The countdown is on!!! For others, you are in the middle of Hanukkah. I love the winter Holidays. Focus on FAMILY and FRIENDS!
Last week for the Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters Guild Program, I shared my two sided napkin mini workshop and the Winter Tree-Land. It is fun to see all the photos coming in with the progress made and additional creative items! Photos below! WELL DONE Ladies!
I’ll share more as I get them. We had a couple Zoom pics from that night but I was quick to take the photo and they are blurry. Oops, sorry girls.
#1 – Checkout my free Winter Tree-Land pattern on the AQSblog.com!
#2 – Choose fabrics you LOVE when making projects. It sure helps to inspire you and for me….I want to see them finished!
Speaking of finished, I am done with the LARGE wedding quilt I shared a few snippets of. I’ll share the whole quilt after the reveal.
Zoom on over to Indiana! I grew up visiting Indianapolis where an aunt and cousins live. Fun to see this block of one of my childhood memories. I got to see the “500” once, WOW what a treasure to see it in person! Check out the clever block by Jennifer Fulton of Inquiring Quilter. You can find it HERE.
I’m working on a long overdue project. It is a double wedding ring. I borrowed a friend’s machine as mine is not feeling well. (I hit a wire in a mask I was making.) It needs a tuneup! But that isn’t what this post is about. It is about working with a different sewing machine than what I usually sew on. In the past, I have not liked using an automatic presser foot lifter and thread cutter. I like to have my presser foot down when I stop and have my threads pulled to the back of the machine before I start. With newer machines, the “cut” and presser foot button is a feature many now have.
Sooooo…In sewing these double wedding ring melons/arcs/corners to the centers, I had to start sewing 1/4″ in from the center piece corners. I like to start with the needle down in the exact 1/4″ corner. I could then push the presser foot down button to hold the fabric in place. Then, I began sewing. Convenient! Shown in the photos below.
Needle down from start of seam.Needle down and now foot down, ready to sew.
When I stopped sewing the seam at the next corner I could use the “cut” button to cut the thread and it also raises the presser foot. Brilliant for this construction process!
End of seam, needle still down.“Cut” button (scissors) on the machine.After “cut” button…thread cut and pr!esser foot has reiased
I liked using the foot control and cut button on this project. However, on others I still prefer to have my thread tails (bobbin and top) out behind when I start sewing. This is how I learned and what I am most comfortable with. When using one of my featherweights, this is a must. So the needle isn’t unthreaded when you start sewing. Plus, as I taught my home ec students, always begin with the take up lever in the highest position. It must go up before it goes down! If you have trouble with the needle coming unthreaded when you begin sewing, give this a try. It works!
#1 – Try new sewing machine features! Sometimes one of the features will work better on different tasks at hand.
#2 – If you have trouble with your needle unthreading when you begin sewing. Pull both the needle and bobbin threads to the back of the machine before you begin sewing. And make sure you start with the take up lever in the highest position. It has to go backup (and is in direct relation with the needle) before it goes down and makes a stitch.
By the way, all photos were taken in color….the fabrics are gray tones! Fun effect!
Heading to Michigan for the next block in our US Tour. Kathryn of Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio is the block designer this week. You can find it HERE.
Holy moly, where did this year go? I think we all know the answer and all have different takes on it. I, for one, am floored it is already December. I have some unfinished projects that have to be done before Christmas. I really wanted to do some more Christmas sewing…can you say Winter Tree-Land. But, I’m afraid I won’t get any more sewn this year. I’m going to be a busy bee these next few days and see how it goes.
I LOVE sewing for Christmas. I’ve done everything from aprons, to lap quilts (28 one year) to the KC Chiefs fleece blankets last year. (Oh, there was a Miami Dolphins one thrown in the mix! ) Will you be doing any last minute projects?
If you need a quick project be sure to checkout the Winter Tree-Land directions (still on aqsblog.com) The coasters/mug rugs are really simple. Two strips 2 1/2″ x WOF will get you 5 coasters. If you are willing to piece one of the backing triangles, you can get 10 triangle backings from a 7″ x WOF strip! Add a couple more strips and you have 10 coasters ready for presents. See the photos below for cutting 10 backing triangles for the TINY TREES.
Leave the strip folded as it came off the bolt. Start with a half tree/triangle allowing 1/4″ seam allowance beyond the selvages.
Cut along the edge of the tree.
Cut half tree/triangle along selvages – double layer
3. Continue cutting the full trees/triangles down the strip using sewn tree and template.
Sewn tree and template for backing.All cut except the last one.
4. For the final triangle, unfold and cut the single layer.
Open to single layer at fold to cut last triangle.
Sew the first two halves with 1/4″ seam. All 10 backing triangles are ready!!
#1 – Use up your fabric, even if you have to sew a seam. Quilters are thrifty, USE what you have! A seam in the middle of a backing is what would have been done in years gone by.
#2 – It is still early in December, start those last minute projects NOW!
Today we travel next door to the South from last week to South Dakota. Missie Carpenter of Traditional Primitives designed this weeks block. You can find it HERE.
Travel got in the way of posting Sunday for the Around the Block – US Tour – week 17 – North Dakota. So, following along with the tour we go to North Dakota. You can find it HERE. Have fun with the block by KISSed Quilts.
Tips this week will be short and sweet…
This being Thanksgiving week, I look back over the year and it has been disappointing because of all the quilt shows and events that have been cancelled. I can be thankful that the technology that allows us virtual classes and shows. It is not the same as in person, but better than nothing. I did mention my website is getting a redo, that will be longer than planned but it is being worked on! The Zoom classes will be up as soon as I can. I have tried to see the good in all this and hope you have enjoyed my Winter Tree-Land on AQS blog. I have seen a few finished trees on the Christmas Countdown Facebook page and appreciate the support of the project!
What are you thankful for? In looking at this through my quilting eyes. I am thankful for the ability to have turned my passion for sewing into my quilt business. I like to learn new techniques and share my knowledge and teach quilting.
#1 – Use good fabric and good designs that you love. It makes for a more rewarding finish.
#2 – Find tools that work for you! The basics tools and techniques you trust, will give confidence.
THANKS for your continued support of my small quilting business. If you use the word THANKS, I am giving you a 20% discount on my website. (The Shabby Chic Tree kit is not eligible for any discount.) Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, any orders received through Sunday will be shipped by Dec. 1st.
This week is wicked busy! (As they say here in New England. I never said wicked before living here, it just fits perfectly with some sayings!) I’ll be presenting the steps LIVE on the AQS Christmas Countdown Facebook page, tomorrow. Wednesday Nov. 18th, 3:00pm CT (4ET and so on!! Last week I had someone from Germany and Spain, thank you!!) The free pattern, Winter Tree-Land will be on the aqsblog.com tomorrow morning! Did you know I have kits available? My Dad made the wooden tree and bases, they are awesome! You can find the kits on my website, wendtquilting.com. Also if you just want those beautiful Christmas fabrics, they are there as well. See last weeks post of the beautiful fabrics.
Then tomorrow evening, I’ll be presenting to the Concord Piecemakers Quilt Guild via Zoom. Zoom has become a great platform for guild presentations and teaching. Those classes I promised on my website will be up soon!
Thursday, Nov. 19th I will be presenting on the Global Quilt Connection for any students looking for quilt classes to take from teachers around the globe. (You do not have to be in a guild for this!) You can register to watch the 3 minute presentations on Global Quilt Connection. The first set of teachers will present this afternoon, 4-5:30 ET, same time for the 19th. No worries if you miss it. You can watch the videos later.
That brings be to almost the weekend! So today, I hope to finish a new pattern. You get a sneak peek…
Winter Tree-Land Table Runner 2020 Debbie Wendt
This is a continuation of my Winter Tree-Land. I’m calling it Winter Tree-Land Table Runner, no change of thought there <grin>! Once you make a few trees from the Christmas Countdown you’ll be ready for this wonderland. I’ll be making this pattern downloadable! (fingers and toes crossed) Of course, I’ll have the pattern available in paper form also. This pattern has VERY detailed cutting instructions. Nothing difficult, just detailed. Once your cutting is done, the table runner goes together quickly.
With that, a question for you…Do you prefer downloadable patterns or paper pattern that come to you in the mail??? I’m curious!
I have been doing a lot of cutting…have you changed your rotary blade lately? Be sure to be very careful when changing it. As you undo it, always keep the pieces in the same order! A new blade sure makes a difference to “run”/cut efficiently. Plus change your sewing machine needle. Mine was “ticking” the other day, tick, tick, tick. It had a small burr, a new needle made a huge difference. I know better than to sew with it as long as I did. Yes, a slight run/pull in the weave of the fabric on several sewn seams. That is another indication something is amiss.
#1 – Change your blade, keeping the parts in ORDER!
#2- Change your needle if you hear any sounds as it pierces the fabric. You might have a burr or it could be slightly bent.
BONUS… Did you know you should unplug your sewing machines when you are not using them? We had a storm rolled through the other night, I quickly unplugged. No need to take any chances of a power surge.
Here we go… to Idaho! Thanks to Charisma Horton over at Charismas Corner for her Idaho block! You can find it HERE. This state is on my list of “haven’t been…need to visit”! Enjoy making her block.
My project on AQS Christmas Countdown Facebook page begins tomorrow! I’m planning on doing a Facebook Live at some point in the afternoon. If you don’t catch the live video, it will be there to view later! I’m excited to share this quick project for the holidays. There are options.
Below are some of the fabrics I’m using in my samples. This wonderful winter holiday fabric is beautiful. The sparkle and shine of the silver is stunning. Check out my website to purchase these beautiful fabrics. I have limited yardage.
Another item to share…I’ll be presenting on the Global Quilt Connection on Nov. 19th. from 4-5:30 pm Eastern. This will focus on teachers and the online quilt classes they offer. I, too, am joining the virtual world of teaching on Zoom. I will be adding my classes on my website over the next week. Anyone can register to view the Global Quilt Connection event, not just quilt guilds as was the last event. I’m really excited to get back to teaching since so many of my teaching events were cancelled this year. I hope to “see” you in a class in the near future! They are having the first round of teachers on the 17th.
Have you taken an online class? I’ve taken a few and it is really fun. Why?
#1 – You have all your supplies right at hand when taking a class from home.
#2 – You get to meet quilters from all over…even international!
Those are more like answers, instead of tips, to my question. BUT great tips for taking a class online. I use cameras for closeup shots of the demos and I’m right there “with you” (on screen of course) to help guide you and answer questions. Stay tuned for more information!
An update on my website…no update…yet! Fingers and toes crossed it will be soon!
DebbieWendt's Blog 