Mini QT Swap

I was partnered with Marilyn for the most recent round of the Flickr Mini QT swap.  "Botanical and Feathered Friends" is the theme for the current round.  Both Marilyn and are are bird lovers.  What we would make each other was a no brainer!

Here are the end results.  We also sent each other bird themed extras.  Thank you Marilyn!  FYI, the swap requires that these mini-quilts are no large 12"x12".

My quilt for Marilyn--a pekin robin

My gorgeous Carolina wren with dogwoods.
It is made of Dupioni silk and 100% handstitched,

Hand Applique Technique (a demonstration)

While I was recently hand appliqueing a piece, I thought about how much stitching keeps you in the moment.  If you aren't thinking about what you are doing right then, the next step very probably won't be what you want it to be.  I guess this is true with other processes.  Maybe this was evident because of the slow process of hand stitching.

Regardless of the lack of speed, hand applique and embroidery are my favorites.  I was not very successful at needle turn applique (edges are turned under as you sew and not left raw) until I learned of the following method.  Maybe it will be helpful for you! 

I thought of sharing this while my work was in process, so you join me there...

Here is where we are starting today.  I am adding the bird's eye.

This paper cut-out is what the bird's eye will look like and where it will be placed.

You can see from the back of the piece where I have traced the shape of each piece,
starting with the bird's body.   FYI, I have cut each piece to applique from a photocopied
picture of the  bird(ignore my untidy embroidery back *blushes*)

With a disappearing marker, I am tracing the reverse side of the patch
that contains the bird's eye.  

See the shape?

Using a large, thick needle and a double-threaded piece of heavy
hand quilting thread, I stitched right on that blue line, while holding a small piece of fabric
over the eye spot on the front of the bird.

The reason I use a heavy needle and thread is so that it pierces and makes temporary holes in the fabric,
kind of like a perforated line.  This will make turning the edge under much easier!

I had to make sure the piece covered the whole space to be sewn.
Then from the back I basted it down, using large stitches with the big needle and thread. 

(not pictured, sorry)  

At this point, I sprayed with starch, then ironed the piece, securing and stiffening it.   You do that for each subsequent piece, as well. THEN, I trimmed around the basted piece.  It is trimmed slightly wider than 1/8 inch.

Beginning at the top, I removed a couple of the basted stitches
and start to turn the edge under.  

Using a blind applique stitch, I sewed all the way around the piece, turning as I went.
Believe me, the 'perforation' makes turning so much easier!

For this piece, I am embroidering heavily on top of the applique
attempting to simulate feathers.

This is the picture I am sewing from.  It's a Pekin robin.
In about a week, I will post a picture of finished piece
(after I have mailed it to my swap partner! ;)

I hope this method will help you.  If you know the shape of your object (or using a temporary marker, can draw it on the front of your fabric, you can work this method from the front of the fabric.  As I have mentioned, the main bonus is breaking the fabric with the stitched basting line.

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How did I do in the contest??

Thanks to everyone that voted me in last week’s 

Appliqué Quilts event. The guest judge awarded 25 bonus points to Virgo Mermaid, On the Rocks, Flutterbyes and Flora & Fauna.  The site owner awarded 50 points to My Grandmother's Rose of Sharon, 30 points to Africa and 20 points to Trains, Planes and Bicycles.  Flora & Fauna by Karen H. was still strides ahead, so it won.  I thought by virtue of detail, it should win.  

>Even though we didn't win, thanks for your support.  It meant a lot!

Please vote for me (and a give-away!)

I recently made this appliqued mini-quilt for Ruth in the Flickr Fabulous Little Quilt Swap.  I had so much fun picking out the fabrics and embellishments for the dresses.

See the one that's one space to the left of the top right corner?  Ruthie is a Wizard of Oz fan, so that pinafore dress is a nod to Dorothy.

I have entered this quilt in the Appliqued Quilt Contest at Quilting Gallery.  It is pictured in the 2nd spot and is called "All Dressed Up."  Pop over and if you like mine best. give me a vote!

While you are there, enter the give-away that is going on.  Thanks and I hope we win! ;)

Baby Things, Boy Things (Part 1)

Our niece, Jessica is carrying the first great nephew.  The doctor says he's to make his appearance into the world any day now.  He is SiL Kathy's first grandchild and MiL Judy's first great grandchild..

