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View entire thread: Corduroy Quilt?
Posted by ms_peacock on Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:15 PM    Post subject: Re: Corduroy Quilt?



"Debra" <debnbilll@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:to91l21dt5uddfc096qkuecjmmk5hmsnkl@4ax.com... [quote:ff01774691]On 6 Nov 2006 20:24:20 -0800, "Sunny"
<shemphill@genext.net> wrote: Debra, I've never used corduroy, but you only have to look at the famours Gee's
Bend quilters to see some examples of stunning corduroy quilts. They were using it because it was available and warm. I
think it's a great and overlooked modern quilting material. I hae some corduroy put away that I intend to use
"someday" to make a warm quilt for use in our Northwest winters. I'd love to see the quilt when you get the
top finished. I doubt you'll want or need batting and you probably will end up tying as opposed to quilting. But I think
it will be well worth the exploring. Sunny I doubt I'll ever tie a quilt. I don't like the look of the strings
flopping around on the top, or the feel of the knots. Machine tacking might be the way to go though. Or maybe just
machine quilt in straight lines. I might have enough corduroy to make it cord on both sides, or I might just put muslin
on the back if I think it would get too heavy. Debra in VA [/quote:ff01774691] You know, it might be perfect for a raggy
style quilt. The seams are nice and wide on them and they don't have to be tied either. Ms P


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View entire thread: Corduroy Quilt?
Posted by Debra on Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:39 PM    Post subject: Re: Corduroy Quilt?

On 6 Nov 2006 20:24:20 -0800, "Sunny" <shemphill@genext.net> wrote: [quote:ebb29b5584]Debra, I've never
used corduroy, but you only have to look at the famours Gee's Bend quilters to see some examples of stunning corduroy
quilts. They were using it because it was available and warm. I think it's a great and overlooked modern quilting
material. I hae some corduroy put away that I intend to use "someday" to make a warm quilt for use in our
Northwest winters. I'd love to see the quilt when you get the top finished. I doubt you'll want or need batting and you
probably will end up tying as opposed to quilting. But I think it will be well worth the exploring. Sunny
[/quote:ebb29b5584] I doubt I'll ever tie a quilt. I don't like the look of the strings flopping around on the top, or
the feel of the knots. Machine tacking might be the way to go though. Or maybe just machine quilt in straight lines.
I might have enough corduroy to make it cord on both sides, or I might just put muslin on the back if I think it would
get too heavy. Debra in VA See my quilts at http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere


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View entire thread: Corduroy Quilt?
Posted by Sunny on Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:24 AM    Post subject: Re: Corduroy Quilt?

Debra, I've never used corduroy, but you only have to look at the famours Gee's Bend quilters to see some examples of
stunning corduroy quilts. They were using it because it was available and warm. I think it's a great and overlooked
modern quilting material. I hae some corduroy put away that I intend to use "someday" to make a warm quilt for
use in our Northwest winters. I'd love to see the quilt when you get the top finished. I doubt you'll want or need
batting and you probably will end up tying as opposed to quilting. But I think it will be well worth the exploring.
Sunny Debra wrote: [quote:e21525234b]I've got a lot of corduroy in pinks and blues. It's nice soft stuff that will
probably be even softer after washing. Can I use it to make a quilt top? Will I need to use big seam allowances? Debra
in VA See my quilts at http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere[/quote:e21525234b]


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View entire thread: Manx quilt...sort of
Posted by Jessamy on Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:17 AM    Post subject: Re: Manx quilt...sort of

sewing by hand is also cheaper - many hand sewing quilters I know sew by hand as it takes longer to do a project and so
makes their hobby cheaper. -- Jessamy Queen of Chocolate Squishies (and Occasional Liquorice Ones) In The Netherlands
Take out: _I love the colour_ to reply. www.geocities.com/jessamy_thompson
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jessamy_thompson/my_photos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well, it
probably is the earliest form of foundation quiltmaking. Although if you don't remove the foundation it's not really
like modern PP. I find it interesting in this age of machines that can do almost anything that so many of my learners
fall back on handsewing as their preferred method - be it applique, piecing or quilting. They love the soothing rhythm
of stitching by hand. -- Cheryl & the Cats in OZ o o o o o o ( > Y < ) (
> Y < ) ( > Y < ) Enness Boofhead Donut http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "Jessamy" <jessamy_thompson@_ilovethecolour_orange.nl> wrote in message
news:453b32c8$0$64626$dbd4d001@news.wanadoo.nl... : that sounds like a plan :-) I'll go raid the fabric shop next week
we do : have all kinds of Vilene here - it's German made I believe and is the main : make here. the sample of yesterday
has been dismantled already as I do need : the scraps for the waistcoat LOL : : I was trying to keep away from the PP
like part as I was demoing to amongst : others Wendy Vosters (PP quilt book writer LOL) but who knows what I will : have
by the time I need to demo again LOL : : -- : Jessamy : Queen of Chocolate Squishies (and Occasional Liquorice Ones) :
In The Netherlands : Take out: _I love the colour_ to reply. : www.geocities.com/jessamy_thompson :
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jessamy_thompson/my_photos : ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ : lol : : I
used sew-in vilene (paper?) dressmaker's interfacing for : the foundations and traced the lines on. Having sewing :
lines makes it a lot easier for beginners and keeps the : blocks a consistent size. : : At least three of the sewers I
taught here are collecting : their "Manx kits" (pre-drawn foundations and pre-cut strips) : to take on their
"big loop" trips (the 6-12 month : car/caravan trip around Australia that so many retirees : undertake,
generally referred to as "doing the big loop"). : They will not need any cutting equipment beyond small :
scissors, and no SM as they can sew the blocks together when : they get home. : : -- : : Cheryl & the Cats in OZ :
o o o o o o : ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) : Enness
Boofhead Donut : http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest : catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau : :


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View entire thread: Manx quilt...sort of
Posted by Cats on Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:12 AM    Post subject: Re: Manx quilt...sort of

Well, it probably is the earliest form of foundation quiltmaking. Although if you don't remove the foundation it's
not really like modern PP. I find it interesting in this age of machines that can do almost anything that so many of
my learners fall back on handsewing as their preferred method - be it applique, piecing or quilting. They love the
soothing rhythm of stitching by hand. -- Cheryl & the Cats in OZ o o o o o o (
> Y < ) ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) Enness Boofhead Donut
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "Jessamy"
<jessamy_thompson@_ilovethecolour_orange.nl> wrote in message news:453b32c8$0$64626$dbd4d001@news.wanadoo.nl... :
that sounds like a plan :-) I'll go raid the fabric shop next week we do : have all kinds of Vilene here - it's German
made I believe and is the main : make here. the sample of yesterday has been dismantled already as I do need : the
scraps for the waistcoat LOL : : I was trying to keep away from the PP like part as I was demoing to amongst : others
Wendy Vosters (PP quilt book writer LOL) but who knows what I will : have by the time I need to demo again LOL : : --
: Jessamy : Queen of Chocolate Squishies (and Occasional Liquorice Ones) : In The Netherlands : Take out: _I love the
colour_ to reply. : www.geocities.com/jessamy_thompson : http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jessamy_thompson/my_photos :
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ : lol : : I used sew-in vilene (paper?) dressmaker's interfacing for :
the foundations and traced the lines on. Having sewing : lines makes it a lot easier for beginners and keeps the :
blocks a consistent size. : : At least three of the sewers I taught here are collecting : their "Manx kits" (
pre-drawn foundations and pre-cut strips) : to take on their "big loop" trips (the 6-12 month : car/caravan
trip around Australia that so many retirees : undertake, generally referred to as "doing the big loop"). :
They will not need any cutting equipment beyond small : scissors, and no SM as they can sew the blocks together when :
they get home. : : -- : : Cheryl & the Cats in OZ : o o o o o o : ( > Y < )
( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) : Enness Boofhead Donut :
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest : catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau : :


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View entire thread: Great week
Posted by Michelle on Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:39 PM    Post subject: Re: Great week

Sounds like a little piece of heaven! -- Michelle in NV http://community.webshots.com/user/desert_quilter "Jane
Kay" <kayfamily1@alltel.net> wrote in message news:50769$45379858$438c5926$21609@ALLTEL.NET...
[quote:43c821f046]Well, I'm back from my vacation. Quilt buddy Julie and I went to Ripley WV for 5 days at Zepora's
Educational Quilting Seminar. It is an annual event held at Cedar Lakes Conference Center every October and has been
going on for 23 years! It is so energizing to be surrounded by quilters. Everyone talks about fabric, thread, patterns,
quilt shops they have visited, what they have made, are working on now, plan to make. You don't have to cook or get
into your car once you arrive until you leave unless you want to. You can go back to your classroom after dinner &
sew until midnight if you feel like it, or just socialize. There were studio classes offered where you could bring other
projects to work on and the teacher will help you if you get stuck. We arrived Sunday afternoon and left Friday
morning. I took 3 classes, 2 one day appliqué classes ( I love the versatility of appliqué but hate to do it- I'm trying
to learn to like it) and 1 two day class called Triple Threat Baskets. It was supposed to be triple treat baskets but
there was a typo in the class list. Both names seem appropriate. There are 15-20 teachers and over 200 student
quilters. Class size ranged from 6 up to 25 for the popular machine quilting class and the fabric painting & dyeing
class. Julie and I stayed in a double room in one of the cottages. The room was the size of a walk-in closet but we had
our own bathroom. There was a small dresser, a built-in storage alcove with space to hang our coats and a couple of
other garments and a shelf for each of us, 2 twin beds made up with sheets & blankets and clean towels fresh every
day. There were 10 of these tiny rooms around a decent size lounge area with a microwave and a fridge and tables big
enough to set up our sewing machines in the evening or cut fabric for the next day's class. Other room choices are a
"dorm" room with 10 beds and you bring your own linens- I stayed in one the first 2 times I went. Five women
from my guild went together and we each had a bed to sleep in and one to hold our "stuff". We did have to
share 1 bathroom-not easy for 5 women. There is also a modern type hotel. I bought a meal ticket for 3 meals a day at
the dining hall but Julie wants to keep her figure so she brought coffee, cereal bars, juice, fruit, and yogurt to eat
for breakfast & lunch and just ate dinners at the dining hall. Sunday evening is show & tell with people bring
in things they have finished in the last year, especially those from classes they took previous years. Monday &
Tuesday were free evenings to work on our projects, shop at the small vendors' mall or go into town to Wal-Mart and/or
the local quilt shop that stayed open just for us. Wednesday the teachers showed their work and talked about workshops
they would like to teach next year. Thursday evening we showed what we made in our classes this year. The scenery is
beautiful, hills surrounding the conference center buildings and the lakes in the center. A few men came. Some quilt and
some fished, played golf, or hiked. One husband who came played the bagpipes for us. Last year he was just learning but
this year he sounded good. The weather was warm & sunny on Monday and Tuesday then cooled off & started to rain.
We didn't care, the power was on and we were warm & dry inside sewing. I came home with 3 more unfinished projects
and a good idea how to proceed, if I get a chance to work on them before I forget what I was doing. West Virginia has
the Powerball lottery so I bought a 5 weeks worth ticket when we left. Maybe I'll win and be able to retire & just
go to quilt shows & sew instead of wasting good quilting time working. It was still raining when I got home, and my
electricity was out Friday evening until 3am Saturday morning. I plan on going again next year. DH doesn't want to come
with me, but that's OK, he stayed home to guard my stash. [/quote:43c821f046]


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View entire thread: Great week
Posted by teleflora on Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:32 AM    Post subject: Re: Great week

That sounds like a dream week to me. I keep sayikng I am going to go on a quilt cruise someday. Nothing to do but sew
and eat. Cindy "Jane Kay" <kayfamily1@alltel.net> wrote in message
news:50769$45379858$438c5926$21609@ALLTEL.NET... [quote:7ee4f715a9]Well, I'm back from my vacation. Quilt buddy Julie
and I went to Ripley WV for 5 days at Zepora's Educational Quilting Seminar. It is an annual event held at Cedar Lakes
Conference Center every October and has been going on for 23 years! It is so energizing to be surrounded by quilters.
Everyone talks about fabric, thread, patterns, quilt shops they have visited, what they have made, are working on now,
plan to make. You don't have to cook or get into your car once you arrive until you leave unless you want to. You can
go back to your classroom after dinner & sew until midnight if you feel like it, or just socialize. There were
studio classes offered where you could bring other projects to work on and the teacher will help you if you get stuck.
We arrived Sunday afternoon and left Friday morning. I took 3 classes, 2 one day appliqué classes ( I love the
versatility of appliqué but hate to do it- I'm trying to learn to like it) and 1 two day class called Triple Threat
Baskets. It was supposed to be triple treat baskets but there was a typo in the class list. Both names seem appropriate.
There are 15-20 teachers and over 200 student quilters. Class size ranged from 6 up to 25 for the popular machine
quilting class and the fabric painting & dyeing class. Julie and I stayed in a double room in one of the cottages.
The room was the size of a walk-in closet but we had our own bathroom. There was a small dresser, a built-in storage
alcove with space to hang our coats and a couple of other garments and a shelf for each of us, 2 twin beds made up with
sheets & blankets and clean towels fresh every day. There were 10 of these tiny rooms around a decent size lounge
area with a microwave and a fridge and tables big enough to set up our sewing machines in the evening or cut fabric for
the next day's class. Other room choices are a "dorm" room with 10 beds and you bring your own linens- I
stayed in one the first 2 times I went. Five women from my guild went together and we each had a bed to sleep in and
one to hold our "stuff". We did have to share 1 bathroom-not easy for 5 women. There is also a modern type
hotel. I bought a meal ticket for 3 meals a day at the dining hall but Julie wants to keep her figure so she brought
coffee, cereal bars, juice, fruit, and yogurt to eat for breakfast & lunch and just ate dinners at the dining hall.
Sunday evening is show & tell with people bring in things they have finished in the last year, especially those from
classes they took previous years. Monday & Tuesday were free evenings to work on our projects, shop at the small
vendors' mall or go into town to Wal-Mart and/or the local quilt shop that stayed open just for us. Wednesday the
teachers showed their work and talked about workshops they would like to teach next year. Thursday evening we showed
what we made in our classes this year. The scenery is beautiful, hills surrounding the conference center buildings and
the lakes in the center. A few men came. Some quilt and some fished, played golf, or hiked. One husband who came played
the bagpipes for us. Last year he was just learning but this year he sounded good. The weather was warm & sunny on
Monday and Tuesday then cooled off & started to rain. We didn't care, the power was on and we were warm & dry
inside sewing. I came home with 3 more unfinished projects and a good idea how to proceed, if I get a chance to work on
them before I forget what I was doing. West Virginia has the Powerball lottery so I bought a 5 weeks worth ticket when
we left. Maybe I'll win and be able to retire & just go to quilt shows & sew instead of wasting good quilting
time working. It was still raining when I got home, and my electricity was out Friday evening until 3am Saturday
morning. I plan on going again next year. DH doesn't want to come with me, but that's OK, he stayed home to guard my
stash. [/quote:7ee4f715a9]


