Charity Quilts

A couple of months ago, when I was reinfected with the quilting bug, I went through my stash and pulled out the fabric I knew I would never use. I then put out a call on my online quilting group, Southern Cross Quilters, for anyone who might be able to use the fabric for a charity project. I had a number of takers and sent the parcels out. In addition to fabric, some spare blocks from various swaps were also included. There was nothing wrong with the blocks, but they were just colours and patterns that I have trouble working with. Recently I was sent a photo of some of the finished quilts made from the stuff I'd sent.

So majors pats on the back to Jeannie for the wonderful things she created. As you can see, Jeannie had no trouble making some great quilts out of the blocks I sent. The quilts will be sent to hospitals to be given to sick kids. Quilters are AWESOME!!

See the blue, orange and yellow one? I loved each of the blocks, but I'd never have come up with such a great combo!! So if you have fabric you know you will never use, think about donating it to a group who will be able to make something beautiful from it. Since my Fugly Fabric was apparently really fugly, I will be sending all of that off as well.

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Fabric Giveaway Winner

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner. I've been laid up sick for a few days. There were no new signups after the deadline, so no harm, no foul!!
The winner is:

Joyce Carter!!
Congratulations, Joyce. I will be contacting you to get your post details so I can get the fabric to you asap.

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Fugly Fabric Party

Welcome to my contribution to the world of Fugly Fabric!! I have a few different sets for the swap and a giveaway!! First, the good stuff. If you would like to win these three lovely 30's reproduction fabric Fat Quarters (well, that is what I am calling them), then you have two chances to win.  

What I Want In Swapping

I would like to do either a straight FQ swap or maybe 10" squares in a variety of fabrics - I am currently collecting bright or tone on tone yellows, or any colours of 30's repros or Civil War Repros but I am happy to swap just about anything (except I Spy or Novelty).

Email me at laren.oz@gmail.com if you are interested or leave me a comment and I will contact you.

Giveaway Fabric

1. Follow my blog - yes, this is a blantant attempt to get more readers!! and post a comment to let me know that you are now following. Chances are good I will follow your blog in return!  If you are already following let me know in the comments. Please include you email if you don't have a blog or a no-reply on Blogger.


2. Post A Link to Your Favourite Quilty Tutorial - a webpage, a video etc. Post the link in the comments. Please include you email if you don't have a blog or a no-reply on Blogger.

I will cover the cost of postage and international entrants are welcome.

Entries will close on Wednesday 16 May 2012 at noon.

The pink in this set is a really nice, bright, clean pink, not as orangey as in the photo. Same with the blues, bright and clear.

Fugly Fabric Swap Pack 1 - Country Checks

These fabrics are quite dusty in there colouring but have a lovely hand. The colours are muted and subtle. Not fugly as such, but just not something I would ever use.

Fugly Fabric Swap Pack 2 - Christmas Reds

These are a bit redder in real life but do tent towards the orange red end of the spectrum. The patterns on the two end FQ's are metallics.

Fugly Fabric Swap Pack 3 - Country Halloween

Fugly Fabric Swap Pack 4 - Just Fugly

These ones speak for themselves!!

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Sunday Stash - Pre-Washing Fabric

Below is the culmination of about two months worth of stash enhancement, lots of loads of washing and many, many hours of ironing!! There is no one designer or range for these fabrics, many are quite old or from no name brands.

I know alot of people don't pre-wash their fabrics, and I think that that choice is happening more and more with the popularity of pre-cuts like jelly rolls, layer cakes and charm packs. However, my decision is always, where possible to pre-wash all my fabrics.

My reasons for washing are pretty simple. Firstly, I don't want to spend hundreds of hours making a quilt, to have it ruined because a fabric decided to run. This is a potential issue with any fabric, irrespective of price. If you've had this happen, you REALLY don't want it to happen again!!

Secondly, I want to get as much shrinkage, chemicals etc out of my fabric before I use it. Again, I don't want any surprises the first time I wash a completed quilt. I use a variety of qualities of fabrics in my quilts, some shrink more than others. I want that minimised as much as possible before I start cutting and sewing.

One argument put forward for not pre-washing is that the fabric is easier to work with when straight off the bolt or out of a pre-cut pack. This might be true, but you can get the same feel and workability by putting in a bit of elbow grease and spray starch if these are big issues for you.

There is no right way of doing this. Some people like the wrinkled look that comes from unwashed fabrics shrinking during their first wash. Others aren't as concerned about colour bleed. But for me, the extra hours I put in before I start cutting and sewing are worth it in the long run. 

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All Tied Up Blocks Completed

Many years ago (over twelve!) I bought a kit from Patchwork Products. It was the first kit I ever bought. I didn't start it until last month!! Anyway, I figured it would be a good project to practice my machine piecing skills on, since it is made up of Shoo Fly and Friendship Star blocks. It is made in "country" colours of tan, green, blue, rusty red and brown. The solid blocks of tan and made up of pieced sections, which adds a great texture to the quilt and helps breakup the otherwise simple design of the blocks.There are 17 Shoo Fly and 16 Friendship Star blocks.

Below are the strips of the blocks waiting to be made up. This is a great beginner pattern as basically both blocks are made of exactly the same elements, just with those elements organised slightly differently.

All I need to do now is make up the outside border (which is a strip of the 4-piece in the neutrals). And then quilt and bind. This one will probably go out for machine quilting.

