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sew-along with me!: sewing machine cover--ties and binding

We are so close to a finished project!

Today we will be adding the ties and binding our quilt.  Please note that if you are making a wallhanging or table runner, as opposed to a sewing machine cover, just eliminate the ties.  The link to the binding tutorial is here.

This post has a lot of pictures showing the ties step, but it seemed a better way to show you what to do than trying to use text.

First up, you will be cutting your ties and your binding pieces.  

For ties: Four 10" X 1-1/4" pieces 

For binding:  Three 2-1/2" X 42" strips (simply cut the width of the fabric piece)

  

For the ties:  Fold over 1/4" on one end of each tie piece:

Now fold in half lengthwise:

Now fold each side in towards the center:

Pin into place:

Sew.  This piece took a little bit of patience to sew since it's so thin:

Now position your tie pieces approximately 4" from the edges with the finished edge towards the center of the quilt top (see next picture for clarification):

All four ties pinned on:

Sew each one into place:

Now, you can access the binding tutorial here.  Be sure to sew the binding on with the ties towards the center of the quilt.  Once the binding is on, fold the ties outward and pin:

Sew them into place:

Guess what?  You are done and ready to dress up your machine!

Here is a cover in action:

Now your machine can sit around and wait for you in style, all while keeping the dust away!

Please let me know if you have any questions!  And be sure to add your photos to the Flickr group!

Happy sewing!

 

sew-along with me!: sewing machine cover--sandwiching and quilting

 Hi, Friends!

Are you ready for day two of our sew-along?

If you are still working on day one, no problem at all.  These tutorials can be accessed at any time!

Please be sure to leave any questions in the comments section of this post or in the Flickr group discussion area.

This tutorial will show you how to "sandwich" your quilt and how to machine-quilt it.  You will need a walking foot for your machine to do this.

This is a picture of the finished quilt top:

You lay your backing piece on the floor or table, wrong side up (right side facing the floor) and then put the batting piece on top of that.  Last you will add the quilt top, facing up.  (Iron the backing and the quilt top well before putting these together).

The layers look like this:

Use safety pins to baste the layers together. I like to use one pin on every other tumbler:

This is the "sandwiched" quilt all ready for quilting:

Feel free to add some inspiration to your quilting time in the form of candy:

YOU WILL FIND MY TUTORIAL FOR STRAIGHT-LINE QUILTING HERE.

For this particular quilt I simply stitch on each side of the seams, like this:

When you get to the point where the seam pivots, simply lower your needle into your fabric, lift the presser foot, and pivot in the direction of your sewing line to follow the shape of the tumbler.  Like this:

Finished quilting:

Now you will cut this piece to fit the sewing machine.  My machine measures  15-1/4" across the front (side to side) and 26" from the bottom of the front, all the way to the bottom of the back (over the top of the machine).   So those are my cutting dimensions.  Measure your machine the same way to decide how big or small you want this piece.

Cut the piece to fit your dimensions:

Cutitng in progress:

Once you cut all four sides, you are done for today.

Yippee!

Be sure to let me know if you need any help.

Happy sewing!

sew-along with me!: sewing machine cover

 Hello, Friends!

Are you ready to piece together a cute cover for your sewing machine?

Well, let's get started!

My machine measures 15-1/4" across the front (side to side), 7" from front to back, and 26" from the bottom of the front, all the way to the bottom of the back (over the top of the machine).  It will be simple to make this bigger or smaller by adding or subtracting rows.

Here is a look at what we are working towards.  

Here is a supply list for this project:

Enough scraps to cut ninety 3-1/2" tumblers

20" X 29" piece of backing fabric

20 X 29" piece of warm and natural batting

1/4 yard fabric for the ties

1/4 yard fabric for the binding 

Tumbler Template or Accuquilt Go! Cutter and 3-1/2" Tumbler Die

You will also need a rotary mat, cutter and ruler, a sewing machine, thread, and assorted basic sewing supplies.  To complete the quilting by machine, you will need a walking foot or a free motion foot that fits your machine.

First we will cut our tumblers.  You will need a total of ninety 3-1/2" tumbler pieces.

