Archive for the ‘Methods’ Category

 Have you seen the latest addition to the Tea Leaves family? It’s the Tea Leaves Bedroom Suite! This pattern contains project instructions for a bed runner, a pillow and curtain tie-backs.

I really enjoy the Tea Leaf technique and the results that people have been achieveing are amazing! We have updated our technique and we now use “Lapel Stick” to reduce bulk! For more details, see this blog post! 

When designing this pattern, I had the pleasure of working with Cathy Ruggiero (of Candlelite Quilts) on this pattern! She provided me with a pattern for the stitchery which is included in her “Flowers of Hope” pattern! (If you like the stitchery, click here to go to Candlelite Quilt’s website for ordering!). Cathy’s pattern contains the version of the stitchery at the size you’ll need to put into this pillow.

Flowers of Hope is a pattern for mini penny squares which features No-Hoop Redwork. You have to try this out! It’s so easy, even I can do it! This pattern was addapted from antique applique designs for redwork. It’s a versatile pattern which could be used for a wall hanging, sweet additions to a tea cozy, napkin, tablecloths….when I look at this pattern, I see afternoon tea and a warm fire!  Which reminds me…I think I need a cup, right now!  -Kris

Last Sunday evening, in my inbox, I received a neat surprise! Bev from Maine sent me pictures of her cutomized Tuesday  Traveler! It is such a treat to see what others do to make my patterns a personal creation! Bev added a top flap for security. I love this!

Good rainy morning to everyone! I think we’ve had enough rain this month (in NH) already!

What is new this week? Poorhouse Quilt Designs is coming out with a new pattern for Leaf Bowls!  Here are some pictures:

 The pattern will include a palm leaf, a maple leaf and a birch leaf! We are featuring InnSpire by Innovative Craft Products – it is a heat set moldable non-woven stablilzer! This is what creates these wonderful bowls!

Finally – leaves I don’t have to rake!

If you have an idea for the name of the pattern, comment and you’ll get a free pattern!

Look for this pattern soon! -Kris

OK – so I missed the fact that it was Wednesday yesterday! But…good things come to those who wait!

If you are a fan of the Tea Leaves, we have a trick for you! Instead of basting around the “leaves”, we are now using Lapel Stick Temporary Adhesive! So .. how does the process work? We simply apply Lapel Stick to the 3 corners of the Leaf triangle, stick it to your square base, repeat for the reamining leaf and you have a nicely basted Tea Leaf!

Your Tea Leaf is now ready to use and this is much less bulky than basting! It washes out and leaves no trace. Our testers just loved it!

I hope you try Lapel Stick for your next Tea Leaf Project! Let me know what you think!

-Kris

Fresh Flowers on the Tea Leaf Tote!

This is the Moda Fresh Flowers Charm Pack – - really cute and fresh and ready for Summer!

This tote will stand up to your shopping demands because it’s made with Inn-Control Plus! This is a fantastic batting alternative that is made right here in the USA! The folks at Innovative Craft Products have done it again! This is a double sided fusible polyester foam that will bond permanently with your fabric.

I’ve been using Inn Control Plus to make the large Tea Leaft Tote lately and I have been so pleased with the results. Here are some tips for using Inn Control Plus:

1. Read the clear instructions that come with your package!
2. In order to produce steam to bond the fabric to the foam, I use a press cloth that I wet with a spray bottle. I spray on an even amount of water (don’t soak – just wet it) and then hold the iron on the wet press cloth until the water evaporates.
3. When I am bonding the front panel (the tea leaves!) to the Inn Control Plus, I add a light spritz of water to the tea leaves, then cover with press cloth and spritz the press cloth. I found that the tea leaves are thicker and need a little more water! 

Have fun and try Inn Control Plus – I know you’ll like it!

Stay tuned… I may be giving a package away soon!   -Kris

It’s a great morning for a cup of tea! Or, how about Tea Leaves Totes? Here is a sampling of what you can do with black and white and a shot of a bright color in this tote. The large tote and the mini are both included in your pattern!

So – you have a charm square (5″ square) pack but what to do with it?If you have at least 40 squares, you have enough fabric for both fronts! The large “shopper” is big enough for a major shopping trip or a day at the beach. The mini is great to have with you for a quick trip into the store.

This pattern is loads of fun – a nod to the Cathedral Window pattern, without the work! Use your machine to turn back those curves and reveal your design!

Next, we’ll show some rainbow effects with this pattern! Stay tuned!

Until then… Happy Quilting!  -Kris

Hope you don’t mind..I am showing off my Route 66 bag again!

I’d like to talk about the product that I used in a supporting role: inn-control plus, from Innovative Craft Products. Inn-control Plus is a batting alternative with the supple sturdiness of a polyester foam – with an added bonus… it’s fusible on both sides. This product comes in white – which is important for a light summery print, like this!

I can easily pack a change of clothes in this bag, as well as a book, sunscreen, maps….let’s go!

