Prepare your quilt for binding

I am actually one of those people who likes the process of hand-stitching the binding to the quilt.  It is relaxing to sit in my comfy chair with the finished quilt top draped across my legs.

For today's post, I thought I'd share a couple of things I do to prepare my larger quilts before attaching the binding to ensure great results.

Finish the edges of the quilt

I send many of my larger quilts to my LAQ and pay just a little bit more to have her square off the quilt and to serge the edges.  This nice neat finish provides a great foundation for the binding itself.

Label

Labeling your quilt is important.  My go to label is a triangle made by folding a square of fabric in half.  Before sewing on my binding, I attach two of the three sides to a corner of the quilt.  The third side (the fold) is sewn down by hand.  (See my post on labels.)

Press then seam

I cut my bindings at 2 1/4'' which gives me a narrow binding on the front and just enough to cover the serged edge on the back.  I always press my bindings in half before attaching and found it cumbersome to bring a long binding to the ironing board.  For one thing, the binding ended up on the ground and collected dust and threads from my floor.

Now I press each WOF strip individually.  Once the strips are joined, I come back with a quick press just on the join points.

How do you prep your quilts for binding?

I'll be linking with Tips & Tutorials Tuesdays.


Have a wonderful day! Patty

improv QAL - wonky geese

Click here to go to the One Monthly Goal March link-up.

For overall information on play, the improv QAL, please see the QAL kickoff as well the main event page.  

The improv QAL has a set of basic rules -

• you are in charge
• make what you want
• don't follow a pattern
• play with fabric
• experiment

Anything goes here.

This is your project, your creativity. 

There will be weekly prompts each Monday, through April 3.  The prompts so far have been wonky log cabin , the half triangle block. and  stack, cut & sew.

The flying geese block is my favorite traditional block.  I use the block as often as I can and nothing makes me happier than seeing a flock of geese flying across a quilt top.

The wonky geese block is about using scrap triangles of different sizes and shapes to create blocks that represent or vaguely remind you of a traditional flying geese block.


Today's prompt is -

Cut triangles of all sizes and assemble wonky geese

 Produce a mini or create blocks to be assembled together with other blocks from the QAL.

Remember, this prompt is just the start of this week's assignment.  Embrace it or ignore it.

This is one of my favorite improv minis so far.

Some tips & ideas -

• Dip into your scrap bin to find bits of leftover fabric from other trimmings

• Add strips to the side or the bottom so your geese don't all fly in a straight line

• Make geese of different sizes to create interest

• Once strip of geese is assembled, trim off sides to get a straight edge

• Use additional fabric of the background color to frame or further offset the blocks

See my mini progress in pictures - 

If you've got a lot of scrappy triangles from trimming other blocks, you can build a big flock of flying geese.

Remember - anything goes here.  It is your project, your creativity coming through.  Don't be afraid to experiment.  This might feel uncomfortable but don't give up - keep working through to the end product.

• Share your progress via Instagram  and/or  Elm Street Quilts QAL Facebook Group 

• Use #playimprovqal to earn entries towards one of the QAL prizes.  

• Blog link-up opens March 13 for another way to share your progress!

• See main event page and the kickoff post for more information.

Next prompt Monday, March 13.  Here's a sneak peak.

My quilt top will be linked up with  Main Crush Monday's,   Freemotion by the River,   WIP Wednesday's,  Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers.  Fabric Frenzy Friday,  Finish it Up Friday and Finished or Not Friday.   My improv quilt top is finish #10 for 2017 - all minis so far.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

QuiltCon 2017 - A personal reflection

Click here to go to the One Monthly Goal March link-up.

QuiltCon is an annual conference devoted to all things quilts presented by the Modern Quilt Guild.  QuiltCon East, held in Savannah, was the 4th instance of the conference and the first on the east coast. (The 2018 event will be held in Pasadena and the 2019 event in Nashville.)

What is QuiltCon all about?

There are classes, workshops, lectures, demos, quilts, vendors, fabric, and many opportunities to volunteer and get involved.  If you every have the opportunity to attend Quilt Con, GO!!   There is so much about the experience that I want to share - this could be a very long post!

Much of the action took place in a set of classrooms as well as the large event floor which opened at 10 am each day (Thursday through Sunday).  Each morning. there was always a large crowd of quilters ready to charge the floor the moment the gate opened.  Some were there with only small amounts of spare time before their class or lecture and wanted to use every spare minute to see the quilts or visit the vendors.

