ANSWERS, TIPS, SUGGESTIONS

In case you were wondering, these four small snowball squares are what I accomplished last week while at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  I think I was too busy talking, catching up with all that's been happening with my fellow quilters over these past few months.  Sure is good to get back into the swing of things.

On another note:  Remember last week when a fellow quilter asked this question:

"I have the problem. At home I am always looking for my quilting patterns, rulers, scissors etc.... I put things away and can't remember where...  Do any readers in quilting land have any suggestions or ways to keep track of things.  The latest is, I looked at my pattern of Ellie the elephant, a BJcreations pattern.  Now I can't find it?   I knew where it was for ten years, now I can't find it.

I look forward to hearing suggestions from you and other quilters at the Attic.
Thanks
Marjorie"

We received several interesting and helpful suggestions and I wanted to share them with you.

• Joyce writes:  I find the things I could not find when I am looking for something else!  (Isn’t that so true!)
• Julie (Teacher at the Attic Window Quilt Shop)writes:  Hi Carol! I have been keeping all my sewing supplies in see thru bins on a shelf. It's easy to see what's in the bin (shoe box size or bigger) on the shelf. On a separate shelf, in notebooks, I keep all my patterns I have used. I have a separate notebook for my favorite ones....the ones I make often for gifts, etc. My new patterns (ones I want to make) I keep in a see thru bin on my shelf. I see them every time I walk into my sewing room. On another shelf, I keep fabric, folded up and stacked by color. Ok, this isn't so neat right at the moment, but usually I can see all the fabric easily and grab what I need. If there is overflow, the larger yardage goes into bins I can see thru and that gets stacked up.My sewing tools, I keep in a revolving chef tool holder. It has about a dozen slots for things like scissors, small rulers, pens, pencils, marking pens, doll making gadgets, etc. For smaller tools, I have empty talenti ice cream containers, which are see thru. I keep small clippers, stitch rippers, etc - stuff I need to keep handy when I sew. Funny, it seems like I need another one of those empty ice cream containers for something now and then, so I have to buy the ice cream to get it.   They stack on top of each other nicely, too.   Great for buttons, bobbins, and what not too. The best thing though, was switching to see thru container, boxes and bins. Now I can see everything at a glance and no pulling out boxes, just to see what's in it.   I can't wait to hear what ideas others send you. That was a great question for the blog.
• Lynn at Alamosa Quilter writes:  I keep a lot of patterns in digital format on my iPad. I've had the iPad for several years and haven't lost it yet. Printed patterns seem to get lost underneath other stuff in my sewing room, but I keep better track of my iPad since I use it for lots of other things. 
• Yvonne writes:  I use a silverware drawer tray along side my sewing machine.  I use the compartments for scissors, small rulers, marking pen/pencils, sewing machine needles, my glue etc.  Also one of those plastic roll around drawers for extra pins, scissors, cutters, needles etc.  If no room in the sewing room they have those small plastic drawers table tops.
• Allie of Allie Oops Sweet Happy Life writes:  I lose things too - the only suggestion I can make is to keep "like" items together. All books in one spot, all patterns, all threads, etc. That way, if you're looking for a pattern, you don't have to look through everything. 

A very special thank you to all who responded.  I know these helpful suggestions have me looking at things differently.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• New Shop Hours beginning June 1 through August 31 -  Monday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday  10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ALSO:   The JUNE CALENDAR is now available.  You can see the month at a glance by clicking on the hat lady on the sidebar.  Let me know if it doesn't work.  I've had a terrible time trying to get the link to work.

In the meantime, look at what is happening this week AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

• Happy Scrappers, Wednesday, June 14
• Doll Bee, Thursday, June 15
• Chenille Class, Friday, June 16
• Stitch-In, Saturday, June 17

ON ANOTHER NOTE: 

• Ellyn's Place has a two part tutorial for a funky dresden. Part two is here. 

Caroll,

Caring, Sharing, Creating Smiles

TIP FOR MAKING DRESDEN BLADES

I saw this on Instagram the other day and Stephanie Peterson graciously said I could re-post her hot tip for my readers. Stephanie is participating in the Bee In My Bonnet's Sweetie Pie Sew Along. This calls for making lots of those Dresden  blades.  I think you will find it helpful.  Read below what Stephanie said:

"Here is a little hack I used to help me with those Dresden plates I was making. I adapted this from a tip I saw on Sewing With Nancy. On one side of a piece of card stock, I drew a 45-degree angle from the corner. I lined up the seam in that angle."

