Tips and Techniques Tuesday – 5/31/11

There are many products that allow you to mark on your fabric while working on a project. Today’s Tip Tuesday explores a few of these products that we carry here at River Place Quilt & Sew!

The first product is the Mark-B-Gone Marking Pen, which can be used to transfer pattern markings, needlecraft and quilting designs. It has a water soluble ink, meaning you can remove the marks with just a damp cloth. The pen contains white ink.

Another product is a chalk-based quilting pencil. It creates a fine drawing lineand can be washed out with gentle detergent or washing soap. We carry this pencil in yellow, making it an appropriate color for even light fabrics.

Next is the Chaco Liner Slim fabric marker, which is a powder-type marker that is good for marking on fabric. The marks can easily be erased and the product is easy to use.

When using these products, always test the pencil or marker on a scrap piece of fabric before applying it to your real fabric. Mark the scrap fabric like you would your real fabric, and then wash it or try to take the markings out just like you would on your true project. Doing this ensures that your project will not be ruined, as not all markers apply to all types of fabric.

Show-Off Saturday – 5/28/11

Today’s Show-off Saturday comes in the form of a wall hanging! Wendy from Maine got the pattern and fabric for this project from our store about a year and a half ago. Here is the finished product:

Fabric Friday – 5/27/11

Today’s Fabric Friday features fabrics from Annie’s Farm Stand, which we just got in this week!

      

This is just a little taste of the 17 fabrics from this line that we have in the store. They are very bright and would be great for many summer projects!

Thirsting for Knowledge Thursday – 5/26/11

Ironing for Quilting

After stitching your quilt block, leave the block closed and set the stitches by pressing the hot iron over the seam. Don’t move the iron down the length of the block, instead, lift it and set the iron on the next section. This keeps the fabric from stretching.

After you set the stitches, open your quilt block and press the seam toward the darker fabric from the back. Then turn the piece over and press again on the front, making sure that the blocks lay flat, with the seam completely open from the front.

Be sure to press the seam toward the same color on all your blocks, so when you have a finished top, all the seams are going in the same direction from one end of the quilt to the other.

After you have finished your entire quilt top, press it again to prepare it for the quilter. Make sure all your threads are cut, so they don’t show through when it’s finished.

Wordless Wednesday – 5/25/11

Margaret’s Monday Mash-Ups (a day late) – 5/24/11

Yes, I missed mashing yesterday. You see, I was a vendor at the Capitol City Quilt Guild’s Quilt Show, “Going to Pieces,” this past weekend. I arrived home around eight Sunday night, so I didn’t empty the car until yesterday. Then I had to put all the inventory away. It’s amazing how much product you take, and how much of it you bring back. But the show was good. I made some great contacts, purchased some new books (which we’ll tell you about later in the week), and had two relaxing evenings.

The question of the weekend was, “Where is East China, Michigan?” My answer: “Right next to China, of course!” Our booth sign told visitors where we are from, and we discovered that having something “odd” brought people in to the booth, if only to ask about our location. It was fun – but raised the question of whether or not people outside our area will be able to find us. When I Google East China, Michigan, I immediately get a map, so I know quilters who are online (and there are many, many of us) will find us with no problem.

But what about the people who are not online? I don’t have an answer yet, but I do know it is something I will have to work on.

Thanks for reading my mashing. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week. Just as a teaser – we have a new fabric collection arriving this afternoon called Annie’s Farm Stand, and we received some nice blenders for our color wall yesterday.

Tips and Techniques Tuesday – 5/24/11

Have you ever heard of the Gypsy Cutting Gizmo? Today’s Tip features this product, which is a faster, easier, and safer way to cut chains.

The product’s box says this: “[The gizmo] stands steady on your table,  allowing you to safely cut chained pieces by holding the fabric with both hands and slipping the “chain” into the slot on top of the Gizmo. This unique tool dramatically reduces the time you spend separating segments, and does it safely without damaging your fabric or your fingers.”

River Place Quilt & Sew carries this product for $14.99. It is a worthy investment if you frequently chain!

Show-Off Saturday – 5/21/11

Today’s Show-Off Saturday is a T-Shirt quilt made for a customer by Leslie Cote. It features 12 t-shirts along with fabric from River Place Quilt & Sew!

Fabric Friday – 5/20/11

Today’s Fabric Friday features the Wildflower Garden Multi from Timeless Treasures.

Thirsting for Knowledge Thursdays – 5/19/11

Did you know that you can create fabric postcards, and then mail them? The book Postcard Quilts Vol. 2 by Caroline Reardon provides instructions for you to do just that!

The book says:

Fabric postcards that you make will be unique gifts for the special people in your life. They will know you devoted your time and talents just for them. Don’t worry if the shapes aren’t perfect or if the bindings aren’t straight; your friends won’t even notice! And they will keep these cards for years and years.

Consider making these postcards for anyone you think deserves a smile in the mail. Mailing them is easy – you just must take the postcard to the post office to be weighed and hand canceled, and attach the stamp with a bit of glue. The book features 43 original designs you can make for any type of person or occasion!