Binding Webinar Follow-up

So this happened last night.

From my sewing room, to the world, I presented my binding webinar. It was pretty exciting! I mean really... from my little sewing room in Florida to all over the US, and other countries?!  I shared "No Tails Binding: Mitered Corner by Machine." Goodness. It's a lot to get my head around that the MQG had 600 registrants for this! Granted, I don't know how many MQGers actually showed up for the live broadcast, but I was pretty pumped about it.

MQG members can go here to watch the 1 hour and five minute webinar. This means that if you're not MQG member, you should join (an individual membership is just $25 a year; or join our local Central Florida MQG chapter for $40 a year) and have access to all the webinars! What a great benefit of MQG membership! I've attended at least six webinars and all of them have been worthwhile.

I'll admit to a little nervousness before getting started, but knowing my subject matter as I do, once I got into it I didn't think about anything else. The many detail photos were well-received and during the Q&A I heard some interesting questions, particularly related to this chart. 

For those of you who aren't familiar with this binding method you should know that the quilt batting and backing are trimmed away after the binding has been sewn to the quilt. My chart shows how much batting and backing to trim away, and how much finished binding will show on the quilt front and back. 

Apparently this chart raised more questions than I was able to answer on the spot. Basically, those who asked wanted to know how I arrived at these numbers. My methodology is this:

• Know the cut width of binding
• Divide it by 2 to allow for folded binding
• Subtract 1/4" for a seam allowance
• Divide it by 2 to determine how far from the stitching line your quilt should be trimmed
• If the binding is fully stuffed and sewn by hand, it will puff out. 

So, for binding that's cut 2-1/4" wide:

• 2-1/4"
• divided by 2 is 1-1/8"
• subtracting 1/4" for the seam allowance equals 7/8"
• divided by 2 equals 7/16" - cut 3/8" from the stitching line
• Fully stuffed binding shows about 1/2" on the quilt front and quilt back.

And for binding that's cut 2-1/2" wide:

• 2-1/2"
• divided by 2 is 1-1/4"
• subtracting 1/4" for the seam allowance equals 1"
• divided by 2 equals 1/2" - cut 1/2" from the stitching line
• Fully stuffed binding shows about 5/8" on the quilt front and quilt back.

I hope this helps clarify how I came up with these numbers.

A huge thank you to friends locally and far away (Australia) who took the time from a busy schedule to attend in real time. I know which of you were "out there," and I deeply appreciate your support. Squeezy hugs from me. You're my treasure. 

Now back to regularly scheduled sewing! Linda

Florida Quilt

Timing is everything...

I'm happily writing this post to coincide with the 2016 Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side and my entry - Florida - into the Home Machine Quilted category. Though to be honest, it was tough choosing the right category for Florida, which also fits Small Quilts, Modern Quilts, and Original Design.

So... presenting Florida. It measures 39" wide by 38" high and is made with lots of 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" solid fabric half-square triangles, and an ocean background of Grunge Ocean.

I domestic machine quilted Florida on my Janome 1600P using 50-weight Aurifil on the top and in the bobbin. The top color was aqua #5005, and the bobbin was light blue #2805.

  
Swirly quilting includes designs of snail trails, "C's", paisleys, bubbles, and swooping lines to get the effect of a tumultuous ocean.

While the quilting went along quickly, what I didn't enjoy was that by starting the free motion quilting in the middle, along the Gulf side of the land, I worked in a tuck as I quilted to the west, and then to the north toward the peninsula. Darn. Right away I unstitched quite a bit.

iPhone photo - Look how blue the water looks!

Then I straight-pinned the sandwich and quilted from the peninsula toward the south, working out the extra fullness. By now I should know that double-batting makes shifting more likely, and that I must be extra careful about where I begin quilting, no matter how many safety pins I use to keep the layers from shifting.

Canon Powershot S100 photo - This is the truer Grunge Ocean color.

All that unquilting made for lots of starts and stops to fill back in what I'd just taken out. That meant lots of thread-burying. It's an easier task when I use a Sench needle. I've recently starting using this needle which has a little slot along the side of the eye, for slipping thread up, then down into position. I'm a big fan. Sench needles are available from this Etsy Shop - DragonflyQuiltworks, here.

