I've been invited by my second sister to speak to the quilt group that meets at her church. She would like me to do a Show and Tell and Tips presentation on March 10th. I spent some time thinking about the quilts and wallhangings and unfinished work here, and think I could easily take 25 pieces to show. The hard part is limiting it to 25. A few years ago I decided to keep some of my work rather than giving it all away, and I didn't realize how many quilted items I'd amassed.
The first Friday of every month a quilting bee meets here at Chez Buffy. I was thinking about the "Tips" part of the presentation. I'm able to give tips to beginners and intermediate quilters, but I realized that I had the opportunity to ask my bee what tips they thought were most important for beginners.
Seven women join Elegante Mother and me to make up this bee, and I am the least prolific quilter among them. One of the ladies is a certified quilt appraiser. Another is a member of the local professional art quilter's association, and another is the most amazing applique artist I know. Another brings her eight year old daughter who is a budding quilter.
We settled in last night with cups of hot tea to tide us against that cold wind, and had our show and tell. Then I asked each of them for the tip they felt was most important. It didn't work that way. There was silence for a moment as they thought, and then one started and the tips came fast and furious. I was hard-pressed to keep up with them as I took notes. These are the tips they gave me:
1. Use good fabric.
2. Take classes and ASK QUESTIONS!
3. Do what you like. Of course, we mean choose colors and techniques that you enjoy.
4. It's okay not to finish something.
5. There are some things NOTHING will help.
6. It's okay to have more than one project at a time but try to keep the number under three
digits. (*G*)
7. Don't be too "matchy-matchy" when choosing fabric.
8. Colors cycle through the market. If you see a color you need or like, BUY IT! That bolt
won't be there in 90 days, and that color probably won't be available next year.
9. Change the needle in your sewing machine with every new project.
10. Look for long-staple 100% cotton thread. If thread feels dusty or "linty" don't buy it.
11. Learn how to clean your machine, and keep it clean, especially the bobbin casing.
12. Read the machine manual and keep it near the machine!
13. Know your sewing machine's quarter of an inch measurement. Keep in mind that the
size of the needle, the weight of the thread, and the kind of fabric will all have an affect on
sewing a perfect quarter of an inch.
14. When taking a class, make sure it suits your skill level. If the class level is not posted,
ASK what it is.
15. Keep your rotary cutter closed when not in use.
To those fifteen, I'd add:
1. Don't change sewing machines in the middle of a project.
2. Periodically refold the fabric in your stash so that the folds don't weaken the fabric.
3. Store your stash away from light to avoid fading.
4. When displaying quilts in your home, place them where they will not receive direct
sunlight. Even bright indirect light can fade fabrics.
5. Look into acid-free archival storage boxes, especially for older quilts.
6. When making an all-cotton quilt, avoid cotton-covered polyester thread. Buy the best
100% long-staple cotton thread you can afford.
7. One of the bee members and I are fond of saying that we have never walked away from a
class without learning something new. Don't be afraid to take a class in a new technique.
Even if you decide that technique is not for you, you will have learned something that will
improve your piecing or quilting, so it's worthwhile.
8. Keep a quilt journal, listing the projects you've made, dating the work, showing who owns the pieces and a picture of the finished work.
9. Create labels for your work, with your name, the date completed, and your town. Also list if anyone else worked on the quilt with you, and who the owner is, if it is a gift. At the very least, write the information on the back of the quilt.
Quilting can be a solitary activity, but it's at it's best when it's shared!
Comments (11)
Thanks for reporting on the good tips, here, for us, Buffy!
Posted by Cop Car | March 4, 2007 7:37 AM
Posted on March 4, 2007 07:37
Cop Car, I've thought of two more tips.
1. Set the stitches in your seams. Sew a seam and then press it (unopened) to set the stitches in the fabric. Then, open the seam and press it toward the darkest fabric, when possible.
2. When the top is finished, before you layer it with the batting and backing, take the time to clean the back of loose threads that will show through when your project is quilted.
Cop Car, have you had the chance to hear any more famous lecturers at your quilt guild? I bet you've been away so much that you haven't been there for a while, but I need to live vicariously. Do tell!
Posted by buffy | March 4, 2007 5:10 PM
Posted on March 4, 2007 17:10
It's been nearly a year since my last attendance at a Prairie Quilt Guild meeting. Red Cross takes precedence since I am not a dyed-in-the-wool quilter. Other Red Cross volunteers seem to favor the same days/times as the guild meetings, for Red Cross committee meetings. As the committee chair is employed, it's hard for me to tell her that she must pick different days/times. Committee meetings have kept me away from at least four or five meetings.
One or two meetings, I just didn't remember (yes, I was busy at the Red Cross office.) For one or two meetings, I was out of town--serving on disaster or in Red Cross training. I haven't even been to guild to pay my dues and am now six months in arrears.
Posted by Cop Car | March 5, 2007 7:59 AM
Posted on March 5, 2007 07:59
I wondered if Red Cross activities were taking precidence over the quilt guild. You've been so incredibly busy getting up to speed with all the classes and certification, and I don't really see how you could do both. Perhaps there will be a time in the future when you get back to it. (I hope, I hope!)
Posted by buffy | March 5, 2007 4:21 PM
Posted on March 5, 2007 16:21
After all of the time that I've spent in class--in Wichita, Des Moines, Hutchinson, and Chicago--I will be going out to teach. And guess what I'm teaching--not anything that I've had a class in. It is the nation-wide Red Cross computer system that is used to track and report cases. This was the first real assignment that I had on Katrina--when they pointed me at a computer and told me that I would have to figure out how to use it because no one else in the Chapter knew it. And, I don't even DO case work--just input them into the system after case workers have seen the clients.
Posted by Cop Car | March 6, 2007 8:04 AM
Posted on March 6, 2007 08:04
Isn't that amazing!? All that time in class, and they pick ya to teach the computer system. You're just like my stepson, the IT guy. He has a master's in geology and he's working for a company keeping their computer system up and running.
I know you'll be a GREAT teacher. I wish I could sit at the back of the room and listen. How soon will you be Ms. Car, Instructor?
Posted by buffy | March 6, 2007 10:37 AM
Posted on March 6, 2007 10:37
Buffy--I'm sorry that I wrote my comment in a way that implied a classroom situation. Although I have previously given over-view sessions on the system during classes in casework for our local chapter's training sessions, this teaching situation will involve 1-3 people at a time.
We were supposed to have a certified instructor from the national organization come in to teach a class--comprised of people who had been exposed to the system but who don't feel comfortable with it. The instructor had to cancel out. The chapter's Solutions Manager, who had set up the class, asked if I would be willing to help him out. One of the executives in the McPherson Chapter is so desperate for help that she has offered to pay me mileage to drive up to her city to help them out. Our own chapter's Disaster Services Manager & Director together asked me for a 2-person class on the subject about six months; but, the two of them can't seem to put the time together for it.
Posted by Cop Car | March 7, 2007 12:21 PM
Posted on March 7, 2007 12:21
It doesn't matter if it's one-on-one or a survey class of 300, teaching is teaching. You bring the same resources to each class, and the recipients have the benefits of your knowledge. You make a difference, Cop Car....and I think its cool that they recognize what you have to offer. *S* (beaming at you like a proud parent!)
Posted by buffy | March 7, 2007 1:35 PM
Posted on March 7, 2007 13:35
Awww, shucks, Ms Mam. Coming from a teacher, your praise is well received. Thank you.
Posted by Cop Car | March 8, 2007 7:30 AM
Posted on March 8, 2007 07:30
Sounds like a real compliment to be asked to give a talk on such a subject. I'm not surprised - you clearly are an expert at the art of quilting. Good luck with the meeting tomorrow.
(P.S. Dare I mention that Kaffe Fassett is coming to our town for a book signing tomorrow and I intend to be there. He's done some wonderful things with quilts as well as with knitting. A. )
Posted by Adele | March 9, 2007 10:55 AM
Posted on March 9, 2007 10:55
Some excellent tips, thanks Buffy. Especially the set stitches before pressing open, that I'd never thought about before.
Would you mind if I cut and paste and make them into a document to share around (I will of course acknowlege source - as "an American friend who is a quilter" if you like?)?
Posted by Blue Witch | March 10, 2007 10:32 AM
Posted on March 10, 2007 10:32