How-to-Quilt.com

February 2007 Newsletter

This issue includes:

Special Stuff for Valentine's Day

1)  A Tidbit of History – Fabric Dyes from the Past

2)  Tools, Tricks and Quilting Tips – Tips for Cutting Triangles from Squares
   
3)  What's in a Name? – Learn about a traditional patchwork quilt block that has many different names. 
   
4)  Recipe for Quilters – CHOCOLATE CHEESE
   
5)  Newsletter News – Video Clips - Rotary Cutting

6)  Quilter’s Trips – Australiasian Quilt Convention (Melbourne, Australia) – February 22 – 25, 2007

Quilter’s Day Out – 8th Annual Quilt Show (Northeastern Pennsylvania) - March 17, 2007

AQS Quilt Show & Contest (Paducah, Kentucky) – April 25 – 28, 2007

7) Penny's Postcard Posse – Next Roundup is March 21 for an Easter / Spring Theme

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http://www.how-to-quilt.com/newsletter/archive/index.shtml

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Special Stuff for Valentine's Day

Surprise someone in your life with a gift of flowers. It doesn't mattere where they live, who they are, or what their relationship is with you, everyone loves flowers, Godiva chocolates, and teddy bears - all brought to you by 1-800-FLOWERS.com

A Basket of Love for a Special Valentine’s Dinner

If your family doesn’t yet understand or appreciate your love of quilting, this Valentine’s Day might present the perfect opportunity.

We’ve whipped up this FREE pattern for an easy-to-make Basket Placemat that you can make in no time at all from your stash, if you like.  Show them your talent, creativity and love by personalizing their placemat with their name embroidered or printed with permanent marker in one of the borders.

Need extra time?  Instead of a right-on-Valentine’s Day dinner date, beg for a delay to Saturday, February 17.  You’ll have an extra 3 days to make these as well as the special dinner.

Since this is Valentine’s Month, it seemed appropriate to seek out some history about making fabric red. 

The first dyes were made from natural materials – insects, plants, shellfish, and minerals.  The most important red dyes used in the 18th and 19th centuries in the US were made from madder and cochineal. 

Cochineal dye is extremely expensive, as 70,000 insects yield just 1 pound of dye.  And it produces beautiful crimsons, pinks and scarlets.  Try as they might, European dyers could not produce a red as bright and colorfast as the dyers in the Middle East.

Even until 1910, cochineal was used commercially because the synthetic substitute, alizarin, was not as colorfast.  Eventually, though the cost and predictability of supply caused alizarin to replace cochineal and madder.

Other natural dyestuffs that produced red included: brazilwood, pokeberry, alkanet, annatto, lac and safflower.  However none of these were colorfast (they washed out or faded with time).

For additional detilas, see the compete article about Red Dyes in History

2) Tools, Tricks, and Quilt Tips –Tips for Cutting Triangles from Squares

We’re all looking for quicker ways to do everything quilting, and that includes cutting.  Half-square triangles are no exception. 

It makes sense that you can cut half-square triangles from squares instead of cutting each triangle individually.  There’s just one little extra tip that makes this possible:

• Calculate the finished size of the short side of the triangle and then add 7/8” to the number.  (For example, your finished size square is 3,” you will cut a strip 3 7/8” wide.)
• Cut a strip of fabric that width
• Cut squares from the strip of fabric (Using the same example, cut 3 7/8” squares.)
• Cut the squares in half diagonally to create the half-square triangle.  (Cut your squares from corner to corner.)

This process is not limited to rotary cutting.  For those scissors-users among us, just mark your fabric and cut.

3)  What's in a Name?

Early in the 1900s, as more women became interested in quilting and wanted to expand the variety of blocks they used in their quilts, they would write to magazines and newspapers for ideas.  Publications would list the requests in one issue then publish the answers in the next issue.  The blocks would be published with instructions and a picture.  Often the blocks were renamed to sound more current or to give credit to a city or state, and one block would end up having several different names.

