Two Tip Tuesday – Market sewing

Posted on September 27, 2017 by debbiewendt

Fall Quilt Market is fast approaching.  That means sewing, sewing, sewing!  I’m working on a “Cuddle” quilt and had some leftovers.  So, I decided to add a pillow as a bonus to the pattern.  In working with plush fabric there are some tricks to make things easier.  One, don’t rush!  Soft, plush fabric has a nap.  And it is best to take it slow when sewing.  Also, a wider seam helps.  The pillow below is from the leftovers I mentioned.  Love the teal/gray combination!  Pieces are sewn and ready for trimming.

Cuddle Pillow

#1 – Slow down when sewing Cuddle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

In lining up the edges for sewing a seam, I found if I smooth my finger between the layers to smooth out the nap it will lay nice and flat.

Cuddle Seam
Nap of fabric

Cuddle Seam
Smooth nap with fingers

Cuddle Seam
smooth and ready to sew

#2 – Smooth nap of fabric with your fingers when sewing seams.  It helps keep the fabric together and lay flat for stitching.

Give it a try next time you work with soft Cuddle.  It really made sewing the seams so much easier!

AQS Quilt Week in Des Moines is next week!!  Will you be there?  Come by and see me in my Wendt Quilting Booth #1124.  Be sure to register for my lecture “Bindings a World of Options”.  A favorite for getting binding ideas!

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Piecing, Quilt shows | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – Fall Paducah

Posted on September 19, 2017 by debbiewendt

Huge thanks to AQS, students and shoppers!  I enjoyed being in Paducah for the Fall show.  On our drive to Paducah we did a side trip to Niagra Falls.  Fun to take my mom on Maid of the Mist, she’s wanted to go on the boat for years.  Great surprise!

Look at those blues!

#1- Look at nature for color inspiration.

In Paducah, I taught two classes, gave a 10 minute demo in the All- Star Review and a 20 minute talk in the Learning Center.  (Rode on a golf cart from the convention center to the Pavilion in the rain with no windshield!  That was fun!). The first day of the show found my mom “hiding” in the corner.  Not really, but she almost blended into my Brilliant Ribbons quilt.

 

 

 

 

When shopping at a quilt show…don’t forget to return and buy.  I appreciate those that returned and are now happy owners of Brilliant Bindings!  With a lot of my focus on bindings and trapizoids, I love answering questions and seeing “ah-ha” moments.

For the Trapunto class, we compared the difference between one and two layers of poly high loft batting.  Which do you like?  My take is use what works for the project.  More puff?  Two layers (on right in photo).  Less puff?  One layer (on left in photo below).

#2- Choose batting based on how high you want your design to puff up.

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Quilting, Teaching, Tips | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – templates for quilting

Posted on September 12, 2017 by debbiewendt

I’m preparing for my classes this week at Fall Paducah.  I’m excited the Become a Brilliant Binder is sold out!  In getting samples marked to quilt for The Trapunto Basics on Your Home Machine.  The class still has room.  You can register once you are at the show!

I like to use a blue wash out marker to mark the quilting design.

#1- Be sure to test all marking products!

My favorite feather wreath is by Barbara Chainey.  She has a website and blog.  The wreath is in a pattern book that is no longer available online but look for it in the future as downloads from her website.  Quilting Creations International has a number of designs by Barbara.

Wreath by Barbara Chainey

Wreath by Barbara Chainey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used DBK template plastic to make the design easier to trace on my quilts and for use in my classes.  (YES, I have permission!!).  The plastic has nice flexibility and works well.  I used a tiny punch (used to punch holes in leather) to make the design.  This is a great way to use work with the design.  I have also used iron out chalk in a pounce pad when marking on darker fabrics.  The class sample is white so the blue pen was the choice this time.

#2- Use DBK plastic to make your own templates.

Did you know Electric Quilt has quilting designs?  Check out their website for several volumes of designs!  There are several company’s that make stencils.  Check them out.  I have several from a number of companies!

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Two Tip Tuesday – Brilliant Bindings (multi-purpose!)

Posted on September 6, 2017 by debbiewendt

In gearing up for the next few quilt shows, my husband and I have been getting tools ready to take.  That means peeling the paper off one side, putting the instructions into the bag and adding the tool.  YES, we “stuff” every one!

Why go through all that??….I was determined to have clear concise instructions with color photos to take you through ALL the binding steps.  By placing both is a zip top bag, your instructions can stay right with the tool.  So, keep those instructions with their respective tools!!  That my friends is my first tip.  I do this with every tool I buy.  If it didn’t come with a bag, then I put all the instructions in one spot so I’m sure not to loose them.  There is my second tip!

If you are local to me, I’ll be giving the Brown Bag lecture on Thursday at the New England Quilt Museum.  “Bindings Aren’t Boring, They’re BRILLIANT!”  Join me  at 12:30!

