This was a fun afternoon with more show and tell than sewing. We had 14 of us attending and 12 had stuff to show. Although we merged completed item show and tell with tools, I am going to split the info and photos between the 2 so we can appreciate all the tool hints we received.
At the start I talked about my email exchange with S.O.S. coordinator Gary Kadow. As mentioned previously, they don't want regular quilts because bugs like to nest in batting. However, they will accept fleece blankets, flannel rag quilts, and 2 layer cotton quilts without batting. The Allamanda Quilters have committed to purchase 100 fleece blankets from Walmart when they are on sale for $2.50 each, so this is not something we need to address right now. I will be delivering 2 knit blankets, 2 rag quilts, 6 drawstring backpacks, 9 tote bags and 30 stuffed toys to him this week.
Show and Tell:
Mic Pickard showed a quilt and pillow she made as one of this year's Christmas gifts.
Ceal Pedersen came with 2 bags full of stuffed animals and the patterns she made for the ones that are her own design.
Diane Placek finished her zip lock bag tote from last week's demo.
Pat Pipa made 2 drawstring backpacks,
Carolyn Grasso showed her completed zip lock bag tote with cute sewing machine fabric
Ellen Hein showed her completed zip lock bag tote
and a Minnie Mouse shirt she made for her granddaughter.
We were happy to have Lu Karatzas back with us today. She showed a quilt she made for her granddaughter
and an ornament she made from last year's Christmas card.
Donna Rissman showed her stuffed Fuzzy Duck
and a Total Eclipse runner she made.
Deb Chapman finished her zip bag tote
and a walker bag for a friend.
Audrey Phillips showed her mini zip bag tote.
She made 2 patchwork totes
and a cute apron.
Donna Rissman did the binding on 3 of our assembly line quilts this week. The first is another of the hand-pieced quilt tops we received.
This one came from the same woman's estate, but came as a stack of applique blocks. I put them together with sashing to complete this quilt.
The last one I put together using a stack of random dryer sheet blocks that were made at our club a while back and were just waiting to be used.
Tool Show and Tell:
Mic brought in a bodkin and a skinny walking foot.
Diane showed several sizes of bias tape makers.
She mentioned a web site that lists the various sizes: whipstitch.com.
Pat showed how you can put a pipe-cleaner into a straw to make a brush
to clean your bobbin case.
She also showed a wood seam pressing tool.
Next she talked about her favorite applique, E-Steam II She likes this
because it is reposition-able until it is set with an iron.
Carolyn showed a complete set of bias tape makers
Ellen showed a spacer called Jean-a-Magic for working with the inseams of jeans.
Lu talked about several items. First, she made a scissor cover from a toilet paper roll. Next she talked about her favorite applique, made by EQ.
Lastly, she talked about the many uses of painter's tape. We hope she will document many of these uses and collect more from friends.
She also talked about the EQ Pinter fabric she uses to copy photos onto fabric. Once printed, the ink is permanently set by
soaking in water.
Donna Rissman talked about the difference between quilt shop fabric and Joannes fabric. She showed 2 similar prints and you can see the difference in black color intensity and the feel. She also told us how she reused small sample spray bottles by refilling them with starch. Her favorite is Material Magic.
Another favorite is a spray called Grippy, to keep rulers from sliding. Finally, she mentioned that some cake decorating tips can also make bias tape (or was it the other way around?).
Audrey told us that a pin could also be used to make bias tape - different size pins make different size tapes.
Bev Minnerly showed her seam pressing tool, and told us it is called a brayer,
a paint brush she uses to clean her sewing machine,
a bodkin with a pin attached to better hold the ribbon,
and inexpensive clips that can be used instead of the specialized clover clips.
Carol Riggs showed a
tweezer with a built-in light,
a magnetic bowl to hold pins,
and a binding template she wants to learn how to use.
I talked about my Quick-Ripper seam ripper,
my duckbill embroidery and applique scissors, (shown here with a pair of double curve embroidery scissors)
and my drawstring threader. (Amazon has this set of all different kinds of threaders.)
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Next week we will make some easy patriotic mug-rugs. I will send out the supply list in a few days.
See you next week.
