So, you’ve found your focus fabric and the fabrics you want to use with it. You’re standing in line for the cutting counter, but you have no idea how much fabric to buy. In the end you make the snap judgment, “uh, just give me a yard of each.” Whew, that was tough. That should be safe, right? A yard of each? That’s a good choice, right?
I’m sorry my friend, but it wasn’t. For our example of focus fabric shopping, we didn’t know what we were making, but we knew we were looking for. We took our time and matched our fabrics. Now that we’re in line, it’s time to decide the “how much” in our journey.
Again, it comes back to looking at the focus fabric. In our previous example even though a nice chocolaty, deep brown is the background, it looks like the blue takes up 50% of the fabric. The brown we chose is seen about 30% of the time, the pink 10%, and the yellow only maybe 4%. So is there some magical, mathematical theory about how much to purchase of each based on these percentages? No. But this does give you an idea of how much you need.
For this example, we figured we would make a throw size quilt and bought 2 yards of the focus fabric, not knowing if it will be involved in a border. Next, the blue and the brown were both measured out to use 1 yard of each with the hopes of using the extra brown in a future project. Two-thirds of a yard was purchased for the pink, and a quarter of a yard of the yellow was bought. Do we know the pattern yet? No, but with the correct proportions of color, our quilt will better resemble the colors and quantities of our focus fabric which is what we were drawn to in the first place.
So, now you should feel fully prepared in the matching and buying of fabrics to match your focus fabric. Right? Just remember to follow your focus fabric’s lead in color and amount and trust it.
 If you are new to the quilting world or an old pro, everyone has their own sense of fabric coordination. While some of us struggle to mix and match, others seem to create masterpieces without even trying. If you fall in between, or just need a little fabric matching boost, then it’s time to learn about focus fabrics.
 A focus fabric is the fabric you are going to use as the spring board for pairing up other fabrics. The focus fabric you choose usually has multiple colors and uses a larger print, but doesn’t have to, find what you like. Most of the time your focus fabric is what you’re going to use the most of in your quilt, but sometimes the focus fabric won’t even appear in your quilt.
When you find the fabric you are dying for, start to look over the fabric. First, check out the colors that are used. When finding coordinating fabrics, get specific about the colors. Don’t match a blue you like that kind of goes with it, find the blue fabric that is the same color as on your focus fabric. Don’t feel like you need to cover every color, but pick the ones that you prefer and make the focus fabric unique.
Next, take note of the feel of the design. If there are tons of straight lines you may want to keep the flow going. After you pick out the correct color fabrics, narrow them down based on pattern and scale. In the example above, the focus fabric almost looks like a wallpaper or drape with a definite graceful swirling and overage of little details in the design. With this in mind, we chose fabrics that also had a wallpapery texture or curving pattern undertone to it. (You’ll notice the yellow is a solid, you don’t want too much of a good thing and solids give your eyes a place to rest when looking at the quilt.)
Try before you buy. The next time you are in your favorite fabric shop, pick out a fabric that is full of color and pattern. Carry the bolt of fabric through the shop and search for those perfect coordinating fabrics. Test yourself and see what you can find. You don’t have to buy anything to challenge yourself. If you end up liking the fabrics, you have the option to buy them. Just keep the dangers of fabric shopping in mind when you head to the cutting counter and have fun making your new quilt.
Want to know how much of each fabric to buy? Check back soon for Focus Fabrics: Part 2.
Recently I had a project I was working on, but the excitement and gusto that had begun the quilt with me had somehow been cut off with the selvage edge and tossed. I found myself a month later looking at the quilt and nothing more. That was it. Looking at it, but not working on it. It wasn’t the quilt’s fault. It was pieced just fine, the fabrics and color choices were okay, even the quilting was decent; I just couldn’t seem to light a fire underneath me to finish it.
Finally, after about a month and a half I picked it up, threw it under the machine, determined to make some progress, and you know what? Something clicked. It wasn’t as difficult as I was making it. The quilt was finished quilting and I was sewing the binding on that night. It was done. In a period of probably three hours I took that quilt from almost there to complete. Then, of course, I did the standard “stare at it in appreciation” quilt stare.
This got me thinking. That poor quilt sat there unloved and unworked for almost two months, waiting for three hours of my time to be completed. What was the problem? Procrastination. This is the mortal enemy of any productive crafter. When that sad train starts pulling into Procrastination Station some of us take tickets, load passengers, and carry bags to get that train moving again in the right direction. The rest of us, however, let it sit. We let the engine cool for a while, thinking that will help it. We put the passengers up for the night in a fancy hotel (or on the back of a chair), and let the bags sit all packed up with nowhere to be.
