Planning for 2015

Happy 2015!  Hope everyone has a wonder start to the New Year.

Looking back to my 2014 goals, I have notice that a couple have been completed but my focus on the business have changed over the past  year.

The two major goals I completed over the the last year was getting the online fabric store up and running and publishing our first patterns. Actually we added a few more of them and have 7 pattern available now.

As for my other goals, I found my business focuses have changed over the year.  I decided  to discontinue my T-shirt making quilt services and I am closing out the pre-cuts on my fabric store but keeping selling only yardage fabrics, due to I wanted to have a more time to focus on quilt pattern development.  Also my blog posts, I truly did lack in them, and I'm hoping to get to them more and more as time allows just to show you what I'm up to.

In 2015,  I have several goals set and hope to completed this year.

1. First, now that I have a few patterns published, and many more planned for 2015.  I would like to get them out to the stores.  So one of my main focuses is to advertising my patterns so that quilt stores will start carrying them.  We started some advertising back in 2014, going to shop to shop showing examples in California, they loved the patterns, but it was the wrong time of year.  So hopefully 2015 will be the break out year for our patterns.
2. Patterns - I hope to have at least one pattern published every other month and for sale on my website.  I have patterns under development as I type this, and many patterns in my head ready to put to paper.
3. One of my weakness that I would like to strengthen this year is increasing my expertise with my APQS Long Arm Quilt Path Computer.  A year ago there was no training for this computer, but now there is.  So, this year I plan to take some classes and study online tutorials to strengthen my skills so I feel more confident at my long arm.
4. I also plan to blogging more, adding such things of how sales are going with the store, what is under development, and other quilting related items.
5. Finally, I want to learn how to use my social media pages, to get the most out of them. In the mean time I plan on adding more posts to my social media pages, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+.

To stay on track for completing my goals I am printing this blog post and then every couple of months, looking back at it to see how I am progressing. I will let everyone know how my goals going from time to time. I hope you all continue to follow me as I try to complete these goals.  Feel free to comment below if you have any ideas that will help me in finishing my goals.

Please, everyone have a safe and quilty 2015! 

Tina

Flower Bloom Pattern Released

Today,  I'm really excited to introduce you to "Flower Bloom" Piece Pattern.  This pattern has been getting all kinds of attention at quilt shops.

We delayed the release of this gorgeous quilt pattern so we could adjust it to not only a wallhanging, but to allow for bed-sizes: twin, queen, and King size quilts.  The wallhanging makes a lovely hanging for an entry or bedroom. The bed-size quilts are beautiful on any bed. 

This quilt is great for Batiks, which will brighten any room.

Our Flower Bloom pattern has complete and easy-to-follow instructions and diagrams.  You can get the pattern here for only $8.00.  If you would like to get this pattern for your store, please email us or visit our wholesale page.

Peace Bird Pattern Tutorial

Wow, I can't believe it December the last month of the year, December.  Time to bring out the Christmas decorations and putting all the presents under the tree.

Quilting Affection's has a small gift for all our readers. We’ve developed a pattern that you can use to make a darling little quilted bird called "Peace Birds".  These little guys are great for last-minute gifts. You can make one to hang in a window or a dozen to embellish your Christmas tree, wreath or Christmas package.  We have attached a PDF version at the bottom of the tutorial.

Peace Bird Pattern
By Tina and Diana Dillard © 2014 Quilting Affection

Material List:
Fabric Scraps – enough to make 2 10” x 10” pieces, this can be one color or 2 different colors
Batting Scraps – 10” x 10” piece
Polyfil Stuffing
Thread and Needles
Template Plastic or Cardboard
Ribbon
Decorative Buttons, 2- x-small and 2 small to medium sizes
Decorative Beads (Optional)
Safety Pins
Scissors
Fabric Marking Pencils










#1
Prepare templates by tracing pattern pieces onto thin cardboard or template plastic. Be sure to mark the notches.


#2
Cut out Templates pieces.











#3
Trace the pattern template pieces onto the wrong side of the fabric with a fabric marking pencil, 2 body pieces, 4 wings.

Cut fabric along marked lines including the notches.

Note: the notches indicate where stitches will begin and end.


#4
Trace template pattern pieces onto batting, 2 body pieces, 2 wings. Cut batting along marked lines.


#5
Lay each fabric body piece right side up onto a body batting piece. Pin-baste each body fabric/batting pair and machine quilt as desired.


#6
Line up the two quilted fabric/batting body pieces aligning notches. Fold the 13” ribbon in half lengthwise and center the folded end between the body pieces at the top of the bird. The folded end of the ribbon will be tucked in at least 1/4” between the body pieces with the raw ribbon ends extending loose. Pin in place. Beginning at a notch, sew a 1/4” seam around bird. End seam at the second notch. Back stitch at the beginning and ending of the seam.


#7
Clip along the edges of the seam allowance being careful not to cut into the seam! Turn body right sides out. Use a turning tool or blunt stiletto to ensure that the beak and tail are fully opened.


#8
Use Polyfil to fill and plump out the bird shape.


#9
Whip stitch the Bird bottom closed.
Set bird body aside.


#10
Place 2 wing fabric pieces right sides together on a wing batting piece. Beginning at a notch, sew a 1/4” seam around the wing ending at the second notch. Back stitch at beginning and end of seam line. Repeat for second wing.


#11
Clip the edges around the seam allowance and then turn right side out.  Whip stitch the open ends closed. 


#12
If desired, quilt the wing or add some decorative stitching.


#13
With a button placed at the wide part of each wing and using a long needle and thread, attach wings to the body. For the eyes, attach a small button to both sides of the head.

Optionally, add beads or other embellishments to the ribbon.





Have fun making this fast and easy pattern.  PDF Pattern

Introducing "Crossing Swords" Pattern

Today, is an Exciting Day here at Quilting Affection.  I'm proud to introduce my first pieced pattern Crossing Swords!  What a great beginning to an exciting new endeavor for our online store!  The development of Crossing Swords! has taken several months of work and several versions of the blocks to give you an easy to read and follow pattern. 
The Crossing Swords! pattern finishes out to be a 50" x 50" which makes a great size for a wall hanging, a lap quilt or sofa throw!  In the picture to the right, the hanging uses the Moda "Grunge" tonal fabrics in sofa neutrals.  These colors are also featured in our kit that we have made available. The kit includes the pattern and Moda “Grunge” fabrics (Grey, Tan and Cream) all for $42 (Backing fabric is not included). The stand-alone pattern sells for only $8.00.

Crossing Swords! appears to best advantage when high contrast fabrics are selected. I suggest using Grunge, Marbles and Belle Solids. You can be bold in your color selection.
If you are interested in this pattern or any other Quilting Affection pattern, please check out the Patterns page in our store.  If you are a retailer and would like to carry our patterns in your store check out our wholesale page. 
Hope you enjoy this pattern,

Tina

Testing your 1/4" Seam Allowance Accuracy

One of the key elements of piecing any quilt pattern is making sure your have a true and accurate 1/4" seam allowance.  There is one way to test to make sure you have a true 1/4" seam allowance.

Cut 3 strips 1 1/2" x 4" (approximately), using 2 different fabric colors.  Sew 2 of the different fabrics together along the length of the strips.  Then sew the remaining strip on the opposite end. Press the seams toward the center.

Now, using a ruler measure the center it should measure 1".  If the seam doesn't measure 1" your will need to adjust your needle positions. The picture below shows the seam allowance is just short of the 1" so the needle position will be adjusted slightly.

After making the adjustment retest by make another set of strips and remeasure the strips, they should measure out like the picture below.

If you don't find your correct adjustment, Be Patient, just keep adjusting and retesting until you find the correct setting.  Once you have the correct adjustment, it will make pay off on your next project.

How do you test your Seam Allowance Accuracy?  Comment Below!


Have a Great Sewing Day,

Tina