Kick Off

Today was the grand reopening of the store where I'll be teaching.  I talked to dozens of nice people.  I had four class samples to show:  a full-sized quilt top, a patchwork tote, patchwork coasters, and a pillowcase.  Folks seemed very interested in the summer classes for kids, and I'd really like to make that a success.  We had a lot of registrants, and the education coordinator was very pleased with the day's turnout, as was I.  Here's a pic of the Cottage Quilt.  It's a four-patch.  Each block is topped with an appliqued square.  The outer borders are pieced, with mitered corners.  Three people commented on the striped fabric in the border in particular.  That was a good fabric choice!

Sewing Pinwheels

In my last post, I showed you how to cut and prepare the pieces you'll
 need to make this Pinwheel Coaster.  Now it's time to sew!

We'll be using a precise 1/4" seam allowance, which is typical for most piecework.  Use a seam gauge to find a "landmark" on your presser foot to make this easier.

Make sure your fabric pairs are aligned at the corners.  Then sew a straight seam 1/4" on both sides of the pencil line.  Give your pairs a quick press, then cut your sewn pieces on the pencil line.  You'll have two squares made up of two triangles.  These are called "half-square triangles."  Press your half square triangles closed to set the seam, then open them up and press both seam allowances toward the darker fabric.  Use small sharp scissors to clip the "dog ears" off at the end of each seam.

Lay out all four of your half square triangles, arranging them to make a pinwheel shape.  Sew the left two half square triangles together, and then the right-hand pair.  Press the seam allowances toward the darker fabric.  Then sew the final center seam to make your pinwheel.  Press the seam allowances to one side.  Use your ruler, rotary cutter, and mat to square your block up to a perfect 5 1/2".

Lay your backing square face up on your batting square, and your pinwheel face down on top of the backing square.  Make sure everything is lined up at the corners.  Sew around three sides with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Trim the batting very close to the stitching line, clip the sewn corners diagonally, and turn  your coaster right side out.  Turn down 1/4" at the open edge, and use an invisible stitch to sew the opening closed.  Give your coaster a good press.  You can machine quilt your coaster, too.  Use a walking foot on your machine to keep it flat and square.  Great job!

Simple Blocks, Great Project

We'll be making two simple blocks from co-ordinating fabrics, then turning those blocks into coasters.  This is a quick, easy project and the finished coasters make an excellent gift.

5 1/2" Pinwheel Coaster

Let's start with the Pinwheel block.  Fold your fabric in half lengthwise, and make sure the fold is along the straight grain.  Then use your ruler, rotary cutter and mat to straighten the cut edge. 









Turn your mat so that the bulk of your fabric is to your right.  Make a precise, smooth 3 1/2" cut across the fabric.  Cross cut that strip into 3 1/2" squares.

 
Pair your fabrics up, with right sides facing.  Your pairs should have contrast:  dark fabric on the bottom, facing up, and light fabric on top, facing down.  With a sharp pencil, draw a diagonal line on each light fabric square.

 Each pinwheel coaster will require two prepared pairs of squares, and a 5 1/2" square of fabric for backing.  Also cut a 5 1/2" square of thin cotton batting for each coaster.

When your cutting is done, put a fresh needle in your sewing machine and fill a bobbin with medium-toned neutral thread.  Next step:  Piecework!

Happy Easter, Bunnies!

White chocolate, lemon curd and tiny cupcakes can make a show-stopping presentation.  Mold the white candy coating in the microwave, paint it on the interior of a plastic egg, pop it in the fridge for an hour.  It helps if you oil the mold first.  Slip the mold out, and you've got a white chocolate eggshell.  You can use pastel candy coating if you prefer a colored egg. 

I deepened the color of the lemon curd with a bit of paste food coloring before spooning it on to vanilla-iced mini cupcakes.

Surprise!

This past weekend I made a quick trip to Northern Virginia.  My three sisters and I had a little cake-and-champagne reception for my parents' Diamond Anniversary.  We were joined by cousins and old friends, and I think a good time was had by all.  I was in charge of table decorations.  The theme was obvious: diamonds.  I half-filled straight-sided clear glass vases of various sizes with clear diamond-esque vase-filler jewels, and tucked little LED lights down into the fill so there was plenty of sparkle.  Around the base of the vases I arranged nosegays of daisies--mom's favorite--and glass "diamonds" of various sizes, also accented by white lights the size of a grain of rice.  Very pretty, elegant, and easy.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post later this week.

The concept will work well at C hristmas time, if I mix the vase-filler jewels with tiny ornaments, or pinecones, or greenery, or snowflakes.  Perfect for a buffet table, or perhaps as an arrangement in my bay window.

Hired!

Pending a background check, I have a nice new job.  I'll be teaching sewing:  quilting, basic garment construction, and home dec.  The interview was really more of a show and tell;  I brought a lot of pieces and explained how each one could be broken down for a class setting, emphasizing basic skills.  I also had pictures of recent work that I've gifted away, and three written modules about basic fabric structure, tools, and fabric preparation.  I hope to use this blogging space as an adjunct to my class presentations, as well as a place to talk about what I love:  making things.

This is exciting!

 

Back to School!

I am heading back to the classroom, I hope!  Tomorrow I have an interview at a fabric store chain, where hopefully I will be hired as a sewing teacher.  I'm excited about the opportunity.  It's been a long time since I had sewing students, and I think I still have plenty to share.  Tonight, I'll get a portfolio of work together--patchwork pieces and garments--and we'll see how tomorrow goes.