New obsession - creative outlet

Finally! I've had a Baby Lock Flare embroidery machine for over a year. I've really only used it to make small quilt labels for clients from the built in stitches. (And maybe only 5 labels over the last year.)

I purchased a couple of projects from Kimberbell that I made up. An in the hoop notebook cover and the Christmas Cheer that had just come out.

I made up the notebook covers. The instructions were easy to follow and it was quick work.  But you have to have the exact size note book, and I wasn't having luck finding them in the store here. I'd like to make more. I'll look online for the notebooks and I'll post pics if/when I get some more made up.

And the Christmas Cheer..... it hasn't been going so well. Because of complications with getting the machine updated when I first got it, I couldn't take the class at the store where I purchased the machine. They should have offered me a make-up class, but I wasn't going to push the issue. It threw a big damper on this project. To be honest, Christmas Cheer is too big of a project for a beginner to jump into. Even as a long time quilter, embroidery machine stitching is an entirely different category of stitching!! There is definitely a learning curve to be expected.

Recently, I had the honor of awarding a Quilt of Valor to a veteran who served in the United States Navy 1956 - 1960. The U.S. Sew of Carrollton QoV group has, in the past, ordered quilt labels from Spoonflower. I have either misplaced the last few we had or we are completely out. However, this gave me the opportunity to embroider a label.

I had to get trademark permission through Quilt of Valor to use the QoV label. It's a form on the QoVf.org website. Simply fax it or mail it to them. Then they emailed the digitized embroidery file that I needed for my machine. 

I purchased a lettering font from JuJu designs. And then used the free version of Embrilliance, 

a digitizing program. I was able to get letters much smaller than the built in fonts on the machine. You can see on my test cloth. I didn't bother with trimming threads.

left side shows the built in fonts. The top right is the .25 lettering from JuJu Designs with some resizing in Embrilliance.

JuJu Designs was having a sale. I could either buy the one font file for $9.-- or I could get 8 files for $12!! I mean, two files would be $18. What better deal than buy 2, get 4 free?!!

I ordered 2 fonts, a witch's boots and hat applique pattern,  a sunflower embroidery, 2 quilting in the hoop designs, chicken sayings (maybe for kitchen towels), and free standing lace crosses. 

I think free standing lace is a success. I really enjoyed the magic of the water soluble stabilizer melting away to reveal the final lace.  Also, part of the fun was fitting as many pieces into a single hooping as I can. Stabilizer is necessary and it is pricey.

 For free standing lace, two layers of stabilizer is needed, I intend to use every inch of it that I can!!

The little bitty ornaments are from the Christmas Cheer project. I squeezed them into the corners. And that's when realized that I am a bit limited on thread colors at this point.

For free standing lace, it's better to have matching thread for the bobbin and the top threads.

that wasn't happening with my thread stash. Plus, I ran out of white bobbin thread!

This part hurts my heart a bit. I am a believer in supporting our local family owned shops. I am a feel-it-in-my-hand kind of shopper as well. I purchased 6 spools (matching each top 1500 yds with 1 bobbin) for about $50. The spools are good sized and are going to last for a lot of projects. But that's only 3 colors. I can't afford to purchase many this way.

And so I hit Amazon. It can't be helped! I can get a 40 color box in bobbin thread and a 63(!) color box in top thread for about $43 each! I mean.... just look at all these colors!!! The spools are only half the size of the ones above, but so many more colors! I can't feel a difference in quality. They seem to stitch up the same.

 

Ok, Now that I have thread... I had intended to make more crosses in many colors. However, I want to see what else this machine can do, right? I was discussing with my Heartbeat over dinner. Telling him how limited I feel. I have to purchase patterns and can only make what is in the pattern. There is freedom to borrow elements from a pattern and stitch it on a different item. But if I want something that is a 2" circle size, I have to search the different designers to find something I might like. It's a hit and miss process, really. and more time consuming than I can do.

The machine dealer has digitizing programs... $300+. I don't even know if it's something I'd continue working with to justify getting one of these.

Well, he did some research while I was at work. What he found was Inkscape/Ink Stitch. And it's FREE!!  In just a few minutes he even designed something I could stitch up. That really hooked me! 

Now I'm learning how to digitize my own ideas!