When the quilting was done I made single-fold binding, and applied it as usual by first marking a straight line around the perimeter of the quilt, machine sewing the binding aligned with the marked line, machine-sewing the four corners, trimming the excess batting and backing, and then turning under a quarter-inch fold and hand-sewing it into place.

This is a good time for me to mention again that I'm teaching this binding technique in a Modern Quilt Guild Webinar on Thursday, September 29 at 9 pm Eastern time. If you're an MQG member, you can register for free. Go here to do that, if you haven't already. Gosh, I'm getting crazy-excited about this presentation! Like chill bumps-producing excited.

But the rest of the story about that Florida quilt...

It still wasn't quite on-the-square after adding binding, so I pinned it onto carpeting, measuring the length and width to make each side even, and measuring diagonally across the back to make sure those two numbers were the same. Then I sprayed water on the quilt back - the cotton batting layer is on the bottom (wool batting is on top) - and patted it into shape. After drying, it's more squared-up, but about 1/8" off. I'm not sure I can do much else short of soaking the quilt and reblocking it.

How about that backing? Isn't it too perfect?

A special hello and thanks to first-time visitors to my blog. I appreciate your visit too! Linda

Florida is a Top

With much consternation about an August 30 order place with Missouri Star Quilt Company for Moda Grunge in the color Ocean, and several other fabric pieces - that order still hasn't arrived! (Edited September 14 to add that the order arrived today... 16 days later. No apology; no "we're sorry" gift. I won't order from Missouri Star again.) - I phoned StitchCraft quilt shop in Boca Raton (where I'd purchased a half yard of fabric) and within four days received more Grunge Ocean - happily from the same bolt I'd first purchased it from! I appreciate StitchCraft's promptness.

The arrival of Grunge from StitchCraft allowed me to complete the piecing of my Florida quilt top. The Keys aren't exactly accurate, but given that they needed to be half-square triangles, just like the body of Florida, this is as close as I could get.

40" X 40"

Because all of the land is 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" (finished) half-square triangles, I thought it was important to the overall flatness of the quilt top to continue piecing into the water section. So, the water immediately adjacent to the land is 1-1/2" squares. Further out are 3" squares, and at the perimeter are 6" squares.

From the back, all that piecing really shows up. I pressed open every seam, thinking that will make quilting a little easier to accomplish.

The quilt sandwich is a layer of cotton Cream Rose with a layer of Quilter's Dream wool on top. I opted for double-batting because I want my quilting to show-up. By the way, the photo below is a truer representation of the color Ocean. The fabric reads more aqua than the blue in the above pictures.

Quilting has begun. With my Bernina walking foot I'm first cross-hatching the land using YLI 40-weight variegated yellow thread. It's one of the many cones of thread I won as a third place prize in a 2012 quilt show.

I'm using light blue 50-weight Aurifil in the bobbin for the totally appropriate backing fabric.

Next is the quilting design for the water... I'm spending more time on that, drawing it out, and quilting a sample since it will likely be a featured part of the quilt.

Two people on Instagram have asked for a pattern, but since I don't have software to create diagrams, I have to decline. I do think it would be fun if there was a pattern for every state though! Linda

New Month; More Activities

August flew by in a blink! Guess that's what comes from traveling so much. What with driving to and from Austin, Texas, flying to Las Vegas and back, going to and from Boca Raton, and driving home Monday from a five-day trip to Ohio to visit relatives, the month was jam-packed. September doesn't look much slower.

I'd love to post pictures of our family gathering in Western Ohio, but this picture of a rainbow, outside my cousin's rural home, will do.

After a family discussion about social media, and how many people pictures are posted - often without permission - I'm opting not to post any of the 44 great photos I took of my dad, brother, sister-in-law, first cousins, first cousins in-laws, first-cousins once removed, first-cousins once removed in-laws, and first-cousins twice removed! Suffice it to say a whole bunch of family members gathered to celebrate the January wedding of a first cousin once removed - Justin, and his wife Natasha - who live in New York City. It was wonderful to reconnect with all this family after a six year separation, the last time I was in Ohio.