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View entire thread: Great week
Posted by Kim E on Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:36 PM    Post subject: Re: Great week

Can anyone attend this retreat or just those who live in WV? When is registration? Kim (in Northern VA) Jane Kay
wrote: [quote:abb4ec7489]Well, I'm back from my vacation. Quilt buddy Julie and I went to Ripley WV for 5 days at
Zepora's Educational Quilting Seminar. It is an annual event held at Cedar Lakes Conference Center every October and has
been going on for 23 years! It is so energizing to be surrounded by quilters. Everyone talks about fabric, thread,
patterns, quilt shops they have visited, what they have made, are working on now, plan to make. You don't have to cook
or get into your car once you arrive until you leave unless you want to. You can go back to your classroom after dinner
& sew until midnight if you feel like it, or just socialize. There were studio classes offered where you could bring
other projects to work on and the teacher will help you if you get stuck. We arrived Sunday afternoon and left Friday
morning. I took 3 classes, 2 one day appliqué classes ( I love the versatility of appliqué but hate to do it- I'm trying
to learn to like it) and 1 two day class called Triple Threat Baskets. It was supposed to be triple treat baskets but
there was a typo in the class list. Both names seem appropriate. There are 15-20 teachers and over 200 student
quilters. Class size ranged from 6 up to 25 for the popular machine quilting class and the fabric painting & dyeing
class. Julie and I stayed in a double room in one of the cottages. The room was the size of a walk-in closet but we had
our own bathroom. There was a small dresser, a built-in storage alcove with space to hang our coats and a couple of
other garments and a shelf for each of us, 2 twin beds made up with sheets & blankets and clean towels fresh every
day. There were 10 of these tiny rooms around a decent size lounge area with a microwave and a fridge and tables big
enough to set up our sewing machines in the evening or cut fabric for the next day's class. Other room choices are a
"dorm" room with 10 beds and you bring your own linens- I stayed in one the first 2 times I went. Five women
from my guild went together and we each had a bed to sleep in and one to hold our "stuff". We did have to
share 1 bathroom-not easy for 5 women. There is also a modern type hotel. I bought a meal ticket for 3 meals a day at
the dining hall but Julie wants to keep her figure so she brought coffee, cereal bars, juice, fruit, and yogurt to eat
for breakfast & lunch and just ate dinners at the dining hall. Sunday evening is show & tell with people bring
in things they have finished in the last year, especially those from classes they took previous years. Monday &
Tuesday were free evenings to work on our projects, shop at the small vendors' mall or go into town to Wal-Mart and/or
the local quilt shop that stayed open just for us. Wednesday the teachers showed their work and talked about workshops
they would like to teach next year. Thursday evening we showed what we made in our classes this year. The scenery is
beautiful, hills surrounding the conference center buildings and the lakes in the center. A few men came. Some quilt and
some fished, played golf, or hiked. One husband who came played the bagpipes for us. Last year he was just learning but
this year he sounded good. The weather was warm & sunny on Monday and Tuesday then cooled off & started to rain.
We didn't care, the power was on and we were warm & dry inside sewing. I came home with 3 more unfinished projects
and a good idea how to proceed, if I get a chance to work on them before I forget what I was doing. West Virginia has
the Powerball lottery so I bought a 5 weeks worth ticket when we left. Maybe I'll win and be able to retire & just
go to quilt shows & sew instead of wasting good quilting time working. It was still raining when I got home, and my
electricity was out Friday evening until 3am Saturday morning. I plan on going again next year. DH doesn't want to come
with me, but that's OK, he stayed home to guard my stash.[/quote:abb4ec7489]


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View entire thread: Great week
Posted by Jane Kay on Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:23 PM    Post subject: Great week

Well, I'm back from my vacation. Quilt buddy Julie and I went to Ripley WV for 5 days at Zepora's Educational Quilting
Seminar. It is an annual event held at Cedar Lakes Conference Center every October and has been going on for 23 years!
It is so energizing to be surrounded by quilters. Everyone talks about fabric, thread, patterns, quilt shops they have
visited, what they have made, are working on now, plan to make. You don't have to cook or get into your car once you
arrive until you leave unless you want to. You can go back to your classroom after dinner & sew until midnight if
you feel like it, or just socialize. There were studio classes offered where you could bring other projects to work on
and the teacher will help you if you get stuck. We arrived Sunday afternoon and left Friday morning. I took 3
classes, 2 one day appliqué classes ( I love the versatility of appliqué but hate to do it- I'm trying to learn to
like it) and 1 two day class called Triple Threat Baskets. It was supposed to be triple treat baskets but there was a
typo in the class list. Both names seem appropriate. There are 15-20 teachers and over 200 student quilters. Class
size ranged from 6 up to 25 for the popular machine quilting class and the fabric painting & dyeing class. Julie
and I stayed in a double room in one of the cottages. The room was the size of a walk-in closet but we had our own
bathroom. There was a small dresser, a built-in storage alcove with space to hang our coats and a couple of other
garments and a shelf for each of us, 2 twin beds made up with sheets & blankets and clean towels fresh every day.
There were 10 of these tiny rooms around a decent size lounge area with a microwave and a fridge and tables big enough
to set up our sewing machines in the evening or cut fabric for the next day's class. Other room choices are a
"dorm" room with 10 beds and you bring your own linens- I stayed in one the first 2 times I went. Five
women from my guild went together and we each had a bed to sleep in and one to hold our "stuff". We did have
to share 1 bathroom-not easy for 5 women. There is also a modern type hotel. I bought a meal ticket for 3 meals a day
at the dining hall but Julie wants to keep her figure so she brought coffee, cereal bars, juice, fruit, and yogurt to
eat for breakfast & lunch and just ate dinners at the dining hall. Sunday evening is show & tell with people
bring in things they have finished in the last year, especially those from classes they took previous years. Monday
& Tuesday were free evenings to work on our projects, shop at the small vendors' mall or go into town to Wal-Mart
and/or the local quilt shop that stayed open just for us. Wednesday the teachers showed their work and talked about
workshops they would like to teach next year. Thursday evening we showed what we made in our classes this year. The
scenery is beautiful, hills surrounding the conference center buildings and the lakes in the center. A few men came.
Some quilt and some fished, played golf, or hiked. One husband who came played the bagpipes for us. Last year he was
just learning but this year he sounded good. The weather was warm & sunny on Monday and Tuesday then cooled off
& started to rain. We didn't care, the power was on and we were warm & dry inside sewing. I came home with 3
more unfinished projects and a good idea how to proceed, if I get a chance to work on them before I forget what I was
doing. West Virginia has the Powerball lottery so I bought a 5 weeks worth ticket when we left. Maybe I'll win and be
able to retire & just go to quilt shows & sew instead of wasting good quilting time working. It was still
raining when I got home, and my electricity was out Friday evening until 3am Saturday morning. I plan on going again
next year. DH doesn't want to come with me, but that's OK, he stayed home to guard my stash.


