Magazine Report: Generation Q

On occasion I've written a report on a favorite book.This time I'm posting about my favorite magazine: Generation Q. I saw it the first time when I went to QuiltCon. I've been hooked ever since. I'm happy to say that's it's easier to find now than it used to be.

It's a great magazine that I want to read from cover to cover. The articles are interesting and relevant. Every month has articles on new up and coming quilt designers as well as fresh new patterns.

Generation Q also has a feature where they test drive products. One time they reviewed different embroidery floss and another time hand sewing needles. This month they tested different spray starches and sizings. Since I've found how valuable starch spray can be as I continue on my path to precision, I'm really looking forward to reading this one.

 You'll also find a sampling of new fabric lines which is always fun to preview.

The one downside of the magazine is the price: $9.99. An annual subscription is $50. Once again, I think that's high, but I enjoy the magazine so much that I splurged and got a subscription in January. They have a website too so take a look and see what you think!

Matchstick Quilting

I love, love, love the look of matchstick quilting. And now I have baby quilt #2 to quilt so I really, really would like to try the technique.

So, as my test, I put together a quilt sandwich and drew the heart shape that I want to use the matchstick quilting on.In Jackie Gering's new Craftsy class, she talks about how to pull off this type of quilting. First use painter's tape to set a straight line as a registration mark.

Stitch right next to the tape. Then stitch in one inch increments from the center over to the right and then one inch increments from the center and over to the left.

Now, using the markings on the walking foot, stitch at half inch intervals again to the left and then the right. Then do the same thing at a quarter inch.

On my sample below you'll see that I then went the next step: 1/8" (#1). I liked it straight, but thought...what about a curvy line (see #2). hhhmmm like that! What about a decorative stitch (#3)? Blech! No. Only did one row like that.

I think I will use this technique for the heart and then use quilting that's more open for the rest of the quilt.  As Jackie says, the lines are to be perfectly imperfect. Love it!

Quilt Prep

I have the first baby quilt all pieced. Woo hoo! I've watched Elizabeth Hartman talk about putting the quilt sandwich together. So, since this quilt is small, I thought I'd give it a shot.

I measured the quilt top (36"x36") and added two inches on each side. So I cut the batting 38"x38". The cute fabric I bought for the quilt back wasn't quite wide enough, so I had the opportunity to put a couple strips down the back (which made me happy; love that look!). Now I cut the back 40"x40".
 
I pressed everything including the batting so that it was very smooth. Next I put the backing down wrong side up and used painters tape to keep it stable. I like 505 spray adhesive  so I gave the backing a quick spray then put down the batting.

Elizabeth rolls the batting and lays it down two inches from the bottom and sides. Then it's carefully unrolled.

 Now another quick spray of 505 and lay down the rolled up quilt top.

 Here's the end result which was very nice to work with.

 

Jacquie Gehring suggests the quilt sandwich be pressed. This does make the adhesive more permanent. Now I'm happy to say that I was able to quilt the top and didn't have one of those darned wrinkles stitched into the back which I'm so used to seeing. If you don't use this method, you might want to give it a try; it makes for a neat and tidy quilt top which is great as I move forward with my work on precision. 
 

Thought You'd Like to Know

This week I'd like to share some creative things that different people out there are doing...

The first is one of my favorite sewing accessories: it's a pincushion ring.

I bought it in December from Bee Wise Bags on Etsy. It's just so handy to stick a pin in as I'm stitching. And as I move from my machine to the ironing board; it's right there with me. I don't have to look around to see where I left my pin cushion. There are a lot of different styles out there so I encourage you to go out and take a look.

The other thing I wanted to share is a tutorial I found through Pinterest. It's called a Selvage Bag and was designed by Heather Louise. You can see it on her blog How Do You Do That Again but the really clever part is how the snap closure works. You know the kind; you pull the sides to open it then when you push the  sides together it snaps closed. Heather uses a couple of pieces from a metal measuring tape for the closure. Brilliant! I had hoped to stitch one up for this post, but that just isn't going to happen, so I wanted to be sure to share. Take a look and give it a try!

Embroidery Con't.!

I'm still working on my grande Stupendous Stitching. I'm at the stage where I'm embellishing with hand embroidery and beading and enjoying every stitch.

I thought in this post I'd show some of my favorite sections of my wall hanging and show you how to do a favorite stitch.

The one thing I'd like to say I've learned; even if you do the stitch differently than a book or web site shows, it doesn't matter. It's a great opportunity to turn the lemons into lemonade! That's kinda what happened here...I struggled a bit with the stitch but enjoyed how it turned out and add a few beads; what's not to like?!

