Hugs from Helen

Do you struggle with wavy borders on your quilt tops?

Do you often  end up with wavy borders on your quilt? Is your quilt often not square?

Here’s some hints and tips to get a perfectly flat border and quilt top - which your longarm quilter will love you for.

How to measure and attach borders to your quilt top to end up square!
It's not unusual for the four edges of an unfinished quilt top to all be slightly different lengths because the edges
of quilts are often stretched out of shape a bit during construction and pressing, or if you have many seams even
the slightest difference in seam allowance can make a big difference.
If the quilt is skewed a bit and you measure the sides of the quilt to determine the border length, the quilt will be just be out of square as it was before borders were added. Never just cut a strip of fabric, start sewing at the top and trim off the leftover at the bottom.
If the border is too long, then the sides of the quilt will be puckered or wavy, and if the border is too short or tight, the middle of the quilt will bubble. If the border is not sewn evenly along the whole edge of the quilt, it will cause waviness in some places and tightness in others and just will not sit flat.

These instructions for measuring and sewing straight borders to a quilt can be used to add any type of border, plain or pieced/appliqued.

Straight sewn quilt borders, also called butted borders, are quick and easy to sew—that's probably why they are the most often used borders for quilts.
Borders are usually sewn to the two longest sides of the quilt first and then to the remaining two sides with the final two extending straight across the ends of the first borders.

The steps are:
1. Measure the quilt from top to bottom through the vertical centre.
I like to also measure at both side edges - add the three measurements together and divide by 3 to get the average. (a+b+c /3)

2. Cut two border strips that match the measurement exactly, using the average width you've just determined.
Borders made with crosswise grain strips can be more stretchy than lengthwise grain border strips, but either type is suitable. if you need to join strips to get the measurement, do this first, press seams open (or use a bias seam to reduce bulk) and then cut to size.

Extra Tip: Sometimes you will find that it's best to add top and bottom borders (or shorter borders) first to avoid the need for piecing those border strips.
Use the same method, but measure horizontally first and start at the Short sides. Determine which borders to sew first to make the best use of your fabric.

How to Sew the First Two Borders to the Quilt
1. Fold one of the borders in half crosswise to find its centre point, using your fingers to crease it slightly at that spot.
Do the same with your quilt to find the centre point. Finger press. (You can use a pin or marker to mark them also)

2. Place the border along the side of the quilt, right sides together and  centre points matched. Pin through both layers at the match to keep fabrics from shifting.
If the quilt is quite large I would also mark the 1/4” and 3/4” marks along both the border and quilt top. Do this by
folding in half and then half again to crease these points.
3. Match and pin the bottom end of the border to the bottom edge of the quilt with raw edges even, then match and pin all of your crease marks until you reach the other end of the border pinned to the quilt.
4. Add extra  pins at close intervals in between your quarters and ease in any fullness to coax the two lengths
to match.  Raw edges should be aligned along the quilt's entire side.
5. Sew the border to the quilt with a 1/4 inch seam allowance, removing pins as you approach them to avoid bending pins and breaking needles. If you have extra fullness, sew with the longest piece next to the feed dogs and this will really help to ease it in without puckers.
6. Press the seam allowance towards the border.
7. Repeat for your opposite border.

Sew Remaining Two Borders to the Quilt
1. Measure the quilt from side-to-side through its horizontal midpoint and top and bottom edges, including the
width of the first borders. Find the average and cut or piece two borders that length.
2. Fold a border in half (and quarters if large) crosswise and crease. Pin again matching all of your crease marks.

3. Continue as you did with the previous borders.

If you are adding more borders to your quilt repeat the process above.
Using this method will give you the best chance of a perfectly square flat quilt top - even if your piecing was not
perfect.

Go forth and make square flat  quilts!

happy quilting

hugs from Helen

The Leah Day Project

Whilst testing my blocks for my latest Block of the Month Project ‘In The Good Old Days’, I decided to use one right here to send to Leah and see what she did with it! 

and here are the results! Pop over to her blog to see what and why!

so here’s a quick tute on how I made it..

 

Make four A/B and eight B/C half square triangle units.

