Quilt Labels the Easy Way

Posted on February 9, 2014 by zippyquilts

I have made my quilt labels a variety of ways and generally have felt that the result looked amateurish. However, I’ve now developed a method that I like, so here’s how.

First, I compose my labels in my word processing program and print them onto those fabric sheets prepared for a computer printer. These sheets are fairly expensive, so I wait until I have enough to fill a page. Gives me an excuse to procrastinate on labeling my quilts 😉

I like to frame each label with leftover binding from the quilt because I like the way it looks. That printer-ready fabric is very stiff, so the border makes the whole thing easier to sew to the quilt back.

There’s almost always enough left-over binding to frame the label. I start by ironing the binding open (yes, after having worked earlier to get it ironed into a nice fold). I then sew it to all 4 sides of the trimmed label with a 1/4 inch seam. I sew the binding to opposite sides of the label the press it out, away from the label. I then sew to the two remaining sides and press them out.

Note that it’s easiest to sew to the two (opposite) longer sides first, then to the two shorter sides, which are now longer because the border has extended them.

After framing the label with the binding, I attach it as I would have done without the frame. That is, I turn under 1/4 inch on each side of the frame and sew the label to the back of the quilt by hand. I think having the label framed with the same fabric used to bind the quilt gives it a nice finishing touch.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Confetti!

Posted on February 2, 2014 by zippyquilts

I’m very excited to be making a quilt for the Summer 2014 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited. (Hint: If you go right over there and subscribe you’ll get not only the issue with my quilt, but the spring issue with a quilt by my friend Ann over at SewMessy.)

Beautiful Fabric from Michael Miller Fabrics

I’ll blog about that project when it’s published this summer, but for now I’ve made a confetti block from the scraps.

The Michael Miller Fabric Company (one of my favs) kindly supplied the fabric for this quilt from their Cotton Couture solids, plus a wonderful print called “Tara’s Fireworks“.

The quilt top is made, and I’m quilting it, BUT LOOK AT THIS:

Scraps! Lovely scraps!

All those beautiful colors in little bitty pieces just FORCED me to make an improvisational block representing confetti!

I just grabbed those scraps and started joining them any old way, putting in lots of white so the pieces of confetti would stand out. When the edges came out wonky, I trimmed. Usually I then sewed the trimmed section onto the next piece! Some of those bits were TINY:

The pin is for perspective on these tiny pieces

Eventually some bigger sections emerged.

And finally, I had a piece just a bit larger than 12-1/2 x 12-1/2, which I’ll eventually trim to make a block.

Confetti Block, 2014

I can just hear someone saying, “so what is this block FOR?” Well, it’s FOR FUN! OK, I do have a plan for this block, but that’s a secret for now 😉 Meanwhile, that was great fun, so if you haven’t tried improvisational piecing yet, just go for it!

You may be a modern quilter if…

Posted on January 26, 2014 by zippyquilts

I’ve always thought the Amish were the original modern quilters, with their solid fabrics and striking designs.

I made this quilt when we lived in Pennsylvania

Still, there is a lot of discussion of the definition of modern quilting, and there are some financial issues at stake because there is (a little) money to be made in quilting.

There are lots of definitions that I like, including the one offered by the Modern Quilt Guild website. Individual modern quilters have their own definitions, too. I’ll tell you mine at the end, but meanwhile, here’s a list to consider:

You may be a modern quilter if…

…you’ve ever said, “This is the LAST TIME I’m making a quilt with a lot of blocks exactly

I’ve seen quilts like this defined as modern–no kidding!

alike!”

…you like to design quilts inspired by the mid 20th century aesthetic

…you like the look of quilts with a variety of different size blocks

…or you like your quilts with no identifiable individual blocks at all

…you like quilts with lots of negative space

Improvisational blocks made from scraps of the quilt shown at the top

…you enjoy working with solid (or almost solid) fabrics

…you often use improvisational piecing

…you like to challenge yourself to create something new rather than following a pattern …you are drawn to “low volume” fabric with a lot of background showing

Here’s my first stab at a definition: Modern quilting is about good design first. Many traditional quilts are good designs, but the emphasis is too often on how many tedious piecing techniques can be used perfectly. Modern quilts are more like “modern” art–technique must be good, but design is paramount.

