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Editing Quilt Photos with your iPhone or iPad camera.

I just love it when customers snap a photo of their finished Applique Quilt to share with me! I am working on building an online gallery for the website and I’d love to include your photos!

Last week, we talked about hanging your quilts for photography to avoid heads, hands and feet in the photo. This week we have another typical problem, skewed photos. But by laying the photo on the floor, it was difficult to get the camera right over the on the center of the quilt. The good news is, by using natural sunlight the color of the quilts do not need to be adjusted.

In the Red Frames quilt on the left, the quilt is skewed vertically by standing at the bottom of the quilt and snapping a photo. I’ll need to remove the deck boards, chairs and planters from the finished photo.

In the unfinished Eve’s Garden quilt on the right, the quilt is skewed horizontally by standing too far to the left of the center of the quilt. Since this quilt is unfinished, I’ll need to also crop the photo to make it look like I have squared up the edges and finished the quilt! So let’s get these skewed photos adjusted and ready to send to friends on social media or in an e-mail!

Photo one, select photo and edit

Photo Two: rotate and crop the photo

Photo three: fix vertical skew and crop

Step 1 (photo one): Select the photo you want to fix and press the blue EDIT tab in the bottom tool bar.

Step 2 (photo 2): Choose the crop and rotate tool that is the third icon on the right on the bottom tool bar.

Step 3 (photo 3): Choose the middle icon (just under the photo) to fix the vertical skew and slide the bar right or left to square up the edges. If the skew is horizontal, choose the third icon on the right. On that same screen, drag the white corners to crop the quilt to it’s finished size. The first icon is to twist or turn the quilt between zero and 90 degrees. If you need to flip the photo (mirror image) use the icon on the top left. If you need to rotate the photo 90 degrees use the top icon on the right.

With a few edits, I can remove the deck boards in need of repainting, square-up the finished quilt and crop the unfinished quilt so it looks complete…and I can do it all within the phone app.

Give it a go this weekend: Take a few quilt photos and play with the edit feature, then send me your photos! If you need a little more help to do this yourself, meet me on Facebook LIVE on Monday, August at 11 am EST and I will show you live how I edited the Red Frames Quilt and how to send it by e-mail once you have the perfect photo like the ones below!

RedWork Frames Quilt by Sue Pelland and Elaine Nadeau

Wool Eve’s Garden by Elaine Nadeau

See you there! ~Sue

The Most Common ZOOM Problems and How to Correct Them

I found this great article yesterday and wanted to share it with all of you. Quilter’s all over the world are connecting through ZOOM, Social Media, Podcasts and other forms of technology. The hard part is that technology doesn’t come as easy to some quilters as it does to others. I am one of those techno-phobic people who has been dragged kicking and screaming in to this new age of technology.

The most common zoom problems and how to fix them.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/common-problems-with-zoom-and-how-to-fix-them/

Thread choice for Fusible Applique

One of the most frequently asked questions I get from students is, “What thread do you like to use for fusible applique?” The answer is a simple. I like to use thread that matches the fabric. What kind of thread? Well, that gets a little more complicated.

Some people like thread that blends perfectly with your applique fabric. To do this, you will need a huge assortment of colors. Pick your favorite brand and your favorite weight, and start investing. I love Aurifil thread 50 weight for applique. When you get the exact color of your fabric, the applique stitch practically disappears. Getting every color imaginable gets expensive, however.

There are times when I prefer the 30 weight thread to really build up along the edge of the applique and “finish” the raw edges. 30 weight Aurifil thread sew beautifully in my machine and highlights the applique edges. This is especailly nice when using a variety of decorative machine stitches. In this case we are not looking for the thread to blend, but to stand out boldly in texture and even in color. Think of applique motifs from the 1930s with black hand stitching. You can get a similar look with machine stitching with 30 weight thread.

Other times, I want my applique stitch to completely disappear, and I will reach for 80 weight Aurifil, or 100 weight Invisifil by Wonderfil. Invisifil has a distinct advantage: Invisifil is so very fine, the polyester thread takes on the color of the surrounding applique fabric. A rather narrow range of thread colors can be used on a huge range of fabric colors.

If you have ever taken a workshop with me, you know that I am a huge fan of variegated thread for buttonhole stitching, satin stitching, zig zag stitching and couching. I just love the way that the variegated threads have such a nice blend of colors in them. There are a bunch of brands out there, and I collect them all. Superior’s King Tut line, Sulky blendables and YLI variegated Machine Quilting thread all work well. Wonderfil has a lovely line called Tutti. All of these threads work great for machine applique and double as machine quilting threads. Mint Chocolate Challenge

To me, it is all about the color combinations. Depending on the variety of fabrics in my applique quilt, I often can find one variegated thread that brings all the colors together, eliminating the need to change threads with every applique fabric.

My favorite brand of Variegated threads are Wonderfil Tutti threads. These are a little harder to find than the other brands, so I have decided to start carrying them in my shop to serve my customers better, especially those that are taking Zoom workshops online with me.

When I make a quilt such as Mint Chocolate, I use a wide variety of green fabrics. Changing threads between light, medium and dark green fabrics takes time, and I wouldn’t like to see different threads in this type of quilt.

So I used the Wonderfil Tutti 50 weight Egyptian cotton thread in Evergreen, which has all shades of green and even a bit of teal. I have to say, I’m pretty obsessed with this color way!

Most of my quilts have green leaves somewhere on there! This thread is perfect for my leafy, viney, gardeny quilts!

I thought that Rock (TU-36) was the perfect choice for this Tiles Table Runner quilt. The table runner has all shades of brown, navy, white, beige and Burgundy. Rock blends well with every color and again, I was able to use one thread throughout the quilt.

I have added the full line of Wonderfil Tutti Variegated threads to our website shop. I have also ordered the color charts that are actual thread, not a printed picture of the thread. You can find all the threads and the color chart here.

What thread do I use in my bobboin?

I don’t like to use variegated thread in my bobbin. The colors never match up top to bobbin anyway, so why waste that beautiful thread? Instead, I use Decobob bobbin thread by Wonderfil. This Cottonized Polyester thread is 80 weight (so you can wind a huge amount on your bobbin) but it pairs well with a 50 weight thread on top. Don’t ask me how, but Wonderfil has developed this thread to match the tension of a 50 weight cotton top thread. Wonderfil offers pre-wound bobbins of Decobob in neutral colors (I carry a medium gray) and in an assortment of all colors in one sampler pack.

Official Bobbin Guide: Find the bobbin that fits your machine

All machines are not created equal. Bobbins come in three sizes (two for domestic machines, class 15 and L) and one for long-arm machines (M-Class). To find the pre-wound bobbin size that is right for your machine, use the Official Bobbin Reference Guide you can find here: Official+Bobbin+Guide

Using Wonderfil Vareigated threads and Decobob bobbins takes all the work out of changing colors for applique! Use a neutral gray in your bobbin, and a variegated thread on the top and enjoy stitching applique again!

What is Rotary Cut Applique?

Rotary Cut Applique makes applique easier!

Do you want to make applique shapes 12 times faster than tracing, and cutting with scissors?!!

Since you can cut simple curved shapes with a rotary cutter and you can cut four layers at a time, all you need is a tool to help you accurately cut appliqué shapes. We have these amazing tools!

Leaves Galore Templates help you cut 5 appliqué shapes in 6 different sizes!

Hearts and More templates cut a additional 9 applique shapes in 8 different sizes!

We want everyone who loves applique to discover this fast, fusible and fun method of applique.

The Leaves Galore templates come in three sizes, and there are two curves on each tool.
Leaves Galore help you cut 5 applique shapes in 6 different sizes .

The Petite template cuts 2 1/2″ and 5″ curves.

The Norme template cuts 3″ and 6″ curves.

The Grande template cuts 4″ and 8″ curves.

When you have all three templates you have 30 applique shapes and sizes…you can use the templates to mark quilting lines, and use them to make serpentine and scalloped edges on your quilts.

Hearts & More template come as a set of four templates.
Hearts & More help you cut 9 additional applique shapes in 8 different sizes!

Hearts & More set of four

When you have the full set of all seven rotary cutting tools,
you can make any quilt in our patterns, books, and online workshops.

We sell the templates by themselves,
or in packages that have everything you need to get started in one bundle!

The Basic Package has all seven templates and two packages of standard (round clear) True Grips to keep your tools from slipping when you cut.

The Standard Package has all seven templates, Hearts and Leaves True Grips, A Quilter’s Chalk Line and the Two books.