It's no wonder that I haven't blogged much. Nothing happening in my sewing room! I remedied that by starting a new project almost as soon as I got home. It's an idea that's been brewing since I saw a quilt on display at Valli and Kim, a quilt shop in Dripping Springs, Texas. The quilt is "State Love: Texas" also known as "Texas Forever" by Corinne Sovey.

To make my own interpretation of a state quilt, I dug through my solids bin and pulled out all the colors that looked tropical, focusing on oranges and yellows. All the fabric brands I own were included - Moda Bella, Kaufman Kona, and American Made Brand. I made a few more than 160 half-square triangles that are 2" square, unfinished.

This is now on my design wall for a "rest" as I tweak the placement of a few HSTs.

 

The Keys were the most difficult to do, and certainly aren't accurate to a real map. But I have to point out that used the appropriate-named Grunge "Ocean" fabric for the background. As you can see, a half yard of it wasn't enough. I can't go further until a "refill" order arrives in the mail.

Now this is what September will be about!
1) attending the Orlando MQG Sew-In to deliver and help with Pulse quilts on the 3rd;
2) working on our QuiltCon Challenge Quilt at the Central Florida MQG Sew-In on the 10th;
3) co-leading our Central Florida MQG meeting program on how to enter a quilt show on the 12th;
4) teaching foundation paper-piecing at the Lifelong Learning College on the 26th, and October 3;
5) completing my entries for the January 2017 Quilting Guild of The Villages show by the 27th;
6) and prepping for and presenting the Modern Quilt Guild binding webinar on the 29th.

Toss in a committee meeting, an executive committee meeting, two doctor's appointments, and the usual line dancing, needlework, and quilting meetings, and I'm scratching my head as to how I've managed to be busier now than when I worked full time! I know I'm not alone in this. Linda

The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings. - Robert Louis Stevenson

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I Went to Boca Raton

I was in Boca Raton from August 19-22. I went there with my friend Winnie.

Winnie and I met about four years ago when I moved to The Villages. We were first together in the weekly Happy Stitchers needlework group and then attended a weekly Bible study. Last year we also traveled together to Tampa for a Beth Moore "Living Proof" weekend.

Many months ago the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild, in Boca Raton, contacted me about presenting a domestic machine quilting program and workshop. When I mentioned it to Winnie, she reminded me that she moved to The Villages from Boca Raton, and still has many friends there. She suggested that she would like to visit her friend Bev there, so after contacting Bev, it worked out that I could visit and stay with Bev too! What dear people they are!

Bev (on the left), and Winnie

I had a wonderful time with them. Not only was Winnie my driver to and from Boca Raton, and Bev a lovely and gracious hostess, but the South Florida MQG is a fun chapter! And they treated me like royalty. Every little thing I could want or need was covered - transportation, help loading and unloading my quilts and teaching supplies, water, food, and quilters to chat with over a meal.

The meeting, with my presentation and trunk show, was on Saturday at Patch Reef Park Community Center.

For the first time, I wore my newly-finished, fabric-colored, two-tiered, A-line skirt, made from the book The Essential A-Line. The fabric is by Alison Glass and was colored with Tulip brand washable markers. 

I thoroughly enjoyed being among modern quilters, and gleaned lots of good ideas and information that I hope to share with my own Central Florida MQG.

South Florida MQG is active and vital! They're generous with their donation/charity quiltmaking. These are just some of the more than 22 quilts they have already and continue to make for #QuiltsforPulse. These quilts will be given to the Orlando MQG for distribution to victims of the June Pulse nightclub attack.

Their show and tell is modern.

And isn't their August BOM neat?

The six hour workshop on Sunday was at Sugar Sands Park Community Center. Both venues were ideal for group meetings. Twenty students attended my "Straight Ahead and Around the Bend" domestic machine quilting workshop.

Everyone who attended received one of these buttons, designed by the president. That domestic machine quilter is sweating over her machine!

As all quilters in my classes do, they quilt on fat quarter-sized quilt sandwiches that I encourage them to autograph and date for future reference. As they continue quilting, they'll see an improvement in the quality of their stitching, and a look at these these first pieces will remind them of that.

