Protecting my investment

When was the last time you cleaned your sewing machine?  One of my most-used tools is a one-inch paint brush I bought at the variety store.  Everytime I have to fill my bobbin, I brush out all the lint.  Today, I removed the plate and took everything apart to clean more thoroughly.  Its amazing how much lint gets in there.  I put in a new needle too.  They are so inexpensive, we should all change needles more often.  Have you read your machine's manual to see if you need to add a drop of oil anywhere. 

It's just no fun to have your machine not working, so take a little time now to do some routine maintenance.  Keep sewing and keep happy.

What's This Mess?

Its a basket full of torn fabric just waiting for me to start a new toothbrush rug.  Yep, its another thing I love to do with fabric. 

This is a finished one with a diameter of about three feet.  It takes almost ten yards of fabric.

 Let's see if I can finish this one in the next couple of weeks.

Portneuf Valley Quilt Guild

What a delightful group of quilters.  We had a great day Saturday learning to make Cathedral Windows blocks.  Not too many quilters get excited about making a whole quilt by hand, but the sewing machine and the totally fake method get some people hooked.  Thanks for inviting me.

Cathedral Windows Tutorial

OK, here are the instructions I promised.  This is the one most people like because it goes faster than hand sewing. 
1.  Cut four 7 1/2" muslin squares.
2.  Fold each square in half and stitch a 1/4" seam, from the folded to the raw edge on one side of the rectangle and from the raw edge to the folded edge on the other side.


2.  Trim corners of stitched rectangles.

3.  Fold the seamed edge of each rectangle to meet the opposite seamed edge, right sides together.  Place a pin where the seamlines meet.

4.  Stitch the folded-upon-itself rectangle, leaving a 1" opening for turning.

5.  Taking care not to stretch and distort the fabric, turn the square inside out, shaping and sharpening the corners.  Press the square carefully since the straight edges are now on the bias.

6.  Turn one corner to the center and press.  Repeat with remaining corners.

7.  Place 2 squares wrong sides together and sew across pointed flap on the pressed line.

8.  Put 2" colored square on top of diamond formed in the last step.  Turn edges of diamond over square and top stitch.

9.  Continue adding squares until quilt is desired size. 

Another Big Hooray

I am listed on http://www.onlinequilting.wordpress.com/.  My listing will only be new today.  Thanks so very much.

Now on to another fun day of quilting.  Watch for pix tonight.

Hooray

Mamabillquilts is now listed on quilterblogs.com.  I'm so happy to join many other quilters and bloggers.  That's where we find the latest quilt buzz.

Guilding

Its that time of year.  Quilt guilds are starting up again.  Tonight is sewing night for Suppose guild.  We are going to be working on medallion quilts this year.  I have my center block done, so I will be ready to start on the first border.

Saturday I am teaching at a guild in Pocatello.  They asked me to show them three ways to make a Cathedral Window block.  Watch for a tutorial later today or tomorrow.

Monday is the start of a brand new group in Preston.  This one will include lunch each month and a lot of fun sewing.  I'm looking forward to it. 

Happy guilding!

A Quilter's Breakfast

 Hot chocolate, a muffin and a ufo is my idea of a great breakfast.  I pulled this ufo out of the closet and now I want to work on it to see what it will become.  The fabric is just as gorgeous as when I bought it several years ago.

Strangest Quilt Ever

This is the finished quilt top for the War of 1812 Challenge.  The rules said 30" x 72".  I guess it would keep a skinny soldier warm, but what will I do with it?  Maybe the back of the couch will want to wear it.

I finished a sample for Suppose and returned it today.  Prince Charming by Tula Pink is used in this quilt called Field Study.  See it hanging in the store soon.

Now I have a few days off and can concentrate on my own projects.  Guilds are starting up again this month.  At Suppose Creative Guild, we are going to work on a medallion quilt all year.  Each month we will receive two more border patterns.  I am finishing my 12" center block. 

Today's tip comes from drafting this block.  To make a 3" quarter square triangle block, I needed to cut two 4 1/4" squares.  Always add 1 1/4" to the size you want your quarter square block to be. 

Latest Projects in my Quilt Room

I've been busy developing classes for the winter class catalog at Suppose Quilt Boutique.  I am practicing quilting on my sewing machine using the book "One Line At A Time".  Its so much fun.  I can't wait to teach this class so other quilters can finish their own quilts without having to send them out for expensive machine quilting.  Watch for the class in the winter edition of Suppose's class catalog.  Suppose

Day of Rest

No quilting today.  A day off does wonders for next week's energy level.  But that doesn't stop the wheels in my head from turning.  I sketch quilt blocks and block designs constantly.  We shall see if any of them turn into something to cuddle up in. 

Quilters tip for today--Instead of drawing diagonal lines on squares to sew half square triangles, just fold the square diagonally and press.  Then sew on the pressing line and there will never be any marks to remove.