The Deluxe bundle has All Seven Templates, Hearts and Leaves True Grips, the Two Books, a Quilter’s Chalk Line, a Chalk Wheel, a Large Package of Mistyfuse, a Fat Goddess Sheet, a 28mm Olfa Quick-Change Rotary Cutter, and a pack of 2 new Olfa 28mm blades!

Click here to find out more!

Future Workshops for “Ahead of the Curve” Members

Sue has some great plans up her sleeve for “Ahead of the Curve” members. Check out the list of future workshops and weigh in on which workshops you would like Sue to schedule next.

The workshop ideas come from a variety of sources. Some are Sue’s original patterns that are not yet in a book or pattern (N). Many of the quilts are in Sue’s books (B) and printed patterns (P). A few are free patterns on the website, that offer valuable techniques (FP). There are small projects (Gifts to make) and a wide variety of quilt sizes. Some workshops are simply techniques…you never have to make a quilt to play with the technique in the live, interactive class.

There is something for everyone on the list!

Check out Future ZOOM WORKSHOPS here.

Workshop schedule for “Ahead of the Curve” Membership

Ahead of the Curve members have a choice of three or more workshops each month. Sue has a wide variety of workshops that are ready to be scheduled. Here is the schedule that Sue and Penny have put together so far from now until December 2020

UPCOMING ZOOM WORKSHOPS 2020

FAQ about Live Zoom Online Workshops

Do you have questions about joining a Zoom Live Workshop? Are you ready to give it a try, but have a few reservations? Check out the FAQ on Live Zoom Online Workshops here.

Why Fabric Preparation Matters

Enough Love to Go Around

I know from experience the heartbreak of having fabrics bleed in a quilt. This quilt is now in the rag bag, after it bled when I blocked it. As soon as I saw the bleeding, I put the quilt back in the washer, and tried to remove the pink dye in the white background, which made it worse. I overreacted and added bleach to the wash which ruined the black and white background fabrics. At that time I didn’t know about DAWN and how it can save your quilts that bleed! I will never make this mistake again, because I have vowed to wash all my fabrics before making a quilt!

When students ask the question,

Q: Should I wash my fabrics before making a quilt?

Here is my simple answer.

A: Absolutely. I am a huge proponent of washing all fabrics in your quilt. I highly recommend that you wash your fabric first before putting all the time and effort into making a fused applique quilt.

But the answer is not so simple after all. There are a whole bunch of factors that went into making the decision to never make another quilt without washing the fabric first. Here is the LONG version of that very short answer!

Washing fabric is a necessary step to make top quality quilts that will have fewer issues in the future! There are four reasons to wash your fabric before using it in a quilt. Skin Sensitivity, Shrinkage, Color Fastness, Bonding Ability.

Fabric from the fabric store contains finishing chemicals that are not durable. That means the chemicals (softeners, hand modifiers, crease resistant finishes, glazes) wash off the first time you wash the fabric or the quilt made with these fabrics.

It is best to remove these chemicals before making your quilts. Not only do you want to remove chemicals that might irritate your skin, you want to remove these finishing chemicals that will interfere with the Fusible Webs that we use for fusible applique. Even for pieced quilts I wash my fabric first. Washing and Drying also removes shrinkage. Some fabrics shrink up to 5%. Some don’t shrink that much. Differential shrinkage can cause puckering in perfectly flat seams once your quilts are washed.

Fusible webs are made to bond together two layers of fabric. The heat sensitive glue is made to grab onto the cotton fibers of the top and bottom fabrics and bond them together chemically. The bond will not be as strong when you are bonding two layers of finishing chemicals together. Remember the finishing chemicals will wash off in your first wash, leaving no bond between the fibers. You need to remove the chemicals, expose and fluff the cotton fibers, then bond with the fusible web.

Washing Fabric in the washing machine: I wash all my fabrics first thing when I return from a shop or when I get fabrics in the mail. After I shop I drop the fabrics in the laundry room which is right inside my front door (see notes on fraying below).

All new fabric goes in with the regular wash unless it is a dark color and I suspect it will run.

Washing fabric in the sink: If I think it the fabric may run, I swish the fabric in my bathroom sink (the sink is white) so it helps to see if the fabric is a bleeder. If it is, I soak the fabric in hot water with a tablespoon of DAWN dishwashing detergent. The Dawn surrounds the dye molecules so they do no redeposit on other fabrics or on the white portion of printed fabrics.

Drying Fabric in the Clothes Dryer: Dry fabric in the dryer until it is just damp. Iron when damp to remove wrinkles. Fold and trim edges (see notes on fraying below).

The heat of the dryer will make the fabric shrink. This is a good thing! Get rid of the shrinkage before it causes puckering in your quilt seams.

Reduce fraying and a jumble of tangled strings in the washing machine and dryer:

There are two ways I reduce fraying and strings. When washing fat quarters or small pieces, I cut a diagonal snip off all four corners.

If I am doing yardage or longer narrow pieces (WOF) then I make ¼” snips along all raw edges about every 8” to 12” before washing. This works great! After washing and pressing, I fold the fabric and trim off the fuzzy edges and the ¼” snips. This makes it look like it was never washed, so it is hard to keep track of what is washed and what is not washed. That is why I wash everything before it goes into my sewing room!

Washing Precuts: I rarely use precuts because it is almost impossible to wash them. When using Jelly rolls for quilt such as Desert Flowers (bonus quilt for Hope’s Diamond) I sew together the Jelly Roll first, then I wash the quilt top. Trim the edges, and you are ready to applique!

Washing Quilts: Quilts can be washed in the washing machine and dried in the clothes drier if all fabrics have been washed before making the quilt. If you suspect that the fabrics were not washed or that they will run, The DAWN soak also works for quilts. Lay a clean sheet in your bathtub and keep track of the four corners. Put the quilt on top of the sheet. For quilts that will not bleed, simply soak in the bathtub with warm water and a mild detergent such as Ivory flakes.

If a quilt has a fabric that is has bled, soak quilts in the bathtub with very hot water and a couple tablespoons of DAWN. Keep fully submerged by putting something heavy on the quilt. Use dishes, gallon water jugs, anything that will weigh down the quilt to keep it fully submerged.

Rinse the quilt well until water runs clear. Grab all four corners of the sheet gathering the clean quilt into a ball and gently press out excess liquid. Go out to the yard and spin the quilt around by holding the four corners of the sheet and swing the quilt in a circle to express as much water as possible.

Dry quilts flat on a grassy area of your yard. Lay out a clean sheet first, then the quilt, then another clean sheet on top. Weigh down the corners with clean stones or mugs. Turn the quilt to completely dry. The sheets will keep the quilt clean (just in case a bird flies overhead!) and will prevent fading in the sun.

Old quilts can be soaked in Retro Clean before drying in the same manner. Follow the instructions on the Retro Clean package.

Let’s do a jig…a Hex-a-ma-jig!

One of my favorite types of quilts is a pieced quilt with applique accents. It doesn’t take much applique to make a project special! Today’s tip is about using the Hex-a-ma-jig ruler to make a half hexie background for the Season’s Greetings Wall Quilt. I taught this class yesterday and I found out some really cool things about using the Hex-a-ma-jig ruler!

Hexie

The ruler can make full hexies, half hexies, diamonds, 60 degree triangles and even Tumbling Blocks! The Hex-a-ma-jig tool works perfectly on 3 1/2″ strips and you can find it here on our website.. The Hex-a-ma-jig Junior works with 2 1/2″ wide strips and JellyRolls. Debbie Wendt invented these two fabulous tools, complete with great instructions both on the tool itself and in the booklet that comes with the tools.

I used 3 1/2″ strips and quickly and accurately cut half hexies and 60 degree triangles. The half hexies are assembled as rows, which makes the assembly super simple! When you assemble the rows, you will have right facing rows and left facing rows that come together to make full hexagons (Use Deb’s instructions or the instructions inside the Season’s Greetings Pattern). When you press the seams, make sure each row is pressed in opposite directions. You will have opposing seams and beautiful intersections as your half hexies come together. At the end of each row we used triangles to complete the zig-zag edge making the Season’s Greetings banner very unique!

This technique can be used for Season’s Greetings, or design your own applique wreath for the banner. Use standard leaves and add fresh spring blooms…you can even add a couple of critters! Use your imagination and your own design eye to adapt the techniques presented in our patterns to suit your own design style!

Season's Greetings

To learn more about Deb Wendt and the Hexie rulers, visit her facebook page and watch the Hex-a-ma-jig video here!

Quilt Candy Designer’s Tips and Techniques LIVE on FB and Instagram

If you enjoyed last month’s Quilt Candy Designer’s trunk show, you are going to love this week’s Quilt Candy Designer’s Tips and Techniques, Live on Facebook and Instagram!

