My daughter has "an app for that".....figuring fabric requirements for different quilt patterns, that is, from Mobile Quilting Tools by Mary Key, for her iPhone. They have a website, but it doesn't do all the calculations that the app does.Honestly, I'm thinking of getting a iPhone just for that app!
I like how it gives you a variety of designs that you can do with one pattern and what other patterns look like with it. Then you put in your dimensions for the finished quilt (and a few other notes) and it will tell you how much fabric you need to purchase to make that quilt.
In getting my quilting classes going and not really using a set pattern, this has been the hardest thing for me to figure out for my students....how much material to buy.
Today I found an on-line fabric requirement calculator and I'm so excited! I found it at Mama's Log House Quilt Shop. The calculator can be found when you go into the "shopping" page. You have to enter in the desired measurement of your block, how many rows down and across, and the percentage of colors....then...tada!....it calculates how much fabric you need. I love it!!!
Now I'm sure there are other calculators out there, but I haven't been exposed to them yet. So bare with me while I enjoy this one.
Bloglovin'
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Dresden Plate & Correcting Stitches.
I've inherited a few treasures from my mother's library. Here are the two I'm losing myself in right now. I've already gotten a pattern from "Log Cabin Fever" that I want to try....Bears Need Homes Too. It combines the log cabin with the bear paw pattern. Can't wait to really start planning it out.
The purple/blue Dresden Plate is the latest for "Lydia's Quilt of Purple". I really started it about 7 months ago with the idea of doing a table runner as a wedding gift for Sally...but, alas, as with most of my plans....I started too late and just couldn't get it done. Now it will go in the quilt, but I have enough already cut to do something for Sally. Maybe I can get it done for her 1 year anniversary gift!
This particular Dresden Plate was taken from "Sewflakes" by Kathy Wylie, here's link to her website. I love her patterns but also how she brings everyone of them around to some Biblical message. I want to be like her!
Monday, April 18, 2011
My Quilting Class - the Students & Mitered Corners
I told the ladies when they agreed to come to my quilting class that they were my guinea pigs. I had never taught a class before and wasn't real sure what I was doing. I had one desire....to pass on the love for quilting art to others around me.
I think I've succeeded in that!
I've learned more than they have (as is the case with most teachers). I'm so proud of them all. Out of 10 ladies that started....I only lost 1. Not sure what happened that she stopped coming (she was sick one week). Finding time to learn something new is hard and even harder is finding time to add this new love into your daily routine. There's been a couple of times that certain ladies couldn't come to class, but they reassure me that they are on target. I must be a good teacher and find out about that one.
Well, here it is....a slide show showing the classes' progress. I can't wait until we have our very first quilt show of all the students from Quilting on the Piney (I'm trying out that name....what do you think?).
Along with the simple striped borders I taught in class, I also overwhelmed them with showing them the technique for mitered corners. Here's a slide show for this technique. It's really not that hard and it adds such a beautiful finish to the quilts.
I think I've succeeded in that!
I've learned more than they have (as is the case with most teachers). I'm so proud of them all. Out of 10 ladies that started....I only lost 1. Not sure what happened that she stopped coming (she was sick one week). Finding time to learn something new is hard and even harder is finding time to add this new love into your daily routine. There's been a couple of times that certain ladies couldn't come to class, but they reassure me that they are on target. I must be a good teacher and find out about that one.
Well, here it is....a slide show showing the classes' progress. I can't wait until we have our very first quilt show of all the students from Quilting on the Piney (I'm trying out that name....what do you think?).
Along with the simple striped borders I taught in class, I also overwhelmed them with showing them the technique for mitered corners. Here's a slide show for this technique. It's really not that hard and it adds such a beautiful finish to the quilts.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Putting It All Together
The first quilting class is winding down. This weekend we will talk about putting on the finishing touches to our quilts. And the ladies will learn that I didn't like the outcome of my quilt and I made a mistake that will be covered up!
I'm also getting some interest in more beginners classes so I've got to lay out a plan of what I'm willing to teach and how much of my weekends I'm willing to give up. Of course since I'm teaching in my house, I have to check with the guys if they mind women over on the weekends. But they were always outside on the weekends, so it shouldn't be a problem.
While I loved the oranges that I picked out for my Nine-Patch (it just made me happy when I bought it!), I haven't been so pleased with the color combination and how pale it turned out to be. I like the dark oranges the best. In the midst of assembling my quilt, I noticed (too late) that I turned one of my alternating blocks. So I had to make a decision....leave it or get the ripper out.
I hate the ripper.
So it is still there, probably only noticeable to me, but still there. I've decided to add more color to the quilt by appliqueing some big flowers to the quilt (right over that turned block). While that adds more work, I like the idea of brighter colors and will probably be appliqueing in the border too, which will give another lesson for the class in how to dress up those borders.
Here's some pictures for the center block I'm working on for Lydia's Quilt of Purple and the Nine-Patches I've come up with. Also pictures of my grandmother Royal Aster. Her quilting on this was just beautiful. It was her pride and joy. We've wondered if it was ever slept under....but never thought to ask her.
(Click on the pictures and you will be taken to the rest of the pictures.)
I'm also getting some interest in more beginners classes so I've got to lay out a plan of what I'm willing to teach and how much of my weekends I'm willing to give up. Of course since I'm teaching in my house, I have to check with the guys if they mind women over on the weekends. But they were always outside on the weekends, so it shouldn't be a problem.
While I loved the oranges that I picked out for my Nine-Patch (it just made me happy when I bought it!), I haven't been so pleased with the color combination and how pale it turned out to be. I like the dark oranges the best. In the midst of assembling my quilt, I noticed (too late) that I turned one of my alternating blocks. So I had to make a decision....leave it or get the ripper out.
I hate the ripper.
So it is still there, probably only noticeable to me, but still there. I've decided to add more color to the quilt by appliqueing some big flowers to the quilt (right over that turned block). While that adds more work, I like the idea of brighter colors and will probably be appliqueing in the border too, which will give another lesson for the class in how to dress up those borders.
Here's some pictures for the center block I'm working on for Lydia's Quilt of Purple and the Nine-Patches I've come up with. Also pictures of my grandmother Royal Aster. Her quilting on this was just beautiful. It was her pride and joy. We've wondered if it was ever slept under....but never thought to ask her.
(Click on the pictures and you will be taken to the rest of the pictures.)
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Monday, April 4, 2011
The Cancer Quilt & the Quilting Class
Even though I did not feel like I had my act together to teach my 2nd quilting class this weekend....it seemed to come off okay. However, I did forget to take pictures. I introduced the ladies to rotary cutting and strip piecing. I'm so proud of them and the progress they are making. Almost all of them have decided they want to piece their quilt by hand...so they can say they have at least done one. Although they did start using the rotary cutters to cut their blocks out.
One of the most inexperienced stitchers (remember Emily who had never threaded a needle before?!) asked if it was okay to change her pattern up. Don't you love that!!!? To me, that is what the art of quilt making is all about....seeing a pattern and wondering what you could do different than anyone else. We spent about an hour after the class with graph paper, drawing out her new quilt, still using only Nine Patches, but different sizes and variations.
A couple of things I have learned in teaching....use larger blocks to demonstrate the techniques (so they can see it better, but also have examples of the correct size too....visuals go a long way in teaching), use bright colors in your demonstrations. Oh...one more thing....use contrasting thread for the sake of teaching and those visuals.
I showed the ladies a couple of extra techniques just to peak their interest in future quilts. I showed them how to make half square triangles and the Disappearing Nine Patch. One lady is going to add the half square triangles as the border around her quilt! Wow...another courageous lady! All the examples I made for the class will go into my cancer quilt....I really must find another name for it. Until then....here's a slide show of the blocks and techniques I've used and taught so far.
Other quilting related updates:
I have received a couple of requests for quilts, so I'm learning how to put together a proposal for cost and design. Sally has also received a couple of request for specialty designs. I had a young girl bring over a prom dress for me to alter...but it was about 3 sizes too big and all beaded....I turned that down real quick, I would rather make a new one. Sally is going to work with her and see if they can come up with something, even going so far as to shop for her. (Just in case you need a personal shopper....Sally is the best!)
One of the ladies in the quilting class has a sewing machine that was given to her that she can't figure out, so I'm teaching her how to use her machine. I spent yesterday assembling my orange Nine Patch (about half done) and hand quilting on one of Mother's unfinished projects.
While sewing, I put on old Cary Grant movies and had a wonderful afternoon. Then later switched to Elvis Presley & Mary Tyler Moore in "Change of Habit" while I was quilting. I guess I have had a change of habit as I am spending more and more time in the sewing rooms and loving every minute of it.
One of the most inexperienced stitchers (remember Emily who had never threaded a needle before?!) asked if it was okay to change her pattern up. Don't you love that!!!? To me, that is what the art of quilt making is all about....seeing a pattern and wondering what you could do different than anyone else. We spent about an hour after the class with graph paper, drawing out her new quilt, still using only Nine Patches, but different sizes and variations.
A couple of things I have learned in teaching....use larger blocks to demonstrate the techniques (so they can see it better, but also have examples of the correct size too....visuals go a long way in teaching), use bright colors in your demonstrations. Oh...one more thing....use contrasting thread for the sake of teaching and those visuals.
I showed the ladies a couple of extra techniques just to peak their interest in future quilts. I showed them how to make half square triangles and the Disappearing Nine Patch. One lady is going to add the half square triangles as the border around her quilt! Wow...another courageous lady! All the examples I made for the class will go into my cancer quilt....I really must find another name for it. Until then....here's a slide show of the blocks and techniques I've used and taught so far.
Other quilting related updates:
I have received a couple of requests for quilts, so I'm learning how to put together a proposal for cost and design. Sally has also received a couple of request for specialty designs. I had a young girl bring over a prom dress for me to alter...but it was about 3 sizes too big and all beaded....I turned that down real quick, I would rather make a new one. Sally is going to work with her and see if they can come up with something, even going so far as to shop for her. (Just in case you need a personal shopper....Sally is the best!)
One of the ladies in the quilting class has a sewing machine that was given to her that she can't figure out, so I'm teaching her how to use her machine. I spent yesterday assembling my orange Nine Patch (about half done) and hand quilting on one of Mother's unfinished projects.
While sewing, I put on old Cary Grant movies and had a wonderful afternoon. Then later switched to Elvis Presley & Mary Tyler Moore in "Change of Habit" while I was quilting. I guess I have had a change of habit as I am spending more and more time in the sewing rooms and loving every minute of it.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Purple
Every cancer has its color. When Ken had colon cancer we joked that the color probably wasn't so pretty as pink. I've seen it listed as blue and brown. Almost as soon as my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, purple ribbons showed up at our home to put on our mail boxes. Here's a link telling all the colors and which awareness they go with.
I never really thought much about the colors.... possibly not even bringing awareness to anyone's attention. However, my husband was diagnosed early for colon cancer because a friend encouraged him to get checked. Pancreatic cancer has no real early detection signs. By the time that it is diagnosed, it's too late. My mother was going to the doctor because she had started having some stomach pains and general sick feeling that lingered. They did many tests until finally she received a diagnose. Two months before she was generally healthy, exercising, eating healthy, with no idea that would soon change.
So now, after my husband is cancer free for 5 years and my mother died of cancer, what can I do to bring awareness? Money is always the greatest need in any research of cancer. Advances are always being made and new medicines and techniques are always being found to help patients.
I don't have extra money laying around that I can donate. However I do have material...purple and brown material. I'm going to start a sampler quilt to be donated or auctioned off (not sure yet how that will be done) with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society in honor of my mother, my husband, my father-in-law (died of lung cancer), my grandfather (died with prostrate cancer), my aunt (died of colon cancer), and my son's best friend, Patrick (died at 11 from bone cancer).
Here's my first block, still under construction, The Nine Patch Tulip in purples:
I never really thought much about the colors.... possibly not even bringing awareness to anyone's attention. However, my husband was diagnosed early for colon cancer because a friend encouraged him to get checked. Pancreatic cancer has no real early detection signs. By the time that it is diagnosed, it's too late. My mother was going to the doctor because she had started having some stomach pains and general sick feeling that lingered. They did many tests until finally she received a diagnose. Two months before she was generally healthy, exercising, eating healthy, with no idea that would soon change.
So now, after my husband is cancer free for 5 years and my mother died of cancer, what can I do to bring awareness? Money is always the greatest need in any research of cancer. Advances are always being made and new medicines and techniques are always being found to help patients.
I don't have extra money laying around that I can donate. However I do have material...purple and brown material. I'm going to start a sampler quilt to be donated or auctioned off (not sure yet how that will be done) with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society in honor of my mother, my husband, my father-in-law (died of lung cancer), my grandfather (died with prostrate cancer), my aunt (died of colon cancer), and my son's best friend, Patrick (died at 11 from bone cancer).
Here's my first block, still under construction, The Nine Patch Tulip in purples:
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