Quilting 101 – Getting Started

Well as you know I have been quilting like crazy this past week making blankets for Project Linus, the charity that donates blankets to those in need.  Our chapter of Project Linus donates to both of the hospitals in our area and to the Child Advocacy Center.  Also, I have had several friends and acquaintances loose their homes in the tornado that hit Joplin this past week and have been working on making quilts for them as well.

Several friends have asked me to teach them to quilt in the past and there seems to be a renewed interest this week as everyone is pulling together to help out those in need.  So to get things started I have made a list of the items that you will need to make your quilting journey easier. 

 

Supply List

Sewing Machine (unless you want to stitch everything by hand)
Scissors
Rotary Cutter
Cutting Mat (self healing mats cost a little more but are worth the investment)
Klutz glove
Rotary ruler – these come in different sizes and you can also buy them in shapes like squares, diamonds, circles, half circles, etc.
Straight pins AND Safety pins (Large)
Thread
Darning needle and one sewing needle
Seam ripper
1 skein of yarn (Walmart has them on sale for $1.00 at this time)

and of course material and batting.

I would imagine that everyone already has a sewing machine, scissors, and a seam ripper as these things can be purchased in a starter sewing kit.  The other items are necessary, but you don’t have to spend a fortune buying them.  I personally do not use a Klutz glove, but I have been known to cut myself while using the rotary cutter.  It is a safety glove designed to be worn on the hand that is holding the ruler.

You will want to match your thread as closely as possible to your project making sure that you are using quilting thread.   Quilting thread is heavier than your basic mending/all purpose thread, but lighter weight than upholstery thread.  I tend to match my thread more to the backing material than to the quilt top although the two should be somewhat coordinated; however, white thread always works and matches everything.

For our first project we are going to use a 6 inch square.  I bought a kit at Walmart that had several squares ranging from 4 inches up to 12 inches, you can buy the kit if you would like, but you can also use a metal ruler and follow the lines on your cutting mat or a rotary ruler .  Now don’t go overboard buying fabrics at this point.  We are going to make our first quilt out of scrap fabric.  Some you have scraps and some don’t.  If you don’t have any scrap fabric, go to your local fabric store and buy scraps out of the remnant bin or buy a few fat quarters or even a jelly roll, which is fabric cut into 2 1/2 - 3" strips, but make sure you have different shades from dark to light and interesting patterns.  Remember that fabric will look different when it is cut into smaller pieces and assembled next to other fabrics, so don’t judge the fabric at first glance.  Try many different patterns and colors.

This project is going to be a version of the “split rail fence” design using left over strips of fabric that have been saved from numerous other projects.  The fabric that I am using was donated by a lady in Washington state to help out our efforts to make blankets for Project Linus.  (The quilt example in this lesson will be donated to Project Linus)

Step 1 – If you don’t already have strips, cut your fabric into 2 -2 ½ inch strips.  Sew the strips together using a ¼ inch seam.  You can sew them together in any order that you find visually appealing.  For this pattern you will sew 4 strips together.  If you are using scraps, please know that the strips may not be exactly 2 – 2 ½ inches.  You may have some bigger or smaller, but after sewing the strips together, they need to measure 5 ½ to 6 inches depending on the size of the square that you are using.  Each square should have four rows for this pattern.

Step 2 – Once you have sewn your strips together you will need to iron the seams making that the square lays flat.  Then use your square ruler or rotary ruler to make a 5 ½ inch or 6 inch square.   I used the six inch square for this project.

Step 3 – You are going to sew the squares together alternating the direction of the strips.  The first square for your first row will be horizontal, then the next square will be vertical, then the next horizontal, etc, until you row is the length you desire.  On the second row your first square will be vertical, then the second one horizontal, etc.  You goal is to have each square going the opposite direction of the square that it is next to.

Step 4 –  Once you have assembled your rows of squares you are going to press your seams all in the same direction.  This makes it easier to quilt and makes the quilt to lay flat.

Step 5 –  Next, sew your strips together using a ¼ inch seam.  Repeat this step until all the rows are sewn together. Then press the new seems all in the same direction.

**You can stop at this point if you are happy with your quilt top.  Some quilters like to sew an additional edging around the quilt to “frame” it, but this step in unnecessary for our project since we are using scraps.

Step 6 – You are going to lay your quilt top on top of your backing fabric RIGHT sides together and trim your backing fabric 2 inches wider than your quilt top.  Then lay both pieces onto the batting with the layers being: quilt top, backing fabric, batting from top to bottom, and then trim the batting to the size of the backing fabric.