Place the squares right sides together with all edges even. Use a Clearly Perfect Angles tool to eliminate the need to mark diagonal lines. Check out this video for help on the tool – it is brilliant and will give you accurate units every time.

So to make half square triangle units you are going to line the point up with that grey line and stitch 1/4” either side of what would be a centre line. Chain piece all the units through and then turn them and stitch down the other side.Then use scissors or your rotary cutter and ruler to cut them apart down the center of the two stitch lines (point to point)

Press them all open. You will have 4 corner blocks and 8 blocks which go on the 4 sides of your finished block.NOw take your D squares, right sides together and make four half square triangles as before.You are then going to use your ruler and cutter and cut them in half point to point. And discad the four top halves (use them for something else one day)Next we find the four C triangles (we cut our squares in half earlier). Place right sides together and stitch along the long edge-  you need to take care not to stretch this bias edge.Press open carefully.

Now lay all your units into rows and stitch together matching all points. note: if you press the seams in each row in opposite directions (ie top row to left, 2nd row to right) then they will butt up nicely and make for easier seam matching.

To complete my block I added corners to put it on point (note: this was testing my measurements for my BOM quilt side and corner set triangles)

Cut two squares light fabric 5 3/4”

Cross cut once to make four triangles

Cut one strip red fabric 1 1/2” x wof

Lay the triangles right sides together along the long cut edge on the red fabric strip. Stitch taking care not to stretch the bias edge. Leave space in between each one for turning and cutting.

Press red strip outwards and use a ruler and cutter to trim the red strip at an angle in line with the edge.

Attach a triangle to opposite sides of your block. press open. Attach remaining two and press out. Trim your block and then see what Leah does with her amazing quilting!

This is where and how I used my block! can you spot it?

hugs for today

and thanks Leah for the invite to work with you.

Helen

Want to stitch with me in South Australia?

….next instalment in my upcoming travels..

are you going to the Australian Machine Quilting Festival? well if you’re not, then you should be!  We don’t get too many opportunities to learn, share and be inspired here in Australia like this.

They write ‘We are celebrating and educating quilters, patchworkers and stitchers of all disciplines!  There is something at Festival for everyone that uses a machine!’

They have some amazing teachers coming – including

Jenny Doan, Judy Madsen (oh wow I love her quilting), Jamie Wallen and our very own Pam Holland as the guest speaker and featured artist.

I feel honoured to be listed among the list of teachers – little old me from the bottom of the world…

anyhow, even if you don’t book my classes, come see the quilts and learn, learn, learn….

okay so my classes are:

 

Kindergarten colouring = grownup masterpiece with Helen Stubbings

Saturday 4th October 1-5pm

Colourque – coloured pencil appliqué – we will be making a mini version of the award winning Lace quilt.

 

Perfect Gluestick applique by machine with Helen Stubbings : Sunday 5th October 12.30 – 2.30

and we will be making this simple but delightful table runner from the Simply Appliqué book.

Iron, Glue, Stitch & Wash – Hexies done easy... with Helen Stubbings

Monday 6th October 8-10am

We will be making hexies by machine! – yes that’s right. With the new iron on leave in hexies we can do EPP hexies by machine. Make this simple table topper and learn the method – then go forth and make masterpieces!

hope to see some of you there, if not at my classes – then with me in some of the classes I am going to take! or at the dinner or the exhibition…. lets rub shoulders with the best of the best!

hugs for today

Helen

Love Thy neighbour part 2

a little progress on my neighbourly quilt this week – hope to finish it over the weekend between dance Eisteddfod performances.

so the next step is:

to sew all of those blocks together, first into rows, then the rows together to make your centre panel.

The first step was easy, but you do now have lots of bias seams that are a little unstable (because we cut off the underlayers) so you need to pin match all of your joins at the centre strips. Hopefully you were fairly accurate so its not a problem to get them matched at all, but do pin.

Press the seams in each row in opposite directions so that when you join your rows they butt nicely.

 

When joining your rows you need to pin the three points at each block join so they all match on the front. Pin at the 1/4” mark where the stitch will pass straight through.Continue joining strips until your rows are all together and pressed nicely.

Next I added a plain(ish) border – remember i ran out of my lemon sashing fabric so chose this tone on tone from the range.

