Two Tip Tuesday – Beginning to look like Christmas

Posted on December 18, 2019 by debbiewendt

Tips on Wednesday this week as Tuesday was busy in Santa’s Workshop! I’ll start with an event I participated in and helped with last week…Trees for Hope. A wonderful display of decorated trees for the holidays! Chances could be purchased and the winner takes home the tree. (all proceeds go to charitable causes) I decorated two this year! First, Unicorns!!

Unicorns!
with a fleece unicorn tree skirt

Unicorn tree!

The tree was won by a young girl!  She and her dad came to picked it up.  I had the joy of watching it go out the door with her!!

Unicorns:  You are magical like a unicorn! As a unicorn, you can sparkle wherever you go!

The second was “Sugar Skulls”.  As I wrote on my description, I was never a fan of sugar skulls but after seeing the Movie “COCO”, it changed my thinking.  Honoring and remembering those who have gone before us.

Sugar Skulls

Sugar Skulls
with Fleece sugar skulls tree skirt

My good friend Sue Pelland won this tree.  Her daughter will like it!  And they look forward to seeing the “COCO” movie I included on the tree.

I’m showing you these trees because of the event and I made the skirts of fleece fabrics.  The fabric was geared to the theme!!  A quick and easy project.  Fleece does not fray and can even be left raw edge.  I chose to finish the edges with an overlock stitch I did on my serger.  My serger is YEARS old but still works beautifully.  I began as a seamstress before I knew how to quilt, so I still love to sit and SEW!!  (or in this case serge!)

I’ll explain the simple process for finishing the fleece skirt. (I left rectangle so it can be used as a blanket year round!!)

1 – Cut off the selvages.

2 – Round the corners.  Tip #1 – I used my longarm circle template to “round” the edge.  Simply lay it on the corner and cut!

Using Longarm template for my curved edge!

3 – Serge edge.  Tip #2 – By leaving the corners round, no stopping and starting at each corner.  Make one continuous edge stitch.  You can also use a regular sewing machine to zig zag the edge or make a simple hem.

Serged edge in red!

Serged edge in black.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 – Ta Done!

Tips are more about serging and sewing than quilting, but it brings me back to my roots of sewing and the HOURS I have spent making Christmas gifts for my family and friends over the years.  I hope you enjoy this Holiday Season with your family and share the love of a homemade gift!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Jelly Roll Rug Follow Up

Posted on December 10, 2019 by debbiewendt

WOW! Is the best word to describe the rugs the girls started in my Jelly Roll Rug Workshop on Saturday.  See several of the finished rugs below. (They did finish them at home.)

Jelly Roll Rug by Lenore

Jelly Roll Rug by Nancy

Jelly Roll Rub by Cheryl

Cheryl’s second!! Jelly Roll Rug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would have been great to see them done in class but there is a TON of sewing. I do think everyone left with their rope ball sewn and wound. Many of them started sewing the rope into the rug shape. We used Roma Lambson of RJ Designs’ “Jelly Roll Rug” pattern.  The pattern has some great tips for making the rug.  I felt a key to success and a great time saver is to use the “Jelly Roll Jig” designed by Cindy Bruner and sold through Hip Stitch Quilt Shop. It is similar to a giant bias tape maker!!  I will be selling these products in my booth, but have a limited supply. Please go directly to the designer’s websites and purchase from them.   (Pattern from Roma Quilts is on Etsy and the Jig is from hipstitchabq.com)  I LOVE to support small businesses and hope you will too!

#1- When making a jelly roll rug, slow down! Don’t be in a hurry. There is a lot of sewing…enjoy the process.
#2 – Look into a “Jelly Roll Jig” for turning the jelly roll strip and batting into the rope.  It saves a ton of time!

Jelly Roll Jig in action!

I’m looking forward to seeing more finished rugs very soon!

in quilting,
Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Snow!

Posted on December 4, 2019 by debbiewendt

Yes, I’m talking about the weather! We got the first big snow here in New England. Thankfully we were still in Florida enjoying the sunshine…but it resulted in a cancelled flight and another day to get home. Home Sweet Home just a bit ago!! A neighbor had his plow guy do our driveway. Great to come home and put the car in the garage. By the way, the grandson quilt made it on his bed!

Nicholas’ Quilt by D.W.

Now to get busy on all the prep for a class I’m teaching on Saturday. (minus a day of prep…see paragraph above!)
I’m teaching the Jelly Roll Rug pattern by Roma Lambson. It is a great pattern! I have shown photo of the rug before so I’ll wait until after the class and share what the students accomplish.

Taking a class…#1- Do the prep!!  Nothing worse than to start the class without your homework done.

With the colder weather and turning on heat, often I shock things during the winter months.  Building up static electricity can be bad for electronics.

#2 -Be sure to “de-charge” or “discharge” the electricity before touching your sewing machines, especially a longarm.

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – coloring continued

Posted on November 26, 2019 by debbiewendt

It was great to hear feedback on the coloring of my “Diamond Tipped Tools” pattern. The photo below was sent to me by Patty Wheeler and she calls it “Out of the Darkness Into the Light”.

Diamond Tipped Tools
“Out of the Darkness Into the Light” by Patty W.

Great name for a great quilt! I LOVE her change from darks to lights in this beautiful quilt. Thank you for sharing your talents, Patty.  She said she had fun playing with value.

On another subject of coloring, below is our grandson’s quilt. He chose the colors he wanted and idea of circles (I picked all the fabrics and changed up the idea of two different size circles.)
I love how it turned out! And here is a picture of Grandpa and grandson with his quilt. He loves it! I look forward to seeing it on his bed before we leave. YES, I’m still hand sewing the binding! Some things take more time!!

Grandpa and Nicholas with his quilt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun thing about delivering grandson Nicholas’ quilt to Florida, the coloring goes perfectly with the surroundings down here! We are loving our view!  The quilt picture was taken on a gray day in New England, the colors are a tad brighter!

Florida view!

Nicholas’ Circle Quilt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 – Need ideas for coloring?  Look at your surroundings.  Nature gives some amazing color palettes!

 

 

There was a bonus with Nicholas’ quilt, the back was as fun as the front! Who knew the stabilizer from the machine sewn applique circles could have been another design element…even if it is on the back side of the quilt and will never be seen!

#2 – Inspiration can sometimes come from the most unusual places…even the wrong side of a quilt top!

Back of Nicholas’ quilt.

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – coloring and travel

Posted on November 20, 2019 by debbiewendt

Today I want to share one of my quilt patterns and how coloring can change the look. Diamond Tipped Tools was designed using Brilliant Bindings. The cover quilt has some yummy “fall type” coloring with purples/golds/rusts made by my friend Priscilla.

 

 

 

 

 

While this latest version was made by my Aunt Jody in some wonderful batiks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The quilt I usually hang in my booth has a completely different take with brights.

Diamond Tipped Tools – Brights

I love seeing the different version of the same design! They are all wonderful and can often times look like a different quilt.  I love the idea of similar but different!!

#1 – play with color and color combinations to change the look of a quilt.

I’ve mentioned this before, but saying again…I LOVE getting pictures of the quilts you have made with my patterns!  It is fun to see YOUR interpretation.  So, please send me pictures of your quilts.  I would love to share them on this blog.

I talked last week about having time to do some piecing.  This is my setup when I travel and sometimes at home.

My “travel” set up!

I love the portable table by “SewEzi”.  It is easy to set up and has a great flat surface with the custom made insert for the bed of the machine.  My sleek “Daylight” portable light is wonderful for these ‘ol eyes!  It can be bent and aimed to light up just the right spot.  I have the “Slimline” version by the Daylight Company.

#2- Lighting is important!  Find a good sewing light to “light up” your life…and work area.  It sure helps me in reducing eye strain.

And bonus…#3 – My Flat Mat Bag,  the pink bag shown in the picture, is great for carrying my 18″ x 24″ mat, 24″ rulers and more!

I’m not affiliated with the companies listed (except my own patterns …grin…), I like their products and want to share my finds!

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Brilliant Bindings, Patterns, Travel, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – Catching up on piecing

Posted on November 13, 2019 by debbiewendt

I’m a bit more settled from my long Houston trip! WOW! Time does fly. I was gone for almost 4 weeks and several projects had to wait until I returned home. So, today I sewed a Senior Lap Quilt for the Thimble Pleasures Quilt guild I belong to. We go to care facilities and “make” quilts with seniors. They pick their fabrics and we sew them together. It is well received!! Under my needle is one of those quilts. I’m telling you all this to talk about 1/4″ seams…
What foot do you use for sewing 1/4″ seams? I have several options for my Janome. It came with a 1/4″ foot with a guide. I find it to be a bit of a chunky 1/4″.

1/4″ foot with guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, I bought this “new to me” 1/4″ foot to try. I like it! It seems to be more of an exact 1/4″.

1/4″ foot, no side guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the last couple quilts, I have use my regular open toe foot and moved the needle. You can see that the needle is not in the center position.  Did you know you can “bump the needle on most machines?

Open toe foot and changing needle position

#1 – Move your needle position by using the “stitch width” button to bump the needle for preferred 1/4″ seam width.

In changing the needle position, be careful that the needle is not hitting the foot!  This will cause a broken needle!!

No matter how you sew a 1/4″ seam, YOU need to be comfortable, confident, and consistent!!  There are many tools out there to help in positioning the needle for sewing seams.  I’m one for testing the seam.  Choose a foot that is right for you!

#2- Test your 1/4″ seam.  Just because a foot boasts that it is 1/4″, it might vary.  There are many factors that can change that measurement….the thickness of thread and even the thickness of the fabric.

May all your seams be perfect!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – After Houston

Posted on November 6, 2019 by debbiewendt

I have had some wonderful days in Houston for Quilt Market and Festival. I’m still on the road heading home. I want to thank all the wonderful customers who shopped with me. My Take and Teach sessions were fun and I loved sharing with all the shop owners and a few non-owners who wanted to learn my techniques! I had FUN! A look below at one of my Take and Teach classes on “Y” Not – Teaching a Set-In Seam.

