MACHINE BINDING

The Farm Quilt is all ready for its label and some finishing hand stitching.....  here are the binding steps for using a wide binding.........

sew the binding to the front of the quilt - I'm using the walking foot as the seam width which
is about a 1/4" 

I like to use the markings on the needle plate when attaching binding - as my walking foot gives me a 1/4" seam, I use that line marked on the plate to know where to stop and backstitch before turning the corner.  You can just see the quilt top corner peeking out, when that gets up to that line I stop and backstitch and then turn and stitch off the quilt.....  if you were using a wider seam width, you would just put a piece of painters tape or similar to mark your stopping point.  I find this the most accurate method for knowing where to stop and backstitch.

stop with needle down when the corner of the quilt top reaches that 1/4 line (to match the
seam width) 

  

backstitch first and then stitch off to the edge

fold back as per usual and continue stitching all the way around the quilt

I cut the binding at 4", this allows for a larger width binding on the back of the quilt (I'm using double fold binding not single fold) -once I've stitched all the way around the quilt,  to finish off the binding I use a scrap of the binding to measure the overlap for joining the two ends together.......

Use a scrap of the binding to measure the overlap

join on the diagonal

Once the binding is stitched to the quilt front, I then take everything over to the ironing board......  I press the binding away from the quilt top.....

Back on the ironing board, press the binding back away from the quilt top.

Turn the binding over to the back of the quilt - I like to use
the Jumbo Wonder Clips to hold everything in place - see the
nice mitre in the corner!  if you have trimmed your quilt top
to a perfect 90 degrees and attached the binding as above, this mitre
just forms itself!

stitching down the back of the binding - yes on my machine! this
quilt is for a little baby so I want the binding to be hard wearing for all those
washes it will get!  I use my walking foot and a longer stitch
length.  Yes, the stitches will show on the front of the quilt - they form
another row of quilting in your last border ... this method works for
plain borders but probably wouldn't suit a pieced or applique border.

I will take some photos of the finished binding today, I'm up to attaching the quilt label and hand stitching those mitres down.

Happy Sewing!

Cheers from Helen

THREE LITTLE KITTENS

Well, actually Five Little Kittens !    This is my secret project....  I am working on Block # 5 today and then I have four 4 patch blocks to make.

I don't know why but I didn't actually enjoy doing the stitching on these blocks but I have enjoyed adding the frames around the applique blocks.  I have never used partial piecing but as the pattern used it on these blocks I figured I would give it a try.  So easy!  why have I never used this method before? 

The best part about the partial piecing is that each segment is cut the same length.  I found a Technique page HERE which explains it very clearly.

The pattern is called  Cute and Cuddly Kittens by Julie Boyle of Popcorn Tree Designs.  You can find the pattern HERE.  Julie has some lovely patterns on her site.  I found this pattern in Patchwork & Stitching magazine Vol 14 # 6.

Scrappy Zoo is finished .......   I  had "just enough" of the bright orange fabric for the binding so I applied it in the usual fashion instead of the "wide binding technique" I usually use.  I hand stitched the back of the binding down which is something I haven't done for ages!

SCRAPPY ZOO QUILT
FOR AMOS

Now I need to make a little gift for our Maisy to go with the Zoo Quilt as it is for her new baby brother and I always like to send a little something for everyone!  

Happy Sewing,

Cheers from Helen

I SPY………..

All machine binding, triangle label - quick and easy! 

I used a 5" charm pack and included two of each block

As usual, I have included some little books plus a little teddy!

This photo was taken outside.  The little quilt was just out of the dryer!

This idea of a "mini I Spy" is not my original idea!   It comes from here.  The cute thing about these little mini quilts is that they can be used as dolly quilts eventually!

This little parcel will be mailed tomorrow.

Happy Sewing!!

Cheers from Helen

There's a Bear in There..........

PLUS...  three little books and a quilt.....     yes folks!   the teddy quilt has left the sewing room!!!

Little Maisy is in Brisbane for her Nanny's birthday so I took the opportunity to meet up with my Niece and little Maisy thisafternoon to FINALLY deliver the Teddy quilt!   I put a little soft teddy bear and three bear books in the parcel.   

As per usual, I used the Wide Binding Method as found HERE.  I just love this method, as you probably have guessed by now!  I labeled this quilt "There's a bear in there......" and included the Play School Book of the same name.

Here is a photo of the whole quilt up on my design wall, but as you can see - the flash from the camera turned the quilt a weird colour....

I am so pleased to get this quilt DONE!   Fred said that it is the most beautiful quilt I have ever made!!   thank you dear!!

Now on to more finishing.......   you may remember THIS QUILT   Tumbling Monkeys!!   well, this will be the next one to get finished.  It is just waiting for the binding!

I might have a Saturday Night Sew In tonight, no video this time!  I'll leave that for another day....

Happy Sewing!!

HOW TO SEW ON A HOT DAY

FIRSTLY, THIS MUST BE ON FULL BLAST -  ignore the dirty blades!

SECONDLY, YOU MUST HAVE GOOD MUSIC PLAYING...  yes, I do have quite a selection in my iTunes!    As I am typing this, Dean Martin is singing La Vie En Rose and oh no, now I'm listening to the theme from Dances with Wolves (I still get goose-bumps when I hear this song!)

