Tag: quilt

Collaborative Projects

April 17, 2025

Group sewing projects are fun. My bee group has made a handful of quilts to donate to our guild’s community service in the two years our group’s been in existence. We work on blocks independently, then schedule sew-ins at a local quilt shop 2-3x per year to lay out projects and assemble the top(s). We get to use their big classroom space for a modest fee of $5 per person.

Today’s quilt top was made from alternating 9 patch and snowball blocks. The blocks were suppose to be 6-1/2″ unfinished. Some had to be set aside because they were either too small or too large. Many others had to be “stretched” or “centered” with the adjacent block so the two blocks could be sewn together. We all started with the same 2-1/2″ and 6-1/2″ squares. The differences are basically attributable to varying 1/4″ seam allowances and pressing with steam.

So how can you consistently make your blocks the correct size?

  1. Starch, Best Press or Magic Spray fabric before you begin. Allow it to cool and dry before cutting.
  2. Cut accurately. Use a nonslip ruler and rotary cutter with a fresh blade. Use a die cutting machine or specialty ruler such as the Shape Cut by June Tailor.
  3. Use a fine piecing thread like Aurifil 50wt with an 80/12 Microtex needle. Wonderfil’s Efina 60wt and Hobby Lobby’s 50wt cotton thread (on the cross-wound spool) also work well.
  4. Sew with a scant 1/4″ seam. I have to move my needle position 1 or 2 clicks to the right to get a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. Test your machine with your preferred piecing foot.
  5. Sew a sample block before cutting everything out. It’s okay to have to trim it down slightly. It’s even okay to come up occasionally 1/8″ short on a side. This variation can easily be worked into a row of blocks. Anything more and you’ll need to make adjustments to your piecing process.

Making snowball blocks here. I trimmed the corners using my Simple Folded Corners Ruler from Doug Leko. Stitched seams using O2 Janome 1/4″ foot and my needle position one click to the right.

Before leaving our sew-in today, I made a sample block for our next collaborative quilt – Puzzle Box. Used the same needle position as I did for the snowball blocks, only my block was a tad small. I made another one at home. The second sample block using a needle position of 3.5 yielded a near perfect 8-1/2″ square with only slivers needing to be trimmed away. Winner!

Packing for a quilt retreat that requires air travel

April 14, 2025

Do you ever fly with your sewing machine? I have on five occasions – twice with my Featherweight and three times with my Elna STAR edition (3/4 size machine similar to the Janome Jem Platinum 720). I prefer to take the computerized Elna because it has features the FW lacks. For me, the Elna also goes through TSA security without the need for additional screening.

With Delta’s new boarding rules and a main cabin ticket for my recent quilt retreat in Idaho, overhead bin space for my carry-on sewing machine was a concern. Here’s the thing: in ATL, more than half the plane will be boarding before me because I’m a general Skymiles member without a co-branded credit card. I anticipated overhead bin space but packed my 3/4 size Elna STAR edition sewing machine in an underseat rolling tote in case she had to ride under the seat in front of me. At no time do I want my sewing machine to ride as checked luggage! I actually had no issue getting overhead bin space on either flight.

Packing for a retreat where I’m driving is definitely easier. I can take whatever I want in my SUV. Flying requires a more minimalist approach. I took small projects to work on – Mini Brightly in spring colors and 4 blocks from the Middle GA Shop Hop. Everything was precut and bagged. Projects in baggies, batting and FQs are packed along with the sewing machine, foot pedal, power cord, machine accessories and manual. Everything else goes in my checked luggage.

Post retreat update: Retreat swag and other souvenirs had to be shipped home or I would’ve exceeded the weight limit for my suitcase. I definitely plan to return for future retreats. I’ll bring the same machine, but with fewer feet (all-purpose, 1/4″, open toe, zipper and a walking foot with guides). Sewing supplies will be kept to a minimum: thin heat resistant pins, magnetic pin cushion, wonder clips, purple thang, seam ripper, glue stick, small scissors, 8″ scissors, pencil, frixon pen, thimble, hand sewing needles, rotary cutter, 12X18 folding cutting mat, 8-1/2″ x 12-1/2″ ruler, 10″ square, 5″ square, 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ ruler, mini-iron, press mat, mini clapper, small extension cord and travel Ott light. Of course, I’ll bring extra thread, needles and bobbins plus my extension table. I’ll also include any specialty rulers or notions my projects may require. Anything else, I can borrow or buy at the retreat.

The retreat organizers taught a new project each day. Skill building and fun, but they didn’t think the logistics on the train case all the way through. If they had, we would’ve been told to bring a 9-1/2″ square ruler and a larger cutting mat. I took my 8-1/2″ square and my 9″x12″ cutting mat. Not good when 30+ retreat attendees are trying to use the 2 cutting stations.

Handling economic uncertainty

April 1, 2025

One thing is for sure: there will always be economic uncertainty. It’s a part of life. What happens in the stock market is out of your control. All you can do is plan/prepare to the best of your ability, adapt when needed and get on with your life.

How might the current economic uncertainty from tariffs and blowback from other countries impact quilters and sewists? Who knows? I fully expect the price of things from fabric & thread to quilt retreats to increase across all sectors of the marketplace – whether you get your stuff online, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby or your LQS.

Rest assured, I’ll still continue to quilt, make projects for charity and take classes to hone my skills. This won’t change. What may change is where I buy fabric & notions and where I take classes/attend retreats. Like you, I have a finite amount of money to devote to quilting activities. My goal is to make the money stretch to include the quilty activities that make my heart sing.

New fabric in my area quilt shops averages $14.00/yard. For me, fabric has now achieved the same status as certain items in the grocery store. I’m not paying full price for those items. I can wait for a sale, buy it elsewhere at a cheaper price or substitute something else. Amazing how well this strategy works for fabric, too.

Quilt classes have increased in price. While my guild’s class prices have remained steady at $55 for members, most pattern and supply fees are now paid directly to the instructor, rather than being included in the class fee. I typically take at least 1 guild sponsored class each year. This week’s class with Tara Miller was awesome! The other class I want to take is in late July with Michelle Yeo. She’ll be in the US over the summer and my guild was lucky enough to book her. Her Giant Dahlia quilt is gorgeous. The acrylic templates and 2 patterns with shipping from Australia were just under $100.00 USD. A friend and I split the cost.

Quilt retreat/travel has also gone up. Retreat fees are up about 20% over last year – as are hotel prices. I’m in a quilt retreat group on FB and some organizers are having a hard time filling all their spaces. One organizer even admitted she should have planned for a private room option. Thank you. Some of us prefer private rooms – not 3+ twin beds stuffed in an alcove. As several FB retreat group members have indicated repeatedly, I’ll be happy to pay a reasonable extra amount for a private room.

This is why I tend to stick to events held at conference centers. In a couple of weeks, I’m headed to Idaho for a spring retreat with the JK Quilts girls. This will be my third retreat with them. It’s held at a local hotel & conference center in Boise. Always a great time! I’d like to try their fall retreat – held at a lodge about an hour north of Boise. In June, I’ll be taking 2 classes at Mountain QuiltFest in Pigeon Forge (TN). Points and incentives earned from my Idaho hotel stay will help cover some of the hotel cost of my Pigeon Forge trip. The rest of my summer/fall quilty adventures will be local or within a 3 hour drive.

The economy may be having a hissy fit at the moment, but I’m still living my best retirement life. I can’t do all the things, but I can do all the things I really want to do. Sometimes, it requires a little creativity, but that’s half the fun.