Silk Ttread

Today I want to talk about silk thread.  I have been working on a lot of hand work lately (my applique class and my hexagons).  I asked my teacher about silk thread and she told me that the stitches would look better but it was more expensive.  I decided to try it and I was sold.  I couldn't believe the difference that the silk thread could make.  If you have not tried it I recommend that you give it a try.

With cotton thread

 

With silk thread

After using the thread for awhile I  noticed other reasons for using silk thread.  For one, I was surprised at how strong the thread was. Secondly, I noticed that I did not have to condition the thread and that I did not get as many knots in the thread. Thirdly, if I did get a knot that I could not get out, I could continue to sew since the thread was so smooth and fine.

I went to Superior Threads and looked at their silk thread.  They have a Thread of the Month club in which they will send you 6 spools of Kimono silk thread for $36.94 a month.  After 14 months you will have the entire collection of Kimono silk thread.  It is a easy way to get the entire collection without forking over a lot of money all at once.

Hexagons

When Martelli had templates on their Redline Direct, I bought a set of hexagons. At the time I bought then I had no idea what I was going to do with them.  Then I saw a "Grandmother's Flower Garden" quilt on line and knew that I had to make it.

 Well, for starters it is pieced together using the English paper piecing method.  If you don't know what that is, here is a video that will help you understand English paper piecing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHe-MJavMqI.

I decided to start by making a pin cushion that I found in McCall's Quilting Magazine (Nov./Dec. 2013) to get me started with hexagons.

I used Martelli hexagons to cut both the paper and the fabric.

I used the 2 inch fussy cut template to make my paper pattern.  After I make one sheet, I then copied the paper several times and then cut out all the hexagons.

 

I first cut a 2 1/2 by 3 inch pieces of fabric, then using the template, I cut the hexagon shapes.

 

Next I pinned the paper shapes to the fabric.

I have stitched the edges down and now I am ready to whip stitch the hexagons together.  I stitched mine down differently than in any of the other videos.  I tack down ONLY the corners (with a stitch and then a back stitch) making sure that I do NOT go through the paper. This helps preserve the paper so that it can be used over many times.

Next I pressed them and right after I press them and before I sew them together, I take out the papers (which can be used again).  This is different than any of the youtube videos that I watched.  I just don't see the need for the paper when sewing them together.

I sewed all the sides together except one.  I stuffed it with crushed walnut shells, that I got at the pet store, before whip stitching the last side of the last hexagon.  My finished pin cushion!

Binding Halloween Quilt

Today I thought that I would talk about how I bind a quilt.

First off I cut my binding 2 1/2 inches wide.  I can't tell you how easy cutting binding is with the Martelli strip ruler.

As you can see I have numbered the slots in one inch intervals.  I have also made a line every 2 1/2 inches for cutting binding.  These marking make it so much faster and easier to cut all my binding by placing both my ruler and fabric on the table once.  I can cut five strips WOF (with of the fabric) without moving the ruler.

Now that I have my binding cut, sew the strips together to make one strip. Now it is time to attach the binding to the quilt.  I use Martelli's Zip Bind system.  I have tried other ways of binding and with the other methods I never had a good looking corner.  With Martelli's Zip Bind System,  I have never had a bad looking corner.  Now with that said, I don't follow her system to the end.  I find that once I get the binding sewn onto the front of the quilt, the back comes without an effort, so I do not follow her instructions on finishing the back.

I am going to take you through how I bind my quilts but highly recommend you looking at her video first. 


Fold binding in half WRONG sides together and sew a 1/4 inch seam lengthwise.

Stitch as close as you can to the outer edge of the quilt.  This really helps keep the edges flat and clean while adding the binding.

Using the Stitch-N-Ditch Binding foot set at a scant less than 3/8 inches.  Start stitching on the binding by starting in the middle of one side leaving about a 6 inch tail.

 

Mark a line on your binding a scant less than 3/8 from the bottom edge.  Sew to that line and back-stitch to lock stitches in place.

 

Using you Minute-Miter (medium size for 2 1/2 in blinding strips), placing it on the edge as shown.

Fold the binding up on top of the binding that is already sewn to the quilt.  Pull the Minute-Miter to the right so that the bottom is even with the folded side of the binding.

Now fold the binding to the left so that the raw edge is even with the bottom of the quilt.  Use the Zip gun to clip the binding in place 1 1/2 to 2 inches to the left of the Minute-Miter.

Next, remove the Minute-Miter by pushing it left, up and then right.

 

 Pop

 Pinch

  Fold

 Starting at the edge of the corner start stitching again.  Stitch until a scant less than 3/8 inch and repeat the process.  Repeat for the next three corners until you are 6 to 8 inches from where you started.  Overlapping the binding by the width of the binding.  In this case 2 1/2 inches, and cut so that your overlap is now exactly 2 1/2 inches.  Open up your binding and place right sides together at a ninety degree angle and sew a diagonal line from top right to bottom left.  Trim to a quarter of an inch.

Refold the binding and stitch in place.

When you stitch the back side of the quilt, the corners should look like this.  The miters should be going in opposite directions.  Snouts vs no snouts.Once you have your corner nice, I whip stitch the back of the quilt.  Again watch the video for a more detailed description.

Aunt Grace Block of the Month (2)

Working hard on my Block of the Month quilts.  I love the 1930's prints that this quilt is made up of.  The blocks are a little smaller than I thought they would be, but I am getting the hang of it now.  I think that the blocks are turning out really cool.  I am finding that the smaller the block and the pieces the easier it is for the points to line up.

Tip:  When pressing the small stitched fabric pieces to the dark/printed side, lay the piece with the dark/printed side up and give it a little touch of the iron.

Then lift up the dark/printed side, and fold it over.  Then give it another press with the iron.

Now  your seams are nicely pressed to the dark side.