Braid in a Day QAL Tuesday Tute

How progresses your Braid in a Day quilt?  If you noticed, I took a couple of weeks off to enjoy visiting with My Little Sailor.  He's heading back to Japan now, so it's time to get back to work on our QAL.

By now, your top might be pieced and you're ready to quilt your quilt.  This is the exciting part, it's becoming a real quilt!

I quilted my Braid quilt on Meggie, my longarm MegaQuilter.  But this tutorial assumes you do not have your own longarm, and will quilt your quilt on your home machine.  The sample I'm using for this tutorial is a Schnibbles quilt, "Dimestore."  So don't panic if it doesn't look like your quilt!

1.  Backing and Batting
The first step is to cut your backing and batting.  You may have to piece your backing, and that is perfectly OK.  This is a good way to use up leftover fabrics.  You can piece your batting too.  (Hmm, good idea for a future tutorial.)

Lay out the backing wrong side up on your cutting table, dining room table, floor or bed.  Smooth the batting over top of the backing, then add the quilt top right side up.

2.  Secure the layers
To machine quilt your quilt, you need to secure the layers.  There are several ways to do this:  pin, safety pin, or use spray basting.

Many quilters use safety pins to baste their quilts.  They come in different sizes, and some are curved to make it easier to close.

You can buy this nifty tool to help you close the safety pins:

Use the metal tip of the "Kwik Klip" to hold the pointy side of the safety pin when you're closing the pin.  Much easier on the fingernails!

If I'm quilting a very small project, I use long straight pins.  Be careful -- they are sharp!

I prefer to use a basting spray.  Again, there are several brands:

I like the heat set adhesive, I think it holds better.

Fold back half of the top two layers (quilt top and batting) and lightly spray the batting.  Be sure the room where you're working is well-ventilated.  If you're doing a really big quilt, you might consider doing this step outside.

When you've sprayed both halves of the backing layer, repeat to secure the quilt top:

If using heat set spray, press with a warm iron set to steam (or follow the directions on the can):

3.  Set up the machine
Next, set up your machine for quilting.  If you have a walking foot, this is the time to attach it.  It is possible to quilt without a walking foot, so don't think you have to shell out $90 for a walking foot just to finish this quilt.  If you don't have a walking foot, be sure to baste closely.  If using pins, pin every 4-5 inches.

Set the stitch length longer than use for piecing.  Experiment to see what stitch length you prefer.  I set mine at 3 (about 6-8 stitches per inch):

Test your stitching on a scrap of batting between two layers of fabric.  You may need to fiddle with the tension:

4.  Handling the quilt
Handling a large quilt while machine quilting can be difficult.  You can buy "bicycle clips" to keep the quilt rolled up while stitching (or snag them from your bicycle-riding teenager or husband):

Roll the edge of the quilt that will be in the "harp" of your sewing machine and slip the bicycle clip (or two or three) over the rolled edge:

Fold the front of the quilt a couple of times so it will fit in your lap.  If your quilt is really big, you may need to hold the rolled edge on your shoulder:

 I'm stitching 1/4" away from each seam on this quilt, using the edge of my walking foot as a guide.  Place your hands like this to control the fabric:

Stitch along one seam in one direction, then turn the quilt and stitch the next row in the opposite direction.  This will help keep the layers from shifting.

If you're doing a large quilt, don't try to quilt the entire thing in one sitting.  Set your kitchen timer for 23 minutes, and when it buzzes, get up and move around.

5.  Stand back and admire!
Soon you'll have your quilt quilted, and you can stand back and admire your work!

It's hard to see the white stitching on the white background, so here's a closeup:

Next week, we'll review Susie's Magic Binding and some ideas for a label for our Braid in a Day.  


From the desk of your

100 Blocks Winner

I almost forgot about the blog this weekend.  We celebrated Thanksgiving while My Little Sailor was home yesterday, along with Elder Son and Lovely Girlfriend (LG).  I was so proud to see MLS light the chalice at church while wearing his dress blues.  Not a dry eye in the house when the Religious Education Director read a story about a Daddy going on deployment, and his son making him a hug to take along.