Here is what I like about inn-control plus:

• It seams together easily (multiple layers are not a problem);
• It holds your bag’s shape and it looks very professional;
• It can be quilted;
• It’s fusible!
• It is available in convenient sizes.

I also installed the grommets with ease; the foam easily compresses enough to receive the prongs of the hardware.

Give inn-control plus a try! Just substitute inn-control plus for fusible fleece – you’ll really like the difference!

Keep sewing. . . . -Kris

Happy Valentine’s Week! Here is a sneak peek of the new Northern Lights Trio of totes pattern at left! Last night I made this tote with Duo Fuse by Innovative Craft Products of Scarborough, Maine.

“It’s what’s inside that counts”  – this is so true with quilting and crafting! It’s Innovative Craft Product’s catch phrase and I really believe this will catch on! 

• Duo Fuse is a double sided permanent fusible fleece that has a web of adhesive that is needled right into the batting. Here is what I found:

1. When I followed the easy instructions that come with the product, I got dependable adhesion to the fabric.

2. I didn’t have any sections that were loose as long as I paid attention!

3. No crunchy glue dots! This is so soft yet has great body (Look at how the tote stands!!).

4. I love love love the straps – they are strong, flexible and not hard. I have specified peltex in my patterns for straps in the past. The Duo Fuse handles perform even better.

Here are some details – at first glance this appears to be a lofty fleece for a fusible but it lays down when fused. Pictured at right is a cross section of Duo Fuse before pressing. This gives you an idea of the material that will be compressed when fusing. It has a nice professional padded feel when fused.

How to on the straps:

I took a strip of Duo Fuse that was double the width of my final strap. This was fused to a piece of fabric that was double the width of the Duo Fuse. I centered the Duo Fuse and fuesd from the back then pulled the rest of the fabric around to the other side of the strap and fused that down. I then folded the strip together lengthwise and topstitched the strap; This gave me a comfortable padded strap. At right is a cross section of the strap.

Duo Fuse is a little more expensive than your conventional fusible fleece, but I was able to make this project without additional interfacing on the lining! It definitely is “What’s Inside That Counts!”

Try it!  You can get it here! Have a great day!  -Kris

Oh- I don’t mean it that way!

My friend, Hoodie designs wonderful fabric – just take a look at the onion fabric at left! This is from her line of fabrics called Veggie Patch by Blank Quilting. Check out her Blog: Hoodie’s Land!

Who could resist this fabric for making a tote for your weekly trip to the Farmer’s Market? I’d love one in the tomato, eggplant and pepper varieties also!

This is the On Tour Bag Pattern - with a twist! I made it a little smaller! How? Take your On Tour Bag pattern and crease it at the pocket line. Fold that crease again, so that the length is decreased by the amount that you desire. Now, place on top of a paper bag that you’ve cut apart so that you have a large piece of paper to work on and trace the top half of the pattern to the fold. Stop and slide the bottom of the bag pattern to meet your drawn line and trace the bottom half of the pattern. You now have a shortened pattern! You will have to adjust the length of the sides also, but you can do that during the construction of the bag. Don’t be afraid to trace and shift…it’s only paper!

Check out Hoodie’s Joy Basket fabric also – http://blankquilting.com/FabricDetails.aspx?collectionid=298 - this is what I used on the inside (brown dot) – very cute!

Off to the post office to send this bag to Hoodie!  Have a great day sewing, all!  -Kris

Brrrr…it’s cold up here in New Hampshire! I thought I’d make an On Tour Bag with wool so that I can test out a new winter bag!

I bought my chunk of wool at the Dorr Mill Store in Guild, NH. If you ever have the chance, take a drive out (preferably in the fall), and enjoy the scenery along the way! They are so helpful and the selection of by the yard wool is astounding!

To ready my wool for this bag, I decided to “fluff” up my wool by running it through a warm rinse cycle (water only), then drying it on high. This tightened my piece of wool, but did not “felt” it. The result is a tighter weave that it less likely to fray.

I then adhered a dark fusible medium weight interfacing to the back and cut my pieces out for the outside of the bag. I cut my lining (you may recognize Sketchbook by Yolanda Fundora) and used a Pellon 987 fusible fleece for the front and back, and Decor Bond for the side pieces.

I also decided that this bag needed piping along the side seams, so I made up 100” of piping using 1/8” nylon cord (rattail) and bias cut 1 ¼” strips. You can see more about piping seams in my post called “Seams Excellent”.  This addition really helped to define the shape of the bag.

I made up this bag per the pattern, but decided not to use the grommets, because they did not enhance the wool (too shiny!). Therefore, before I sewed the lining and outer bag together, I sewed on the handles to the bag fronts (sides of handles butted against the side/front seam. Then I sewed outer to inner and caught the handles in the seam. I topstitched the top of the bag as directed. I added a big button for decoration only but I really liked the organic feel of the button. Aaaah… another successful On Tour bag!!