March 22, 2010

A question that I am often asked is “How wide do you cut your binding”. The question I ask back is “How wide do you want your binding to be finished”. This is not a difficult problem. Generally, I like ½” finished binding. That is, the width of the binding you see on the front of the quilt when completed. With the desired ½” binding, the cutting formula is: (½” x 6) + ¼” = 3¼” This is for double folded French binding. The ½” represents the finished size of the binding. The “x6” is because when folded and sewn on the quilt there are 2 layers repeated 3 times. The ¼” is what I call the “fudge factor” because as you are folding the binding fabric and then sewing the fabric you will lose ¼” (folds and thread) and this makes it easier to bring the fabric to the reverse side of the quilt for hand finishing. For general online directions for binding: Click here: Sunshower Quilts: Double Fold French Binding This article doesn’t use my formula but is otherwise a valid tutorial and easy to follow. General rules I follow for binding: • Unless the quilt needs a curved binding, I cut binding strips selvage to selvage • Add up the perimeter size of the quilt, divide by 40” to get the number of strips needed and then add 1 additional strip (a 50” x 70” quilt= 50 + 50+ 70+ 70= 240” then divide by 40 = 6 strips + 1 extra = 7 strips needed). If I were cutting ½” binding then I would need (7) 3¼” strips for my binding • I join the strips on a 45o angle and iron the joining seams open to reduce bulk • Start sewing your binding onto the quilt at some place on the side, not at the corner • When stitching the binding to the back of the quilt (by hand) do not pull the thread too tight or your binding will pucker

March 15, 2010

To continue the discussion on scrap quilts, it is now time to choose a pattern to sew. Of course, there are many books on the subject of scrap quilts. One of the easiest and most satisfying quilts to make is a log cabin. Use different lights for one side and different darks for the opposite side with a center that is the same color throughout (same fabric or not). Choose the size strip you want to work with (1 ½”, 2” etc) from your presorted baskets of strips or cut strips from your roll ups. Have fun and let me know how you are progressing.

Last week I mentioned the fat quarters you all love so much. Think about shopping for fat quarters with a theme. Over the years I always purchased (yes I buy fabric at quilt shows and from other stores around the country when I travel) fat quarters for my holiday quilts. I look for Halloween, Valentines, St. Patrick’s, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas fat quarters so when I am ready to make a holiday quilt I am not limited to the fabrics of the day but have a wonderful varied assortment. Also purchase “conversational fabrics” like sports, fruit, vegetables, food, dice, books, etc. You might want to make an “I-Spy” quilt for a young friend or Sampler quilt.

Now that you’ve sorted your fabrics once for rollups and different size strips, you can go back again and separate out conversational and holiday themed fabric. Start another basket or two (or three). When you shop look for the unusual print and purchase a quarter yard (9” x 42”) or fat quarter (18” x 22”)!

Starting next week I will be giving you quilting tips, mathematical formulas for binding, triangles and more.

Heartbeat Quilts’ Camp will be held at The Red Jacket Beach Resort here on Cape Cod the weekend of October 15-16-17. More details next week.

March 8, 2010

Is there more than one Monday a week? It seems I was just writing last week’s blast and here it is Monday again. For those of you who are new to this format and want to catch up a bit you can go on the website to “Blah Blah Blah” and read older Blasts.

Step 3 organizing rollups:

For the next part of the scrap fabric organization you will work with the 12” pieces previously separated from the rest of your stash. Take (6) 12” selvage to selvage fabrics that are similar in color and value. Open up the fold so you have a full 40” or so and layer the “6” fabric one on top of each other right sides up. Roll up the fabrics, put aside, and do the next one. The roll ups don’t really need to be very neat. See pictures.

 

I store my rollups under my cutting table for easy access. As long as you keep them by color they’ll be ready to use whenever you need them!

After rolling up all your 12” x 40” fabrics you will easily see that maybe you don’t have enough of a selection of a certain color or value. This is the fun part. You get to go shopping with a purpose. Start buying 1/3 yards of fabric, 6 at a time, similar color and value. That is only 2 yards of fabric to add to your stash instead of those fat quarters you accumulate and never use. Spend your money on fabric that can be used for your scrap quilts.

Cutting rollups for scrap quilts: The fabric is cut parallel to the selvage (ie your cuts will be no longer than about 12”). I take a rollup of beige backgrounds, unroll a few inches and make a clean up cut on all 6 fabrics at one time. Then I’ll cut the size strip that I need to work with. Sometimes (following your pattern) the cut will be just a certain size strip, let’s say 1½”. By cutting the 6 layers, I get 6 fabrics the same size. I put away that rollup and take out another rollup of similar beige values and repeat the 1½” cut. Now I have 12 strips of backgrounds for my quilt. See how you can get lots of variety from little effort because the fabric is already organized.

To be continued next week! By the way, tell your friends about the Monday Email Blast. It doesn’t cost anything and there is so much more I can offer to you in this format. We have a lot to look forward to.

Busy week ahead! Quilt groups are already arriving on Cape Cod for next week’s retreats. Yes, now quilters come for extra days of fun with their friends. How lucky are we!

March 1, 2010

In case you missed last week’s Email Blast here is what I said about starting to organize your stash to easily make scrap quilts: 

 “Go through your home fabric stash.  Any piece that is less than ½ yard should be used for scrap quilts.  Sort the pieces by color, light and darks of any color should be separated too.  You will have many piles of blues (different shades, no more than 3 piles of a color) and likewise for each color.  Separate out pure whites, beige tonals, and light colored backgrounds that have bits of color too.  Next week I’ll give you the next step.  For some of you it will take weeks to just sort the fabric.  Put the sorts in baskets to get ready to cut.”

Now for the next step:

Go through the fabric you have organized in baskets and pull out pieces that are 1/3 yard or more.  Cut off 12” (1/3 yard) and start a new “sort” of 12” pieces by color and value (light, medium, dark).  If you have pieces that are “almost 12”, like 11” or so” include them in the 12” sort.

Fabric that is an odd shape, like squares (whatever size) can be further sorted by shape.  Unless you have a lot of these odd shapes then don’t bother with this step now.

Fabric that is less than 11” should be cut into strips.  I generally cut 1 ½”, 2” and 2 ½” strips and sort these by value (light, medium, dark) without regard to color.  You will have 3 baskets of each value and each size:
   3 baskets of light 1 ½”, 2” and 2 ½“strips
   3 baskets of medium 1 ½”, 2” and 2 ½“strips
   3 baskets of dark 1 ½”, 2” and 2 ½“strips

By now you might have noticed that you have a lot of one value (maybe lights) and not many darks.  You could be storing lots of red and pinks and no yellow and oranges, etc.  Most quilters lean toward particular colors more often (I am a pink/green person).  If you have a lot more of one color or value than others I will help you even out your stash next week and give you the last organizational step!

This week I received more email than usual from the Monday Blast thanking me for the scrap quilt information.

Your input is very important so please let me hear from you (short emails are the best).