Two Tip Tuesday – Oops! and a New Project

Posted on September 24, 2024 by debbiewendt

Well it happens! I have an Oops! on Never Strikes Twice uses ONE Fat Quarter per “strike”, (not a Fat 1/8th). Cut 6 strips per Fat Quarter (width of strips in directions), (not 3). I double and triple check. My apologies if you had to buy more fabric to make this quilt. I have added this information to my website on this pattern’s page. Please make these changes on your pattern. I will be re-printing and the corrected pattern will give the corrected date.

The new project I am working on is a Curved Log Cabin. I love the optical illusion of a curve with just a straight strips! The shine of the silver printed fabrics sure plays with the camera focus. It is fun and glitzy for Christmas.

I will be teaching this quilt as a workshop for the Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters on Dec. 7th. If you are in the guild, you’ll get first dibs on signing up for the workshop. If you are not in the guild and want to take the workshop, they will open it up if there is still space in another month.

I took some photos while sewing the table runner. I use very few pins when piecing. My steps are below…

I lined up the first edges of the seam and place a pin near the end to keep the ends lined up. As I approach the end of the seam, I leave the pin in until I get close and remove it.

I am careful to not sew over pins! I also take care in finishing the seam so it stays the 1/4″ seam allowance and does not wiggle out of line. I use an “ender” between seams when I’m done and ready to start my next round of seams.

Oh my….did you see the thread lint a couple photos above….I need to clean my machine!

I’m looking forward to the workshop and sharing more tips and tricks in sewing curved log cabin blocks! I’ve started a quilt with different fabrics…stay tuned!

Tips –

#1 – Do NOT sew over pins! Remove them BEFORE you get to them. If you sew too close, it might be difficult to remove, plan ahead!

#2 – “Leaders” and “enders” help save thread and keep the line moving!

bonus – Clean your machine when you start seeing lint and between projects (even if you don’t SEE lint, it is hiding in the bobbin area)

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Booth photos

Posted on September 18, 2024 by debbiewendt

Thank you Lancaster! This week I want to share thanks and my booth photos. I had a great time at AQS Quilt Week in Lancaster, PA. I’ll put pictures below. First up, the front of my booth….welcome!

The WALL of quilts is all my “Brilliant” and “Tool” quilts. All these quilts and their patterns use Brilliant Bindings as a cutting template. Yes, Brilliant Bindings is used for perfect mitered corners and finishing the binding tail ends AND for patterns!

The back wall has a variety of my “small” patterns that are packed with details and other patterns like Sudoku, Spa Therapy and Tablet Pyramid Pillow.

The other side wall has a number of my Hexie quilts!

The outside wall has more quilts of my “small” patterns.

I presented at the Learning Center and the All-Star Review. The Learning Center is FREE to attendees! Do you take advantage of free events when you go to a show? Do you take classes or lectures? Do you take your time and look at every quilt entered in the show? How about the winner’s quilts? Do you go on a bus group or with friends or by yourself? I am curious! When I vend at shows it is always fun to talk with attendees. I ask these questions to get a feel for those that attend shows and what you are interested in at the shows. My tips when attending a show…

#1 – Checkout the freebees! Many shows have free demonstrations and free drawings. AQS and their sponsors gave away a sewing machine a day!!!

#2 – Take classes! I still love to take classes. I hope you do too!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Hello Lancaster

Posted on September 10, 2024 by debbiewendt

I missed last week as FAMILY was still on top of things to do. Today I’m in Lancaster, PA setting up for the AQS Quilt Week. The show is actually at the Spooky Nook in Manheim, PA, just north of Lancaster. The SHOW starts tomorrow!! My booth (Booth 1337) is ready and I hope you are too. Will I see you in Lancaster? It is a big venue, so wear comfy shoes!

One of my favorite things to do (before the show starts) is go to the Central Market in downtown Lancaster.

Yes, all the good things are there. How about Long John’s? Oh YES! No Bacon Maple this time, but I’ll settle for the variety below!

I forgot to take a picture of my booth all set up. I do have my wall of “Brilliant” and “Tools” quilts up for viewing. I’ll be doing demos on Brilliant Bindings and all three Hex-a-ma-jig tools. I hope to see you this week. Please stop by and say HI !!

Tips for this week…

#1 – Always wear comfy shoes to a quilt show!! Cute comfy is the best!

