From – Jan 21, 2010

On the second day of Fabric Storage week I found this video for another way to protect and yet display fabric. Keeping fabrics out of direct light is important. There are two ways that light damages fabric.
First is the obvious result. Light will fade colors. Because of folds and different angles that the light hits a particular piece, not only will the colors fade, but they will do so at different rates. How frustrating to pull out that wonderful piece that you have been saving for just that special project, only to find that it is ruined by light.

The second type of damage that light causes is at a molecular level. I don’t have the ability, or the interest to explain this process. All we need to understand that light (natural or artificial) causes a breakdown of the fibers. The heavier the fabric, the longer it takes for this damage to manifest, but the breakdown is occurring.
So storage is not only a matter o
f being able to find what you want, when you want it. And, that is an important aspect in fabric storage. It is also a matter of protecting your investment.

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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow, Share – And most of all – Create!

From – Jan 20, 2010

Fabric storage is definitely a quilter issue. A few different fabrics for our first attempt at piecing quickly become a monster to be shut up like the proverbial Fibber McGee’s closet. And we all know that an unorganized overflow is perfect fodder for those in our homes who think that we might have more fabric than is necessary.

I wanted to explore some of the solutions to that dilemma and I will be posting some of those, ending with my own answer to the giant question of what to do with all of that fabric I collect.
The first solution is a bit different, yet completely logical. It is one of those, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Listen as Leah explains her system.

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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow and Share – And most of all – Create!

Following a quilt pattern is so much easier if I have enough room to sew and have all of my needs organized and handy. It seems that no matter how well I have planned, during the construction of my quilt pattern, I find that something is not as conveniently placed as I would like.

Space seems to always be an issue.  Very few people really have enough to stretch out their sewing.  Cutting tables and ironing surfaces and large enough sewing tables for a good sized quilt top all take up much more space than I usually have available to me.  But, when these items are spread out too much, I waste time and energy on moving from one station to another.

Part of these issues were solved with I purchased a very large cutting mat (58 x 32 inches).  I placed it on my sewing table and then put my sewing machine on top of that.  This way, I can cut whatever I need to cut in front of or to either side of my machine without having to move fabric back and forth to the cutting table.  When I need more space on the cutting board, I am able to move my machine aside.

If I put a June Taylor large ironing/cutting board next to me with a small iron, I have cutting, sewing and ironing all handy. For large seams I still grab the whole top and go to the ironing board but for anything less than sewing the final strips together, this set up more than serves my needs.

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Karen Dennison

Learn, Grow and Share – And most of all – Create!

January 3, 2011

For years my children heard me complaining about where that stupid seam ripper was. My sewing space was mostly on the dining room table. On and around the table were piles and containers of fabric and accessories. Nothing was ordered and because there was no storage facilities, JoAnn’s bags or various boxes with whatever belonged to any particular project became the de facto method of organization. This resulted in a mess and in a complete waste of money. When I could not find my seam ripper I would have to toddle off to the store to pick up another.

Even with my extremely limited amount of space, I still could have utilized that space better. For me it began with a large fishing tackle boxes. I pulled out all of the bags and boxes I had stuffed into all of the nooks and crannies of my house and garage and sorted through to find all of lost the accessories.

The good news is that I will never have to buy another seam ripper as long as I live. Nor will I ever need to buy elastic. I found more tape measures than I am willing to fess up to. Because all of it is in one place and I know where that place is, I have the ability to be able to find the tool I need rather than have to run to the store to buy it, yet again. As silly as it sounds, fishing tackle boxes gave me a glimpse into what was possible for my sewing. They were easy to put away into a closet that I had cleared out for that purpose and they were organized, neat and usable.

To be truly effective, inspirational and workable, my sewing room, -area, -corner, -shelf or –closet needed to be designated for that purpose. How much more fun sewing is when I don’t have to play hide and seek with all of my stuff first.

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This video has even more organizing tips. Thanks Creative Organizer.

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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow and Share – And most of all – Create!

I go crazy for quilting patterns.  The innovation is sometimes breathtaking.  Bringing those patterns home and beginning them is a lot of fun.

It won’t be nearly as enjoyable, however, if the pieces just aren’t fitting together. There are twin culprits for this dilemma, cutting and sewing.  No kidding.

The solutions are just as obvious. Take more care.  It seems that a tiny bit of allowance on one side of the line wouldn’t make that much difference.  They do.

Rulers slip.  Using rulers from different manufacturers may result in variances.  Not lining up the fabric well affect the outcome.

Consider that a 1/4 inch difference in garment sewing is an entire size.  In garment sewing there are generally two seams per “row”. In quilting, there are ten, forty, sixty or more seams per row. A 1/16 inch variance in cutting can result in a couple of inches difference in the measurement of a row by the time you get to the end.

You spend a great deal of time, money and effort to create beautiful work.  To be satisfied with your end result, cut carefully.

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From – Jan 10, 2010

One of my very favorite tools for perfectly completing my quilt pattern is called “Clearly Perfect Angles”. It is made of that clingy acrylic material that sits right on top of your sewing machine bed and doesn’t move. I have seen plastic versions of the same think that you have to tape in place. Clearly Perfect Angles just stays where you put it.

