Thursday, July 30, 2020

Labels, Hotpad, Bag, Pillow; No Quilts

Quilt-making has come to a halt, but that doesn't mean my hands have been idle.

Label-Making
It was past time to make labels for eight of the ten quilts I've made thus far in 2020. 

I design labels on my computer. Being on a MacBook means I design in Pages. The PC version would be Word. For me, creating a label isn't about making something pretty, but to provide information. I tend to add details, imagining that sometime in the distant future, someone will come across one of my quilts and be curious about it. 

My labels usually include:
  • quilt name
  • quilt dimensions
  • "my original design" or pattern name
  • piecing technique - example: English paper piecing; foundation paper piecing
  • domestic machine quilting info - walking foot; ruler quilting; free motion quilting
  • sewing machine brand and model number
  • who it's been made for
  • my full name including my maiden name
  • my blog/Instagram name
  • month/year started and/or month year finished
  • city/state I live in
  • special characters like a palm 🌴 and a Christian cross
  • optional: a photo pertinent to the quilt

When several labels are laid out, leaving about ¾" between labels, print on paper first, for proofreading. Inevitably, I find an error or two, so it's worth taking the time for a review before printing on fabric.

 
In the past, I've use Printed Treasures brand of paper-backed fabric for labels. However, after purchasing Printed Treasures that did not work as directed - the paper backing is impossible to peel off the back, and must be soaked in water and scraped to remove - I found another brand that's much better.

⇦ EQ Printables is also fabric, but backed with clear plastic for an inkjet printer. I purchased a 6-sheet package for $16.95. (I have no affiliation.) 

The negative about printing labels on a 8½" X 11" page is that, to make it economical, several labels should be printed at once. That means "saving up" labels to print four or five to a page. It's nearly impossible to lay leftover label fabric pieces in the printer tray, though I've been known to try by taping it onto a sheet of regular paper to send it through the printer. It doesn't always feed properly. So, play it safe and print multiple labels on one page,

After printing and cutting out each label, leaving ⅜” on each side, I piece narrow fabric strips to all four sides. It’s easier to hand-sew through fabric than the stiffer edges of the label fabric. 
Blank places are where personal information has been removed

The blue-edged label in front was printed on EQ Printables. The rest were printed on old Printed Treasures fabric (trying to use it up) that had to be soaked and scrubbed to remove paper. Also, the printer colors appear brighter and clearer on EQ Printables. 

Other makes...

Crocheted Hot Pad
My friend, Selina (the same friend who sold me her peg loom) posts her makes on her Selina Quilts blog. When I saw the crocheted hot pads she's been making, I asked for the pattern. This free Turn on Itself Hotpad is made with Sugar 'n Cream yarn, a size H hook, and a single crochet stitch. It took only an evening to make my 7¼" X 7¼" hot pad (without the hanging loop). Once it's been hubs-tested and approved for usability, I may/may not make more.
     L: starting side with 42 chain stitches   R: finish side with slip stitches

Peg Loom Bag
I made a bag for my peg loom! After seeing it, hubs commented that I obviously "don't have enough to do," but I thought I was being pretty creative. I used an already cut-up pair of old blue jean legs and pocket to fashion this bag. The pocket holds the loom's 24 pegs, and the package of floss threaders used to thread the pegs. My order of 4/4 cotton warp thread just arrived from The Woolery, so I'm all set to begin my next peg loom weaving project using fabric. 

Pillow-Making
The English paper pieced square in my previous blog post is now a 16" X 16" pillow.

I machine appliquéd the square onto a background square, sandwiched it with white Quilter's Dream Cotton Request batting and white muslin, and walking foot quilted with Mettler Transfil (invisible thread) with 50-weight Aurifil in the bobbin.

For the envelop back, I used Christina Cameli's Moongate fabric (purchased locally at Sew Together Quilting) and I was happy to discover the print had a diamond-shaped design that could be walking foot quilted to make a diamond grid! Without marking, it took no time at all to quilt! I used 50-weight silver-gray Aurifil. 


With an envelop backing a pillow form can be removed when the pillow needs to be washed.

It's easy to assemble a pillow with a binding. Just place the pillow parts wrong sides together, baste around the sides, add 2¼"-wide binding by machine, and finish with machine edge stitching. Love my Bernina edge stitch foot #10D for easily accomplishing that! Doesn't it look like cording?


I continue to have a love-affair with Dalgona. I find it's very filling, perhaps because it's on top of iced milk. This has to be good for me, right?

Book Recommendation

Another great read! American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins follows Lydia and her eight year-old son Luca, the only two people who survive a massacre of 16 family members. While fleeing Alcapulco, trying to second-guess how widespread may be the reach of the cartel tracking their escape, Lydia recalls meeting the charming Javier who is head of the cartel, and Lydia's journalist husband who writes about Javier.

