Happy Halloween

Until Later,

Lynn

Sketchbook Quilting–Continuous Flying Geese

I keep a sketchbook handy to draw out quilting patterns I want to remember and to draw out the step by step procedures of how they would be stitched so I can go back to it later and browse for ideas or to see how it is done.  This is just a notebook of white paper that can be purchased in a lot of places.  I think I got mine at Hobby Lobby but believe I have seen them at discount stores too.  It doesn’t matter how heavy the paper is and I suppose you could even use lined paper notebooks if you wanted to but the solid white paper is less distracting.
Here is a scanned page from my book – I know it is hard to see exactly what I drew from this photo but scroll down on the page and I have cropped the individual steps and posted larger photos of them.  This design I call Continuous Flying Geese and is one I came up with when I wanted to quilt a wavy flying geese design on a quilt border.  I don’t have the quilt to photograph but hope you get the idea from the design step outs.  This is what the design would look like all stitched out.  The line of triangle flying geese could be any shape or length you want or need.The first thing to do is to draw registration marks on your quilt using the marking device of your choice.  Use something that can be removed in case your stitching does not follow your markings exactly.  You will mark outside lines, center line and then cross lines to indicate the spaces between geese units.  Make sure to angle the cross lines to follow the curves.Step 1 - Start stitching at the bottom corner – either side is fine but since I am left handed I started on the bottom left which feels more natural for me but you could mirror image it if this feels wrong.  Which ever side you start on you will want to draw/stitch the same on all geese.  You stitch from the bottom corner to the peak of the first goose then down to the bottom corner of that goose.Step 2 – draw/stitch across the bottom to finish the goose unit.Step 3 – Stitch from the initial starting point up the side to the starting bottom corner of the next goose.  You will stitch this goose the same way as the one below.  Follow the arrows to see how it is done.Step 4 - Continue stitching the geese units up the line keeping your connecting line of stitches on one side.  When you reach the top goose you draw/stitch across the top then down the long side that has not been stitched.
Now wasn’t that easy?  These drawings are taken directly from scans of my sketchbook so are a little messy but they tell me what I need to know if I want to stitch this design again.

The best advice I can give you about stitching a new design is to draw it and draw it until the path and shapes are imbedded in your mind.   I doodle quilting designs on scrap paper and envelopes I pull out of the trash when I am talking on the telephone or watching TV.  If I come up with something new then I draw it in my sketchbook to refer to later.

Happy Quilting,
Lynn

Links List #2 For Quilters

Links.....Links.....Links and more Sewing/Quilting Related Links!

Freedigitalphotos.net  http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Have you had time to go through the last link list I posted yet?  Here is another list of quilting and sewing websites to check out and enjoy.  I did have time to check out all the links below and as of today the links are all working.  Again – this is a list of links I gathered and bookmarked to send to the newsletter gal to be published in our quilt guild newsletter and decided to share the wealth with you all.  Enjoy!

 Pixabay  http://pixabay.com/

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/4981 slide show International Quilt Festival long Beach 2012
https://sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-accents/haunted-halloween-dead-roses-witch-hat make a witches hat
https://sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-accents/haunted-halloween-crazy-cape Make a crazy cape for Halloween
http://www.singerco.com/projects projcets from Singer
http://www.henryglassfabrics.com/projects/new-free-projects/ free projects from Henry Glass
http://sewkaren-lycreated.blogspot.com/2010/10/applique-outside-box-literally.html make a fabric covered box
http://www.quiltsforkids.org/volunteer/ volunteer to make quilts for kids
http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/2010/03/iron-cozytutorial.html travel iron cozy
http://quilting.about.com/od/babyquiltpatterns/Free_Baby_Quilt_Patterns.htm free baby quilt patterns
http://berlinswhimsy.typepad.com/berlins_whimsy/2009/10/swiffer-cover-sewing-pattern.html swiffer cover pattern
http://www.sew-much-ado.com/2010/02/tutorial-reusable-swiffer-duster-cloths.html swifter duster cloths
http://exuberantcolor.blogspot.com/2010/03/lesson-on-value.html lesson on value
http://teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/pegchaunceycramer/mary%E2%80%99s-gift/ story
http://www.quiltmuseum.org/ National Quilt Museum
http://www.justhands-on.tv/ quilt videos
http://katrinastutorials.blogspot.com/ fabric ornament
http://www.patchworkposse.com/blog/2008/12/apron-tutorial/ apron tutorial
http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/05/basket-liner.html basket liner
http://rjrfabrics.com/patterns/new_patterns.cfm many free patterns
http://www.craftypod.com/2009/09/15/how-to-make-stiffened-fabric-jewelry/ stiffened Fabric Jewelry
http://www.makoweruk.com/projects/ free projects from Makower UK
http://ajpadilla.com/patterns free patterns
http://ajpadilla.com/tutorials/beginners-corner/hand-piecing-tutorial learn to hand piece
http://andsewitgoes.blogspot.com/2006/04/my-fusing-method.html fusing with Liquid Thread
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-calculate-quilt-measurements.html calculating quilt measurements
http://www.patchworkposse.com/blog/2008/10/slipper-mania/ tutorial slippers
http://www.birdbraindesigns.net/ click on "free designs" for free embroidery designs
http://connectionsbykaren.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-sewing-machine-adventure-with.html id your machine and quilts - personal story
http://sew-whats-new.com/ lots of sewing videos
http://blog.fabshophop.com/blog/?p=2723 free quilt pattern
http://tropicalapplique.blogspot.com/p/pictorial-tutorial-template-free.html back basting applique tutorial
http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/quilting_projects/ lots of free quilt patterns
http://quiltinglibrary.blogspot.com/ casserole carrier patterns
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=176509.0 cosmetic bag
http://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Hexagon how to draw hexagons
http://www.pfaffusa.com/media/Projects/HangerCover.pdf secret pocket hanger cover
http://www.pfaffusa.com/690.html Click on word Inspiration for free projects
http://pursepatterns.com/free_bag_patterns.html adjustable bag handle tutorial and other free purse patterns
http://www.annharwell.com/ quilt artist Ann Harwell
http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/free-downloads/ free quilting designs from Patsy Thompson
http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2011/09/quilt-too-big-hang-it-up.htmlsolution for quilting large quilts
http://weddingdressblue.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/tutorial-fading-charms-quilt/ Fading Charms Quilt

 ClipArt ETC.  http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/

The three photos above were taken from websites that offer free clip art or free to use photos.  I have linked the images to the webpages they came from and have the name of the website and it's web address below each image.  I know I have a hard time finding images that are truly free to use in my blog and thought you might too so check out these three.

Until Later,
Lynn

Secret Life of the Sewing Machine

Brilliant video of history and the workings of the sewing machine.  This 25 minute video is so well done and love the way he shows and explains how the sewing machine developed and the changes it went through to get to the machines we purchase today.  Love the way he shows how the threads interlock to make the stitches as well.

Until later,
Lynn