I used my Accuquilt cutter (follow this instructions on your machine), but you can also use a tumbler template (these are available in my shop).

To cut using the template, lay out your fabric. I happened to have some 5" squares, but you can use a smaller piece.  You can also just cut from a larger piece.

I laid out 4 layers of fabric on my mat:

I pressed firmly as I cut each side one by one.  Take the time to adjust your template if it slips on the fabric.  A few practice cuts will be a good idea here:

Now just do this 90 times.  :)

Now you will lay out your pieces:  Nine rows of ten tumblers.  Please note the layout that I have here.  You need yours to be laid out in the same way:

You can move your fabrics and colors around to suit your taste.

Now I make piles of the rows.  I start with the first template on the left hand side and I stack it on the second template, and that one on the third template, etc., until you have the whole row stacked.  I had 10 stacks of 9 tumblers each when I was done.  I always use a piece of paper and a safety pin to mark each of my rows:

Now I stack all of the piles on top of each other, row one on top, row ten on the bottom:

Here is how to sew your tumblers together.  You MUST be sure to sew each one on in the correct direction that it is laid out in.  If you flip one upside down you will have to use your seam ripper.  This will be an obvious mistake if you make it.

I will call each template from left to right: 1, 2 and 3.

Lay template 2 on top of template 1, as shown:

For the purpose of showing you where the seam is sewn, I made a dotted line with a fabric marking pen.  You will not need to do this.  Please note that you will sew from notch corner to notch corner:

Sew your seam, using pins if you desire:

Here is the sewn seam:

Open the tumblers:

Now lay tumbler 3 on top of tumbler 2, as shown:

Sew that seam the same as you did the first one:

Here is what you are working towards:

Back view:

Now just continue until each row is sewn (do not remove your safety-pinned numbers yet):

Iron the seams of the rows, alternating directions with each row (row one to the left, row two to the right, row three to the left, etc.):

Matching your seams, sew all of the rows together using the same seam allowance measurement used to sew the tumbler blocks together:

At this point you can remove all of your safety-pinned papers.  Iron your patchwork piece nice and flat.

Now you can set it aside until the next step, which will be posted on Wednesday.

Please be sure to leave comments and questions in this post, or in the Flickr group discussion area.

Happy sewing!

 

june's sew-along project preview and supply list

Hello, Friends!

It's time for another sew-along!  And we are finally getting to the sewing-machine cover!

This machine cover will fit most machines and it would be simple to make it bigger or smaller, according to the size you need.  Please note that you could also make this mini-quilt into a table runner or a wall hanging by leaving the ties off.

This project is good for adventurous beginners and beyond! Our start date is Monday, June 25th.

Here is a picture of what we will be working towards:

And here is a view of the front, backing and ties:

Here is a supply list for this project:

Enough scraps to cut ninety 3-1/2" tumblers

20" X 29" piece of backing fabric

20 X 29" piece of warm and natural batting

1/4 yard fabric for the ties

1/4 yard fabric for the binding 

Tumbler Template or Accuquilt Go! Cutter and 3-1/2" Tumbler Die

You will also need a rotary mat, cutter and ruler, a sewing machine, thread, and assorted basic sewing supplies.  To complete the quilting by machine, you will need a walking foot or a free motion foot that fits your machine.

I have set up a kit in my shop that includes the fabric for the tumblers, backing, binding and ties, and also the tumbler die.  The kit does not include the Warm and Natural Batting (you can purchase that at your LQS or at Joann's).

You can purchase the kit here.

Please note that I have scraps sets and tumbler templates available in the shop also.

If you are planning on sewing along, please leave me a comment here in this post. It is also a good idea to join the Fresh-Squeezed Flickr group so that you can post pictures of your progress.

Have  a wonderful day!

 

sew-along with me!: whimsy quilt top done!

This was a fun quilt to put together!  

Jennifer's instructions are clear and the top comes together quickly!

Since I love the look of Jennifer's original quilt, I went with pink for the background and added some greens and greys and pinks from my fabric stash.  I like the happy look of this quilt top!

This evening I have a chat time scheduled for 7 PM (MST), and I would love to know if anyone is planning on joining us.  If no one responds, I will go ahead and cancel.

This is my last post about the Whimsy quilt until I finish it.  Hopefully that will be very soon, because the little one that will receive it is coming soon!  Must hurry!

If you want to know more about Jennifer and her work, visit her blog here.  You will be inspired!

Happy sewing, friends!

***More information on finishing your quilt can be found here:  sandwiching, machine-quilting, and binding.

sew-along with me!: whimsy quilt

Welcome to May's Sew-Along!

This month we are making Jennifer's Whimsy Quilt.  Since we are using a pattern, rather than a tutorial-made-by-me, I want to be sure not to post too much information here on my blog.  No measurements will be given or specific sewing instructions, since that information is in the pattern.  Of course, I will answer all questions here in the comments or over in the Flickr group.  Please be sure to post your progress pictures on Flickr too!

THE CHAT DATE IS MAY 16th AT 7 PM (MST).  Both Jennifer and I will be available to help and to chat!

This week we will be assembling the squares.  This is simple and fun, and I must say that Jennifer really did a great job with this pattern.  Next week we will work towards assembled quilt tops.  A little bit of time each day will get us there!

Please note that this pattern is beginner-friendly.  And since both Jennifer and I will be on hand to answer your questions, it may be a good time for you to make your first quilt!

Here is my stack of finished squares:

I was quite surprised at how quickly they went together. And I love that I have everything ready to complete the quilt top now!

I wanted to give you a few tips for sewing the squares together.  Maybe one of these ideas will make your sewing quicker and more efficient.

First, be sure to use a 1/4" seam on your machine.  You can measure to find out where yours is.  This is where mine is. Note that I follow the line a bit to the side of my presser foot:

Also, I don't cut my squares apart as I sew.  I end up with a bunch of connected pieces like this.  You can sew quickly and cut  them apart when you are finished:

Be sure to cut off the "tags" that don't belong on your blocks:

When assembling your squares, take care to line up your seams properly.  They should meet up quite nicely:

This is my pile of hourglass blocks all assembled, but not cut apart yet:

Again, the "tags" need to be cut:

Here is a finished block:

That is it for week one!

Be sure to leave any questions or comments here in this post or over in the Flickr group.

Happy sewing!

a sew-along reminder

I just wanted to remind you that May's Sew-Along will start on Wednesday, May 9th, followed by a second sewing day on May 16th.  This will be a more casual sew-along than usual since the tutorial is in Jennifer's pattern, and because of that I don't want to share too much information here on my blog.

***Please see this post for more detailed information about the Sew-Along.

On the first Wednesday I will share my progress pictures here, and I will add a discussion section over in the Flickr group.  Feel free to ask questions and make comments about your progress, and be sure to post your fabric choices too!

I have not confirmed this with Jennifer yet, but I am planning a chat room time on Wednesday, May 16th at 7 PM, MST (again, this may change once I talk to Jennifer).  If needed, we can chat again on May 23rd.  This will give everyone plenty of time to make progress without being rushed.

 I hope that some of you are planning to join Jennifer and me next week!

Have a lovely day!

may's sew-along project preview and supply list

Hi Friends!

It's time for another sew-along!

I know you are all expecting to see a sewing-machine cover here, but since I just placed the order for the templates last night, we are going to do something else first.  Sewing-machine covers will be in June.

In May we will be making this absolutely adorable quilt by Jennifer @ That Girl That Quilt!   AND-- just so you know--this is a beginner-friendly quilt!  Lot of you have mentioned your desire to make a quilt, but you have been a little hesitant.  Let me say that this just might be the time for you, since you will have both Jennifer and I to guide you along the way.            

(All photographs are Jennifer's and are used with her permission)                                                                   

You can see Jennifer's post about making this quilt here.

This quilt measure 44" X 52" so it perfect for a baby-quilt or a lap-sized quilt.