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View entire thread: OT: sort of....I want to hear about sewing machines
Posted by Cats on Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:29 AM    Post subject: Re: sort of....I want to hear about sewing machines

Sunny I can't advise you on specific machines. I also can't afford to upgrade now or for the foreseeable, so I have
the luxury of dreaming about my IDEAL (regardless of expense) sewing equipment. And most of what I have decided on is
what I do NOT want. I have long since resolved that I do NOT want a machine the claims/tries to do everything. I want
a fast straight stitch machine with a wider throat than my current machine, but if I want to embroider I am happy to
do it on a separate machine. I do NOT want a machine that tells me how to do things and won't let me change settings
to what I want. This may be the control freak in me coming out though. I don't mind being advised about default
settings, but I want to be able to do weird things if I want. I do NOT want a machine that proudly claims to be light
weight! I hate that so many modern machines are so light and "bouncy" - even the more expensive ones. I
want a solid machine that will sit where I put it and not move with the vibrations when I put the pedal to the metal.
If I have to choose between a superb piece of basic sewing equipment and a multi-function machine that is reasonably
reliable, reasonably flexible and reasonably priced - personally I would go with the former. I am smarter than any
machine and I can get a good basic machine to do most of what I want. I like having some embroidery stitches available
to me but beyond basics I would be happy to consign the fancy stuff to a second machine too. You are obviously far
more interested in the embroidery options so think about what you REALLY want to do, and how much of it you plan to
do. For really fancy stuff I pay a friend with a top of the line machine to do small embroidery pieces for me. And
we now have a commercial embroiderer in town who is going to get back to me about doing one-off embroidered quilt
labels. I would rather pay them for specific requirements than finance a more expensive machine with capabilities I
do not plan to use daily (or at least weekly). And where I live service and support is limited so that would also be
a consideration. Good luck with your new aquisition - whatever it is. -- Cheryl & the Cats 0 0 o
o 0 0 ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) U ~ U
Enness Boofhead Donut (Boofhead slowly recovering from his 3 day absence and seemingly minor injuries)
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "Sunny"
<shemphill@genext.net> wrote in message news:1158370956.024681.223240@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com... :I have
serious sewing machine lust. I currently have a Janome MC 5700. : I use the special stitches and piece and quilt on it.
So far, I really : haven't used the embroidery function because I could never afford the : cards or the converter. : :
So........Now I want a new machine. And I am torn. I can't afford the : top of the line things I want (like the Bernina
Arista). But I may be : able to find some spare credit available, with the trade in value of my : current machine, to
do something else. So the question I am wrestling : with: should I go with a straight stitch machine (think Janome
1600P) : for quilting and buy a separate embroidery machine, not intended to : really "sewing". Or...do I buy
a Janome 6600 that has a huge number of : decorateive stitches (which I crave) and the extended table and runs :
faster than my current machine, but gives up all chances of machine : embroidery. Or......LOL. : : I want to hear from
you folks, what do you find most valuable. For : piecing, for quilting, for being creative. I really want one of those
: felting devices (suspect a lot of the companies are going to be coming : up with attachments in the next year or
two). I want to have a much : creative flexibility as possible and I'm not sure what that means. : : Please enlighten
me -- what floats your boat so far as machines that : you really use and use and use. : : Sunny :


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View entire thread: several questions
Posted by Cats on Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:30 AM    Post subject: Re: several questions