Broken Wheel

Mrs. Miller's Favorite

in the reverse color variation, this block is know as Squirrel in a Cage

Click on the block to get February's Transportation Quilt Block Patterns. Click on the Broken Wheel link for the Broken Wheel Pattern.

Thanks to Maggie Malone's book 5,500 Quilt Block Designs for this information.

4) Recipes for Quilters – CHOCOLATE CHEESE    serves 4

Some people like to finish a meal with a sweet, others like to finish a meal with cheese, still others prefer to do it both ways. Chocolate cheese is an effort to please the last group by combining cheese and a sweet.

Cheese is not too much used as a dessert, except in cheesecake, which has now become an art form, so that this dish will be a little on the unusual side. Chocolate Cheese requires chilling, the longer the better, and should be made well in advance of its use. This is perfect for a Valentine's Day dinner, giving plenty of time for last minute quilting.

Creamy cottage cheese may be substituted for Ricotta if the latter is hard to come by.

1   POUND RICOTTA CHEESE
½   CUP MILK
¼   CUP RUM
4 TABLESPOONS GRANULATED SUGAR
4 TABLESPOONS GRATED SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE
1  TEASPOON POWDERED CINNAMON

Put the cheese in a bowl; add the milk and rum. Beat the mixture well until almost smooth. Add the sugar gradually, stirring as you put it in. Put in the grated chocolate, and stir some more until it thor­oughly impregnates the mixture. Pour into individual serving bowls, and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least three hours. Sprinkle the powdered cinnamon over the top of each bowl just before serving.

5) Newsletter News – Video Clips - Rotary Cutting

Just posted last week were two video clips showing how to use a rotary cutter - for both right-handed and left-handed folk. More to come on different topics. Links will be posted on the Articles and Videos Page.

6)  Quilter’s Trips –

Australiasian Quilt Convention (Melbourne, Australia) – February 22 – 25, 2007

Attend the third Australasian Quilt Convention, where the focus is on bringing you the best: some of the best tutors from around Australia and overseas, the best quilts on show, sumptuous food and enthralling entertainment… adding up to an unforgettable experience.
http://www.aqc.com.au /2007/

Quilter’s Day Out – 8th Annual Quilt Show (Northeastern Pennsylvania) - March 17, 2007

A Stitch In Time Quilt Guild is hosting their 8th annual show.  Although they are a small guild (about 40), they expect over 100 ladies to attend this event.  The theme this year is “Quilter’s Tea Party.” 

AQS Quilt Show & Contest (Paducah, Kentucky) – April 25 – 28, 2007

Make Paducah, Kentucky, your destination from April 25 – 28, 2007 for the 23rd Annual AQS Quilt Show & Contest. More than 500 quilts will be exhibited, and the Merchant Malls will have 300 booths of the latest quiltmaking supplies, antique and new quilts, and quilt-related gifts. It’s a quilt shoppers’ paradise.
http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/#paducah07

7)  Postcard Quilts for the Troops – Next Roundup is March 21 for an Easter / Spring Theme

Valentine’s Day just jumped right up there, with little warning.  And, Penny’s Postcard Posse Rounded up cards for Valentine’s Day.  The deadline was January 31 to get them to soldiers by February 14.

To prevent these last minute mishaps, we have done a couple of things.

1. Posted a Calendar of Penny’s Postcard Posse Roundup events and deadlines at: http://www.fabric-postcards.com/troops.shtml
2. Discovered an organization that helps wounded soldiers who are recuperating in Germany.

In addition, we are making contacts with Canadians who can send fabric postcards to the Canadian soldiers stationed in the Middle East, including Afghanistan. If you would like your fabric postcards to go to Canadian soldiers, just put a note in with your cards.

Have a fabulous Month!

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Mail Across the Miles

©How-to-Quilt.com 2007