The Fence Post: 2013-05-12

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Quilter's Clean Up--YARD SALE/PORCH SALE

The spring clean up has begun. . . Although I had cleaned out my sewing space before Christmas for the guild garage sale, I now find myself faced with another cleanup. "Stuff" remaining from the shop closing all ended up in every available nook and cranny in my sewing room, making movement difficult. With shows over with and gardening season upon us I am determined to get this cleared out.

I have things I won't be needing anymore.
A cash register
An extra phone
A wood ironing board c 1940 with a cute frilly cover c 2010
an iron crib (display only)
Fabric. Fabric. Fabric
Kits, kits and more kits
And boxes and boxes of quilts and smaller store samples.
And then there are the unfinished projects from the store. I had those under control, or so I thought . . .

A yard sale/porch sale is scheduled for June 13, 14 and 15. 10 - 4 each day. No early birds please.

Some items may be sold in advance. Email me (institches at picketfencefabrics.com) if you are interested in anything listed here.

Linda's upcoming sale

Linda has found time to create since the closing of Picket Fence Fabrics and is having a sale this weekend. Details below:

In THE SPIRIT of

SPRING

Featuring

‘ON THE PATH’

Found Objects Reinvented/Garden Accessories, Elegant Silver Chimes

Designed by Linda Scallion and Calvin Prescott

and Guest

Andrea Dowd of

‘BUELLS CREEK CHIC’

Bridging then and now, old and new!

Antique Furniture/Accessories, Stained Glass Window Mosaics

“Reclaimed” “Restored” “Reloved”

Also Sunday only JUDY TODD OF ‘ALLTHINGZENERGY’

Saturday, May 18^th & Sunday, May 19^th, 2013

10:00 am – 5:00 pm

247 Old River Road, Mallorytown

At the intersection of Old River Road and Buell’s Point Road

On the Thousand Island’s Parkway

(entrance off Parkway – watch for signs)

Cash or Cheque only

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.