Old St. Nick - Betty Alderman Design

Isn't this pattern adorable?  I've got the PERFECT spot for it in my house but sadly it isn't my quilt, it's Scarlet Thread's of Webster NY!  I am really happy with the quilting on it!  St. Nick's sack is filled with Presents!  I hope Ruth likes it!

Here's a close up!  If you click on the picture it will enlarge.

Stay tuned for more surprises!

Happy Quilting!

Margaret

Why Remove The Selvage?

I've been asked why I remove my selvage when I prepare my quilt backing?  The reason why I do is because selvage shrinks differently than the fabric and is a much different weight so potentially it will show through on your backing.  When you wash your quilt (I'm a washer - as soon as the quilt is bound I want to wash it) the fabric will shrink a little and when you've left your selvage in your backing material there is a potential to be able to see it.  

Preparing the backing of a quilt seems like it would be a pretty simple task especially if you are sending the quilt off to be long arm quilted.  Most long arm quilters (myself included) are willing to prepare the backing for you but will charge you a minimal fee to do it.  I thought it was a good time to share with you how I go about preparing backing for a quilt.  Here is how I prepare a backing for a twin size quilt.

My first step is to take the fabric and fold it in half length wise, then I cut (actually rip) it in half.  The next step is to refold it right sides together being careful that if it is a directional fabric everything is going in the same direction.  Then off to my sewing machine I go!

I sew rights sides together and I sew a seam that is at least 1"!  I like to sew it a little over an inch and use my sewing machine's sole plate as my guide.

Once I've sewn the pieces together I carefully fold the backing into quarters and then get out my trusty Creative Grids Ruler and my rotary cutter.

For some unknown reason (I'm not certain if someone told me this or not) but I like a full 1//2" seam allowance on my backing.  Like I said I'm not certain exactly why but I do!

Mission accomplished!  The selvage has been removed from the pieced seam and I've left the selvage on the top and the bottom.  This backing is now on it's way to the ironing board so it can get attached to the Long Arm!

Happy Quilting!

Margaret

Jo Morton - Four Square Quilt

So what do you do when you make too many Four Square Blocks?  You make a table runner!  I'm hoping to have it quilted in time to put it on my table for Thanksgiving Dinner!!

Here's my Jo Morton Four Square Quilt minus the borders.  The fabric pictured is the border fabric.

I tried a new way to make Four Patches!  I love trying new things!

The best part of making four Patches this way is you can do with with ANY size Four Patch, all you need to do is add 3/4" to the size of your block.  So if you want your Four Patch to be 5" cut your squares at 5 3/4".  Here's how I made mine.

The size of my Four Patch is 2.5 so to that I added 3/4" and cut blocks of 3 1/4" square.

Place right sides together and sew 1/4" seam on two opposite sides.  I chain pieced mine!

Once you have sewn your 1/4" seam on each side you will need to cut these in half.  My 'half' cutting line was 1.625 or 1 5/8".

The next step is to press your seams and sew these pieces together end to end.

Wow do I have a LONG strip!  I should have realized at this point that I had too many!  

Oh well I needed a new table runner!

Your next step is to get your chain cutting going by making your very first cut.  For your first cut, lay your strip on the cutting table and put right sides together, now put your ruler on the wrong side of the piece and cut 1 5/8" off the strip.  

You now have your first Four Patch and another piece that is only have of a Four Patch.  Take the extra piece and attach it to the very end of your strip, this will become your last Four Patch!

Once you've attached it to the end go back to your beginning and start cutting away!  You end up with Four Squares that are ready to be trimmed up!

The thing that I liked the most about this way of making Four Squares is that I wasn't working with 1 1/2" squares!  

Happy Quilting!

Margaret

Downton Abbey!

One of the biggest events at Quilt Market 2013 in Houston was to see the launch of the Downton Abbey Fabric Line by Andover!  The quilts, clothing and accessories are amazingly beautiful!

The ballroom where the official launch was held only held 1,000 people and entry tickets were on a first come first serve basis so everyone was anxious to make certain they could get a ticket to get in!  We got a ticket and the place was PACKED!!

So grab a cup of coffee, a cup of tea or a glass of wine and sit back and enjoy the photo's~

I told you it was packed!  

When they opened the doors for us the WELCOMED our cameras!  See the man and woman sitting there is the dark coat and the blue dress?  They are the Set Designer and the Clothing Designers for Downton Abbey!!!

Here are the quilts!!  

I could not decide which one I liked best which leads me to believe I have to have all of them!

I'm a pushover for beautiful quilting!

Isn't this umbrella stunning?  Just look at how the fussy cut the fabric so that it matches so perfectly at the top!

The beads on the umbrella!  I so wish it was raining and I had this umbrella!

I really loved all the quilts!  The two banners on each side are the Castle Fabric.

Here's one of the many displays showing the umbrellas, quilts, tote bags, clutches and purses!

Looks at the purses!  They are all beautiful!  I especially loved the clutches.

Don't you just LOVE the ruffle on the clutch?

See that very special purple bag?  Inside it is a Fat Quarter from each fabric in the line AND I was able to purchase one!!!  Yup, there is one of these sitting on my cutting table just waiting for me to cut into it!!!!!!!

Again, so beautiful!

Here's a up-close picture of the Fabric with the Downton Abbey Castle Fabric!  I hope they make this in 108 wide for backing fabric!!!

Isn't it beyond beautiful?  This line if from the Dowager Collection!  One of my favorites!

Again, the Dowager Collection with a very modern twist to it!

And the clothing!!!!

With matching purses!

With Yoyo's & Buttons!!

Even the backs of the hats were decorated!!

Accessories to dream about!

Boxes, Clutches, Placemats!!

And more purses!

Pleats & Flowers!

More purses and totes!

And beautiful details!  Do you see the star Christmas Ornament on the left?

These boxes were wonderful!  I would love to organize my sewing room with all of them!

More Clothes!

And Hats!

And Quilts!

And Wall Hangings!

The quilt patterns were both traditional and modern!

I LOVE them all!

Beautiful Wall Hangings!

This was the 'Give-A-Way' Table!

The Costume Designer for Downton Abbey; Susannah Buxton.

The Set Designer for Downton Abbey.

Fall Quilt Market in Houston Texas was an amazing experience!  I can't wait to start sewing with this fabric!!  AND I can't wait for the next season to start!

Happy Quilting!!

Margaret