Color My World

Let's make the world a more colorful place. After all, that's why we're quilters, isn't it?

Have you ever listened to a Louis L'Amour book? I mean really listened. My favorite is the Chick Bowdrie series. Now there's a man a woman could fall in love with. Chick is part Apache and a Texas Ranger. He has ax handle shoulders, knowing eyes, and sits tall in the saddle on his trusty horse, "The Strawberry Roan." Poor horse never gets a name; it's simply, "The Strawberry Roan."

Then there are the secondary characters including the ranch hands whose names come under the heading of Tex, Slim, Rusty, Dusty, and of course Cookie. Can't have a chuck wagon without a "Cookie."

Chick rides from town to town saving the ranch from foreclosure, the school marm from harm, the boy from growing up to become a gunslinger, and of course the "day." Chick always saves the day. Then he rambles on to the next adventure, to the next town, ranch, or day, always meeting a very colorful group of characters.

This leads me to the question of why aren't there more nicknames in the world? When you head in to the corporate office in the sky-high building in the traffic-congested city see what nicknames come to mind. As you take that long elevator ride to the 27th floor, are you standing next to Buck, Curly, Pecos Pete, Ramblin' Roy, or Git-A-Long Sal. If you're in line at the grocery store, is it Lulabell, Coyote Jane, or Hitchem-up Bob in front of you? You know, perhaps if folks all had nicknames, the world would be a far more colorful place.

Bye Bye Summer

When working with my hand-dyed 2" squares, I noticed that despite all of the Synthropol and washing, some colors were still bleeding. Sooo, little by little over the summer, I've been re-washing with a vinegar rinse. I won't miss the heat, but I will miss hanging out the wash. It really does brighten up the neighborhood.

Fuse box cover up

Is there a fuse box on an exposed wall that needs to be hidden? Or how about a phone jack that doesn't hold a phone anymore?

You really don't need a reason to make this fun little quilt, just a few 4-patches, some HST's and wallah you're done.

The 4-patches are made with 2" squares trimmed down to 3-1/4". Take 4" squares of dark and light fabric to make the HST's (as shown in previous post).

Pull out a few of your favorite colors, throw in some almost uglies just for fun and play. If you really like it, hang it in the kitchen. If you don't, well, just call it practice and hang it over the fuse box.

Just for Tonya

Since the weather was holding, I decided to get a picture out on the back clothesline. At the top of the quilt, the sun is just beginning to make it's way down towards the other mountain. In winter, when the leaves are off of the trees, I get some wonderful sunsets.

This pattern is based on the one found in Scrap Quilt Celebration by Karen Bolesta (page 156). It is a very lovely book with a wide variety of ideas. I bought mine in 2003 so it's most likely still available.

The close up view allows you to see the hand-dyed fabrics versus the store bought. They add a lovely glimmer.

If you have not tried dying your own fabric, I recommend 2 resources. One is Pro Chemical and Dye( www.prochemical.com/ ) and the second is http://www.dharmatrading.com/. I would place my order based on where I lived as shipping is outrageous, ( i.e. Pro Chemical is on the east coast and Dharma is on the west coast. ) If you're outside the U.S., well then you already know all about shipping costs. Dharma offers a free catalog full of a wide variety of clothing and accessories ready to be hand-dyed.

If you want to dye fabric only, http://www.hancocksofpaducah.com/ offers a high quality bleached muslin that works very well with Procion MX dyes. I cannot think of the name of it, but they'll be happy to help you out.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . . .

The Straight and Narrow

Title sounds like a PG-13 movie pertaining to blue jeans worn in the 1980's. Forgive my warped sense of humor, it's been a very long work day.

Today's quilt class is really about working with the "straight of grain." I've been promising a couple of folks that I would cover this aspect of quilting and now FINALLY it's here. Please forgive the delay ladies, you both know the hours we work.

1. Begin with 100% cotton fabric of course. Clip a notch about 2" down from the top and tear straight across from selvedge to selvedge. (save torn strip for string quilting) You now have a TRUE grain line.

2. On the right hand side of your well-padded ironing board (I use an old mattress pad, flannel sheet, or army blanket), pin the selvedge edges together in a straight vertical line. Make sure it is even and straight - VERY IMPORTANT.

3. Notice how the fabric bubbles. This is because the top edges are not in alignment.

4. Insert the big long ruler in between along the fold. Spray with water or spray starch. Using your hands and your hip, (yes, this is quilter's aerobics), apply gentle pressure to the fold line allowing your torn top edges to line up evenly. Your fabric fold line and your straight of grain each must be straight. Press with a warm iron, tugging and pressing at the same time to align the top edge and keep the fold vertical.

5. Next, align your straightened fabric on the vertical and horizontal measurement lines on your cutting mat. Again, your fold line must be straight. No waves.

6. Align the vertical dark line on your ruler with the fold of the fabric. This is a true indicator of how straight your fold is. If it is not straight, take it back to ironing board and try again. (This piece took me 3 trips to the ironing board.)

7. With fabric evenly placed on the cutting mat and vertical ruler line along the fold, trim off just enough of the top horizontally to create a clean edge. Not too much, you don't want to waste it.

8. Move over to the other side of your cutting mat, align the long line of the ruler along the clean cut edge and cut your first strip, whatever width you need.

9. After cutting 2 or 3 strips, move back once again to the previous side and align the vertical ruler line along the fold and trim a tiny bit off the top edge to even it up again.

10. Move back around to the side of your mat and cut your next strip.

11. If you cannot move from side to side at your cutting station, move your mat board to make the proper cut. DO NOT MOVE your fabric. When you move your fabric it shifts everything that you just worked so hard to line up.

12. I've seen some students use their cutting mat yellow line as a guide for cutting. I do not recommend this as those lines get worn. Stick with a good ruler. Quilter's Rule brand is my favorite as the lines are raised and there is less slippage.

NOTE: Not all fabric becomes off grain when wound on to the bolt.

Fabric that must have the grain straightened is best worked in small sections depending on the size and number of strips to be cut. For instance, if I need five 2" strips, I tear off a piece of fabric that is 11". That 1" allowance is usually enough for trimming. However, sometimes if the fabric is very untrue, 2" extra may be needed.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, you know where to find me. Night Ya'll