March 16, 2009 | Filed Under Tutorials, Twelve by Twelve | Comments Off
Basket case: One that is in a completely hopeless or useless condition.
Hmm. That would be me. It’s only a couple of weeks or so until the Twelve by Twelve group unveil their window-themed works. I have various pieces in progress using a range of techniques but nothing is working quite right. Indeed many are close to being consigned to that round receptacle in the corner.
I have nothing I can show you but check out these elegant Thai-inspired baskets made by my friend Horst Kiechle.
Also, I have posted a mini-tutorial on the blooming technique on the Twelve by Twelve blog.
January 13, 2009 | Filed Under Technique:Finishing, Tutorials | 5 Comments
Since I set out on my exploration of alternative quilt finishes over two years ago, I have identified and trialled a multitude of facing techniques. This tutorial represents the culmination of my research and experimentation (so far!) and is suitable for both rectangular quilts and quilts with gentle curves such as Unplugged.
I am indebted to Jeri Riggs for her ingenious method of dealing with bulky corners. My variation uses double-layer facing strips (for greater stability and only incremental bulk) and extra pressing steps for a knife-edge finish. Do let me know if you find any further refinements. The quest continues! (All photos are clickable.)
Step 1: Side Facings
- Cut facing strips 2 1/2in wide or desired width. Fold in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and press.
- Pin facing strips to the front of two opposite sides of the quilt top matching raw edges.
- Sew facing strips with a walking foot using a 1/4in seam.
Steps 2 & 3: Memory pressing
Press side facings outwards and then over to the back of the quilt, “rolling” the seam slightly so that none of the facing is visible from the front.
Step 4: Remaining Facings
- Bring the side facings back to the front of the quilt.
- Measure and cut shorter facing strips for top and bottom to overlap approximately 1/2in with side facing strips.
- Pin shorter facing strips in position
- Stitch through all layers along the full width of the quilt top with a 1/4in seam.
Step 5: Corner Treatments
Select preferred corner treatment (see diagram). Stitch and trim as required.
Memory press top and bottom facings in the same manner as set out in Steps 2 and 3 above.
Step 6: Final Flourish
- Turn the facings to the back of the quilt taking care not to stretch them.
- Gently poke out the corners with a cuticle stick or similar tool.
- Carefully press corners and edges so that the facings are not visible from the front and sit flat on the back
- Slipstitch facings in place
See my Free & Non-Binding: Alternative Quilt Finishes post for a listing of other online tutorials for alternative quilt finishes. You may also be interested in my tutorial for Binding Without Bulges.
December 11, 2008 | Filed Under Tutorials | 1 Comment
In the past 24 hours my blog has been inundated with visitors referred by the Free Quilt Patterns website. Thank you. They have come to see my free quilt pattern for Pacific Place Mats:
Pacific Place Mats Pattern (261KB PDF)
The place mats make an excellent Christmas gift. It’s not too late to make up a set for someone you know.
May 27, 2008 | Filed Under Technique:Finishing, Tutorials | 7 Comments
I finished Dandelion Meadow using a variation of the mitred facing technique outlined by Melody Johnson. I find it much easier to make the mitres before attaching the facing strips to the quilt and you might too. A full tutorial is set out below.
Preparation:
- Using a rotary cutter, trim quilted piece to 12 1/2 square (or desired finished size + 1/2 inch per side).
- Cut four strips 1 1/2in x 12 1/2in (or whatever the length your quilt sides are).
- Place the strips in pairs with right sides together.
- Mark a line at a 45 degree angle across the end of each pair of strips and mark another line 1/4in from the edge as shown.
Mitre Frame:
- Sew each pair of strips together by stitching along the marked angled line, stopping and backstitching 1/4in from the edge (ie where the two marked lines intersect).
- Trim the seam to 1/2in. Press seam flat and open to create an “L” shape as shown
- Mitre join the two “L” pieces together to form a frame.
- Place the frame right side down and press back a 1/4in seam. (I mark a line 1/2in from the raw edge and fold the edge back to this line.)
- Pin the mitred frame to the quilt top right side down and aligning the raw edges.
