If you saw my fabric stash, you would think I was a quilter. My quilt magazine stash is sizeable with Quilt Sampler and American Patchwork and Quilting along with the European crafting magazines that have their chapters of patchwork in them. Even today, I picked up BH&G Quilt Pink for hope. Whenever I pass by full-size quilt block pattern magazines or books, I can't help myself but pick them up. I have the really pretty specialized quilt pattern books by Alex (can't remember her last name, but she is famous). I have tons of Christmas fabric, gorgeous Halloween fabric, awesome novelty fabrics, Disney fabrics, Flower Fairies fabric and a couple of OOP fabrics. I have scissors (okay, I would buy another pair) and the cutter as well as the self healing cutting mat. I even have the batting!
Obviously there is a quilt inside of me trying to get out..... I just don't get why I can't even cut a straight line. Forget the fact that 1/4 seams evade me like a vampire does garlic. I have the hand sewing irregular seams part down. LOL. I tried the paper piecing and I think I am going to give it another try.
Guess I am a quilting wannabe who will continue to try to get it right until that quilt comes out. Who knows, maybe another will follow....
If practice makes better, then I want to be the best I can be.
Again, I thank you for your comments. If you pass by, please say 'Hi". It means a great deal to me.
Make every stitch count..... ::smile::
Saturday, July 30, 2011
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3 comments:
Haha I dragged my mother in law in when I tried quilting. I could cut but the sewing part was beyond me but with my mil it was the other way around so together we make the perfect quilter
oooo must have a rummage through your fabbie and I can help you with the sewing :) love mouse xxxx
Quilting is definitely a craft that takes practice. Cutting the fabric is not so bad but you have to practice with using the ruler and rotary cutter. I would recommend finding a ruler that doesn't slip as you cut. You can buy one like that or buy these little clear sticky "feet" or dots that look like sand paper that you can stick on the bottom of your ruler.
A few tips to remember.
1) Iron the fabric first.
2)Use the guidelines on the ruler when you measure the width of your strip you are cutting and not the cutting mat. Line up the edge of the fabric with a line on the cutting mat. This way you know the fabric is straight laying on the table when you go to measure with your ruler.
3)Make sure the fabric is folded right on your cutting mat. Put selvages together and then grab the folded bottom and put together with the selvages. This way you are cutting through several layers of the fabric at once. You need to trim the edge first (the side edge not top) After you trim the edge and have that nice and straight then you can begin measuring to cut your strips.
4) If you can't sew the 1/4" seam, there is a machine foot called a 1/4" foot. (But you may have to look for it depending on the brand of your machine and how old it is) All you do is line up the edge of the fabric with the edge of the foot and sew. The distance between the needle and the edge of the foot is 1/4".
Andddd Alex's last name is Anderson. LOL
Good Luck!
Jen
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