Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Fabric for Basic CQ Course




Here is the fabric I chose to use for the basic CQ course on Stitchmap Yahoo Group. I really like the coloring of the focus fabric and think I found some really great fabrics to go with it. I've never CQ'ed with cotton only before, so this will be new to me!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Tin Swap











Here's the tins I made for the tin swap at Crazy Quilt International yahoo group. Hope she likes them!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Half Square Triangle Formula

One question that seems to constantly come up with quilters is how do I know what size square of fabric to start with to end with a certain size square when I sew the triangles back together. Basically they want to take a beginning square - divide it in half diagonally - then sew it back together to come up with another sewn square, smaller in size than the beginning square. The problem comes in when you want to end with a certain size sewn square, let's say 2.5 inches (unfinished and so including a 1/4" allowance for a 2" finished square). How do you figure out how large the first square of fabric should be?

I presented my husband with this problem and being the persistent person he is, he came up with this approximation of the formula:

The formula to approximate the half square triangle is:
A = a + 3/8 inch, where A is the beginning square of fabric and a is the ending sewn square


Or Beginning square of fabric = Desired Ending Sewn Square + 3/8 inch

If you are curious, the more accurate version of the formula is:

A = a + (√2 x .25)

So, for our problem of how large a square to start with if I want an ending square of 2.5 inches,
A = a + 3/8
A = 2 1/2 + 3/8
A = 2 4/8 +3/8 (converting to eighths)
A =2 7/8 inches

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Purse Contest Entry
















The CQI Purse Contest is over! Out of 11 purses I didn't place, but I did finish! There were some beautiful purses to compete with. Here's my entry.

Friday, June 5, 2009

My Garage Sale Find


A couple of weeks ago it was garage sale day in our community. I picked up this beautifully handstitched cross stitch of the last supper for $1. It is really sad that people don't appreciate the work that went into this. I will appreciated it though and am going to have it re-framed. (-:

My New Toy!











I picked up this 1949 Singer sewing machine this week. I can't wait to test drive it! It has the original instructions, lots of feet, and a buttonholer also with instructions. I've always wanted one of these, but never wanted to put out the cash for it. Then I saw this for a pretty good price and snatched it up!




Storing My Stash


STORAGE! How do you like this storage for fabric! It is huge! And I have one for fabric and another for fabric and embellishments. I got both from the container store and they've gone a long way towards organizing my sewing room.

I won a pinkeeper!!!!!!!!!


This is the pinkeeper I won on Lyn G.'s blog contest. It is sooo pretty! Thanks Lyn!

Sumptuous Starts Round Robin - finished project

Here is the book cover I created with my block made from the Sumptuous Starts Round Robin. I just love how it turned out. There were four lovely ladies, Arlene, Ann, Skye, and Kathy, who all added stitching. It is even prettier in person.