YOU REALLY MUST HAVE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AGES AGO, THAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED...  yes, embarrassed to admit it but this is our little Maisy's Teddy quilt that was supposed to be her Christmas present....  it's coming Maisy!!

Stitching in the ditch.  Using Gutermann Sulky  Cotton 30 in the bobbin (a lovely variegated thread col # 4031) and Gutermann Cotton 50 in needle.

When I sew children's quilts I always backstitch at the beginning

and end of the quilting row.  I feel this adds strength to the row of

quilting (will stand up to endless washing).

 

YOU SHOULD BE IN A HAPPY MOOD ... now this really made me happy - I received a complimentary copy of Barbara Brackman's new book "Civil War Sampler" - this was the weekly quilt- along I participated in back in 2011 ---- and before you ask, NO the quilt top is still not together.  I have a block in the book - Page 26  Blockade (it's the one on the bottom of the page).  How exciting is that!

but wait! there's more......

       

I had my first year of my Blog printed as a Blog2Print book!   Love it!  I'm now working on my second year. (sorry about the flash - if I didn't use it you couldn't see the book).

YOU SHOULD HAVE NOTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS SEWING (THAT WILL ONLY DISTRACT YOU!)...  I finished off this little quilt - I went through all of the scraps and leftover chunks of fabric I used making the Keep Movin' quilt and I put together this little quilt for a friend's new grandson.  It's only a small quilt - perfect for taking out to the shopping mall or the park - something clean and bright to use as a change mat or picnic rug.

I had the binding already made in my stash (it was going to be used on one of the toy twist quilts but I changed colours).  Although not a great colour match, I think it looks quite good and suits the quilt.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE INTERRUPTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS LOOKING FOR FOOD ..

Too easy... it's so darned HOT that nobody feels like eating anyway. Unless you count Frosty Fruits ice blocks:-)

So there you have it... how to sew on a hot day and believe me, we are experiencing terrible heat all over Australia.

I had better get back to the sewing, here's a bit of Dean to make you swoon (all those who do not like Dean Martin, switch off now)........

Happy Sewing!!
Cheers from Helen

... warning.. the above video may just make you cry-   better have a box of tissues handy:-)this of course only applies to those of you who love Dean Martin as much as I do.

Update on Fred:-  back to chemo again tomorrow and has had a rough two weeks following the last lot.  This will be # 5, so only one more session to go!   Thanks for all the lovely well wishes you send via my blog and email.

IT'S ALL ABOUT TWISTING!

Hello!

It's definitely time I did a catch up post...  little bits of sewing happening here in Aunty Henny land... 

First up is a 'Lil Twister mini quilt I made for my friends birthday back in September.  I love using the 'lil twister ruler, the finished quilt always looks much more complicated than it is:-)

'LIL TWISTER - GIFT FOR A FRIEND

Next up is another version of the Hey Diddle Diddle quilt, which I call my Toy Twist quilt.  This one is for my new great-niece Maisy who was born in February.  This one is larger than the first two I made, you can see those HERE.  The original pattern (by Karen DuMont of KariePatch Designs)  has the twist block in the middle of the quilt but I always leave that area clear so baby has somewhere to actually lie on the quilt!  

Once again I used a favourite binding method - the Wide Binding Method as seen HERE.  This "totally by machine method" is great for kids quilts - stands up to lots of washing and cuddling!

TOY TWIST QUILT FOR LITTLE MAISY

CLOSE UP OF TOY TWIST BLOCK

I USED MY FAVOURITE BINDING METHOD!

I never did show you a photo of the finished Lullaby in the Night Sky quilt I made for little Maisy.  It is such a BIG quilt!  I had fun with the free motion quilting  -  did some stars and fish scales and lots of "waves" in the ocean - so much fun and good practice for me!  I put a hanging sleeve on this one, so it can be hung on the wall until Maisy has a bed big enough for it:-)

Lullaby in the Night Sky
for Maisy

Currently on the go is a quilt for my Aunty Jean.  I recently moved sewing rooms (from a very small room into my son's old bedroom) and during the move I found a stash of fabric I must have had for YEARS........  I immediately starting cutting and piecing and now have a lovely big quilt almost ready to deliver.  I'm just hand sewing the binding down (yes, I do sometimes attach binding using the traditional method!)  Photo soon.

I'm loving my new sewing space....  it has a walk-in wardrobe which I managed to fill with no trouble! ....  room for my cutting/pinning table which used to be outside on my verandah and my Horn sewing cabinet plus two plastic fabric drawer units.  I put up a new black felt design wall (love it - the black felt works so well!).  I'm still setting everything up, but when it's done I will take some pics and show you how wonderful it all is!

Update on Fred.....     

All goes well!  Fred had the liver operation of October 18th, came home from hospital October 25th (yes, he is a good patient!) and is recovering really well.  He is improving each day.  Eating better now and back to light exercise (walking around our tennis court).  Another round of chemo begins in a week or two.  It will be the same as last time, every second Monday for three days.   This should finish around February 2013.  After that, he has to have scans and check-ups every year but the outlook is very positive!  

Thanks for all of your emails and prayers, I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of friends supporting me and of course Fred and yes, Matt too!  (Matt is still working, will commence back at college in February).


Oh dear....  this is a big post!  I had better get back to sorting the new sewing room!

Happy Sewing!!
Cheers from Helen