Happy Valentine’s Day!! Looking around for all the hearts in my world…
Flowers from my sweetheart! He sent them early so I could enjoy them all week!!
Hearts in a quilt…
D.W.
Hearts in a pin cushion…
Hearts in fabric…
Love the RWB!
Hearts in quilting, even if it is a leaf…
My Home in Massachusetts D.W.
Hearts in piecing…
The simple pieced heart is made of 8 half squares, 6 colored squares, 2 background squares.
#1- Quilt what you “heart” (LOVE)
#2- “Heart” what you quilt!
Hearts to you!
Debbie
A change in my block….
I decided to change up my tree in my “Won’t You Be…” Block Stock block. It is below.
“Won’t You Be…” D.W.
I like my new tree. I hope you do too! I believe there is a tip there…
#1- if something just isn’t working for you, change it up!
Order on my website or make a purchase from me at a show and you will receive the free pattern.
I spent Saturday at a charity workshop for one of the guilds I belong to. It was a good day sewing with quilting friends! We made hearts, baby dolls and lap quilts. This is the lap quilt I finished. Someone else made the top, I quilted it and did a back to front binding.
The dolls are given to local hospitals for kids having procedures done. It is a buddy for the child and the doctors/surgeons use the doll to show what will be done during their surgery. The dolls are even dressed in a “Johnny”. The photo below are bags of dolls on their way to meet their friends!
Dolls for Kids
One quilting friend, was working on blocks and organizing for putting her blocks together. I snapped a photo…
Jane’s snowball blocks
She overlapped the blocks in their rows to make it easier to see the order. (Tip #2) And she slid a small cutting mat under them to transfer them next to her machine. (Tip #3) They are in line and ready to sew! Thanks Jane for letting me snap a photo of your beautiful work!
in quilting,
Debbie
I’m excited to be involved with Block Stock campaign again this year. It starts tomorrow!! You can read all about it on their website. Block Stock Visit any of the shops/designers who are the retailers listed, make a purchase from them and you get FREE instructions for their block. The theme this year is “Welcome Home”. I thought long and hard about what my block would be. I’m keeping it VERY simple and totally related to the theme. My original block is below.
“Won’t You Be…” D.W.
I’ve called it “Won’t You Be…” Of course my neighbor! I’m liking my funky tree, as four houses just seemed boring. The block is a great way to use up odd scraps and play with colors. I hope you will participate and shop with the retailers who have made some awesome blocks for you! You can get my block by shopping on my website or shopping in my booth at a quilt show during the Block Stock campaign, Feb.1 – April 30. During that time I’ll be at three AQS Quilt Week Shows…
~AQS Daytona Beach, FL March 1-4
~ AQS Lancaster, March 29 – April 1
~ AQS Paducah, April 26 – 29
In making the block, there are a couple tips to keep the roof/tree top goose units the correct size.
#1- Sew a thread’s width outside the drawn diagonal line when sewing the background to the main fabric. The teeny tiny bit of space allows the block to stay the same width as the pressed seams takes up some fabric.
#2- Draw another diagonal line 1/2″ away from the first sewn diagonal and you get a bonus half square. The half squares are not used in the neighborhood block but could be a great border if making more blocks for a quilt!
Hope to see you at a show or on my website!
in quilting,
Debbie
Good morning to many and evening to my friends across the pond and around the world. This Tuesday blew right past me. I got back from the “Babes on the Beach” on what should have been Sunday evening but turned into Monday morning. All the weather that went through the south effected flights all over! I even spent time taking precautionary shelter in a ladies room at Orlando airport because of a tornado warning. Crazy! And even crazier that many were still standing in line at Starbucks during the warning period! I met a lovely mom and her two daughters from Rhode Island during the warning and our extended wait for our flight to TF Green. Being a Midwest girl, I don’t mess around when there is a warning…take shelter!!
This was on the heels of an absolutely wonderful time with the “Babes on the Beach” retreaters. We got to take a break after our welcoming dinner and before my trunk show to watch a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral! Awesome to see it move across the sky. Unfortunately, I hit the wrong button and only got smidgeons of video of the launch. But look at this amazing sunset the next day!