Here is the complete schedule of events.

Facebook Schedule:

May 5
May 5 12pm ET Cherry Guidry – launch https://www.facebook.com/CherryBlossomsQuiltingStudio

May 5 12:30pm ET Janellea Macbeth www.facebook.com/scrapstashticquilts/

May 5 1pm ET                     Jen Frost               https://www.facebook.com/faithandfabric
May 5 2pm ET                     Teresa Weaver   https://www.facebook.com/yoursewingfriend
May 5 2:30pm ET                               Jo Westfoot – The Crafty Nomad    Jo Westfoot – The Crafty Nomad                https://www.facebook.com/thecraftynomad/
May 5 3pm ET                     Becca Fenstermaker (Pretty Piney Quilts)   https://facebook.com/prettypiney
May 5 4pm ET                     Michelle Renee Hiatt        https://www.facebook.com/sewonthego.net/
May 5 4:30pm ET                               Margaret Willingham-Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design                https://www.facebook.com/EyeoftheBeholderQuilt/
May 5 5pm ET                     Marlene Oddie    https://www.facebook.com/kissedquilts
May 5 5:30pm ET                               Annie Unrein        https://www.facebook.com/patternsbyannie/
May 5 6pm ET                     Leanne Parsons https://www.facebook.com/devotedquilterdesigns
May 5 7pm ET                     Jennifer Fulton    https://www.facebook.com/inquiringquilter/

May 5 7:30pm ET Reed Johnson https://www.facebook.com/bluebearquilts/
May 5 8pm ET Tammy Silvers – launch https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/

May 6
May 6 12pm ET                   Sue Pelland           https://www.facebook.com/suepellanddesigns
May 6 1pm ET                     Annette Ornelas https://www.facebook.com/southwind.designs/
May 6 2pm ET                     Kate Colleran       https://www.facebook.com/SeamsLikeaDreamQuilts/
May 6 3pm ET                     Melissa Marginet               https://www.facebook.com/melissa.marginet.quilter/
May 6 4pm ET                     Jackie Kunkel       https://www.facebook.com/cantonvillagequiltworks/
May 6 5pm ET
May 6 5:30pm ET              Melissa Merriman Harr    https://www.facebook.com/toadallyquilts/

May 6 6pm ET                     Laura Piland         https://www.facebook.com/sliceofpiquilts/
May 6 7pm ET                     Terri Vanden Bosch           https://www.facebook.com/lizardcreekquilting/
May 6 7:30pm ET                               Swan Sheridan     https://www.facebook.com/swanamitystudios
May 6 8pm ET                     Annie Smith          https://www.facebook.com/anniesmithqs

May 7
May 7 12pm ET                   Lynn Kane, Puppy Girl        https://www.facebook.com/puppygirllynn
May 7 1pm ET                     Cristy Fincher      https://www.facebook.com/PurpleDaisiesQuilting/
May 7 2pm ET                     Debbie Wendt     https://www.facebook.com/Wendt-Quilting-280123925340667/
May 7 3pm ET                     Shelley Cavanna, Coras Quilts        https://www.facebook.com/CorasQuilts/
May 7 4pm ET                     Monique Kleinhans, Ladybug’s Cabin            https://www.facebook.com/ladybugscabin/
May 7 5pm ET                     Heidi Pridemore https://www.facebook.com/heidipridemorewhimsicalworkshop
May 7 6pm ET                     Jerry Stube, Jerry Stube Designs    https://www.facebook.com/TheQuiltersQuarters/
May 7 7pm ET                     Simone Fisher, Simone Quilts          https://www.facebook.com/SimoneQuilts
May 7 8pm ET                     Nicole Moore, Sew Much Moore   https://facebook.com/SewMuchMooreInStore/

May 8
May 8 12pm ET                   Becky Campbell https://www.facebook.com/sewforeverquiltingbybeckycampbell/
May 8 1pm ET                     Tina Dillard – Quilting Affection Designs       https://www.facebook.com/quiltingaffectiondesigns 9
May 8 2pm ET                     Beth Helfter – EvaPaige Quilt Designs          https://www.facebook.com/EvaPaigeQuiltDesigns
May 8 3pm ET                     Sherri Noel – Rebecca Mae Designs              https://www.facebook.com/rebeccamaedesigns/
May 8 4pm ET                     Kathleen McCormick – Kathleen McMusing                https://www.facebook.com/kathleenmcmusing
May 8 5pm ET                     On Williams Street – Kimie and Missy           https://www.facebook.com/onwilliamsstreet
May 8 6pm ET                     Andi Stanfield – True Blue Quilts     https://facebook.com/Anditruebluequilts
May 8 7pm ET                     Nancy Scott – Masterpiece Quilting               http://www.facebook.com/MasterpieceQ
May 8 8pm ET                     Lisa Ruble             https://www.facebook.com/LoveToColorMyWorld/

May 9
May 9 12pm ET                   Sherry Shish         https://www.facebook.com/poweredbyquilting
May 9 1pm ET                     Cristina De Miranda / Ships & Violins           https://facebook.com/shipsandviolins
May 9 2pm ET                     Toni Smith/Quiltoni            https://www.facebook.com/Quiltoni/
May 9 3pm ET                     Hexadoodle Quilts/ Alison Stothard              https://facebook.com/hexadoodlequilts
May 9 4pm ET                     Bobbie Gentili ~ The Geeky Bobbin                https://facebook.com/geekybobbin
May 9 5pm ET                     Ebony Love – LoveBug Studios         https://facebook.com/lovebugstudios
May 9 6pm ET                     Carolina Moore   facebook.com/AlwaysExpectMoore
May 9 7pm ET                     Kathryn LeBlanc of Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio                https://www.facebook.com/dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio
May 9 8pm ET                     Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis – wrap up presentation     https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/

Instagram Schedule:

May 5

May 5 12:30pm ET IG Cherry Guidry – launch https://www.instagram.com/cherryblossomsstudio/

May 5 1:00pm ET Janellea Macbeth https://www.instagram.com/scrapstashticquilts/

May 5 1:30pm ET IG Jen Frost https://www.instagram.com/faithandfabric

May 5 3:00pm ET Jo Westfoot – The Crafty Nomad https://www.instagram.com/thecraftynomadfleet

May 5 3:30pm ET IG Becca Fenstermaker (Pretty Piney Quilts) https://instagram.com/prettypiney

May 5 4:30pm ET IG Michelle Renee Hiatt https://www.instagram.com/mshellhiatt @mshellhiatt

May 5 5pmET

May 5 5:30pm ET IG Marlene Oddie https://instagram.com/marlene.kissedquilts

May 5 6:00pmET Annie Unrein https://www.instagram.com/patternsbyannie/

May 5 6:30pm ET IG Leanne Parsons https://www.instagram.com/devotedquilter

May 5 7:30pm ET IG Jennifer Fulton https://www.instagram.com/inquiringquilter/

May 5 8:00pm ET IG Reed Johnson https://www.instagram.com/bluebearquilts/

May 5 8:30pm ET IG Tammy Silvers – launch https://www.instagram.com/tamarinis/

May 6

May 6 12:30pm ET IG Sue Pelland @suepellanddesigns

May 6 1:30pm ET IG Annette Ornelas @southwind_quilts

May 6 2:30pm ET IG Kate Colleran @seamslikeadreamquilts

May 6 3:30pm ET IG Melissa Marginet @melissamarginet

May 6 4:30pm ET IG Jackie Kunkel https://www.instagram.com/quilter623/

May 6 5:30pm ET IG

May 6 6:00pm ET IG Melissa Merriman Harr https://www.instagram.com/toadallyquilts/

May 6 6:30pm ET IG Laura Piland https://www.instagram.com/sliceofpiquilts/

May 6 7:30pm ET IG Terri Vanden Bosch https://www.instagram.com/lizardcreekquilting/

May 6 8:00pm ET Swan Sheridan https://www.instagram.com/swanamity

May 6 8:30pm ET IG Annie Smith https://www.instagram.com/anniesmithqs

May 7

May 7 12:30pm ET IG Lynn Kane, Puppy Girl https://instagram.com/puppy_girl_lynn3

May 7 1:30pm ET IG Cristy Fincher https://www.instagram.com/cristycreates/

May 7 2:30pm ET IG Debbie Wendt https://instagram.com/debbiewendtquilting

May 7 3:30pm ET IG Shelley Cavanna, Coras Quilts Www.instagram.com/corasquilts

May 7 4:30pm ET IG Monique Kleinhans, Ladybug’s Cabin https://www.instagram.com/ladybugscabin/