See below - and good luck! Cheryl & the Cats _ _ _ _ _ _ ( > Y < ) ( >
Y < ) ( > Y < ) ~ ~ ~ Enness Boofhead Donut Now in
hibernation with a wake-up call for Spring! http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "Jacqueline" <coldiron46@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bdd5e2h8fgkpqiu3rgpf9fjshv1k16c4ge@4ax.com... :I have a few questions I would like to ask, I hope someone will :
answer me :) : : 1. do fat quarters have to be washed first or are they suppose to be : washed when you buy them? I
picked up some at walmart yesterday and : am just wondering. This is ausually a cause for great debate between
quilters - to pre-wash or not to pre-wash, that is the question. I have got to the point where the feel and texture
give me a pretty good idea about the quality of manufacture (and likely quality of dye) and I go by that. But if I
was making a red and white quilt I would wash everything - the reds twice! Colours I find run the worst - red, brown,
purple (all have red component). If the quilt is high contrast lights and darks I might consider it. If the fabric
is cheaper I probably would too. As a beginner you are safer to wash everything. You will learn what is safe (or you
will get lazy like me LOL and become prepared to take more risks). I wash pieces sorted into similar colours in
lingerie bags. If you have some old pillocases they will do. They will also show if a colour has run. The bags
prevent the fabric fraying away to pulp in the bottom of the machine. : : 2. I bought a pair of, is it fiskars,
rotary cutters, one is the one : size recommended I think it was 45 is that MM, but I just opened them : and noticed
they both have oil on the blades, is this normal? Oh, the : reason I got two is one came with a cutting pad I wanted
and the pad : was the same price with the rotary cutter as without. The other one : is interchangeable, can be either
60-65 or 40-45, if I could remember : my numbers it would help, it too has oil on it. As far as scissors, I : got a
small pair by Fiskars to clip threads with and I inherited my : mother's good sewing scissors and pinking shears, no
paper has ever : been cut with these, plus I have a decent pair of scissors and we have : one fairly good pair that we
do use when cutting paper, but being my : mother sewed all the time, when we were growing up we learned at a : very
early age you do not cut paper with her good scissors. Standard size cutters are 18mm, 28mm, 45mm, and 60mm. The oil
is a protective lubricant. I usually wipe the new blades with a tissue (watch those razor sharp edges!) to avoid the
possibility of staining fabric. : : 3. When ironing material that has just been washed and dried, I read : that you do
not iron it like clothes (not that I iron clothes, shoot I : hate that job so if I buy something wear it and it turns
out needing : ironing it goes in the yard sale bag for the church) that you press : the iron down, then pick it up and
press it down again, is this true? : If so it appears do me you would never get a piece of cloth ironed. : Oh, gosh I
have to learn to iron. Ironing (swiping the iron across) is for fabric pieces. Pressing is for pieced blocks or
sections of blocks, and avoids the possibility of stretching / distorting the pieces. Warning - if you cut a lot of
pieces and they get creased before you get to assembling your blocks - DO NOT press them unless you cannot avoid this,
and then be very careful not to distort the cut shape and size. Beginners are often tempted to iron their patchwork
to death. : : 4. When you are ironing your seams together do you iron both seams to : the same side? I figured you
ironed the one seam to one side the : other to the other side, then thinking of this I think that would : weaken the
tread. Now I have been reading all the treads seems I can : respond to the off topic ones best. Esp, if it has to do
with cooking : and c-pap. But when ironing seams do you not need steam? I have : noticed some of the travel irons you
all have mentioned have steam and : some do not. I want to get me a small iron because I am not running : down to the
basement every time I need to iron a seam. Which brings : up another question, I am sewing, well I am not, but let's
pretend I : am, two squares together, do I iron after I get two together or can I : wait until I get the entire row
sewn together to do the ironing? Think pressing instead of ironing. To press seam allowances to one side or open is
another debatable point. I generally prefer open seams but this is not possible on some blocks. It is also not
possible with anything that is sewn onto a foundation. However, the traditional "rule" is press to one
side, usually to the darker fabric. This started from the days of handsewn seams when finger pressing seams to one
side minimised the pressure put on seams / threads. With modern quality threads and sewing machines I do not find it
necessary to do this. When I teach beginners I have them make one set of four-patch blocks with seams pressed to one
side, and another set with seams pressed open. This shows them the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Then
they can make an informed decision on which way to go. But normally you would treat all seams in a quilt in a similar
manner. : : 5. I have yet to figure out how to cut a square, using the ruler, now : you all may laugh at this but I
am wondering if it would work if I got : my dad to take some good wood like maybe black walnut and cut me a 4", :
5", 6" square, sand it good, making sure he leaves enough that when he : is finished it is the right size,
maybe putting some kind of protector : on it and using these to cut the squares. Would this work? If so I : will
probably get him to make me a 1", 2", 2.5 and 3 inch one also. Trust me - a sharp cutter will slice bits of
even hardwood rulers, thereby ruining the ruler and the blade. Steel rulers are also not suitable as they wear
blades. And you can't see thru wood or steel. The great advantage to the perspex rulers you see in shops is that you
can see through them to line up edges correctly. You don't need a lot of rulers to begin with. For years I had only
one - 6 1/2" X 24". I now have a vast array of specialty rulers and templates (all perspex) but the basic
ruler is still the most used item. A good second ruler is a 6 1/2" X 12" ruler. : : 6. I also read
somewhere that you never cut more than 4 squares at a : time, is this also true? I start beginners cutting folded
fabric (two layers at a time). You need to get used to handling your cutter and ruler before you go stacking up
layers of fabric. If I am doing something basic (say - 4" squares) I have been known to cut up to 8 layers at
once. But the more layers the greater the chance for fabric slippage and error, and each error is multiplied by the
number of layers of fabric. Most cutting is done on fabric folded with the selvages together. Your fabric is about
45" wide so the folded fabric will be about 22-23" - hence the popularity of the 24" ruler for cutting.
It is just wider then the folded fabric. Remember when cutting folded fabric to align your ruler against the fold of
fabric. If you don't cut perpendicular (90deg) to the fold, when you open the strip you will have a V shape instead
of a long straight strip. You may need to trim your fabric to get a straight perpendicular edge before cutting your
strips too. Always put your ruler on the piece of fabric you want to keep. So to get a straight edge, put the ruler
on the big piece you want to cut from, and have just the bit you want to trim off extended out from the edge of the
ruler. This is so that if your blade "wanders" you are not cutting further into your fabric. When you want
to cut strips, you put your ruler onto the strip you want to keep and have the rest of your fabric extending beyond
the ruler. Then if your blade slips by 1/4" you still have your strip (say, 4" wide) intact, and you only
have to trim the 1/4" mistake off the rest of the fabric to get another straight edge to cut from. If you
"slipped" into your strip of fabric, you would have to cut another 4" strip. Keep the ruler between you
and the blade is also a good "rule". Try cutting strips across (side to side) and away from you to see
which is more comfortable, and cut in long steady stroke. DO NOT saw your fabric or push down so hard that your
knuckles glow white and you arms feel as if they are being dislocated. If your wrist is straight, and you apply
moderate pressure with a sharp blade on a bench that is the right height for you - you should not find cutting hard
work. Cutting lots of layers will also wear your blade and make you arms/shoulders ache so . . . . . . stick to single
fold / two layers for now. : : I act like I am going to start cutting tomorrow, but I am first going : to try some
pre-cut quilt tops before I get into any big time cutting, : because I just am not sure I can do it. Get some high
contrast cheap material and cut strips about 2-3" wide. Cross cut these into squares and practise sewing small
pieces together. This is NOT a waste of time. You will learn how to handle your cutter and ruler as well. Then sew
two contrasting strips together and cross cut them the same width as the original strips. Sew pairs together to get
four-patch blocks. This will teach you about matching seams. Measure your finished four-patch blocks to check the
accuracy of your seams. This is also a good time to compare pressing seams open or to one side. : : I have to start
PT Friday, which is going to be 3 days a week and also : is a 60 mile round trip so I am not so sure I am going to get
into any : sewing other than practicing for a while. This has caused my : excitement to dwindle just a little. : : I
also need a new pair of glasses so will get those, too before I : start any kind of project. Definitely get your
glasses before starting LOL Much safer for fingers, and definitely will give more accurate results Try to
get hold of a little book called Rx for Quilters. It is a paper back written by a doctor who happens to also be a
quilter. Easy to read in one sitting, it has lots of tips for painless quilting. http://tinyurl.com/rnfbn : : I am
sorry I have so many questions at one time, but I actually have a : few more but these are just the ones that came to
my mind tonight as I : was putting up my quilting purchases. : : Thanks for all your time and effort in answering these
questions, I am : sure you all are put out with me, but this is something I really, : really want to do. : : :
Jacqueline : http://www.mountain-breeze.com : Recipes and other fun things


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View entire thread: My Topsy Turvy quilt top
Posted by Susan Torrens on Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:22 PM    Post subject: Re: My Topsy Turvy quilt top

Thanks for the site reminder! I've been looking for interesting but simple quilt patterns to make for our local Project
Linus, and also for the community quilts project at my guild. Some of the members need a reminder that simple patterns
can look wonderful! Your Noah quilt is great. -- Susan in Kingston ON staying cool quilting in the basement
http://community.webshots.com/user/sbtinkingston "Donna in Idaho" <dnnaten@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4iksofF49ieiU1@individual.net... [quote:f9d5c12aa5]This Topsy Turvy quilt top is finished - if you want to take a
look-see click on: http://www.quiltingpassion.com/gallery/ - go down to Topsy Turvy, then click on Donna Aten to see my
quilt made from modern day Noah's Ark fabric. I'm not going to quilt it right away on purpose. It will be a Project
Linus quilt and since I'm hauling it around different places for display, I decided to just leave it as a top for now.
It's a free pattern from this website, and was a lot of fun to make. We plan on using the colored fabric squares that
kids will be coloring at a Fair this Saturday for Topsy Turvy quilt tops. -- Donna in Idaho Reply to donnaten at gmail
dot com [/quote:f9d5c12aa5]