Step 7 – Use your large safety pins to pin all three layers together.  This will prevent slipping while sewing the layers together.  You will sew around three of the edges completely using a ¼ inch seam.  When you get to the fourth edge, sew 4 inches from one corner and then back stitch.  Move down the edge approximately 5 inches and start sewing again, back stitching at the beginning and then sew all the way across the rest of the quilt. 

Step 8 – Trim the fabric around all of the edges so that your edges all meet the edge of the quilt top.  Be sure to trim and round the corners.

Step 9 – Turn your quilt right side out through the opening you left on side 4.  Pull the corners out using a straight pin.  Then fold down the edges of the opening and use a whip stitch to close the opening.

Step 10 – Ok, we are not going to quilt this with thread, we are going to do a traditional “tie” quilt.  You will need to cut your yarn into 6 inch pieces.  Then thread the darning needle with the yarn piece.  You can measure exactly or eyeball your thread tie placement.  I recommend putting the ties in approximately 4 -6 inches apart. 

You will insert the needle through all three layers of the quilt.  Then back through approximately ¼ inch from where you brought it up.  Tie your two end pieces together in a knot and then trim the yard down to the length you desire (approximately 1 inch would be good).

Now you have your finished quilt!  I hope you have enjoyed this project.   Please check back for other sewing ideas.

Happy Sewing!

The History of Quilting

The other night my son and I were reading a book that we had picked out at the local library titled “The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom,” by Bettye Stroud, and it made me wonder about the history of quilts.  In the book it talks about how each individual quilt block represented a specific sign or action that the runaway slaves were to look for or do in their journey to freedom.   This children’s book is based on a book written by Jacqueline Tobin and Dr. Raymond Dobard, “Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad”, which I intend to check out and read immediately.

I was going to post information on the history of quilting, but there are already so many sites and articles available for you to find this information over the internet that I decided that instead of regurgitating information already available, I would make a list of websites that have the information regarding the early beginnings of quilting.  I am sure you will find them all very interesting.

The History of Quilting – This one is by far my favorite article. – PDF format

History of Quilting - Wikipedia

America’s Quilting History

These are only a few sites that have quilting history. I have found that they all have similar information, but the one that I enjoyed the most was the PDF file.  I found that it not only provided information about the different types of quilts from our past, but it also provided pictures of the quilt patterns making this article more informative that the other sites that I have found and/or listed above.

This week we will be discussing quilting, what tools are needed to create a quilt and how to get started making your own quilts.  I hope you find this information useful and fun!

Happy Sewing!

This past week...

Again I would like to apologize for not posting information for you this week.  I have been working like a mad woman making quilts for the victims of the Joplin, MO tornado that wiped out half of the city.    Below are a few pictures of the damage that was done to my friend's home and the town in general.

Our good friend's uncle was sleeping in his bed when the tornado sirens went off.  She told us that he grabbed the side of the mattress and flipped it over on top of himself.  You can see the mattress in the tree on the right side of this picture.  That tree is in the neighbors yard.  He survived and is doing fine.  Thank god for all those who made it through this horrible storm and please say a prayer for those who didn't make it and those that are still missing.

This is the pet that lived in the house in the picture above.  His name is Sammy.  They found him alive after the tornado, two days of rain and a bulldozer had been over this area.  This is just one tiny survivor but he gives hope to others who may have lost their pets in this horrible storm.

I am adding two links to my blog.  One is for a local Springfield company called Big Fish Screenprinting - the link is posted on OzarksFirst.com.  They started making t-shirts to sell in order to raise money for the Joplin Area Relief Fund.  The shirts are $10.00 and $7.00 of it goes to the fund.

Hope For Joplin - T-shirts

The second link I am posting is one from Mizzou (University of Missouri) who has partnered with the Heart of Missouri United Way.   The shirts say "One State, One Spirit, One Mizzou".  These shirts are $14.95 and all funds will go to the "United for Joplin" campaign through the United Way.

MUTigers.com

There are several other sites out there selling Joplin t-shirts, but I could not find anything on their sites that stated that any portion of the proceeds were going to help the Joplin area.  Please be aware of this when you are purchasing your t-shirts.

THIS WEEKS POSTS

Please accept my apology for not posting this week.  We have friends and family who have lost their homes in Joplin, MO due to the massive tornado that ripped through that area this week.  We have been collecting items to take down, including donations from Project Linus.  The clean up efforts are underway even with the bad weather that keeps rolling in.  Please take a moment to say a prayer for those 1500 people who are still missing.

I will post again soon.

God bless.

Yo-yo Door/Window Treatment

Ok so you still have a ton of yo-yos that you made when preparing for your quilt top and you are wondering what in the world are you going to do with them...  Well here is another yo-yo idea.  You can use them for a door or window treatment!