May 7 5:30pm ET IG Heidi Pridemore https://www.instagram.com/whimsicalworkshop/

May 7 6:30pm ET IG Jerry Stube Jerry Stube (@stubej) on Instagram • 1 photos and videos

May 7 7:30pm ET IG Simone Fisher, Simone Quilts https://www.instagram.com/simonequilts

May 7 8:30pm ET IG Nicole Moore, Sew Much Moore https://www.instagram.com/sewmuchmoore/

May 8

May 8 12:30pm ET IG Becky Campbell https://www.instagram.com/sewforeverbybeckycampbell/

May 8 1:30pm ET IG Tina Dillard – Quilting Affection Designs https://www.instagram.com/quiltingaffectiondesigns/

May 8 2:30pm ET IG Beth Helfter – EvaPaige Quilt Designs www.instagram.com/evapaigequilts

May 8 3:30pm ET IG Sherri Noel – Rebecca Mae Designs https://www.instagram.com/rebeccamaedesigns/?hl=en

May 8 4:30pm ET IG Kathleen McCormick – Kathleen McMusing https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmcmusing/

May 8 5:30pm ET IG On Williams Street – Kimie and Missy www.instagram.com/onwilliamsstreet

May 8 6:30pm ET IG Andi Stanfield – True Blue Quilts https://www.instagram.com/truebluequilts

May 8 7:30pm ET IG Nancy Scott – Masterpiece Quilting www.instagram.com/MasterpieceQuilting

May 8 8:30pm ET IG Lisa Ruble https://www.instagram.com/lisaerin1121/

May 9

May 9 12:30pm ET IG Sherry Shish https://www.instagram.com/poweredbyquilting

May 9 1:30pm ET IG Cristina De Miranda / Ships & Violins https://www.instagram.com/shipsandviolins

May 9 2:30pm ET IG Toni Smith/Quiltoni https://www.instagram.com/quiltoniquilts/

May 9 3:30pm ET IG Hexadoodle Quilts/ Alison Stothard https://www.instagram.com/hexadoodlequilts

May 9 4:30pm ET IG Bobbie Gentili ~ The Geeky Bobbin https://instagram.com/geekybobbin

May 9 5:30pm ET IG Ebony Love – LoveBug Studios https://instagram.com/lovebugstudios

May 9 6:30pm ET IG Carolina Moore instagram.com/craftmoore

May 9 7:30pm ET IG Kathryn LeBlanc of Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio https://www.instagram.com/dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio

May 9 8:30pm ET IG Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis – wrap up presentation https://www.instagram.com/tamarinis/

Twisted Ribbon by Tina Dillard

The talented TIna Dillard is my guest designer this week on the Blog. Tina is one of my Certified Instructors. Tina is also a Certified Instructor for Deb Tucker, Studio 180 tools. Tina combines her love of piecing and fusible applique in this beautiful new pattern, just released from her design studio, Quilting Affection Designs.

Twisted Ribbons: Let the ribbons twist in the wind as the world of raw edge applique and piecing combine in this delightful quilt “Twisted Ribbon.” Make fast and easy applique “Z” shapes and Leaf pieces using the Sue Pelland Designs Leaves Galore Norme Template and combine it with the Studio 180 Design Little House Technique using the Square Squared tool to make this elegant quilt. The featured quilt highlights the Island Batik “Steam Engine” Collection.

You can find the twister Ribbon pattern here on Tina Dillard’s website: https://quiltingaffection.com/product/twisted-ribbon/

The pattern is on sale at an introductory price of $9.50 until May 7th for all of you!

Tina will also be presenting Leaves Galore for Lefties on the “Designer tips and technique virtual show”, May 8th at 1 pm and then 1:30 pm on Instagram. Just go to TIna’s FaceBook page to see the handy tips and tricks as TIna prepares the “Z” shaped curves for this beautiful quilt. Don’t forget to follow TIna on Facebook and Instragram. She has a wealth of knowledge and a boat load of pattern design skills! Tina is a Designer to watch with new patterns featuring Studio 180 and Sue Pelland Designs in the works!

I will also be a presenter on the “Designer tips and technique virtual show”. My time slot is May 6th at 12 noon on the Sue Pelland Designs FaceBook page. Come joint the fun and see your favorite designers presenting tips, techniques and beautiful quilts!

Running out of elastic, and still making masks for family and friends…

I promised myself I was not going to get sucked in to the MASK MAKING YOUTUBE VIDEO FRENZY! Every designer and her brother has put out their own YouTube video about making the perfect mask…and I have wasted enough time watching them that I could have made a hundred more masks!

But I have to tell you, the masks pattern that I have settled on is the easiest thing ever! There are no curved seams, no pleating and no elastic! It is made with a filter pocket (Using a Hot Ruler made pressing the 1/4″ hem super simple) and a casing on the sides (I used the hot ruler to fold and press that too!) then I am feeding the T-shirt yarn through the casing with a crochet hook.

My friend Laura Coia from Sew Very Easy has a great You-Tube video about making T-Shirt Yarn out of old, but still mostly good
T-shirts. One long stretchy tie with knotted ends makes this mask so easy to wear! It gathers on the sides so there is no need for pleats, and because of the flat design, it is simple to put filter material inside the back flaps. Super simple, super coverage, nose wire, no elastic!

Here is what the mask looks like when it is on. No gaps and no sore ears! Perfect!

There is no pattern, but if you want my instructions here they are…

Make T-Shirt yarn and wind into a ball, or cut into 44 ” Lengths.

Cut two pieces of white fabric for the lining, 6″ x 8″

Cut one piece of tightly woven cotton fabric for front, 10″ x 8″

Cut 8″ x 8″ lightweight non-woven fusible interfacing to the back side of the front fabric. Use Mistyfuse together with regular interfacing if you don’t have fusible interfacing. I used Quilter’s interfacing with a 1″ grid, it made it simple to cut!

Hem one edge of both lining pieces. Use the Clover Hot Ruler to make this step super easy! It is marked with lines to keep the hem straight. Center on the front fabric, right sides together and stitch with a ¼” seam. Use the hot ruler again to press the lining right sides out.

Fold the side seams in by ¼” (hot ruler again) then in by ¾” (that hot ruler is the best invention ever!).

Sew the two side seams to form a casing for the T-Shirt Yarn Strap. Start in the middle of the casing, and sew to one edge. Back stitch a bunch of times to make it super strong. Pivot at the end and turn to sew to the other end. Back stitch a few times to secure the second end.

Snip a small hole in one end of the T-Shirt yarn. Feed a crochet hook through the side casing and grab the end of the t-shirt yarn. Use the hole you made to grab the tie. Loop the yarn around and pull through the second casing.

Use twist ties or a 6″ length of floral wire. Put wire against top of mask. Straight stitch just under the wire leaving a small opening on one end in case you want to remove the wire when you wash the mask. Just reach inside the filter pocket and pull the wire out.

Voila! Simplest mask ever, and the best coverage!

Ironing board From TNT Quilt Boards. Thanks Tracey and Tim for the adorable bike fabric custom covered Quilt Board!

Getting Ready for a Get-Away or Retreat

Guild retreats can be loads of fun. They are a great way to get to know quilters in your guild, or go with a group of strangers and meet a new friend or two.

Retreat etiquette:

Not everyone likes to sew to music, so if you bring your own music, please use headphones.

If you need to make a personal call, there should be a lobby or other private place to take or make a call.

Keep food and drinks in the food area. Bring covered drink cups such as a refillable water bottle.

Stick to your allotted space. If you need to spread out, find an area that’s not being used.

Try your best to keep pins off the floor. People may be in stocking feet.

Make it social! You may get a ton done if you sit and sew from 9 to 9, but don’t forget to mingle and enjoy other people. There may be a new quilter who needs a smile and some small talk to get comfortable in your group.

Getting ready for a quilt retreat…What will you need to take with you? Here are some ideas and suggestions on planning for a retreat.

I always bring way too many projects and end up losing focus. Only you know how much you will get done or what needs to get done. If you make a plan before you go, you can get right to it!

Think about bringing a “sunshine” project if you will have time to sew for charity. Bring a hand work project such as a binding or some hand applique or embroidery (there may be times when you just don’t feel like machine stitching or if your machine is acting up). Try not to over pack supplies and projects but make sure you have a variety of projects so you don’t get bored.

See what supplies can be shared with your table mate or with the entire group.

Before you go, check to see if there will be ironing boards and irons available.

Some guilds and venues provide cutting tables, mats, and rulers to share.

Ask if you can tape up a temporary design wall. Don’t tape or pin anything to the wall unless you ask first. Some venues forbid taping or pinning to the walls and you may be charged extra if you do. It is best to bring a portable design wall or a flannel backed vinyl tablecloth to lay on the floor.

