Category Archives: Needlework

Basic Sandwich Quilt Tutorial… Part 3

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Hi.. I’m back for Part 3 of our tutorial for quilt making.

Our quilt is now tied and is beginning to really look like a quilt.  It’s time now for the binding of the edges.  First, the edges must be trimmed to be straight.

Since I was going to use the back fabric as the binding, I started trimming the top fabric and the batting to have a straight edge.  The idea here is to then fold the backing once to firm up the edge of the fabric and then again over the batting and top fabric, sewing it in place and forming a self binding. 

As you can see from the photo, mistakes happen.  They are not insurmountable.  1)  If the cut had been a little closer to the edge, it’s possible that the first fold would encompass the cut and the second fold would not show it… alas, that was not the case here.  2)  A separate binding could be made.. which is the case here.

Here is where all work on the quilt stops for a bit and a binding must be made.  Easy, peasy… just takes a little time.  First, pick a matching or contrasting piece of fabric and cut into 3 inch wide strips.  These strips can be long or short.  They can even be made up of different colors of fabric if you don’t have enough of one color… For this quilt, I decided to cut a separate strip for each side of the quilt.  I did have enough of one fabric, so I cut each strip 3″ wide  and the length of the side I was cutting it for.. On the short ends I added  1/2 inch on each end to fold under and make the edge look neat.  Here’s how I did it…

By sewing smaller pieces of fabric together with edges at a 90° angle, the seam will not make a huge bump on the finished binding.  Place the two pieces together, right sides together, at a 90° angle and sew as shown above.  Trim the seam back to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch.  Straighten the fabric and press the seam one side.  Continue sewing your binding pieces together until there is binding for all 4 sides.

When your binding is complete, fold in half and press.  I did not get photos of the next step, but now you lay it out flat, fold the top to the center fold and bottom to the center and press.

You now have your binding.

Now back to the quilt.  Trim through all thicknesses of the quilt to straighten all edges of your quilt.

Lay out your binding on the BACK of your quilt with the seamline to be at the fold as shown in the photo.  I sewed each side separately, sewing the long sides first and having NO OVERHANG ON THE ENDS.  Then I sewed the short sides.  Before you start sewing, please see the photos coming up of how to pin your binding at the edges of the short side of the quilt.

Before you begin to sew, make sure you line up your binding edge with the edge of the quilt and pin it well.  Now you can sew the long sides.  The short sides, however, have fabric left over at each end.  This is to cover the raw edges of the binding left by the binding sewn on the long sides.  (I surely hope this makes sense..lol)   When you position your binding for the short sides, be sure to leave about 1/2 inch of fabric overlap on each end.  This fabric is folded over the edge of the quilt, pinned and will be sewn in that position.  Be sure to line up the fold lines on the back side with the fold lines on the right side.

Now sew the binding on, following the fold line as your seam line and continue to sew the folded end.

When this seam is sewn, turn the quilt over and fold the binding out with the corner turned to the front as shown in the photo.

Now fold over the first fold.

Now fold one more time and your binding is ready to be sewn in place.  Do this for each end of the short side binding and sew each  seam.  You’ll notice that I used a buttonhole stitch for the top seam of my binding.  This is only a personal preference.  You can sew it using a straight seam close to the edge of the binding… or use any stitch that you think would look nice.  If you want your stitches not to show on the top side, then use a needle and thread and hand sew it using a blind stitch.

And you are FINISHED!  These quilts can be made in a week-end.  All other quilts are just variations of this quilt.  The top can be sewn in squares that are pretty colors.  The blocks may be pieced to make pretty pattern, embroidered, appliqued,  pieced and cut to be resewn to make a completely different pattern… you can do whatever you want.  But all are still just a basic quilt and are finished the same way this quilt was made.

I hope you have fun making as many quilts as your heart desires.. ;o)

Basic Sandwich Quilt Tutorial… Part 2

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Now that I have my fabric picked out, the next step for some quilters is to wash the fabric.  Usually I don’t do this because I like the sizing that is in the new fabric to hold it a little more firmly than washed fabric.  If I am using old fabric or for some reason have to wash my fabric before quilting, I will iron it and use a spray sizing.

Cut your batting to the size of the piece of fabric that will be the top.  I have cut top fabric and batting to be about 1 1/2″ on each side smaller than the backing fabric.  The intention is to use the back fabric as the edging for the quilt. (btw..this did not work.. more later.. ;o)

The next step is to actually make the quilt sandwich.

Place one piece of fabric .. right side down… on a flat surface.  On top of that, place the batting that has been cut to the size of the top fabric.  On top of that, place the top fabric .. right side up.   If you will be wrapping the bottom fabric over the edges, make sure you leave approx.  2″ on each side of the bottom fabric for the overlap.

Pin evenly over the entire surface of the quilt… making sure that the top and bottom of the quilt are both smooth and even.   On a larger quilt,  I will baste with a needle and thread and begin in the center of the quilt and baste out toward the corners and center, then around the quilt.  This keeps the fabric from shifting as you quilt it whether you use pins or basting.

Now is the time for placement in a hoop, if that is what you prefer.  I have a large quilting hoop that I’ve had for years.  This is the first quilt that I have been able to use it comfortably!  Usually I just baste the quilt very well (or pin very well) and roll the ends under so I start working in the center of the quilt without using any kind of hoop.

I am using the cherries on this piece of fabric as my measurement, so I begin with a cherry on the right side of the fabric since I am right-handed.   I push the needle completely through top, batting and bottom and then come back up just like in the photo, leaving a tail of thread about 1 1/2 inches long.   Then I repeat the stitch in the same cherry and without cutting the thread, move over and do the same stitches in the next cherry.

As I go along making my stitches in the centers of the cherries, there is just enough thread when I cut it in the center to leave enough on each side to tie into a tight double knot.   Continue this sewing, cutting and tying the knot until the quilting is complete.

More tomorrow.. ;o)

The weather here in North Texas has been wonderful for the last few days.  My pansies are finally blooming and the sun has been shining.  Today up to 62° today.  Whether your weather is warm and sunny or cool and snowy, hope your day is a good one.. ;o)

 

 

ROC Day … and The Basic Sandwich Quilt … Tutorial Part 1

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Lest I forget… ROC Day or St. Distaff’s Day is on Saturday, January 7 this year.   My friend Pat from Confessions of a Fiber Enthusiast  and I will be spinning away at her house .. perhaps dyeing a little wool or even weaving a bit.  No matter.. it will be fun!  Leef fromApple Leef Farm in Van Alstyne, TX will be celebrating ROC Day on Saturday the 14th with a Pot Luck Lunch and all day fun… If you can get away that really is THE PLACE TO BE.. :o )  And, you ask, “What is ROC Day?”…

“In times past, January 7th, the first free day after the twelve of Christmas was known as St. Distaff’s Day. It had no connection whatsoever with any saint but its place in the folk calendar gives an indicator of the importance of spinning at a time when this was the only means of turning the raw wool, cotton or flax into thread capable of being woven into cloth. The day, which was also know as Rock Day (referring to another name for either the distaff or the spindle) indicated that this was the end of the Christmas festivities and the return to the normality of spinning whenever there was a spare moment. As Anthony Fitzherbert, wrote in his ‘Boke of Husbandrie’ (1523) ‘it stoppeth a gap…it saveth a woman from being idle, and the product was needful’.

Before the invention of the Spinning Wheel, spinning on what is known as the Drop Spindle (a pin or stick weighted by a whorl) was a slow and tedious task. The spinning of one pound of woollen yarn could take about one week and one pound of heavy cotton yarn several weeks to spin. The method had not changed since the earliest times. There are images from as far back as time of the Ancient Egyptians showing how the distaff was used to hang the flax or tow and the spindle to effect the twisting. The distaff was carried under the arm, and the spindle left dangling and turning in the fingers below, and forming an axis round which to wind parcels of the thread as soon as it was made.

Women of all classes would spin. Everyone from the Lady to the peasant was expected to spend time on the task, though the wealthier may have elaborate spindles. In the evening, after the chores of the day were done, there would be spinning, and the spindle would be taken to visit friends as the task could be undertaken at the same time as a conversation.

The woollen industry became in the Middle Ages, the major industry in the land with huge areas gaining there main income from sheep. It is said that many of the elaborate churches in East Anglia, such as those at Long Melford and Lavenham, were financed from the woollen industry. In the 14th century, Edward III commanded that the Lord Chancellor should sit on a sack of wool – a reminder of the importance of the trade, for not only had home consumption increase but there was now a thriving export market.

It was at about this time the spinning-wheels first started to appear, to replace the drop spindle. There are several depictions of women from this time using the spinning wheel – all show the woman standing at her work, moving the wheel with her right hand, while with her left she twirls the spindle. The introduction of this method speeded up the production of spun wool and the addition of the foot driven mechanism in the 1500s made even more of a difference.

Land use was also greatly affected by the wool trade. Many of the deserted villages that have left their mark on the English landscape, particularly in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire occurred as a result of whole communities being moved to make space for the grazing of sheep between the fourteenth and the seventeenth centuries. Spinning the wool became more important than ever and Distaff Day a crucial date in the calendar

But whereas women would recommence spinning on Distaff Day, the men did not return to the plough until after Plough Monday when their ploughs had been blessed. Robert Herrick in the seventeenth century collection of poems ‘Hesperides’ describes young people maids and ploughboys messing around at this time with the lads setting fire to the flax and in return, the maids soaking the men from the water-pails“

And now…

My sweet DH and I have very different thermostats… his is never cold and mine is always cold.. ;o)  As a result our separate sides of the king size bed show very different bedclothes.  His side….. bottom sheet, top sheet and if it is very cold one medium weight quilt/bedspread.   Mine… bottom sheet, top sheet, medium weight quilt/bedspread, another medium weight quilt (folded so he won’t smother on his side of the bed) and very often a large crocheted afghan.  So I’ve decided that in keeping with the idea of quilting… either Block of the Month or just How to make a quilt  I’ve decided to make a very simple quilt for the first project.

The Basic Sandwich Quilt

I have chosen my fabrics.  ($2.00/yd at WalMart.  This will be a twin/single bed size that I will use on my side of the bed… ;o)  It will be used and abused, washed and dried so I have not chosen expensive fabric that would be used to make an heirloom quilt.   I did pay attention to the pattern of the fabric.  This will be a tied quilt  as opposed to a quilted quilt.   The tied quilt goes together very quickly and easily.  The thread is stitched twice, cut and tied.  As you can see in the picture below, the pattern of the fabric is quite consistent with the cherries patterned into straight lines about 2 inches apart and the lines below almost making a square.   The fabric you decide to use does not have to have cherries.. ;o)  But see if you can find a piece that has a fairly easy to see design repeat.  It does not have to be 2 inches… it can be 3… but I would not use one with a distance between ties of greater than 4 inches.   If you prefer to use a solid fabric, the ties can be placed using a card spacer.

I will give you the supplies I used… but this easy quilt can be made any size you would like, from doll quilt size to California King.  This quilt is just to introduce you to the very basics of the quilting sandwich.

So if you would like to follow along and make yours with me the supplies needed will be:

Top fabric of your choice…..  2 yards  (Mine was 42″ wide)

Bottom fabric of your choice….  2 yards   (Mine was 42″ wide)

Batting  in the width of your fabric … 2 yards ……  You may not find batting exactly the width of your fabric, but you can cut it to fit very easily.  ( Very light quilts can be made with no batting…but it will not be very warm.. ;o)

Matching or contrast heavy thread  (I used crochet thread to match the cherries in color.)

Darning needle…  Mine is about 1 inch to an 1 1/2 ” long, sharp (not round tipped), and has an eye large enough for the crochet thread to go through.

Scissors

Optional:  Quilt frame or large embroidery hoop.  If you baste the pieces together really well, you can quilt it without the hoops.  I prefer stitch quilting without a hoop, but I find that tying is easier when the fabric is held with a more consistent tension.

More on this tomorrow.  Right now I’m off to bed.  Had a short 3 hour hospital stay “yesterday” for a lumbar epidural that we sincerely hope will help with back pain. And since I slept for quite a long time after we got home I suppose I should not be too surprised at posting this somewhere around 3am..;o)

Have a good day…;o)

Tomorrow Begins a New Year!

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What a busy time it’s been.  I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.   The Christmas season was a busy one and it’s always a joy to have son John home for the holiday.  Today I will finish taking down all the Christmas things.  Tomorrow begins that frustrating thing of trying to remember to change the year as we write the checks.. ;o)

I must show you … I can hardly wait… My Sweet DH  found this online, picked it out himself and absolutely made me jump with joy when I opened  it on Christmas day!

A Viking Ship Golding Spindle… took my breath away!

That fiber I’m spinning is called Panda.. a blend of wool/silk/bamboo.  And does this spindle spin like a dream!

Now… that jacket that I said I would make… Well, I did make it that very day!  And here it is….