I did remember you, however, and the "true Random Number Generator" has spoken.  The winner of my extra copy of "100 Blocks vol. 6" is:

Who turns out to be from Germany!

Ratama needs a "My Little Sailor" to nag her into completing the "About Me" entry on blogger.  But I can tell you, she is doing the Craftsy Block of the Month, and learning to free motion quilt!  She blogs at My World and lucky for me, has included a "translate" button on her blog!

As you can see, Ratama liked the "Happy Puppy" block AND the batik "Shortcut" block.  I think she should have both, don't you?

Ratama, send me your postal address and I'll get your magazine and blocks off to you in Germany this week!

My Little Sailor returns to Japan later this week, so blog posts will be scarce. In the meanwhile, I am researching different solid-colored fabrics to recommend to my Local Quilt Shop.  What is your favorite when you want a solid fabric?


From the desk of your

WIP - Thursday?

I'm sure there was a Wednesday this week -- but I missed it!  I've been working hard on quilting some of the 51 tops I've pieced so far in 2012.  My professional long-arm quilter and friend, Ann, teased me into committing to quilting 30 of my quilt tops by the end of the year.  My plan is to quilt on odd-numbered days and bind on even-numbered days.  If I get a quilt bound, as a reward, I get to piece the rest of that day!

So far, I'm right on schedule:

Here are the quilts I've quilted so far:

#1 is a mystery quilt I pieced early in the year.  It went to a friend who hooked up the new TV/DVD in my sewing room.  Phillip's daughter sent me a really cute photo of him sleeping under this quilt!

My Little Sailor (MLS) was the quilt-holder for this photo, and he persuaded Oliver to pose also!

#2 is a baby quilt for a friend of MLS.  She recently became a Grandma, and MLS did some of the quilting. This is our first attempt at quilting spirals!

Quilt #3 is for my neighbor who retired from teaching foreign languages at the nearby middle school.  I had fun deciding on the quilt design for the triangle blocks -- but when I got almost to the bottom, OOPS!

That red and white stripe is the leader on Meggie -- not the backing of the quilt.  The batting is too short!  I quilted as far as I could, then took the quilt off the longarm and added batting.  I quilted the border on my Juki.  It doesn't look as good as the rest of the quilting, but cotton batting and a good machine wash hide a multitude of quilterly mistakes!

Here is a closeup of my quilting design.  I need to learn how to quilt the sashing and the blocks without starting and stopping at each block --

Yesterday's quilt is one I test-sewed for the designer.  I experimented with Denyse Schmidt's signature quilting pattern, but it made the sashing curve unevenly.  Next time I will be more careful about keeping the edges taut while I'm quilting.

This pattern is not as easy to quilt as it looks!
 

Ann says the only way to get better at quilting on the long-arm is to quilt on the long arm!

Have you commented on my most recent giveaway post?  Go here to comment for a chance to win a copy of Quiltmaker 100 Blocks vol. 6 and one of my sample blocks!


From the desk of your

Updates to the Blog

Hello everyone!

It's me again, the Younger Son. I'm home on leave from the South Pacific (Hey, anything is better than watching an ammo offload for 18 hours a day) and I'm helping out by making some much-needed improvements to both the front-end and back-end of the blog.

Here are the new features:

1. Links at the top to blog sections.

Find links to your favorite posts at the top

As you can see here, we've added links across the top to the different types of posts your Aunt Marti writes for the blog. You can easily click on any of these to see all the posts with those tags. (These are still being updated to make them look a bit more readable, so expect to see the formatting, but not the content, change.)


2. Changed the layout

New 52 Quilts Layout with one sidebar

We've changed the layout so all the widgets and tools are over on the right side of the blog. This should give you more room to see what you care about -- the posts, and helps to clean things up a bit. For those of you using Google's Chrome Browser, this should also have fixed the formatting errors you've been reporting.

