KITCHEN QUILTS

My first foray in to the world of KITCHEN QUILTING was the table runner you see on the left.  I didn't know anything about bindings or even that there were patterns available.  I didn't know, if you didn't interface the lame' it would eventually shred in the seam line.  I didn't know there was batting other than polyester.  The only thing I did know was how to do a proper 1/4 inch.  I had found this great border print fabric that looked very festive.  I cut the center panel out with two of the border strips and then log cabin style started adding borders.  You see the only quilt I had started before this was a log cabin.  I had seen Mary Ellen Hopkins on Alex Anderson's show.  It was about her book, "You Can Sit On My Quilt".  Needless the lady hooked me.  I love log cabin quilts and methods.

I had made one other quilt before this.  It was my own design. My only other claim to fame was I considered myself a good seamstress.  I had learned to sew at the age of 3-4 by my mother.  She taught me a running stitch so I could make some doll clothes while she sewed for me.  My first trip to the quilting world came in 1996 when I needed a way to express my feelings to my Mother on the heart attacks she had been through.  Since then she has been the recipient of several quilts along with the rest of the family.  My house is full of fabric and quilts which are just tops and quilts which are not finished.  I do take time to make quick projects which have time schedules to be finished.  Most of those are place mats or runners for presents.  I have learned you do not need to piece a runner to have an effective one.  After all, the dishes and other items do hide most of it.  A table runner is not just a table protector it is a cover that should highlight your dishes.  In my opinion if you have too much design you clutter your table.

My most recent runner which is ready to be quilted is featured on this blog:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/square-in-sqaure-table-runner-for-you.html

This runner is pieced with a design to feature the holiday. It is more for decoration than for a mat to protect a table.  I am sharing my design with you..

Here are two more sets I have made, about 3 years ago:

http://stashraiders.blogspot.com/2011/08/are-you-fabric-hoader.html

This is a blog site I haven't used much.  When I do the tutorial for the place mats I will post it here.

This is the Table Runner I made for my Sister in law for this past Thanksgiving.  I displayed it with my dishes before I mailed it to her.  The fabric sets the scene, I didn't need to piece a design to suggest the season or holiday.  I don't know if you can do close up on your end, but the inner border is a plain modeled green (which I also used for the binding) and the outer, larger border is a batik type green on green large onions.  I used a wider binding. I cut the fabric 3 inches and then attached it with a 5/8th seam to the runner.  I wanted it to appear as another border.  I have other kitchen quilts planned.  I want to make some roman shades for the east and west windows.  The sun can be brutal but more than that they are large windows and even with insulated glass the cold comes pouring off of them. 

BLOG EDIT:  Googling on March 28, 2013 I found this site.  It has decorator information on the size to make place mats.  Explaining how to measure your table for the bet fitting size. When you peruse this page at the bottom is a next arrow.  The next two pages have Table Runner and Table cloth measurement informations. 
http://www.interiordesigninfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=217:placemat-dimensions&catid=48:decor&Itemid=68

 

 New Article on my blog: 

 http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"

A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind

 

Other blog sites by me:

 

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

SQUARE IN A SQUARE: A TABLE RUNNER FOR YOU

 New Added March 23, 2013

What can you do with a square-n-a-square block?  After I wrote the two tutorials on the techniques I wondered what is everyone doing with the samples. My thoughts required me to make a couple more samples.  The block I made from the samples ended up 12 1/2 inches square.  I made the samples with scraps I had laying around.  I wondered how it would work if I planned a project for the scraps.  I went to the fabric closet, no color way on my mind.  There, laying on top of a shelf, was shamrock fabric.  St. Patricks day was coming up.  I thought, I'll make a table runner, a surprise gift for a friend.  I'll have time to get it finished and in the mail.  I finished the runner and sandwiched it. Then prepared the machine with the walking foot.

