Going backwards

They say you cannot go back, but that is not quite true when it comes to quilting, is it. We can actually go as far back as we want, and pick up right where we left off. That is, if we can remember what we were supposed to do next.

My grandma’s old rocking chair sits right next to our dining room table. It has been painted and reupholstered twice, but these days you cannot tell. It is covered with tops and wips and ufos and special fabrics and whatnots. Don’t need to finish it right now? Into the pile it goes.

My recent need to finish one of them for an exhibition set me off on a rediscovery journey right there in my own chair. I have enjoyed myself immensely.

When making class samples, I often choose not to finish them. Sometimes I’d rather just have a top as it travels more easily, other times I’d like to show my students the different layers. I have finished two of the layer upon layer quilts this week, making invisible bindings, and I was on a roll and wanted to keep going. A third sample has been made into a pillow, which, by the way, will only be for show as it’s not washable.

One of my goals this year is to keep improving my zipper skills. I had the perfect fabric for the back of the pillow, but it was only 12”. All righty then, I have wanted to master those mid-back-zipper closures, so off we go.

It actually worked very well, so well that I will take progress pictures next time and do a tutorial. Can you tell that this is a black fabric?

You almost can when put next to the reverse side.

I also auditioned leftover binding from my Big Box of Binding for a scrappy binding on another sample, and found quite a few that would work. I now have plans for this unloved painting with fiber piece. It wasn’t very successful anyway, so I’ve got nothing to lose. A brilliant starting point for some messy experimentation I’d say.

I tidied up the Big Box while I was at it, and now I have two layers of neatly rolled and folded binding.

Aren’t they just delicious!

I have some pictures to take today; hopefully the wind doesn’t start up again before daylight - or at all. The weather has been ever so cold and windy, and I understand it’s pretty much the same all over the place. Brrr.

Stay warm and thanks for stopping by!

Make an Invisible binding

There are some quilts that look better without borders and bindings, and invisible binding is a perfect way of finishing them. I recently had to finish one of the samples for the Layer upon layer Movement class for an upcoming exhibition, and it was always meant to not have a visible finishing.

Looks quite nice and clean, doesn’t it.

One of my friends asked me how to do just so the other day, so I took progress pictures as I was working. Now, I am sure there are many ways of making this type of finishing, like there is for all other things quilty, but this is how I make mine – click HERE to go to the post at my Tutorial blog.

There are so many of my classes where the students would benefit from learning this finishing technique, so I’m planning to make step-by-step samples, but for now this will have to do.

Enjoy!

Hot and bothered

Today I'm putting the last stitches into a binding. I tried to finish it last weekend, but it was too hot. A fleece backed quilt on your lap is not chilling and stitching with damp hands no pleasure.

Usually I would fold the fleece over to the front and stitch it down as a binding, but this green (which is nothing like the picture) does not go very well with the front. I was making do, using the one I had (patting my back here), those fleece backings take up a lot of space.

The dark blue binding is from the Big Box of Binding; two pieces of dark blue that I stitched together. It was still a little short so there's a little starry night piece in a corner.

If you never have used fleece backings, I thought I could share a few things I have learned on the way:

- Use a high quality fleece, the one with the knitted base and fluff on one side that feels soft and nice. It doesn't matter whether it comes off the bolt or as a hemmed blanket. The super cheap blankets where it seems like the fibers are only pressed together may not hold up in use and washing and feel awful (although the good quality ones can be used as batting).

- The non-fluffy side goes against the back of the quilt

- Both safety pins and basting spray work well for basting. Just make sure you don't stretch the fleece.

- Always prewash the fleece, it will probably shrink. I purchased  88" red fleece for a 80" quilt and it came out almost 12" shorter so I had to add a chunk of white on the top. These things of course always happen when the stores are closed.

- If you hand stitch applique or binding to the fleece, make sure your stitches go into the knitted base and not only into the fluff.

- A walking foot makes a huge difference when quilting with fleece.

- Because of the stretchiness, free motion quilting big quilts may be a problem. I know I wouldn't do it.

That's all, folks. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Little friend

This is my best friend when I’m doing these.
They are made of silicone (I think) and will adjust to your finger like a glove, a very thick and sturdy one that is. I have several in different colours all spread around my various sewing kits. No holes in my middle finger and blood splatter on my quilts thank you very much!

Moment of truth

This morning it was time to open this little invention to see if it has worked.

Remember me worrying about the not quite perfectly flat edges on my exhibition quilts? Well, a couple of days ago I decided to spray them with water and layer them between towels and a couple of 24”*48” Styrofoam boards with an elastic band around. I also added a little extra weight on top to get a better effect.