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View entire thread: Kim's LeMoyne Star directions are great
Posted by Cats on Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:29 PM    Post subject: Re: Good Directions was - Kim's LeMoyne Star directions a

Sadly - and contrary to often held opinions - one good quilt does not make a good quilter, good quilters do not
necessarily make good teachers, and a good face-to-face teacher does not necessarily create good written notes. So
much of quilting is easier to demonstrate than to explain, and I often find myself wishing that designers/quilters who
publish would put more effort into their instructions. Even after 30+ years I am still bamboozled by some of the
instructions and descriptions that come with patterns. You are so right - hats off to those who take the time to be
sure they have got it right! I have just finished a class with a lady who is more of an embroiderer than a
quilter. She bought a pattern for a quilt with embroidered blocks. After making all the blocks (absolutely
gorgeous!!) the pattern read "sew blocks together and quilt as desired". The blocks were a mix of
rectangles and squares on point with sashing. My poor sewer had cut all her side trianlges with the bias on the long
edge and nothing would sit flat. We had to unpick the entire quilt top and I had to figure a way to use the triangles
she had cut as she had no more of the fabric. The pattern she had included fabric requirements and pictures, but no
instructions on quilt assembly or fabic cutting, and no warning that there was no actual pattern available. From the
outside (sealed) packaging I would have expected all the directions to have been included, so I cannot blame the poor
woman for being so annoyed. -- Cheryl & the Cats _ _ _ _ _ _ ( > Y < ) (
> Y < ) ( > Y < ) ~ ~ ~ Enness Boofhead Donut Now in
hibernation with a wake-up call for Spring! http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "Polly Esther" <mistercleen@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:99Qog.3221$NP4.2782@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net... : And another good one. I've been playing with 'Fast
Flying Geese'. : Quiltmaker #110 quiltmaker.com, July/August '06, "My Homeland Quilt" by : Cindy Baird. The
measurements and instructions are, down to the last : thread, just perfect. : My first (and last) experience with
geese was years ago and mighty : klutzy. These are really good. Hats off to writers who get it Just Right. : I'm
sure that's not as easy as it looks. Polly : : "Susan Laity Price" wrote> Several weeks ago someone on
this group posted : about the wonderful : > directions Kim had on her web site for the LeMoyne Star. According to :
> the post, by using Kim's directions marking was not necessary and the : > pieced block was very flat. This
Saturday I will be featuring the : > LeMoyne Star in the 30's Reproduction Club so thought I should try : >
Kim's directions. Thanks to Kim and to whoever posted calling it to : > our attention. The directions are wonderful!
Kim kindly gave me : > permission to print the directions for the club members. : > : > Try it you will like
it. (www.members.shaw.ca/kigraham) : > : > Warning: this is one of those "potato chip" type of
discoveries. Once : > you complete one block you will have to try it again and again. I : > wanted to have the
step by steps done so I could show them in fabric : > (pictures on web site are good but actual fabric is always
better for : > the club) I found myself finishing the complete block instead of : > stopping at the proper step
for my illustration! : > : > My original block came out a bit small so I moved my needle position : > one
click to the right. The remaining blocks have been right-on. This : > was a good reminder to make a sample block
before starting the : > assembly line for the entire quilt. The white background fabric is : > Kona which is a
little thicker. When the seams are pressed to the side : > and the fabric is a little thicker my blocks come out a
bit small. I : > am so thankful for our modern machines which allow us to move the : > needle very slightly. :
> : > Susan Price : > : :


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View entire thread: OT Pesto question
Posted by Sandy Ellison on Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:49 PM    Post subject: Re: OT Pesto question

Howdy! Wow, what a charming post. Thank you, Nicoletta, our little tomato. I have basil growing in the back yard,
next to the lavender bed. I'll go harvest some today, after I buy the pine nuts, and get to making the pesto. I'll dig
out the ice cube "tray", too, so I can freeze the extra. Thank you for the recipe and lesson. Cooking and
quilting are 2 things I really enjoy. ;-D Ragmop/Sandy On 6/26/06 4:40 AM, in article
1151314840.434665.229180@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "pomodoro" <tomatta@gmail.com> wrote:
[quote:a6caaa7e5e]Hi kathy.. and I to all.. Well.. I'm from the "pesto country", so I have to answer... isn't
it?? If I understand well you need to know if one cup of oil, and please, use only olive oil, is right for 4 cups of
basil leaves. Yes, I think that it's right. The real recipe tells so: 4 little bunch of basil leaves 1 glass of olive
oil (only olio extravergine, no one else) 2 cloves of garlic 1 spoon of pine seed (pinoli) ... it's not the same
without.. believe me if you can, and if you can eat pine seed (pinoli). some nuts .. but nuts of walnut... and not
toasted!!! salt (table salt) Well.. I know that now the mixer is the best tool that the science gaves to cooking.. but
here women use still the "mortaio" and "pestello"-.. How can I say?? uhm.. a little marble container
and a pestle.. pestello in italian.. and so pesto name is from "pestello"... because the basil leave are
pounded (to pound = pestare in italian), not mixed... ANyway.. we modern women can use mixer, maybe at low speed,
otherwise basil becames ugly to see (dark green, instead it must be brilliant green) and bitter taste .. so.. before we
must to mixer the garlic, them the basil leaves, and when the leaves makes a liquid, we put the pine seed and nuts.. Now
it's the time of cheese (I saw you are allergic to milk, maybe you can use a substitute??) and for the last, oil.. oil
must spilled slowly, not all together. Pesto is done!!! It's quickly, it's good. the best pasta for pesto is trofie, or
spaghetti, or gnocchi. In pesto there is no tomatoes. You can put pesto in refrigerator, it can stay a week, but be sure
oil covers the pesto sauce. And you can put pesto in freezer for one or two months. Ouhh I use the container for ice..
those to make little cubes of ice.. sorry I don't know the right name.. :0( I hope you can understand me.. So I put
pesto instead of water, and down in freezer.. and when I need some pesto.. voilà the right portion (one cube of pesto)
for one person!!! :0)) Anyway, I know that personal taste is different.. :0) ciao,,, and have a good meal!!!
nicoletta Kathy Applebaum wrote: Oh, yeah. Now I remember why last spring that little nagging voice inside my head
convinced me not to buy any more than two sweet basil plants. Thank goodness I listened to it! (But I did get a Thai
basil plant, too.) *grin* So, I go out this morning and pinch back all the basil flowers, and end up with about 4 cups
of leaves to use. Great! I'll make pesto before work. Got a vegan recipe off the net, and went at it. It called for 4
cups of leaves, a half cup of toasted nuts (I used pecans because I find pignoli are vile), garlic, salt, and a cup of
olive oil. Threw the dry stuff into the food processor, turned it on, and started drizzling the oil in. I stopped when
the mixture just wouldn't incorporate any more oil, and found I'd used only a quarter cup. It tasted good, so I stopped
there. The problem is I'm not sure what texture I'm really supposed to end up with. Being allergic to milk, I almost
never have pesto (good luck trying to find a cheese-free pesto in a large grocery store, and I wish you even better luck
at finding a parking spot at the food co-op!). Does a cup of oil for four cups of loosely packed leaves really sound
right? Right now it's a rather thick paste -- is that the texture I'm shooting for? (This is about the texture of vegan
pesto on the rare occasions when I find it -- the heat of the pasta loosens it up considerably, and a good tablespoon of
it will coat a good sized bowl of pasta). Help! -- Kathy A. (Woodland, CA) Queen of Fabric Tramps
http://www.kayneyquilting.com , mailto:KathyA@KayneyNOSPAMQuilting.com remove the obvious to reply [/quote:a6caaa7e5e]


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View entire thread: Need quilting suggestions
Posted by Anonymous on Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:05 PM    Post subject: Re: Need quilting suggestions

this is cute Michelle "Carole-Retired and Loving It" <caroledoyle@nospam.alltel.net> wrote in message
news:3b4cc25rib3ln1qsng1fpnbqmkekrsglqt@4ax.com... [quote:9acb3cde80]On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 07:05:26 GMT, Debra
<debnbilll@worldnet.att.net wrote: I wish I had a picture of the quilt in question. The cat quilting depends so
much on the type of cat applique. You might want to add more definition to the cat's shape, or just do fur lines. Here
is a WebShots link to the wall hanging in process. The cat gets buttons for eyes and embroidered features. The machine
gets buttons on the right as knobs and dials. Most of the pinwheels won't be pink like these, but will be the
background fabric in place of the pin. The pink will be randomly placed just to add a punch.
http://community.webshots.com/album/552543942NjQqnO I might be able to do a scrolling design on the machine, although
the shape of the machine is more modern than old. I'll have to ponder that. The background fabric does lend it self to
following the pattern design with a stipple-like effect. I think it's the cat itself that is bothering me the most.
Carole in Northwest GA - Retired and loving it! Homepage - http://home.alltel.net/caroledoyle/[/quote:9acb3cde80]


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View entire thread: Need quilting suggestions
Posted by Roberta Zollner on Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:29 PM    Post subject: Re: Need quilting suggestions

So cute! There are various considerations re quilting. Do you plan to wash it for a crinkly effect? (Assuming cotton
batting). How much quilting do you plan to do on the pinwheels? Since they are in the border, they will look ripply if
quilted a lot less than the center. I would do parallel vertical lines on the sewing machine, possibly also outlining
a control panel, for example. SITD around the ribbon. Fill in the kitty with curly swirls, or mactavish feathers. Then
the background, including the pinwheels, with rather tight "jigsaw puzzle" stippling. Roberta in D "
Carole-Retired and Loving It" <caroledoyle@nospam.alltel.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:3b4cc25rib3ln1qsng1fpnbqmkekrsglqt@4ax.com... [quote:8636712d14]On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 07:05:26 GMT, Debra
<debnbilll@worldnet.att.net wrote: I wish I had a picture of the quilt in question. The cat quilting depends so
much on the type of cat applique. You might want to add more definition to the cat's shape, or just do fur lines. Here
is a WebShots link to the wall hanging in process. The cat gets buttons for eyes and embroidered features. The machine
gets buttons on the right as knobs and dials. Most of the pinwheels won't be pink like these, but will be the
background fabric in place of the pin. The pink will be randomly placed just to add a punch.
http://community.webshots.com/album/552543942NjQqnO I might be able to do a scrolling design on the machine, although
the shape of the machine is more modern than old. I'll have to ponder that. The background fabric does lend it self to
following the pattern design with a stipple-like effect. I think it's the cat itself that is bothering me the most.
Carole in Northwest GA - Retired and loving it! Homepage - http://home.alltel.net/caroledoyle/[/quote:8636712d14]


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View entire thread: Need quilting suggestions
Posted by Carole-Retired and Loving on Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:55 PM    Post subject: Re: Need quilting suggestions

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 07:05:26 GMT, Debra <debnbilll@worldnet.att.net> wrote: [quote:cc28b867bd]I wish I had a
picture of the quilt in question. The cat quilting depends so much on the type of cat applique. You might want to add
more definition to the cat's shape, or just do fur lines. [/quote:cc28b867bd] Here is a WebShots link to the wall
hanging in process. The cat gets buttons for eyes and embroidered features. The machine gets buttons on the right as
knobs and dials. Most of the pinwheels won't be pink like these, but will be the background fabric in place of the pin.
The pink will be randomly placed just to add a punch. http://community.webshots.com/album/552543942NjQqnO I might be
able to do a scrolling design on the machine, although the shape of the machine is more modern than old. I'll have to
ponder that. The background fabric does lend it self to following the pattern design with a stipple-like effect. I
think it's the cat itself that is bothering me the most. Carole in Northwest GA - Retired and loving it! Homepage -
http://home.alltel.net/caroledoyle/


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View entire thread: Good, Better or Best?
Posted by Cats on Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:50 AM    Post subject: Re: Good, Better or Best?

BTW - our quilters here in town buy some things as a group for better prices. Do you have other quilters nearby? For
instance a roll of batting lasts no time here so we get the best price when buying without one person having to buy
and store for a long time. And we get cotton (in basic/neutral colours) in large enough quantities to attract an
extra discount. Also cutter blades in bulk, and sewing machine needles. Lot's of things. Every little bit helps.
More dollars to spend on fabric. -- Cheryl & the Cats in OZ o o o o o o ( > Y
< ) ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) Enness Boofhead Donut
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "Cats"
<CATS@NO.SPAM.com> wrote in message news:454a7cc6_4@news.chariot.net.au... : lol - I am assuming that this
(butter) meant as a good : thing! It just sounded funny. : : We (quilters in my region) use mostly Wool/poly blend in :
Australia (probably where modern wool blend batting was : developed as Matilda's Own and Nu-Wool have been around here
: for years and years and years . . . ) and I rarely consider : anything else. I know that in the US you are all used
to : cotton and cotton blend batting, but after my first few : quilts using American cotton batts I chanced across wool
and : have never gone back. : : Matilda's own now has some new wool blend batting including : wool/alpaca, wool/mohair
and wool/silk. The alpaca is SO : warm and light, and the silk is just plain drop dead : gorgeous to work with. And
yes - they are more expensive. : But one of my sewers was making a wedding quilt and when I : suggested splurging on a
wool/silk batt she moaned at the : price. But we worked out that is added only about 10-12% to : the overall price
(not a big quilt) and made it so special : it was worth it. I would not use the more expensive silk : batting in a kids
snuggle quilt that was to be washed every : week, but I might in a baby christening gift. : : I tend to consider the
end use when looking at the cost of a : quilt. I will use good quality but cheaper materials in : quilts that are
going to be worn to death in a few years. I : will spend whatever I can afford to get the best for that : special gift
that I hope to see around and still in use in : 20 years time. : : I have all my students keep a record of what they
spend on : their quilts, and they often express shock at the final : ost - quickly followed by comments like "oh
yeah, but it's : worth it!". You need to be aware of the cost, but keep it : in perspective. What would you
spend on another hobby/craft : that produced such an outcome. : : For the record, wool blend washes like a dream and is
great : to quilt - IMNSHO worth every cent. : : And you haven't learned the meaning of "expensive" until you
: buy quilting fabric in a LQS in Australia or Europe rofl! : -- : : Cheryl & the Cats in OZ : o o
o o o o : ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) : Enness Boofhead Donut :
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest : catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau : : : "teleflora"
<teleflora@hotmail.com> wrote in message : news:c_o2h.93528$eE7.70230@newsfe19.lga... :: ::
<sriddles@aol.com> wrote in message :: : news:1162479485.797636.67770@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... :: :: >
:: > Other question, off original topic: Do any of you ever : use Heirloom :: > Wool batting? I looked at some
yesterday, it felt so : nice I was really :: > tempted (but there I go again, it was expensive!) Does : it wash okay?
:: > Does it work well for hand quilting? :: :: This is the only portion of your post that I feel : comfortable
addressing: :: :: Wool Batt quilts like butter! :: :: Cindy :: :: : :


