DebbieWendt's Blog

I’ve been playing with ideas to hold my Wonder Clips. I found these cut flowers made out of felt. The petals will be what the clips “hold” onto. The video I watched used hot glue….ouch! I wasn’t about to burn my fingers as (I’m sure) we have all done at one time or another. So I got our my needle and thread instead. I tried their suggest size of felt strip (1 1/2″ folded in half) and cut slits (about 1/4″ apart). The flower is really cute, but small and the slits lined up too evenly (bottom left). So on to another 1 1/2″ strip and wider cut slits. (bottom center) The other versions are 2″ wide strips….top left, the slits were cut between 1/4″-3/8″ (my favorite!) The top center was 1/2″ slits, a bit floppy. The angle cut slits (top right) is pretty but not as easy to clip the Wonder Clips onto.

These were fun to try. I’ll post the steps next week!

#1 – Why use hot glue when a needle and thread are close at hand. Plus it will hold better!

#2 – Play with options. If you don’t like it try again. I see this a lot in when people make quilts. If something isn’t working for you, STOP! Change it up, take another look at colors, or even other block or border possibilities!

in quilting,

Debbie

The years keep moving along. How is it already 2023? Time you say, yes! I welcome a new year for new projects, finishing some old projects and discovering some new quilt designs. Plus revisiting some designs I worked on last year. I spent a lot of time last year doing the Quilt Block Remixes. I will be participating in some but not as many. A new project has come to my attention and I’ve jumped on board. Patterns By Jen (Jen Shaffer) is doing a Monthly Color Challenge. This year her theme is Classic Cars. I fell in LOVE with her photo for the challenge!

How can one not be a part of this challenge?!? Jen’s introduction post to this year’s challenge can be found HERE. She has listed the colors for each month. I will be her guest designer in November and the color is green. The first month’s color is pink. The instructions for the block is free through January. January can be found HERE. Each successive month’s color will be announced in her blog and each block in only free for that month. If you miss a month, you can still get the block for a small fee. The guest designer for January is Raylee from Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting. I’ve highlighted her business so you can read her blog post. I’m looking forward to all Jen’s colors, car colors and the cars she has chosen to represent each color!

Since I am giving this introduction, my tips are based on this challenge.

#1 – If you participate in this challenge, keep track of the blocks and follow along!

#2 – Collect your fabrics early.

#3 – Sign up for the Classic Cars 2023 Monthly Color Challenge Blocks to be delivered directly to your email.

#4 – Make your blocks as we go, then you’ll be ready to put it together as soon as it is revealed.

in quilting,

Debbie

A heck of a mess out there in many parts of the USA. I hope you are warm and well wherever you may be! In sunny Florida, it is sunny but not so warm. I’m not looking forward to uncertainty of our upcoming flights, so fingers and toes crossed all goes well for calm travels!! Wishing you a QUILTY New Year and the start of many quilting projects or a goal to finish those projects already started!!!!

Here is my latest Kawandi! 12 wt. cotton thread for stitching instead of perle cotton. Not quite as straight and I’m okay with that!

#1 – Try different threads for hand stitching your Kawandi quilts.

#2 – “Done is better than perfect.” (Another sample for my Just One Stitch lecture!)

More tips coming your way and please share any “I want to know how to _____” in the comments. Wishing you all the best for the NEW YEAR!

in quilting,

Debbie

The quilt back I showed you last week is layered with the top and in the final stages of quilting. To keep all my layers together I basted it on my longarm! A giant, long stitch meander works well. I loaded the quilt onto the frame as I would any other quilt. But instead of quilting it, I basted. I am using a 12 wt. thread and quilting it on my domestic machine. The photos below is the quilt on the longarm and then the long basting that I did.

#1 – Use your longarm for basting!

When I began quilting with the 12 wt. thread I knew I needed a larger needle. But, no, I went ahead with what I had. Nope! Skipped stitches, thread breakage and frustration. I stopped after the third line of quilting and got new needles. MUCH better! It pays to use the correct size needle for the thread you are using. You can see the skipped stitches (photo on right). The photo on the left shows how the basting stitches look while quilting. It was the second row of quilting and the point I knew I needed to get the new needles.

#2 – What a difference the correct size needle makes! Take the time to change your needle. Know what works best for the thread weight you are using. Also, don’t forget to change your needle with a new project. Needles do get dull!

I am using a thinner thread in the bobbin. The 12 wt. is great in the top of the machine, but a bit thick for the bobbin thread. Now, back to finishing this quilt. Photos coming soon.

in quilting,

Debbie

I’m in the process of finishing up a quilt and needed a backing. The fabric I want to use is not quite wide enough. I remember discussions on making one width of fabric wider by adding a diagonal seam. As many of us do, I did a search for information on how to do this. I came across written instructions by John Flynn. You can find his Diagonal Pieced Back HERE. He even has a Diagonal Pieced Back Calculator on the page!!! It took me a couple of trials to work out how large I could go with 2 yards of fabric. I wanted a Backing 50″ x 60″ and my fabric is 43″ wide. I needed exactly 72″, perfect my 2 yards of fabric worked.

I folded the fabric diagonally from opposite corners as shown in the photo below. I have a cordless iron so I could press the fold right on my design wall. I cut along the fold line, off set (shifted the two halves) to get the width I wanted. Then from the off-set points, put right sides together along the diagonal center and sewed a 1/2″ seam. It came out great.

Below is a close up of the off-set and part of the diagonal seam. I’m happy with the result.

I have pieced many a quilt back with adding sections of fabric to traditional yardage. I always love how a pieced backing looks. The Diagonal Pieced Back certainly has its place as an option. In my case today I was able to use only the one fabric to get the size I needed.

