Thursday, 23 October 2003

A couple of quick comments about quilty things.

Cher in comments reminded me of Keepsake Quilting. I have spent some time browsing there, but I don't think I've bought anything yet. They seem to have a good selection and some of their patterns look interesting as well. I just requested that they send me a catalog.

I received my Christmas copy of The Quilter Magazine. There are at least two patterns in there that I really liked this month: Nutcracker Wreath and Southern Comfort on this page. (Note that I only look closely at quilts that I could probably do -- so nothing with applique or curves really gets through my filters yet. ;-) )

I started quilting codenamed Pines tonight. I should note, though, that it has a name, now: Snowy Bear. I had to stop because my wrists started bothering me. Clearly, I'm doing something wrong. I'm starting out by just stitching in the ditch all around the blocks to stabilize it. Then I'll figure out what to do inside the blocks. Probably simple straight-line things, since I still haven't even tried anything else. The basting on this one wasn't as painful as the last one, although unfortunately I ended up with some wrinkles in the batting. Oh well. Quilt and learn!

re: keepsake quilting...

the physical shop is amazing, too - well worth the drive up
to the NH lakes region!

those random fat quarters came from there (and of
course i can't find them listed on the website now).
i'll most likely be going up there w/ my mum sometime before the year's out - want me to pick up anything for you? (which is a rather odd question, i realize, as they've got their online store available 24x7... )

      Quilty comment by beth on 24 October 2003

Re: Keepsake Quilting - they do have great stuff. Just beware: if you order yardage, you have to order a full yard, which I hate. Plus it's not written anywhere very obvious in the catalog.

The sunflower design is beautiful!

      Quilty comment by Mel on 26 October 2003

Sunflower...wow...going for the lone star design...I just read about a way of doing one that finally made me think I could tackle it...when I get stuff sorted out around here(I have been gone several days) I will post the magazine name and so on...at any rate all great projects lined up. I can't think why your wrists would be hurting from machine quilting...but it sure sounds like a break was in order. I will think some more on those wrists too.

      Quilty comment by Cher on 27 October 2003

Thanks, Mel. :)

Cher -- What do you see as the biggest challenges in the lone star design? For me, I think, the set-in seams will be the hardest, and I will try to cheat my way around them as much as possible (by piecing fabric to itself if necessary, rather than keeping some of the patches whole ;-) ).

I did a whole bunch of quilting yesterday on Snowy Bear and my wrists didn't really bother me. So whatever I was doing wrong I seem to have fixed, at least temporarily.

      Quilty comment by Lyn on 27 October 2003

Since people continue to ask, I figured I would just write up a generic answer to this frequently-asked question:

Can you give me the pattern or instructions for your designs?

No. I do not yet write quilt patterns. All of my designs so far are done using Electric Quilt software, which creates templates and rotary cutting instructions for me. I figure out how to put the quilts together, add borders, etc., on my own. If you are an EQ user and are interested in the project file for one of my designs, contact me by email and we may be able to negotiate something. If you are interested in basic block or quilt dimensions for any of my designs, I will try to provide them for you.

If you make a quilt based on one of my designs, all I ask is that you please send me an email and let me know. If you have a picture of it, I'd be delighted to post it here or link to it if you post it on your own site.

Please do not reproduce and republish my designs anywhere else without permission. If you'd like permission to do so, contact me.