SewKatieDid

Because thread is the best glue

invisible zipper class

::Wavy Gravy Whole Cloth Quilt::

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I’ve had this simple quilt sandwich basted and rolled up waiting for its addition of scraps and stitchin’ to make it into a ticker tape.  I got to thinking about our limited basting space in the class room and that a simple, modern AND most importantly small quilt could do the trick for teaching the basic threes to quilt finishing.

Stuff Three’s:

  • Quilt Top
  • Batting
  • Quilt Back

Do Three’s:

  • Baste
  • Quilt
  • Bind

The end result, this modern baby quilt!  We’ll cover the three’s in the class, and discuss what straight stitched quilting design to execute, plus centering and squaring a quilt and troubleshooting.

The design of the stitching is really seen from the solid front.  I think this is Kona Pond.  I straight stitched some gentle curves and left a space to straight stitch a third in.  I added a few lines of red.

 It’s bound in one of my favorite Cake Rock Beach dots.

And the backing is one of my stockpiled Alexander Henry Raindrop Stripe.


I think it will be a super fun class.

I’ve got Add Zip To Your Pillow class next Thursday if you need some new Spring flare.  I have my fabric all picked out.

::Zip It Up::

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This past week I’ve been working on getting samples done and Spring classes on the books.  I’ve made many a zip pouch and thought a class would be fun.

They make such great gifts that every sewist should know how to make a professional looking lined pouch.

I figured while I was at it, I would kill two birds with one stone and get the end of the year teacher gifts out of the way.

Last weekend digging through Kathy Mack’s scrap boxes at the Pink Chalk Studio I came up with the scraps to create these beauties!

The Lecien is a new favorite for sure and the trip to her studio inspired me to pull out the covered button bin.  Thanks Kathy!

Again, I dabbled in making Amy Butler’s Stash and Dash bags.  The pattern is just so finicky, or maybe it’s just me?

I actually took the large one apart and put it back together AGAIN before I was happy with it.  When using home decor they say, “no” to stabilizer, but I say, “yes.”

The set will go to my sister-in-law with Ethan and Ella’s quilts.

Off to sew.

::Blogger’s Pillow Party::

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I was late to the party last month, so here I am drink in hand.

There were projects made for the book that simply wouldn’t fit, or the technique wasn’t quite right.  The Opposing Triangle Pillow was one of those.

The colorway took some time, like everything in your closet tried on and thrown on the bed.

I love the quilting, it was like adding makeup and jewelry.

This pillow might be considered a bit of a wallflower compared to the other party dress pillows I’ve seen, but I would notice this one in a room full of pillows for sure.

Daisy Janie was so sweet and sent me the Shades of Grey fabric before it even hit the stores for the companion pillows and I think they dress it up a bit.  Kinda like a good looking date on your arm.

Invisible Zippers in all of them of course!  Consider invisible zippers your go to LBD (little black dress) to wear to the party, no envelope closure flip flops here.  Go dress yourself up for the pillow party with my add zip to your pillow invisible zipper tutorial and check out what all the other pillows are wearing.

A quilt like it is next.

::Opposing Triangle Pillow::

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I was late to the party last month, so here I am drink in hand.

There were projects made for the book that simply wouldn’t fit, or the technique wasn’t quite right.  The Opposing Triangle Pillow was one of those.

The colorway took some time, like everything in your closet tried on and thrown on the bed.

I love the quilting, it was like adding makeup and jewelry.

This pillow might be considered a bit of a wallflower compared to the other party dress pillows I’ve seen, but I would notice this one in a room full of pillows for sure.

Daisy Janie was so sweet and sent me the Shades of Grey fabric before it even hit the stores for the companion pillows and I think they dress it up a bit.  Kinda like a good looking date on your arm.

Invisible Zippers in all of them of course!  Consider invisible zippers your go to LBD (little black dress) to wear to the party, no envelope closure flip flops here.  Go dress yourself up for the pillow party with my add zip to your pillow invisible zipper tutorial and check out what all the other pillows are wearing.

A quilt like it is next.

::Carolina Chambray::

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So, what’s your favorite solid?  I’m talking beyond Kona here.  I’ve noticed all the new Freespirit solids and wondering if the price is justifiable?

I often get inquiries when I post a project with Robert Kaufman’s Carolina Chambray.  It’s my favorite solid.  We created quite a few quilts in the book with it.

Though I do love the softness of the cross weaves and the texture of the shot cottons, I find chambray a good weight and easy to work with when quilting.

When you place it in different directions you notice the weave.  This adds another dimension to the design of a quilt.

The natural is probably the one I get asked about the most, likely because I use it the most.  I’ve made several boy print hst quilts out of it and endless amounts of pillows.

All the colors are vivid and rich, but I love the orange.

I added a little to my Destash of the chambrays if you’re in the mood for something new.  You guys are quick, I even relisted.  I added some cross-weave at a good deal.

But I’d like your thoughts.

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New Classes

::Good and Bound::

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What makes for good binding?

Twice now I’ve just cut and sewn the binding on a quilt without really auditioning the look.  As I joined the ends it occur to me, and that ‘oh no’ feeling struck.  Luckily, the result was splendid and I didn’t have to get friendly with my seam ripper for the night.  I guess intuitively I knew it would work.

