Finding Time to Quilt

If there is one thing we know it's that quilting takes time, but so does everything else we have to do. 

How can we find time to do this craft we love when there are so many other things pulling at our time? It's important to remember that even the shortest bits add up. One thing I have noticed is that even a short time spent setting up my space for my next sewing session makes me feel better. There is a definite release of dopamine. 

So how do we fit in these miniscule bits of sewing time until we can get a good sewing session in? I have a few ideas.

Prioritize your projects. Knowing what you need to work on will help you figure out what you can do in small snippets. Can you press the fabric one night after the kids go to bed? Is there time during day that you can squeeze in some fabric cutting time? I like to sew up a bunch of Half Square Triangle (HST) units, or Flying Geese (FG), etc and then have a batch ready to trim if I have some unexpected "free" time. Or they are ready to go for the next quilting time. Taking time to plan your project can really help you find small open moments to make progress.

Use Pre-cuts. Sometimes using pre-cut squares can help you move forward in your sewing faster. By not having to cut yards of fabric you can start right in on the stitching part when you are ready to sew.

Join a guild or quiting group. Many guilds have group sewing times. It can help to make the plan to be there for that time and have no distractions to pull you away from your designated time.

Designate a quilting time. Is there time in your week that you can block out as your quilting time? Put that on your calendar, let your family and friends no that you are unavailable at that time and *turn off distractions.* Leave your phone in another room, or silence it and stay away from it.

Delegate household tasks and/or automate them. Is it time for someone else to do dishes? Can members of the household do their own laundry? Start using your crock pot more often for meals. I *love* my robot vacuum. What areas can you let go of and let others take care of?

Dedicated quilting space. I know this is not possible for everyone. For many years I sewed on the dining room table or card table in the living room. In one house I used the breakfast nook, and it was a nook, not a room. Is there a corner in the living room you can make your own? Maybe in your bedroom? If not, take some time, when you are planning out your project, to organize a place for that project and all of the things you will need for it. For example, if you are making a baby quilt using packs of 5" pre-cuts. Have the pattern (print it if you bought a PDF), fabrics (including backing and binding if you have it), batting, thread rulers, rotary cutters, pins, bobbins, etc all in one tote. That way you don't have to spend time gathering your supplies every time you are ready to craft.

Speaking of bobbins. I do all my piecing with grey polyester Gutermann thread. This makes it super easy to wind a ton of bobbins and have them ready for big sewing sessions. It may seem like stopping to refill a bobbin is nothing, but it stops your progress and can make for a great time for distractions to come in.

Tools. Another reminder to keep your quiting tools in good shape. Taking the time to make sure you quilting tools are clean, sharp and in good repair saves you so much time in the end. Don't let this little thing throw a wrench into your quilting time. Change the rotary cutter blade, change the sewing machine needle, clean your machine. Respecting the tools means less chance of having to stop because of an issue.

10 mins a day adds up to 60+ hours in a year. Every little bit of time adds up. I hope these tips help you find those bits.

Go make something extraordinary.

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Quilting on a Budget

 Supplying your love of a craft can get expensive. Even in quilting, though, you can find ways to budget and save.

A few months ago I did a series on quilting tools. You can find the first post HERE.

While it is hard to start quilting without these tools you can start by looking at garages sales and on clearance racks. Don't forget to check out your local goodwill shops as they can have some fun finds at cheap prices. You can also keep an eye out for auctions. All of these are great places to find good materials at bargain prices. Decide what tools you want and which ones you need, make a list and keep it handy for those times you see a sale.

Plan out your projects and try to do one at a time. I know, I know, I'm ducking tomatoes here. 😂 When I first started quilting I didn't start another project until I had finished the first. This helped me to one, finish, but to also only buy what I needed. The added benefit to that was that I had only a small space, and at that time young children, so this kept it easy to control and easy to pack up. I still try to only buy fabric I have a plan for, though sometimes the plan is to collect as many different flamingo fabrics as I can find.

Is there a way to take a "pretty" picture of jeans?

