Charity Pillow Cases with Directions

I know lots of guilds and individuals have been involved in making pillow cases for the "1 Million Pillow Case Challenge". Our guild coordinator for charity work found out that they are just overwhelmed with donations.
A LQS was a collection point, but no one had contacted them in a while about getting the pillow cases.
It appears local groups are now being encouraged to donate to shelters as well as hospital. Our Charity coordinator is fabulous. She made calls and between her church connections and a list of the local shelters - particularly for displaced women and children, and a local Birthday Wishes chapter - we now have an outlet for all the pillow cases and they are going to help people in our immediate communities.

This whole endeavor is a wonderful activity - and quilter's are the best! Ask for a million and you will get a billion!

Saturday was a half day sit & sew for this charity for our guild. We have been collecting fabrics, making kits and then sewing.

I had not made any pillow cases yet and was determined to make some. BUT--- I came down with a terrible cold - I could function, but did NOT want to share with my quilting friends. So I used some of my stash, and one kit I had and did my own "quarantined" sit & sew!!
We had posted 3 - 4 of the free pillowcase patterns on our guild's Yahoo group site. I tried the French Seam/Top Band Tube Method - What a GREAT- FAST Pattern! This was a free word of mouth pattern so I have no issue posting it here.
I took some pictures and provided the directions below

In the end I took 3 pillow cases over to the group while they were still working ( I needed a short visit) AND then brought home 4 more kits the coordinator had and finished those up before 6 pm!! 7 Pillow cases in all.
Here are the 4 pillow cases I did after my visit!

French Seam Pillow Case
This pattern makes a standard size pillow case with French seams to hide the raw edges.
The pattern calls for 44" cuts, but many of the fabrics are less than 44"
In all cases just replace 44" with full width cut
I had several novelty prints that were about 40-41 inches - they finish a little smaller, but still within the standard pillow size.
Materials

• Top Band Fabric -         9" X 44"
• Accent Piece -               2.5" X 44"  - Iron in half WRONG sides together, 
•                                                           raw edges aligned for a 1.25" X 44" piece
• Pillow Case Body  -       27"  X 44"

1. Press all fabrics, and press the accent piece as directed above - in half wrong sides together and raw edges aligned
2. Place the Top Band Fabric FACE UP on your work surface
3. Align the Accent Piece raw edges to the top 44 inch raw edge of the Top Band Fabric
4. Pillow Case Body - Rolling up along the LONG 44 inch edge - roll up the pillow case body from one edge to within about 2- 3 inches of the  other raw 44" edge.
5. Place the "unrolled" 44 inch edge of the Pillow Case Body FACE DOWN - aligning the edges, on top of the  Accent piece.

6. You now have the following layers
1. Top Band FACE UP
2. Accent Piece raw edge aligned (this is TWO LAYERS) to top edge of layer 1.
3. Pillow Case Body - FACE DOWN -1 Raw edge aligned  to top edge -rest of piece rolled up
7. Bring the BOTTOM edge of the Top Band (Layer 1) up to meet the top edge ( where all the other layers are aligned)
1. This encases the rolled up pillow case body  and
2. Makes a long tube (The top band fabric will be wrong side out at this point)

3. You now have 5 LAYERS Top Band - top edge(1), Accent Piece (2), pillow case body edge (1) and Top band bottom edge (1).
8. PIN , PIN, PIN - through the 5 layers aligning the edges and being sure not to catch any of the extra Pillow Case Body rolled up inside

9. Stitch a 1/4 inch seam through the 5 layers.
10. Pull the Pillow Case out through the top band tube.I just started gently pulling on the  pillow case body, and it comes right out.

11. Even up the edges
12. FRENCH SEAMS
1. Fold Pillow Case WRONG SIDES together
2. Stitch a scant 1/4 inch seam on the long side and the bottom 
3. YES- you are STITCHING A SEAM ON THE RIGHT SIDE SO IT SHOWS
1. Turn the pillow case INSIDE OUT
2. Poke out the corners and press the seams out flat
3. Stitch a GENEROUS 1/4 inch seam along the long seam side and the bottom - encasing the raw edge
4. Turn the pillow case right side out - Press seams well
5. Trim any small edges or threads not caught in the French seam

With the pre-cut kits from my guild this took about 30 minutes and I am a slower sewer.

I would add only about 10 minutes if you have to cut your own fabric 


I will be making more for charity as well as for gifts - I am already thinking Christmas gifts (oh dear)
Peace and Happy Quilting
Mary

Retreats, Finished Quilts and Free Videos

I have come to accept that I will blog in fits and starts! I am amazed by folks who can put something up every couple of days with pictures etc. That's not me, and that's OK.

