How-to-Quilt.com

January 2008 Newsletter

This issue includes:

1)  A Tidbit of History – Quilts as Therapy

2)  Tools, Tricks and Quilting Tips –Tying Quilts
   
3)  Featured Block of the Month – Chinese Holidays Quilt Block 
   
4)  Recipe for Quilters – Double Cressed Salad and Dressings
   
5)  Newsletter News – Take a class in EQ6 quilt design software

6)  Quilter’s Trip – Stitches-In-Time Quilt Exhibit, Cleveland, Tennessee - January 31 - March 22, 2008

7)  Fabric Postcards for the Troops – Round ‘em up and send ‘em in for the troop deployment from Miramar in San Diego - Spring 2008

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Anyone who has quilted their way through a tragedy knows that quilting has a great deal of therapeutic value, so it is interesting to me when a medical professional recognizes that fact as well.

In Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation, Thelma Brackett tells the story of a quilt made in 1840 by a woman who just lost two of her children:

The Rev. Mr. Kent and his wife had among others, two small children; a delicate boy of three and a baby girl one year old. Because the baby girl was ill, a doctor was called to the home to help. The doctor found the boy ill as well.  So ill, in fact, that he died that night and the baby girl died the next morning.

In order to relieve her depression, her husband suggested that she make a quilt; something she had wanted to do. The good Reverend drew up a sixteen-pointed star, copying a design from his watchcase. Mrs. Kent did, indeed, make that quilt and several more.

In short, occupational therapists recognize that creating beautiful designs with brightly colored fabric patches has long term benefits. Men and women alike have turned to needlework for solace for their grief and relief from monotony and boredom.

Isn’t it nice to have a hobby that has provided benefit not only as therapy but has made our world more beautiful place just from our creations? And it’s fulfilling even without being therapeutic.

2) Tools, Tricks, and Quilt Tips – Tying Quilts

Sometimes tying a quilt seems like the very last resort to getting a quilt finished.

While hand quilters love the look of a skillfully hand quilted quilt, and machine quilters appreciate the beauty and complexity of fine machine quilting, tying a quilt can be equally rewarding.

Many tied quilts are simply tied in the corners between the blocks, leaving the blocks as open space.  Other quilts are tied in the center of each block with either yarn or perle cotton.

The best ties are washable, won’t unravel, will stay tied, and are strong enough to hold together when they are tied. Even with those considerations, why not add a little flair? Using embroidery floss or cording might be a possibility. And instead of using yarn or perle cotton, try a ribbon.

And what about adding something interesting in the tie? Sew a cute shaped button – say a train or fire truck – onto your quilt, and then tie the knot on the back of the quilt. Simply pull your thread from the back of the quilt, attach the button, and knot the thread, just as you would sew a button on a shirt.

Another possibility is a bow. Instead of just knotting your quilt tie, finish it off with a bow. Add a large button under the bow for an even more interesting look. As added safety against the bow coming untied, double knot it.

And speaking of trains, trucks and other things with wheels, make double-sided circles of fabric and sew them on to your quilt as wheels of your vehicle, attaching them just in the center. You might even add a button on top, and make the fabric circle wheel able to spin around.

If you have a lattice on your quilt top, maybe you could lay down a narrow ribbon and tie it in place with ribbon ties every few inches along the way. If this quilt will be washed, you might want to secure the ribbon strips with other stitching as well.

Where you place the ties on your quilt can be interesting, too. Just as quilters stitch their quilting to make a design, your ties can add to the design of your quilt.

If your quilt has an ocean flavor, your ties can be like birds in the sky or whiskers on a seal. A basket quilt might have bows along the handles of the baskets. And your Sunbonnet Sue might have ribbons on her hat.

Have fun with every aspect of your quilt – from sewing the blocks together to quilting the top – whether you hand quilt, machine quilt or tie your quilt, finish it so someone you love can enjoy using it.

3)  Featured Block of the Month

It seems appropriate with the Chinese New Year coming up, to feature this fun Chinese Holidays Quilt Block. No other names, just unique and easy to make.

Click on the block to get your 10 free patterns.

4) Recipes for Quilters – Double Cressed Salad    serves 4 from Fast and Fancy Cookery by John Philips Cranwell

When I was a small boy living in a small town in Pennsylvania, there was a small religious sect there which believed in total immersion —its members presumably had other tenets too. For baptismal pur­poses they used an old mill pond where grew the town's supply of water cress. I never eat water cress today without thinking how much better it used to taste. Unfortunately that source of supply is no longer available, and you will have to be content with what you grow yourself or can buy at the greengrocer's. Unfortunately, too, you cannot make this salad all year round because its special goodness requires the inclusion of land cress, which is seasonal. This salad is most meritorious after steak.

1   BUNCH WATER CRESS
1   BUNCH LAND CRESS
1   SMALL TURNIP
1   MEDIUM CARROT
SPRING ONIONS

Remove the thick stems, wash the cress well, and dry in a towel. Cut the turnip into dice, and the carrot and onions into short thin slices. Arrange the cress in the bottom of a salad bowl. Add the other ingredients. Serve with French Dressing or Mustard Dressing

FRENCH DRESSING    1 pint
For all green salads and most others, French Dressing is basic. It consists of olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper; nothing more, noth­ing less. You may add things to it—mustard, cheese, various herbs, or even bacon, and have an excellent combination for salads, but you will not have French Dressing. The dressing will keep almost indefinitely, but should not be stored in the refrigerator. Oddly enough the ingredients combine better if mixed in a small bowl or cup embedded in ice. Any type of vinegar—wine, malt, or cider-may be used, but red wine vinegar is to be preferred.

½   CUP RED WINE VINEGAR
1½  CUPS OLIVE OIL
TEASPOON SALT
½  TEASPOON PEPPER

Combine the ingredients in a small bowl or bottle, stir well with a fork or shake vigorously, depending on the container. Repeat the stir­ring or shaking process immediately before using.

MUSTARD DRESSING ¼  cup

With a very bland salad, such as Mixed Green Salad III or one made with Belgian endive alone, something with a little more "bite" than the classic French dressing may be useful occasionally. This Mustard Dressing is not too strong and enjoys wide popularity. It should be made just before use, and in sufficient quantity for that time and that salad only.

1   TEASPOON DRY MUSTARD
1  TABLESPOON RED WINE VINEGAR
3   TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL
¼   TEASPOON SALT
1/8  TEASPOON PEPPER

Place the mustard in a cup or a small bowl. Add the vinegar and stir into a smooth paste with a fork. Add the oil, salt, and pepper. Put an ice cube into the mixture, and stir hard until the ingredients are well blended. Discard the ice cube, and pour the dressing over the salad.

5) Newsletter News – Happy New Year!

2008 will be a great year to become a more accomplished quilter than you already are. Whether you are just beginning or have made a few quilts, we promise to provide even more valuable information for all quilters.

Our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation gets off to a quick start with some resources for machine quilting: Quilt E-Z provides easy to use templates for machine quilting, and you can learn more on January 9 with Joe Cullumber. 

Following that conversation, in March, we have 2 great calls lined up – one with John Watts (inventor of a home sewing machine quilting frame) and the other with Ernie Floyd of Tin Lizzie 18 – an affordable machine quilting machine.

By the end of the second call, you will have most of the resources you need for a fantastic machine quilting experience – the only thing more you will need is practice! Just think, by the end of March, we will have heard:

Pam Bauer, expert machine quilter (May 2007)
Bob Purcell, President, Superior Threads (June 2007)
Joe Cullumber, Quilt E-Z machine quilting stencils (January 2008)
John Watts, John Watts Quilting Frames (March 2008)
Ernie Floyd, Tin Lizzie 18 machine quilting machine (March 2008)

To round out our education, we are working on getting a quilting hoop and frame expert, a needle expert, a batting expert, a fabric manufacturer, a scissors company, as well as additional quilters who will talk about their quilting styles.

In February, we will discover a new iron that lifts itself off your fabric and ironing board so you don’t need to use any of your muscles, or worry about burning fabric or your ironing board cover.

As you can see, we’ve got plenty of interesting and valuable information coming during 2008.

But, you can experience all of the calls whenever you want by having your very own CD recording of the call.  By joining the Eavesdropping Quilters Club, you get a discount on every recording PLUS when there are two calls during the month, you get one free.

Our EQ6 classes will continue on our sister site, TheQuiltingCoach.com. This is a great chance to learn some of the basic “how-to’s” about this quilt design software; or check out how it works, and decide whether you want to purchase it. These classes are free to everyone!

6)  Quilter’s Trip – Stitches-In-Time Quilt Exhibit, Cleveland, Tennessee - January 31 - March 22, 2008

Features: Contemporary and antique quilts from throughout southeast TN on display and juried. Special quilt classes and lectures offered. This year's theme: Tennessee Valley During the Great Depression.

Where: Museum Center at 5ive Points 339 Inman Street East Cleveland

http://www.museumcenter.org

7)  Postcard Quilts for the Troops

Penny’s Postcard Posse is Flying Again.  We are Roundin' them up to send with the troops as they deploy from Miramar Air Corps Station in San Diego during the first quarter 2008.

Send them in as soon as you can:

How to Quilt
PO Box 2112
La Mesa, CA 91943

Check out pictures of the fabric postcards already delivered:

http://fabric-postcards.com/

Have a fabulous Month!

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.How-to-Quilt.com
Specializing in Information for Beginning Quilters

www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
Where Quilters Connect

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

© 2008 How-to-Quilt.com