Fabric continues to get more expensive, so start to look for deals, but also look at what you have at home. Maybe a jean quilt is in your future (make sure to buy the right needle to sew denim), maybe there are some curtains that you have stashed away, or sheets. You will hear negative opinions on this tip, but a soft quilt made from used sheets can be a wonderful gift to a new mom, especially if it's made out of the mom's old sheets from when she was a child. 💜

The first quilt I ever made I made as a birthday gift for my grandma. My mom let me use one of her old upholstery books that had squares of fabric. I carefully took those squares out and laid them out in a pattern, coming up with a cross for my Catholic grandmother whose birthday sometimes fell on Easter. I tied it with yarn using a piece of fabric from my mom's stash. It wasn't soft on top, but my grandma loved it.

Years later I made her a Double Irish Chain quilt. I picked up 1/2 yard and 1 yard pieces of any periwinkle (her favorite color) fabrics I found. My mom found a backing on sale and quilted it for me. It was a quilt long in the making and done very frugally. I'm pretty sure the first quilt was her favorite.

Look for local quilting groups. Many of them have fabric exchanges that you can participate in. Guilds will sometimes have communal supplies and tools that you can use. Do you have a friend that quilts? Maybe they have that specialty ruler you need.

See that marked up piece in the back? I cut up an old cutting mat into quadrants and use them to mark and trim units. It preserves the mat I'm currently using, and was "free" because I already had it.

Can you make your own templates? So you have a pattern that uses templates and needs a specialty ruler? Quilters have been making their own templates since forever. It's a great way to save money and also have a special story to tell with it.

Can you piece together batting scraps for your top instead of buying more? I use a zigzag stitch to combine my batting scraps. I usually do this for wall hangings or pieces I know won't need to be washed a lot. What about using an old wool blanket? One of the best quilts I've ever slept under was made by my step-father's mom. It had an old heavy wool blanket as batting and oh my goodness was it a joy to sleep under. Or, on the other side of that, do you need batting? I've made a few picnic quilts that I don't use batting with. I've also made a few baby quilts with flannel on both sides and have skipped the batting on those as well.

I hate to throw batting scraps away. If you have smaller pieces of batting hanging around you can check out the Batting Busting ideas HERE and HERE. They can make great gifts, using supplies you already have.

Borrow quilting books from the library instead of buying them. Can you find patterns that have been clearanced? Many designers have free patterns available for you so you can see if you like their style.

**Please do not copy patterns and give them to friends. This is copyright infringement. Pattern designers work hard to give you beautiful quilts to make, the very little they earn from the sale of a pattern is still something, don't take that away from them. You can read more about what goes into designing a pattern and how much it costs  HERE. Note that it is an old article and prices have definitely increased.**

Keep your tools in good shape. It may seem like you are saving money by not changing that blade or needle. However, if you have to push harder to cut fabric, your cutting mat isn't going to last as long. A dull needle can cause issues with your stitching/quilting and you may have to start over with new fabric. That dull seam ripper might get forced through the stitches and end up going into the fabric. Not getting your sewing machine cleaned can cause it to lock up and now it's hundreds to fix it. Take care of your tools to keep your costs down.

Let your creativity help you find ways to keep costs down so you can quilt away!

Make something extraordinary!

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2024 Monthly Color Challenge Layout

 Surprise!!

This year I wanted to try and find a way for you to finish your quilt a little faster. (No pressure, I promise!)

Releasing the layout on Dec 15 meant that there are only 16 days before the next Monthly Color Quilt Challenge begins again. That's not a lot of time, and I really want you to have a finished quilt to show off.

January block

Now, maybe you are like me and having this extra time won't matter one bit. 😂 If not, though, and you are good about working on things in a reasonable time frame, and not the last second, then this is for you.

To know me is to know that I love Half Square Triangles (HST). This year I took a page from my Frayed Edges quilt (not really, these instructions are hot off the press) and used the HST as sashing. Oh. My. Goodness. I cannot lie. I adore HST sashings. Like. Ah-dore.

June block

I get into such a groove when making a bunch of any unit, whether it's HST, Flying Geese (FG), Square in a Square (SIS), Hourglass (HG), well you get the idea. When I can chain piece, chain press and chain trim (I made those last two up) I fly. I'm in the stitching zone, and help anyone who disrupts me. (OK I can lie, I get interupted a lot. But Grandbaby interruptions don't count, do they?)

A gentle, but firm reminder: the layout of the blocks are JUST a suggestion. Wait until we are all done stitching up the blocks before you start stitching your blocks into place. Your color hues may be different from mine and look better in a different spot. This is the time to really make this quilt your own.

