Calculating the Bias

 

     Quilting this took me way longer that it should have! Being less familiar/confident with machine quilting and school starting definitely slowed me down. Despite the fact I would rather have hand quilted it, the stitching looks amazing and the pattern is beautiful. Time to trim the edges and set the binding in order. Over the years I read several books and blogs with tips and trends for determining binding length; taking bits and pieces here and there to make my own way.

   First let me say I generally use the continuous bias binding method; two inch cut. After piecing the fabric strips together the continuous binding strip is folded in half and pressed. Raw edges are sewn to the front edge of the quilt with mitered corners and a hidden overlap at the ends. The binding is now turned to the back and hand stitched in place. To find how much is needed a little math comes into play.

* add the measurements of all four sides of the quilt
* to that # add 15" for joining seams and finishing edges
   this # gives the length of binding needed for the quilt
* to this # multiply the width of your binding (mine is 3")
* find the square root of that # and you have the yardage needed

   Like I said, I have no idea where this formula came from but it works wonders! Also http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/bias-binding.html has excellent charts for yardage yields for bias cut bindings. I keep a copy in my binder for shopping trips; this makes remnant bin opportunities mindful purchases:)
   Now, I'm off to finish the bias binding on the spring picnic quilt because so many other projects are calling my name!!!

Practice Before You Start

 

    A quilt takes hours upon hours to piece together making it somewhat valuable and precious, to me anyway. After all that work I am in no hurry to quilt a design I am not fully comfortable with, especially if I am using my machine. Due to the possibility this quilt will receive wash and wear I decided to machine quilt it instead of hand quilting..meaning, I need to practice before I start. 

    

    Before quilting a design, I sketch it on paper several times running the pencil along the path my needle with take. This works with machine or hand quilting designs, helping me determine the most efficient path to follow for fewer thread breaks and stable quilting. I have hand quilted the Baptist fan design before, but this will be my first ever machine version. 

    Today's video gives you a glimpse over my shoulder at my machine set up and pattern of stitching. 

Setting the Machine

     While it is true that I am primarily a hand quilter, machine quilting does cross my workstation from time to time. Early in my quilting days there was absolutely no place for machine work- I was quite biased in my stance against it. These days, modern convenience and consumer request have made it necessary to learn the skill.
      The first thing I learned early on it that any machine can be used for quilting any size project and I have quilted all kinds of sizes. True- smaller projects are easier, however, larger ones are just as successful. Let's look at a few items I have come to love in machine quilting and set up the home machine before we work.

Filling Blank Space

   Every quilter defines blank space differently..this quilter believes a blank space is any space that causes my mind to draw a blank. Sometimes the hardest part of quilting is choosing the 'right design for the space.' I confess, I do not quilt like other quilters do, so blank spaces don't scare me. As for 'the right design', every design is a right design..the only limitation is your own imagination.

   A doodler at heart, I am prone to draw the quilt spaces and scribble this and that until something just screams YES. While I love to fill and fiddle with various designs on paper, I know that what works on the paper doesn't always translate well on the fabric. Sometimes, less is more. For example, I played with several designs for the blue block baby quilt pictured above. In the end simply outlining the blocks and sawtooth gave me the illusion my heart desired- tumbling blocks.

   Filler designs range from flowers, to pebbles, to loopty-loops..geometric shapes or echoed outlines. Machine quilters often fill with stipples or wiggly lines, but that isn't easily done by hand. Only once did I hand quilt stippling..then and there I swore never to do it again. When we consider filling a space in a block we must consider the whole of the quilt..maintaining gauge and tension consistently. 

   In this week's video we take a look at some finished sampler quilts to see how different fillers enhance the space and add some 'space filler designs' to our sampler.

    Quilting is a personal experience..and expression of our individual taste and temperament. Bear in mind, there are no wrong designs..no wrong motifs...no limits to what we can design, create or stitch. Explore quilts this week and take the time to really see the heart of the quilter in the way they used the spaces and translate that into your own work. Let's go quilt something beautiful! 

Three Types of Quilting and the Orange Peel

    Quilting design and motif varies from quilter to quilter..ask three quilters how to best enhance a quilt top and you will get three very different answers. My quilting designs tend to fall into one of three main design categories. I call them echo/outline, all over, and artistic.
   Echo or outline quilt design simply takes the pieced or appliqued design element and enhances it either by stitching in the ditch (seem lines) or echoing the design. Generally, I use them together working my quilting ino the ditch as well as echoing the design in the blank spaces. In the Dresden fan quilt pictured above we can clearly see the echo and outline design enhancing and even copying the original design element of the quilt top. The quilt has density, texture, and beauty added through the simple act of repeating the lines.

