to the back may seem intimidating but I’ve provided a step-by-step tutorial with photos.

You can access it here: How to Bind a Quilt.

Don’t panic! Binding a quilt is relaxing, enjoyable and the finishing touch your quilt is begging for!

Dana Bolyard
Old Red Barn Co.

Here are a few additional resources for binding your quilts:

• Award winning quilter, Sharon Schamber, shares video tutorials of her binding technique using Elmer’s school glue
• More video tutorials from Sharon Schamber on curved binding
• Julie Herman from Jaybird Quilts has a great series of posts on binding basics

What’s your favourite binding method? Do you have any binding tips or tools you like to use? Share in the comments below.

Michele will be doing next week’s Learning Center post, Beyond the Basics … More Tools, featuring favourite tools from our readers and some great give-aways too.

Pat Sloan is owner and founder of the quilting design and publishing company Pat Sloan & Co. She has published over 25 books, more than 100 patterns, nearly 10 fabric lines, and has had her work featured in all the major Quilt magazines. In January 2010, Pat started hosting her weekly Internet Radio show called Creative Talk Radio.

Find Pat here:

Web Site | Blog | Radio Show | Facebook | Twitter
Quilt Forum | Pinterest | Newsletter

I have been a quilter for over forty years. The first couple of decades I spent most of my time dressmaking and, occasionally, made something for my bed or a gift. Then, the quilting bug took hold and there hasn’t been a day since when I haven’t been working on, thinking about or planning a quilt. It wasn’t long before I was changing patterns and then designing my own. The purchase of Electric Quilt (EQ) freed me from the mechanical aspects of designing and I was soon creating more patterns than I would be able to ever use.

Three years ago, I retired and, at the urging of my friends, began to seriously think about selling my work. I am certainly not a big name designer but do I sell enough to help pay for my addiction’s demand to be fed more and more fabric.

If you have been thinking about becoming a pattern designer, here are a few tips which I hope will help you on your way to success. This is just a brief general guideline but I have included steps which will help you find more information.

1. Make Quilts. Aspiring writers are told to read books. Designers need to quilt so they are familiar with both the practical steps and the emotion that results in a successful project.
2. Study the Work of Other Designers. You have probably been quilting for some time and have a collection of patterns. Pick out a few of your favourites and read them through carefully. What makes the design work? Are the steps easy to follow? Did you have to re-read some of the instructions? Repeat the process with patterns you dislike. Why aren’t they a favourite? Go to quilt shows; real or virtual and see what is trending. This is also probably a good time to decide if you are going to focus on one type of quilting i.e. appliqué or cover everything.
3. Talk to other quilters and ask them what they like, dislike about patterns.
4. Keep a Journal. I cannot express enough the importance of making notes. You will develop your own system so I am not going to make suggestions, just make sure you have a special note book that is used specifically for this purpose.
5. Purchase, if possible, a Computerized Program. I use EQ for my designing but there are other programs available. A program lets you change colours, make and move blocks, add borders, change border types, and a myriad of other things. It will also tell you how many blocks, strips etc. you will need as well as fabric amounts.
6. Don’t Rely on Your Program. This may sound like a contradiction but you need to double check the math. I have trained my husband to understand how to do this as he is the family math whiz. Accurate instructions are crucial. Let me say that again. Accurate instructions are crucial. Have you ever followed a cooking recipe and the result was a disaster because the instructions said tablespoons instead of teaspoons. Inaccurate quilting instructions won’t make anyone sick but they will derail any future in designing.
7. Test Your Design. I have a wonderful group of ladies who are willing to use their own fabric and time to make my patterns. They tell me if it works, what needs a clearer explanation and whether or not they like it. You need people who will be honest in their opinions. Expert quilters aren’t necessary. Not everyone who buys your patterns will have achieved that status so it is important that beginners are also included. Don’t forget to acknowledge your testers especially if your patterns are going to be included in a book.
8. Marketing. Decide how you are going to market your patterns. Are you going to sell to quilt stores or on line? Are you going to do your own marketing or use a distributor? Are you going to sell through other web sites or your own? There are pros and cons to all of those choices so you need to take time to decide what will work best for you. You may add other options later but setting the ground work now will make it easier. Do get a web site or, at least, a blog to help promote your work.
9. Network. If possible, join a quilt guild, especially a national one, or group. You need support and a reminder of why you are doing this. Join on line groups that are specifically for designers. Both Yahoo and Google list their groups by categories so it is easy to find one that will meet your needs. Quilters are very generous with support and advice and they can save you a lot of time and money. Remember to give back. You may not be as advanced as some of them but you have an opinion. Share it. Your voice is valuable and unique.
10. Have Fun. If you find that designing is no longer enjoyable, take a break. This might be a good time to go on a retreat – just as a participant or visit a pioneer village museum and look at antique quilts. If you can’t do any of these things, go for a walk; preferably in the country. You cannot be creative if your mind is tired and stagnant.

