Quilt Repair #2

Yesterday, was a productive day of sewing in the studio.  I finished the first quilt repair and started a second quilt repair.  The first one I just had to sew the binding on the quilt, so it was a fast job to finish. The Second Quilt repair, also from the same family is a cute baby quilt, that just need a little TLC. 

The quilt is an cute hand embroidery and applique baby Quilt, which was much easier to repair.  The quilt was in over all in good shape, just a little dirty and having a few stains from years of use.  The backing had just one hole on the back.  The binding was missing, but my guess do to some thread found that the binding was a mint green color.  The front had several little holes at the bottom of the quilt that needed to be repaired and the bottom of the quilt needed to be re-quilted all the quilting stitches were gone. 

So on this quilt since the bottom was the only place that needed to be repaired and new binding attached.  I did not fully take the quilt apart. I first started by removing all the lose quilting thread on the front and back of the quilt. Then began the process of hand stitching all the holes together on the front and back of the quilt.  Then I was ready to start machine quilting the quilt back together.  I started with pin basting all the areas that need to be re-quilted again at the bottom.  Quilting was made easy by following all the all the old quilting lines.

Then I went to JoAnn Fabrics and picked up a satin blanket binding.  I attached the front of the binding and followed up with sewing the back of the binding with a zig-zag blanket stitch to hold the front and backing together stronger. 

The both quilts are now finished and ready to go back to Sue and the family for more years of use.

Time to head to the studio for quick clean up and work on a applique pattern in the works.

Love, Inspire, Create,

Tina

Repairing A Quilt!

Last Friday night we went to some dear friends house to visit. and I came out with a couple of baby quilts to finish for them.  

Sue asked me if I could repair these quilts for her.  So now, I'm doing my best to get these quilts back to there nice looking self's.  The first quilt I am working on is belonged to my youngest son best Friend (Tyler) who is Brazil doing Missionary work. 

The quilt you can tell was well love and used by a little boy, due to the worn edges and holes in the quilt. The quilt was patched several times.  The fabric has become very thin also.  I told Sue that the quilt would have to be trimmed down, she didn't mind. 
The first thing, I did was to remove all the binding,  my goal was reuse the binding.  The removing of the binding took ruffly 3 1/2 hours, do to all the stitches in the binding.  After the binding was removed I then ironed them out and they were ready to go.   there were in good shape.

After that, I then started to remove all the yarn ties that were all over the quilt.  Then I need to take all the stitches that were holding the front and back of the quilt together out.  There were a lot of zig-zag stitches that were holding it together.  Since I knew I had to trim all the edges down, I cut the stitches out with scissors all the way around, so all I had to do then is to remove all the basting stitches that were hidden. 

Once that was done I was able to gently remove the the quilt top. Underneath was a old piece of batting that was very worn and need to be replaced. After discarding of the batting, I was able to see the backing which was in great shape, the only holes were where the quilt was tied which were very small.  The back was a old sheet I think, which worked great for tying quilts. 

First off was to repair the quilt top best I could.  I laid the quilt top out and then cut away the major holes and worn areas around the edges.  The major hole was  5 1/2" in height so I knew one edge would be the biggest area to cut off.  After all the trimming, there were still a few holes and worn spots.  So I then, repaired them with using a zig-zag stitch to bring the seam together, then I followed that with some fray check to hold the raw edges together.  I also put some zig-zag stitches around the patches to reinforce them.  The top looked much better and was ready for reassembly.

I laid the backing down and found a piece of batting that would work on top of the backing and then to quilt top into a quilt sandwich.  And with a curved needle and some heavy duty DMC Floss that matched the quilt.  I tied the quilt back together.  I have almost tied, so this weekend I need to pick up more to finish it.

Since I was almost done with the tying, I decide to go ahead and sew the sandwich together around the edge, to prepare for the binding.  So, all I have to do now is put on the binding back on and it is finished. In the next day or so!  Then I can get the other quilt repaired.

I hope both Sue and Tyler will enjoy for more years to come with these repairs.

Love, Inspire, Create,

Tina

Kansas City Star BOM #5!

I am now all caught up with all of March's Blocks of Month now!  I made the last block in the Kansas City Star Block of Month Program.

This month was block #5 - "Square and Half Square"  which was released on November 1, 1933. The pattern book has excerpt from the newspaper let me share this blocks:

"This quilt pattern "Square and Half Square" is one that little girls of colonial day frequently pieced, as it was simple and pretty in colors"

I would have to agree with this due to this block is very easy to make and a great beginner block for first timers.

This block basically made of half-triangles and 4-patches. Start with making 4- half square triangles with the background and blue fabric. Then make making for 4-4-patch squares with the red and background fabric. The center is a 4 1/2" square.

Then you just have to piece the blocks together making sure the half square is in the middle. Once the blocks are together in a row, then you just need to sew the rows together and press the seam away from the center.