Using the samples from these tutorials I made the above block.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/square-in-square-tutorial.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/square-in-square-bonus-block-tutorial.html

 

Before I quilt anything I make a small test sandwich of the fabrics I am using.  I test it on the machine to check the tensions and stitch length.  On the first run through, the walking foot had plastic fatigue.  I thought no big deal I'll just have Hunny pick a new one up.  The next day I let my fingers do the walking and didn't find a shop with a generic one for my Janome (the Janome rep is way out of the way).  It took 3 days before I found a shop with one.  By that time it was too late to finish the runner and get it in the mail.  It will still be a surprise but she will have to wait a year to use it. 

 

This is the table runner I designed using only Square in a Square blocks.

(Not finished yet but you get the idea).  I'll post a finished picture when it's done. 

I had to post, I couldn't wait to show you.

 The shiny objects are the pins for the sandwich.

March 23:  I forgot to mention;  There are (12) 1/2 square triangles which are 2 1/2 inches square from the large "square n a square" block.  I used the method in the "Bonus Block" blog.  No plans yet for them, but I will probably incorporate them in the back.  Probably in the label.

  

 New Article on my blog: 

 http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"

A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind

 

Other blog sites by me:

 

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

SQUARE IN A SQUARE BONUS BLOCK TUTORIAL

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/square-in-square-tutorial.html

 

This is a tutorial to help you harvest an extra block for your work and to not waste fabric.  Being a fabric stasher I can't stand to waste fabric.  The above blog site is the tutorial for the basic method of "Square in a Square" construction.  When I constructed the example for the blog I made it with a 3 1/2 inch primary square.  Working with that small you don't get a Bonus block.  This block the primary square is 6 1/2 inches and the secondary squares are 3 1/2 inches.  The main difference in te construction is you will draw two lines on each secondary square.  The first line will be just off center.  The second line will be 1/2 inch inside.  That is on the shy side of the line that would be cut off.  (You must use the 1/2 inch measurement so you will have enough fabric for your seams on both blocks.

When you begin to sew you will be stitching on both those lines. Every thing proceeds the same way as the original tutorial.   When you have all four sides sewn and pressed you turn over your square and clip off the excess fabric.

This is important:  Cut between the two sewn lines.  DO NOT CLIP YOUR FRONT TRIANGLE.  The triangles you cut off can now be taken to the ironing board.  When you press, set the seam first and then open out the triangle and press to the dark.  You now have a 1/2 squared triangle to square up.  I use my "Easy Angle Junior" for this.  Using the 3 1/2 inch secondary squares I end up with a 2 1/2 inch square. 

These are the half squares I made (one of them is not trimmed yet.)

 

 

 New Article on my blog: 

 http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"

A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind

 

Other blog sites by me:

 

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

SQUARE IN A SQUARE TUTORIAL

This is a tutorial on how I make my Square in a Square block.  Several yahoo groups I am on have been discussing constructing "the Square in a Square" block.  They have been using several kinds of rulers and methods of trimming.  I look at the block and all I see are two flying geese.  I am very gizmo challenged and I have a humongous fear of biased edges.  The following is the method I use for "The Square in a Square". There is no measuring or squaring up after you start sewing with my method.

1.  Decide what size your unfinished block will be.  This will be your primary square which you will add all your triangles too.  Except you won't be using triangles.   If you are only using matched fabrics you can cut all the squares from  WOF strips.  For this one I used a 3 1/2 inch purple fabric scrap. 

2. Figure out how large the secondary squares needs to be.  These are your "Triangles".  For my 3 1/2 inch primary square my secondary squares are 2 inches.  Each block of course needs four.  These can also be cut from WOF strips if you are making a planned fabric quilt.  The square in a square block is ideal for scrap therapy.

3. Take all your secondary squares and draw a line diagonally across them. I use a ball point or a number 2 pencil.   The line should be at least a stitch off center.  (If you have a good eye, this is not necessary.) 