3. 52 Quilts on Facebook

New Facebook Page for 52 Quilts

There's now a new Facebook Page just for 52 Quilts. You can find it here. The content on the pages are the same, however, we know that it can be a lot more convenient to view when you're already on your Facebook. (Note; Please be aware that Giveaways will only be conducted through the blog, so you still need to be a follower here and leave a comment.)

The address is: http://www.facebook.com/52Quilts

4. 'About Me' Page

I've finally convinced your Aunt Marti to update her About Me page. You can find it linked on the side or here. (Along with some new portraits courtesy of Yours Truly.)

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 6

I had a fun time this summer testing blocks for the newest edition of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine.

Look, my name is even listed as a block tester!

 

I joined the "tester team" late in the game when another block tester had to drop out.  So I only test-sewed seven blocks:

I was a little aghast when the first block I was asked to test was a applique block using silk fabrics and embroidery.  Block #503, "Bird of Happiness" was designed by Gretchen Gibbons of Celebration of Life Designs.

Isn't this one cute?  Block #511,"Happy Puppy" was designed by Rob Stanphill of Willow Bay Designs. 

Block #525, "Peaks and Valleys" is a gorgeous paper-pieced design by Carolyn Cullinan McCormick of CM Designs.  Carolyn is the inventor of the "add-a-quarter" ruler so important to paper piecing.

I really like this block.  Is it just because it's pieced in batiks?  Block #570, "Shortcut" was designed by Jane Dudley, Editor-in-Chief of Quiltmaker magazine. 

The next block, #588, "Petit Fours" gave me fits.  But it's worth the "y" seams and picky-picky cutting necessary.  Designed by Marian Mapes, this one is sewn in batiks also.

 Here is the block I'm most likely to make again and again, #590, "Little Rescued Scraps."  It would lend itself beautifully to a Leaders and Enders project, don't you think?  Designed by Arlene Neely of Rabbits Haven Quilt Designs.

The last block I tested is an excellent choice to show off a large-print fabric.  Block #595, "Night Blooms" was designed by Joli Sayasane.

Quiltmaker magazine is hosting a 100 Blocks Blog Tour if you'd like to see the rest of the blocks in this issue.  Go here to visit many of the blogs written by block designers.

Quiltmaker graciously sent me two copies of the 100 Blocks magazine.  Would you like my extra copy?  And one of my test blocks?  Just make a comment on this post and tell me which block you would like to have for your own, along with the 100 Blocks vol. 6 magazine.

Giveaway will end Sunday, November 11 at noon.  International entries welcome, but be sure your contact information is attached to your comment!




From the desk of your

Sunday Stash: Road Trip Report

Yes, the blog posts have been a little scarce the past two weeks.  But I think today's will make up for it.  Before I got to quilt retreat there came a family emergency which resulted in My Little Sailor coming home from the Philippines on emergency leave.  Even in the midst of sadness, there is joy.

That said, let's go on to the road trip report!

I took a different route to Idaho this time (it's an Idaho thing.  We hate to travel the same route both directions).  First stop, home of the inspiration for Sweetwaters "Mama Said Sew," in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Because I had to fill out my "Mama Said Sew" collection:

I saw Quilt Moment's "Tilt a Whirl" pattern in Clotilde's catalog made up in these fabrics and just "had to have it!"  When I was growing up in Idaho, my BFF's favorite carnival ride was the Tilt a Whirl.

Then on to Cheyenne, Wyoming and the Sierra Trading Post outlet store.  No fabric, but if you like to wear Smartwool socks, they are half price at the outlet!  BTW, if you want to expand your Starbucks mug collection with one for Wyoming, you can't.  Apparently there aren't enough Starbucks in Wyoming to justify making a Wyoming mug.

Next stop, Laramie.  Now, who would think that two of the best shops for modern fabric would be in Laramie, Wyoming?  Snowy River Quilts has a wonderful collection of batiks, plus is one of the best places to buy Edyta Sitar's triangle papers.   It was early in the trip, so I only bought some triangle papers and one pattern:

Triangle Swirl uses 2" half-square triangles and looks to be an excellent choice for a Sunday Scraps of batiks.

