The Fence Post: Spring Show Season is here

Thursday, 5 May 2011

Spring Show Season is here

My favourite spring flower, bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis), has revealed itself a week early this year. It’s a sure sign of spring and my cue to start working in the garden.

Of course, this time of year is also quilt show season so I will have to squeeze in an hour here and there in the yard until the shows are over in the middle of June. I had a great time at the Peterborough and Belleville quilt shows in the last few weeks and collected a few more ‘30s prints for my latest project. Yes, it is true. I buy fabric from the other vendors for my stash! The quilts at these shows are so amazing and inspiring too!

While packing for the upcoming OVQG show at the RA Centre in Ottawa, a new line came in called Byzantium. We are madly cutting this fabric for the show. It is fabulous! Inspired by the artwork of Klimt it is a gotta have stash fabric.

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52 Steps to better quilting. One a week.

Sew any leftover binding strips together as quilts are completed, and use this scrappy binding on a scrappy quilt.
Cut and prepare binding strips when cutting out your quilt and store in a zip lock bag with your project.
Tape your package of sewing machine needles to the side of the machine. Easy to find when a replacement is needed.
Keep a pair of inexpensive readers near your sewing machine for threading needles and ripping out seams.
Check how much thread is on the bobbin before you start a chain piecing task.
Have extra bobbins filled, ready for a quick change when the thread runs out.
Sew any fabric left over from a project into a backing. It will reduce the amount of fabric you have to purchase.
Clean your bobbin case before starting a new project. use a soft makeup brush to clean the lint. The bristles will grab the lint easily.
Use the correct needle in your machine for the task at hand. The right needle will carry the thread through the fabric so that you won't have issues with tension and thread breaking.
Use starch when pressing applique pieces for a crisp edge.
When using small acrylic templates or rulers, draw a few lines of a water soluble glue stick on the reverse side of the ruler. This prevents slipping when cutting. The adhesive is easily cleaned off with soap and water when you are finished cutting.
Keep fabric, thread, specialty rulers and pattern together in a one container. When you start the project you won't waste time looking for something you need for the project.
Measure twice, cut once. Become familiar with your rulers. Some have an added extra half inch which can make your cut too small or too large.
Use the right pin for the job. There is a pin for every task--short applique needles that don't get in the way of hand sewing, fork pins to pin nesting seams, quilting pins for pinning blocks, silk pins for fine work.Instead of a pin cushion,store them in a clear stacking container at your work table, available at quilt and craft shops.
Replace your rotary blade often to prevent fatigue. A dull blade requires more physical exertion to cut through fabric.