How is Brilliant Bindings multi-purpose?  Let me count the ways…

  1. To make perfect mitered corners on you quilt.
  2. Finish the binding tail ends (perfect join!).
  3. Used for ALL binding widths.
  4. Longarm version for binding the quilt before it is removed from the frame.
  5. Longarm tool also used as a straight edge for quilting.
  6. Used as a cutting template for my “Tool” and “Brilliant” patterns.
  7. Helps with mitered borders (see free handout on my website).
  8. Great 1/4″ markings for adding a seam allowance when paper/foundation piecing.
  9. Makes a simple braid (see free pattern on my website).
  10. Makes a great ribbon pillow (also free pattern).
  11. Great 2″ square up (miter end of tool).

….And there are more!!   What other use(s) have you found for Brilliant Bindings?  I’d love to hear them!  Please share by replying below.  I’ll enter you in a drawing to win my newest pattern debuting at Quilt Market in October.

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Two Tip Tuesday – seams and such

Posted on August 29, 2017 by debbiewendt

Ive been working on new patterns for Fall Market!  That means time at my machine and many seams to sew.  I can’t show you the pattern just yet, but I’ll show the seams.  I wanted the fabrics to pop off the background fabric so that meant seam allowances were pressed in the same direction.  So how to join them?  Same as any other seam but carefully!  Not difficult, just be aware of where to put the pins.

Wendt Quilting

Wendt Quilting

Seam align!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I place the seams together and then take a peek at where the 1/4″ seam will come across the join.  Then I place the pin in the backgrounds so the seam does not slip as I sew.  I do NOT remove the pins until I get right (almost) on it.  I’ve been known to go over the pin, one stitch at a time.  I do not run the machine, I carefully turn the hand wheel (remember most machines are always toward you) to complete the stitch.  Going slow like this allows the needle to slowly cross the pin and you are less likely to break a pin or bend the needle.  There were several tips in this paragraph, but a takeaway…

#1- Pin directly at the seam line to keep the fabrics from shifting.

#2- Sew one stitch at a time to be sure the fabrics do not shift when sewing a seam intersection.

I’ve also been working on my kits for the Fall Paducah classes in just two short weeks.  Will I see you there?

 

 

 

 

And I’ll be at the New England Quilt Museum on Thursday, September 7th for the Brown Bag Lecture.  I’ll be presenting “Bindings Aren’t Boring, They’re BRILLIANT”. Below is a couple quilts I will be showing on binding options.

Wendt Quilting

I hope you you will join me at one of my upcoming events!!

And speaking of Fall Market and also Festival in Houston, much of Texas and now Louisiana…Prayers to all affected by Hurricane Harvey! Many friends and family have been in harms way and we are thinking of YOU!

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Piecing, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – another travel day

Posted on August 23, 2017 by debbiewendt

Tuesday was a travel day so Wednesday (today) is the first chance I’ve had to write.  I’ll show a couple highlights from my trip to Grand Rapids AQS Quilt Week.  And thank you, thank you to all of you who attended the show and shopped in my booth.  I love hearing your quilt stories and seeing those smiling faces!

Speaking of smiling faces, look at this crew below.  I had some happy children leaving my booth.  I LOVE to encourage young sewers/quilters!  This family was a joy to meet and hear about how they all are sewing on their own or on the lap of an adult.  Happy kids with a new pattern for each of them!

Happy Quilters in the
Wendt Quilting booth

And on the trip to GR, the best sticker was on the car right in front of me at a stop light in the middle of Ohio!

Grand Rapids…you are truely GRAND!!

#1- Introduce the next generation to sewing and quilting!

#2- Shout it from the rooftop (or back of your car).  I’m a quilter and proud of it!

 

As a former Home Ec teacher I feel it is so important to get young people the “basic needs” skills.  Sewing is one of those skills.  Whether sewing on a button, hemming a pair of pants, attaching a scout badge, mending a hole in pants (OH wait, some pay big bucks for ripped clothing 😉 ).  But, I hope you catch my drift!

My next show is Fall Paducah in just three weeks.  I hope to see some of you there.  My “Become a Brilliant Binder” class is sold out but you can get on the waiting list.  And there are still some seats left in “Trapunto Basics on Your Home Machine”.  Won’t you come and join me?!?  My booth will be on the second floor in the convention center building.  I’ll post my booth number soon.

I’ll see you next week back at the sewing machine for more tips!  And don’t forget to head over to the Teal Mini Swap if you haven’t done so already.  The 29th is the last day to sign up.  For a great cause of fighting ovarian cancer.

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Brilliant Bindings, Patterns, Quilt shows, Teal Mini Swap, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – AQS show this week

Posted on August 19, 2017 by debbiewendt

Did you miss me Tuesday…..you don’t have to answer that….I’m sorry to be a few days late.  I was setting up for the AQS Quilt Week in Grand Rapids, MI.  Today is the last day of the show.  Great to see some familiar faces!  Thanks for all who came by the booth!  And all of you who came to the learning center for my presentation on Bindings.  It is always a pleasure to hear how you love my Brilliant Bindings tool and how it has made your bindings easier to finish.  I appreciate the feedback!  I went BIG for the show.  See my bigger booth below!