That's all you have to do, to make this block, really easy!

I now have completed 5 blocks of the 12 blocks.  Now just have to wait until next month for the next block.

I start a new customer project, which is a little different for me.  I'm working on repairing some old baby quilts.  Now I need to go get started again.

Love, Inspire, Create,

Tina

2013 Designer Mystery Block 10!

Yesterday, I got to sew after a week of busy work around my house and friends houses.  I just received my next block in the 2013 Designer Mystery, so I worked on that and a couple of other things.

I cant believe I'm on Month 10 now, only two more months and I can put this quilt together.  I cant wait. Month 10 - "New Bloom", looks like what it is a flower at full bloom.

After the basic cutting, you start with the petals of the flower.  You start by making two different half-square triangles.  Which will give you four half squares.  Then you take a piece of 4 1/2" square that is mark diagonally across the fabric and sew them on the blue corner of the fabric to get the 3 layer look.  Trim to a 1/4" seam allowance and press open. 

After that you need to sew the 2" squares across the side ends so they across the three different fabrics. Need to that for both sides. The Petals are done once you trim and press open.

Next you are going to make the center of the flower.  You make four small flying geese units.  Then sew them to 2 1/2" green and cream fabrics that were sewn together. 

Sew the sides to the middle blocks to make the three rows.

Then all you need to do is sew that rows together and you have your finished block.  I love this one I think this one was my favorite one of them all so far.

Well I think today, I will work on the next Kansas City Star block that just came so I have them all done for this month.


Love, Inspire and Create,

Tina

Lack of Post

I can't believe that is has almost a week since my last blog post, It has been a busy week of work, some was quilt related and others have not been. 

Last Wednesday, My youngest son, came home for a week and half.  He is stationed Denver with the Air Force.  So we have been spending alot of time together.  Thursday, was the start of the busy and crazy week.  We spent the day getting errands done, picking up race packets for the boys to run the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in DC.  Then going to Andrew AFB for a the month Commissary Run to get food to feed the family.

Friday, we started to help my friend with the moving and organizing of stuff in her basement out so my son can take the basement apart.  She has had some water damage in the last couple years and months and some of the wall were starting mildew.   I also spent Saturday over at here house helping get of her stuff out of the basement, while the boys were running the Half Marathon. 

Sunday, was a day of rest for the boys to recover from the run.  But, we go out to Lowes and Home Depot where we picked out to get paint colors for the inside the house.  We spent most of our time looking at flooring, and we have found the nice laminate  and tile flooring we want to put in the house.  We have the primer for the hallway, just need my husband to finish sanding the walls that were repaired, then we can prime the walls for texture.

Yesterday, ended up being a snow day for the federal government and the schools.  So we when over to my friends house and ripped off all the Sheetrock off the walls.  So now, the boys have is the clean up and few other things to do tomorrow. 

But, I have been getting up earlier than the boys and getting alot of business paperwork caught up on. Working on some more Sales!

Today, I am going to sew, while my son is talking to his old JROTC Class at old High School.  He looks pretty handsome in his uniform even if they are just the cami's.  I have 2 more blocks of the month to work on.

Happy Sewing and Quilting!

Tina

Kansas City Star BOM #4!

It has been a while since I did my last Kansas City Star Block.  Last week, I got my newest block which Block #4.  Block four is "Arrow Head Star", it was first printed in the paper on July 11, 1931.

The block is made from 3 colors, the background cream, deep red floral, and blue fabric.  After cutting all the pieces, you start preparing the blocks for the assembly.  Starting with making 2 different flying geese units and blue half-triangles blocks. 

After the all the flying geese units are made you then lay them out so they are on top of each other.  To make on chevron unit. 

Next you need to make the corner units, with the blue half-triangles that were made.

Start by sewing the one set of 4 half-triangles with the blue pointed down toward the background squares.  And sew the other set of 4 half-triangles up toward the blue squares.  Press the seam each set so they are going to the squares.  Then sew the two units together to make the finished corner unit.  Pressing down toward the blue side.

Next it is time to lay the block units out for assembly to make the big block.  Laying the corners units in the 4 corners with the chevron units in the middle of the corner units.  Then adding a 4 1/2" red square in the middle.  Start with sewing each corner unit to the middle chevron, and the middle chevrons to the middle square to make all the rows of the block. Once all the rows are made then sew the top row to the middle, then the bottom to the middle.  Pressing the rows toward the bottom of the block.  Then the block is done. 

The fourth block is just a pretty as the other blocks.

Back in the studio today and doing some sewing.

Happy Quilting!

Tina

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2013 Designer Mystery Block 9!

Yesterday, I caught up on the next block of the 2013 Designer Mystery.  This month was Block Nine " Prairie Town".

This is another house that goes in the row of other houses.  It was a little more complex but easy to make like the rest of the houses. 


