Quilting Circles Tutorial

January 16th, 2009
On the Gift Bag Swap quilt I wanted pretty exact circles and I was not achieving that when I used the edge of the quilting foot as a guide. When I reached the outside of the circle the spacing was not as consistent as I wanted it to be. Here is my solution to the problem:

1. Use regular (mine is not that pretty because I buy the clearance stuff) contact paper cutting it alittle larger than the outer circle you want.

2. Mark the 1/4 sections and draw the outer circle – only on 1/4 of the circle.

3. Fold the contact paper into quarters.

4. Lay the Cut A Round tool designed by Cheryl Phillips having the slit match up with the size of circle drafted above.


5. Cut every slit (which are 1/2″ apart)

6. Label each circle in its proper order.

Example of circle patterns.

***I cut the circle open on all circles except the inner circle – see how #5 circle is open.

(You can either work from the inside out, or the outside in – Here I am working form the inside of the circle out.)
7. Place the first circle pattern where you want the center of your circle located.
8. Lay circle #2 and lay is next to circle #1.
9. Lay circle #3 next to circle #2.

10. Remove circle #2 to make it possible to quilt.
11. Continue adding circle patterns until you have reached the desired size.
12. Quilt around the circles with free motion quilting.

The following pictures show how I lay out circles next to each other.
#4 Circle is positioned next to #3.

#5 Circle is being positioned next to #4 circle.

#5 Circle has been matched up on the way around.

#4 Circle has now been removed to enable the circles to be quilted.

While the circles are in use I place them the end of the circle (ideally with the number showing) on a table for safe keeping.

Grandma’s Hexagarden

January 16th, 2009

This quilt is laying around in my Studio and when I have a few down minutes I continue to sew a few more hexagons together. I entered this quilt into th Empire Quilter’s show in March – so the fire is starting. Although it is on my list of projects to complete this month.

The Generations Unite

January 16th, 2009

Things are moving right along. I haven’t done much with it the past week, until yesterday, then I started pumping out things again. I am hoping to have this quilt ready to start quilting in February. I think that I can make it especially since Emily and Autumn have agreed to make the remaining Easy Pieces blocks. I hope to mail them out today to them. Jennie has also agreed to make four hummingbird blocks. So, with Autumn making a few of the blocks there will be 4 Generations (5 quilters) that actually work on the construction of the quilt. Prairie will have her part also because her cute little foot prints are on it.

Last week as I was working on creating this progress report for the things I have left to complete for the Generations Unite quilt I realized that I only needed 20 border units embroidered instead of 25. Wow, I gained almost 10 hours there to work on something else. Anyway, here is a copy of my progress report.



I really do like the embroidered border. I think it finishes off the quilt top very nicely.

Young Women Making Pillowcases

January 16th, 2009

Last week for Young Women’s we worked on a service project. The Young Women came over to my home and we made pillowcases. The pillowcases will be donated to an organization that will in turn give the pillowcases to children that are having chemo.


The young women worked hard and got alot accomplished.

They also has ALOT of fun!!!!!!
(Think this will help keep me young?)

The Generations Unite

January 5th, 2009

While in Utah I was able to cut all the pieces for the Easy Pieces blocks and Hummingbird blocks. I need 40 more hummingbird blocks. Jennie said that she would make four, so that leaves 38. I figure that if I make 4 a day, then I will be on schedule to have this quilt ready to start quilting in February.

On Dec. 24 Tom and I went to run some errands. While we were gone Emiy was really sneaky and pieced 50 of th Easy Piece blocks for me for my 50th Birthday/Christmas present.

I trimmed the blocks when I got home. I love them all laying together.

And, in case you were wondering, the dark won.
Here are three of the actualy blocks for the back (or other side) of the quilt.

Here I am working on designing the border embroidery design.

Now to design the corner.

Here are the two templates laid out on the quilt top.

Here I have transferred some of the border design to the quilt top.
Saturday we drove out to Tom’s sister’s home in New Jersey. It is about 1 1/2 hours away. Just a enough time to do one section. I got an opportunity to work on this while at her home and also on the way home. So, just 23 more to go.
I will have to keep at this if I want to be able to start quilting February.

Here is the quilt top on the bed.
I think I am going to put this quilt on the bed in the small spare bedroom (after I paint it).

On Sunday I continued to work on the border. I now have four sections completed and one corner unit. Just 21 sections left and 3 corners. I have not worked on my section for today,
I had better get busy!