Others were there for the swag.  (Swag = free stuff).  Cotton and Steel handed out bags with fabric inside, Aurifil ran a jigsaw puzzle completion competition with thread as a prize.  Many other booths had you spin a wheel for a chance to win fabric.

On day one, I was there in the crowd at the door to see the quilts.  When the gates opened, I noticed a group of women running towards Cotton and Steel and I did what any other quilter would do, I followed them!  It was such fun and I enabled some friends on other mornings by taking them on that morning run. It was fun to collect fabric and bags and stuff!

Swag collected, I spent most of Thursday walking the quilts.  They were everywhere.  (I heard second hand that over 1700 quilts were submitted and there were 300-ish hanging in the show.  Don't know if these are official numbers but likely close enough.)

The quilts that follow are just a small subset of the awesomeness that was at the show.  I walked the floor several times, often retracing my steps and discovering a quilt I had missed the first time.

(Row 1) Susan Bleiweiss (@suebleiweiss), Brittany Burton (@brittanybowenburton) & quilted by Nataline Bonner (@nataliabonner), Anne Sullivan
(Row 2) - Angela Watters (@angelafmq),Sherri Cifaldi-Morrill, Sylvia Schaefer (@flyparrotquilts))
(Row 3) - Kathleen Carragee (Jr Member), Cassandra Beaver (@cassandra.beaver), Katherine Jones (@twocatsquilts)

The quilt in the bottom corner by Katherine Jones won Best of Show.  The quilt is called Bling and is paper pieced.  She said it took 160 hours just to put together the quilt top.  This photo doesn't really do it justice.

You can hear more about this quilt from Katherine (Kat) herself in this special podcast episode from Abby Glassenberg.

(Row 1) Cheryl Brickey (@Meadowmistdesigns), Stephanie Ruye (@spontaneousthreads), Chawne Kimber @cauchycomplete)
(Row 2) - Sarah Mckee (@sarahjamckee), Amy Ellis (@amyscreativeside), Shelby Skumanich (@goshomesmovies)
(Row 3) - Lynda Hutchison (@artfultoo), Laura Bennett (@drbennett), Marla Vaner (@pennylanequilts)

(Row 1) Chawne Kimber (@cauchycomplete), Diana Van Deyar (@dianavandeyar), Paige Alexander (@quiltedblooms)
(Row 2) - Elaine Poplin (@messygoat), Kim Soper (@lelandarestudios), Frances ODowell (@offkilterquilter)
(Row 3) - Anne Hammand (@brokenladderquilt), Liz Harvatine (@ladyharvantine), Kristen Sheids (@kristinsheids)

Two of these quilts pictured in the collages above are made by people that I am lucky enough to have as a friend.  I am so proud of them - both of these quilts won ribbons.  Mustard by Paige and Birds in the Air by Frances.

Modern quilt guilds were invited to make a charity quilt for display at the event using a specific color palette with a focus on scale.  I was excited to see our quilt from the Triangle MQG hanging at the show.

It was great fun to bump into guild members at the show.  We easily had twenty people at the event from the Raleigh area!

My favorite part about the event was actually the opportunity to volunteer and I did several 4 hour shifts.  I had the opportunity to work registration on Wednesday and met a lot of people that day.

However, the most fun volunteer shift was sitting at the floor entrance to make sure people had their badges / tickets.  Quilters seem to be an honest bunch so there wasn't much to do other than answer questions.  It was, however, a perfect spot to see some of the greats in the industry.   And, yes, I did the fan-girl bit and asked them for selfies.  Everyone was gracious and wonderful.

Here are just some of the selfies I collected.

You may recognize Christa Watson, Mary Fons, Stephanie Palmer & Merel Birdblocks (row 1), Pam Cobb (1/2 of the Stitch TV show), Jenny Doan, Paige Alexandra,, (row 2);  Abby Glassenberg, Yvonne Fuchs  and a sailor from Savannah.(row 3)

If you've ever the opportunity to attend QuiltCon, go and schedule some time to volunteer.  It is a great way to meet people.

Sadly, I didn't take any time (other than walking to dinner) to see the beautiful city of Savannah.  Here are some photos at the convention center or near my hotel. I took a ferry every day to the convention center (center photo).  It was a short 3 minute ride and lots of fun.

(Row 1) - View of city from conference center, View of bridge, Waving Girl Statue
(Row 2) Large ship filled with containers, Ferry, Street in Savannah
(Row 3) Sign in conference, Street in Savannah, Conference Center

It was sad to leave the event and head home.  My heart was full with wonderful memories and my car was filled with conference swag.

Have a wonderful day! Patty