Sewing 8 Pointed Stars - Quilting Tip for December 2008

"A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars."

Greetings Quilter -

m. mouse sends this quick note:

this is shaping up to be a very fun christmas. one of the things i just love is giving you special deals on quilting resources that make your life easier and your quilts even more beautiful.

(well, really, i'm hoping that you are making quilts for the lovely animals in your house.)

lots of you have taken advantage of my special cut-rate on our ever-popular robin's nest quilting dvd mentor - where penny tells you and shows you in a video step-by-step, from start to finish how to make this great 9 patch.

thing is, if you haven't already gotten your copy, you'd better rush over there quick, because they are almost gone, and you wouldn't want to wait until after christmas to get yours in the mail.

and remember, you get the cd recording with sandy muckenthaler of hoffman fabrics. she has lots of secrets to tell about how fabric is made and how quilters should care for their quilts.

you'll find all of the information here: www.RobinQuilt.com but there are just 7 days left to get in on this great deal - december 14 is the last day to get all of these goodies and this great price.

Binding Webinar

On Thursday, December 11, Penny will re-run the Binding webinar. This webinar has been so popular and full of information, that several quilters have tuned in for more than one. This format allows us to bring you pictures and video along with the Telephone Conversation. Binding is a popular topic that quilters usually have a bunch of questions about. So this will be your chance to jump in and watch the presentation and then ask your questions. We will discuss 6 different ways to bind a quilt, and you will see video demonstrating some of the critical points in each process.

As always, the "call" is free, except for any long distance charges your phone company may require. This is both online and on the phone, so you will need to register to get all of the login and dial in information.

This will be a different kind of time. It will begin at 4pm Pacific Time, 5pm Mountain Time, 6pm Central Time, and 7pm Eastern Time. It has been running around 2 hours, so grab a cup of coffee or tea, your pencil and notepad and prepare to hear some fabulous tips and techniques for beautiful binding on your quilts.

Get all of the information and register for the Binding Webinar here.

Happy Quilting!

Tips – for Sewing 8 pointed stars

Eight pointed stars can present challenges, especially in getting the center to lay flat. Here are a few tips for sewing 8 pointed stars together so your center will be perfect and lay flat.

Trim the tips of your triangles so they are easier to match with other patches

• It helps to trim the tips of the diamond patches so you don’t end up with excess fabric (see the image)
• Sew a pair of diamonds together using a really accurate 1/4 inch seam allowance and press the seams to one side. Stitch all the way to the end of the patches.
• Continue to sew pairs of diamonds together and press the seam allowances so they all face the same direction
• Next sew two pairs of diamonds together, and press the seam allowances so they are all facing the same direction.
• Sew the other two pairs of diamonds together using the same method. You should now have two halves of the diamond.
• Now you are ready to sew the two halves together. Pin them well, so you match up all of the seam allowances. Instead of stitching from one side, through the center and to the other side, start sewing in the center of the pair and stitch to the outside.
• Stitch the other side together, beginning in the center of the star working to the outside, keeping all of your seam allowances free so you can press them. as you flatten them, they will form a kind of circle.

A Toddy for the Winter

My dad was a chemist, and his chemical exploits didn't end with airplane cleaning compounds. He also used his mixing in the kitchen and came up with some interesting recipes - especially for drinks.

He introduced me to the Toddy one day during winter when I was suffering from a cold. The sound of the concoction was completely unappealing as he rolled out the recipe. But I was pretty desperate to get better, so I plugged my nose and drank.

Amazingly, it tasted ok, and it did seem to break up the cold – with no nasty side affects.

As you might imagine, it was fun to run across the history of the Toddy and its relatives – the Sling and the Flip. As we here in North America head into winter, I thought I would share my dad’s recipe for the Toddy as well as its history.

Taken from Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Make 'em, by Stanley Clisby Arthur. first published in 1937.

"While we apply the name Toddy to that drink in which we mix whiskey, gin, rum, or brandy with a little sugared water, the original toddy was a far different drink from that which we now imbibe under the same name.

"Toddy" originally was the fermented sap obtained from the incised spathes of various species of palms, especially the wild date palm, and used as a beverage in tropical countries. A Hindustani word, tari in the beginning, it later became tarrie, then tary, terry, tadie, toddy, toddey, toddie and, finally as we know it today, toddy.

"Toddy is just another name for Sling, or vice versa. For example a Hot Whiskey Sling calls for a lump of sugar in a half-glassful of boiling water, a jigger of whiskey, a small piece of lemon peel and a grating of nutmeg. Now if you want a Hot Whiskey Toddy, duplicate the above and omit the nutmeg.
Some like'em hot, some like'em cold, some like'em with gin, some with brandy, some with Scotch. But in any case the addition or omission of nutmeg makes the difference between toddy and sling.