#2 – Water and treats! Those treats can be fabric, patterns and tools!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Progress

Posted on August 27, 2024 by debbiewendt

I’m hoping all of you that went to AQS Quilt Week in Grand Rapids had a GRAND time! I sure missed being at the show and look forward to next year. As I told you last week… Family come FIRST! I’m still helping my parents and everything is moving in a positive direction!

When I travel I usually have a handwork project to work on. I believe I have something tucked in my bag but I have not dug it out. I am working toward a deadline of making a baby quilt. So, I found the perfect fabric and it just arrived. Do you remember the Rainbow Fish book and story? This was the mom-to-be’s favorite as a child, so guess what….I found the fabric!!

The Rainbow Fish line is by Marcus fabrics. It is several years old, but as luck would have it, the Quilted Dragon in Nevada still has it in stock!!! I’ve linked their website by clicking on the shop name. I’m so impressed with their quick service and kind words to get this fabric sent out to me. There are several free patterns using this line of fabric, but I think I’ll design my own quilt. I’ll show you my progress as I work on this baby quilt.

Did you know almost every fabric line has patterns using the fabrics? Some are free online while others are available to purchase on designer’s websites. It is a great way to get ideas! Use the fabric line suggested or any fabric line.

#1 – Looking for an “old” fabric? Search the internet. It just might still be in stock at a local quilt shop. I love supporting small businesses!

#2 – Many fabric companies put out free patterns when they release a new fabric line! I hope you find some you will make and enjoy!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – unforeseen events

Posted on August 20, 2024 by debbiewendt

WELL…..sometimes…… life throws you a curve ball. I’ve had some family health happenings so I will not be in Grand Rapids this week for Quilt Week. I’m very disappointed but family always comes first!!!

I’ll check back in next week. Have a good quilty week. Enjoy Grand Rapids if you go to the show! I’ll sure miss it! Praying for sunshine! (My birthday flowers from a few months ago…LOVE the colors!)

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Inspiration

Posted on August 6, 2024 by debbiewendt

As I mentioned last week I have company. We had a fun evening watching a live performance “Take 3“. An all women group of violin, cello, and pianist. A lively enthusiastic group and amazing music where “Rock meets Bach”!! The concert was at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA. I love attending concerts in this building. Even though we were in the smaller Washburn Hall, the building has such inspiration. Look at the “half dresden” – ish design over the entrance.

I love the grand staircase and how about the carpet? I’m seeing a great quilt block or it could be an entire quilt with just one of the “squares”!

We walked around the ground floor before the performance and look at this window. I see a great applique vine or a beautiful flowing quilting design!

Inspiration all around! Where do you find inspiration?

#1- Look UP and DOWN! Carpet, tile work, buildings, and architecture elements provides so much inspiration.

#2 – How about windows? Beautiful etched glass, stained glass, inlaid glass….. More inspiration for pieced blocks, applique quilts and even quilting designs!!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Summer Fun

Posted on July 30, 2024 by debbiewendt

Do you sew/quilt during the summer? I sure do. I am not a gardener, unfortunately. Bugs love me, so I steer clear. I get my sister and brother-in-law for a week. They just arrived so I’ll keep today short and a little sweet!

Here is one of my favorite summertime memories with quilts with my sister and brother…

Family treasure!

My sister is front right, I’m front left, my brother is “in” the house and our cousin is back left. YES! We used quilts to build a house (and forts). Our family encourages fort building in the house with blankets, quilts, sofa cushions, and even sheets. So much FUN!!

#1 – Find something fun to do with one of your quilts this summer! Build a fort or tent!

#2 – I love having quilts around even in the summer. Air conditioning can get too cold for me. I love a summer nap under a quilt.

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tips on Wednesday this week

Posted on July 24, 2024 by debbiewendt

I was traveling yesterday and the day slipped right by. I’m thrilled to show the flannel quilt I have kept under wraps for so long. The quilt is to replace a nephew’s baby quilt. He has loved on his first quilt for over 25 years. It even went to college with him. A photo of Andrew on his first log cabin quilt.

I kept to the same pattern as the original, a LOG CABIN. Changing the colors to blue, gray and navy. It is still flannel and has a wonderful weight. this quilt is a KING!! I used Winline 100% Bamboo Batting, as it is my favorite light weight batting and washes up beautifully. You can find the batting HERE. The new Log Cabin quilt is below!!!!

The report……. he LOVES it!! He is a huge baseball fan and the Royal blue corners worked perfectly for our hometown KC Royals!