You will need the following supplies for this project:

Yo-yos of any size
Ribbon
Needle/Thread





The first step is figuring out if you are making curtain strips, a valance or a door treatment (kinda like the beads that people hang but without the noise!).  Then determine how long to make your strips of of yo-yos and ad two inches on to that number.  Then follow the steps below to finish your project:

1.  Fold down the top of the ribbon 2 inches and sew it down making a loop.  This is what you will use to hang the strip from a dowel rod or a curtain rod.

2, Start at the bottom of the ribbon and sew on the first yo-yo so that the bottom of the ribbon does not show.  You will need to sew it down in the middle and at the top and bottom as well so that it will hang correctly.

3. Once you have finished sewing your yo-yos onto the ribbon, hand the ribbon from your curtain rod.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until you have the desired amount of window or door coverage.

This is another great project to do with your kids while watching your shows or a movie.

Happy Sewing!

How To Make A Yo-Yo Quilt Top - Part Two

In part one of this lesson we discuss how to attach your yo-yos to the quilting strips that you cut for your quilt top.  So now that you have attached all of you yo-yos, what next?

Supplies that you will need to finish this project:
sewing machine (or you can sew them by hand using a quilters running stitch)
iron/ironing board
scissors

Follow the steps below to finish your quilt top:
1.  Pin two of your finished strips right sides together.

2. Sew strips together - 1/4" seam allowance.

3. Lay right side down on the ironing board and press seam to one side.

4. Turn over and make sure that your seam pressed out correctly.  Pressing the seam is a little more difficult due to the lumpy nature of this quilt top.

5.  Repeat steps 1-4 until all of your strips have been sewn together. 

Now you have a yo-yo quilt top!!

How To Make A Yo-Yo Quilt Top - Part One

Recently I have had the privilage of receiving donated materials from a few of my close friends.  Umong those items was a large bag of small pillow cases made out of cotton in various colors and patterns.  The yo-yos that were made for the previous projects came from this stash of material.  You can use any material you have on hand.  Recycling or reusing fabrics is the best way to get started on a project with minimal cost.  You can use any cotton fabric that is light weight.  Don't use thicker materials like denim, felt, wool or fleece.

I first got the idea for this project after receiving a catolog in the mail from Ethan Allen several months back.  They had a beautiful photo of a quilt that was made using yo-yos.  The quilt was cream, beige, sage green and light brown.  It was so beautiful that I showed it to my daughter and told her, "I can make one like this!".    She rolled her eyes at me because she knows how I get when a new project idea pops into my head.  Needless to say, here I am showing you how to make a yo-yo quilt top.

To get started you will need the following supplies for this project:
Pre-made Yo-yos (238)
2 yards of fabric
thread
scissors
rottary cutter
cutting mat
chalk pencil or washable fabric marker
*extra small embroidery hoop (optional)
***You can pick up these items almost anywhere they sell crafting supplies.  I buy most of my tools and supplies from Wal-mart.

***Pick you fabric that compliments the yo-yos that you have made.  Don't use any patterned fabric that would make the yo-yos visibly disappear or visibly confusing to look at.

These instructions are for a crib size quilt top.  Follow the steps outlined below to get started.

1. Using your cutting mat and rotary cutter, you will need to cut 17 - 3 1/2" strips.

2.  Lay your strips out on your cutting mat.  You will use your ruler and chalk pencil/fabric pen to mark the placement of each yo-yo.  Your first mark should be approximately 2 3/8" from the end of the strip.  Each mark after that, working from left to right, will be approximately 3 1/4" from the previous mark.

3.  Once you have marked your strips, you will tack the yo-yos onto the strip using the markings as your guide.  Place the yo-yo to the right of each mark with the mark being right next to the left edge of the yo-yo.  You can tack the yo-yos down with thread or you can use fabric glue.

4.  Next you will sew the yo-yos in place by hand using a quilting stitch.  I recommend that you also use a small embroidery hoop to keep the fabric stiff while sewing the yo-yo in place.

5.  You will repeat step 4 moving down the length of the strip.  Each strip holds 14 yo-yos.

The finished strips should look something like the photo above.  Don't worry if your stitches aren't perfectly spaced or the exact same size.  Even seasoned quilters don't stitch perfectly.  You could probably sew these onto the strips using a sewing machine if you would like the stitches to be perfect, but doing it by hand allows you to sit with your family while watching your favorite shows.  As I have said before, this is a great project to do with your kids as well!

I will post the instructions for assembling the quilt top tomorrow along with instructions on assembling and finishing the quilt. 

Happy Sewing!