Thanks so much to Anna for these great tips. If you have any additional tips to add, please share them in the comments below.

Visit Anna’s blog or her web site Ark Angel Creations.

Quilt-As-You-Go (QAYG)

The first one is Leah’s Quilt-As-You-Go (QAYG) method for joining pre-quilted blocks into a final quilt. Something ALL us quilting large quilts on a domestic machine should learn.

I first tried this method on this quilt I made in the late 1990s:

The blocks for this quilt were done with a stitch and flip method. The quilt top pieces, batting and backing were completed at the same time. Then we had to learn how to join the pre-quilted blocks to complete the quilt. The written handouts were poorly done, but the teacher was good and taught us the QAYG technique well. I loved it! It opened up new opportunities to me to be able to quilt my own quilts on a small domestic machine.

Since then, I’ve always been interested in learning more about Quilt-As-You-Go (QAYG) methods. Always striving to find the “perfect” method for me. Over the years, I’ve researched the method in books, on the Internet, and even attended a few workshops claiming to be the “best”. I’ve even tried some of the ideas too. I’ll admit, I was frustrated by some of the ideas I found. I won’t link to them specifically, as it’s not necessary, and doesn’t add any value to my post.

While planning the layout and design for my Scrappy Bed Quilt, I had decisions to make ahead of time on how I was going to quilt this monster 95″x115″ quilt on my domestic machine … and not kill myself in the process. ;)

As you’ll see in the photo above, I decided to work in rows for this quilt instead of individual blocks. I could have gone either way, but working in rows meant less blocks that I’d have to join to put the entire quilt back together.

Just for clarification purposes, the photo above shows what will become the top row of my quilt, it does not have the wide, black top border attached yet. It does have the thin white top border and enough extra batting and so that I can add the border once the top has been completed and its side borders added first. At the bottom, you’ll also see the first white sashing strips along with what will become the cornerstones in black and a 1″ or so overhang of batting/backing that will be trimmed to 1/2″ when joining the two rows together.

Drum roll … and getting to the point. Leah’s recent Quilt-As-You-Go blog post and video.

I think she’s nailed this technique perfectly. Finally, a QAYG method that’s explained well, results in a flat, consistent finish, on the front and back, and is easy to complete. For myself, I prefer to hand stitch the back, either using an appliqué stitch or a ladder stitch.

One thing I’d been struggling with in my own plans for my postage stamp quilt, was that the way I had originally planned to put the rows together meant appliqueing both the front and back sashing strips of the quilt. The way Leah’s shown us in her video, she’s stitching the front sections too. Downright Brilliant! if you ask me.

Since my front sashing pieces will finish at 1″, not 1/2″ as shown in Leah’s video, I’ll need to finish my rows/quilt differently than what Leah’s done. Whenever I get back to that quilt, I’ll be sure to share exactly how I did it. I am thrilled that Leah’s technique solved one BIG time-consuming part of my original plan.

What about you? After watching Leah’s video are you ready to give QAYG a try?