    This quilt has a lot of beautiful curves and ripples in the pieced design. To complete the quilt without detracting from the theme, it is stitched in the ditch (outlined) to enhance the design, create soft texture, and give no other element  to the work. Being a bed quilt, the outline keeps the quilt soft and subtle for a great snuggle effect.

    When a quilt is really 'busy' or really plain or is intended to stand up to plenty of use, an all over design can enhance the final product. This quilt above has a lot going on in the design; plenty of color and line. This quilt is currently on the quilt frame being quilted with last week's Baptist fan design. The gently curves will give stability while adding some softness to the lines in the design. I have a Dresden quilt next in line that has only six applique on the whole cloth top..the design plan is to add lined texture with an all over cross hatch, allowing sturdiness and contrast to the bed size quilt.

    When a quilt has plenty of artistic thought in the piecing, it screams artistic quilting. In the Holly Lane quilt above, we have applique and piecing done with very specific fabrics; it conveys a scenic motif that draws your mind to visions of winter wonder. The quilting here was intended to enhance the vision bringing swirling snow and stars in the sky..chimneys held smoke billows and in the borders holly dances along the way. Artistic quilting is the most time consuming and detailed of the three..for me, it is often added to a smaller wall quilt or done by special request for a client.

   Now for our sampler. This week another easy to mark design, the orange peel..sometimes called the wineglass, fills the fourth space on the sampler. The base of a drinking glass, a small desert plate or even my canning ring gives the overlapping circular patter. Where the Baptist fan was a softer circle, the orange peel adds a bit of intricacy to the fabric with the oblong slivers it creates. Perfect for all over quilting, filling empty squares, or adding beautiful texture to a border, the orange peel is a wonderful design to have in our tool box.

Plan the Design & The Baptist Fan

    I love quilting..love it, but the most challenging aspect of quilting for me is planning a design. After all the piecing is complete it's time to take a long hard look at the form and function of the quilt. Is there a clear design element to the quilt (lines/circles)? What will this quilt face in it's lifetime? Is it for use or display? Does the batting have requirements? I have some questions to ponder before a design is chosen.
     Let's look at an example: the quilt in the picture above is lab/crib size, intended for use, may face plenty of washing and wear and it has a lot of straight line elements. This in mind I needed a smaller gauge design to give stability..the amount of piecing may make detailed designs more challenging..and with all the lines already in the design, some curves may soften the texture.

   Drawing the quilt on a sheet of paper gives me a canvas for testing ideas. I use a spiral notebook for design doodling and block planning. Here you can see my basic pinwheel quilt sketched out with a few variant quilting designs played with in the spaces. This gives me room to play and keeps the designs from getting lost on the sewing room desk.

   Some quilts just shout a design. This vintage star quilt is hand quilted with 'meandering stars' giving the appearance of stars scattered across the bed. Other quilts are artistic and beg for embellishment..i.e. the Holly Lane quilt made last Christmas needed stars in the night sky with smoke curling from the chimneys. Baby girl quilts easily lend to flower or ribbon effects while a boys quilt may need bubbles or sail boats. I try to keep in mind the person receiving the quilt..their tastes and preferences. No matter the design, the end result will be beautiful and functional. I do talk a little bit in the video about smaller quilts and their designs.

   Now for this week's quilt design: the Baptist fan. I love the simplicity and flow of this traditional quilt design. Easily fit in any quilt space and versatile in gauge and direction, this design can fill a large quilt or an outer border. The arches quilt well without too much curve, enabling us to load those needles with more stitches and move the work along at a faster pace. My Jungle Babies quilt pictured at the top is on the frame right now being quilted with this very design.

    Share your  projects with us..add pictures or your link in the comment box to encourage and inspire others. Questions..quilt troubles you need help with? Send me an email at simplyscaife@yahoo.com.

Some Tips and Techniques

    Sometimes getting started is the hardest part of any project; hand quilting is no exception. In the video today we take hand quilting step by step: threading, stitching and ending, while addressing a few tips and trouble spots along the way. A few things didn't make it into the video..here are a few Q&A's.
    1. How do I fix a knot?
        Knots happen to everyone. Tangled thread that just won't come undone is cut just below the tangle. If there isn't enough thread to make a knot, I pull a few stitches until I can tie off. Cut a fresh piece, use a tangle prevention method (see video), and start fresh.
    2. What is traveling?
         In hand quilting, traveling means to slip your needle between the quilt sandwich layers and move from where you are quilting to where you need to be quilting. Kind of skipping to the next spot. Note: only travel very short distances and it's better not to travel if your thread is darker than your fabric.
   3.  My stitches are puckering.
        Relax. When I quilt a difficult design, often I find myself tensing up and biting my lip. Bad habit! Stop, breathe, sip tea and come back when you are relaxed. A little pucker is fine, too much will distort the quilt. Try smoothing the stitches a bit to relieve the tension in the fabric.
   4. My (hands, shoulders, wrists, etc.) hurt.
       Check your position. Are you practicing good posture? Good technique? Are you quilting with your arms supported?
    The desire of my heart is to share my experience with others and to learn from others as well. If you have tips or techniques we would love to hear from you. Leave us a message or comment. Let's learn and stitch together.