Another cheater I use is a line on my machine.  This is drawn exactly in line with the needle.  I use this line to help me judge where I need to guide the fabric under the needle.  Sometimes my eye is not as good as other times.  The patterns and designs on some fabrics cause optical illusions.    You can see I wore the tape off that I used to draw the line on.  I just redrew it on the residue left there (It's not sticky, It was masking tape and you know the mess it leaves.  I should have used the blue painters tape).

4.  The sewing begins.  Use one of your secondary squares and place in a corner of your primary square.  The side which has the diagonal line off center is the corner you match with the corner of the primary square.  You can stitch on that line or just use it for a guide.  You want to stitch slightly off center. Why?  Because when you fold the other half over, the fabric takes up room on the fold.  You will be folding the fabric back on itself and lining it up with the corner of the primary square and its other half.  Before you fold the secondary square back you need to sew the opposite sides secondary square on.  Remember to place the side with the off center line in the corner of the primary square.  After you stitch both secondary squares on it is time to press them in place.

When you press it's important to
line
 up your corners and literally press them down. Don't iron with a back and forth motion. Steam is okay, I have said before I am a steamer. You want to remember don't press along the diagonal of the fold. When you move the iron press parallel to the edge of the primary block. This way you won't distort your block. The larger your primary block the easier to distort it. On my 3 1/2 inch block the iron literally does all the work.

You are half way to a completed block. Now all you need to do is repeat the above two steps with the two vacant corners. When you have completed stitching them down then press just like you did above. All you need to do now is remove the excess bulk from your block. Turn your block over and trim off the extra fabic in the corners.

VOILA',

 A COMPLETED PERFECT BLOCK

WHICH DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TRIMMED.

I have posted a BONUS BLOCK TUTORIAL. 

The block is produced from the scraps of this block at the same time you are stitching this one.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/square-in-square-bonus-block-tutorial.html

MARCH 6, 2013:  ANOTHER METHOD OF SQUARE ON SQUARE CONSTRUCTION

Since I posted this blog I have received an email from Dorothy Young, Yahoo group owner,

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apocketfullofmysteries/

Currently they are doing a 24 month journey BOM through the Alphabet. The following links are my contribution to this BOM. 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/01/block-of-month-is-for-antique-tile.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/02/block-of-month-b-is-for-basketweave.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/block-of-month-c-is-for-contrary-wife.html

She wrote me telling me she paper pieced hers.  I have her permission  to post her method. This following is an edited version of the email she sent me.

Glo, I "roll my own" paper-piecing pattern for a square in a sqaure block:

Draw a square the finished size. Find the center of each side, and draw a square connecting those four points. If you want, you can keep drawing smaller and smaller squares right to the center. It's a square-in-a-square-in-a-square-in-a-square-in-a-square-in-a-square. I fussy-cut the center patch.  The picture on the left is a picture of Dorothy's block for a friend who loves neutrals.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you Dorothy.

No matter which method you choose your quilts will be hand made by you,  A treasure.



  New Article on my blog: 

 http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"

A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind

Other blog sites by me:

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

BLOCK OF THE MONTH: C IS FOR CONTRARY WIFE

"THROUGH THE ALPHABET"

A twenty-six month Journey

Dorothy Young, owner, of the yahoo group "A Pocketful of Mysteries"
 is presenting her Block of the Month quilt series. It began in January 2013,
and will continue for the next two years.

The yahoo site for this is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apocketfullofmysteries/
It is not too late to join in.  This block and the other two are at the beginners level.

It was so exciting last night when I went to turn off the computer.  Dorothy had posted two hours before midnight EST on February 28. The new BOM was sitting there for me to do.  Alas I was tired and decided it could wait till morning.  I would've laid awake worrying about making it but we had a life happening to take my mind off it.

We had the feral cat, who has been getting free lunches on the front porch for the last 2 years,  decide he didn't want to eat in the snow anymore.  He invaded our space.  We have five house cats who always watch when we put his food out.  In a flash of fur and the cacophony of hisses and growls, helter skelter broke out.  Needless to say "Piecing" at that point was not even a glimmer in my eye.