It’s NOT “Just Stippling”

The second post from Leah this week that caught my attention was her Love Letter to Stippling.

Have you ever found yourself thinking, or even saying, It’s JUST stippling. I know I have, with my own quilts for sure. Not about someone else’s, that would be mean!

After reading Leah’s post, I have a much better appreciation and even respect for stippling. It IS a beautiful quilt design and really, it’s not as easy to do well as one might initially think. It takes time and hours of practice to perfect, not just to execute the rounded free-flowing curves, but the density of quilting too. This is something I’ve struggled with in the past. I’m still not very good at doing a large meandering stipple. My stippling is often tightly stitched close together with little open space.

An example is my Springtime Chubby Chicks quilt I made for my parents. I used a slightly smaller, closer stitch in the chick blocks than in the white border:

And here is the same quilt after it’s been washed and puckered up nicely. I love the dimension the stipple creates and the raised patchwork.

Here’s my Happy Memories quilt.

I had actually planned to do a quick, large stipple for that quilt, but I didn’t get the density right from the beginning so I ended up working hard to maintain a consistent density throughout the top instead of ripping out the beginning stitches. It turned out fine, but I put in several more hours, and thread, than my initial quick idea!

Here’s the latest quilting project, my Love-ly Garden wall hanging. For this quilt, again I’m concentrating on being consistent throughout the entire background. I’ve slowed down while stitching and am looking ahead of where I’m going while keeping the overall area I’m working on in view. I’m pleased with how it’s looking so far.

What about you? Do you have a new respect for stippling after reading Leah’s post?

Be sure to follow along with Leah’s Free Motion Quilt-Along for more inspiration.

My grandmother taught me to knit and my first project was a doll skirt. My first cross stitch project was a rooster on a red cloth with black floss. I embroidered a pillow case at camp. I made my first outfit in middle school (then it was called junior high)! And I made all my clothes when I went to college. And it didn’t stop there. I always had a project going my entire life and I still do today. But if you would have told me that I would become a designer with my own company because of a cat – I wouldn’t have believed you.

Twenty years ago we moved to Florida with our 2 cats. My family had vacationed there and I loved it. It was my dream to become a "little ol’ lady on the beach with lots of cats"! Be careful what you wish for! Thanks to a loving husband, I am living my dream!

However, one thing I didn’t anticipate was having lots of hurricanes (a few maybe, but not lots)! We evacuated many times. Not much fun, but very necessary. We always took our cats – there was no way I would leave them behind. But 20 years ago, not much thought was given to animals in emergency situations. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 changed all that thanks to the many animal agencies that responded to that disaster. Emergency Management officials saw the need, but it was a slow learning process. The issue was raised again with Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and fortunately, since then, emergency officials have listened.

There was a little black cat that came into my life right before Hurricane Opal in 1995. Casey was a feral cat and I couldn’t get close to him when we evacuated, so I had to leave him behind. The next day when we returned (and that is another story) Casey ran to my arms. I became very attached and when he passed, I decided his little life should not be in vain. Read the complete story of Casey on my blog!

Because of Casey and my love of animals, I became involved with The Humane Society of the United States and was part of their Disaster Animal Response Team (DART). As a result I worked fires, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. I saw firsthand the need to get the word out about taking care of pets during disasters. Therefore I created The CASEY Plan (Caring for Animals Safely in Emergencies during the Year) in memory of my little black cat to help promote animal disaster preparedness.

And that is also when I created Purrfect Spots. Living in a resort area, I designed cross stitch patterns of local landmarks. A portion of my sales goes to The CASEY Plan which promotes animal disaster preparedness. My first effort was the Seaside Post Office (Picture).

One thing led to another and I started creating all sorts of cross stitch patterns and then added needlepoint.

Well it was only natural to go into quilting as a lot of my patterns worked beautifully as appliqué.

I fell in love with quilting and that is what I design today, both applique and pieced.