Gauge, Mark and Clamshell

    Getting the hang of quilting motions stirred a fire in me to keep learning and growing in my skills. Once straight lines showed signs of relatively even stitches of equal tension my curiosity urged me forward. Over the years I have learned that quilting curves can be tricky. Taking is slow and steady is the key; never loading more than a couple stitches at a time and maintaining good position are key.
     Stitching is important to our hand quilting skills, but another task goes hand in hand- making the design work with the quilt. The gauge, or distance between rows of quilting stitches, determines the texture and the body of the completed quilt. After playing with various gauges I have determined two to three inches  fit my taste. This gives enough body to the quilt without stiffness, and adds subtle texture to the design.
      Once gauge is determined, marking needs to be done. Purchased templates got me started with my quilting, but often my designs are cut from cardstock/cardboard or found in common items, such as the canning ring used in this design. Whatever the stencil, I start in the middle and work my design toward the edge. Today's video discusses gauge, template, marking and quilting position.

        If you are planning to try out the clamshell design this week, bear in mind 'slow and steady'. Take a few stitches at a time to prevent boxy stitch lines and stop if you feel achy or frustrated. It's better to walk away for a bit than to have a bad taste in our mouth.

       As I work through this section of the sampler this week my plans are to work a video of quilting tips and techniques such as burying the knot, ending your stitches and preventing tangles. If you have a specific quilting question or problem I would be more than happy to try solving it with you. Leave me a comment or send me an email (pictures welcome) at simplyscaife@yahoo.com. Have a blessed day stitching something wonderful.

 

Visit us over at Dolly's Designs

Let's Start: Rock and Hill

   Of the many people who talk to me about hand quilting, the most commonly expressed concern is the method. It's too hard..it causes pain...it's tedious. That very well may be, and the reason that may be is just not being taught. Until someone sat down with me, hand quilting was a struggle that often found me holding my breath until the end of the row. It shouldn't be that way.

   When you sit down to quilt, be sure you are comfortable and in good posture. Place the quilt on a table or on a pillow atop your lap so that elbows are comfortably bent and your work is at a good height. Sitting up straight and keeping the quilt at a good eye level reduces stress and strain on the neck, shoulders, and vision. I keep a small basket near by workstation with scissors, thread, and an extra thimble so everything is nearby.
   In the video below we'll take a look at thimbles, needles, and how to bury the knot. The key to hand quilting is rocking the needle and creating the hill. Without those two key actions, hand quilting is painful and a struggle. Rocking helps the needle grab the quilt layers while the hill works the needle back through the top preparing you for the next stitch. When we start our quilting stitches it is more important to aim for consistent stitches than it is to worry about stitch length.
   Take you time..breathe..and remember, it is okay. Don't stop and rip it out, but focus forward and keep on stitching. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at simplyscaife@yahoo.com or leave them in the comment section below.

   
  

A Closer Look at Basting

 

   My first attempts at quilting were very basic and very small. This gave me freedom to work with fabric I wasn't emotionally attached to and work within a reasonable space. As my skills grew, my projects grew as well..from 12 inch squares, to baby quilts on up. Over those many projects I have worked with two basting techniques: thread basting and pin basting. 

   Thread, though a one use only method, has its advantages. It doesn't create bulk or interfere with the placement of the hoop or frame. The smooth surface is easily cut away as you work an area and thread does provide excellent stability. If your project will be long term or may be set aside for a period of time, be sure to use neutral colors that won't bleed onto the quilt fabric.

    Pins are great to have on hand and to work with. Reusable and easy to use, my pins have been through numerous projects over the years. A bit of adjustment can be needed when putting a pinned piece into a hoop..either adjusting the hoop or removing a pin. If left long term, pins can lead to rust if moisture is present. 

    In the video link below, I have basted a sample to help clarify the process. For demonstration purposes only, my quilt top is white and my baste thread is red. Hopefully this will help it show well on the video. As I mentioned, both methods work well, so if you are basting use what you have available to you and what you are most comfortable with.