The first thing I did when Hunny went out the door was grab the camera and head to the cutting table.  I cut the fabrics and began to sew. Including setting up equipment and cutting and ironing, the two blocks took me an hour to make.  If they had both been out of the same fabric you could knock off 20 minutes off the time.

This is my block from my constant fabrics.  I was going to use a different medium color but when I saw the block I knew I wanted it in the red.

 I don't know if I have mentioned it before but I don't like paisleys and I am not fond of red.  To see the fabrics uncut they are in this blog.
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/01/block-of-month-is-for-antique-tile.html

Next it was construct my friend's block.  I can't wait to see what she has in store for us.
 (She is making identical blocks for herself).
This is my block for her.

In the Antique tile block I used burnt orange, this time the green of the leaves called out.  I wish I had used the same fabrics for both of us.  I miss being able to see hers all together.  After I mail this off, I won't see them.  I really like the colors these civil war reproductions have.  I hope the preview  of her block is to her liking.

My Friend's block arrived today. I love it.

While I was filing my block pictures in the computer I came across this block picture.  I had totally forgotten about it.  For three years I hosted a BOM for my guild.  Each month a block kit was supplied and each person who wanted to participate bought a block and brought it back to the next meeting finished.  It was their lottery ticket to winning all the blocks.  "Contrary Wife" was one of the quilts.

12" BLOCK I USED FOR MY GUILDS EXCHANGE

If you are still reading and a beginner quilter I encourage you to try this BOM.  Dorothy gives complete and easy to understand directions. 

Things to remember: 

Use your 1/4 inch foot if you have one (if you have an older machine that has a snap on foot, Janome makes a foot that works with your machine).  If you don't have access to a 1/4 inch foot you can use a stack of "post-its".  Remove the bottom one and use the "glue" surface to attach it on the machine with the edge 1/4 inch from the needle on the right hand side.  (Your presser foot might be in the way so you will have to position it in front of the foot.)  Another thing that works is a piece of the paper tape, the one you paint with to keep a nice edge.  The tape doesn't stick to your machine afterwards.  The only draw back to this you don't have a raised edge to guide your fabric against.

Secondly:  press the direction shown.  It helps your seams nest and your block fit together smoother.

Third:  Press not iron...don't go back and forth on your block pieces, you will stretch them out of shape.  There are several feelings about the use of steam. I am a steamer.  I have found if you have some pieces that are stubborn about fitting together you can steam them into submission.  

I know there is probably some more  important do's and don'ts but I don't want to discourage anyone from beginning a quilt.  Even if you have never made one, if you can stitch on the machine the interent is filled with how to information.  All you need is the initiative.  BTW..you don't even need to buy fabric.  Go to the old clothes pile and pull out shirts and dresses that are 100% cotton and cut them up into the fabric you need.  (Make sure your "fabrics" are wrinkle free before you cut them up.)

 

Join us in this 2 year journey. There are several hundred friends taking the trip. 

The following, are blogs written each month on my journey through the alphabet.

 http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/04/block-of-month-p-is-for-pennsylvania.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/02/block-of-month-n-is-for-new-york-star.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/block-of-month-m-is-for-monkey-wrench.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/block-of-month-l-is-for-lady-of-lake.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/11/block-of-month-k-is-for-kansas-star.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/10/block-of-month-j-is-for-jacobs-ladder.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/09/block-of-month-i-is-for-independence.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/08/block-of-month-h-is-for-hayes-corner.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/block-of-month-g-is-for-glory-boxes.html
  http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/06/block-of-month-f-is-for-friday.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/05/block-of-month-e-is-for-easy-partial.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/04/block-of-month-d-is-for-double_7.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/block-of-month-c-is-for-contrary-wife.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/02/block-of-month-b-is-for-basketweave.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/01/block-of-month-is-for-antique-tile.html

 

Other blogs by me:

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry

blogs Seeds sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission