The Iron Caddy Tote

Happy New Year - this is my first posting for 2017.  I have been busy working on a couple of projects that are not going too well.  Bit sad really as I have been doing an awful lot of unpicking.

To take a break from these projects I started making an Iron Caddy for a friend's birthday last night.  I also need to make a couple for my class irons.  I used the free pattern available from Tri Country Quilters.com.  http://tricountyquilters.weebly.com/uploads/3/0/2/4/3024945/iron_caddytote.pdf

 

This pattern is easy to follow however I did find a little error on the diagram page regarding measurements.  The final height is 19 1/2".  The lower and upper middle sections should be 6 1/4" in height not 6 1/2".  My other recommendation would be not to precut your fabrics and batting to the correct size before sewing.  It is easier to trim down to the correct size.  I found my fabrics moved & shrunk quite a bit when sewing and I was very reluctant to put pin holes into the Silver Iron Board fabric.
I used wonderclips to hold the layers together instead of pins.  This worked very well.

The only material I had difficulty in finding within New Zealand was the Silver Iron Board Fabric.
I spoke with quite a few suppliers late last year who are unable to bring this product in the country due to the cost plus shipping.  So if I can't find a product in NZ my next best place is :Nancysnotions.com.  Product link below.
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/by+the+yard+-+iron+quick+fabric.do

I didn't make my own binding or handles - opting for ready made bias binding and webbing for handles.  I used flat buttons rather than ones on a shank.  When the mat is laid out  shank buttons will raise the corners.

Back to my "stalled" quilts.

Happy stitching
Shirls

 

New QAYG techniques class

There are several ways in which you can assemble blocks and join them together using Quilt As You Go techniques.   These techniques are fantastic especially if you have trouble quilting a large quilt (strength, injury, space etc.).   Your quilt may consist of blocks that need to be handled with care so rolling it up and pushing though your machine could damage your blocks.
There is also the cost factor.  We have all sent our quilts away to be quilted.  They look stunning when they come back however, if you make a lot of quilts, this can be extremely expensive.

Most QAYG quilts are made using a set quilt block design.  In this class we work though different block constructions  and joining  techniques. 

Regard this sampler as a reference.  Its all about planning and how to avoid the pitfalls.  Use up your scraps.  Its not meant to be pretty - just a great opportunity to learn, understand and practise.  Once finished, you have it always to refer to.



Most of all, its all done on your sewing machine NO HANDWORK including the binding. 

Next years class dates to be advised.

Happy stitching
Shirls.

Wedding gift

I can now show you my latest piece.  It was a gift for a lovely couple who married last month.

It's thread painted using wonderfil.  The image drawn first using fabrico pens.

Shirls

French knitting

I French knitted one 50gram ball of Wendy's merino yarn then wove it to create a cowl.  Unfortunately it didn't hold together after several months. So I have remade it using Anna Hicks idea of crocheting it together.  Check out Anna's work. Her online name is Hix Girl.

I have used alpaca indiecita to crochet it together.

Happy stitching.

Shirls

I love summer

This is my next sewing project.  Thanks to equilter for these digitised panel prints.

Paris (on the left) will be my front centre panel and Rome the back.

Now to choose my complementary fabric.  Could be a wee bit tricky.
Will post pic when its made.

Happy sewing friends
Shirls

Fabric Marking Pens

Over the last year I have been happily using the Pilot Frixion pens to mark my light fabric quilts until I read an article by Jenny K Lyon on her blog http://quiltskipper.com/2015/08/frixion-pens-all-you-need-to-know/ .  Its worth a read so I encourage you to read her article.  Basically even though the markings iron out, they do not wash out.  So my quilt markings can reappear any time when the surrounding  temperature is close to zero.  Frixion pens are made for paper only. :(

Tonight I have tested a new Product introduced into New Zealand.  The Sew Write pen.  Especially made for marking fabrics.  The pen markings iron out as well as rub out.

The pens come in three colours.  Black, Blue and Red.

I proceeded to mark my batting and blocks with the blue.

I'm not sure if I have been sold a "lemon" but the blue pen stopped marking after a few blocks.  I also noticed that I just couldn't draw one line, I had to redraw it so it could be seen.  Note the markings in the bottom block (left)

I proceeded to work with the red and that appears to be working ok at this point.
 


Lines disappeared quickly with the iron. 



My Verdict.


 I will buy another blue and continue using these over the next couple of months. 

They are very reasonably priced.




I will keep you up to date on these pens.
Shirls
 

Houston

Visit the winning quilts at Houston via this link. Just stunning.  http://www.quilts.org/winners.html