So how do we get the train out of the station? We focus. We force ourselves to work on something even if it isn’t the main project that is haunting us. Keep your hands moving and your mind thinking about how you’re going to accomplish the task ahead. But, don’t let that big boy sit for more than a week without having something done to it. Even if you have to make yourself do it. Take one hour and devote it to the project at hand. If nothing else you will be one hour closer to the finish line and sooner rather than later that train will pull out of the station.
***Do you have any tips for getting motivated? We would love to know them. Send us your tips and we’ll put together a Motivation Station list of the best tips we receive.***
As we celebrate this earth day most of us are going to do our part to live green. We have those squiggly light bulbs, we’ve started carpooling to fabric shops (the horror), and we’ve even bought solar lights for the lawn. But when it comes to sewing and quilting, there are ways to contribute our fair share and show respect for the planet we live on.
By now, the bulk of us are spoiled with our sewing and quilting machines. And who could blame us? We have leapt forward greatly when it comes to the time it takes to make a quilt. What used to take years of quiet endurance, can now either take years of quiet endurance or a couple of focused days. However, for this Earth Day, I encourage you to turn off the machines. Experience the joys of hand work by piecing or quilting something small. Think of all the energy we will save if for just one day we didn’t flip the switch, and worked only by our own hands.
Another work by hand aspect I secretly love is the washing of fabric. You can avoid the washer and dryer, and the energy they use, by washing your fabrics in the sink and hanging them up to dry outside or over your tub. Seriously, ask my family, there is a clothesline strung up in my bathroom that never comes down. If I need a fat quarter in the afternoon, you can find me washing it in the morning. It will be dry by the time I need it.
We can also cut our energy usage by purchasing irons that shut off automatically. I’m not talking about the frustrating, “why is there no steam all of the sudden” automatically; I’m talking about the irons that shut off when it hasn’t moved in fifteen minutes. A lot of brands of motion sensor irons not only can keep you safe (mine cuts off after 15 seconds if left sitting face down), but also save energy by not running when not being used.
Another way to cut out energy costs is to sew outside. Throw a quilting bee and set up in the backyard. Enjoy the sunshine and conversation instead of fluorescent lights and a radio. And don’t forget to snuggle under a quilt in the evenings and cut down on those heating costs. For me, I’m going to focus on my scrap basket and make use of what I have. It seems only appropriate to be working on a scrappy tree of life wall quilt. Have a great “green” Earth Day!
*How will you spend your day? Tell us your "green" craft ideas on the community page, or share with us the Earth Day project you're working on.
When it comes to fabric shopping, sometimes we have a set idea in mind of what we need; we run in, we chat a little, we get our stuff, and we head back home to work. Other times, however, we aren’t real sure what we’re looking for; a trance comes over us; we’re shopping for the love of fabric, not out of necessity. These are dangerous times.
It happens to the best of us. All you need is to see a sample of a gorgeous quilt hanging on the wall and the next thing we know we are being rung up at $95 for all of the fabrics in the correct quantities, plus some, and we are ready to create a quilt we had never intended on making ten minutes earlier. Not only do we spend more money than we had planned, but also we take home more fabric and project ideas than we had wanted to become involved with.
Most of us may already have four, six, or ten quilting projects going at any one time. It’s rare to only focus on one project, make it, and be done before beginning a new challenge. So how do we stop becoming fabric shop victims? Plan ahead and stick to the plan.
First of all, know what you’re looking for and try not to let yourself stray. It’s okay to look around, and obviously you want to see new fabrics, and maybe collect for future projects you’ve already begun planning for. Just don’t let your mind take over your body and lead you around the store picking up fabrics you weren’t planning on buying and can’t use elsewhere.
Second, know your budget. While it’s fun the find new fabrics and gadgets, don’t get out of control. Come into the fabric shop with a set dollar limit in mind and try not to go over. If you find your arms full of bolts and bolts of fabric, try to narrow your choices down before you start getting them cut. While your local quilt shop owner will love you for shopping with reckless abandon, your family may be on bread and water for days.
Finally, keep in mind that often we will have our creativity sparked at the quilt shop. That’s okay. Write down the manufacturer’s information for the fabric or buy a small quantity to remind you of your idea. Let the longing for this new project push you through the finish line of the project you’re on.
If there aren’t enough great things about quilting, another is that you can share it with your family. For centuries quilting has been a necessity of life and one of the only ways to express creativity. Now we do it as a hobby, a “fun” hobby full of get-togethers, county fairs, quilt shows, and even TV and internet shows. Quilting has certainly come a long way and aged well.
When we quilt we are not only sitting down and piecing fabric or lacing a strand of thread through three layers of fabrics and batting, but also stringing along history. The idea that we still do today what our ancestors did hundreds of years ago and still do it in relatively the same manner is remarkable. There aren’t that many tasks that we still do the way it was originally done. With quilting, however, it isn’t even considered abnormal or backwards to hand sew and hand quilt a masterpiece. Heck, look a Jinny Beyer’s work!
When times are lulled and the spark of sewing had turned to a slight flicker of willingness, remember you are part of something larger than yourself. When you quilt you are continuing the tradition our fore-mothers started. So we can have the latest fabric line, use the best machines, and hold monthly meetings, but with quilting, our real and true quilting we do when we sit in our sewing space alone and living only with our thimbles and our thoughts we are carrying forward a legacy.
If you ever have the opportunity, share your love of quilting with someone else; friends, family, co-workers. Teach what you know to your children, their children, your parents, your neighbor. By sharing our skills we are extending beyond time and into the future of quilting. As quilting evolves, as it most certainly will continue to do, we can participate in the beauty of the ride. Learn something new, teach what you know, pass it on. Happy quilting.
If you’re like me this time of year does two things: makes me want to quilt just to be under a warm quilt, and plan my vegetable garden. However, the problem that sometimes arises is that you don’t really feel like doing much of either. Well, when a funk has come in and landed in your sewing space, get friends! A sewing day with some great Quilterson friends can be the cure for the winter time blues. Follow these steps and you are sure to hold a great sewing bee.
Be prepared. When the Quiltersons get together the general rule is that the only thing the guests bring is their sewing machines (and their project they are working on independent quilts). As the host, you supply the iron, ironing board, rotary cutter, and space.
Clear a space. Make sure there is a large table or a couple of small tables for everyone to sew on. Don’t forget to leave room for a cutting mat and an ironing board.
Foodies. This is a group decision. It’s always great to show up with snack foods ready and waiting at the bee, but sometimes it’s more affordable for everyone if each participant brings a dish or item. If it truly is an all day sewing bee, the option to go out for food and come back is always on the table.
Good music or great TV. Having something playing in the background helps relax the mood and takes away from the sound of four sewing machine motors all buzzing at the same time.
Finally, have a plan. If the group is going to work on a project together, be sure you have all the right fabrics or supplies ahead of time. Another great way to hold a bee is to take turns teaching one another new skills like paper piecing, appliqué, machine quilting or fabric dyeing. Before the bee, talk it over with your group and make sure to plan something everyone is happy with. Have fun and enjoy changing the sometimes solitary hobby into group therapy.
2009 has rolled in and a new year is ahead of us. Like most people, the setting of New Year’s resolutions is an annual tradition to inspire and improve our lives. For quilters, a new year can mean a whole realm of possibilities and new quilts. There are some great ways to express ourselves and spread our creative wings with this New Year and here are a few ideas to get you jump started on a successful year of quilting.
For starters, make a list of all the new projects you want to do. Label them from quickest to most time consuming and start sewing. If you’re like me, you will also need to make a list of all the unfinished quilts from 2008 and possibly earlier. Nothing says 2009 like finishing that quilt you started in 2004! Having an action plan for completing your quilts is a great way to ensure a productive sewing year. If you have a ton of enthusiasm about a quilt when you began working on it six months ago, and now it has fizzled away, then make a plan to finish it by March 1st. Any goal will help. Pick a timeline that is realistic for each project and reward yourself every time you hit your goal.
Learn a new skill. Take on appliqué or machine quilting. Maybe you never tried Hawaiian quilting before, it couldn’t be a better time to learn. Exploring a style or technique you never would have tried before can potentially introduce you to something you absolutely love, and just maybe you will never go back to doing it the old way again. Challenge yourself (and your fellow Quiltersons) to start new things that make you work your creative muscle. Keep the seam ripper nearby and don’t be afraid to fail.
Keep on task, too often we take on more than we can do and so do nothing in the process of feeling overwhelmed. Break projects down into small, accomplishable pieces to ensure progress. There are times when we, yes it’s true, get bored of a project and get to a point where we just want to get it over with. A calm, open mind and uncluttered work space will help you to relax and enjoy what you are working on. Listen to music or put on that movie you’ve seen a million times and focus on the milestones of the task at hand.