Supply list: sewing machine, cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter, pins, coordinating thread and scissors

5 fat quarters, 1-1/2 yards of background fabric, 2 yards for backing, 1/2 yard for binding, batting 55"x60"

That is a pretty simple supply list, don't you think?

I am offering a kit in my shop (this includes the pattern and fabric), plus Jennifer is offering a the pattern by itself in her Craftsy shop.

Our starting date for the sew-along will be May 9th, and will continue with a second class on the 16th.  On the first week we will talk about cutting and piecing the blocks together, and the second week will include sewing the entire quilt top together.  After that I will link you to my sandwiching, machine-quilting and binding tutorials for finishing the quilt.

We will be having two chat-room sessions with both Jennifer and I available to help you out.

Also, the Flickr group is a perfect spot to showcase your progress.

Can I just say that I LOVE the binding fabric that Jennifer used?  Truly perfect!

Let me know in the comments section if you have any questions and if you plan on participating.

And, guess what?  Since I have never made this project, I will be sewing right along side you on this one.  I am thinking pink background with navy blues, light blues and pink-y reds.  Just need to pull out the fabric and see what that actually looks like!

Happy crafting, friends!

sew along with me!: zippered pouch (part four--patchwork)

Let's add some patchwork to your pouch!

This is my favorite variation!  And this is the pouch that I use now.  I take it on Tuesdays when I volunteer at a place that has no room for my purse anywhere, so I take my phone, keys and lip balm with me in my pouch.  It fits in the storage area.

With patchwork you can use a bunch of different prints (use quilting-weight cottons) or just a couple of your favorites. It's really up to you.  I gathered all the pinks, greens and browns from my stash basket and came up with quite a few different prints.

THE BASIC ZIPPERED-POUCH TUTORIAL IS HERE.

This is my pouch:

The most time consuming part of this variation is cutting your squares.  You will need eighty-four 1-3/4" squares to make this for the front and back of your pouch's exterior (you need two of these pieces):

First sew all of the rows together, left to right, using a scant 1/4" seam:  

Once you sew a row together you need to iron the seams in one direction on the back.  I alternated the ironing direction for the rows: row 1: left, row 2: right, row 3: left, etc.  This will help you to avoid bulky seams.

Once all of your rows are sewn, you will join them top to bottom, matching up the patchwork square seams.  A little bit of "stretching" will help if some of your seams don't match perfectly.  Also, machine-quilting helps to find little imperfections.

This is what you will end up with:

Once you have trimmed your threads, lay your patchwork exterior pieces on top of the batting or fleece and pin with safety pins:

Machine-quilt as desired.  I quilted a little less than 1/4" away on the right side of each seam.  I felt that more quilting would have been too much for the tiny pieces:

Finished front:

Finished back:

Now you proceed with the basic tutorial.

Happy sewing, friends!

sew along with me!: zippered pouch (part three--add a little applique)

So you want to add a little  bit of applique to your pouch?

Believe me, it's very simple!

I actually feel funny calling this a tutorial. It's more of a "this-is-how-I-did-it" post.  It took me just a few minutes of extra work to create a little picture from fabric, and then I resumed the tutorial as usual.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BASIC ZIPPERED-POUCH TUTORIAL.

Let me show you how!

 

First I found a house template that I liked (I initially cut it out to use for a pincushion), but I changed my mind when the pouch came along.  I cut out Jo's house front (see the 2nd photo down in the post) and I added my own windows and a door.  Ric-rac seemed fun for the roof line.

I pinned everything in place on top of the house:

And then I did some stitching.  As you can see this is spontaneous and imperfect, but I wasn't going for anything more than that:

Then you take your applique and pin it onto the exterior pouch front, which is on top of the batting or fleece:

And do some simple sewing around that to tack it down:

For the other exterior piece simply lay that on top of a piece of batting:

And sew a basting stitch all the way around, close to the edge (this is done in the basic tutorial also):

From here you simply continue on with the tutorial by adding the zipper.

You can use any shape for your applique.  Maybe some letters for someone's name, or circles for polka dots.  It's all up to you!

Please let me know if you have any questions!

And remember, there are other ways to do this.  I just wanted to show you what I did.

Happy sewing!