Machine Quilting Video
I am a charter member of www.thequiltshow.com (TQS) and I LOVE it!! Besides the new shows that come out every two weeks, there is other educational and fun information most often about quilting. Well, having just finished machine quilting on my home machine, my son's Turning Twenty quilt (see more below) I am looking forward to the video series on Machine Quilting  being offered on TQS. The teacher is Patsy Thompson.
Her videos on Texture Magic are fabulous as well.
Well the first video is free to everyone, even if you aren't a member of TQS.
So I thought I would post it here. If you haven't tried out TQS, give it a try - it is a fabulous community of quilters.
Here is the video



Finished Quilt
I will now get to update my UFO list. The Turning Twenty quilt top that was finished Christmas 2008, is now completely quilted and bound - just have to wash and dry it and put the label on it. It will go in the mail to DS- Steven  at college in western  MA on Monday - still some winter left in the Berkshires - so this massively heavy quilt - it is 80 X 90, flannel on both sides with a medium weight polyester batting - will come in handy!
I was going to have this quilted by a long armer, but when I lost my job in Feb09 - that went off the list of expenditures.
The thing that helped me finish was my new SewEZ table I got for Christmas09. The bigger work surface and having the machine at a lower level really made  difference. The drag and weight of this size quilt makes quilting on your home machine a constant tug of war.

Retreats
Last weekend (Feb 12 - 14) I went to what I hope is the first of many annual retreats sponsored by our little guild. We went to the Cape Point Hotel in West Yarmouth MA. We had two sewing rooms, and one of them had refrigerators (mini) sinks, and a microwave. Breakfast was included and we pot lucked lunch an dinner on Saturday. What a great time.

We did bump up against the February School vacation/Valentines Day/President's Day weekend crowd that apparently goes to hotels with indoor pools on Cape Cod!!!
Who knew.  I did not see the attraction to sitting around and indoor pool in February - but I think it is because:

1.  I am a dyed in the wool ocean person and indoor pool and Cape Cod is just an oxymoron even in February.
2. My daughter has been a competitive swimmer from the age of 8 - she is now 19 and still swims in college. College is close by and we still regularly go to meets 
3. To me sitting by a pool - is a parental activity to support a child's sporting preference - not a vacation!LOL

Oh well- my daughter tells me kids just love to jump in the pool, get out, jump in the pool , get out - ad nauseum!
Will update the post with a picture of the quilt shortly.
Peace
Mary

My Updated List and the New England Quilt Museum Guild Challenge and Teaching Quilt Classes

I did get my decorating done - we still have to buy a tree - I will only have a real tree.  But my creche is up - I made this ceramic set about 25 years ago and use it every year. Little Elfie is on  the dining room chandelier - he reports to Santa and has been around since my kids were little. The stockings (3 hand knit by me) and my husband's made by his mother, are on the mantle. I even got some shopping done. So Christmas preparations are progressing.
I made LOADS of fudge yesterday using my husband's uncle's recipe - it comes out perfectly every time.
I will post the recipe separately.

Quilt Lists and Projects
I, like most of us, struggle with a growing list of UFOs (unfinished objects/projects). I went through the boxes and bags in my studio and made a list of every project I had on index cards - it took 4 - 4X6 inch cards - LOTS of projects. I am determined to make a dent in all of these while I am still unemployed.
So to keep me honest I have posted the list on the blog. As they get done I will preface them with COMPLETED. The list is so long it doesn't all show. I have prioritized the first 6.

My issue is, I keep finding more things I want to work on. I have volunteered to chair the New England Quilt Museum Supporting Guild Quilt Challenge - to be shown at Images in Lowell MA in August 2010. The finished quilts will then be donated to the NEQM and used in a fund raiser at a future date.  The theme of the quilt is "From Lobstahs to the Green Monstah!" . For anyone reading this that is either not from New England or not a baseball fan  the Green Monster (in a Boston accent - Monstah) is the wall in left field at Fenway Park home the Boston Red Sox. I think Lobstah is self explanatory!

Well I had a light bulb moment , went to my EQ6 and came up with a very nice design - I won't post it til it's done - but I was very pleased.  The quilt is small  - only 36 Inches square. Our Guild is small, but I am planning to have the blocks paper pieced and lots of people will pitch in to make a block. So that will need to be added to the list. I will of course incorporate Texture Magic in there somewhere - it really adds to a quilt.