I love it… It’s just warm enough for all those “almost winter” days that we have here in North Texas.  I can wear this 90% of the time.  I love it!  Quite easy to make.  When I make another one… and I will make another one… I will do hand stitching around the inner edging since it’s difficult for me to “stitch in the ditch” and catch the bottom layer of fabric and make it look good… hmmm   Anyway.. I would definitely recommend this pattern for a quick and easy light jacket.. ;o)

After making this, the sewing machine bug grabbed hold of me, shook really hard and then refused to let go.   So I bought a pants pattern, some fabric and elastic and got with it!  Duh… phooey…bleehhhh…  Since I am truly pear-shaped and measured quite accurately…got the pattern that the measurements called for.. cut the pattern according to said measurements… I was truly disgusted when I found that the said pants looked like I had used Downey on a stovepipe and was trying to wear it… ;o(    So… not one to give up easily.. I cut up a pair of pants that I knew fit me well… drew the pieces off onto muslin with a pencil allowing for a 5/8″ hem and tried again..  Now this time was better but I was trying to use the same fabric from the previous pants… Let’s just say that it didn’t REALLY work…

I have given up… and ordered this book…  How to Make Sewing Patterns by Donald H. McGunn.  It should arrive sometime around the 6th of January.  I’ll let you know how this all turns out… ;o)

Would you like to do some small Block of the Month Quilts ?   I’m thinking this would be a good way for me to grow comfortable with some of the easier quilt block patterns.  What do you think?

Well.. must go.  I hope  your holidays have all been wonderful.  And that your endeavors throughout the coming New Year will all be successful!  ;o)

 

How NOT To Do It…. ;o/

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I have been downloading audio books for a while now and have several that I need to figure out some way to store.  I think everyone has been thru the old “OH NO! My computer crashed and all my stuff is gone!!” … Well, my pc didn’t crash but I was stupid enough to tell a pc tech that all I wanted was a new set of windows… duh… There went everything.  All my programs had to be re-bought, my games were gone and the ABSOLUTE WORSE.. ALL MY PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS WERE GONE!

Well, I try to keep hard copies, but I also want them to be safe and unscathed.. Soooo..

I thought.. how cool would it be to have a little quilted book that opens up and holds all my cds for one book… Make several.. have one for every book… GREAT IDEA!

Ummm .. maybe not like this..

While this one will work.. if you pick it up with the strings at the top untied you will have a real waterfall of cds.. ;o(

While at Office Depot doing some errands, I came across some plastic cd covers that have a little flap on the side that can be used to either sew them together or punch holes and bind them together for another kind of little book..

Guess what I’ll be doing today???? ;o)

Hope you’re all staying warm out there today.

Tea Wallet .. Free Pattern at Is It Nap Time Yet?

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I have lost my tea wallet!!!   spfttt**##@fftt  smahsh splatt bang  shhhplt!!!

Yes, I’m having a tantrum..;o(

I really DO NOT like the coffee at our Golden Corral so I always take my tea wallet with me and just get a cup of hot water..

I made my tea wallet almost 3 years ago using the tutorial at Christie’s Creations.  She has since changed the name of her blog to Is it Naptime Yet?  but the wonderful tutorials she has are still there and still great.

 

I was in a bit of a panic.. Wonder if that tute is still there?  What if I can’t find it?   ( O Woe Is Me!!)  But it is still there.. ;o)  And it’s still called Tea Wallet Tutorial.  Now that I have ransomed my sewing machines from the shop where it cost $60.00 apiece to have them cleaned and oiled, this will be the first thing made.. today.. ;o)

I hope your preparations for the Christmas Holiday are going well.. This little easy project might just be great for a gift or stocking stuffer… hmmm.

Hugs… Linda    btw… these pics are of the one I made for my cousin back in 2009.. sigh

One Million Hits.. How Can I Ever Thank You? !

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A SALUTE TO YOU!

Sometime this evening or late tonight, this blog will have its ONE MILLIONth hit.  I have to say that I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all of you who have visited over the nearly 5 years I have been blogging here.  You have made all of the early morning, bleary eyed typing worth every minute.. ;o)

December 16, 2006 was the very first post on Fabric Follies Two.  Make Your Own Miniature Trees … This post was the first one carried over from my original blog Fabric Follies .  That one   was also a delight for me.  At the time of the change, I was very close to the limit for pictures that WordPress allowed, hence the new Fabric Follies Two.

How to say “Thank You!”..??

I have decided to put the names of everyone who comments between now and Tuesday the 29th of November  into a hat, have my husband draw 3 names out and each will receive a Secret Surprise Gift… but just so it’s not too big a secret, I will post a picture or two in a few days.. ;o)

Thanksgiving is almost upon us.  And what a wonderful time to be thankful for the joy you have brought me.  Thank you.

From our house to your house, may your Thanksgiving be filled with warmth and comfort.