Donation quilts

January 5th, 2009
Last week I was looking and looking for a bag of scraps that I know I have. I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I did come across a bag that had odds and ends that I inherited when a Pelham Quilter passed away a few years ago. I decided that while I was machine embroidering names on Stars from Allover I could work on these donation quilts. This is part of the squares and triangles that I received.
Here is tope #1 with its blue binding and a green back.

Top #2 with navy binding.
I decided that I could piece some of the red prints together for the backing. If I tried to use all the red squares & triangles in tops, I would be making quilting like these for a LONG time.

Here is the back for top #2.

Top #3.
Each top has the same type of four blocks, the settings are just done differently.

Here is the back.
There were also five 9-patch blocks. So, this is what I did with them.

And, wanting to use up al the leftover scraps……….

here is the back!

The Legacy Lives on – Six Generations of Quilters

January 2nd, 2009
For Christmas Autumn (age 5) made me a quilt.
Here are a few (maybe more than a few – I am a proud Grandma) progress pictures:


The name of the quilt is: Tricky Squares.

The reason it is tricky is because all the squares have a matching square except two.
Can you find the squares that do not have a match.

Autumn was really excited about giving me this quilt. In fact, on Christmas morning she stopped in the middle of opening her presents and said she wanted me to one my present from her. She sat down on her rocking chair and just watched me.

I can’t believe it – now I will have six generations of quilts in my home.

Grandma with the proud quilt maker.
Thank you Autumn for such a special gift. I will treasure it always!
And thanks to Autumn’s mom (my daughter Emily) for her patience and love in working with Autumn to complete this project and helping her develop a love of sewing.
I will be changing my lecture to be:
The Legacy Lives On – Six Generations of Quilters.

Tutortial – How to include a link in the comment section

January 1st, 2009

1. Write a post on your blog about the Give-a-way
2. Click on the name of the post (see A) and only that post will open up in the web browser
3. Copy of the web address (see B) [CTR C] CTR KEY + letter “C” key (will copy web address)

4. Go to the post section of NewYorkQuilter.com
5. Write whatever you want
6. [CTR V] CTR KEY + letter “V” key (will paste the address from your blog into the comment section) (see C)
7. Click “Post Comment”

Christmas Highlights

December 30th, 2008
This year Tom and I were in Utah for Christmas. I flew out on December 16 to have a few days to get my fix with the girls. Tom flew out on December 20. We had a great time and appreciate our kids sharing their Christmas with us. Playing in the snow.

Autumn’s snowman head.

Prairie playing with the wood nativity puzzle.

Making a Princess Gingerbread Castle.

Prairie and Autumn in the red dresses that Emily and Jennie wore about 20 years ago.

Making Pretzel chocolates

The Weinheimer’s

Grandpa and Grandma with the Grandkids

Sining Christmas carols on Christmas Eve.

Prairie and Autumn in their new PJs on Christmas Eve.

Tom opening #13 Revisited

The three girls chillin’ on Christmas morning

The glider rocker that I recovered for Emily while in Utah

Jennie and Janardan on Christmas morning

Nativity scene made by Autumn

Horsey (aka Grandpa) and Autumn

Emily’s “get-up” for chopping onions

Jennie’s writing dress that I finsihed while in Utah

Ty in his new toy

The boys playing with Ty’s train set

Seeing the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

Ty loves his trains.

We did more than dream of a white Christmas this year!

Ty skating.

How tall can he make this tower?

Whoops!

Oh well – Grandpa can help build it again.

Drum Roll please!!!!!

December 12th, 2008

Introducing the new Holiday project for 2008 – Elf! Too bad he wasn’t ready in time for the students to be excited about it. I had a hard time trying to decide how I wanted to do the legs. I tried one technique, but it didn’t work with the felt. On one we just sewed felt strips in, but that didn’t give me the look that I wanted (candy striped). Last night I went to Michael’s to pick up some bells for Tom’s train day on Saturday. I was just looking around trying to find something quick and easy to do for our temple workers. Anyway, I was in this one section and came to the pipe cleaners, I thought they would be cute for the legs. (Yes, I know they are skinny, but cute don’t you think?)

Here is a group shot of all the holiday projects.

Here are some pictures of the projects my students made this year. This is always a fun (but lots of work) week. We play Christmas music, make a holiday project and just have fun. Some students are still working on some gifts and choose not to participate in making the holiday project.


This student made enough bean bugs to give one to each cousin.

The one brave student that tried the elf, she is smart and will be able to comple it at hom.

Pillows for family members, a skirt for his sister.