Vertical Quilting Curve

First I have to admit that many new fabric lines seem to become my favorite new fabric lines but I can’t stop thinking about this new collection called Cabana from Michael Miller Fabrics. It is so different and refreshing and the colors just pop out at you or at least they do to me.

The photo here shows the display of the collection at Quilters Harvest quilt shop. Since I couldn’t afford to buy every piece I took a photo. The shop had some really nice samples made up. There were some pillows and handbags made from various pieces. There was an ironing board cover and laundry bag made from the sewing machine/laundry print. Not in the photo was a quilt top made from just the damask prints.

The one thing about this collection is that it is a home dec type fabric. The fabric’s web page says it is 100% cotton oxford. It feels like a cotton twill which has a heavier hand than regular quilters’ cotton. It’s almost like a lightweight denim or canvas which would make some projects more durable like the laundry bag or an apron.

I bought a 1/2 yard piece of the pink called Sweet Home which has the cat, tv, shoe and vase print (shown at top of photo). I really don’t know what I will do with it. I might just have to buy some more of the other prints in the collection to make a final decision. Oh, well.

quilting, fabric, quilts, Michael Miller Fabrics

I enjoyed trying out the English paper piecing technique so much that I had to do some more. So, last night I sat down and finished the block I started. I then got out my other Paper Pieces Dresden plate templates to attempt it. I purchased them at the same time I did my hexagon pieces at the Paducah quilt show. They have all been in my to do stack for ummm….about 10 years. Yikes, time flies fast and my stash of stuff grows ever larger. I guess it is about time to use some of my stuff up. I need an excuse to buy more…well, not really.

Anyway, I got 3 sections of the Dresden motif together before deciding to call it a night. The biggest difference doing this block compared to the hexagon is that you actually have to baste the fabric to the paper piece except for the curved edge. The curved area is basted along its edge and then gathered around the template. Unlike the method for the hexagon as shown in Sunshine’s Creations tutorial, the long edge of the Dresden piece is too long to not secure it to the paper which means this will probably take just a bit longer since I will have to take out the basting once the block is completed. But look at my sample, the 3 pieces lay so nice and flat with crisp edges. I wish I had more time to finish it. Maybe this weekend.

quilting, DIY, templates, quilt, dresden

One of my favorite crafting blogs has a wonderful tutorial on how to English paper piece. I have always wanted to try this method. I even purchased the pre-cut paper pieces when I went to the Paducah Quilt show several years ago. Sunshine’s Creations great close up pictures inspired me to try my hand at it. She also has great hints while showing you step-by-step.

I have to admit I really like this. A quilter I knew in Arkansas used to do these up whenever she had a spare moment. They are very portable to do which is another reason I decided to finally try it. My husband and I like to take road trips as well as visit family and I always feel a little guilty if I’m not actually creating something especially if we stop by quilt and yarn stores. I am really great at buying things but seem to not get much farther with my treasures when I get them home.

My sample here that I made used 1 1/4″ hexagon pieces. I am halfway to finishing one flower and it didn’t take very long at all. I would hate to have to actually cut out my paper pieces as well as my fabric pieces. Maybe if I had my own die-cutter then I would think about it. My paper is by Paper Pieces and the first place I located them on the Internet was The Calico Cat but they didn’t have my size. I guess if I run out (the package I have has 75) I will have to do further research or make my own. The good thing is you can reuse them a few times. Hopefully, I will make several blocks and wear them out.

Question of the day: Do you have portable work you do and where do you do it? It doesn’t have to be quilting.

quilting, DIY, templates, quilt, English paper piecing

It seems everyone is going green these days. Although you wouldn’t think of a quilter as unfriendly to the earth some of the products used may be. If you use polyester batting you are using a product made from petroleum that is the same stuff you put in the gas tank of your car. You can find more about how polyester is made at answers.com. Also, cotton is a lush natural fiber but is hard on the land it grows on and farmers tend to use harsh pesticides to guarantee a good crop. Many statistics can be found at the Organic Trade Association.

Mountain Mist may have an answer to this. They are producing eco-friendly products under the brand eco craft. They are using a product called PLA which comes from corn. They have details on their website. There are 2 battings you can choose from: one that is 100% PLA or one that is 50% PLA and 50% cotton. I picked up samples at the Spring International Quilt Show. The cotton blend has a nice feel to it and retains it shape when I pull on it. The 100% PLA is airy and see-through and feels much like polyester. Mountain Mist also produces batting and pillow forms with the PLA.

I haven’t found the batting in the stores yet although Joann’s is supposed to carry it and I did check their website and it was not there either. I am anxious to give it a try. The samples I have are 2 - 4″ squares which are a little hard to give it a good test drive. Mountain Mist is having a Crafting A Better Planet™ Quilt Competition where you must make a quilt using all natural products.

I am not saying that quilters everywhere switch to this product but it does give us a guardians of the planet something to think about. Of course this product is still brand new and the real benefit to the environment is yet to be seen. For many quilters the real value of this product is not just the environment friendly aspect but how will it quilt. I’m sure many of you will give it a try. Please drop a line here and let us know how it does.