Happenings in March

If you live in the Dallas metroplex or will be passing through the area, don't miss the Dallas Quilt Celebration 2011.   The quilt show runs from March 11th through the 13th at Dallas Market Hall in Dallas.   The show has all the features of a great quilt show, fabulous quilt, lectures, vendors, quilt raffle and appraisals.    

Bonnie K. Hunter

I went to our quilt guild meeting last night where the guest speaker was Bonnie K. Hunter. She was great! She spoke of her nearly 30 year journey of quilting, tackling her mountains of stash fabric - she was so energetic and upbeat. Her style is scrappy and she brought dozens of her fabulous quilts to show. She had great suggestions and ideas on how to organize and use your own stash. Most of her patterns use 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3.5 inch strips. She recommends cutting scraps into strips and storing them according to size. She then says to cut them into small squares and use them as leaders and enders when strip piecing. Voila! Before you know it you've got a box of 4 or 9 patch blocks.  She also suggests ways in which to use those outdated fabrics that you just don't know what to do with and can't bear to throw out. When cut into small pieces you don't see the print as much as the color and value.   

She also discussed working on projects in 15 minute intervals. Our lives are so busy these days it's difficult to set aside hours to sew but, if you just set aside 15 minutes per day to cut, sew press or whatever -  before you know it you've finished a quilt! 

click here

Check out her website at the link above. She has lots of ideas and free patterns too.

After two weeks of cold wintry weather we're finally getting a well deserved break and are now enjoying some beautiful sunshine and warmer weather. Feels like spring is just around the corner.

Backing my Snowball Block quilt

It's time to prepare the backing for the Snowball quilt so I can finish this one up. Remember when preparing the back, make sure it is at least six inches wider and longer than the actual quilt top. You will want this extra fabric because some of the fabric will be taken up in the quilting and you will also want a little extra for the clamps on the long arm machine. 

Remember machine quilting will not quilt out or correct excessive fabric in the borders and the quilting will not correct waviness or ripples. To avoid this always measure the length and width in 3 places (through the center and along each edge). 

Preparing the backing and binding are not my favorite tasks in finishing a quilt but, once you've gotten this far the motivation is there to complete the quilt and bind it. 

It's been so cold here in Texas that I'm actually looking forward to putting the binding on and having the quilt draped over my lap. Of course, here in Texas the weather changes so frequently that it won't be cold for long so I better hurry up and get this done.