Check to see if every spot will have electricity or if you need to bring your own extension cord and power strip.

Find out if there will be food provided or local restaurants to visit for meals.

Check to see what quilt shops are close or on the way. Check their hours.

Decide if you want to bring a spare machine in case of mechanical problems with your main machine.

Try to pack into a suitcase on wheels or bring a wagon to cart everything in. Borrow a luggage cart if you need to but bring it back to the front desk as soon as you can as other quilters may need it.

Print out this handy check list to make sure you have everything you need!

Projects:

Pattern, fabric, thread and notions for each project

Sewing Station

Sewing machine
Foot pedal and power cord
Bobbins, prewound if possible
Extra machine needles
Thread spool holder
All accessories needed
Knee lift
Specialty feet: 1/4”, walking foot, open toe foot
Screwdriver
Lint brush
Sewing machine oil
Ott light or extra lighting
Magnifying glass or reading glasses

Basic Sewing Supplies

Large scissors
Paper scissors
Thread snips
Reverse Action Tweezers
Cutting mat (small or medium)
Rotary cutter + extra blades
Straight edge Ruler
Square up ruler if needed
Specialty Rulers: Hearts & More and Leaves Galore Templates
Hand sewing needles and Thimble if needed
Paper lunch bag to catch loose threads and small fabric bit

The Mitten Factory!

The SPD Mitten Factory is gearing up for a very cold New England Winter! Joanne, who works with me part time as a sample maker and pattern editor, brought in a bunch of mittens that she made from the Madawaska Mitten Pattern by Sherri Noel. Joanne and I have been saving wool sweaters to make into mittens for some time now. We decided to work together to mass produce all the mittens we are giving as gifts this year! Joanne had a head start and you will see her mittens in the photo above. So I thought I would tap into Joanne’s expertise and learn how to sew up my own gifts! Joanne stayed after work yesterday so we could get the Mitten Factory in full swing.

When my Mom moved to Texas, she gave me one of the wool sweaters that she knit before I was born. She won’t be needing it in warm, sunny Texas, so she wanted me to make mittens out of it! Here is the sweater, once I took it apart at the seams.

The mittens are made in four pieces that you can cut from one sweater, or you can mix and match colors and patterns. You can see that I cut off the bottom waistband to use as cuffs for the mittens. I then cut the front of the mitten from the yoke of the sweater and the two back pieces from the dotted section. This is just one of the dozen or so sweaters that we cut up last night!

Tonight I will be cutting the fleece lining, but it will be so much easier! My new shipment of templates and patterns just arrived. Now I have a great set of Rotary Cutting Templates for the Mittens to make the job so much faster and easier! If you would like your own pattern or a set of rotary cutting templates to start your own Mitten Project, go ahead and click on the link above to get them from my website. You may remember Sherri from the Text-It blog hop that I participated in last summer.

Sherri’s book “Text-It” and “Dear Daughter” a fabulous text filled block of the month pattern are still available in my shop.

I’ll send you some photos once I get all these warm, cozy beauties sewn! I’m thinking I can probably get enough mitten parts out my Mom’s hand knit sweater to make a very heart-felt gift for my two sisters and one for myself.

I hope your holiday projects are just as special, whether it is finishing up a quilt that will be gifted to a loved one or baking cookies from an old family recipe. What I love about a home-made Christmas is making wonderful memories with my family, building bonds and sharing traditions with the next generation.

Machine Applique, Part 1. What thread should I choose?

Machine Appliqué, Part 1: What thread should I choose?

Here at Sue Pelland Designs, we do a lot of decorative buttonhole (also known as blanket stitching) around appliqué shapes. At times we straight stitch the fused edges, or we may use any one of hundreds of decorative machine stitches found on today’s fancy sewing machines to accent the appliqué edges. Today we are going to focus on thread, so please know that we will specifically be talking about buttonhole stitch appliqué unless noted. In future blog posts we will dive into different decorative stitches and how they can be used to change the look of fusible appliqué.

Thread Choice: How do you know which brand, fiber content, weight and color to choose for decorate stitching around fused appliqué shapes? There are too many brands of sewing thread out in the marketplace to do a survey of every type. There is no substitute for experience, and I will be the first to tell you that I do not have experience with every brand of thread, with every fiber and every weight. But I do have a few general observations and some stand out favorites. Let me share my experience with you to help shorten your learning curve.

Thread choice has a big impact on the way your appliqué looks. Ask yourself: Do I want the stitching to be visible, or do I want it to disappear into the appliqué? Do I want the color to stand out or to blend? Do I want added texture, or do I want a smoother, flatter, less noticeable edge?

Your personal preference may be very different from mine. Your sewing machine may also have a thread preference. In the end you will have to decide what thread works best for you for each quilt. Here are some variables to consider.

Luster or Shine: Threads have a range of luster or shine to them. Metallic threads for are the shiniest threads available. Within the Metallic Category, there are a wide range of materials and different degrees of shine. One of my favorite metallic threads is Sulky Sliver. This thread reminds me of Christmas Tree Tinsel. I’m exaggerating just a little. The Sulky is so much thinner, but has the same flat super shiny look as Tinsel from the 70s! I very rarely use metallic thread for decorative machine stitching on appliqué; I generally only use this for quilting. You should absolutely play with metallic if you love “bling” and want to dress up the appliqué edges with a very visible stitch, it’s just not a look that I am going for in my quilts.

Fiber Content: Fiber content can be Nylon, Polyester, Rayon, Cotton and more. There is cotton wrapped polyester and a whole host of other blends. On my wall, I have a wide range of colors in polyester, rayon and cotton. These are the most common sewing threads you will find at your quilt shop. In general, rayon and polyester threads tend to be shiny compared to cotton. Rayon is wonderful for machine embroidery and comes in so many colors. Rayon is a bit shiny for my liking next to cotton appliqué fabrics but if you are looking for stitching to be the star of the show, rayon thread is a great choice.

Cotton has the lowest luster of all the threads and it is the most commonly used thread for fusible appliqué. I like the look of thread that blends into the cotton appliqué fabric, so cotton thread is normally my first choice.

Polyester thread comes in a close second to cotton. The 100 wt. polyester from companies such as Wonderfil and Superior act like cotton but have the strength of polyester. Read more about these below.

Silk threads are very slippery, and I don’t normally use them in my machine. Silk is wonderful for hand appliqué, the thread melts right into the turned edge of the cotton fabric making it nearly invisible.

Monofilament thread can also be used for machine appliqué. There are poly and nylon monofilament threads. Many quilters like using monofilament with turned edge (prepared) machine appliqué. Again, if this works for you, go for it! Make sure you choose the right monofilament. Monopoly from Superior is a good choice and comes in clear and smoke. YLI also makes a good monofilament.

I do not use monofilament at all, however. Even though great improvements have been made in monofilament threads, I do not like the way they catch the light and shine on the appliqué edges. I also do not think they help at all to camouflage the edges of raw edge appliqué and they do not build up along the edge to prevent fraying. For all of these reasons, I never finish raw edge appliqué with monofilament. Even for turned edge machine appliqué, I prefer 100 wt. Polyester.

Thread Weight: What weight of thread should you use? Thread weight will have a great impact on the look and visibility of stitching. Note: The higher the number, the thinner the thread.

100 wt: There are several brands of 100 wt. polyester thread that I use when I want my appliqué stitches to disappear into the edge of the appliqué shape. Wonderfil’s Invisifil will make your stitches blend right in with the fabric and there are 60 colors to choose from. Superior’s MicroQuilter is very similar and is available in. Both of these polyester threads have been manufactured with a matte finish so they look more like cotton, but have the strength of Polyester. I use 100 wt. polyester thread where other quilters would use monofilament. These threads are a great choice for turned edge machine stitched appliqué, raw edge appliqué, machine quilting, quilting in the ditch, English paper piecing and even regular piecing. Your seams will never lay flatter!

80 wt. Aurifil 80 wt. cotton thread is available in 88 colors and is wound on small wooden spools. Kind of nostalgic don’t you think? Both 100 wt. polyester and 80 wt. cotton are wonderful choices for invisible appliqué. Use 80 wt. cotton thread anywhere you would use 100 wt. polyester. It will be slightly more visible, but is an excellent choice especially if you are “old school” and only like to use cotton thread on cotton fabric.

