Cynthia's Creating Ark: March 2019

Friday, March 29, 2019

Under the Pressure Foot # 33

It has been a long time since I have done a Under the Pressure Foot post July 2017, but today is the day for a post.
Let me start at the beginning. It is Friday 29th March which is my Demo Day in store, the month sees me demoing Ruler work quilting, answering questions and setting quilters on their way on their own ruler work quilting adventure using the Westalee Designs Ruler foot and templates.
The First group of the morning often set the tone for the day when I do a Rulerwork demo. I need to get an idea of skill level before we start. There is no point showing them beginner stuff if they are already past that stage and often no point showing the advanced stuff to a group of beginners as it may scare them off. So the first group in were ladies who have done some ruler work quilting but were looking for something more then me stitching sample designs on 12 inch quilting sandwiches even those my sandwiches are 18 inches.
After a hearty chat with a cuppa it was decided I was going to quilt a large quilt sandwich with an all over design. The sandwich ended up being 24 x 42 inches and could easily become a quilted panel as part of a bag project or if you just wanted to quilt a quilt with an all over design.

It is the principals on how to get started that are important here. There are some simple steps that make this more achievable. I think that is where some quilters get stuck. They try and things don't quite work out how they wanted it. With a few extra tips to keep them on the straight and narrow a wonderful all over effect can be achieved. That is the main key (straight and narrow) to quilting a large panel with an all over design. You must spend some time at the beginning to set yourself up for success. Get out the chalk pen and ruler and measure up your space and consider your measurement with the template/ruler you plan to use. The ladies chose the apple core template. I then did the maths and double check the measurement of the space I want to quilt by dividing it by the template size which was 2". You want to make sure you fill the space evenly. So I draw up my box then using the straight edge of the 12" arc ruler stitched the box I want to fill. This holds the layers together and keeps your work tight and flat. I drew in some reference lines to help keep me on the straight and narrow or I will be off on a crazy angle before I knew it. I put in 6" lines both way. Then I was off quilting stopping a couple of times to explain what to do if there is a problem like if you twist your template and wander away from your template, broken threads etc. I think the ladies enjoy their visit.

There was no way I would finish the whole piece in the time allotted for the demo. It means the next group get to see what was started and I continue on with that piece for the rest of the day. Along with me doing some basic beginner's stuff for the the ladies who had come to see ruler work quilt for the first time. By closing time my piece was finished and I had a few workshop ideas to work on.
My piece finished.

Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

All about Strings Blog Hop

Today is my day on the All about Strings Blog Hop. I must start with a big thank you to Carla from Creatin' in the Sticks for hosting us crazy bloggers.
I have a lot of batik strips left over from my log cabin quilt which just happens to be hanging up.

They have been living in my batik box for quite a while. There is a bag for each colour. For this project I am going to use the blue bag.

This is some of what was in the blue bag. Lots of strips between 1 and 2 inches. Since I rescued these strips I thought I would rescue some orphan blocks from a project that didn't happen. Look out for more projects with string blocks as there are bags with other colours and there is more orphan blocks that need to be used up.
The orphan blocks are 4 1/2" unfinished so my blue strips at mainly 6 1/2" work well.

String piecing is no thinking fun just keep sewing a strip on. I tried to be random and just work on don't sew too darks or lights in a row.

My sewing assistant had to be colour coordinated with the project. One of the extra long strips. No sewing assistants were harmed in this exercise and she did surrender her strip so I could include it in the project.

This is what I ended up with. I just trimmed up one long edge and cut my 4 1/2" string blocks using the 45 degree line on my ruler. In hindsight I would of been better off if I had 7-8" width strip.
It was a little tight getting my setting triangles out of the leftovers but I managed it.

The fun part of laying out all my blocks into my design, making sure my string blocks all ran the right way. Then sewing them together keeping them where they should be, followed with a slight trim up to finish the top off.

Unfortunately I didn't have time to quilt it but I have some quilting ideas forming with the Westalee mini spin-e-fex rulers.

Now make sure you visit everyone else. Here is the full schedule if you have missed any days.

All About Strings Blog Hop Schedule

Monday, March 25th

Just Let Me Quilt

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Bumbleberry Stitches
QuiltFabrication

Seams to be Sew

DesertSky Quilting

Happy Cottage Quilter

quiltsbyjoanne

selina quilts

Homespun Hannah's Blog

Karrin's Crazy World

Tuesday, March 26th

Patchouli Moon Studio

ShirleyC

Wednesday, March 27th

Stitchin at Home

Alycia Quilts

Websterquilt

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Melva Loves Scraps

Words & Stitches

Den syende himmel
Patchwork Breeze
Domestic Felicity
The Quilted Snail

Thursday, March 28th

Cynthia's Creating Ark (You are here)
The Joyful Quilter
Color Creating and Quilting
PamelaQuilts
Beaquilter
Two Maker Chicks
Days Filled With Joy
Quilting & Learning - What a Combo!

Creatin' in the Sticks

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Vintage Rose Workshop Part 2

On Sunday we had are second Vintage Rose workshop, which is a technique of the month. In all we have 6 workshops to learn all the techniques to make our versions of this quilt. In the two workshops so far they have been full on with lots to learn , plus there is lots of homework to complete once we go home.

In this workshop we were working on the rose bud section. The outer spikey section is similar to what we did in the first workshop, so that was straight forward. We cut and started the stitching. The rest will be part of our homework.

The lone star bud section was the new technique we had to learn in this workshop. Once cut out we headed back to the sewing machines for some strip piecing. Very interesting way of doing it. By the end of it we ended up with a section that looks like this. This one is mine.

There is lots of cutting and sewing involved and I am sure there will be more. Now we have our homework to complete. The catch is there is 8 of each section, so it will take us a little while to complete. Plus I have put on a catch up/help class each month to help anyone who needs help. You do have to remember I am doing the class with the ladies so I am learning as we go too.
Hopefully next month I will have some pictures of the other ladies progress.
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia