How-to-Quilt.com

July 2006 Newsletter

This issue includes:

1)  A Tidbit of History – Making a Quilting Frame – in 1890

2)  Tools, Tricks and Quilting Tips – Tips for Triangles
   
3)  What's in a Name? – Learn about a traditional patchwork quilt block that has many different names. 
   
4)  Recipe for Quilters – Finnish Ribbon Cakes
   
5)  Quilt Retreat – Cowgirl Quilt Retreat

6)  Fabric Postcards for the Troops Update

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.

1)  A Tidbit of History – Making a Quilting Frame – in 1890

“To make a quilting frame, order from a lumber yard or sawmill four strips of hard pine 1 inch thick, 3 inches wide, and 6 ½ feet long.  These could not cost more than twenty-five cents.  Tack a piece of muslin along the edge of each strip.  Buy four clamps for a dime at a hardware store, or have them made by a blacksmith, and you have a cheap set of frames that will last a lifetime.”

Editor’s comment – As I read these instructions, it occurs to me that following only these directions, you would end up with 4 unconnected pieces of wood that didn’t necessarily provide any tension or shape for the quilt as you were quilting.  For a quilting frame to be useful, it should provide some stretch to the quilt – an equal amount on all sides – to smooth out the fabric and batting and ensure that as the quilting stitches are made, you are not sewing puckers into your quilt.

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2) Tools, Tricks, and Quilt Tips – Tips for Triangles

It’s easy to end up with half-square or quarter-square triangles that are too small.  To avoid this, cut the triangles or squares slightly larger than you actually need.  Sew the triangles together to make your square patch, then press and trim your finished patch to the size you need.  Remember to leave a ¼” seam allowance.

Also, check your quarter inch seam allowance measurement, to be sure it is accurate.  If it is, then sew a scant ¼” seam.  Sometimes just the fold of the fabric when you press the seam allowance to one side will make a difference in the finished size of the patch.

And speaking of pressing, make sure that you are pressing – laying your iron down on the patch, then picking the iron up, and not sliding the iron across the patch, blocks or quilt top.  Sliding the iron can cause the fabric to stretch.  Also, steam can cause a patch to get distorted.  Try ironing with a dry iron. 

 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.

Ribbon Blocks
Beach and Boots
Ribbon Border
Watered Ribbon & Borders

Click on the picture of the quilt block and a file will open that has a colored quilt block picture, templates for the pattern, and (in some cases) rotary cutting instructions.  The pattern page has links for these block patterns as well.

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

4)  Recipes for Quilters – Finnish Ribbon Cakes

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
Your favorite jam
½ cup powdered sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Beat the butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until creamy. 
2. Add the egg yolk, vanilla and lemon peel, and mix.
3. Add the flour and salt, mix until blended.
4. Shape the dough into 15 inch long ropes that are about ¾ inch in diameter.
5. Place them about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
6. Press a long groove down the center of each rope.  Be sure to leave dough at the bottom of the ridge – don’t press through to the cookie sheet.
7. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and spoon the jam into the grooves.
9. Return to the oven and continue to bake until the roll is firm to the touch and light golden brown.  (5-10 minutes)
10. While the cookies are hot, drizzle the powdered sugar mixture over the top.
11. Cut cookies from the roll, diagonally into 1 inch pieces.
12. Cool on the baking sheets for a short time, and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
13. Store in airtight container.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
From Sunset All-Time Favorite Recipes

5)  Quilt Retreat – Cowgirl Quilt Retreat, Gallatin Gateway, Montana

Every year Georgia Bonesteel and Charlotte Warr Anderson lead classes using original projects with western themes for this fun retreat.  Held at Nine Quarter Circle Ranch in Gallatin Gateway (7 miles from Yellowstone National Park), quilters gather annually to join quilter Kelly Kelsey and her husband for a week of quilting, horseback riding, fly-fishing, hiking, visiting Yellowstone, relaxing, or quilting.  Also included in the week-long retreat is a visit to Bozeman, and a chance to visit a quilt shop or two.

This is a real ranch and a jam-packed week of quilting with nature and cowboys.  Sounds like a must for September.  This year, the dates are September 3-10.  More information is available at:
406-995-4276 or www.ninequartercircle.com

6)  Postcard Quilts for the Troops

One huge THANKS to everyone who participated in this fabulous project!

In all, more than 120 fabric postcards were sent to the troops abroad.  There is now a Blog set up at:

http://fabricpostcards.blogspot.com/

The postcards should arrive soon in Iraq, and I would imagine that the soldiers will begin posting to the blog.  Already some quilters have posted their comments.  One from Molly is especially touching.  That’s what it’s all about!

Look for a new pattern and new collection during July and August.  I have set up a website, www.Fabric-Postcards.com for everything about fabric postcards.  My son’s buddy, Asa, will be organizing the site so there will be many resources for any and every fabric postcard project.  Feel free to forward ideas for that site.

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

Do you enjoy this newsletter?  If you do, why not 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 How-to-Quilt.com, and include the copyright and contact information.  We would also love to hear about it, if it is posted.

©How-to-Quilt.com 2006