The Kentucky Toddy is composed of a lump of sugar, a little water, a twist of lemon peel, a full jigger of Bourbon, a lump of ice, and a lot of stirring.

My dad's Toddy: A jigger of hot water, a spoon (or lump) of sugar, dissolved in the hot water, a twist of lemon peel, and a jigger of Canadian Whiskey. Once all of that is mixed and sugar is dissolved, drop in a dollop of butter. If you have a cold, it helps to breathe in the steam of the Hot Toddy.

Enjoy!

P.S. This is rather rich, and you may have a difficult time drinking more than one (or two) of these in one sitting. So, if you are looking for a way to "drink away" your cold, best find a different drink.

Featured Block in Video

December begins our holiday blocks, and this Bells block will give us a great start. You have asked for things that are a little more challenging, and here is one. The curves in this block will get you ready for even more curves.

As I explain in the video, larger curves are easier to start with. Once you have mastered the larger curves, try some smaller ones.

This is a two-part video. In the first part you will see how to complete the inner portions of the bell - using yo-yos and embroidery. In the second part, watch how to sew the pieces of the block together. Visit www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com for a free pattern of this Bells block.

Christmas Stories and Quilt Blocks

Create your own family memories by reading your children or grandchildren some of the same classic Christmas stories. I scoured the countryside to gather these together for your and your family to enjoy.

And the quilter in me couldn't let an opportunity pass without including a collection of Star Quilt Block Patterns as well.

Star patterns seemed appropriate for the occasion. Piece them with holiday colored fabrics, or just everyday fabrics, there are 12 to choose from. Make one quilt or make a dozen or more. You get the full size templates as well as rotary cutting layouts and colored pictures of the blocks.

Get started today, so you will enjoy the holidays and time with your family:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/stories.php

Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation

Our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation takes a different spin this month, and by tuning in, you will learn how to make a Quilt as You Go project.

Questions come in on a weekly basis for this information, so this is your opportunity to get a DVD video showing how to do a quilt as you go project and tune in for the Conversation where I will describe the technique and you will have an opportunity to ask your questions.

Members of the Eavesdropping Quilters Club will receive the DVD automatically. If you would like a copy of just this DVD, visit: Quilt as You Go DVD

The date is Tuesday, December 16, and the call will begin at 5pm Pacific Time.

You can register here:

Or join the Eavesdropping Quilters Club:

We now have a new special level of membership in TheQuiltingCoach.com for the Official Eavesdropping Quilters Club.

This level of membership gives you access to all of the same information Eavesdropping Quilters have gotten in the past – the Telephone Worksheet, the Transcript of each call and a copy of the CD recording delivered right to your snail mailbox.

Now, with membership in TheQuiltingCoach.com, in addition to the special notices of telephone calls, telephone worksheets and transcripts, you will get the full unedited recording of the call online. This is the from-start-to-finish call and includes all of the questions from quilters.

This recording is posted a few days after the call, so you can listen to it on your computer immediately and not have to wait until the CD recording comes in the mail.

Members will still get the CD in the mail just has before.

In addition, you will have access to everything in a special download area on TheQuiltingCoach.com.

That is where the transcripts and telephone worksheets are posted, and in addition, there are hundreds of quilt block patterns and step by step instructions for quilts and other projects.

Plus, there is a search engine on the site that makes it really easy to find things you are looking for.

I'm sure you will agree that this is a great deal - you are getting more information for the same price, and still getting the CD recording in your snail mailbox.

And, the first 30 days are free, so you can test it out.

Because I want you to see for yourself how good this is, by signing up for membership in TheQuiltingCoach.com at this new membership level during November, you get the first 30 days to give it a try on our nickel.

And, the current rate for membership in the Eavesdropping Quilters Club remains the same as it is right now - $24 per month. And you get the Telephone Worksheet, transcript of each of the calls, and the CD recording in the mail.

But this deal is only for a limited time.

After the first of the year, new members in the Official Eavesdropping Quilters Club will not get the first 30 days free and will be paying a higher rate.

And, once you sign up, the $24 rate will be yours as long as you remain a member. It can never be increased.

So, you'll want to take care of this soon, otherwise you will miss out on this deal, and end up paying more to get access to this information.

When the Official Eavesdropping Quilters Club began, the plan was to have one interview a month. Because there is so much information and so many quilters to interview, scheduling them has resulted in having 2 interviews for most months.

I love providing all of this information for you. But, as you can imagine, this means that the cost per month is double! And I have continued to maintain the cost to my loyal Official Eavesdropping Quilters the same low $24.

By joining TheQuiltingCoach.com as an Official Eavesdropping Quilter today, you will guarantee that same low $24 with all of the extra benefits of membership in TheQuiltingCoach.com.

Here is the special link to use for your Official Eavesdropping Quilters Club membership. Take care of this today, and you will be sure to hear every word Rosie says on November 19:

http://www.thequiltingcoach.com/public/663.cfm