"On the other side of the card, I also drew a 45-degree line. I measured down to where the bottom of the blade would be. The width of the bottom of my blade was 1". So I drew .5" on either side of the center line so I could center the bottom of the wedge too. Then, I laid it down on the ironing board and pressed. This helped me get a nice 45-degree angle on each tip and the blade going straight. These blades are kind of long, and things could go wonky still by just lining up that little seam in the back. I think this really helped everything fit together nicely and for the block to lay flat when I was done with it. I hope this helps!! Thanks to Nancy for a great tip!!"

And thank you Stephanie for sharing this with us.  Hope you can make it up to sew with us soon!

HEART OF WINTER BUS TOUR:  Have you made your reservation?  There is still room on the bus.  Call the shop today!  You can read more about it here.

HAPPENINGS AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

• Charity Quilts, Monday, Feb. 6
• Bee, Tuesday, Feb. 7
• Happy Scrappers, Wednesday, Feb. 8
• Doll Bee, Thursday, Feb. 9
• Tatting (p.m.), Thursday, Feb. 9
• UFO Night, Friday, Feb. 10
• Heart of Winter Tour, Saturday, Feb. 11

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

Fort Worth Fabric Studio has a tutorial for a hanging organizer.

Caroll, 
Sharing, Caring, Creating Smiles

A QUILT AND SOME TIPS

When at the Attic Window Quilt Shop yesterday, Jill was sewing the binding to this beautiful quilt.  She said that she and her daughter made this quilt for a friend's 21st birthday.  Jill said the friend studied in Spain and while there admired a tile wall and took a picture.  She showed that picture to Jill and her daughter and right then Jill got busy and designed a quilt that replicates that wall.  It is stunning!

When Marjorie (from Utah) read about my struggles with piecing she sent me two helpful ideas.  I wanted to share them with you.  This is what she said.  "I am currently working on "simply woven" a Moda free pattern.  Accuracy is a must.  I’m attaching a couple photos of what I do to keep accurate piecing.  Above shows you that when I sew, I focus my eye on the very front of the foot.  I never watch the needle or the center of the foot.  Just focus on the right side of the foot.

I have also found it necessary to pin the strips together.  As you can see I pin the bottom of the strip as well as the top and at the ends of the rows.  I also do this when sewing other blocks together as well. Pinning takes extra seconds but less than having to unpick the offending seam!  I find at 75 years old my accuracy has decreased so I rely on pinning more than I previously did.   We got snow in southern Utah, unusual and it is very cold for us.

Thank you so much Marjorie.  I'm going to try these techniques and hopefully I'll improve on my piecing.  Stay warm!

DON'T FORGET:  Cookbook BOM members, due to the holidays the meeting Wednesday was really the December meeting.  We will meet again on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.   ALSO:   If you ever have any problems making a block you can come to the shop on the second Wednesday, and/or the second Saturday of every month.  Cathy and/or I will be there to help in any way we can.  Sometimes it helps to see a demo.    

Happenings at the Attic Window Quilt Shop

• Happy Scrappers, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 10-4

• Doll Bee, Thursday, Jan. 12

• UFO, Friday, Jan. 13

• Happy Scrappers, Saturday, Jan. 14

• Heart of Winter Tour, Saturday, Feb. 11.  See here for information.  Make your reservation NOW!

ON ANOTHER NOTE: 

• She Can Quilt has a tutorial for making improve circles.

Caroll, 

Caring , Sharing and Creating Smiles

HOT TIP

Someone mentioned that I should start putting tips on the blog.  Well, I found a hot tip last week when at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Please note the traditional cup holder clipped to a table.

Yes, there are other uses for such an item.  Above, Diana makes good use of that cup holder clip.  When she goes to fill her sewing bag, the lid keeps flopping down.  So she fixed that by clipping her cup holder to the lid and tucking it behind the handle.  Now she does not have a lid problem.

Above is a view from the other side.  That Diana is so clever.  I've never thought I would want one of these cup holders, now I'm giving it a second thought.  Thanks Diana for this hot tip!!

DON'T FORGET these happenings at the Attic Window Quilt Shop

• Charity Quilts, Monday, Sept. 12
• English Paper Piecing, Tuesday, Sept. 13
• Happy Scrappers, Wednesday, Sept. 14
• Cook Book BOM, Monday, Sept. 26 or Wednesday, Sept. 28

Be sure to check the check the calendar on the sidebar for happenings this week at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

The 2016 SHOP SWAP:

The 2016 Shop Swap will take place in September.  Participants will make a 60" X 72" quilt. 

• On September 18, from 12 - 4 p.m. you will sew at Quilted Memories in Montague.
• On September 25, from 12 - 4 p.m. you will sew at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  

Call the shop to register and get a list of class supplies.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: 

• Night Quilter has five steps to sewing perfect curves.  Check it out!