It’s a great time to be excited about new projects and let that motivation fuel your progress. And don’t worry, when you have a terrific amount of quilts on your plate, surely a new issue of your favorite quilt magazine will throw something else on the pile. Remember to have fun and enjoy a new year full of new quilts and new possibilities.
Sometimes we are living in the great harvest of Quiltdom and others we are experiencing a 100 year drought of creativity. The worst of the drought part is that not only are we out of ideas to come up with new quilts, but also, we lack the motivation to work on what we have started because the glitter and newness of the project has faded. But fear not. There are ways to put the spark back in the sewing machine and a willingness back in your fingers.
For starters, phone a friend. Calling on a fellow Quilterson is a great way to vent your frustrations and recharge your quilting battery. A great phone call or get together over coffee can sometimes put you in a mood to have a play date with your sewing machine. They can give you ideas, encourage you to finish the project that has you down, or inspire you by hearing the tales of what he/she is working on.
Still not satisfied? Head to your local library and flip through quilting magazines and check out some quilting books. While you may not use the projects listed in these sources it may flip the switch inside you to get you going again. You can also get online and surf around for projects. Some sites do still offer free patterns as well.
If that’s not enough, get your purse and head to the quilt shop you love. Everyone has a favorite and hopefully they’re located near your house. You don’t have to spend a penny while you’re there. Just look around, see what peps you up, what fabrics you haven’t seen, or a sample quilt they have on display that you can’t wait to try. These are also good places to check out the latest guild information, quilting classes, and find dates for quilt shows.
Also, don’t forget to get together with your Quiltersons and have a sewing day. It’s a wonderful way to share ideas and get some advice on how to finish or start a project. Just remember to share with others that may be in the same funk as you. A sewing day is one of the best ways to put your quilting train back on its tracks.
If all else fails, remember that a finished project is often a perfect motivator for the next. Pick something you know you can complete in a short period of time and let that propel you onto the next project. While there’s no foolproof way to rid the motivational blues forever, if we keep going, and reminding ourselves that we are in this because we choose to be, we can accomplish anything.
It’s always hard to think of gifts for your fellow quiltersons. Why? Because if someone is already quilting away, chances are, they also already have all the notions that go with the job. However, there are things you can get your quilting buddies that they may find quite helpful and spur on their creativity for the next year. Aside from the make it yourself gifts, here are a few tips for giving gifts to quilters that could be very useful and welcomed.
Good scissors. If there is one thing a quilter always could use a new pair of, it’s the scissors. You can’t beat a good pair of fabric scissors fresh out of the pack and they’ll love you for it. If they have children, it’s a good idea to also get them some new scissors at the time so it’s very clear who’s scissors belong to who so the fabric scissors are used for just that.
Gift cards. A great gift card to a great quilt shop or store can mean a world of possibilities to a quilter. Not only does it guarantee that she or he will have to spend the money on themself, but also, it forces them to spend it on quilty stuff and that’s never bad. The only suggestion I have to this is if you aren’t getting the card from somewhere like Jo-Ann’s or Hancocks, where items can run a little cheaper, get the card for no less than twenty or twenty-five dollars. The reason I say this is that if you are going with a gift card to a mom and pop fabric shop in your area, the fabrics generally run about eight or nine dollars a yard. If you want your friend to be able to pick whatever they want, make sure they can buy more than a yard’s worth of fabric in case they find something they want to use as a major fabric in their next project.
Magazine subscriptions. These are never a bad gift, just make sure you don’t get them something they are already subscribed to. A lot of magazines also offer special rates for gift subscriptions so you can get yourself a subscription and your friend’s will be free.
Cutting mats and rulers. There never seem to be enough sizes of mats and if your friend is like me, then the mat they are using is getting a lot of wear and tear on the same lines over and over again. The self healing isn’t always cut proof. For the rulers, know which sizes and dimensions your friends already have and/or get something that may help them with a specific block or project.
A couple of spools of their favorite thread in the stocking goes a long way. I know this sounds a little odd but if your quilting friends know anything it’s what their favorite thread is. I’m the girl that sews with Coats and Clark Ecru #256 for piecing practically everything and my quiltersons know it. Spread the love and if you don’t know your friends favs, find out.
If all else fails you can always make up some friendly coupons to offer a few hours of babysitting while your friend quilts, or a trip to take a buddy along to the quilt shop, or even a day session of piecing where you help them sew their quilt top together. Whatever the gift, if it’s given with love, they will be glad to have it. So get out there and think about what it is that you would want most and get it for your quilterson friends. Happy Holidays!
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