2024 Monthly Color Challenge Layout

What if you are looking at this quilt layout and shaking your head because you aren't a fan of HST sashings? No problem, I've got you covered. You can head over to Payhip, click on the tab that reads "Monthly Color Challenge Layouts." There you will find all of the layouts that have been given throughout the Monthly Color Challenge. That's seven years worth of layouts for you to choose from (and PS I went overboard one year, so there are more than seven layouts). They cost $1, just like the past Monthly Color blocks. So go ahead and scroll through the options.

This year's layout will be available for free until January 31, 2025, just like previous years. However, I recommend that you download them now so that you don't forget. If you have signed up to have the instructions sent to you directly, you should have already received that email from me. Get your pattern HERE.

July block

I hope that this will encourage you to finish this quilt and share it in the Quilt Parade January 15, 2025. But mostly, I just hope it helps you to finish this quilt. I want you to love this craft, and there is nothing like the last stitch on a quilt to get you excited to start the next one. 💜

Go make something extraordinary!

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Safety in Quilting

 Today's post is just a gentle reminder to be careful while enjoying your favorite craft.

There is nothing like the feeling of a great sewing session. I know I'm getting my sew on when I can turn on the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and pull out my project. What I don't want to happen is an accident that makes me stop. Let's take a moment to make sure our spaces are safe and won't interrupt our time.

Rotary Cutter It's always all about the rotary cutter, isn't it? For good reason, that blade is so sharp you won't even feel it cut you until it's too late. I have a nice scar on the side of my arm to prove it. I wasn't being careful and reached over to cut something at an awkward position. Don't be me friends. Pay attention to where the blade is and always, always close  and lock it between cuts. If you ever notice me not locking my blade after each cut in my how to videos, please call me out.

Sharp Tools There are other sharp hazards in our spaces besides the rotary cutter. Pins, needles, scissors are all objects to be aware of. Put them away when done and dispose of them properly when needed. You can buy a small Sharps container at any pharmacy and use it to keep you, your family members and pets safe. Keep these tools sharp so you don't need to press/push harder in order to use them, this will keep from accidental slips. When they are dull, put them in your Sharps container.

Lighting If you can't see you can't quilt safely. Bring in extra lamps if your ceiling light isn't bright enough. This helps keep you safe, but also keeps your eyes from having to strain. Our eyes are precious.

Irons Whether you use steam or not, irons can burn. Be aware of where it is set up, let the fabric cool before picking up and *unplug* when you are done. I choose to use an iron that turns off automatically because I have cats who don't respect my space.

Electrical Cords Many of us have extension cords in our spaces, and if you are lucky enough not to need them, cords to our machines, iron, lighting, etc are still all over. Secure these cords and make sure you aren't in danger of tripping over them. If you are using extension cords read the packaging to make sure you aren't overloading it and causing a fire risk.

Take breaks Step away from the sewing machine. You heard me. 😀 I have to say this to myself, too. It's so very important to get up and move, stretch, drink some water, get the blood flowing through your legs. It's hard for me to stop when I'm in the flow, but staying loose and hydrated means I can go longer.

Clean your machine Cleaning your machine isn't just for the health of it. Routinely cleaning it and changing the needle also helps to keep you safe. Be mindful while stitching as well. Keep your fingers out of the way, don't sew over pins, don't force the fabric through, use the correct needle for the fabric you are stitching.

Rugs Choose non-slip rugs for your area. I use thick anti fatigue mats at my cutting station and mid-arm quilting machine, as well as my standing desk set up. They are non-slip and help with the sessions of long standing. This doesn't mean I skip the pausing and stretching/moving sessions, those are still important.

Take the time to set up a safe space, take care of your tools and take care of your body and you will enjoy each quilting session.

Click here for the page of my favorite quilting tools.

Let's make something Extraordinary!

 

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Mystery Quilt - "Head North"

 Last year I was the designer for the Minnesota Quilters Mystery Quilt.

I had the chance to go to Duluth, MN for the Minnesota Quilt Show and was able to see some beautiful finishes. Not everyone who finished entered their quilt, but those that I've seen have been just as fabulous as the ones I'm going to share.

In Minnesota you will often hear people say they are "headed north" for the weekend. It's a chance to get away from the city and immerse yourself in lake life, forest life, calm life. It just smells different "Up North."