The story is riveting - about middle class people escaping for their lives. How desperate la migra/immigrants leave Mexico on la bestia/trains to go el norte/North, and face the uncertainty of what they're running toward.

Narrator Yareli Arizmendi was excellent, speaking English, but also Spanish. In context, it wasn't difficult to understand. Linda's score: 4.5/5.0

My goodness. This is my 45th book finish in 2020! I read 43 books in all of 2019. That’s what a pandemic will do for your literary enlightenment! Linda

17 comments:

  1. Well, you’ve certainly been busy! I love the cushion. It looks perfect on your lovely white chair. It must feel good have labelled all those quilts. You’ve made great progress on your ‘to do’ list!

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  2. I don't care what hubby says, I think that your loom bag design is ingenious, and keeps all of those little bits and bobs nicely in one spot. :)

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  3. The loom bag is a perfect solution to storage and keeping all those pegs from getting lost. I had the same problem with one of the printable fabric sheets- it simply would not let loose from the backing. It can be too pricey to waste, so another brand was my choice. Mine was kind of old, so maybe that was the problem. The pillow is so bright and cheerful. I'm working on little things, too. I made some of the vinyl covered candy bags like you've made.

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  4. Your pillow turned out to be beautiful. The colors are scrumptious. I think you must be running out of projects by now. Making all those labels was quite an accomplishment. I’m looking forward to seeing your next loom design.

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  5. Greetings Linda!
    Before you even mentioned it, was wondering how many books you “read”. And the variety you find and select fascinates me. Adding American Dirt to my list.
    Clever use for old jeans! Creative brilliance!
    Have never thought of crocheting a hot pad - love the fresh, lively orange!
    And your paper-pieced pillow - had been wondering what you would do with that. Your choice of binding sets it off so perfectly. Lovely! Thank you for sharing!!

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  6. And thank you for sharing your quilt labels, the detail you provide and how you create them. Blessed to have several of my Grandmother’s quilts, would be wonderful to know the story behind them.
    Peace, love and joy to you and yours!

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  7. You have been busy! I have been cleaning up the sewing room getting ready to start a new project. I have also been weaving, trying new things on my loom and trying to remember these first few pieces do not have to have a purpose as they are being done for learning and trying different things. As I am literally making fabric they could wind up as anything. I hope Dan likes the crocheted pothoders. I love them as they work really well. Have a great week! Judi

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  8. Well, you certainly haven't let your hands become idle, or even rest! Love that pillow, those happy colors really pop on your white rocking chair. Looking forward to seeing your next peg loom project.

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  9. Thanks for the reminder about labeling. I'm terrible about labels. Your loom bags is definitely ingenious with those pockets holding the small things. Look forward to seeing what you'll make next. I've been back in the studio a bit but also getting back to my other creative outlet of scrapbooking. Can't say that I ever really did much of it but I certainly collected a lot of supplies. At the least I want to scrap a few of the special photos of my children when they were little. It's sure been fun to look back at the photos. If only I was better at editing. So many poor quality pics from the old days of print film. It's a bit overwhelming. I think of you and how you were able to get rid of all that stuff when you moved. Can't see my way through to that yet.

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  10. Linda, you are a busy bee. I love your labels and your idea for all of the information is excellent. I have been labeling some of my creations.
    This book sounds exciting. Hubbs and I have been doing netflix in the evening, I treadmill during the day and he treadmills in the evening. we have been watching several series. the latest is crazy, Peaky Blinders. Anyway we are done with it. I am always in my sewing room and I can watch while I sew bc I have my table and machine all set up.
    I love the pillow you made. Wow, it is a beauty.
    I have never heard of Dalgona. I better go look. It does indeed look very healthy, as my mom would say "for my mental health" I have been sewing up a storm too, but also taking care of daddy and playing with the babies. Stay healthy!!!

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  11. Brilliant storage solution for your peg loom, Linda, and your EPP Pillow turned out beautifully!!

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  12. So many beautiful projects! Being a storage nerd, I especially love the bag for the peg loom :)

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  13. Your blog information is so helpful Linda. Thanks for taking the trouble to write about what you have done. I have printed labels, by ironing muslin or calico as we call it onto freezer paper that has been cut to exactly the same measurements as A4 paper.Again, its best to do a couple at a time to save freezer paper, although you can use it more than once.
    Your pillow is beautiful and great backing.

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  14. Wow! I need some of what you are drinking to get into high gear. 😊 Love the care you take with your labels. I also used to use one of those printer labels and had nothing but trouble and waste, so now I hand write them. Love the pillow and the way you finished is is great. It looks so professional. That's because it is! Thanks for sharing.

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  16. So fun to read through all your posts I've missed--you inspire me to keep going, and to not be idle. (Well, only sometimes, maybe.) Love your tutorial on labels, seeing that wonderful pillow and believe like you do that a place for everything and everything in its place. Now the peg loom has a place!

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