- Using your walking foot and 1/4in seam allowance, stitch through all four layers (ie quilt and facing) around the edge of the facing.(You might like to stitch angled corners but I just sewed seams at right angles.)
- Trim the corners (to remove bulk) taking care not to cut through the stitching line.
Facing:
- Turn the facing to the back of the quilt and gently poke the corners flat (I use my sewing machine screwdriver).
- Press carefully so that none of the facing can be seen from the front of the quilt and slip stitch the facing in place.
See my Free & Non-Binding: Alternative Quilt Finishes post for a listing of other online tutorials for alternative quilt finishes.
May 6, 2008 | Filed Under Other Projects, Tutorials | 3 Comments
I’ve dispatched my belated Christmas gifts and, in the spirit of giving, now share with you a free pattern for my Pacific-themed table place mats. The place mats are quick and easy to make. The instructions almost took longer to put together. This pattern is provided for personal use only. Please respect my copyright.
Pacific Place Mats Pattern (261KB PDF)
December 2008 Update: Welcome to all the visitors from the
Free Quilt Patterns website. Feel free to have a look around while you are here. I have a tutorial for
Binding Without Bulges and another listing of tutorials for
Alternative Quilt Finishes. I write most days about quilting and textile-related matters. The best way to keep up to date is to subscribe to my
RSS feed or enter your e-mail below to receive updates via e-mail.
April 1, 2008 | Filed Under Technique:Finishing, Tutorials, Twelve by Twelve | 4 Comments
March 2009 Update: This method features on the instructional DVD Four Fantastic Quilt Finishing Techniques that I made with Quilters Companion magazine. I have a handful of copies of the DVD and magazine available for sale.
My community themed quilt My People is now on the Twelve by Twelve group blog. As obsessed as I am with alternative finishes, there will always be a place for a classic continuous binding with mitred corners. I previously linked to a video demonstrating this technique but it is no longer available. So here is my tutorial (with clickable photos) to show you how to avoid unsightly lumps and bulges where the two ends of your binding meet.
Binding Strip Preparation: Cut your binding strips the desired width. (l like to use 2in strips for a 1/4in binding but this is a very personal thing!) If you have multiple strips, join them with 45 degree seams. Press the seams open to help distribute the bulk. Press the binding in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together.
- Using your walking foot and starting midway along one side of the quilt, stitch the binding to the front of the quilt-top edge, matching the raw edges. I use a quarter inch seam and stop (and back stitch) 1/4in from the corner. Make sure you leave a tail on the binding of at least four inches (see photo/step 5 below).
- At the corner, fold the binding strip up at a 45 degree angle. Finger press.
- Then fold the binding strip straight down so that it is aligned with the next side of the quilt to make a neat corner. This will make a mitred corner when the binding is folded to the back.
- Continue stitching, either starting from the edge or, as I have done here, in by 1/4 inch.
- On the final side, leave an unstitched gap of 8-10 inches so that you can easily work with the tails.
- Lay one tail flat and, at the end of the tail, chalk mark a line equal to the total width of your binding (in my case, 2 inches).
- Lay the second tail flat (and very slightly stretched) so that it overlaps with the first tail. The chalk line on the first tail will dust off onto the second tail. Trim the second tail at the chalk line.
- Open out the ends of the tails and pin them together right sides together at right angles.
- Mark a stitching line at a 45 degree angle across the corner. Sew along the marked stitching line.
- Trim the seam and press the seam open to distribute the bulk. Lay the binding flat and stitch down to complete the binding.
- Turn the folded edge of the binding over to the back of the quilt and slipstitch it into place. Look! The join hardly shows up! Alternatively, you may like to sew the back down by machine as Melody Johnson demonstrates in her Machine Binding Tutorial
February 4, 2008 | Filed Under Technique:Finishing, Tutorials | 5 Comments
13 January 2009 Update: I have been researching and experimenting with alternative quilt finishes for some time culminating (so far!) in this tutorial for my Favourite Facing Finish that is suitable for rectangular and gently irregular-shaped quilts.