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Cheap Quilt Backing

You know how you hear a simple idea and you go, why didn't I think of that? Well, I had one of those moments a couple of weeks back when I was reading Red Pepper Quilts blog and they mentioned using sheets for backing quilts. What a great idea. They are the right size and if you buy a quilt cover, you get two backings for the price of one.

So on the weekend I hit the local op shop and found a few quilt cover sets. I figure there should be enough for eight quilts here. I got the whole lot for like $30!! I'd be paying that a metre for "quilt backing". Also, they are already washed and broken in!!

I think the top two would be great for kids quilts and the bottom two for bloke quilts. I am making a "country quilt" at the moment, that will need backing in the next couple of weeks, and I think the middle one will be great for that. 

Op Shop Quilt Covers to Use As Quilt Backing

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Lest We Forget

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

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Stash - Michael Miller Neutrals and Modern Quilts

 

I've found a few really nice "modern" quilts on Pinterest that have got me interested in doing something in solid fabrics. I'd just started thinking I needed to start collecting them when I found this pack at the Fat Quarter Shop. List of links to more modern quilts at the end of the post.

When I look at the "modern" quilts that I like, they are just about all made with all solid colours. I think this is probably the thing that sets them apart from more traditional designs (except for Amish of course).

Here are some of the ones that got me thinking:

Source: alexandersonquilts.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: spottedstone.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: blueisbleu.blogspot.com.au via Michelle on Pinterest

• The Modern Quilt Guild
• Fresh, Modern Quilts (Flickr)

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Quick Rag Quilt Completed

I felt the need to actually get something finished over the Easter break. So while I did do a bit of work on a couple of in progress projects, I also started and completed a Rag Quilt. These are a great beginners project and also for those who just need something finished!! Also a great way to use up scraps.

I didn't follow any particular tutorial, as the process is pretty simple, but for a details tutorial, check out Rag Quilt Tutorial over at Green Apple Orchard blog.

Completed Rag Quilt - It is just a nice size for a lap quilt.

 Basically, you cut up three layers:

• front fabric
• batting
• backing fabric

This is the various layers cut out and ready to sew.

You cut the front and backing about an inch larger than the batting. I used a layer cake pack (cut into 5" squares) of Soiree from Moda for the front. I used plain white with the odd bit of Heather Bailey for the back and cotton wadding for the middle. Make a sandwich of front, batting, back and then quilt. I just did a diagonal quilt using my walking foot (for the first time ever!).

Quilted Squares

Then sew block together, sewing wrong sides using an 1/2" seam. Snip the exposed seams, wash and tumble dryer. Finished. Best to wash inside a quilt or bag as it produces lots of lint.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. If I hadn't gone at it like at bull at a gate, I would've realised that if I had alternated the coloured blocks with plain white, I'd have only used half the fabric and been able to make something else!! Ah well, next time. It takes a few washes and tumbles for the seams to get nice and fluffy.

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Tutorial Tuesday - Spike Dresden Plate

I found this great block, via Pinterest. I had no idea how to make it. However, after consulting the incredible wealth of knowledge that is Southern Cross Quilters, I had a pretty good idea how to make this version of the Dreseden Plate. It is a variation of the One Seam Flying Geese technique.

This tutorial assumes that you know how to make a Dresden Plate block. I've never made one before this tutorial. I used the Easy Dresden Tool by Darlene Zimmerman for this block. I was super easy to use.

The trick to this block is inserting an isoceles triangle into the seam between two wedges of the block. I basically used trial and error to get the right height for the triangle. The base of the triangle needs to be twice the width of the base of the Dresden Wedge (the skinny end). My Dresden wedges were 1", therefore, the base of my triangle was 2".

Working out the height is a bit more "artistic". What I did was sew a few trial runs. My opinion is that the sides of the triangle should be the same length as the side of the Dresden wedge. However, to get a piece that sews and sits well, a clipped the top of the triangle off. Sooo, in order to do that when drafting the triangle insert, I would recommend the following steps.

1. Base is twice the width of the base of the bottom edge of the wedge.
2. Measure the length of the side of the wedge. This is the vertical height of the triangle.
3. Add 1/2" to this measurement.
4. Use these measurements to draw your triangle.
5. Then clip 1/4" off the top of the triangle.

You should end up with something that looks like the shape below. Then fold wrong sides together (if using print fabric) and finger press the vertical height. 

Place the folded triangle along the outside seam of the Dreseden Wedge and then place another wedge over the top. All the raw edges should be together. The triangle should be the same height as the outside edge of the wedge (or pretty close).

This is what the triangle looks like sewn into the seam between the two wedges.

Finger press the seam open. I used a crochet hook pushed up inside the triangle to help me flatten it. Normally, Dresden Plate tutorials say to press the seams all in one direction, but because of the bulk of four layers of fabric in this technique, I think it's better to press the seam open. The pressed open seam will be protected by the triangle insert once it's pressed.

Turn the section over and press.

That is basically it. I did them in pairs, then in fours etc until the plate was complete. Below is an image of the back of the plate once it's all sewn together.

Add your middle circle. Completed block.

I'd like to thank Jeannie, Fran, Jodie, Jan, Jo and Judy for the help they gave me in working out how to do this. Please let me know if there is anything which is unclear or confusing in the tutorial!!

YES, please feel free to Pin on Pinterest. Sorry, can't get the auto-pin button to work!!

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