I have a long way to go. It takes time. I'm not so familiar with computers and programs anymore. I have to watch video tutorials on slow and repeat. And of course,  I tried jumping into advanced patterns first.  Two quilt blocks so far. The one with the star is fairly simple applique with raw edges and quilting. The block under the needle is a curved pieced in the hoop applique.  I was trying to get the curvy edges to be covered with a satin stitch. My file didn't do it, so next is to figure out what/where I missed a command.

This is really amazing. I've been needing creative freedom. I feel almost unlimited. (now I'm limited by the size of my hoop. Largest stitching space i have is  6.25" x 10.25". But there's still plenty of room to grow in this area!)

Thank you for coming by and reading what I'm stitching up. I wish you happy stitching too, if that's what you do. I wish you happy creating if it's something else that you enjoy! See you soon!!

Use Your Stash Club - January 2023

Here are some photos from the January Use Your Stash workshop!

It was a full house, but we could've comfortably had 2 more participants on the tables behind me taking this photo.

Reenee was working on her 9-patch quilt from a class I taught last year.

And Pat was working on putting borders on a sample she had made for the store.

While I was going around getting a few photos, Dee was showing off her colorful socks.

I think she color coordinated her socks to her quilt blocks!

Christine experimented with Michelle McKillops sew and flip method, my fabric saver method, and came up with her own unique speed construction. 

She was testing layouts in no time.

And even went home with a couple rows sewn together!!

Shaune had a really good start too. Love the retro colors.

Kim went with red, white, and blues!

I can't wait to see the final layout.

Sarah came in a bit later. We sorted through the stash pieces she brought in and came up with a plan. She had enough time to complete two blocks. This is going to be beautiful with pinks and reds.

I definitely didn't get enough photos!!

We have planned a UFO challenge for February. Everyone brought in a project they want to finish. If they bring it in complete in February they will be entered in a drawing for a prize.

Also, if they complete their Magic Carpet quilt top by the March workshop, we will have another drawing for a prize. I'm so excited!! Thank you, quilters for your enthusiasm 💖! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The original pattern comes from Michelle Mckillop's instagram pictorial Magic Carpet .

The following is my fabric saving method using an Easy Angle 6" ruler.

CUTTING:

I marked my ruler with masking tape so I can easily find the lines I want to line up along the edges of the 5" square.

the 1" line on the bottom, the 3" line on the right, and the 6" line on the top.

Trim the right corner on the diagonal.

Trim the opposite corner in the same manner.

Save these triangles that are trimmed off for a different project.

Cut 1" strips for the accent strip.

I do cut these for ease of piecing by lining up the 3.5" marks on a regular ruler along the long side of the trapezoid shape. These pieces are a bit oversized and will need to be trimmed after pieced. 

For the corner triangles, I used the Easy Angle ruler and a 2.5" fabric strip.

Line the ruler so that the blacked out corner hangs over the fabric and not on it, the 2.5" line is on the opposite edge of the strip. Trim the triangle, then rotate the ruler to cut the next triangle. Again, notice the placement of the blacked out corner (that is the dog-ear that we usually trim off after piecing.)

PIECING:

Place an accent strip on the main fabric on diagonal edges so that there is an even amount of overhang on each side.

Stitch with a scant 1/4” seam. Press to the accent piece.

Trim the excess from the sides, squaring up to 5" again. (I apologize for the blurry photos. They look clearer on my phone!)

Now you have a choice of leaving the accent piece as it is and sewing the corner to complete the square. This option might give a varied accent strip for a more organic flow. The 2.5" triangle will be a bit oversized and you will have to trim to a 5" square. I didn't do this so I don't have pictures. But I wanted to mention it and you can decide whether or not to do the trimming in the next step.

To keep the accent strip size consistent, here's how to trim the width using the Easy Angle ruler.

Again I stuck a masking tape with an arrow, this time to the 3.5" line. Trim the diagonal edge.

Now complete the square by sewing the corner triangles on.

With right sides together, line up the diagonal edges and the blunt corner to a side. The other side will be overhanging.

The final step is to check that you have a 5" square. 

It will be very close to exactly 5" square. Trim the dog-ears.

let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks for stopping by!

..

Stash Busting Parrots

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Good-bye 2022. Hello 2023!!

I'm getting very excited. We are closing out 2022 in just a little over 24 hours from the time of starting to compose this update. And I am excited because in 2023 I am taking on a new venture. I am starting a Use Your Stash club at The Old Craft Store in Carrollton, TX.  