 

 

Sunbonnet Sue Bonanza! And a wonderful lady in the bargain.. ;o)

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I’m a Sunbonnet Sue fan even tho I’ve never made a Sunbonnet Sue quilt.  And every time I go to Healing Heart and Hands,  I make myself a new promise to do just that.. make myself one.  Not only are there over 2,500  quilt patterns here, the site belongs to a lovely lady named   Michele Bilyeu.   Michele is very active with charity quilting.. especially the The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative … but here’s the site where she can tell you herself.. ;o)

You will find hundreds of patterns and links to patterns besides Sunbonnet Sues.   And then there’s the Liberated Quilting…  If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry.  I didn’t either..lol  However, I find that I like the idea.  It’s much like Crazy Quilting in that there seem to be no rules.  Sort of.  ;o)

Grab a cup, lean back and browse through the hundreds of patterns here.  And don’t forget to leave a note and tell Michele thanks for all the kindness..

Have a wonderful day.  ;o)

Cable Needle Ring… Tute (I love mine!)

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This is another of those things that I found online several years ago. I made one and let it set in my knitting box for years.  I cannot tell you where I found because I really don’t remember.  If you have any idea who came up with this wonderful idea I would love to know and give them the credit they deserve.

I’ve used cotton yarns to knit dish cloths and face cloths for my nightly knitting to the point that I have about 30 stacked away in drawers.  I do love the plain garter stitch ones to use as face cloths.  They are so soft on my skin that I seldom use anything else.  However, there are only so many plain garter stitch ones a person really wants to do.. ;o/   I decided that these wonderful small projects would be good to try new things… hence the cables.  After losing my cable needle a of couple times down the side of my chair, I decided to dig out this little ring and see if it works.

I love it.  No more fear of cables.  Just wish I had pulled it out sooner.   The picture above shows how the ring is used.  Very practical and easy.

The picture on the left shows the finished dish cloth.  The beginning of the cloth is at the bottom.  This is the practice for  making the cables front to back.  The upper part of the cloth is practice making the cables front only.  I can’t believe how much this little ring made a difference in how I feel about knitting cables.

Making one is as easy as measuring your finger.  Mine is 2 ½ inches around.  I wanted the ring to  ½” across.  Here’s what I did.

1.  I cut a strip of fabric (I used cotton) about 2 ½” long by 1 ¾” wide.  This time I used fabric ribbon.  The selvages are tight and it’s woven closely.  The grosgrain ribbon would make a good ring, but for the purpose of this tute it didn’t work out very well.. ;o)

2 I folded the cut piece in half lengthwise and pressed it with my iron.

3. I opened it back out flat and then I folded the edges back to the fold line in the middle and pressed each side.

4.  For this ring, I used regular sewing thread to make my cord for the buttonhole.  Crochet thread, yarn or any other cord of the right size would also work for this.  I sewed the two ends of the cord together, placed them to the inside of the folded ring and sewed it very well to the end of the ring fabric.  Then I continued to sew along the end, the side and the other end to completely sew the ring together.  I did this with a needle and thread (please don’t look closely at the stitches..lol) because it seems the electric cord and foot pedal for my sewing machines decided to stay behind.. I guess they just didn’t want to leave!  This is much faster with a sewing machine.. ;o)

5.  Now I placed the ring around the finger that I wanted to use it with to decide the button placement.  I marked where I wanted the button with a pen.

6.  By sliding the needle with the thread still connected through the center of the fabric ring and coming out again at the mark I made for sizing, I continued bye sewing on the button with no cutting of my thread.  This step you may want to do differently.  You can certainly fasten your thread firmly, cut it and then come back to the mark to place your button.  Either way, the button needs to be very securely sewn on.  Voila’…

You now have a Cable Needle Ring…

If you decide to make one of these, please let me know.  It would be nice to see if anyone else finds these as useful as I do.. ;o)

Have a wonderful day.  The sun is shining here in North Texas and temps are in the low 50s.  Still not too bad for this time of year.   Thanksgiving is coming up soon and here’s wishes for everyone to have a lovely day with family and/or friends.. ;o)

Cross Stitch Fan? … Free Patterns

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I receive the email newsletter from the e-magazine  Cross-Stitching.com .   This is a great site for anyone who enjoys cross stitching and wants to keep up with what’s happening in the cross stitching community.  I’m always on the lookout for free patterns and believe me… they have some really wonderful ones.

This sampler is one I did for my son and his partner for Christmas one year.  It combines a verse from a card that I received in the mail and several small free patterns that were found in different places.

Let me say here that I am in no way associated with this e-mag.. ;o)   But I really do enjoy getting their newsletter and visiting their site.

Hope you day is filled with fun things to do..