* for the love designs pattern giveaway can be found {here} ~ entries will be open until Saturday, June 23, 2012 *
I've been finishing some things lately and starting and finishing other things, and then there's those W.I.P.'s that I've been ignoring! I'm thinking I should maybe give these quilt tops some attention sometime soon....
For some reason, I'm not really excited about either of these. Actually, I think I know what it is. Basting. I really dislike basting. My space is limited so I have to clear away our kitchen eating area in order to have enough space to baste, then being down on my knees pinning for an hour or more....doesn't hold much appeal at the moment!
Today is my kids' last day of school. Woohoo! They're excited, and so am I. Where has another year gone? I think I say that every year at this time. Both of them have been playing with my sewing machine a lot lately. Scraps of fabric, some of my less-than-favourite thread, mixed with some decorative stitches and they are entertained for as long as I'll let them play. Lu has been making drawstring bags with her kids, which would be fun I think, but I'm looking for more ideas of fun (and simple) things to sew with kids....boys to be exact!
A question for all of you who sew bags/pouches, etc. What is the most useful length of zipper to have on hand? I've been browsing Zipit and am amazed by the prices, but want to be sure that I purchase what will be most useful for future projects.
Have a good week everyone!
17 comments:
I am right there with you on the basting...Completely dread it, mostly because I have to do it when the kids are sleeping and right now if they are in bed, I'd rather be laying down, too! I usually buy 12" zippers, mostly because they are easy to trim down if I need a smaller one, but there aren't too many projects where I'll want one much longer than that.
Basting is the worst! That's exactly what stops me from finishing quilts too.
I like your quilts..the postage stamp quilt looks like a lot of work.
I usually keep 14" and 20" zippers on hand. Part of that is because I also make clothing, but it's so easy to shorten the zipper, so I say always go longer. And I try to keep my zippers at a ratio of half white, half colors, so I always have something that will go with my project.
And by the way, how exciting on winning Randi's Tuesday fabric giveaway! Gotta love free fabric :)
Well, I like both your quilts but for different reasons. The fabric for the triangles is just my taste. And the postage quit is just wonderfully scrappy and happy :)
Basting and the actual quilting are my least favorite parts of the process, but I am trying to work on loving them too. :) I have a can of spray baste on the way and I am hoping it will help speed up that process.
I know what you mean about pin basting. Oh my aching back and knees! it's the only reason I switched to spray basting. I agree with Toni on the zippers 12" are a must stock. I also have a lot of 14" and 9".
Spray basting. It is a huge factor in why I am still quilting along!
I just your postage stamp quit, Heather. With zippers, I think a combination of 9 inch and 14 inch is perfect-- you can always cut them down, too!
Is it bad to say that I haven't basted anything bigger than a placemat in forever? I asked for a FMQ foot for my machine for my birthday, so maybe that will change!
I was going to ask if I missed the finish of the postage stamp! I don't mind the act of basting - but like you, I don't have a big space. That's why I have such a large pile of tops to baste at my parents this summer - their basement is big enough to baste everything in one go! (If I hated my knees that much.) Sewing for boys - Angry Birds, pillowcases, simple pants, bags to hold their stuff, simple strip quilts...I'm having my son help me make a donation quilt - gives him sewing skills AND a good cause.
Those quilt tops look so great! I especially love the scrappy postage stamp quilt. I know what you mean about basting. I don't mind it so much, but the only large, hard surface I have in my house is my wood floors, and I feel sick every time I push a safety pin through the quilt top - paranoid I'm going to scratch up the floors!
I heard about another way to baste that can be done on a table top, with long boards or something... I am going to research that idea. I know that is not very helpful, lol, but just thought I'd mention it. :P
Your quilt tops look wonderful. I especially like the postage stamp quilt as that is a new project of mine. As for basting, my knees aren't happy when I do it on the floor. I found a tutorial showing how to do it on my kitchen table a year ago and it has worked great for me. Here is the link in case it would work for you.
http://www.sewwequilt.com/2011_06_12_archive.html
Basting isn't much fun - I do my quilts out in the lounge room floor as it is the only large space I have.
Oh I love it that your boys want to sew! Mine are a bit small to tackle the machine, but I'm hoping they'll want to when they're a bit older! Maybe you could make some bowling pins or something with them (stuffed but with something like rice at the bottom for weight)?
I don't like basting, either. Seems we're not alone!
If you're only planning to sew pouches, I think 9" zips should be fine. You can shorten them really easily (if the teeth are plastic).
Heather, I love both of those quilt tops! I can't wait to see them completed. Have you ever seen Oh Fransson's tutorial on making sandwich boards. I really want to make one so I don't have to rearrange my whole dining room every time. Here's the link...
http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2011/08/sandwich-boards.html
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