After I cut all the pieces, I started the basic assembly of all the pieces.  The only thing new for me was the assembly of the roof, but I like how it was done.  The roof starts as 2- 5 1/2" half-squares.  Then to make the cream background to it you add a 4 1/2" square to the top left hand corner and sew them diagonally across and press open.  The corners a to 1 1/2" rectangles with 1 1/2" squares sewn on the corners.  Then the rectangles are sewn on the corners to make the corner pieces of the roof.
The bottom half of the house was easy, making 2- windows out of 1 1/2" squares. then adding all the long rectangles around it to frame in the windows.  The Blue dots fabric is back in the center of the block and is a continuing theme in the quilt blocks.  I liked the touch of green at the bottom of the block to make the grass in front of the house.

3 more block months! Looking forward to seeing the last row of blocks to see how this quilt will look like when finished.

Time to go work on another block for the Kansas City Star Quilt BOM!

Happy Quilting!

Tina

Regular Double Fold Binding Tutorial

Friday, I made the binding for 2 of my quilts the Women of Courage and the "Snow Happens" table runner.  I made both binding with 2 different slightly techniques.  The Women of Courage was a bias binding and the Snow Happens was a regular double folded binding. 

I would like to show you how I made and sewed on the regular double folded binding to the table runner.  First off you need to determine the amount of binding you need to completely sew around the quilt top.  I use a QuiltCalc App on my smartphone device to determine the amount of strips I need.  Another Calculator, for those of you who do not have a smartphone device the calculator on the Quilter's Paradise Website is just like the app, located here http://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/Calculators/Binding%20Calculator.php. I will be adding this website to my website also under the links section.

For my little quilt I needed 4-2 1/2" strips cut the width of the fabric.

Then you take 2 strips lay them right sides together so that the edges over lap each a little over 1/4".  Then draw a diagonal line across that goes down the middle of where the two pieces meet and sew on the line like in the photo below.  Continue sewing all the pieces like this until you have all the joined together and have a long piece of fabric.



Next you want to lay the pieces on the cutting board and trim off the excess.  Cut the binding 1/4" from the sewing line on all the pieces that were joined together. 

Once all the trimming is done then press all the seams open. Photo Below!



Then staying at the ironing board, start at one of the ends and fold the binding in half and press to get a crisp fold.



When finished with press the binding in half, you will set the binding aside for a moment.  Laying out with the top facing up and deciding where you would like to have the binding start and end.  I usually start at the bottom of the quilt top.  Once you find where you would like to start and end you need to measure a 12" opening marking them with a marking tool or with pins.



Once you have the opening marked, you need to take one of the ends of the binding you made and measure 10" from the end and mark like you did with the quilt, either Marking tool or with pins. 



Then place the binding on the quilt top, lining up the 10" tail mark with the starting mark of the quilt and pinning them together.


Then take everything to the sewing machine.  You will be sewing the binding on with a 1/4" seam allowance.  I recommend using a walking foot to sew the binding on the quilt, it makes it easier to sew on through all the bulk.  Starting at the pin that joins the binding to the quilt, start with a couple stitches and then back stitch back to the pin to secure the opening. 


Then sew the straight side until you reach 1/4" from the end of the side and then back stitch and remove the quilt. 


Turn the quilt so the next side will be facing the walking foot but not under the foot yet.  Then laying the binding that is lays straight above the quilt to make a 45 degree angle.


Then with your fingers hold that angle and then fold the binding back down over the the angle and pin in place.


Sew down the side like you did on when you first start, remembering to secure the beginning stitches.  Continue down the side until 1/4" from the end and turn and do each corner the same.  On the last side stop and secure the stitches at the stopping mark that you made earlier. 



Now you need to join the binding.  I use the binding tool, which is a very useful tool to have in collection.

 
Using the tool is very easy, the instructions are on the tool if you forget how to use it.  Just remember the writing is all ways on top when working with it.  Lay the tool with the writing up under the binding butting the straight end to the secure seam. Once lined up just mark with at marking tool the line that says mark here and do this on both sides just flipping the tool to the other side (remember writing always up).  Make sure you mark the lines it is very important for the next step.



Next, starting the right side binding by opening the binding open. Then lay the binding tool lay the tool again with the writing side up on top of the line you marked and using your rotatory cutter cut around the angle end and making sure to cut off the tip.  See below!





On the left side you need to the same, except you will be lining up the binding tool just under marked line, this is where you will be cutting.





Once both sides are cut lay the right sides together and sew them together.  Then finger press the seams open and fold.




Then starting just before ending stitches finish sewing the the 12" opening to the quilt, remembering to secure the stitches.




Now you have completing sewing the binding on to the top.  I then use the wonder clips to flip the binding to the back of the quilt to hand stitch the binding to the backing.



I hope this tutorial was help to you and if you have any question please comment below.

Happy Quilting,

Tina