Jane's Hand Stitched Stars Quilt

Jane V. donated another quilt top. The center section was entirely hand stitched. I don't know if she did it, or if it was a rescue of some sort. But one thing that I've found (when I was making my insulated table runner) was that even when the stitches are small and tight, it still feels like they are not as secure as machine pieced.

I don't know if you can see it, but at intersecting points, they wanted to pull apart in some areas. There was also a lot of play in construction - some areas were smooth and tight when laid flat, whereas other areas poofed a lot more and would need more care in working that in during quilting. Plus, the fabric used for the piecing was very thin/light weight material which also needed watching.

I chose an all over meander that was a medium density to try and secure as much as I could of the top.

The red strip had been sewn on by machine, but was very stretched out. I plan on making a tutorial soon to show how to avoid stretching the borders, since that seems to be a difficulty many experience. I asked my mother to help me out on this one and she took off the red border, measured across the center of the quilt to know what size it should be, and re-sewed it on. She then added the green flowered border to help square up the quilt top (and increase the size).

The yellow sheet I had set aside for the back was a bottom sheet, so there was definitely not enough and I needed to add more. I had the same flowered green set aside for the back, but when I determined how much I needed for the borders, I knew there wouldn't quite be enough for the back. Only about 3-4" short. So I took a strip of red and made a fun little strip in the green. A little wonky, but I like it, and I didn't have to buy fabric for it. 

Brenda's Around the World Quilt in Vivid Pastels

A charming Around the World quilt top made by Brenda H. and donated for me to quilt and donate to the refugees coming this winter. The back to this (and all the solid yellow fabric on the backs) were donated by Linda N. who, after seeing my offer to quilt donated tops for free for this cause, called me up and donated brand new sheets for me to use as backs.

 

This one I quilted in a medium gray thread (So Fine and Bottom Line) using the Rose Bud Border pantograph by Urban Elementz. I really like the way this one turned out.  (Well, I like them all, but hey, each one can be a favorite, right?)

Naomi's #3 Abstract Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt

Naomi has a gift for putting colors together. Though pretty new to piecing, she seems to have a knack for designing. She donated 6 quilt tops for me to quilt and donate to the refugees.

I quilted this with light yellow thread using the Cardamom Wave pantograph by Urban Elementz. The back was another one donated by Linda N. 

 

Jane's Blue and White Disappearing 9-Patch

This beautiful quilt top in shades of blue and white was donated by Jane V. for me to quilt for the refugees arriving here this winter.

I used navy blue Glide and Glide 60 thread and quilted it with my own design, a pantograph I call Baroque Filigree.

The back I pieced from fabrics I had on hand. I had originally planned to make a disappearing 9-patch style to mimic the front. But, then I figured time was of the essence, and it was better to get more done, than make the back fancy, too. It's a beautiful quilt.

 

Brenda's Scrappy Squares on White and Black with Piano Keys

When I put the plea out for quilters to donate fabric tops for me to quilt to help the refugees arriving this winter in St. Louis, Brenda H. brought over 6 tops made by her and her friend. This was the first I quilted of hers. When it came to me, it was a square quilt top, 65"x65" and I like to have the twin size quilts closer to 70"x90" so I added the white border around the center section, then piano keys in different fabrics on top and bottom with another strip of white on the top and bottom.

 

The back (you can see the front through it with the light behind) was a solid light yellow, but because I enlarged the front, the back I had for it (a bottom sheet) would now need to be enlarged, too. I added larger strips to mimic the piano keys added to the front.

The quilting is done in white thread (So Fine and Bottom Line) using the Flirty Feathers with Leaves pantograph from Urban Elementz.

The top could be made with 5" pre-cut squares of all different fabrics. The strips and small squares could be made from 2.5" strips. To keep in line with the overall design, the piano keys I added, I cut at 2.5"x5." The strips on the back were 5"x15."

Pink, Green and White Jelly Roll Friendly Quilt

This is another quilt top made by Linda E. She included the backing, binding and batting making her quilts jump to the line on me getting them done. All I had to do is quilt and bind it. I'll just qualify that with this charitable cause, I had only asked people to donate quilt tops and I would provide the rest. The fact that she included everything made it so much easier to finish.

It is quilted in white So Fine and Bottom Line thread using the Duet pantograph by Urban Elementz. Such a simple, yet elegant design. I like it!

Pink and Green Boxes, Squares and Split Rail Quilt

Linda E. donated the top, the batting, the backing, and the binding for this quilt. All I had to do is quilt and bind it. She does such beautiful work. Even more importantly for the longarmer is that the quilt was so square and flat - no ripply areas that have to be carefully worked in to not have tucks where they aren't supposed to be.

I quilted it with white So Fine and Bottom Line thread. I used rulers to make the circles and freehand to make the swirls. This will be donated to refugees moving to St. Louis, MO this winter.

Desert Table Runner and Placemats & Kitty Table Runners

 In preparation for an Arts and Crafts Sale, I made a few table runners and placemats to have some less expensive options for sale. I am also listing them on my Show Me Sewing Facebook business page with prices. Here is a quilted table runner (approximately 40.5"x12"). Inside it has a double later of 100% cotton batting to be able to handle heat, making it act as a hot pad as well as decorative. 

Evidently this is a landscape of the planet Tatooine from Star Wars with its two setting suns. (Thanks to my sister, Aleta, for pointing that out to me.)  ;-)

With a close up on the custom quilting... 

Four placemats that match the table runner. Interestingly enough, making placemats is a lot more work than the table runner. Not only does the 4 placemats take more than twice as much fabric, you have to bind 4 instead of 1. It's doesn't make sense to me that the going price in the pricing market doesn't take that into consideration for placemats. Each placemat is approx. 13.5"x18.5".