Then - I am doing two LQS block of the months, plus the www.thequiltshow.com block of the months - there are two - I still have to finish this years pieced one. Also, my quilting buddy Carol, and I will make a really cool bag - the easy on the shoulder design - I have a leather one from LLBean and I love it. I got the pattern at the Gathering in Nashua NH in November. She is a teacher so is off between Christmas and New Year and we will get it done then.

Add to that I am learning to long arm quilt at my friends MaryAnn and Dora's long arm studio - Mad About Quilts.  They rent out time on their long arm - it is great - only done the intro class so far, and know it will take a lot of practice, but with all the quilts on the list I will get a lot of practice.

I am also putting together a list of classes I would like to teach. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time. Making all the samples for my Texture Magic business led me to realize I had a lot of techniques and info to offer. I will list the Texture Magic Bags (they make fabulous classes) and I am working on one of the Eleanor Burns quilts (that's not on the list either - so needs to be added!) using charm packs - it will make a great beginner quilt, but it also uses the  scallop ruler to make a scalloped edge - giving a more advanced look to the quilt when done.

My DD is coming home from college tomorrow - YEAH! and DS will be home next Sunday. It will be good to have them both home. I have three dinners this week and will try to get to some quilt stores for my Texture Magic demos. - Oh that reminds me of another project - the Texture Magic Festive Stockings - great new pattern. My friend Carol did one up very quickly - In fact I think I will go do one up tonight.
The Patriots are winning right now (4th quarter - 7 minutes to go) so life is good.
That also means I can leave my house and do errands in about an hour and a half.
The game is at home, and it takes about that long for the traffic to abate after the game is over. You learn to plan around these things when you live in a small town that hosts a NFL team!

I will post the Fudge recipe later this week
Peace
Mary

Texture Magic Totes and When Pigs Fly Part 1

Well, I have jumped in to my Texture Magic business. I am busy making samples to show to shop owners. There are now 13 Patterns for Texture Magic. I have set up my first demo to a shop staff meeting next Tuesday!

Here is the Textured Tote and Accessories. This took about a day to make all three pieces.
I loved the way it came out.
To texturize the fuchsia fabric, I just followed the swirls with gold thread. The geometric fabric, I followed the grid in the fabric.

Every Tuesday - is Texture Magic Tuesday and a new project is highlighted in "Mother Superior's Blog"
This week it is a great purse with interesting stitching and silk ribbon.

My other activity is getting ready for my guild's Exhibit. It is Saturday Oct 24 (Mansfield MA) It is a small exhibit, free and open to the public. We have done large shows as a guild before, but the guild is smaller now, so we went for simple. The space for the exhibit was free! So that helps.
I have to finish a challenge quilt for that show. It is the first time I have designed a quilt from scratch!! I used my EQ6, imported embroidery designs and everything! Now the quilt is not done, but I will give you a preview of the "inspiration" fabric.
When the quilt is finished I will post it - The name of the quilt is "When Pigs Fly". I had great fun with this.

My "Ugly" Quilt With a Heart

I belong to two quilt guilds. They are both great groups of creative women. I was invited to join the second guild by my best quilting buddy Lynne in the fall of 2007. She was going to be Vice President of the "second" guild in the 2007 - 2008 year and said it would be fun. Lynne has also been the president of my "first" guild in the 2006-2007 year. The outgoing president of the guild alway puts out a challenge at the end of her tenure. The challenge can be anything and the finished project is due at the January meeting of the next year (in this case January 2008). Lynne hated ugly fabric. So she chose what she considered the most ugly fabric she could find, and challenged us to use it in a small ( 20 X 20 inch) quilt incorporating the fabric. She gave everyone who wanted to participate a fat quarter to use in the quilt.
For quilters this is a great exercise. We can get complacent in our favorite colors, or designs. In the finished quilt pictured the "ugly" or challenge fabric is the red/orange print in the center and on the border.
I set about over the summer and early fall of 2007, using my EQ5 to come up with a design. Also I would only use fabrics in my stash. I also wanted to use a heavy thread for quilting and use the bobbin technique. I accomplished all those things.
'Round about October 2007, Lynne had a bad respiratory cold she couldn't shake. By November she was in the hospital. In the end she had Stage 4 Lung cancer. They had treated her for asthma for about 9 months, then bronchitis then pneumonia. It makes me so angry that this was missed for so long. But I took the out put from my EQ5 to her hospital room. Hung it up with all the other wonderful posters, and cards that people had sent to her. She was buried on the day of the guild meeting to show the President's challenge. I didn't finish the quilt for that meeting - but I did finish it.
Lynne always encouraged me to think outside the box, she was an artist, I am the in the box engineer - where everything has to be "matchy -matchy" This quilt has a prime position in my studio to remind me of Lynne and to keep stretching my creative side.