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View entire thread: Good, Better or Best?
Posted by Cats on Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:16 AM    Post subject: Re: Good, Better or Best?

lol - I am assuming that this (butter) meant as a good thing! It just sounded funny. We (quilters in my region) use
mostly Wool/poly blend in Australia (probably where modern wool blend batting was developed as Matilda's Own and Nu-
Wool have been around here for years and years and years . . . ) and I rarely consider anything else. I know that in
the US you are all used to cotton and cotton blend batting, but after my first few quilts using American cotton batts
I chanced across wool and have never gone back. Matilda's own now has some new wool blend batting including
wool/alpaca, wool/mohair and wool/silk. The alpaca is SO warm and light, and the silk is just plain drop dead
gorgeous to work with. And yes - they are more expensive. But one of my sewers was making a wedding quilt and when I
suggested splurging on a wool/silk batt she moaned at the price. But we worked out that is added only about 10-12% to
the overall price (not a big quilt) and made it so special it was worth it. I would not use the more expensive silk
batting in a kids snuggle quilt that was to be washed every week, but I might in a baby christening gift. I tend to
consider the end use when looking at the cost of a quilt. I will use good quality but cheaper materials in quilts
that are going to be worn to death in a few years. I will spend whatever I can afford to get the best for that
special gift that I hope to see around and still in use in 20 years time. I have all my students keep a record of what
they spend on their quilts, and they often express shock at the final ost - quickly followed by comments like
"oh yeah, but it's worth it!". You need to be aware of the cost, but keep it in perspective. What would
you spend on another hobby/craft that produced such an outcome. For the record, wool blend washes like a dream and is
great to quilt - IMNSHO worth every cent. And you haven't learned the meaning of "expensive" until you buy
quilting fabric in a LQS in Australia or Europe rofl! -- Cheryl & the Cats in OZ o o o o
o o ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) Enness Boofhead Donut
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "teleflora"
<teleflora@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:c_o2h.93528$eE7.70230@newsfe19.lga... : : <sriddles@aol.com>
wrote in message : news:1162479485.797636.67770@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... : : > : > Other question, off
original topic: Do any of you ever use Heirloom : > Wool batting? I looked at some yesterday, it felt so nice I was
really : > tempted (but there I go again, it was expensive!) Does it wash okay? : > Does it work well for hand
quilting? : : This is the only portion of your post that I feel comfortable addressing: : : Wool Batt quilts like
butter! : : Cindy : :


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View entire thread: need opinions, not flattery
Posted by Debra on Tue Aug 01, 2006 5:14 PM    Post subject: Re: need opinions, not flattery

On 31 Jul 2006 15:58:36 -0700, "Sunny" <shemphill@genext.net> wrote: [quote:74c2409356]Thanks! These
are the kinds of comments I need. No, I have no idea if I can pull this off. I figured I'd just paint the sky and then
start cutting out applique pieces. LOL. Maybe more simple is a good idea. And yes, the wolf will be somewhere. Need to
find one to fussy cut. I love the idea of making her more modern. Maybe I need to revisit some ideas on the cape and
what she's wearing. The discomfort is just..... me. I wrote for a living. Bam, along comes this stupid disease that has
left me with some issues that make it impossible to earn a living. Or even to write the way I used to. I took up
quilting because I'd had a class and it let me have fabric. I'm really nervous about my skills and about my ideas. As
for the rounds, there aren't any. We each do our own quiltlet and they'll be connected for the quilt show in November
with red tabs. Anyhow, keep it coming, I love this and it's helpful Sunny [/quote:74c2409356] Sunny, to help update Red
to modern time, how about Red carrying a shopping bag from a big name designer store instead of a basket? Or maybe you
could get one of those teeny tiny gift bags and use that on the quilt to add a third dimension? If you can't find a bag
the perfect color you could always cover one with fabric before adding it to the quilt. Debra in VA See my quilts at
http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere


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Posted by Cats on Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:38 AM    Post subject: Re: need opinions, not flattery

I see RR in a bright red raincoat with a hood and long red boots. Maybe even net stockings quilted on LOL! Wow -
wouldn't vinyl be fabulous? But don't even try to applique that stuff. Got any satin scraps? Leap forward. Be
brave. It's meant to teach you something. -- Cheryl & the Cats _ _ _ _ _ _ ( >
Y < ) ( > Y < ) ( > Y < ) ~ ~ ~ Enness Boofhead
Donut Now in hibernation with a wake-up call for Spring! http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau "Sunny" <shemphill@genext.net> wrote in message
news:1154386716.825369.65990@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com... : Thanks! These are the kinds of comments I need. No, I
have no idea if I : can pull this off. I figured I'd just paint the sky and then start : cutting out applique pieces.
LOL. Maybe more simple is a good idea. : And yes, the wolf will be somewhere. Need to find one to fussy cut. : : I
love the idea of making her more modern. Maybe I need to revisit some : ideas on the cape and what she's wearing. : :
The discomfort is just..... me. I wrote for a living. Bam, along comes : this stupid disease that has left me with some
issues that make it : impossible to earn a living. Or even to write the way I used to. I took : up quilting because
I'd had a class and it let me have fabric. I'm : really nervous about my skills and about my ideas. : : As for the
rounds, there aren't any. We each do our own quiltlet and : they'll be connected for the quilt show in November with
red tabs. : : Anyhow, keep it coming, I love this and it's helpful : Sunny : > : > : > : > : > :


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View entire thread: need opinions, not flattery
Posted by Sunny on Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:58 PM    Post subject: Re: need opinions, not flattery

Thanks! These are the kinds of comments I need. No, I have no idea if I can pull this off. I figured I'd just paint the
sky and then start cutting out applique pieces. LOL. Maybe more simple is a good idea. And yes, the wolf will be
somewhere. Need to find one to fussy cut. I love the idea of making her more modern. Maybe I need to revisit some ideas
on the cape and what she's wearing. The discomfort is just..... me. I wrote for a living. Bam, along comes this stupid
disease that has left me with some issues that make it impossible to earn a living. Or even to write the way I used to.
I took up quilting because I'd had a class and it let me have fabric. I'm really nervous about my skills and about my
ideas. As for the rounds, there aren't any. We each do our own quiltlet and they'll be connected for the quilt show in
November with red tabs. Anyhow, keep it coming, I love this and it's helpful Sunny [quote:2f269d8bd0]
[/quote:2f269d8bd0]


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