Have you ever pieced a quilt back? I do it a LOT. I’m happy to use up fabric and not waste a 110″ wide back on a “smaller” quilt. I save the wide backs for large quilts.

#1 – Piece your quilt backs! It uses up fabric that might be leftover from the front. Or it doesn’t even have to be the same fabric, similar is good!

#2 – Try a Diagonal Pieced Back! It worked for me.

in quilting,

Debbie

I have been working on more samples of Sashiko stitching in the Boro style, adding fabrics to a background. I will be giving a lecture on this and other “one stitch” techniques at the Original Quilting and Sewing Expo in Lakeland, FL in March. JUST ONE STITCH

The closeup of the sample below is showing how concentric circles can fill up a space and give a lot of movement in design.

Just One Stitch ~ Debbie Wendt

I am a fan of the CLOVER White Marking pen. As you can see my pen is almost out! I had to be creative in getting the last bit out of the pen to mark my circles.

The marking lines come out with the touch of an iron. Now you see it….now you don’t!!

Check out my Just One Stitch lecture and the other lecture and classes I will be teaching in Lakeland! Lecture: Bindings: A World of Options. Classes: Piecing is the Cornerstone and my brand new class using Hex-a-ma-jig called Oooh Hexie Baby!

#1 – Try using a white marking pen that is removed by an iron or water. Understand that you need to make the mark and then it takes a few seconds to appear.

#2 – The quick touch of an iron and the marks disappear! I like this for light and dark fabrics.

in quilting,

Debbie

Oh time flies….it has it been a while! Houston was amazing and I’m so happy to have shared some time with you in my booth for both Market and Festival! Plus, WELCOME if you are new after taking a class or lecture with me! It was a great several weeks and some long days of driving to and from Houston.

Apologies for the delay since the last Two Tips, my computer crashed and I’m working on a new device to catch up! Please send good thoughts my way to recover my life on my computer!

Happenings…..

I wrote a book! I have kept this a secret for two years and I’m so proud of how it turned out. Please welcome…..

Hexie Speak – Say it with Hexies A Design Workbook

It has two complete upper case alphabets, one lower case, numbers, punctuation, 18 horizontal borders and 15 vertical borders. The cover is below The book includes different version of putting your letters and borders together into a quilt, wall hanging, pillow or table runner. A great way to “say it” with fabric using half hexies! My Hex-a-Mini is the ideal size to use! The book will be on my website for purchase by next week.

I hope you enjoy giving a voice to your creations.

I am thankful for all the people who helped sew, give input and support to make it happen! Faye Postma, Cheryl Gucwa and Nancy Sullivan were on my secret crew!! A HUGE thanks to Nancy Messuri for her design work in EQ to create the layouts that I used for these creations.

During this week of Thanksgiving…a special thank you to family, friends and quilter friends. Your support means the world to me!

in quilting and thanks,

Debbie

Did you see my preview of what I’m teaching at International Quilt Festival the first week of November? It is going to be a busy week!! 4 Classes, 1 Lecture and 1 Friday Sampler. Go to International Quilt Festival’s YouTube channel or you can go directly to it HERE.

Instead of tips today, I thought I’d share the classes I’ll be teaching in Houston. LOADS of tips are given in every class!

There is a wait list for Become a Brilliant Binder #445 on Thursday, Nov. 3rd, but my other classes still show openings.

#478 Piecing is the Cornerstone also Thursday, Nov. 3rd. We’ll explore and make basic blocks that can be used on their own or combined in many quilt blocks. We will put them together into a table runner. Many variations for layouts will be given. One sample and another center shown below.

#550 Friday Sampler – yes, Friday, Nov. 4th. I’ll be showing Perfect Bindings Every Time. A look at getting those mitered corners perfectly neat and square, plus no fuss joining of the binding tail ends.

#745 Done by Three – Saturday, Nov. 5th. A great quilt for Fat Quarters! Great for beginners because I will be showing cutting, strip piecing, sub-cutting, pressing and squaring blocks. Also good for those interested in getting back to the basics.

#756 Bindings a World of Options – LECTURE also Saturday, Nov. 5th. In this lecture I’ll be covering all things bindings. Many edge finishes to share with samples you can touch and quilts to see.

#817 Machine Sewn Bindings – Sunday, Nov. 6th. All bindings steps will be done on the sewing machine. Kit includes everything cut and ready to sew!

I hope to see you in class or in my booth!

in quilting,

Debbie

October always brings me one step closer to Houston Quilt Market and Festival. There is still time to enroll for classes!

And the first day of the month I get to celebrate my dad’s and aunt’s birthday. Yep, twins! I’m so blessed to have these two in my life. My Dad and Mom have been in New England on a sightseeing adventure, so I got to spend a couple days with them!

I made a quilt in honor of “the twins”. It is called Brilliant Twin Darts. I love the combination of blues and browns in my original quilt (on the left). You can find it on my website HERE. The middle quilt was made by my Aunt Jody, YES the twin! I love how the greens play across the quilt. Some blocks you see the darts while others look like a spool. The third was made with the same pattern with only two colors per block. It is fun to see how the coloring can change the look, again I see spools more pronounced in the third quilt.

The pattern includes the paper template for the trapezoids in this quilt or you can use Brilliant Bindings as a cutting template. Brilliant Bindings is available HERE.

Here in New England, we have the cool days and cooler nights. Time to get a quilt on the bed! Do you change out your quilts with the season? Or do you have a favorite that stays on year round? One of the things I have done is to store some of my quilts flat on a spare bed. At one count, I had at least 20 piled high.

#1 – Storing quilt flat helps to keep the wrinkles out!

#2 – Put the top quilt in the pile on backside up. This will keep the sunlight off helping to avoid faded fabric.

Sending friends and family in Florida safer days ahead. Thoughts are with all those affected by the hurricane.

in quilting,

Debbie