50 wt: Every thread company probably has a 50 wt. thread. I generally use 50 wt. cotton for machine piecing, and I also use 50 wt. for machine stitching raw edge appliqué. This fairly light weight thread is much less noticeable than 40 wt. and under, yet it is much more visible than 80 or 100 wt.. 50 wt. is my “go to” thread, just because I have so many colors already on my thread wall from so many years of collecting. My favorite brand is Aurifil, however there are many great brands out there! You probably already have a preference for your general piecing weight thread. Use what you have. As long as your machine likes it, and you have the color you need, use what you have on your shelf. Great brands that I often use include Aurifil, Superior, Mettler, Gutterman, YLI and Wonderfil and Coats and Clark.

40 wt: I recently discovered 40 wt. Aurifil Cotton thread. I love this weight, and use it when I want a bolder stitch around the fusible raw edge appliqué. The reason I like the thicker thread is that it builds up more heavily along the edge of the appliqué giving the raw edge a really nice finish. The thickness of the thread camouflages the raw edges of the appliqué. When I pair the heavier thread with a heavier stitch the result is very visible and much more decorative.

Variegated threads that I like are generally 50 and 40 wt.

28/30 wt: You can find 28 and 30 wt. threads, but for me, they are just a bit too hefty.

12 wt: I absolutely do not use 12 wt. thread for machine stitching. My machine hates it! Use 12 wt. thread for hand buttonhole stitch appliqué, big stitch quilting, redwork and hand embroidery.

Color: There are threads in every color of the rainbow and there are variegated threads that change color along the thread length. When you want your appliqué edge to blend, choose a solid color thread that matches the appliqué fabric as well as possible.

Use variegated thread to make the appliqué edges stand out, or when you have a wide range of fabric colors and you do not want to change colors. For example, when making a floral appliqué quilt, we often use many different green fabrics for stems and leaves. Using green variegated thread makes it unnecessary to change thread colors for each leaf.

A few of my favorite variegated threads are King Tut (40 wt.) by Superior Threads, YLI (40 wt.), Tutti by Wonderfil (50 wt), and Sulky (30 wt.). These companies have a wide variety of color in variegated threads. The variegation length varies depending on the company. Some change in a very predictable pattern while others change more gradually. Valdani has a wide color range of hand dyed variegated threads in both 35 and 50 wt. cotton.

A note about Bobbins: In general, match the bobbin thread (weight and color) to the decorative top thread. There are always exceptions to the rule! When using variegated thread on top, use a solid bobbin color that blends well. Don’t waste the variegated thread (the color on the top and bobbin thread will never match up anyway!) I find using a bobbin thread that is one weight less than my top thread works the best in my machine. For example, when using a 40 wt. variegated tread on top, choose a blending color of 50 wt. thread in the bobbin. Every machine is different and you have to find the right combination of top and bobbin threads that match to even out the tension. Machine tension can be a little tricky when decorative machine stitching.

One thread that often works well in the bobbin no matter what is on the top is Decobob from Wonderfil. Decobob is 80 weight cottonized Polyester. It behaves like cotton with the strength of a polyester thread. The very lightweight allows you to get a lot of thread on your bobbin, so less time is wasted winding and changing bobbins. And the best part is, you can get them pre-wound! Look for those in my shop.

Test Drive before you decide! Play with leftover fusible appliqué shapes fused to a sample of your background fabric and test different decorative stitches. Adjust the length and width and test drive different threads. Make sure you can’t see the bobbin thread coming up to the top.

Once you decide on a stitch, write down the stitch number and the length and width you like best. Make a note of the top and bobbin thread names, colors and weights. Keep the stitching sample in your project box and each time you sit down to sew, test your stitches before you get moving on the actual quilt project. Choosing the right thread can make the difference between a project you love and a project you dislike! Test driving your thread and stitches every time you sit down at the machine will save you hours of unstitching. Ask me how I know!!

For more information about thread direct from the manufactures, here are websites links:

https://www.valdani.com/products

https://www.aurifil.com/aurifil-products

https://www.superiorthreads.com/thread

https://www.amann-mettler.com

https://www.guetermann.com/en

https://ylicorp.com/

https://www.coats.com/en/Products

Watch for Machine Appliqué Part 2: Which Stitch should I use?

Machine Appliqué Part 3: Buttonhole (blanket) stitch appliqué, how to turn curves and points.

And Machine Appliqué Part 4: Straight stitch (soft-edge) applique: benefit and limitations.

Where do you find your quilting community? Part Two

In the second blog post about Community, I want to talk a little about Online Communities.

Years ago, in the year 1999, I joined an online community that started a Millennium swap. Eighty quilters from all over the globe swapped 25 2 1/2″ square of fabric to make a Millennium quilt. Quilts with 2000 unique charm squares! This was my first introduction to online quilting communities. This week, my mom (who participated in the swap) gave my son the Millennium quilt that she made with those charm squares. My son Jason has a quilt on his bed that I made with my squares. What a unique and fun project that was! At that time connecting with quilters from all over the world was a unique and rare happening. I was thrilled to be a part of this diverse group.

Today we are so lucky to have this opportunity literally at our fingertips! ….By typing a note on Facebook with those very fingertips, I can connect with quilters all over the world with the power of Facebook. I have friends from Ireland, South Africa, Japan and Germany! I have students and customers all over the world. I have met many of these quilters at either Houston or Paducah, and it is amazing the bond we already share and how our friendships have grown. It reminds me of an old fashioned Pen Pal!!

On Facebook you can find a group of enthusiasts about everything! From Sunbonnet Sue to Modern quilts. Whatever your passion, there is a group of equally passionate people out there who share the same love. These people could be the very same quilters that you meet locally at your guild, or they may be half way across the globe.

I am part of many different online quilting communities on Facebook. There is a group for Featherweight Fanatics, many others who obsess over applique. I belong to a group of Kaffe Fassett Lovers, as well as a group of Professional Pattern designers. My Quilt guild has it’s own Facebook group that is only open to our membership. There are bunches of us who love Wool applique and dozens that share Sewing Room Organization tips. No matter what your interest, there is an online community for you to join.

If you love using my templates for applique, we have a unique group for you too! Please join my Sue Pelland Designs open FaceBook page! This is where we share my customer’s quilts, my own quilts, snapshots of my daily life and anything Quilty that I am excited to share! This week I shared the story of an antique quilt that I was gifted by my Mom. She thinks it was made by my Grandmother, or maybe even my Great Grandmother! This quilt needs a good wash, so I asked opinions of the right product to take away the age stains. I am so excited about the responses I received! One of my own guild members offered to share her Retro Clean with me!

I also moderate a group called “Quilt Along with Sue Pelland“. This is a closed group (you have to answer a few questions and be approved), and is geared to my students and customers making SPD projects with my tools. On this page, we have a very active community of people who love to share with and teach each other! Just the other day one of my Belle en Rouge students needed some advise about thread choice for her Blue version of the quilt. Here is a snapshot of her post and the answers she received. She even got a note from Donna Morales-Oemig-Morales, an Aurifil distributor!

While not all of us embrace technology to this extent, I truly feel that Facebook and other social media platforms have made my reach a little wider! It surely has made the world a little smaller by allowing me to connect with people from all over.

I hope you too will benefit from this online community. Give it a try!

Do you belong to a Quilt Guild? Your quilting community part 1

Quilting, creating, even running a quilt related business can be very isolating. We set aside “me time” to work on our creations,, but that time is often spent alone in our sewing rooms, with only our sewing machines for company. With this tendency to hibernate in our sewing rooms, many of us crave a quilting community where we can join with other quilters who like to do the things we like to do! We want to hang out with people who enjoy fabrics, sewing, and learning about our quilt hobby. Where do you find your quilting community? Let me know by leaving a comment. Do you find your quilting community in person or online?

Over my next few blog posts, I will be talking about finding your quilting community, and today I will start by talking about Quilt Guilds.

I joined my quilting guild over 25 years ago. We have a meeting tonight and I am so looking forward to it! I’ll tell you why in a minute, but first, let me tell you a little about my guild.

I found my guild when I was working at Cranston Print Works Co in Webster, MA. I worked as a color chemist, but knowing that I was a quilter, it quickly became part of my job description to visit quilt guilds and give presentations on the fabric manufacturing and printing process. A local guild contacted Cranston and asked for a presentation, so I was “volunteered” to go with one of our VPs. When I got to the the Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild, I felt like I had found my “People”! After the presentation that night, I joined the guild.

My guild has been a source of friendships, competition, comfort and encouragement over the years.

Friendships: When I first joined the guild, I was a 20 something with no kids. Three kids and 25 years later, these women are some of my best friends. People have come and gone from the guild and I now have friends all over the country that I met through Thimble Pleasures. I look forward to traveling to shows near and far where I can reconnect with guild members who have moved away. Tonight I may meet a new Quilting Friend! We have a secret Santa Gift Reveal, and who knows who my Secret Santa will be? Can you keep a secret? The quilt on the top of this post the gift that I am giving tonight at our Christmas in July celebration. Maybe the person who receives it will also become a new friend!