I love to hand quilt as I find it very relaxing and good therapy. It is one place in my life that I can make the pieces fit (if they are cut right). I am also the Marketing Director for The Quilt Pattern Magazine. However I still am very much involved in the promotion of animal disaster preparedness and safety. Casey’s legacy lives on! That is why I created this “Safety Tips for Pets” slide show for all my sewing friends with pets.

Give-Away

I have enjoyed being a guest on the Quilting Gallery today and I hope you have enjoyed the story of my journey as a quilter and animal lover. In appreciation of your visit, I do have a contest!

Leave a comment below telling me if you have a pet, (name & description) plus what poses a threat for them in your sewing room. There will be a random drawing for a special gift next Wednesday!

Thank you again for visiting.

For the animals,
Nan Purrfect Spots

This give-away is now closed. Congratulations to #14 Jennie P. for winning.

Hi everyone! Thanks so much to Michele for inviting me to share with you all today.

Over at Lilac Lane, we’ve been spending the last couple of months learning the VERY BASICS of quilting. If you’d like to check that out, it’s there for all time, or until Blogger breaks down. haha Anyway, it goes through step-by-step everything you need to know to quilt. Everything from supplies to choosing colors and patterns and sewing.

As a pattern designer, I want everyone to learn how to sew! But not just so you can buy my patterns. I think there is such a sense of accomplishment when you create something yourself.

I thought today I would give you some tips that will help beginning sewists, but might also be new to more advanced seamstresses.

Irons

The iron is your very best friend in sewing. Until I figured that out, my projects were pretty cruddy. If you think about it, the iron flattens wrinkled fabric, turns back seam allowances, sets seams and does a myriad of other things.

Tips:

• Never iron with your iron. No, we want to press, a simple up and down motion. Ironing — moving the iron from side to side — can stretch your fabric.
• Use a lot of steam. Some will disagree, but I LOVE steam. It’s the easiest way to get rid of wrinkles. I love how it sets seams.
• Sewing is full of gunky adhesives, fusible interfacings, wonder under, etc. All of these things can really gunk up your iron. And that stuff can get transferred to your fabric. Take a dryer sheet and rub it on the plate of your iron while the iron is hot (I use an oven mitt) to remove all that gunk. It works like a charm. Just make sure to remove the greasy stuff before using it on your fabric again. I rub the iron on a scrap of fabric and then you’re ready to go!

Knits

I love knits. To me, they are the easiest fabric to make garments from. After all, you can usually skip the buttons, zipper and finishing seams. But there are a few tips to keep in mind.

Tips:

• Prewash! Knits shrink A LOT the first time you wash them. Wash exactly as you intend to wash the finished garment.
• Use a ball-point needle. They’re available everywhere and won’t snag your knits.
• I sew with a long, thin zigzag. Just enough so that you can barely tell it’s a zigzag. This allows the knits to stretch.
• While we’re talking about stretch, don’t forget to use polyester thread!

Cutting

Rotary cutters and rulers are such time savers for a quilter and for a garment maker. We’d be lost without them. If you’re new to quilting, you can get by with a good 6″ x 24″ ruler.

Tips:

• Keep your blade sharp. The duller the blade, the harder you have to push, which can lead to nasty accidents.
• Line your body up with your cutting table. It helps to put your cutting mat on a corner. Then you can always cut “straight on”.
• Keep firm pressure on the ruler with your left (right if you’re left-handed) hand. Try to focus the pressure downward so the ruler won’t slip.
• While we’re talking about slipping, always cover the fabric piece you are cutting with the ruler. If you do slip, you won’t ruin your good piece, just a bit of the extra — and it will be fixable!

My Number One Tip for Quilters:

Invest in a quarter inch foot with a guide along the side! These are usually fairly inexpensive and will make a world of difference in your quilting. After all, in quilting, size does matter. Of the seams that is!

And if you made it this far, I’m happy to offer Quilting Gallery readers a coupon for 30% off my patterns with the code QUILTINGGALLERY. Just visit my store at melissastramel.com. Coupon is valid for one month (until Feb. 19th 2012).

Love,

xoxo