The time spent in Boca Raton was made special by the nicest people, and I'm thankful for each of them: Winnie and Bev; and quilters Charlotte, Allison, Debby, Debbie, Kate, Linda, Marya, and more. I wish I knew everyone.

This past weekend reminds me to reflect on my 2016 word of the year - lighten. Since my January and February leg procedures, I haven't had further symptoms of arterial blockages, and I'm only 18 months away from completing a five year course of Arimidex, my breast cancer drug. I was able to enjoy this trip, and activities of the past several months, without overriding health concerns. He lightened my load of concerns so I could enjoy the activities I most love doing. I'm feeling very grateful. Linda

Austin

I simply must post a few pictures of time recently spent with our son, DIL, and two grandsons. We were with them in Austin, Texas before and after going to Las Vegas. Not only did we get to see them but it worked out very well that we could leave Hogan with them when we flew to Las Vegas.

Hogan is such a good traveler. He's never demanding, happily hopping in and out of the car for our rest stops. He's doing really well, physically, with no returning signs of the soft tissue sarcoma that was removed in January from the right side of his chest. Only our tendency to indulge him in a little canned dog food with his dry food, nibbles of cheese, a couple handfuls of popcorn, homemade dog cookies (banana, peanut butter, and wheat germ), and fresh steamed green beans are apparent. His collar fits a little more snugly than it used to. Heck, I can say the same thing about how my shorts fit me.

Speaking of food... this is my favorite place to eat when in Austin. It's the Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas, a wildly popular barbecue place. It's a celebrity's place to eat though we've never seen any. But once we saw a helicopter land, pick up food, and leave again!

In fact, during the time we were in Texas we ate twice at Salt Lick - at my request. My standard order is a half pound of pulled pork (no sides) followed by blackberry cobbler. No wonder my shorts feel snug!

Luke: 2-1/2 years; DIL Lyn; and Austin: 6 years

Austin, Luke and Dan

Both boys are showing signs of taking after their dad who's a structural engineer. They love building things.

Their community pool is a frequent place to visit.

On Saturday, August 13, all of us went to the University of Texas campus for a tour of The Tower that rises above the Main Building. The viewing platform is just below the face of the clock. Fifty-six bells are in the carillon above the clock.

Where tickets are purchased is this Lego model of The Tower, with the clock faces accurately telling the time. 

While waiting for our group trip to the top of the tower, I suggested to Austin that I take their picture.

Austin said, "I don't want my picture taken!" and then put his face in his knees. Luke saw what Austin did and immediately copied him. Too cute.

Security is tight for groups going to the top, and understandably so since the 1966 sniper shootings by  a UT student. This month is the 50th anniversary of that tragedy. When we inquired about the event, we were told by the tour guides that they are not permitted to talk about it.

From the viewing platform... That gorgeous house in the center is the Littlefield House, built in 1893 by a man whose wealth came from banking and cattle. They were benefactors to the University of Texas. The house belongs to the University now and is used for special events.

Looking toward one of the plazas, the UT President's office is in the foreground, to the left of the tile roof. You can see his small patio with green potted plants around it.

Lyn, Brent, and Austin

My trip to Austin wasn't complete without Lyn driving me to Valli and Kim quilt shop in Dripping Springs. Twice! And is it any surprise that I ran into the one quilting friend I have in Austin?! Mary Anne and I first met through Instagram, and then in person over coffee. It's so very special to have quilty friends wherever I go. 

Lyn, me, Mary Anne

These fabrics came home with me and both piles are for reasons. Well mostly. The pinks and grays are for a quilt requested by our nephew and niece who will have their first baby, a girl, in November. The others are to finish a UFO; make a challenge quilt; and "just because" I can always use more orange and aqua in my stash. That seems right, doesn't it?

This weekend finds me going to Boca Raton with a friend. I'll be sharing Saturday and Sunday with members of the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild. Saturday I'm giving a domestic machine quilting presentation and trunk show of 14 of my quilts, and Sunday a six-hour workshop for 20 students on straight line and curved quilting. I'm very excited about presenting to a modern chapter, and expect to have a great time. The South Florida gals thoughtfully built a quilt shop stop into my itinerary! Linda