My design started off as it usually does, on graph paper. Flying Geese were the main units for this quilt and played a big part in the overall design. As always the Half Square Triangle Units were included, they are kind of my thing and since we were "headed north" where you can see the stars soooooo clearly, star blocks also had to be included. "Minnesota nice" also meant one of those star blocks had to be the Friendship Star.

When you look through the pictures you will see that many quilters designed their own centers. I loved seeing the ingenuity of these crafters. The center of the original quilt needed to be changed after it had already been designed, pieced and quilted. It was thought to look like swastikas. While they weren't at all the same, we didn't want anyone to misinterpret them and be hurt.

In the interest of making it as easy as possible to change, fabric requirements and instructions had already been finalized after all, I ripped out the quilting of just the center, took it out, and rearranged the Flying Geese. While not what I envisioned for the center, it feels a little Charlie Brown like 😂, I appreciate the thought that goes into these challenges and everyone's own interpretations.

To put the center back in I sewed 3 sides back in by machine and then hand stitched the last side in. Once done with that, I did my best to quilt the center following what had previously been quilted. It was a challenge, that I won, and I'm pretty proud of the finish.

Mystery Quilt Tips

Not everyone enjoys a mystery quilt along. Confession, I'm one of those people. It's hard to use fabric for a quilt you can't see. So how to make it more enjoyable, with more success?

1) Check out the designer. Are their designs something you would like to make? If you are a more modern quilter you may not like a traditional finish and vice versa. The challenge can be fun though, so don't turn it down for this reason. Stretching yourself can lead to many beautiful finishes. Just go into it knowing you may need to change it up a bit, or gift it to someone who's style aligns with design.

2) Take the designers color suggestions to heart. Especially if you are new to quilting. The designer knows the quilt layout and knows what will work best. Trust them. If you can, do the mystery with a friend and/or group and you can all pull fabrics together. A second (or third) set of eyes can be helpful. I have a blog post with tips for choosing fabrics for a mystery quilt. You can read it here.

3) Read through the instructions for the month before starting. There may be a new technique you haven't tried and you may want to watch a how to video to understand it. There may be a way to combine some of the cutting instructions if you are a more seasoned quilter. If you like to make a unit using a different technique than the one used in the instructions this will give you a chance to figure out your cutting steps. 

4) Don't be afraid to try a new technique. You may find you like it even more than your old one. I often hear "I've always done it this way." and there is something to be said for that. The quilting world offers so many different styles and techniques and it's a good idea to stretch yourself every now and then.

5) Remember. The designer has given you a piece of themselves. They are also human. There may be mistakes, you may not like the way they have written the instructions, you may be intimidated by a new technique or way of writing. These are all very valid frustrations, but kindness and a gentle tongue go a long way in making the mystery quilt along a success for all.

Head North Finishes

I have a few pictures of finished Head North quilts. Unfortunately, I lost all of my photos when I had a phone issue. Not cool man. I have a new phone, but unfortunately  I wasn't able to recover the photos I took. My mom had grabbed a few, if you don't see your photo here it's just because I lost it. Feel free to send me a picture of yours if you want me to include. it. 

Thank you Mom for sharing your pictures and making a mystery quilt. Your Bohemian take on this design is so pretty.

I love the soft blues and greens in this finish. It takes me to twilight on the lake.

Proof that I did actually take pictures. 😂

A red, white and blue version is always a stand out.

This pieced center is SO perfect for this quilt.

A look at the set up at the MN Quilt Show in Duluth, MN.

Such fun colors in this quilt and you know I love a great pinwheel!

The background fabric this quilter chose is a fabulous backdrop to her blocks.

I love that she added wider border to encase her work.

This one was so pretty in person because you could see how well the colors played off the background.

I love the story behind this finish. This quilter started the mystery and then life happened, as it often does. Instead of throwing in the towel she used what she had already made and turned it into this fabulous piece.

Another beautiful red, white and blue quilt.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the 2023 Minnesota Quilters Mystery Quilt. It was a fun adventure for me as a designer and hopefully for the quilters as well.

Let's make something Extraordinary!

 

Did you get my 5 Free Tips for Accurate Piecing yet? I would love to send it to you, sign up HERE!

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2024 Monthly Color Challenge

 

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.

 

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