Quilters tend to acquire fabric. I don't know if it's intentional. I'm convinced it just happens! I have intermittently worked in a fabric shop over the last 30 years. I have a fabric stash that I truly doubt I can use up in the next 10 years. And yet, The Old Craft Store just had their End of Bolt Sale, and I eagerly purchased several yards of fabric to add to my stash. I will happily admit that not one of the pieces were purchased for any specific project. I simply had to have them because the colors or prints caught my eye AND it was a good sale!

The above is only part of my stash story. I have accepted fabric from friends and friends of friends that were downsizing their own stashes. I have scooped up free fabric at quilt guild meetings. I have rescued other quilter's unwanteds. I tell myself that I'm sure I can find a use for every piece. 

However, often times that fabric is put to the side.  I say I'm waiting to use it in the perfect quilt, waiting for the perfect pattern, waiting for the perfect ___(fill in the blank)_____. The true story is - the fabric is waiting.

At the quilt store, we are hearing customers say, "I have to use what's in my stash." And I understand completely! And it clicked for me. I really enjoy finding fabrics in my stash and making scrappy quilts. This is part of the quilting process that works for me. I believe it's because I struggle with color selection. Scrappy stash quilts give me a bit of wiggle room. I don't have to decide if the reddish-blue works better than greenish-blue next to the orangish-red. I can simply put both blues into the quilt plus a dash of turquoise as well. It works! It blends. To me, it adds interest. It's exciting to see a quilt grow from pieces of fabric that have been left on the shelf.

That's what I want to inspire in 2023 with the Use Your Stash club.  We will get together on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I will present a Stash Busting idea. Members are encouraged to bring their sewing machines and projects to work on. They can work on the suggested stash buster or a project they are already working on. I will bring soup for lunch in January, but there are also several restaurants near the store for lunch.

My goal with Use Your Stash is to get members looking at their fabric stashes with fresh eyes. I want to show how patterns can be altered - by adding color, by changing the layout, by adding an element. I have many ideas for later in the year. But I’m going to let members lead where this Stash Busting journey goes!

In January, Stash Busting Parrots is going to be the big kick-off for Use Your Stash club.

I looked back in my last few blog updates looking for some information on the Stash Busting Parrots quilt top. However, I didn't find that I've blogged much about it! There was a quick mention about what I'm doing with the leftover cut-off corner triangles a few updates ago, but that's it. I think it’s time to share some of the story with you.

I want to show side by side, the inspiration quilt by Michelle McKillop (mckillopmichelle on Instagram) and my finished Stash Busting Parrots quilt top as displayed at The Old Craft Store.  (I think I have linked the original IG post by Michelle McKillop in the screenshot. Please, let me know if the link works.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc4qZgTpzVx/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

The two quilt tops look so different, don't they? The construction is exactly as Michelle explained. I simply added a bit of color planning. Here are some of the progress photos.

Started: May 20, 2022. The parrot print has been in my stash for at least 8 years. I chose to use it as the main fabric and I selected colors to match for the color rounds.

I also started with 4 yards of the black Twinkle for the accent color.,I did have to go back for at least 5/8ths yard more to have enough for the border.

My first intention was to do a rainbow color order, but I guess I got a little distracted from that thought. I really don't mind. I love the way it turned out!

It was slow going. I cut one square at a time, auditioning each piece.

I was so certain about getting yellow into this quilt. But it wasn't making me happy. I felt like it was blaring neon. My Heartbeat suggested purple. I auditioned some pieces over the yellow...

... and it was perfect!!

July 24, I had other projects with deadlines that I needed to work on, but it was really difficult staying away from this one. Pieces just seemed to be magically falling into place.

Also adding to the time, I was stitching a second seam before cutting the corner triangle off... to be used in another project soon. Shoo fly blocks are being made from the smaller Half-Square-Triangles.

and this is the last picture I took at home. That was August 26, 2022.  A black border was added after this photo was taken.

L

It was so fun stitching this stash buster!  

Stash Busting is a personal process. This is how I take my journey. I hope it inspires the Use Your Stash members to find their own journeys.🤞

Ok, closing for now, but keep checking back because I want to tell you about other stash busting projects I have in mind for upcoming months! 

Thank you for stopping by and reading the update.     HAPPY NEW YEAR!!