OCTOBER 2021 BLOG/NEWSLETTER

Hello friends and sewists.

Do you ever feel like Alice in Wonderland? Never knowing what is coming next? Time seems to go backwards and forwards at the same time? It just doesn’t seem like it should be October yet. It's finally starting to feel like fall this evening as a front from the north is moving in. Fingers crossed. Our temps have been in the 90’s every day. Hoping for some cooler Fall like weather now.

It has been another crazy, crazy year for us all in just about every way. Makes me want to crawl into a cave somewhere and hide. (LOL) But I do “hide” in my sewing studio as often as I can and it usually soothe my soul.

It’s been a real struggle getting fabric the last 18 months. Everything from the manufactures having production troubles to shipping issues, it’s been really hard to get the orders. We’ve been waiting on our lovely, quality 45” muslin now for 6 months. (we have a good supply of the wide muslin). Still waiting on an order from a month ago for beautiful wide backs. And trying to get Christmas prints has been a challenge.
BUT, we did get a few in the last week or so. A fabulous vintage Santa panel with 2 companion fabrics from QT.

                         

Three  beautiful, sparkly, metallic Christmas prints and a sophisticated Halloween print from Robert Kaufman. (pix does not do them justice) 

Plus a number of back ordered novelty prints. We also have a few more new Halloween prints. Not at all what I was hoping for, but grateful for what we have received so far, with fingers crossed for more to come. We still have some AMB solids at 30% off. Perfect for your stash.

Our cats are safely and comfortably ensconced in their new house and loving it. It still needs a few pieced of trim on the outside and I need to finish the painting, but that project is finally off the main list. So onto the next big project, tearing off the old cat porch and building a new mud room. Let the demo begin.

Every remodel is full of surprises, sad to say, this one is no different. Demolition always is the quickest part of a remodel and Chris loves demolition! Then it slows down as the hard parts begin. First up, a termite damaged and rotted out sill plate on the old house, supporting all the floor joists. (no sign of the termites)

Then another rotted out sill plate on the outside wall. That required wheelbarrow loads of dirt to be excavated out from under the house, by hand, so Chris could get under there to replace the damaged wood and add more support to the main part of the old farm house. Lots of hard work in 90* - 100*F weather. Needless to say it was slow going, but done!

On to the reconstruction. Leveling and framing done, sheeting finished, window and door installed and new entrance porch built. It’s looking better all the time. Still lots of work, but it’s weather tight now.

PLEASE a reminder: My cut off date for quilting guaranteed by the 15th of December, is November 1. The line up is getting longer so don’t delay if you need me to longarm your quilts.

Stay safe, be smart and Keep sewing!
Donette

The shop is Open Wednesdays only from 10 am to 4 pm but you can always shop the website. littlecottagequiltshop.com
[Many of you have ask why we are only open 1 day a week. A lot of quilt shops have closed due to the struggles of the past 2 years. This is our way of continuing to remain open for your benefit. Don’t forget the website is available for you at anytime. We ship within 24 hours of receiving orders. We really appreciate your cooperation in this.]

Tip of the Month
October 2021 Tip:
When you are quilting your project on your domestic machine, work in diagonal lines with the bias. This will allow you to adjust the fabric to avoid pleats with the movement of the sandwich. I usually do a diagonal grid.

Safety protocols are still in effect, we are trying to make sure everyone is safe. PLEASE, honor these:
Face masks must be worn correctly at all times while in the shop
Please use the hand sanitizer before entering the shop (provided by door)
Social distancing - a minimum of 6 feet apart

If you don’t feel well, PLEASE stay home

FYI: we are fully vaccinated, but many aren’t. Please respect the well being of others
Thank you so much for your respect and cooperation.
for further information call 830-589-2502
email : littlecottagequilts@gmail.com
web orders or shop pick-up: littlecottagequiltshop.com
We are here to help you as much as we possibly can.

Warriors Heart Quilt project. As we approach the Holiday season, our hearts go out to those suffering. Some of them in silence. If you can, please consider giving to those who are lost and alone. Warriors Heart has a constant revolving census and are in continual need of more quilts. We so appreciate y’all who have contributed to this amazing cause. Thank you so much for your generosity and participation. Please keep them coming.

“Warriors Heart” is a treatment center for physiologically wounded active military, veterans and 1st responders. Sometimes these wounds are the most long lasting because they are unseen. You can check out Warriors Heart on their website. www.WarriorsHeart.com

It’s easy and simple to do. You may choose any pattern you wish. Quilts must be no smaller than 44” X 58” or larger than 60” X 72”. Each snuggle quilt must be finished completely, (quilted, bound & preferably have a label about the person who made it) and returned to Little Cottage Quilt Shop. Once turned in, all finished quilts become the property of Little Cottage Quilt Shop and will be donated to Warriors Heart in Bandera, Texas.

Valuable Info
Binding - Lesson 5
By Donette Backlund

Congratulations! You quilt is now almost complete. Hopefully you have learned a lot and are confident enough to start on your second quilt. Quilts making is a fabulous, relaxing skill that benefits so many. Recently I have had the privilege to quilt a top made by a dear friend, who left us too suddenly, for her family to remember her by. It’s such a lovely part of ourselves to leave with those we love.
I hope the process of learning to make a quilt has brought you some joy and a feeling of accomplishment. I have made so many quilts I have lost track, but every now and then, someone reminds me of how much comfort they are getting from the quilt I made them. It’s such a wonderful feeling and expression of love.
Now that your quilt is all quilted, make sure it is trimmed, thru all layers, and squared up as much as possible. Now you are ready to make the binding for your quilt. (this is directions for sewing the binding on the machine, instead of by hand)
Measure the total number of running inches all around the perimeter of the quilt. ie: a 60” X 60” quilt will have 240 inches: 60 X 4 = 240). Divide that total number by 42. That will give you the number of strips FWOF you need to cut for the binding. I always round up and add 1 more to cover the corners and joining at the end. (ie: 240 divided by 42 = 5.71 rounded up to 6 and add 1 = 7 strips)
Choose a fabric that compliments your color scheme. I usually choose the darkest color in the pieced top to use as binding. (A darker binding, frames the quilt and brings out the other colors in the design). It can be the same fabric or a different fabric in the same color way and intensity. Stripes & dots make great bindings or you can choose a solid or nearly solid for the bindings. Sometimes I use the leftover backing fabric to bind with if it’s a darker color.

