How-to-Quilt Newsletter - February 2008

This issue includes:

1)  A Tidbit of History – Quilts with Diamonds

2)  Tools, Tricks and Quilting Tips –Curved Needles for Tying Quilts
   
3)  Featured Block of the Month – LeMyone Star  
   
4)  Recipe for Quilters – Eggs A La Reine
   
5)  Newsletter News – Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation - February 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day – Oliso Iron with Ehsan Allpour

6)  Quilter’s Trip – Stitches from the Past - Williams, California

7)  Fabric Postcards for the Troops – Round ‘em up and send ‘em in for Spring

How-To-Quilt.com Newsletter Archive online – Issues of the How-to-Quilt.com Newsletter from the beginning of 2005 are available online at:

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

Do you enjoy this newsletter?  If you do, please feel free to forward it to one or many friends and encourage them to join the group!

You are welcome to post this newsletter on a website or submit it to an e-zine. If you do, please credit the source to www.How-to-Quilt.com, and include the copyright and contact information.  We would also love to hear about it, if it is posted.

The diamond was a special favorite in New England for use in making “best quilts.”  Almost always the quilting on diamond quilts was more elaborate and painstaking than that on square or triangle patches.

The reason was that cutting and piecing diamonds was undertaken only when there was no pressing need for bed quilts, because it took so long that by the time the quilt was complete, the quiltmaker had so much time and love invested in the quilt, it called for nothing less than the best quilting.

Because these quilts were so special, they were generally not used as bed quilts, so many of them are in very good condition for their age.

The most easily cut diamond patch is one that divides the patch into eight diamonds, and is commonly known as the Star of LeMoyne.  Quiltmakers did not sit down with their compass, ruler and pencil to draft this star block, but instead created the pattern pieces by folding a square of cloth in a prescribed fashion and then cutting along the fold lines.

This created finished size template pieces that the quiltmaker could use to place on the fabric she used in her quilt. She simply placed the fabric template on the quilt fabric, added the seam allowance and then cut around the template to make her patch.

2) Tools, Tricks, and Quilt Tips – Curved Needles for Tying Quilts

If you have a quilt that just needs a quick tying, this might be something that saves you even more time, makes it easier to put the threads into your quilt, plus gives you a better finished product.

These handy needles have been specially designed for those who want to tie quilts. They have a big eye to accommodate yarn as well as perle cotton.

They are very sturdy so you can go through even the thickest quilt – fully three layers, including batting (not just flannel inside).

And this package has 2 different sizes – 2” and 2 ½.”  I’m certain that measurement is the actual length of the needle without the curve, as the shorter one spans slightly over 1” and the longer one spans about 1 ½” from point to eye.

Even with their thickness and width of the curve, it is still possible to get a stitch that is as small as 1/8,” which is plenty small for a tied stitch.  These are priced at $2.99 for 4 needles – a relatively small investment for some speed in your work.  

3)  Featured Block of the Month - LeMoyne Star

Some variation of the diamond or square forms the base of all star patterns, which far outnumber all other designs.

The simplest form is an eight pointed star known as the Star of LeMoyne. The name alludes to the LeMoyne brothers who founded the city of New Orleans in 1817. In New England, the name was shortened to Lemon Star.

Download your 10 Free February Patterns

4) Recipes for Quilters – Eggs A La Reine

 6 eggs
  1/2 pint of chopped cold cooked chicken
  1/2 can of mushrooms
    2 tablespoonfuls of butter
    2 tablespoonfuls of flour
  1/2 pint of milk
  1/2 teaspoonful of salt
    1 saltspoonful of pepper

Use ordinary shirring dishes for the eggs; butter them, break into each one egg, stand these in a pan of boiling water and in the oven until they are "set."

Rub the butter and flour together, add the milk, stir until boiling, add the salt, pepper, chopped chicken and mushrooms, and put one tablespoonful of this on top of each egg and send at once to the table.

This is also nice if you put a tablespoonful of the mixture in the bottom of the dish, break the egg into it, and then at serving time put another tablespoonful over the
top.

5) Newsletter News –Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation - February 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day – Oliso Iron with Ehsan Allpour

Irons are about as boring as it gets, especially if they do the job, and are trouble-free.  Trouble-free in my house is defined as an iron that won’t fall on the floor when the cat jumps up on the ironing board, and won’t burn my fabric if I get distracted.

This iron fills both of those bills, plus when you are finished ironing something, just let go of the iron and it automatically lifts itself up off the fabric, saving those wrist and hand muscles!

Even though it’s Valentine’s Day, you’ll want to hear the inside story of this iron – both how it was invented, and how it can make you life so much easier.
Check the calendar, and mark Your Calendar – we’ve got Guests lined up through May.

And in March, we will have two Conversations. Watch for news about them.

6)  Quilter’s Trip – Stitches from the Past - Williams, California
Feb 29, 2008 - May 31, 2008
Stitches from the Past: a Historical Quilt Display
Sacramento Valley Museum, 1491 E Street, Williams, Ca.

7)  Postcard Quilts for the Troops - Miramar Deployment

Thanks to some very special quilters who send us hoards of fabric postcards for our troops.  Linda Lynch and Diane Malaznik continue to be heroes to our troops and our second grade friends at Fletcher Hills Elementary School added their special cards for the guys and gals who are currently deploying from Miramar Air Corps Station. This time, we got to send our wishes along with them as they deployed.

Our next official Penny’s Postcard Posse Roundup is March 21 – if you missed Valentine’s Day!  Round ‘em up and send ‘em in to us at:

How to Quilt
7723 Tyler's Place Blvd. #327
West Chester, OH 45069

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 2008