Thrifty quilting

I have always been a "green" quilter.  Using fabrics I have on hand (yes, I have a stash), using pieces of clothing that have memories attached to them, keeping an eye out for bargains, etc.  In doing this I have been able to donate and give away quite a few quilts.  They have warmed and cheered up friends and co-workers.  I think there is someone in each of our lives who could benefit from having a hand made item to snuggle up in on a cold day.  Something tangible that reminds them that someone cares and is thinking of them.

Quilting - Think outside the lines

One of the exciting things about a quilt is allowing yourself the freedom to quilt it however you choose. There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to the design and technique. For beginners, tying a quilt seems the safest way to go. I love to see a student embrace the freemotion technique with their sewing machine. I am a doodler at heart. I doodle all over the quilt and somehow it seems to find the path that I imagined. From the color of thread to the design itself I am always amazed by the end result. Don't think I haven't unpicked a wayward line or two. In the end, the story in the quilt, from design, to fabric, to finishing, is all you. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Fabric leftovers

This month I am focusing on using scraps saved from other sewing projects that I stored in ziplock bags and put in a wicker basket which sits under one of my sewing tables. When the bags start to fall out of the basket, it is time to make a scrappy quilt. The size of the scraps will determine the shape of the block that I chose. In bag "1" I had some strips that were various sizes. Ever the recyler, I utilized paper that was being thrown out at work. The shape of the paper determined the actual finished shape of the block. The first rule was that I had to use whatever piece of fabric I grabbed out of the bag. The second rule was if I really didn't like the color of the fabric I grabbed out of the bag, I had to find someway to like it. The final rule was to use all the bobbins that had thread on them no matter what the color was. Fortunately, I had light, medium and dark fabrics in the bag! Be fearless. Have fun. Don't worry about making a mistake. You can always unpick or just toss out the block you cannot live with.

So you want to make a Quilt!

As a quilt enthusiast, I find myself encouraging anyone interested in creating a quilt to just do it. In teaching beginning quilt classes I find that most beginners need to first learn the ins and outs of their sewing machines. So, that's where we start. Become friends with your machine, don't be afraid to ask for help. Once you know how to plug the machine in, turn it on, change the needle, use good thread, and get over the fear of pressing the pedal to make it go - you are ready to begin to sew. If you don't know if it's something you really want to do, I suggest that you beg or borrow some scraps from a sewing friend. Don't be afraid to have all kinds of colors and textures. You will not fail.

Next - what pattern do I chose - and how do I cut it out.