Tips this week will be slim…

What do you use to sign your quilt?  I like a couple products.  One is the Pigma Micron permanent pin and the other is Gelly Roll.  Both are by Sukura!  Do NOT use a Sharpie, they tent to bleed when written on the fibers.  Another possibility is to embroider the tag.  By hand or machine, both work great!  Main emphasis…label your quilts!!

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Two Tip Tuesday – ties block

Posted on August 9, 2017 by debbiewendt

I finished the block using the neck ties.  I LOVE it!  Now to decide quilting and get it finished into a pillow.

NYB Neckties

The inspiration was from a pillow I found on Pinterest.  Posted by lrstitched.com.  Her block and post can be found HERE   The pattern was from a New York Beauty Quilt Along Block 5 from sewsweetness.com  The block can be found HERE  As you will see I made my center plain like Lindsey Rhodes did of lrstitched.  Love her colors but I’m thrilled with how the ties look in this New York Beauty Block.

 

#1 – Pinterest is a great place to look for ideas.  (HOWEVER, please be sure to find the source of the photo and give credit where credit is due!)

I manage to go through a lot of thread!  Do you?  A trick I’ve done for years is to make sure the thread label stays on the spool.  (Yes, the photo is Coat and Clark.  I still use it for a lot of my piecing.  I’ve heard pros and cons for all threads out there.  So, no judgements here!)  Back to my trick.  Use a pen to punch the label into the hole of the spool.  Then the label stays on the spool and you can keep track of type, color, weight, etc!!

#2 – Use a pen to punch hole into spool.

Happy piecing!

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in Piecing, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Two Tip Tuesday – playing with ties

Posted on August 1, 2017 by debbiewendt

Remember that box of ties?  I’m playing with some of them today.  Working on a block for a new class I’m developing for the Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters Guild.  I’m using a muslin foundation because most of the ties are silk and I’m going to leave the foundation in after the block is made.  This will help stabilize the silk!

Silk is slick!  After I sewed a piece to the muslin foundation, I used a pin to keep the fabric in place.  (I did not want to use glue with the silk.)

Pin to hold in place.

I put the next piece in place and again, used pins.  This time I put the pins on the unstitched side so it would be easier to removed as I sewed the seam.  The pin is hiding up by the blue tape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1- Place pins on the unstitched side to have easy access to remove them as you are sewing.

Once the seam was sewn, I needed to trim up the threads, keeping my work as tidy as possible.  If you pull up the top thread, the bottom thread will come to the top in a little loop.  One snip and both threads are cut at the same time!

#2- Pull up top thread to reveal bottom thread and cut both at once.  Saves time and keeps work neat and tidy!

Don’t forget the Teal Mini Swap over at Eva Paige Quilt Designs…there is still time to join!

in quilting,

Debbie

Posted in foundation piecing, Neckties, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Two Tip Tuesday – traveling to Wednesday this week

Posted on July 26, 2017 by debbiewendt

Yep, I was traveling yesterday.  A delayed flight and late arrival didn’t get me home until 2am.  That has nothing to do with quilting but my excuse and I’m sticking to it.  Being summertime with stinkin’ hot weather is some states and mild cool nights in others…where are you and are you quilting?  Or do you take a break?  I’m getting ready to work on new patterns!!  Which brings up another question…what excites you about a pattern?  Design? Color? Shapes? Fabrics?  I would love to know your favorite color combinations.  Please comment (on any of the questions in this post) and I’ll put you in a drawing for my latest BTN pattern, “R-W-B Boise”.  Simple blocks makes this pattern go together easily.  Shown below is two color combinations I’ve made.

“Sea Glass”. D.W.

R-W-B Boise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Teal Mini Swap registration has begun!  Checkout the information on Eva Paige Quilt Designs  There is fee but most monies go to Ovarian Cancer Research!  I’m already in!  Ya never know, we could be swap partners!  Look for the Facebook page as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a Wendt Quilting Facebook page.  Have you checked it out?  I do have a couple videos there.  I’m working on a few more to load very soon.   Tell me in the comments if you have a quilting question!

Change…for Fall Paducah… “Trapunto Basics on Your Home Machine” has been added in place of “Snuggle Tails”.  It will be Friday evening from 5:30-8:30pm.  Register for the class if you’ll be in Paducah!

“Trapunto Basics on Your Home Machine”.   Description: Make your quilts “pop” by learning the basics of adding trapunto to the open spaces of your quilts, using only your home machine.  Trapunto isn’t just for open spaces; it can also enhance pieced and appliqués blocks.  Learn the difference between traditional, faux, and stuffed work while working through the steps of adding trapunto on pre marked samples.  Discover this impressive machine quilting technique to add texture and character to your quilts.

image

 

#1- Questions above…give a comment…to be entered into giveaway!

#2- Stay cool in this summer heat!  (Try hand piecing, no electricity needed!)

in quilting,  Debbie

Posted in Inspiration, Quilting, Uncategorized | 2 Comments