Here is listing of other online tutorials demonstrating a range of quilt-finishing techniques other than binding:
I’d like to add another, perhaps wider satin stitch edging tutorial. If you know of a useful tutorial, please send me the link.
Four Fantastic Quilt Finishing Techniques DVD
See Issue #37 of Quilters Companion and my instructional DVD which covers the following four quilt finishing techniques:
- continuous mitred binding;
- facing finish;
- pillow case with "escape hatch";and
- satin stitch/zig zag edging.
In addition, there are detailed instructions and diagrams in the accompanying magazine.
A$14.25 (including postage) - this price is available to Australian residents only*
*If you live outside Australia and wish to purchase a copy, please
e-mail me first so that I can calculate the postage and send you a Paypal request.
February 2, 2008 | Filed Under Technique:Finishing, Tutorials | 2 Comments
Here is my step by step guide to finishing your quilt with a wholecloth facing. It is ideal for smaller quilts such as my Organic Chocolate trio and avoids excessive bulkiness in the corners. For other methods of finishing a quilt (other than binding), see my useful listing of online tutorials: Alternative Quilt Finishes.
Step One: Cut your facing to size - finished size + 1/4in seam allowance. As my quilt is 12×12in finished, I was able to use my 12 1/2in square ruler. Then, using a compass and chalk pencil, mark a circle in the centre leaving a 1 1/4in allowance around the edges.
Step Two: Make your 3-layer quilt sandwich and quilt through all layers.
Using a chalk pencil and ruler, mark the cutting line on your quilted piece. Trim if you wish but, in these photos, I trimmed up later.
Step Three: Cut out the circle shape in the facing and press over a 1/4in seam allowance.
Pin the facing (wrong/marked side up) onto the quilt top lining up the edges of the facing with the marked outline on the quilt top.
Step Four:
Using your walking foot and 1/4in seam allowance, stitch through all four layers (ie quilt and facing) around the edge of the facing.
(You might like to stitch angled corners but I just sewed seams at right angles.)
Step Five:
Using a rotary cutter and ruler, trim off the excess quilted layers and trim the corners.
(I snip out the batting layer on the corners with pointed scissors but trimming angled corners works too.)
Step Six: Turn the facing to the back of the quilt and gently poke the corners flat (I use my sewing machine screwdriver). Press carefully so that none of the facing can be seen from the front of the quilt and slip stitch the facing in place.
For more rectangular quilts, I would not use a circle shape but simply cut out a rectangular shape with curved corners. For larger quilts, you can modify the technique by using a combination of facing strips and drunkards path like facing shapes for the corners.
Be aware that, as your facing is only a single layer, the quilt backing fabric may show through a light coloured facing.
November 17, 2007 | Filed Under Blog Admin, Tutorials | Comments Off
My blog is a relatively comment-lite zone. I’m not complaining - I get enough reader feedback to sustain me. However, some blogs receive numerous and insightful comments and you can miss out unless you subscribe to the comment feed for that blog. The url for comments feed for Blogspot blogs is typically:
http://blogname.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default/
So, for example, if you would like to subscribe to feeds for comments on the Twelve by Twelve blog, just plug this url into your RSS service (Bloglines, Google Reader etc):
http://twelveby12.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default/
Most WordPress blogs will clearly show you the comments feed. FYI, the url for my comment feed is:
http://serendipitypatchwork.com.au/blog/comments/feed/
May 9, 2007 | Filed Under Blog Admin, Tutorials | 2 Comments
Sometimes it is instructive to surf around your own blog to make sure it is working properly. I realised only yesterday that I one of my category listings Techniques:Dyeing was incorrectly linked to posts about quilting techniques. My apologies to anyone who was confused by this.
Today there seem to be lots of people entering my blog looking for the Tutorials category. I’d love to know what has piqued this sudden interest!
FYI, I maintain my ever-popular BLOG BANNER TUTORIAL over on my old blogspot blog as the tutorial concentrates on Blogger templates.
If you are interested in tutorials for free motion quilting, then Patsy Thompson’s blog is a wonderful resource and includes some great images of filler patterns on her 25 April 2007 post.
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