Here they are; the first quilt and the binding looks flat, flat and flat. And the second quilt, also flat. They are still a bit damp, so I’m going to do the same to the other edges while the first ones dry. It might take a few days until the quilts are ready for attaching the labels, but I still have time so I’d better use it wisely.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Task of the day, May 26

Today I’m making binding for 3 quilts; Saying Cheese, City and 1 of 10. I haven’t figured out how to attach two of them yet as one has 3 fabrics (which need to be positioned in specific places without any bulky seams) and both have to be pinned on instead of my usual approach of sewing like the wind and block the quilt afterwards if needed. These quilts cannot be stretched in any direction as I have already sent off the dimensions.

I cut off 1” off the City quilt after squaring it up. I had added a piece to a strip of fabric just to make sure the quilt would meet the 1m requirement after quilting. Well, it ended up at 107cm and the line bothered me, so off it came. I was terrified cutting that thing, afraid that something would go wrong and the quilt would end up too short. Luckily it didn’t.-)

You can see how I do my bindings here if you don’t mind less-than-perfect pictures; it was my first tutorial.

Binding by the mile

I have attached (what feels like) miles and miles of binding this last week, trying to get some of the quilts that needs finishing done. Now I have something to keep my hands busy watching TV for the next few months or so; well, besides blogging and eating double 0 (fat free, sugar free) yoghurt for supper, you know.

Making binding is not my favourite part of quilting, so I make a few extra yards when I’m already cutting and ironing some anyway (tutorial here). Running another yard or two or five through the bias tape maker does not take that long when you’re already ironing, but the benefit is great.

I now have a Big Bag of Binding full of different coloured binding to choose from, most of them ready to use. Some are long enough to bind a large quilt; others are just scraps that I at some point will piece together for smaller or scrappy quilts. Lots of fabrics I don’t really like that much (great for binding though) also make it into my bag together with leftover 1 1/2 “ strips.

It’s kind of having an extra bank account; time is money, isn’t it?

Binding

I know many of you have these things lying around; but I use my bias tape maker for almost all my bindings made from cross cut strips. My tape maker is an 18mm one from Clover, and uses 1 ½” wide strips; perfect for single layer bindings. However; I do it a little different than the instructions.

Cut as many 1 1/12” strips that you need to go around the quilt + 10“ extra. I usually cut a strip or two more than I need so I have ready binding for small projects or scrap quilts. Fold all the strips in half, and using the 45 degree line on your ruler, cut the ends of all of them.

Place the ends of two strips together like this.






Use a ruler, and draw a line ¼” from the end. Place the ends together like this, and pin.





Sew along the line, cut off the snips, and press the seam open. Do likewise until you have one continuous strip.

Pull one end of the strip through the bias tape maker, and start pressing with a hot iron, but only the fold closest to you. Continue pressing as you move the bias tape maker along the strip.
Make a ¼” fold at one end of the strip, and press.





Place the folded end on one side on the front of the quilt, and pin. Check that the joining seams won’t be at any corner before you start sewing. I usually use my ¼” foot to make the width of the binding consistent.

Sew one side until you are ¼” (or the width of your finished binding) from the end. Stop, lift the presser foot and move the quilt ½” back again, then take a few more stitches to secure the thread. I find that I have more control this way; when I backstitch, the machine takes one stitch forward first, and I miss the ¼” mark.

Fold the binding in a 45 degree angle to your right, and finger press the fold.





Fold the binding to your left, and finger press. Start sewing the next side at the edge of the quilt. Keep on sewing and folding corners until you get to the starting point.


Sew until you are ¼”- ½” past the starting point. Cut the binding off in a 45 degree angle, and tuck one fold into the other.




My hands are not so good for hand sewing, so I baste the binding to the back by machine. It sometimes leaves some holes in the quilt or binding, but these are easily removed with a little water and a Q-tip. I also use a contrasting thread so the basting stitches are easy to remove.

Set the machine at the longest stitch length and the pressure of the foot very low (1 on my machine). Turn the quilt over, and fold the binding to the back. Still using the ¼” foot, sew all around the quilt.

When you get to a corner, fold the edge closest to you first and pin;




then the other.
Remove the basting as you stitch the binding to the back by hand.

Not just for bias tape!

I know many of you have these things lying around; but I use my bias tape maker for almost all my bindings made from cross cut strips. My tape maker is an 18mm one from Clover, and uses 1 ½” wide strips; perfect for single layer bindings.

Click here for instructions