News from the Flying Needle
September 2010
Reported by Fabrique and Ms. Notions
Hi All, This is Fabrique, stitching in! I hope your summer was a blast and now you’re ready to settle into great quilting this year. My partner, Ms. Notions and I are so happy that we’ll be sharing quilting tidbits with all of you. In case you didn’t know, we are roving reporters looking at all things quilting. This year we will be hangin’ with the crew from the Quilters of Color Network. “Heey!”
In this column, we will be offering advice to people who are interested in the quilting and the needle arts. So pour that cup of coffee or break out that bottle of white zinfandel and let’s get down to business.
Hi, Ms Notions here! Let’s look at what’s in your toolbox and ask some basic questions, and see what you think.
How Do You Know If You’re A Beginner, Intermediate, or Master?
If you’re holding a rotary cutter in your hand and are asking, what do I do with this? You are a beginner. Not to worry, you are soon going to find out that this tool is your best friend and if your quilting grandmother had known about it, she would be green with envy. (Hint! It is not a pizza cutter!) Learn safety first. This cutter will cut skin and bone as fast as fabric. Along with the rotary cutter, there is the cutting mat. These two are best friends like us, Fabrique and Ms. Notions! Don’t use one without the other, unless you are looking for an excuse to buy a new table.
If you are an Intermediate, you have several different size and shape rotary cutters. You know about the safety guards because you have already donated blood, but remember; Don’t be penny wise and pound-foolish! Sharpen or change your blade when it is no longer cutting butter smooth. Dull blades cause accidents.
Now our Master quilters have those fancy blades! The pinking and wave blades are tools used for your Crazy Quilting and other fancy artwork. They also have several sizes of cutting mates and a large assortment of templates that we’ll talk about later.
Most quilters have 3 different size cutting mats. This collection includes a small 8 ½” x 11” mat which is great for cutting small detailed work and traveling. Next is an 11”x 17” mat. This is a good “workhorse” size mat to take to classes and meetings, trim your strips and squares, and use when you have limited space. (NO! Not the bare countertop!). Now, if you have a sewing table or you work on the dining room table, you need a 23” x 34” (24”x36”) mat. (Cheapest at Wal-mart!) This is for the BIG cutting! (Hint: a Scotch Brite scrubby smoothes the rough-cut marks on the mats and removes most marks)
“Fabrique, how many rulers do you have in your toolbox?” “Well Notions, you can never have enough different rulers or templates! Remember: measure twice, cut once! Poor measurements can ruin a beautiful quilt! “So as it stands I think I have 8 right now, not to mention the specialty template rulers and quilter’s quarter.”
“Okay Fabrique, but what does a beginner really need?”
“Well along with the two previous items you mentioned, they will also need a 6” X 24” acrylic ruler. And they’ll need one 6 ½” square and one 12 ½” square ruler. These are your “basic rulers”. I would suggest that they start putting some pennies aside, because like I said you never have too many rulers.
By the way, Notions, how many rulers did you get at Quilt Odyssey 2010 this summer? Don’t give me that look, I.. saw.. you. I know I picked up at least 3 more templates. Geeze, I can just hear the workshop slots asking, ‘And where do you think you’re going?’ Heey!”
“You know Fabrique, as a beginner, templates either evoke dreams of fabulous quilts or scare the ‘bejeezus’ out of you. Although I didn’t, I would suggest starting with simple sizes and shapes. Then increase your template collection according to your pocketbook, designs, and convenience.”
“Hey Notions, why didn’t you start simple?” “Because ‘Notions’ is my name, and shopping is my game! My sewing basket is a mini store, and I am always looking for more!”
“Go girl!” “Now, intermediates will build their collections and masters may even create their own specialty templates. It will depend on how creative and adventurous you are.”
“Now QC members, this is just a quick peek into your sewing and tool kit. We would like you to give us some feedback on the following questions:
1. What level sewer are you, and what is or was your biggest challenge?
2. What is your favorite tool in your sewing and toolbox, and why?
3. What tool was a waste of money and why?
We look forward to chatting with you next month. We will be diving into my favorite topic…..FABRIC! Notions, hold me back girl, I can hear those Batiks and Phillip Jacobs prints shouting my name.“ My goodness so much fabric and so little time.” Heey, until next month. Stitch Awayyy!!!!