My centre panel measured 30” x 42” and my half square triangle blocks measured 4 1/2” (4” finished) so I cut my borders at 3 1/2” so that the finished size would then be 36” x 48” (divisible by 4)

 

You may have a different number of blocks in your centre panel – just work out how wide you need to cut this border so that it will have a finished measurement divisible by 4 – so we can use those half square triangle blocks neatly on that last border.

Attach the 3 1/2” cut strips to both long sides, press outwards then attach remaining strips to the top and bottom.

Now I’m ready to work on my outer border.

be back soon…

hugs for today

Helen

A Free E-book- review

The lovely folks at Fons & Porter have sent me a free e-book to review – so here we go…

I have done only a couple of log cabins and variations in my quilting life- not a lot, actually it hasn't been a favourite block of mine but after reading this book maybe I need to keep this option closer as it really is very versatile and can use up many of your fabric scraps.

This easy to download and read e-book has titbits of useful information, size charts, cutting charts and diagrams of the many variations and layouts for each setting. It explains the three basic Log Cabin Variations – Traditional, Courthouse steps and Chevron. I particularly like the Antique samples shown and the snippets of history regarding the block. Did you know that Folklore says that a red centre square represents the fire in the log cabins hearth and a yellow square, the lighted window?

There are three full sized step by step quilt patterns included along with tutorials on Trapunto quilting, quilting with Razzle Dazzle thread, binding with piping and how to join your binding strip without lumps and bumps!

I also love the tip about keeping your cut strips in a pizza box!

All in all I think I’ll save this book for future reference when and if I use the block in my next design. Fantastic value – as its free! – and a book well worth taking a look at. Suited to beginners and the more experienced alike – you too can have it!

Visit http://www.fonsandporter.com/landing/free-log-cabin-quilt-patterns to get your own copy and let me know what you think.

hugs for today,

Helen

inspired to quilt

If you follow me on facebook you will have seen me working on this over the weekend..

Miss Tess has been collecting all these yummy fabrics for a room makeover for her 14th birthday. She even emptied and repainted her whole room by herself over her school holidays in readiness.

Miss Tess got the idea by this pin she found on Pinterest -

drew up some hearts, cut them out and fused them to her background fabric.

Then it was over to me to quilt!  so it was time to play. I used white on white – she wanted green! – to hide my imperfections as I really did just want to play. I have always struggled with feathers and this was a great way to improve and gain confidence. I didn’t draw first, on paper or the fabric, I just dropped those feed dogs, put on my quilting gloves and went for it!

no symmetry, no planning, just free filling the space with feathers (and a few hearts for good measure) in any direction… I was quite happy with the result and am now ready to move onto a bigger project – yes, I think I'll use this again as a filler design of some sort – I know many people are hesitant to try free motion quilting and feathers are not a simple starting point but why not sandwich some scrap fabric and have a play – you may be a natural and come up with perfection straight up! 

hugs and quilting inspiration for today

Helen

quilting drama’s – a wise lesson

so, it was a rainy weekend here in Hobart so what better thing to do than finish a quilt…. pull out the fusible web – yes it was to be a quick quilt – oh Heat n Bond – a full roll – yes that will work, its fusible

Now I know you don't have to stitch with Heat n Bond, that’s why I got it for 3D flowers – but didn't stop to think that meant you actually CANT stitch through it!

Quilt was coming together nicely (actually MissM had already pieced the whole background some time ago) – time to start quilting.

gloves on, ditch everything, ready for rawedging – love that technique…

what’s happening, the stitches keep missing???? a new needle, a different thread, play with tension, re thread, try another needle..arrrggh panic – it WONT work…and there are little holes everywhere I've had to unpick…  eeeek – panic phone call to clever sister who knows all things quilting – what! you used Heat n Bond? – bain of all longarmers – it wont work – you cant stitch through it successfully…sorry nothing you can do, cant take it out now – try silicon spray, one stitch at a time, oiling the thread, a really big needle…

well I went and poured a wine and tried to forget about it overnight – a whole days work maybe in the bin…

next day – try again – okay the biggest needle i have – a 16 – silicon spray, one stitch – still nothing – last resort, change machines – out comes Great Grans old beauty – we managed to limp through the remaining 3 flowers and stitch down those layers (which didn't need to be stitched because I had used non stitch Heat n Bond – but because one was done the others had to be done) – thanks Gran – you saved me – well enough to get it sort of done….and hopefully no-one will ever see it any closer than a photo on a pattern cover! AND the instructions will say DONT use Heat n Bond for this technique…

So here endeth the lesson, oh learned ones…. next time grab the roll of Vliesofix instead…and you will have a much nicer experience…

hugs for today,

Helen

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat where have you been?