I kept the quilting simple in style. I outlines all the logs on the dark side of the blocks and did a “water stipple” on the light side. This is one of my favorite types of free-hand quilting designs and the name I call it. It has a more masculine feel and quickly fills in open spaces! I think it adds a bit more character than a simple stipple/meander. The straight outlines took some extra time, but I did most of it free-hand (no ruler). The flannel scooped the stitches right up so it allowed me to quilt a bit quicker than usual.

I gotta say, there is something special about a flannel log cabin quilt that says 1. comfort, 2. masculine and 3. love!!!

I used 2 1/2″ strips and it made for large 14″ finished blocks! The block layout is below. I’ve talked about pre-washing and using a spray starch when working with flannel. It sure makes for a great combination. I also used a walking foot when I pieced. I hope you might give this block/quilt a try. There are so many layout options!

#1- Log Cabin blocks…simple rectangles and squares but look complicated. They can be made with the cornerstones as I did with this quilt or not. Both variations are wonderful.

#2 – Simple quilting really makes the “logs” stand out. Keeping the quilting simple brings out the piecing lines and style of the blocks!

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Flannel Binding

Posted on July 17, 2024 by debbiewendt

I’m putting the binding on a long awaited quilt. I still can’t show the whole quilt (not until it is given!), but I’ll share a bit about the binding. Due to only a limited amount of fabric for the binding….and it is flannel….and I made the first cut too narrow…and……. I decided to make a single fold binding. Flannels can be thick and make a very THICK edge on a quilt if using a double fold binding. So, a single fold is often better! With the above mentioned items, it worked well. What did I do? Let me show you!

I cut the binding strips at 2 1/4″ wide. (YES, this is typically what I cut for a double fold binding of regular cotton.) I decided I wanted a wider binding to give some “umph” to the edge of the quilt. This width worked well to have a 1/2″ finished binding. With the thickness of the flannel and all the layers and wanting a wider binding it worked great!! Here is the mitered corner. I put the binding on the front and turned it to the back. I stitched in the ditch from the front to catch the back of the binding. My FAVORITE method of binding (and what I’ll be teaching in Houston for the International Quilt Festival….we’ll make it double fold though) I did hand stitch the miter since it is a wider binding after machine sewing to finish for a pretty miter.

And the back!

I don’t worry about whether I catch every single inch. I check it after I have gone all the way around the quilt. I only had a few spots that I missed. Oops! No worries, it is an easy fix!

After finding the missed spot, I use a seam ripper to open up a little before and after the missed section…

Reposition with pins to hold it in place…

Turn it back to the front to stitch in the ditch…

Take a look at the back. I’ll trim threads and it is as good as if you did it the first time!!

I love using this technique. I usually hand sew the binding on the back if I make a single fold binding. It was fun to do it by machine! Give it a try!

Tips #1- Use a binding that works best for YOUR quilt. In this case, a wider binding was perfect. And a single fold worked better for flannel!

#2 – Don’t worry if you miss anywhere the first time around. Pin or use clips and stitch in the ditch. In case any area slips, go back AFTER and fix any missed spots.

in quilting,

Debbie

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Two Tip Tuesday – Contrast

Posted on July 9, 2024 by debbiewendt

Have you had trouble working with contrast in a quilt? It is easy to have color and contrast mix things up and around. A color like gray can get placed next to white and look very dark. But that same gray placed next to navy blue can look light. It is FUN to play and “make” colors work to your advantage. Take the Log Cabin blocks below…. The gray used on the “light” side of the Log Cabin has a medium value. Yet when placed next to a navy/royal blue in another block, it looks lighter. Yowza!!

No need to worry! YOU have the power to make it work in your favor….whichever direction YOU want to take it. The block below is a good example of how all those “mediums” are used for the “light” side of the Log Cabin block. Does it work? Sure!! Could there be alternatives? SURE. You get to decide!

Look at how the “mediums” in this arrangement below have a “lighter” feel to them!

In working with Log Cabin blocks they are just like working with Half Squares. There is typically a light side and dark side. Any awesome arrangement you do with Half Squares can also be done with Log Cabin blocks! Look at the star that I created ABOVE. I’ve been playing with layouts and this may or may not be the final. (Yes, I need a step ladder to place blocks on my design wall!) It is fun to see all the possibilities before I get to decide! Now, back to arranging and REARRANGING!!

Tips…

#1 – Play with contrast. Color can add some interesting variations. Plus try putting chosen colors next to something darker and something lighter….watch them change! Does it work with the look you are going for? If not, pick another fabric.

#2 – This is why I love playing with color! You have the power to INFLUENCE your fabrics to “make” them into something else. Wow! Magic!

in quilting,

Debbie

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