Tip #13

When using your walking foot to attach the binding strip to a quilt or to sew many layers, it is a good idea to have both legs of the walking foot on the fabric.

Notice in the above image that the foot is in line with the edge of the fabric. So both legs are on the fabric. This will help bring the fabric layers forward in an even way. Only problem is the needle will hit the fabric quite far from the raw edge making your seam allowance abundant! 

There is a simple solution. Leave your foot where it is and move your needle to the right until you have an acceptable seam allowance. (see photo above). 

Many of the newer machines have the option of moving the needle to the right. 

Tip #10

#10

When you quilt by machine it is recommended you lengthen your stitch length. It will make the stitching smooth and will not pull on the layers of fabric and batting.

If your machine is computerized, every time you shut it off it will reset to the standard stitch length (mine is 2.2 mm). When you turn it on again you'll need to reset your stitch length.

I place a post-it note on the machine to remind me to switch the stitch length and remind me of what length I was using.

Scrap quilt. I found a bunch of unexciting triple rail blocks in a box
so I put them together and found  a way to
make them look good! I'm happy I turned  some nothing into something.

Fabric Strips

Years ago, I learned a technique invented by Sharyn Craig. Half log cabin block.

I use her 'old' method. I have seen recently she has a new one, like from a few years ago, where she cuts the strips to the sizes needed.

I guess that was her tweak for her first method. When using her first method some of the blocks come out wonky.

I have figure out a way to use her old method and still get a pretty square block so I am sticking with that.

These are not quilts to put into a juried show. Not all the seams coincide. These are the quilts I make to use up all the strips I have. I guess they become memory quilts because I remember the other patchworks I've made using those fabrics.

I love putting all the colours together. I've made several using this method. Love them.

These are blocks I found while reorganizing the shelving in my studio.

They were already made, just sitting in a shoe box. I think I originally wanted to make this one large which is why they were still in the box...waiting for me to make more.

I decided to sew them up to whatever size it gave me. Turns out it's 40" x 50", or 104 cm x 128 cm approximately.

This one will be quilted in a few days. Then the relaxing part of sewing on the binding- one of my favourite steps in quilt making.

Australian Textile Artist

                                       

Lucky me.

I got an email from Australian textile artist and author, Dijanne Cevaal, who will be passing through Verona, Italy, next week.

We met in Parma, Italy, in 2011 and I haven't seen her since although we have emailed. I also signed up for an on-line course of hers.

I am looking forward to catching up and hearing all about her works and her adventures worldwide.



To see more of my posts related to D. Cevaal click here , here , and here.

(Images are taken from the internet. All works/particulars by Dijanne Cevaal)

Quilts as Gifts

When you make a quilt for someone special you put your heart in it.

Decor from restaurant Olive et Gourmando in Old Montreal

I know from experience that, in general, people who do not make things or sew quilts have no concept of how much time and effort it takes to create something. I have even heard people say, Well it's cheaper if you make something...which it isn't as we know!

I made a special baby quilt for my cousin's first baby. In the card that accompanied it,  I explained what I designed for him.

I used blue to symbolize the sky- The sky's the limit in what you can do in life. I used straight quilt lines in variegated thread to symbolize the many roads he will take in his life.

I love using fun fabrics for bindings.

I explained that it should be USED...how many times do recipients say it is too beautiful to use. I wrote, "It should be used for riding in strollers, for making tents, for reading under, for cuddling under with your mom and dad."

I proposed a few games. Using the 1 inch squares you could play "I Spy"... I spy a dotted line, a star, a letter B... or find two fabrics that are the same.

I made it personal. I added a 1 inch square of a map of Paris which is where his godmother lives. On the front, I placed a large letter J for his first name. On the back, I added a fat quarter which made a reference to his family name.

Fat quarter on the back.

I also stated how many hours it took to make. People have a different level of appreciation once they know that!

Austrian Quilt Gruppe

I spent a lovely day with Austrian quilters Lilo and Dani last week while I was in Vienna.

Daniele Samec's work, detail.
Hand dyed fabric and free-motion quilting with her long arm machine

 They took me out for lunch. They gave me some presents!

A present from Lilo, taken from her collection of antique,
hand-made lace and doilies.

Pins from their guild and the Austrian Association,
which I promptly pinned to my sewing bag.

They took me back to Lilo's apartment for coffee and a little 'show and share'...

Lilo and Dani's favorite block is
the log cabin and all its variations.

Lilo's piece was selected
for an exhibit in Houston in the mid-2000's

Work by Lilo Wesely and Daniele Samec.
Their version of a Dear Jane.
It is made using a combination of
quilter's cotton
and other very interesting fabrics.

...and a glimpse of her stash!

I felt at home in this room! She was very brave to show me.
Yes, well, we all have a stash don't we!

Later in the afternoon, I met many of the quilters from their guild.

What impressed me the most about the group was the way they all create works together!

"Blick über Wien" created by the group in 1998.
You can see the Vienna Woods on the left, the agricultural fields,
the Heurigers (Austrian vineyards),
the Prater Wheel, The Stephansdom steeple,
and a tiny bit of the Danube that flows through the city.

This week's project was a scrap quilt. Every member made one very large block. Those were cut in half and the job at the get-together was to decide on a pleasing design for the quilt top.

Everyone helped and made suggestions and in the end one of the ladies took the blocks home to sew them together.

A work in progress. Blocks pinned on their
 vertical design wall.

It will most likely get quilted by Dani who has a long-arm machine. She told me she is a beginner but I can tell you she does amazing work, all free hand and all without marking the quilt. She uses the seams as an indicator when drawing with thread.

The back of the group's raffle quilt quilted by Dani.
I love the way she used dark thread!
It makes the back of the quilt very interesting.

It really was a lovely day! Thank you to all the Patchwork Gruppe Wien members for welcoming me so warmly. Vielen Dank!!

inspirational mineral: Labradorite

There are so many beautiful images of minerals. I was particularly interested in representing a mineral found in Canada.

Looking for Labradorite
79cm x 74cm
hand-dyed assorted fabric from Ms Emma designer S. Verna,
found paper from Arles, France,
magnetic map paper, machine stitched

I liked the variety of colours of the Labradorite and the black lines showing fractures on the rocks.

detail

I interpreted those straight lines as contour lines much like a geophysicist would do on a magnetic map.

detail

(text from the label of my piece for the Minerals exhibit I recently curated)

Canada Day

Happy Canada Day!

Karen Neary's Log Canada quilt
photographed in a historical garden in Nova Scotia.
This image appeared in the book, Canadian Heritage Quilting
which she co-authored with Diane Shink.

July 1 is the official birthdate of Canada! In 1867, three colonies were united- the province of Canada, which was Ontario and Quebec, plus New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We're 145 years old today and my have we grown! Canada is now made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories.

This is a holiday long weekend when many people head to cottage country. BBQ's and picnics are called for!

detail, Log Canada by Karen Neary
Notice the maple leaf in the quilted design.

This quilt is part of Tradition in Transition. I plan to hang it at the front of the exhibition space to announce to visitors, "This is the Canadian exhibit."