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Quilters
Threads Newsletter
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Diane's Hints |
Quilters Keep Learning |
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Machine quilts were first basted with pins, Let me describe a few ways this can be achieved. I am sure there are many more methods, but this should start you thinking. METHOD 1 Spread your quilt out on the floor. Tape your backing to the floor so it is taut, spread your batting on top of that and then spread your top out so that all three layers are lined up. In every case discussed you should leave a few inches extra of batting and backing all around the quilt top to allow for take-up as you pin and then quilts. and then crawl around on your hands and needs starting out by putting the pins in the center of the quilt and pinning through all the layers. I used to use my cutting mats and slide them around under the quilt to avoid pinning it to the carpet. This is what I did for years,. No wonder I got pleats in the backing. METHOD 2 This is thoroughly discussed by Harriet Hargrave in her Third Edition and later of Heirloom Machine Quilting. Mark the middle of the top, bottom and backing on the top and bottom edge of your quilt. Mark the middle of your basting surface (usually a long table) Line up all your middle marks. Tape your backing to the ends of the table making sure it is taut. Pin along your middle mark and then secure all the areas of your quilt that are on top of your table, If you put your fist down on the quilt, there should be no more than the width of your fist between pins. When you have finished the part on top of the table untape your backing and move the assembly so another area is on top of the table, retape your backing to the ends of the table being sure it is pulled tight and continue pinning. Keep moving your quilt until it is all pinned. It is best if you fold roll up the edge of your quilt at this point and pin the backing to the front so that the edges of the quilt are rolled inside and protected by the backing.. METHOD 3 Similar to the floor method, but use a tacking gun to secure the quilt every few inches. You can use a fluorescent lighting grid moved around under the quilt to give you more space to insert the tacks., A major disadvantage for me of this method has been finding all the tacks afterward. I have quilts that have been in use for many years and washed a number of times and I still find a tack in them. METHOD 4 METHOD 5 This method was recommended by Bonnie Lehman, the founder of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine. She hung her quilt sandwich from a clothes line, securing only the top and pinned or basted it in place. I have used everyone of these methods and they all
have there pluses and minuses. My favorites were 2 and 4. But then I
could not longer reach, crawl etc. So the next newsletter will discuss
what I do now.
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Our first set of offerings will be a few classes, by January we expect to expand to a full roster of teachers. Our stress will be on techniques. Our mission will be to offer the skills you need to become a proficient quilt maker. If there is enough interest we will expand this to more machine embroidery offerings Our technique classes will have projects for you to learn techniques, but the stress is on learning techniques. A complete list of the classes and teachers for this term will be available by September 18. Our first classes will include making a landscape quilt from a photograph, fabric dyeing, beginning quilt making and creative machine quilting among others. Look for further news on this program. |
| New Free Patterns on Website | |
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This quilt, "Polka Dot Fleet" will be the next Free Pattern. The pattern is filled with polka dot prints, but of course the fabric choice will be up to you. Perhaps you will have a "Plaid Fleet" or a "Pastel Fleet" . An EQ6 version will be downloadable on our user forum under "downloads". It is not nearly as hard as it looks and is all paper pieced except for the setting. |
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| Correction, we misspelled the last name of our quilt of the month maker in the last news letter. It should have been Becky Provan, Becky, I apologize. | |
| Are there any volunteers to be candidates for quilt of the month on the September 15 newsletter? | |
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The Fabric Post Card Project is also now online! |
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| I mean, doesn't she already have enough to do? | Project for this Month |
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Well, yes I do, but I am going to be bringing out my own pattern
line of baby's and children's quilts. I have certainly had enough practice with it.
Some of my first patterns will be making a pattern of a baby quilt I
have already made. Most of these quilts will be simple in design and
quick to make. I would suggest that they be well quilted to make
them last longer. This gives them more strength. Then be prepared to
see it used as a Superman cape, a picnic cloth, a lovey, shared with
the dog and dragged around stores. But it is really better to me
than having it hung on the wall. I want it to wipe up tears and
share the joy of a new toy and to be tucked in the very bottom of
the backpack when it is taken to a slumber party just in case its
owner gets homesick. The name of this enterprise will be Grandma Diane's Baby and Children's Quilts Here are a few baby quilts I have made. I have lots more ideas.
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The project for this month is a hot pad for the table or a potholder. It is very simple. They are great gifts . I picked my favorite block - Hole in the Barn Door, also know as Monkey Wrench. This is a very versatile block. The full instructions are on http://www.quiltersthreads.com |
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Impromptu Contest |
Teachers Who Have Made a Difference in my Life |
We use bright purple/magenta Mylar metallic envelopes to send out most of our products. We are being told that they are too beautiful to throw away. So send in your ideas of how to use them. I have thought of as kites, as fringe on a shelf or table, as decoration on wood with lacquer on top. Let's hear your ideas. Our favorites will receive a little something from Quilter's Threads. |
| Since there is an emphasis on teaching
in this issue, I wanted to talk about a few quilt teachers and a
high school teacher who have made a difference in my life. Please
send your nominations for Teachers Who Have Made a Difference and I
will include some of them in future newsletters. Thanks to Mr, Krause of Cleveland High School in Northridge, California. He asked how I was doing in a civics class and I said it was pretty boring. He asked me - "What are you doing to make it more interesting?" A very good question to ask yourself over and over about life. Thanks to Gwen Marston who showed me that the quilt police did not live at my house and taught creative ways to create folk applique. Thanks to Maurine Noble who taught me to machine quilt and machine applique and opened new worlds of creativity. Thanks to Mary Ellen Hopkins who taught me not to plan ahead with my quilting and cut the second piece to fit the first, She has been a life saver. Thanks to Hari Walner who tweaked something creative in me regarding design and quilting. Thanks to Linda Schmidt who increased my love affair with threads at least ten fold and taught me many of the techniques I use to make my quilting more interesting. And there we are full circle. |
Submit your quilt for the next Quilt of the month. Send a picture to info@quiltersthreads.com |
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You are receiving this email because you were formerly a subscriber to the webofthreads newsletter, subscribed via the Quilter’s Threads web site or are a friend of Diane and Kathy. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to someone else. To subscribe to this newsletter go to www.quiltersthreads.com and click on the subscribe link. To unsubscribe reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject field. |
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