Competition: While our guild is noncompetitive in general, there are times when some friendly competition is a very good thing for growth. Friendly competition comes in the form of game nights, guild challenges and even quilt shows. Let me give you an example. Years ago I entered the guild’s Garden Challenge. For that challenge I created Eve’s Garden, my first ever fusible applique quilt. Eve’s Garden has hundreds of leaves on it! This quilt inspired me to figure out a way to cut leaves in a faster, easier way. Shortly after making this quilt, I invented my Leaves Galore templates. Without that friendly competition, I never would have created that quilt and I never would have invented Leaves Galore!

Comfort: Most Quilt Guilds are all about comfort. In our guild, a comfort committee shares a little bit of sunshine with anyone who needs comfort for any reason. When my son was diagnosed with Leukemia, not only did he receive a quilt from the quilt to take to the hospital, but was gifted a beautiful heart quilt that made me feel like I was wrapped up in the guild’s love. Hmmmm…was this an inspiration for my next invention, the Hearts and More templates?

Encouragement: The guild is my sounding board for ideas. When I have a new quilt I am experimenting with, it goes on the design wall during a guild retreat. As a creative design unfolds, the encouraging words of the guild inspire me to create, to refine and to complete my designs. Suggestions abound, and together we come up with amazing work. When I invented my tools I was so excited about what they could do! The guild was the first place I turned to see if they were of interest to others and they encouraged me to pursue making tools to sell to other quilters.

I know for a fact that my quilt guild has had a huge impact on the quality of my quilts, but in fact it has effected my whole life. Though their friendship, competition,comfort and encouragement I have become a better quilter, and have even chosen quilting to be my business, my source of income and a huge part of my life.

I hope you will consider reaching out to other quilters in an actual, in person quilt guild, and see how your world can be made a little more colorful with quilters in it!

Next time, I will be talking about other forms of quilting community by looking into Online Quilting Communities!

An interview with Iris Karp from Attached, Inc., aka Mistyfuse

Last week I was at the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival. This was my first time at this regional guild show and it was a blast! Also vending at this show was Iris Karp, the owner of Attached, Inc, the home of Mistyfuse. I was able to get a way on Saturday afternoon to interview Iris about Mistyfuse, and two new products that I will be offering in my Website Store. Iris has invented Bunny Paper and is now packaging MistyQs, fat quarter size precut Mistyfuse sheets to fuse your fat quarters of fabric!

Bunny Paper is reusable paper that you can print with your computer printer, then transfer the images onto the Mistyfuse. Again, just like my method of applique, there is no tracing! Check out the video below to see how to use the Bunny Paper and how to reuse it many times over.

You will also learn about MistyQs! MistyQs are fat quarter size mistyfuse sheets. They are the same price as Mistyfuse in a 10 yard package, but these individual sheets are precut for fusing Fat Quarters. There is no extra charge for this convenient size package of Mistyfuse cut as MistyQs!

You can watch the interview here or on Youtube. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more great videos like this one.

Do you have any questions for Iris or for me about using Mistyfuse in your quilts? If you do use Mistyfuse, what is your favorite thing about it? The softness? The heat stability? Tell us what you love about Mistyfuse or ask your questions in the comments below.

Enjoy this happy June day! Sue

“Text It” Blog Hop

My friend Sherri Noel has just published a new book, “Text It”. Sherri and I have been in the same quilt guild for years and have so much in common as quilt designers. When she asked me to make a quilt from her new book and blog about it, I knew I was going to make the “1 Sheep” quilt! After reading all about “Counting Sheep”, tell me the one thing that helps you relax before bed in a comment below to enter the give-away! Tag a friend in the comment for an extra chance to win! Martingale has generously given me one “Text It” book to give away and I’ll also give away a set of my “Hearts & More” tools so you can try making circles my way!

Sherri’s adorable little sheep is so darling! I knew that I could get this quilt done in time for the “Hop” because it is all made of circles. I jumped right in with my Hearts & More templates, the perfect tool for cutting perfect circles!

There were a few fabrics at my Local Quilt Shop (Franklin Mill for all you local girls!) with sheep on them, and a fun border print that reminded me of wooly sheep in white and gray. To keep the quilt soft enough for a baby, I chose Mistyfuse brand fusible web to fuse my sheep and the words. It is so soft you won’t even know it is there! After putting the fusible on the fabric with an applique pressing sheet, it was time to cut all those circles! Here is a link to my video for putting the mistyfuse on your fabric.

I used the Hearts and More large template set to cut 2″, 3″ and 4″ circles using my rotary cutter. No tracing, no scissors, no fuss! Sherri’s circles weren’t exactly the same sizes as mine, but I don’t think it matters!

A Design Wall covered in Kaffe Flannel is the perfect place to start laying out the pieces. I have a Youtube video for that too, if you want to make a design wall for yourself.

Since Sherri had already reversed the alphabet, I traced the reversed letters on to parchment paper (from the grocery store) and ironed the parchment to the mistyfused fabric. Since I’m over 50, my Daylight Magnifying Lamp is the perfect thing for cutting out applique and sewing on my machine!

I decided to spell out the words “One Sheep” instead of using the number one. To center the words on the background fabric I used a ruler and my Iron-off Chalk. Since I am fusing the words, the Iron-off chalk is the perfect marking method! After fusing, all the marking is gone with the heat of the iron.

I opted to omit the pieced border since I had the perfect puffy stripe border instead. Of course a striped border calls for mitering, so that was the final step in making the top. Here is the finished top with the strip border. Isn’t this little guy awfully sweet?

I have been traveling for a bit now, so I haven’t had the chance to stitch the applique down yet. When I do, I will buttonhole stitch the fused applique shapes with a buttonhole stitch on my sewing machine…or maybe I will play with stitches until I find one that looks soft and fluffy.

I hope you enjoy my version of Sherri’s “1 Sheep” quilt from “Text It!”. If you would like your own copy of the book, leave a comment below and maybe you will win a copy! Or follow the links below to purchase the book on Sherri’s website, or on Amazon.

You can read about more projects from this fun book by following the blog hop line up below. You’ll get to see each quilt design made different ways and with different fabrics, you may find some fabric giveaways along the way too!!

Do you count sheep to fall asleep? Do you read, sew or have a cup of tea? Don’t forget to leave your best sleepy time ritual below, give me your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win a prize, and tag a friend in the comment for two chances to win! ZZZZzzzzzz………………………….Sue

Here is the Blog Hop lineup:

MONDAY MARCH 4 – BEE HAPPY

PAMELA JANE MORGAN – http://WWW.MYSWEETLITTLESTITCHES.COM

SHARON LILABELLE LANE – WWW.LILABELLELANECREATIONS.COM

TUESDAY MARCH 5 – INFINITY Quilt

LAURA PILAND – http://WWW.SLICEOFPIQUILTS.COM

LEANNE PARSONS – http://WWW.DEVOTEDQUILTER.BLOGSPOT.COM

KATIE MUTER STARCHER – http://WWW.KATIEMAEQUILTS.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 6 – PILLOW TALK

KATE COLLERAN – http://WWW.SEAMSLIKEADREAM.COM

CHERYL DAINES BROWN – http://WWW.QUILTERCHIC.COM

DORIE HRUSKA – WWW.FOREVER-QUILTING.COM

THURSDAY MARCH 7 – FREEDOM Quilt

JEN SHAFFER –http://WWW.PATTERNSBYJEN.BLOGSPOT.COM

LYNN KANE – http://WWW.PUPPYGIRLDESIGNS.COM

TARA MILLER – http://WWW.QUILTDISTRICT.COM

FRIDAY MARCH 8 – LOVING YOU Wall Hanging

ELLEN AULT – http://WWW.HANDMADE3D.ME/MAINBLOG/

SHERRI NOEL – http://WWW.REBECCAMAEDESIGNS.COM

MONDAY MARCH 11 – COUNTING SHEEP Baby Quilt

DEANNE EISENMAN – http://WWW.SNUGGLESQUILTS.COM

RAEWYN BARGE – http://WWW.STITCHINGFARMGIRL.BLOGSPOT.COM

SUSAN PELLAND – http://WWW.SUEPELLANDDESIGNS.COM

TUESDAY MARCH 12 – HOME PILLOW

JOANNE HARRIS – http://WWW.QUILTSBYJOANNE.BLOGSPOT.CA

PATTY DUDEK – http://WWW.ELMSTREETQUILTS.COM

ANDY KNOWLTON – http://WWW.ABRIGHTCORNER.COM

SANDRA STARLEY – http://WWW.UTAHQUILTAPPRAISER.BLOGSPOT.COM

CINDY PIETERS – http://WWW.STITCHINATHOME.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 13 – LIFE IS SHORT Wall hanging