Florida Sunset
the “Babes” worked tirelessly on there “Twirl-A-Tool” blocks…and YES…even a quilt top finished!!! Nicely done LeighAnn!!! Her progress below!
Twirl-A-Tool chain piecing the blocks
I sooooo enjoyed my time with Ellen and her husband, Mark, from Sew Central Sew Central of Merritt Island, FL. Ellen put on a fantastic retreat! If you are ever in the Orlando area, take the drive to Merritt Island to the shop…beautiful fabric and excellent customer service!
I’m im going to leave you with a couple tips from the weekend…..
#1- take photos of your work! So many times we get wrapped up in the doing, we forget to stop and document the progress.
#2- I’ve said it before, but will again….go take classes and attend quilt functions…I witnessed several friendship happen this weekend. Several came alone to the retreat, others came with a friend or two….and we all left with new friendships from quilters from all over!!
in quilting,
Debbie
Today, I needed to quilt some samples. Camels! Yes, my favorite!
Pyramid and Camel
Checking tension is important when beginning with new threads. I used a variegated by Signature on top and “Sew Fine” by Superior in the bobbin.
The next two photos show a look at the back tension. The left one is good. The right has the top thread showing pokies on the back across the center of the orange backing.
If there are pokies on the back …
#1- the top tension should be tightened.
If there are pokies on the top…
#2- loosen the top tension.
Always check tension!
in quilting,
Debbie
As I mentioned last week, my husband got a new hip and I spent some hours sitting with him. I wasn’t up for taking my laptop along, so I took some handwork. Instead of finishing a project that was already in the works, I choose to start something new……As my dear friend would say…shocking! I LOVE to start new projects! I do finish some as you have seen on my website and maybe at a trunk show I have given to your guild. But for me, I can’t resist something new. So, what did I start? These cute pennies!
Wool felt penny
This is going to be a magnet. I picked this up at Market from Gina at Grab’n Go Kits. Check out her website at Grabngokits.com
These are wool felt kits. Everything is included to get you started…needle, floss, die-cut shapes! Perfect as a take-along project.
#1- Check out a wool felt kit from Grab’n Go Kits. All the shapes are cut for you!
The buttonhole stitch is easy to master. But a couple of key pointers.
#2- Keep those stitches EVEN!
And when working around the circle always aim the inside stitch as if it was going to the middle of the circle. As you may notice, my stitch length on the center circle is a bit longer than the stitch length on the second circle. No problem, the same length was used all the way around its respective circle. That is what gives it a nice finished look.
Now, back to the issue of not finishing…..
that will be for another time!
in quilting,
Debbie
It has been an eventful new year for my hubby. He got a new hip!! Now the process of learning how to make the right moves, to heal and move around on his own. With the absolute need for his computer to be close….I came up with this pouch to hang on the bed rail. It is nothing fancy but fit the need to keep it off the bedside roller table.
I used some pre-quilted fabric and added ties. I made them extra long to be able to position it. He didn’t even mind it was teal and purple!
There are many “other” quilted items you can make to help fill a need. As simple as, NEED computer in reach!
#1- Make it quilted…for a side rail pocket.
And….Happy New Year! I had a bit of a panic a couple days ago as my website had disappeared and I didn’t even know it! Thanks to Lenore for letting me know! It is back up and I’m thankful it was an easy fix. As a thank you to Lenore and all you wonderful customers, one more chance to get my THANKS discount. Enter code THANKS for a 20% discount until January 17 at midnight. Later that week I’ll be on a jet plane to go teach at “Babes on the Beach”. Need a winter break or have some Christmas or Hanukkah money to spend on yourself? Come join the fun! There are a few spots left, contact Sew Central for all the details. You can’t beat the price as it includes the kit, pattern, tool and instruction and more!!!
#2- give yourself a break and join the BABES quilting retreat!
in quilting,
Debbie
If only quilts could talk….
Double Wedding Ring
Double Wedding Ring
I would love to be able to hear what all the old quilts have to say! This wonderful Double Wedding Ring was made for my parents when they got married. That was 56 years ago! (They just celebrated last week!!! My sister, brother, myself and our families were there together to help celebrate!). I have the privilege of sleeping under this quilt when I visit my mom and dad! I treasure the love that went into making it, the love my parents share and the love of a beautiful quilt!
This quilt does not have a label. I’ve had to ask my mom several times who made it as I don’t remember. This is exactly why we need to label our quilts. My mom knows who made it for them, but unless I write it down I’m afraid I’ll forget. I’ve said this first tip before, but it is worth repeating…
#1- always label and date your quilt! If you are told a story of a quilt, write it down and keep it with the quilt.
While I was at my paternts’s house, I went looking for a picture of how we played with quilts. Found it!
Family treasure!
I thought we used the double wedding ring, but it was a sweet blue and pink one. AND that quilt is still around. We used and sometimes abused those quilts. Look closely, it is hooked onto a chain link fence! We love them!! And what better way to celebrate the maker, than to USE those quilts!!
I’m hoping you can find another tip in there somewhere! My first thought is…
#2- use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. Although, I never want to be without a quilt! I love snuggling with quilts.
As the new year approaches, I hope you find a special quilt to make, a new technique to try, a quilt class to take and/or make time to sew with friends! Be sure to check out wendtquilting.com (wink, wink!) if you want a warm spot to travel to, I’ll be teaching at “Babes on the Beach Retreat” in Cocoa, FL January 20-22. Come join the fun, sponsored by Sew Central of Merritt Island, FL.
in quilting,
Debbie
This week’s tips are focused on sewing. For our family Christmas get together some treasures from the past showed up….
Christmas napkins
I made those napkins for everyone in the family y..e..a..r..s ago! Yes, some “cheesy” fabric and some cute, but they foot the bill. These have to be at least 25 years old! But when they are only used a few time a year at Christmas, they last. This fabric was purchased at a box store well before I knew about quilt shops. The edges were serged. I put a dot of fray check at every corner to keep the threads from fraying. No worries there! The corners are still stiff with the fray check. A good lesson on testing your products before use. Sure it did the job but I would rather have a softer finish. Had I have tied a knot and buried the ends it would be softer…but might not have lasted through all the washings.
#1- Fray check works…but test on fabric. It is glue and hardens when dry.
#2- a serged edge can make for a quick edge finish. A rolled hem has a nicer appearance.
What do quilter’s do with a bag of goodies? They decorate Christmas Trees!
from my house to yours…
Our REAL tree 2016
Merry Christmas!
Debbie
It has been a rewarding week of teaching. First a mom and daughter! They were SUPER excited to get their first lesson. A comment to share…”Mom, this is so relaxing”. I’m thrilled to have two more peeps to share my passions of sewing and quilting. Look at those smiles!!!
Next class, the “Four” Dinner placemats for one of the guilds I belong to, Blackstone ValleyHeritage Quilters. A lesson is stacking, cutting, rearranging and sewing angle seams. Also, tips on simple machine quilting. And finally, Back to Front Binding! They enjoyed it all and were thrilled to go home with at least one finished placemat.
I didn’t give them a chance to pose, so don’t mind the “not ready” for camera looks.
Along with the placemats, they got to practice the back to front technique by making a napkin. It was fun to hear ideas of what they will do with theirs…. Bread Basket liner, mat for centerpiece, wrapping for gift and its intended purpose of napkin.
#1 – Think about possibilities…a napkin can be a bread basket liner! Perfect for the holidays and a great way to practice a new technique.
In discussing quilting of the placemats, one student wasn’t crazy about seeing the starting points of the quilting lines. Several had options to try…..
How about quilting the placemat with only the top and batting.!? Brilliant way to hide the stops and starts. Or add a “regular” binding to hide the stops/starts in the binding. Not the back to front binding, but an option none-the-less.
Another student, was keen on using decorative stitching….perfect!
Marilyn’s placemat is shown below. She quilted with a decorative stitch, through only the top and batting. Then layered the quilted piece with the backing and finished with a back to front binding. See her steps/results below.
“Four” Dinner by Marilyn
Marilyn’s backing
Close up of decorative stitching!
#2 – Add decorative stitching as the quilting! Pretty and functional!
in quilting,
Debbie
DebbieWendt's Blog 