Somewhere where the sun was shining, the buds were bursting and the creative juices were flowing…

A fantastic weekend catching up with old friends from across the world, meeting many, many new friends, being inspired and inspiring others – all things quilting…

I would say a huge success in its first year – it will return in two years time with some exciting names already signing up to be a part of it – mark your calendars and start saving now… if you love quilting – in any format (longarm, midarm or domestic) this is one not to miss….

Oh and did I mention I met a somewhat famous Aussie quilter who is soon to become a VERY famous Aussie quilter – i wish we lived closer as I think we could become very good quilting friends – hi Rachelle….a huge congratulations to you.

oh and I did some Zentangling….. everyone was hooked on it! thanks Jane..I will work smaller now :)

hugs for today

Helen

The new Crows nest

Saturday was a day of celebration as my local, the Old Crows moved into their new nest – they have managed to find the building we have all dreamed of…. an old Sandstone Church with the most beautiful windows you could imagine… just perfect for a quilt shop and a place to meet and share and chat and stitch and eat and be merry and kind.. (and Hugh Jackmans is just across the street – actually its Jackman and McRoss – a bakery but we call it Hugh Jackmans as they both conjure up visions of delight!)

There is so much design inspiration in the building itself let alone what Deirdre and Leonie have put inside it….

This is their Pieces of the Past quilt hanging over the Choir Loft

Look at this Dear Dear Jane quilt – classes are filling fast for this project – a perennial favourite.

as expected everything is displayed so invitingly with all of their bits and bobs from the old store and i am sure a few new things from Deirdre's home.

this is just the cutest tiniest little antique pram filled with rolls of yummy goodness

a spotty ribbon for any project –scrumptious…

little treats and surprises for fans of all ages

 

memories of goodness….

Their first new group starts tonight – Tuesdays are not good for me but now that they have moved just down the road from me, I am going to have to slip away and drop in even just for a bit, how could i resist not being a part of this? Its a sit ‘n chat group so anything goes…

Twyla, (and everyone else) you just have to come visit – you will just die….and want to take it all back with you :) Don’t worry about that stretch of water – planes are great, you’ll be here in no time!

hugs, Helen

home again, home again jiggetty jig

wow, what a weekend, its taken til today to recover and show you some pics. Jo, Noni and I had a lovely but exhausting weekend in Melbourne at the Australian quilt market catching up with old and meeting many new friends.

Of course we were there to work and work we did, if you can call it that. Not much time to shop or look at things or even chat outside the booth but lots of chatting done inside the booth.

We finally met the lovely Mrs DLN an saw her fantastic quilts up close and personal- and even shared our fudge with her and Jan – thanks for the loan of the knife – hope the fudge was payment enough!

Would you believe I didn't take my camera out once, but thankfully Jo and Lillian did..

 

Jhoanna and her friends spent the day with us Saturday even with her exhibition starting on Monday…

Working hard…….

Cori’s new patterns were very popular, and you can see why..

Can you see Life is Beautiful in the corner? yes it is ready but I am waiting until things quieten down to release it to you all next week- so watch this space for your chance to win a set!

The atmosphere at night is so amazing in Melbourne on a warm summers evening. We ended up walking all the way home just to soak it up. Buskers, romantic cruises on the river (even topless ones), couples nesting on the banks, bands playing on the boardwalk, sumptuous smells emanating from all the restaurants and the lights of Melbourne.

This was when I remembered my camera, after finishing the packdown Sunday afternoon with our glamorous (albeit smelly) smocks on.

home now to follow up for everyone, sorry if I was too busy to chat, maybe next time we have to preplan things and come over early

for a trunk show or dinner or more.

hugs

Helen