Take and Teach 2019
“Y” Not!

 

 

 

 

A shout out to Janie and Jan for giving me help during Market.  Janie, your help with set-up was invaluable!! My Market Booth is below…

Wendt Quilting
Quilt Market 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my great helpers, Cathy and Carol!!! I couldn’t have done Festival without your help. I expanded into a double booth!  My shop/block hop quilt was well received.  I’m pleased so many chose my finishing setting.  My block is the top middle “Aquamarine Trapezoid Star”

“Gemstone of Stars”
Block Hop Quilt 2019

I’ll work on getting a better photo soon.  This photo does not do justice to the beautiful border color.  Sorry to say I missed getting a photo of my Festival booth.  Very silly of me but how it goes some days.  If anyone out there took a photo of my booth, please send it to me!

Since I’m on the road my tips will be short and sweet…

#1- Clear your camera/phone before heading to a quilt show…you won’t want to run out of space!

#2 – Comfortable shoes are a must at Quilt Shows!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Houston bound!

Posted on October 23, 2019 by debbiewendt

I’m on the road again…this time heading to Houston for Quilt Market and International Quilt Festival. I’ve got one more state to go through before I hit Texas.

Louisiana line!

Louisiana! A great place I got to call home for a couple years. I has been a l..o..n..g drive so far but I’m super excited for both shows!

 

I made up some kits for Festival using my “Done by Three” pattern. I love how it turned out. There will be a limited number of kits. When they’re gone, they’re gone. I have not done kits for several years, so I’m looking forward to the feedback. The quilt it below!!

Animal Skins using “Done by Three” pattern

I used 16 fat quarters and it went together in about three hours…YES, that is right!!! I did have help with pressing and cutting. (Thank you Priscilla and Cheryl!) We had the blocks together and arranged in just over an hour.  I quilted it on my Nolting longarm and I’ll put the binding on in the next couple days. FUN and funky!
#1- get some of your quilty friends to help make a quilt. It sure goes together much quicker and you’ll have fun doing it!

I had to get a bit creative tonight for my dinner. No plates…the ice bucket lid worked just fine! It was more important for me to sew on a binding than go out to eat. Pizza delivery! Perfect after long day of driving. (I think there are some tips in this paragraph….no time to cook…order pizza!)

Kleenex + ice bucket lid = plate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of kits, I’m participating in the Festival Shop Hop again this year. I can’t show my quilt until Festival opens, so stop by the booth (#100) and take a look! I’ll post pictures of my block and the quilt after Int. Quilt Festival opens next week.

I realized I made a play on words in the title…I’m bound for Houston and I bound a quilt tonight…!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Missed Tuesday

Posted on October 16, 2019 by debbiewendt

I missed it!  Yep, Tuesday flashed right by me.  I’ve been busy in the throws of getting ready for Quilt Market and International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX in just over a week.  My house is filled with boxes of tools, patterns, kits and more.  Thanks to the help of my “Team Debbie” crew (a new name Cheryl gave them, and I LOVE it!!) I am closer to being ready for these two very important shows!  Thanks girls!

So, I will collect some new tips this week and be back next week.  If you are in the Greater Hartford Quilt Guild, I’ll see you on Saturday!!  My Egyptian Tentmaker bags are packed and ready for the trunk show!  (see photo below!)  Shop owners and quilty business peeps, I’ll see you in Houston at Market!  AND Wendt Quilting followers and friends going to Festival, I’ll see you in Houston!!

Egyptian Tentmaker storage

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Quilt shows, Teaching | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – Questions/Answers

Posted on October 9, 2019 by debbiewendt

What is on my mind? I have questions and I’d like for you to supply the answers (if you would be so kind?!). I’m considering some new classes to teach and want input of what do YOU want to know?

I’ve been quilting for over 30 years and I’ve seen some changes in the quilting world.  One thing that hasn’t changed, quilters love fabric, tools and learning new or new to them techniques.  So, back up to the question…how can I help you in your quilting journey?  What is an area(s) that you want more information?  I’d love to have your input!!

#1 – Share a tip with a quilting friend!

#2 – ALL quilters have opinions!  If you ask for advice, you will get the number of answers of people you ask.  Sometimes several from the same person.  Loads of design opportunities and in the end, it is your quilt and your decision!

The pictures below are of the items I made on Saturday at my guild’s “Bazaar Bonanza” workshop.  These will be donated to the St. Peter’s Christmas Bazaar.  We meet at their church hall for our workshops, we LOVE the space and donate items every year to help support their Bazaar.

Eye glass case D.W.

Bowl Cozy D.W.

Hot pad D.W.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll be in Hartford, CT on the 19th giving two lectures for the Greater Hartford Guild meeting.  I’ll be talking about the “Egyptian Tentmaker’s Applique” (Trunk show and power point of my time living in Egypt and the beautiful work of the Tentmakers!)  The second trunk show is of “My Quilting Journey” (A look at my 30+ years of quilting and my business in the quilting world!)  I hope to see some of you there!  Don’t forget to post your comments!

in quilting,

Debbie

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