Some close ups on two of the four placemats.

Next, I made some kitty cat table runners that are approximately 43"x12". These, too, have a double batting layer of 100% cotton batting, to act as a trivet/hot pad.

One I bound with pink, one with the wine. Each brings out different aspects.

Below one can see some of the detailed custom quilting around it.

Lisa C's Pink and White Quilt for Refugees

When I mentioned to friends on Facebook that I was willing to quilt tops for free and donate them to the refugees that would be arriving soon, I was inundated with donations. Lisa C. sent me 2 tops and backs. One was the blue and white one I posted a little bit ago. The other was this quilt. It was the size of the center section, but figured since the request was for twins or full sizes, I should enlarge it, which I did by adding white to both the front and back.

 

The quilting was done with light pink So Fine and Bottom Line threads and I used the Dear Heart pantograph from Urban Elementz. The batting is a 6.6 oz polyester batting which gives a lovely loft.

Gray, Yellow "Tweed" Quilt for Refugees

Top and back made by Jennifer W. using the pattern Tweed from the Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Bar 2 book.

 

I quilted it in Light yellow thread with the Bora Bora pantograph from Urban Elementz.

Naomi's Trapezoids Quilt for Refugees (#2)

Quilt top made by Naomi R. The pantograph I used was Hall of Mirrors (Urban Elementz) using light yellow thread.

 

Lisa C's Blue, White, Multi-colored Scrappy Quilt for Refugees

Refugee Quilt #4 top made by Lisa C. I quilted it with light blue So Fine and Bottom Line thread using the Ripples pantograph by Urban Elementz.

 

Note: quilts 1-7 have already gone to a family.

How to Make a Quilt Label - Tutorial

I was asked how I did quilt labels. Quilt labels come in many shapes and sizes with minimal to a lot of information on them. I have tried different ways, and this is the way I revert back to in most cases. However, for privacy reasons don't feel I can show some of my better labels since they have the persons' names on them and I have not asked permission to post them. 

I almost always put my labels on the back of the bottom right side of the quilt, which means the quilts above, I did on the wrong side. But it shows a very simple label hand sewn a short distance from the binding which is what I wanted you to see.

For more special quilts, I will frame the label, either with fabric (as shown in these two eagle quilt labels) or with a frame drawn on the label.

Still other times, I have made the label and sewn it on the quilt back before I do the quilting. This has the advantage that there is no hand sewing (which I dislike). But it has the distinct disadvantage of putting the label in the wrong place. I have made the mistake of carefully placing my label, then loading the quilt incorrectly which put the label sideways on the top left side. And of course it was done before the quilting, so there is no easy way to take it off and put it on again. Again, good if you don't want it removed, and bad if you made a mistake. In the case of the one pictured below, it is facing the right way, and nicely sewn and quilted down, but I would have preferred for it to be closer to the bottom of the quilt.

So, here is my tried and true method.  I start by typing it up on the computer. I can spell check, edit, change fonts and do whatever I need to do so it looks the way I want. Remember to have at the very least, who made the quilt, who quilted it, where and when. Adding the why, name of pattern, etc. are nice and helpful for the quilt historians. 

Then, using a light table/box and fabric markers, I trace the information on usually white or off white cotton fabric. Little tiny pieces of tape help hold things in place while this is done. You can also stick the tape first to your clothes before using it, so it doesn't stick so fast you fray the edge of your label when pulling the tape off.

Now cut it to size. I allow 1/2" from all sides of the writing which will leave, once seams are taken, 1/4" margin. As you cut, not only line up with the writing, but also the already cut edges so you have it squared.

Then press the edges. If you followed my measurements above, you shouldn't need an ruler to iron. Just fold the raw edges up to the edge of the writing and that should be your 1/4" seam allowance. 

Press. You also want the heat of the iron to set the ink on the writing, so make sure in the end to press the whole thing. In some cases, you want all 4 sides turned under (like all the labels at the beginning of the post). Those will look like the one on the far left here.

But some you might want to sew in such a way that the binding catches 2 of the sides as I will show you below. If so, you will want to press only the top and right side of the label (as shown in the right 2 tan labels).

The label with only two sides ironed under will be place to the edge, or 1/8" from the bottom left-hand corner of the back of the quilt (which will be the back of the bottom right). Since I use a 2-1/2" double fold binding, I place the label 1/8" from the edge so when I sew the binding down at 3/8," it will only cover 1/4" of the label, keeping the words centered. I suppose I could cut the label with a little more room on the bottom and left sides to compensate, but this works best for me. 

I then hand sew the two folded under edges to the quilt as invisibly as possible. My favorite stitch is the ladder stitch. Yes, I am a lefty, so I start from the left and sew right. If you are right handed, you will obviously want to start on the right and sew left.

Here, I'm trying to show that to hide the stitching as well as you can, where the last stitch ended on one side is where the stitch on the other side begins. Take little stitches. How big? I have always tried to imitate the size of stitch the sewing machine takes so it holds fast.

My preference has always been to sew the binding to the back of the quilt, fold to the front and carefully stitch right near the edge of the fold on the binding. I feel I make it look better that way than any other way I've tried, and I have tried many other ways. Yes, there is stitching near the binding on the back of the quilt, but I find that less distracting than sewing the binding to the front, folding over and stitching in the ditch on the front and ending up with varying between a nice stitch on the back with missing the binding in places and having too much of a seam in other places. That method looks more wobbly to me, so I'll stick with this.