* inspiration
* encouragement
* motivation
* ideas
* problem solving
* friendship
* focus
* determination
* generosity
* control
* fun
* excitment
* recognition
* anticipation
* going outside the box
* learning new techniques
and on and on
* encouragement
* motivation
* ideas
* problem solving
* friendship
* focus
* determination
* generosity
* control
* fun
* excitment
* recognition
* anticipation
* going outside the box
* learning new techniques
and on and on
As a token of thanks and to give back to the quilting blog community I am having a giveaway. I will be giving away a set Perfect Pouches (my version) and a couple of fat quarters too!I would like to hear from you, your friends and family too, let them know about my giveaway. All that I ask of you is that you leave me a comment with your best quilting tip: the kind of tip you wish someone had shown or told you sooner or one that makes the process of quilting quicker/easier, or the quilting tool/notion you just can't live without. I will in turn compile all these tips and tricks into a document and send them out via email to all that enter.
1. leave a comment with your quick tip, email address and where you live
3. tell your blogging friends
4. open to international friends
5. if you want, join me by following my blog
but most of all where ever you are or whatever you are doing I hope you have a smile on your face! Have an awesome day and I hope you get lots of sewing in! Giveaway will close on Thursday Feb 4th at 11pm (MST)
My quick tip is from Eleanor Burns. I learned it last year when I was making my husband's Irish Chain quilt and I wished I had learned it years earlier. She said after you maked the chain blocks to measure how wide they were. Then cut the plain blocks to fit that measurement. That way the seams would match up, rather than cutting everything beforehand to the pattern measurements and not have everything match. Okay, maybe that is not a quick tip. It has helped me in everything I have done since then, and I have also used the tip as well to change patterns to suit the size I want. Feel free to edit this however you want. I do have a smile on my face and I took today off to sew. Congratulations on your 100th post! I love reading your blog. Keep up the quilting!
ReplyDeleteLovely zippered pouches Lee - I actually just picked that pattern up last weekend so I am looking forward to making a few of them. Anyways, one of my favourite tools is for making half square triangles it is called the "Quilter's Magic Wand" it is a half inch piece of see thru plastic with a 1/4" line marking the centre and you line that up with your triangle corners and draw lines on either side for stitching then just cut the triangles apart between the lines. I know that many people just mark the centre line and then stitch on either side but I find this way to be very accurate.
ReplyDeleteHi Lee, I just recently started following your Blog and love it! I am also in Alberta, just outside Edmonton.
ReplyDeleteMy tip that I have to share is to use Clothespins as row markers. I took a dozen clothespins and wrote 1-12 on them with a black sharpie. Then when I need to mark rows I just clip a clothespin onto the end block of the row and no more mixing my rows up as I sew.
The tool that I have just recently purchased and can't believe how I quilted without it is the Gypsy Gripper. It helps hold down your large rulers so they don't slip as you are cutting. I have a picture of it on my Blog
http://scrapsofthisandthat.blogspot.com
Love the little pouches!
I love my spray baster! I can't believe people use pins and/or thread to baste... I can't live without it :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I just wish it was cheaper... I use 505 adhesive... anyone know a cheaper alternative?
Hi Lee,
ReplyDeleteHmm. I'd have to say that leap frog chain piecing blocks when you're sewing your rows together was a big help. Here's a link
http://books.google.com/books?id=J6FI-VdwzTcC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=leap+frog+modern+quilt+workshop&source=bl&ots=3KsJGoRx6l&sig=GOZKr2dd0eyZvloJNk6vCq4XJCQ&hl=en&ei=wMmtSbunGYm4sAPsk4DHDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Love those perfect pouches - I have the pattern now, but haven't made them yet. The fabric you chose is so pretty!
Love following your blog - it's great to have fellow Albertans with the same interest!
Congrats on your 100th. I like to make a sample block before making a quilt. That way I know if the instructions need tweaking or not.
ReplyDeleteHi Lee, Love reading a Canadian blog (as I live in Ottawa). Found it the other day and have read "backwards". Sometimes finding co-ordinating fabric for a quilt is difficult here as shops don't cary so many designer sets as in the US shops probably due to cost, so I found this post for a fantastic tip that I saw a while ago and use even if you do get some pretty funny looks -- using a peephole made for a door to see the fabrics "at a distance". Sounds strange, but works. The other day when reading one of my favourite blogs, Blackbird Designs (love their quilts and have done many many many of their cross stitch patterns), I read again about this technique. They also explain colour value well. Read the Jan 1/2010 post and the many comments. http://blackbird-designs.blogspot.com/ Congratulations on your 100th post. I don't have a blog but enjoy reading those of others. loriryan@rogers.com
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 100th post Lee!
ReplyDeleteMy eye-opener won’t be something you will benefit from. My quilting changed the day I decided to work with inches in stead of cm. All the calculating I did before was something that got me crazy!
My favourite tools are the seam-ripper and the needle threader!
My favourite discovered technique is chain-piecing!
Hi Lee,
ReplyDeleteI just started reading your blog and it looks like I have good timing ;)
I recently learned how to tie off a too-short thread by inserting the eye of the needle back through the loop, instead of the point. (I hope that makes sense). It's such a lifesaver when you realize you didn't leave yourself enough extra thread at the end of a stitching session!
I just stumbled upon your blog through the Winter Swap with the Quilting Bloggers! I can't WAIT to find out who my swap partner is so I can start making the project!!! You have a beautiful blog!!! I too have to agree, I just love reaading other quilter's blogs. They open the world to creativity to a whole new level! What talented and inspirational men and women are out there!!!
ReplyDeletePlease add me to your giveaway!!!! Once I am home (as I'm commenting here at work this morning while having a slice of toast and a coffee). I am unable to add blog url links from this computer (sigh.....IT crew just don't make it easy for us peons)!!!
Quiltingly Yours
Andrea
Congrats Lee with your 100th post. Sorry, i misted your giveaway!
ReplyDelete