Finally, of course, you’re a modern quilter if YOU SAY you are! You get to define yourself.

: Improvisational log cabin block

: This is the back

: The back was pieced from the scraps that happened to be on the top of the scrap bin!

: freehand cut curves block

: Freehand blocks from a Karen K Stone class

: Some improv blocks from several years ago

A Cute Fat Quarter Project

Posted on January 19, 2014 by zippyquilts

I subscribe to lots of blogs, and this little project caught my eye on a blog called Noodlehead, by Anna Graham. She has an excellent tutorial on how to make these zippered pouches in several sizes. She also has tutorials for more complicated bags. I KNOW, I just went on a bag-making kick with that gift wrap book, but these really are easy and fun!

The bags here each used 2 fat quarters (FQs) from my stash, and I think I’ll make a few more to go with them!. I also got to use some of my (OOPS, very large) stash of beads to make little zipper pulls to fancy them up. That was fun.

Here are a few more pics of the bags:So, go check out the Noodlehead blog–lots to see!

The Top 10 Reasons Some Quilters Choose to Exercise

Posted on January 12, 2014 by zippyquilts

This IS a blog about quilting, but it IS January, so here goes…

10. Strength training means you can carry more bolts during sales. In fact, a good sale COUNTS as your weight lifting for the day!

9. Pilates improves core strength, so you can stand over a cutting table for hours.

8. The safety pins used to fasten your race number to your shirt are the perfect size to use for basting (true story!)

7. Stretching makes you flexible! Streeeeeeetch to reach the ironing board from your sewing machine, etc.

6. Stamina! Make at least 5 quilts in a single retreat!

5. Save money by wearing the same size clothes every year–and spend that money on fabric!

4. Agility training helps you slither through crowds to see the demonstration or grab the notions when they go on sale.

3. Yoga improves concentration, allowing you to focus on quilting when those pesky kids whine for supper 😉

2. Burn more calories. We all know we MUST have chocolate to quilt, and exercise burns any leftover calories!

1. If you race walk, you get to really WIGGLE YOUR HIPS—good no matter what your gender, age, or lifestyle!

NEXT WEEK–my latest project to use stash–this time I used fat quarters.

Wrapping Fun!

Posted on January 5, 2014 by zippyquilts

I recently found this book and thought it was perfect for using up stash. It’s about how to make recyclable wrapping for gifts, whether holiday, birthday, or whatever. So I bought it, and I love it!

Of course, the first thing you need to know is that the cute wrap on the front is very dependent on a cute printed fabric (or paper, I’m not sure)–nothing in the book is as complicated as painting a little face on a package.

My favorite project so far is a gift bag made from a discarded man’s shirt. This idea was very welcome to me because my stash includes a

large box of discarded clothing to be made into quilts “some day”. The book has instructions for a simple envelope bag. I made it with a flat bottom so a wider gift would fit in more smoothly, added a red “hanky” in the pocket, and used the cuff of the shirt to fix the bag so it buttons closed. My husband swears he wore this shirt last Tuesday and I stole it, but scout’s honor, I didn’t!

The book has lots of ideas about using materials you already have around the house to make unique wrapping for presents. I “wrapped” a box for a baby shower by gluing on pages from a baby catalog that came in the mail and making a cute paper flower for the top, following instructions from the book. I took her suggestion to wrap (or cover with glued pictures in this case) just the top of the box. That way it can be used over again, since opening it doesn’t require any tearing of the wrap–just lift off the lid, like on TV.

Another project in the book is for a drawstring bag with a round bottom. I made this one to use up a couple of yards of fabric from my stash, since I got “a few” yards of fabric for Christmas! This is big enough to use to give someone a quilt, so I’ll probably make more of them.

I recommend this book! It has tons of inspiring ideas for wrapping all sorts of things. I figure if I get started now, I may never have to use wrapping paper again! And, of course, it uses up lots of stash 🙂

Here’s another page from the book for you to preview

5 Silly Things I Won’t Do Again Next Year…

Posted on December 29, 2013 by zippyquilts

This is the back of one of my bright batik quilts–it was fun!

‘Tis the season to make resolutions, and I’m not big on those, but there are a few things I don’t plan to repeat. And to go with the list, a few of my quilts.

1. I won’t put a cup of hot coffee on my cutting mat. Turns out that little sucker is VERY heat sensitive and warps locally just from having a cup of coffee on it for a few minutes! Of course I knew not to leave it in a hot car, but I really didn’t think the bottom of a coffee cup got that hot.

2. I won’t drink red wine while free-motion quilting (FMQ). Yes, wine does help with FMQ, but white would be easier to get out of fabric 😉

3. I won’t “wait until later” when I see a really

Another batik quilt! I love batiks and straightforward designs.

terrific fabric I “need”. It can be WAY too difficult to find it again, let alone to find the coordinates to go with it.

4. I won’t assume a marker will come out of my fabric just because the manufacturer says it will. The manufacturer also said to “test on an inconspicuous area” before using, and that WOULD have been a good idea!

5. I won’t set the piecing foot from my machine in a box of binding clips when I need a safe place for it “just for a few minutes” while I use another foot! That foot walked off with the binding clips and was lost for 2 weeks.

And of course, there are a few things I will plan to repeat:

A T shirt quilt for a friend

1. I’m going on retreat with my best quilty friends. At least twice next year.

2. I’m going to at least one big national quilt show.

3. I’m going to submit at least four of my quilts to shows or contests.

4. I’m going to take at least one workshop to learn a new technique or get some new ideas.

5. I’m going to have lots of fun. I hope you are too! Happy new year!

A very important baby quilt!

Exciting News x 2!

Posted on December 22, 2013 by zippyquilts

Woo-hoo! One of the blocks I submitted to the Modern Quilt Block Contest at Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine was selected as a finalist! I thought they were going to publish pictures of the finalists, but it turns out they had even bigger plans. I now have a contract to make a quilt for their publication based on my block! I am so excited! Of course, this means I can’t show you the block yet. My quilt is scheduled for the Summer 2014 issue, and I’m happy to say that one of my favorite fabric manufacturers has agreed to provide fabric for it.

And now that the contest is over, I can show you the other block designs I submitted. Here they are:

The idea here is a picture window, but actually I designed it improvisationally

Of course this is based on Piet Mondrian’s paintings, and particularly on the Mondrian dresses derived from them

My friend Ann over at Sew Messy (don’t you love that name?) also entered, and one of her blocks finished third!!! She can’t show it on her blog yet, because it’s going to be featured in a quilt published in the magazine, but go on over and check out her blogs:

Sew Messy

Sport Sew

And now the other exciting news: Somebody bought my Quilt Alliance donation in the eBay auction! I was worried because I figured out AFTER I donated a quilt that most of the people making donations were much better known than I. However, it did sell, and for a respectable price by my standards. So a big THANKS to whoever bought it, and now I’m encouraged to start a donation quilt for the Quilt Alliance for next year. In case you missed the earlier post, this is the 20″ square quilt I made for the Quilt Alliance TWENTY contest:

Rising Star, made for the Quilt Alliance TWENTY contest in 2013

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Do You Need to De-stash?

Posted on December 15, 2013 by zippyquilts

Most of us build our stashes like a king hoarding treasure. Look! I have a whole drawer

Stash overrun

(shelf, bathtub) of blue fabric!! And here’s a sale on solids so I can have a whole shelf of those!!! If you’ve been quilting long, you KNOW what I mean!

Unfortunately, stash can be like so many other possessions:

When you buy something, you may own it, but FOR SURE IT OWNS YOU.

And mind you, this stash habit is not unique to quilters! I know people who have LOTS of wood, stamps, antiques, beads, beanie babies (true story), candlesticks, tools, marbles, books, you name it. Some of these people ALSO have lots of fabric 🙂

But you may have too much fabric if—

You have to move a pile of it to make room to start a project
You have to find places for some of it outside your studio (in the guest room bathtub, in the tip-top kitchen cabinets, on shelves in the garage…)
You have more yards of fabric than you have days of remaining life expectancy
And (most important), you have decided that you MUST put a moratorium on fabric purchases (oh, woe!)

SO: What to do?

Here are a few ways to deal with a big stash (and my friends and I have used them all):

Trade with friends. For example, you bring a big stack of fabric you MIGHT be able
Make iron-on ties for t shirts and onesies from your stash

to part with to your next quilting bee (retreat, guild meeting, whatever) to swap for things other people bring.
Make donation quilts.
Make pillowcases to give with your donation quilts
Make pillowcases to donate to the One Million Pillowcase Challenge
Make quilts or pillowcases for every family member you’re still speaking to (EXCEPT for the one who put the last quilt outside in the dog house to keep the dog warm!)
Apron, though not the one I’ve linked to

Make blocks and use them in the orphan block projects I blogged about recently here
Make gift bags in ALL sizes! Yes! No more wrapping paper!
Make tote bags for your friends and for yourself—no more plastic grocery bags to get rid of!
Make pot holders (use Insulbright)
Instructions HERE for making an iron caddy (for when you need to transport a warm iron home from a workshop)
Instructions HERE for making an easy one-yard apron (think hostess gift!)
Table runner made from a strip of leftovers
Make placemats and table runners as hostess gifts (lots of commercial patterns and free instructions available on the internet)
Keep reading this blog–more ideas coming up!
You can even donate fabric to organizations that make pillows for chemotherapy patients, Quilts of Valor, etc, etc

There are MANY more fine possibilities! Please leave your suggestions in the comments for others to enjoy!

Happy quilting!

10 Reasons to Have a Good Stash

Posted on December 8, 2013 by zippyquilts

Inside one storage cabinet–lots of stash!

We often read that a quilter’s stash of fabric has expanded past the bounds of the studio, taking over kitchen cabinets, the linen closet, and even bins in the garage. (We ALREADY KNEW stash was stored under the beds.) Next week I’m going to discuss the possible need to get rid of some stash, but for now I’m listing 10 good reasons to have plenty of available fabric.

Stash saves trips to the store. Often you need “just a little” fabric to finish a project. Pulling from your stash rather than making a trip to the store saves both time and money.
Binding: If you live at a distance from shopping, stash may be a necessity. I live an hour from the nearest quilt shop and depend on my stash to provide binding fabric for most of my quilts.
The solids drawer; one of the batik drawers
Comfort quilts: Many guilds ask each member to make a single block for a “comfort quilt” to be given to a sick guild member. If you can pull from stash for this, you can get it done quickly and turned in on time.
Fabric in storage drawers
Audition options: You may decide to add sashing or borders to a set of blocks, and having several fabric options available allows you to lay the blocks out and “try” various fabrics, then get started at once when you find the right one.
5 inch squares–two bins!
Instant gratification: If you have adequate stash, you can start IMMEDIATELY on the wonderful quilt in the magazine that came today! I’ve done this more than once, pulling all I need for a project from my stash, and it’s VERY satisfying!
Last minute projects: Who hasn’t been faced with a baby shower, housewarming, or other occasion with little time to make the appropriate gift? Having the fabric you need on hand can give you a good head start.
Thrift: By purchasing fabric when it’s on sale and keeping it on hand, you can minimize the amount of full-priced fabric needed for a project.
The blue drawer! But not even close to all the blue fabric…
Try-outs: Stash can be used to test a block pattern before deciding whether to buy fabric for a whole quilt.
Backing: Stash can be used to piece the back for a quilt, incorporating scraps or extra blocks from the front. This provides more visual interest than one large piece of backing fabric.
And a closet full of projects, and fabric, and…
Usefulness and beauty: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” ― William Morris We have lots of stash because fabric is beautiful as well as useful.