The same results could be achieved by carefully placed masking tape but tape does have its disadvantages. The Clearly Perfect Angles doesn’t have any adhesive, so none is left on your machine. It is very easily placed and removed as often as necessary.

The wonderful thing about this tool is that you can zip through as many half square triangles as needed, knowing that the seam for each is in exactly the same place as the seam for the previous square. Making perfect half-square triangles every time means that my quilt top pieces together exactly the way that the quilt pattern says it is supposed to. I could not believe how fast the tail of squares grew.

However, I leave the sheet on my machine all of the time and not only for making half squares. The seam guide makes all of my ¼ inch seams perfect. Seam guides that are longer than the face plate on your sewing machine really help make your seams more uniform, therefore, making your quilt design shape just the way you want it.

Just my tip for an easier quilt top piecing. Many local shops carry Clearly Perfect Angles and if yours doesn’t ask. Anything to make “perfect angles” is a winner in my book.
Go be creative!

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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow and Share – And most of all – Create!

From – Jan 9, 2010

How do I choose fabric for a quilt?

· Why are you doing this quilt – gift, learning, using up stash?
· What is the main theme – ocean, baby, holiday?
· Pick a main fabric to build around. A fabric that represents the main theme.
· Look at the pattern on the focal fabric and start pulling out colors and patterns from it.

A sophisticated, polished accent would be jarring and out of place with a more rustic focal fabric. Conversely, if you were doing a design from a Japanese garden fabric, even in exactly the same colors, it would look ridiculous to include “crayon” drawings.

Don’t pick up the most flagrant color in the focal fabric but instead feature it by not saturating the quilt in that color. If you choose a little used accent color from the focal fabric it will highlight and not overwhelm the main colors.

You will find the best combinations through experimenting. It is really a hit or miss activity. But, with a lot of practice your misses will be fewer and fewer. Playing with fabric selection is one of the most enjoyable parts of quilting.

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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow and Share – And most of all – Create!

From – Jan 5, 2010

Having just taken down all of the Christmas decoration, the living room looks a little bare. What is the solution to my dilemma?  Quilting!  Decorating with fabric is the least invasive and often the cheapest way to make changes to your home and environment.  Whether you are in an apartment that doesn’t allow paint and construction or just want a seasonal change, quilt design and quilting patterns can be a quick, easy, cheap and effective method for sprucing up the environment.

Lest you shake your head and start to explain that quilting is far too country for your tastes, let me explain that what is so oft seen and thought of quilting outside of the quilting world is in fact of the country themed variety.  But it is also so much more.

Designs can be very Asian, African, Modern or Contemporary.  Quilt design is as varied as the cultures which practice it.  And those cultures span the globe.  I began collecting pictures of ancient tile floors and walls to model quilting patterns after.  Living at the beach, I do a lot of ocean themed quilt tops.  And holidays always give an excuse to reach out beyond our decorating comfort zones.

This month’s Online Quilting Class will take advantage of the holiday themes as we do a Valentine’s table runner and we will show that any holiday motif can be substituted.

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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow and Share – And most of all – Create!

From – Jan 1 2010

Doing a good job quilting is so often dependent on good tools. The right sewing machine can be the difference between struggling through a project and enjoying the creative process. A high-quality pair of scissors will make cutting easier and much more accurate. Premium fabric is more enjoyable to work with, lasts longer and will be easier to manipulate. A thorough quilting class will provide the foundation for the ease of working through a complicated quilt pattern. Picking a well written quilt pattern will provide you with a chance to execute a great quilt design.

But there are also the gadgets and extras that make your sewing easier and more fun. Struggling to complete a project that will not cooperate with your intentions is frustrating at best and a reason to avoid further attempts at worst.

One of the tools that I have been using quite a bit of is fusible fleece, manufactured by Pellon. It can be used as a thick inner facing, a stabilizer or a thin batting. Ironing fuses the fleece to your fabric and prevents slipping. It comes in different loft (thickness) amounts.

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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow and Share – And most of all – Create!

From – Dec 31, 2009

Christmas has come and gone and it is time to reevaluate my quilting plans and think about what is realistic for next year. I did finish the 30 grocery/beach bags that I had planned, but, at what cost? Is my goal of quilt design for next Christmas too much?

As is usually the case, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to start my Christmas sewing earlier and avoid the stress of last minute completions. This is a commitment that goes completely against my nature, but I will again try it.

One of the ways I accomplish that which I don’t naturally do is to set myself up to have to follow through on my plans. I would like to complete several lap quilts for next year’s gifts. I plan to attend a series of quilting classes given at my local quilt shop that focus on using up your stash. If I attend all of the classes and complete the quilts as the year progresses, I will have a good supply to give as gifts. Some of the quilt patterns will be used for Christmas and others such as baby quilts can be given as occasions present themselves.

I was supposed to journal all of my sewing throughout the Christmas lead up. I actually became much too overwhelmed by the volume that I had committed myself to.

Although I love showing off the finished products, I think that this time I bit off more than I was comfortable chewing.

These are the 30 grocery/beach bags that I completed. It seemed to be too much to sew and film. In any event, they were completed and I highly recommend that you try them (just not 30 at once).

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Karen Dennison
Learn, Grow and Share – And most of all – Create!