Jeanette's Chandelier Quilt

This Chandelier beauty was made by Jeanette for a wedding gift (lucky couple!) and she asked for the quilting to be curvy or flow-y, not geometric.

I chose Espresso (from Urban Elementz) and Cleopatra gold thread for the top and cream thread on the back (Glide and Glide 60 respectively).

Tulip Applique Charity Quilt in Yellow, Cream and Gray

This charity quilt top was donated by Gail. I’m not sure where she found it but it was all hand sewn!

I made a scrappy back for it and then quilted it to death (with cream Glide/Glide 60 thread).

I tried to keep my quilting patterns consistent with the era it was made (even if I used a longarm to machine quilt it - a rather modern invention). I like the way it turned out. Should keep a refugee warm this winter.

 

Dorothy's Masculine Quilt in Plaids

Great masculine quilt by Dorothy.

I quilted it in Mossy green Glide and Glide 60 thread using the Zest pantograph from Urban Elementz.

As always, Dorothy made a scrappy back with leftover fabrics.

Ramona's Nauvoo Quilt Christmas Gift

Quilt made from the Robert Kauffman Nauvoo Temple panel with several borders to give to my sister, Ramona for Christmas this year.

Summer of 2023 I visited Nauvoo Emporium Quilts and More in Nauvoo, IL and bought a quilt kit of many sites in Nauvoo with a large Nauvoo Temple panel for the center.

Before doing the large, more detailed and time consuming quilt, I quilted just a Nauvoo Temple panel quilt to practiced. I had fun quilting it to death.

You can see from the photo of the back the detail of what I did. Lots of thread color changes all Glide thread. Glide 60 Sterling for the back.

Making a Laundry Bag - Tutorial

This is a laundry bag made for my daughter many long years ago. I was using fabric I had on hand, and she wasn't too thrilled at the bright, bold fabric, so we switched it and made it with the wrong side of the fabric out (as if it were the right side) to give it a subtle plaid look. She like it better, but it can make the instructions a bit confusing as it looks backwards from what is normal.

*****I didn't take a picture of cutting out the fabric, but they are cut the size you want the finished piece plus seam allowances. ********

There are many sizes of laundry bags. This one finishes at 25"x30". Another size I've made is 26"x44".

Allow 3/4" for each french seam (sides and bottom)

Allow 1-1/2" for the top seam

I chose to do french seams for two reasons, durability - since each seam is sewn twice and protecting the seams so they don't fray. To do this, I sewed the pieces with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER at 1/4" (remember the white side is my "right side"). Then turn it inside out, pushing the corners out nice and square and the finger press the seams close to the stitching, and sew 3/8" from the edge. This will keep the raw edges inside. See below.

Next will be preparing the casing at the top. I press the edge down 1/2" from the top. I have found for long areas that need a precise fold, I cut a strip of card stock to the correct width, (in this case, 1/2"x11") and press the cloth over the strip of card stock.

You can see it better in this picture. I line up the edge of the fabric with the edge of the card stock, keeping the folded edge snug to the card stock.

Then fold again and press 1" from the first fold. Here I have a 1" strip of card stock that I tuck into the 1/2" fold and fold again, giving the casing area a very crips and exact measurement.

Before you sew the casing closed, we need a hole to put the string through. I used a grommet, though if that's not to your liking, you could use a buttonhole or some other method.

Center the grommet in both the front and within the 1" part of the casing. Draw a circle in the center of the grommet (see below).

Cut a little snip in the middle. . .

to get your scissors inside to cut out the circle.

Very carefully cut out the center. I go a wee bit inside that line. . .

 because I want the grommet to be nice and snug in that hole.  Secure the grommet according to package directions. If you prefer to have two strings to close the top, repeat making a hole directly across from the first hole centered on the back side of the laundry bag within the casing as before.

Remember that the white side of my fabric is the "right" side (because I know if you're just flipping through the pictures, it's deceptive - it throws me off and I made it). Stitch nice and close (1/8" or less) from that folded edge.

String your string or strings through and you're done.

I've made a bunch of these. Good for teens or college age students that do their own laundry.

I like to embroider the name on it.

I'll be making more this Christmas, too.

Gail's Under the Sea Colored Quilt Top Find

This quilt top was given to me by Gail. Fabric for the back was leftover from a charity quilt I finished from Cynthia. My Aunt MaryEllen fell in love with the colors and gushed over it recently.

I quilted it with the Espresso pantograph from Urban Elementz.

Back and Front respectively.

Fiona's Mini Tree Skirt

This makes me so happy! My daughter was on a mission trip in Alaska last Christmas. Shipping was expensive and her space was very limited, so we put together a little 12 days of Christmas care package. On the first day of Christmas she got a small tinsel tree. Each day thereafter had either small decorations for the tree or her apartment (you can see some snowflakes for one of the days). One thing on day one, two things on day two, etc. I don't remember what day she got the tree skirt, but it was my favorite part. It is a mini version of our tree skirt at home with my kids' handprints on in. This was done with stamps.