Here:

and here:

Most of the time I not only audition, but I actually cut the binding.  Wasteful?  No, if it doesn’t work out the binding goes into my strip piecing box for future projects or classes.

It allows me to plainly see…red?

No, too overpowering.

Beige?

Yes, that completes the look stunningly.

Of course I always want it to work with the backing too and that’s another story.

What do you do?

Flower Pillows

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Round One of this set of pillows:

Round Two:

I know.  They look the same to you right?

The pillows in Round One had an envelope closure.  Round Two pillows have invisible zipper closures.  I’m so much happier with them.

Invisible Zippers are divine.

These pillows are going into my Etsy shop rather than my room.   If you are looking for some fashionable pillows pop over.  They are fully lined and serged for a professional look plus easy wash and wear. Thanks Sold!

While I was knee deep in the pillow making mood, I made myself a bootie pillow.  I always imagined my studio to be aqua and red, but when I digging around for fabric I came up with the Veronique in red and pink.  I knew I had my new tuffet and that pink was now officially added to the palette.

I’m thinking the aqua might make it into a sewing machine cover.  Roslyn Mirrington of Bloom launched her sewing machine cover pattern this week.  I’m going to trick the patchwork and follow the pattern’s structure.

and I might some day “need” this.

That’s next on the list.

::Find::

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I often get asked where I get my pillow forms during my Add Zip to Your Pillow classes.  I shop around a lot for deals, because I really like to make pillows in various sizes.  If I am in need of a specific size I go straight to Garnet Hill.

(Photo By Chara Michele Photography)

I love long narrow pillows and often use Joann’s forms, but they just don’t hold up well.  Look for down.  It just lasts forever with a little fluffing.

Garnet Hill often has sales, so I recommend signing up for them via email notices.

I’ve scheduled an invisible zipper class and others for late Winter and early Spring.  Grab your forms and come learn a new skill.

A big shout out to all of you asking for another Improvisational Workshop and Value class, they are on the calendar finally!  For those beginners wanting something basic with loads of design options to explore I added a Half-Square Triangle Class, truly a favorite.


For those of you that showed interest in a second round of the Value-Quilt-A-Long, I’m busily destashing and cutting squares.  As soon as those are ready for the shop I’ll announce a date!

DESTASH

::Sewing Curve::

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So it’s official, I’ve joined the Cult of Bernina and haven’t looked back.  With a new machine comes relearning.

A few months ago I taught an invisible zipper class and as usual my students brought something to my attention that I didn’t know of, an invisible zipper foot.

Good old number 35.

This foot actually opens the zipper and lays it flat as you feed it through.  Produces the best results ever.  No ironing and no fuss.

However, I was stumped on how to feed it in from the start of the zipper tape and see where the teeth of the zipper were so I could start stitching.  The visibility was crap.

It only took me four zippers to figure out a simple solution.  Duh, mark the start with a dot like in the picture.

This way you can see through the zipper foot where to start.

It’s a piece of cake from there.

P.S.  Don’t fear the zipper.

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Wanna have some fun?

February 16th Invisible Zipper Pillow Class

:: Using a Bernina Invisible Zipper Foot ::

By

So it’s official, I’ve joined the Cult of Bernina and haven’t looked back.  With a new machine comes relearning.

A few months ago I taught an invisible zipper class and as usual my students brought something to my attention that I didn’t know of, an invisible zipper foot.

Good old number 35.

This foot actually opens the zipper and lays it flat as you feed it through.  Produces the best results ever.  No ironing and no fuss.

However, I was stumped on how to feed it in from the start of the zipper tape and see where the teeth of the zipper were so I could start stitching.  The visibility was crap.

It only took me four zippers to figure out a simple solution.  Duh, mark the start with a dot like in the picture.

This way you can see through the zipper foot where to start.

It’s a piece of cake from there.

P.S.  Don’t fear the zipper.

——————————————————

Wanna have some fun?

February 16th Invisible Zipper Pillow Class

::Add Zip To Your Pillow Class::

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Need something to keep you out of trouble Tuesday night?  How about learning a new skill?

I have some openings in my invisible zipper class at The Quilting Loft.  Come join us from 6-9.

::To Lay My Head::

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I bribed Roan with candy to come out in the cold and hold my pillow.  I wanted to show the scale of it.  The insert is a body pillow from Martha Stewart’s line at Macy’s.  The filling is somewhat lame I discovered the first time, so I took the sizing down.  It was the last of what I considered my UFO projects (I’m ignoring all the quilts).

It’s mostly linen with wee bits of Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner and Alexander Henry.  I used the triple stitch along the top and bottom of the panel.

Did I mention I hate working with linen?  When it comes to serging it always travels, even when pinned to all Hell.

Some of my favorite fabrics, colors and it could not have turned out any better.  I am very pleased.

Been saving this Amy Butler Tulip forever for the perfect project.  Works great for the back.  When I get bored with it all I think I’ll cut it up and make a baby quilt.

The reality is I rarely read more than a page because I always stay up too late sewing, but it will sure look wonderful on our bed!

I wanted to give a BIG “Thanks” for all the kind comments regarding my Tumbling Blocks Pillow!  I’ve had had its inspiration on my board and the Hope Valley fabric spoke to me.