Cut your chosen fabric into the calculated number of strips FWOF - selvage to selvage. Cut 2.5” strips.
Join all the strips together, end to end at a 45 degree angle. Lay a strip, right sides together at a right angle to the strip on the bottom. Draw a line from corner to corner, top left to bottom right. Sew on that line.

Trim the excess off leaving 1/4” of fabric on the outside of the seam. Finger press the seam open. Continue connecting all strips into one long strip. Remember, right sides together, top left diagonally to lower right. Trim to 1/4” seam.

Fold the strip in half, wrong sides together and press creating one long strip about 1.25” wide and the calculated number of inched long. It’s helpful to roll the binding strip onto a binding spool or around a water bottle to contain it as you sew.

Attaching the binding to the quilt:

To sew your binding on with the machine, start with the backing side up. Sewing the raw edge of the binding strip even with the raw edge of the quilt. The binding strip will be laying on the backing with all raw edged facing right. Start sewing about 12” from the end of the binding strip. This becomes your “leader” for attaching the 2 ends of the strip together at the end. I like to stitch mine on using a 3/8” seam allowance, just bit bigger than 1/4”.

Continue to sew on the binding until you reach the first corner. Stop the stitching at 3/8” from the edge and back stitch. Remove the quilt from the machine and trim the thread.

Turn the quilt so the next edge around the corner is facing right. Pull the binding strip straight up forming a 45 degree fold. Then fold it back on itself and line up all the raw edges.

Lower the needle on the machine until it goes thru all layers right at the 3/8” stopping point of the side you just finished.
Start sewing a few stitches and back stitch to that same point. Now continue to sew on the binding down that side and repeat the same procedure around the remaining 3 corners.

Stop stitching about 12” from the beginning point on the first side. You should have a gap in the stitching and 2 loose ends. No need to back stitch at this point.

Remove the quilt from your sewing machine. Lay it out on the table. Lay the 2 loose ends along the raw edge of the quilt and meet them in the middle. Pull them snuggly together but not tight. With a small pair of very sharp scissors, clip a 1/8” nick thru all 4 layers of the binding strips only, where the 2 loose end meet.

Now it gets tricky. Take the loose end on the left and open it up. Turn it over upwards so the right side of the strip is facing up. It will have a twist in it. Fold the quilt in the gap to allow yourself some working room. If necessary, rip out the stitching to allow more room.

Now open up the right loose end and lay it right sides together, perpendicular, over the left strip, like you did when piecing the strips together. Match up the little nicks in the strips. You will have 4 nicks to match up on 2 corners. Pin the 2 loose end of the strip together, lined up perpendicular, and nicks matching.

Draw a line, just like piecing the strips together, from the top left corner to the lower right corner. Adjust the quilt so you can get the strips in the sewing machine. It takes a bit of adjusting, but it’s possible. Sew down the line you drew from top left to bottom right. Clip the threads and remove it from the machine. Remove the pins and fold the binding back with wrong sides together and test it to see if the raw edge of the binding strip lays flat against the raw edge of the quilt. If it’s all right and matches up, open the binding strip back up and trim the loose ends at 1/4” from the seam. BE SURE YOU ARE TRIMMING THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE SEAM. Finger press open the seam and refold it with wrong sides together. Finger press the crease to make it crisp again. Now you can complete sewing the binding strip to the quilt. Back stitch to lock in the stitching at the beginning and end of the final seam.

Fold the now attached binding strip to the front side of the quilt. Line up the creased edge to just overlap the stitches where you sewed on the binding. Top stitch the binding just inside the creased edge of the binding thru all layers. Take your time and frequently check the back side to make sure you have not stitched over the back side of the binding. You will get a feel for where the outside edge of the folded binding lays on your machine to keep it straight.

Sew along the binding until you are approaching the first corner. Keep the folded over binding straight and hold it down with a stiletto at the edge of the quilt.

Fold up the binding on the side of the quilt that you are about to go around the corner to sew down. Line up the 45 degree corner to meet with the side you just sewed down. Place a pin just below the corner inside point.

Sew up to the inside corner point and lower the needle into that point thru all the layers. Be sure to catch both the binding edges. With the needle still down thru all layers, pivot the quilt around so you are sewing down the next side.

Continue around the quilt until you have sewn down the folded over binding on all sides. I back stitch where I meet where I began to lock in all the stitches.

And Taaaa Daaaa !!! You have finished! Congratulations, you have just fully completed your first quilt. At this point, I like to wash my quilts on a quick cycle to remove any starch I might have added to my piecing, any dirt that might have happened during the process and any blood that might have accidentally ended up on the fabric. (don’t laugh, I stick myself at least several times every quilt) Washing your finished quilt will also give it that soft cuddly feel and a fresh start.
Any questions, please email (probably the quickest response) or call me and I will be happy to help you as much as I can. littlecottagequilts@gmail.com 830-589-2502



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