 
I like this yellow stitch too. I wanted to just go wherever my fingers led me and I came up with this fun wandering stitch that goes from east to west on my piece..

Here's the Double Knot Stitch that I wanted to show. I found it in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches New Edition by Jan Eaton. Once again, I have this one going the entire width of my piece.

Here's how you do it:  Take a stitch and bring the needle  right up next to where you entered.

Loop the threads underneath the initial stitch. Bring it around and hold the loop down with your thumb. Now slide the needle underneath the initial stitch and then over where you came up the second time. Whew! Thank goodness it's easier to do it than to write! Take a look:

Give it a tug and you have a lovely little knotted stitch.

Give this stitch a try, you'll get the hang of it in no time. Enjoy!

Design Wall Workout

Still working on those baby quilts. I have the half square triangles all cut (woo hoo!). So I spread them out on the floor like I am used to doing. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw my design wall. I've been using it to hang up unfinished projects (so it was kinda full). I decided to suck it up and take them all down making room for my first baby quilt.

I am happy to say that it did help tremendously. I was able to actually move the blocks around spreading out the pale pinks and aqua in a pleasing format that I was sure I couldn't do on the floor.

Then I was ready to start sewing the blocks together. Thinking back to past projects, I remembered how easy it is for me to sew the wrong two blocks together even though I carefully stack them all up.

I decided to use blue painters tape and label each piece: rows were numbers and columns were letters.

 

Here's a close up:

 

I'm happy to say it worked beautifully.  

 

By taking a little time to use the tape, I saved time which would have been spent ripping out. Win win!

Make it So

I've been commissioned to make two more necktie pillows! As I've mentioned before, I learned the hard way that paper piecing is the right way to go. Undoubtedly I'll be working with small pieces of silk and polyester; both cut on the bias so the stability paper piecing provides is important.

Mrs. S who would like the pillows for her two sons, had a photo of a family quilt that she admired. It's made up of several blocks, but the traditional bow tie block was the one that Mrs. S really admired.

So I powered up EQ and came up with some samples. These would be 14" square pillows:

 

Initially Mrs. S. liked #3 best, but ended up selecting #2. I think it's a great choice too.  

My next step is to make a sample. Remember it's important that I can paper piece the design. Here's what EQ gave me:

 

If you're initial thought was Eeeeeeeeeek! That's pretty much what I said too. But, I thought I'd give it the ol' college try.  Since the pattern doesn't really lend itself to paper piecing, I stabilized the fabric and cut out enough to try one 1/4 of the block.

 The end result wasn't pretty. So much so that this is all I'm willing to share: 

 So what to do? Luckily, my friend Kathy F. invited me over to practice EQ, so I was able to take my project with me. With Kathy and friend Betsy's help, we increased the block size to 6" (rather than 3") and added two lines. I think you'll agree that we came up with a much better alternative solution.

I ended up with a better pattern and ultimately the end result will be better as well. Here's an idea of the finished block:

How will it actually stitch out with a variety of neckties to work with? I'll have to wait and find out, but at least I have a game plan that will provide a great result.

 

Decorative Stitches are a Good Thing

I really enjoy the Craftsy classes. And one of my favorites is Stupendous Stitching taught by Carol Ann Waugh. In the course you learn great techniques; including both hand and machine embroidery.

One of the first things you do is develop a Stitch Bible. And this is mine:

It is actually a sampling of every decorative stitch available on my machine. I've had other quilting instructors recommend something similar. One that I saw looked like an old fashioned sampler that could have been framed it was so beautiful. In my case, you can see that I was going for the 'utilitarian' look rather than a piece of artwork!

It's not difficult to do; just be sure you use a stabilizer with each page. That is very important so that the stitches lie flat. In my case, I knew I wanted to use striped fabric so that my stitches would be straight. (As you'll see, I still wasn't totally successful, but trust me it looks better than if I had winged it!) After you get all of the pages done, you can put them in those clear notebook pockets if you like. In my case I just stacked them up, stitched from end to end and then added a fabric binding to hide the stitching.

Oh, and one other thing you can do...you'll see in the example below that I tried some of the stitches with different stitch lengths/widths just to get an idea of what I could customize.

As I mentioned before, putting something like this together isn't difficult, but it is certainly tedious. I had over 100 stitches to sample! But, I have to say, in the end it was definitely worth it and I'd recommend everyone give it a try. I've used my little book on many occasions and I'm not sure I'd have turned to my decorative stitches so often if I only had that little card to refer to that came with my machine.

Give it a try and I'll bet you'll be glad you did!