I added to my Sweetwater Sunkissed collection at Quilt Essentials.   Plus, I bought the cutest little travel iron.  Which is buried somewhere in the as-yet-unpacked quilt camp supply bin, so photo to follow.

Why oh why didn't I fall in love with Sunkissed when it first came out?  I guess so I would have the thrill of the hunt to complete the collection!



When I left Little America the next morning, it had snowed overnight and my poor car was covered.  Signe is not accustomed to spending the night outside.  However, she is Swedish (a Saab), so she was ready to hit the road for Logan, Utah and "My Girlfriends Quilt Shoppe."  Although the staff complained that their best decorations had gone to Quilt Market, I was delighted with the selection of fabrics and uber-friendly staff.  Pat even went downstairs to see if they had more of a particular pattern!

I delighted in their sample quilt made from Annela Hoey's "Breezy."  Rather than use the panel, I chose this cute reindeer fabric by Maude Asbury, "Tinsel" for blend fabrics:

I love it when a shop has a fabric I haven't seen anywhere else.  And when I haven't seen it, you know it's unique!

I completed the required fabric at my new favorite shop, "Suppose," in Preston, Idaho.   Most of these fabrics are from "Cherry Christmas" by Aneela Hoey for Moda fabrics.

"Suppose" also has one of the best selections of quilt kits you'll find anywhere.  I've wanted to make this striped quilt, but hadn't found all the stripe-y fabrics elsewhere:

The host shop at quilt retreat, Cindy's always has a pop-up shop and brings their best new fabrics.  Plus some great bargains -- I scored this "Blitzen" kit for 30% less than it was at other quilt shops:

Hmm, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas quilts!



I don't remember where I found the Moda "candy" in the new Marmalade by Bonnie and Camille.  But won't it be perfect for the November Schnibbles?

I read on another blog this morning the idea that quilters could make themselves a quilt every year for their own birthday.  What a great idea!  This fabric will make my quilt for the next birthday:

Pretty wild, huh?  My friend and table-mate at quilt retreat made a One Block Wonder from this fabric, and it is stunning.  So when I raced down to Boise to the airport to pick up My Little Sailor, I "happened" by Quilt Essentials and scored the last of the bolt!


My Little Sailor and blog co-author is helping me update the blog design.  Come back later in the week to test out our new links and widgets!




From the desk of your

Braid in a Day QAL Sashing and Borders

Woo hoo!  Are your braids complete?  Ready to attach the sashing and borders?

I realise now I failed to document how to measure for the sashing and borders.  And of course, now I am at quilt retreat, and can't find my photos that show measuring for said sashing and borders.  So I'll just have to write out the instructions and trust if they don't make sense, someone will say so in the comments!  And I'll add a tutorial on the subject in the future.

The only trick to measuring for sashing or borders is this:  measure in three places, but never right along the edge of the quilt (or braid, in our case).  I measure once across the approximate middle, once near (but not right at) the top, and again near (but not right at) the bottom.  This measurement may be different in all three places.  If it is, no worries, just average the measurement.  That is the length to cut your sashing/border.

Fold the border in half with the short ends together and pin to mark the middle.  Do the same with the quilt, along whichever edge you are attaching the border.  If the border is slightly shorter than the quilt, sew with the quilt on the bottom.  If the opposite is true, sew with the border on the bottom.  The feed dogs on your machine will automatically take up the ease in the larger piece.  In other words, always sew with a relaxed bottom!

I completed my quilt top in the wee hours just before I took off for quilt camp.  I know this quilt is not the same as the Braid in a Day pattern, so don't panic and freak out -- it is one of my UFO-tober projects.  Same theory, different layout!

Here I am holding my finished top over the railing at the lovely Idaho B&B where my quilt retreat was held:

I haven't forgotten that I promised you all a shopping report on Northern Utah and Idaho.  I just forgot how busy things are at quilt retreat -- I hope you'll come back this weekend to admire my Saturday Stash.


From the desk of your