BECCA FENSTERMAKER – http://WWW.PRETTYPINEY.COM

KATIE BOCK – http://WWW.SEWINGWITHKATIE.BLOGSPOT.COM

ALLA BLANCA – http://WWW.RAINBOWSBUNNIESCUPCAKES.BLOGSPOT.COM

THURSDAY MARCH 14 – HUSTLE PILLOW

TERRI BANDEN BOSCH – http://WWW.MEANDERINGSALONGLIZARDCREEK.BLOGSPOT.COM

WILLOW OLSON – http://WWW.BEARPAWDESIGNBLOG.WORDPRESS.COM

ERIN SAMPSON – http://auribuzz.wordpress.com/

FRIDAY MARCH 15 – SEWING MACHINE MAT

LAUREN WRIGHT – http://WWW.MOLLYANDMAMA.COM.AU

SANDRA HEALY – http://WWW.SANDRAHEALYDESIGNS.COM

CHERYL KRISEL LYNCH – http://www.cheryllynchquilts.blogspot.com/

SATURDAY MARCH 16 – WRAP UP

SHERRI NOEL – http://WWW.REBECCAMAEDESIGNS.COM

Fabric Choices for Fusible Applique and Prewashing

An excerpt from Rotary Cut Applique with the Leaves Galore Templates.

Fabric choices for Fusible Applique:

You can use any type of quality cotton fabric for fusible appliqué but my favorite appliqué fabrics are batiks. I prefer batiks because I do a lot of raw-edge fusible appliqué. Loosely woven cottons will fray more than tightly woven cottons. Batiks are typically made with a higher quality, more tightly woven base fabric making fraying less of an issue. I use batiks wherever I can especially for raw edge fusible appliqué.

When I am drawn to a fun printed cotton fabric for my quilt I try to use only high quality printed cottons. Printed cloth is only colored on the surface of the fibers. If you cut the fibers there is a white core. With raw edge fusible appliqué, you might see that white core along the edges of the cut patch. When using prints I generally use a decorative stitch, such as the buttonhole or satin stitch, around the edges of the appliqué to enclose the cut edge of the fabric.

To prewash or not to prewash?

I prewash my fabrics. Period.

Finishing chemicals on the surface of the fabric can interfere with the bond of your fusible. I also do not want to take the chance of my fabric colors running or seams puckering because of uneven shrinkage. The recipient of your quilt may put your finished quilt through the washer and dryer so it is best to be sure your fabrics have already been machine washed and dried. Primarily, I do not want my fusible to misbehave. Your quilts will last a lifetime or more so take time now to prewash and you will never be sorry.

No fabric enters my sewing room without prewashing. As soon as I get back from the quilt shop, I trim the corners of the fabrics with scissors, separate by color (light and dark) and run two loads through the washing machine. If I have very small pieces or really deep rich colors that may run, I swish them in the sink with a dab of hand soap or dish soap. Rinse until you can see the water is clear. Next, I run all fabrics through the clothes drier on a hot cycle, remove when damp and press. I don’t use any form of starch or sizing when pressing. Use only a spray bottle with water to get out all the wrinkles as this will ensure the best bond possible. Now I know that everything in my fabric stash is washed and pressed and I can jump right in and start cutting my next quilt!

Your Nest Organizer

Welcome to summer in Massachusetts! The Fourth of July forecast is a week of 90 degree weather, and I am ready to break out the bathing suit and enjoy summer!

Last week we were in Vermont at the Vermont Quilt Festival, and the weather was nippy in the lovely Green Mountains. I look forward to the Vermont Quilt Festival every year! I always invite my mom, and as usual, she was my right hand person while I was teaching this year. I had the pleasure of teaching three classes at VQF while my certified instructors ran the booth in the vendor mall. Thanks to Sandy, Jean, Candy and Kay who worked with Joanne in the booth. I hope you had the chance to see them and learn from their own unique take on my tools!

In our classrooms, we were happy to be able to test and use the :”Your Nest Organizer” at each of our student work stations. This is the unique brain child of Joan Ford from Hummingbird Highway! Your Nest Organizer keeps all your tools: Templates, pens, pencils, scissors and rotary cutter organized and neat while you are working on a rotary cut applique project.

I feel as though Joan made this tool just for me! My three Leaves Galore templates and my four Hearts and More template fit perfectly in the eight ruler slots. There is a special nest for your rotary cutter as well as the perfect place for scissors, pens and pencils. My students loved having them on the tables to keep all their tools visible. Could this tool help you in your workshop?

Thanks to Joan Ford for the nifty gadget and for letting us try them out! I just love going to the Vermont Quilt Festival, and I especially love teaching! Watch for me at a guild near you. I will be in Long Island and in Connecticut this month, so come listen to my lecture or take a class with me!

Happy Fourth of July!

American Patchwork and Quilting Podcast hosted by Pat Sloan

Today is the day. Today I get to speak to one of my idols in Quilting, Pat Sloan!

Do you get nervous when you meet someone you admire? Well, I can tell you, I am a little nervous about doing a live podcast this afternoon!

So if you are so inclined tune in from 4:00 to 5:00 here at All People Quilt. If you haven’t listened to Pat’s podcasts before, it is simple to get started. I so enjoy her interviews with a wide range of quilters, pattern designers and other quilt professionals.

Day 31 – Last Day of the 31 Day Blog Post Challenge!!

After a wonderful day with family and friends for an early New Year’s Eve celebration, I am just relaxing and watching Dick Clark’s Rocking New Year’s Eve Party. I miss that guy, but Ryan is doing a great job.

Check in with my blog tomorrow to see the finished quilt top for My Magical Garden. I’m exited to share it with you, and I’ll do that….as soon as I wake up after a very late night watching the ball drop in NYC (from the comfort of my own warm bed!)

Wishing my friends, family and followers a very safe and happy New Year’s Eve!

Day 30 – Heading into this New Year With You !!!

Hi Quilters! This is Penny Bentley, I work with Sue as her Event Coordinator. I would like to share that I have been blessed and fortunate to share in Sue’s successes with her expanding quilting business. Sue is an extremely creative and professional businesswoman who has Donna, Joanne, and I to assist her along the way, but, of course, it is her business sense and practices that has brought her to this time and place.

Sue has much confidence in her team and in her Certified Instructors to share her techniques and products at shows that she cannot find herself attending. In January, Donna and Joanne will be vending at Mancuso’s Orlando show being held in none other than Orlando, Florida from January 18-20, 2018 as Sue embarks on personal travel to London.

When Sue returns from London her first New Year lecture will be for the Soo-Nipi Quilt Guild in Newport, NH on Thursday, January 18, 2018. Sue loves to teach, as many of you already know, and I just want to share that she has taught me so many practices over these seven years, she even tries to teach me to quilt and sew, not happening!! If you have a minute to go to her website 2018 calendar, make note on your calendars, and try to attend a lecture or a workshop near you.

I have been with Sue since the very beginning of her venture with her templates/tools and it seems like eons ago! It continues to amaze and impress me that this quilting gadget has grown into the business that it is. Little ole Penny, working at little ole Sue’s office, in little ole Upton, in this big ole world of quilters in the USA. Amazing and Wonderful!!

In closing this Blog and this year of 2017, I would like to wish all of you, quilter friends, a Healthy and Happy New Year!!!

Color Chart and BOM – Day 29

I spent today working on a handy color chart that you can use to coordinate your fabrics for the upcoming Quilt-Along. We know you have all have our Rotary Cut Applique tools sitting in your workroom. So let’s get them out and start using them! The new Magical Garden Facebook Page is up and running, and that is where Joanne posted her Color Chart that she has just finished for her version of the “My Magical Garden” quilt. Whether or not you are participating in the BOM this year, sign up to be part of our Facebook Group so you can see the progress of the other quilters who join in the fun.

The purpose of the Quilt-Along is for you to start using your Leaves Galore and Hearts & More tools, so if they are sitting on a shelf, lets get them out to play! Don’t forget, the full quilt will be revealed on January 1, along with the BOM registration. We are busy getting optional fabric kits and thread kits prepared so you can keep it simple! Of course, if you want to work from your stash, just print out the handy color chart, and start rummaging through your stash for your BOM fabrics.

Lets start the new year off right by learning to use the tools you already own! I’m so excited to help you make this beautiful quilt!