His en utero nickname has been "Elbe" otherwise spelled as "L. B." which is the initials for "Little Baby."  Cute, huh?  His real name is not to be uttered yet.  At least she told us his gender... well, that's the sonographer's best estimation.  Right, Alyssa? (my own "I-never-say-100%-but-I'm-99%-sure-it's-a-boy" girl  We'll never stop laughing at that!)

Over the last decades, things have changed and sonograms are much more accurate.  I'm pretty sure this time they are right about Elbe being a boy.  I have put stock in that.

I've personally given Jessica's child a bunch of boy "stuff" so far.  I am perhaps as excited as a great aunt can be.  Over the decades, I have mostly forgotten how much fun baby goodies are to procure and make!  (well, there was Abby's stuff but that was for a girl.)

First, there is the  baby carrier cover like the one pictures in the top left corner,
but made from the really cute IKEA fabric in all of the other pics, lol!
(there's a tutorial for that here.)

This is his quiltie (which serendipitously,
turned out to be the nursery colors  she chose. =)

But WAIT, there's MORE! *blushes already*
There's the fleece bunny, burp pads and 'pee-pee tee-pees', hee hee!

Then, there's father-to-be Micheal's compact diaperbag
chocked full of toys and things a FTB should like
(pattern forthcoming, I hope!)

Oh yea, there's the really large and cute linen box with a lid...

And finally (for now) the wallhanging.
I told Jess I would change out the letters for his name...
...when I know it! :)

Um, I have time now, like I did not when my own bebes were small.  Gosh, if I have own grandkids, this could get really ridiculous!  There may or may not be other handmade items in the works.  *still blushing, but-probably-not-stopping* LOL!

GO VOTE!

Sew Original, one of my LQS's is having a So Solid Challenge.  I entered.  I believe my number is #10.  At any rate, the voting is through tomorrow.  I'm going over today and I hope to have more pics of the entries.

Here's my entry.  If you are in the Sherwood Plaza of Robinhood Rd. area today or tomorrow, I sure would appreciate your vote.

Quick Binding Trick

By the time I finish a quilt, it's just me sitting around while watching TV with hubby.  Nobody is around to discuss my method.  Has that happened to you?

We've talked about how wide to cut a binding strip (2 1/4"-2 1/2") but I don't remember talking much with other quilters about how to cut and piece a binding.

I am Suzy Shortcut... I don't like pinning (though I have learned when I can't skip it.)  I don't scissor-cut if I can figure out how to cut something with a rotary cutter (I use old blades for paper.)

And I would much rather eyeball something than measure (I forget numbers as soon as they are out of my mouth.)

That said, I like tidy bindings.  I always double fold, but to avoid bulk, I sew the various strips together with a bias cut on both end of each strip.

With this method, it's easy to end up with your diagonal seams going in both directions.  That's one of those kinds of details if I leave undone, it bothers me.  So, I want a method that gets them right all of the time.  I think this one is simple.

At the end of your binding strip,
fold your top piece under at an angle (about 45 degrees, but not always.)
The KEY is that the fold on the top  makes the right  "intersections" meet
(hang on, you will understand this in a second!)

Place your bottom piece under the top with angle folded--both right sides are up.
This fabric is directional so check that they are both the same if it applies.
NOTE: I *ALWAYS* make sure the top of the angle fold is on the RIGHT
so that all of my folds go in the same direction.

While holding the two pieces in place, carefully unfold the top piece.
Make sure that both edges of the top/folded piece meet the edges of the bottom piece.
Pin in place (or just hold it if you like to live dangerously, like me.)

Again make sure your edges meet and sew in the fold.

(FYI, I backstitch on both ends to lock seam.)

Trim away your threads and edges at about 1/4"
(this one looks a bit wider, but that's okay.)

Unfold to see your seam--they should meet.

Of it's a milli-fraction off, don't worry about it.

If it happens to be way off, I just cut that seam off and start over

(unsewing with that tiny point remaining intact is impossible) 

Press your seams open, then fold your strips in half long ways.
Press.  You are ready to sew your binding on!

Sometimes, when I am ready to sew, the two fabric strips are clearly not lined up at a right angle (which would form the 45 degree angle.)  Don't worry, it will work anyway, your angle is simply not true (and that doesn't really matter here.)

DOWNLOAD .PDF of this tutorial

Spring Showers Give-away Winner!

Congratulations, Lou!  You were drawn as the lucky winner of my Spring Showers Sublime Stitching Sewing Set (6ix S's!) Contact me to claim your prize!