How-to-Quilt.com

September 2008 Newsletter

This issue includes:

Newsletter News – www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com and www.TheQuiltingCoach.com

Quilting Tools – Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool

Tools, Tricks and Quilting Tips – Caring for your Rotary Cutter
   
Featured Block of the Month – Butterfly at the Crossroads

Ideas for Quilts - Butterfly Applique Quilt

Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation - September 11 and 15

Fabric Postcards for the Troops – Round ‘em up and send ‘em in before September 28 for Halloween

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

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Newsletter News –

The Sunshine and Shadow quilt has begun, and I have chosen my fabrics. I will be using 3 different fabrics for this quilt for some simply, yet dramatic effects.

Each week a new step in the process of making this quilt will be posted in TheQuiltingCoach.com, so you can see and follow along as this quilt develops.

Get in on the fun by joining at a special trial subscription rate: https://www.thequiltingcoach.com/public/32.cfm

There’s a new kid in town!

All quilters want patterns, but who wants to create full size templates for the size block you want to make?

You know the story – they give you templates for a 6” block, and you want to make a 9” block. It’s not that it can’t be done, but wouldn’t you rather spend that time choosing fabric instead of making the right size templates?

And, what if you are looking for inspiration or a unique quilt block to use for your next quilt? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to see an assortment of quilt blocks – in full color – to give you some ideas?

With that in mind, we have developed a new spot to go – www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com . Yes, this is new and developing. The plan is to have thousands of patterns – with full size templates and rotary cutting layouts – in multiple sizes for traditional quilt blocks.

Plus, every two weeks we will add a new video demonstration showing exactly how to sew a block together. You will get all of my tips and techniques that will make the block go together in a breeze. And get a free pattern of that block in a common size.

And, if you are registered (which is FREE), you can view the archives of the videos.

As I said, this is new – and currently we have more than 160 different blocks (and more than 850 total patterns – because each block has multiple sizes of patterns) and 2 video demonstrations. Every day, block patterns are added,
Check it out, bookmark it as a favorite, and visit often to see what’s new:

www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Quilting Tools –Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool

Last month on our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation, we heard from Susan Cleveland about how to jazz up a quilt using piping around the border – or even between fabric pieces in your quilt top.

Susan’s Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool allows you to trim your piping for an exact 1/4 inch seam allowance so you can sew it on perfectly every time.

The groove in the tool accommodates the piping so your ruler lays flat as you use your rotary cutter to trim the edge.

The tool is very cool, and comes with an instruction booklet that is easy to follow and has some very creative ideas for ways to embellish quilts using piping, prairie points (which doesn’t require the tool), and more.

Watch a demo of the tool on our favorite video site, graspr.com: http://www.graspr.com/videos/Part-3-Adding-Piping-with-Your-Binding-1

 If you missed the call and would like a CD recording of the Conversation, you can get it here: http://www.thequiltingcoach.com/products/item58.cfm

Tools, Tricks, and Quilt Tips – Caring for your Rotary Cutter

All new rotary cutters are oiled when you buy them. That little bit of oil keeps the blade rolling smoothly so it will cut your fabric easier. To keep your blade clean and smooth, it’s a good idea to take the cutter apart to clean and oil it.

If you have never taken your rotary cutter apart, check the package for instructions; generally there is a screw with a nut in the center of the blade that will allow you to disassemble the cutter. If you have no instructions, just be sure to remember which way the pieces go back together!

1. Clean all of the lint from behind the blade. It’s amazing how much can accumulate, and when it does, it causes friction and makes the blade move more slowly.
2. Place one tiny drop of sewing machine oil on the plastic surface next to the blade.
3. Reassemble the cutter keeping in mind that the nut needs to be loose enough to allow the blade to roll easily.

Remember these blades need to stay sharp. Replace the blade or sharpen it when it gets difficult to cut.

Featured Block of the Month - Butterfly at the Crossroads

This traditional quilt block is a 5 patch, and easy to make. It is made up of simple square patches as well as half-square triangles. You can make this quilt block using solid fabrics or some interesting prints.

Other names for this quilt block include: Algonquin Charm and Simple Sue.

Click here to get the pattern for this block.

Click here to download your 10 FREE Patterns for September.

A Quilt Idea – What do you do with old quilt blocks?

One year, my mother-in-law gave me a stack of butterfly blocks that she had made when she was about 7. They were all hand appliquéd, using long stitches of embroidery thread.

Being a dutiful daughter-in-law, I decided something had to be done with them other than remaining in the closet for another 60 years.

Since she had 4 grandchildren at the time, I decided to make one wall hanging for each of her grandchildren and one for her son who had no children at that time.

You can see that these were put together using some very simple and basic techniques for creating quilt blocks. If I were doing this now, I probably would replace the solid blocks between the butterflies with a quilt block that was a little more interesting.

However, by using solid blocks to offset the butterflies, it enabled me to do some interesting hand quilting. You can see in many of these, I used the entire solid squares to hand quilt butterflies.

Although these quilts were not all that creative, everyone loved them since they represented work performed by two generations.

Click here for full size templates to make these butterflies.

Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation

September 11 – Tammie Bowser, Mosiac Quilts – Tammie uses ordinary cotton print fabrics to make extraordinary photographic photos and portraits. Tammie will talk to us about her process and how we might be able to create the same image using the cloth from our stashes.  http://www.tammiebowser.com/

September 15 – Doug Kreinik – Kreinik Threads – Kreinik Threads is a family-owned business that makes a variety of silk and metallic threads for needleworkers, including quilters. Kreinik threads are fun embellishments that can be used anywhere to make your life more colorful and expressive.   http://www.kreinik.com/index.html

It’s Halloween again, and Penny’s Postcard Posse is Roundin’ em up!

Last year’s Halloween Roundup was so successful and quilters had so much fun, we decided to do it again. The deadline is September 28 to send your tiny quilt postcards to our good buddy:

Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149

Diane is doing the best job ever keeping the postcard site updated and new pictures uploaded as quick as she gets them.  www.Fabric-Postcards.com

Kudos to JoAnn’s Fabrics in Attelboro, Massachusetts. They had a special day where shoppers could come into the store and make postcards for the Posse! 

Thanks to the quilter who gave them the information and idea! Keep spreading the word, the troops love the cards and – most especially – the thoughts behind the cards.

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
www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
www.TheQuiltingCoach.com

© 2008 www.How-to-Quilt.com