Caroll,

Caring , Sharing and Creating Smiles

A PAPER PIECING TIP

I made this block for the queen of a Bee Hive that I belong to.  The pattern is Cross Point Quilt from the book Vintage Quilt Revival.  I love how the block turned out.  In fact, I was excited when I learned that I would be paper piecing this block because then I knew all I had to do was just stay on the lines as I sewed and the block would turn out to be perfect.  NOT!  The problem is, the block was supposed to end up at 12 1/2" unfinished.  Mine is ended up as a solid 12" block unfinished.  HOT TIP!  Be sure and check your guide when printing off the paper pattern.  You know, that little line on the pattern that looks like this |____| = 1".   I now understand that you should measure carefully to see that that line actually is one inch long before you print off any thing else and especially before you start to sew.  I didn't do that, assuming that I'd never had any problem before with my blocks printing off the correct size.  Well, you know what they say about people who assume.  Anyway, I have asked the Queen to send me a couple more of those light blue strips, then I can remake this block so it will end up the correct size.  Oh, joy!

NOTE:

• The Bees In The Attic is being formed.  It is a new Bee Hive at the shop.  We could still use another member to make it an even dozen.  Call the shop to sign up and find out about the group.  Our next meeting is May 25.  This is only a one hour meeting, but you can stay and sew with us if you like.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW: 

• Pineapple Ruler, Thursday, May 19
• Stitch-In, Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21
• UFO Day, Monday May 23 (note change in date)
• Bee In The Attic, Wednesday, May 25
• Come Sew With Me, Wednesday, May 25
• Folded Star, Thursday, May 26

Be sure and check the calendar on the Sidebar for more happenings at the Attic Window Quilt Shop this week.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

• Leah Day has a video tutorial and a free basket weave pattern

 ♥ Caroll, 

Caring , Sharing and Creating Smiles

HOT TIP FROM READER

Kathy, a reader, and I were recently sharing comments about a bag that I wanted to make and that she is in the process of making with her granddaughter.  We were motivated by a video on Missouri Quilt Company & Crafty Gemini.  Kathy said though the video stressed using double sided fusible foam stabilizer, she used non-fusible.  She thought stitching it with the sew and flip method would work.

She said, "I also found my vintage Singer 15-91 machine the best one for moving through the thickness as we had trouble with the featherweight."

Here's the tip:  Kathy said that apparently she or her grand daughter did not take enough seam allowance at one spot and a seam started to come apart.  Since she didn't want to spend a lot of time unstitching all those strips, she came up with a solution.  She placed these darling white appliques over the seam and hand stitched them down.  Now no one is the wiser.  I think it adds a touch of charm to the bag.

What a clever idea Kathy.  Thanks for sharing!

 NEW AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP!

• A new Bee Hive (Bee In The Attic) will be starting.  Organizational meeting Wednesday, April 27th at 10 a.m. Come one come all!  Go here for more information. This meeting should last about an hour.
• A new Batik BOM is starting on Monday, May 16 at 2-4 or 6-8.  This BOM will last nine months.  The charge of $30/month includes fabric and patterns.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW:

• Make It Take It, Tuesday, April 26
• Folded Star Ornament, Wednesday, April 27
• Bee In The Attic, Wednesday, April 27
• Come Sew With Me, Wednesday, April 27
• Make It Take It Table Runner, Thursday, April 28
• Stitch-In, Friday, April 29
• Snail At Sea, Saturday, April 30 

Be sure and check the calendar on the Sidebar for more happenings at the Attic Window Quilt Shop this week.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: 

• SOTAK has a tutorial for a lunch box.

 ♥ Caroll, 

Caring , Sharing and Creating Smiles

HOT TIP OF THE DAY

 Recently, while at the Attic Window Quilt Shop, Adrienne was auditioning background fabrics for these wonky stacked coins.  Which do you like?  This brilliant green background piece?

Or do you prefer this gray background piece?  What do think she will choose?

Adrienne also gave us a hot tip.  She told us that when you go to the department store and buy a pair of pants, they give you a pants hanger.  She said that the clerk who waited on her showed her that if she just did a little twist on a clip on the hanger, it would come off and you could use the clip to close a chip bag, or like Adrienne has done, use her clip to hold pieces of fabrics that go into a block.  What a great idea!  Thanks Adrienne for sharing with us!

DON’T FORGET: 

• HEART OF WINTER TOUR is on February 7th.   The bus will take you to four different shops.  Lunch and dinner are included.  It’s not too late to sign up.
• Due to the Heart of Winter Tour, FIRST SATURDAY SAMPLER moved in February ONLY from Saturday, February 7th. To Saturday, February 14th.  This will not interfere with Happy Scrappers as they will meet immediately after Sampler.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: 

• She Can Quilt has a tutorial for a Giant X block.  This is an interesting quilt with various sizes of blocks.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll