Custom Christmas Quilt Finish

Intensive Custom Quilting

There is tremendous satisfaction in finishing a beautiful quilt, and I felt both exhausted and pleased at the same time with this one made by Connie Karlowicz. Custom quilting is a marathon experience. It takes a great deal of pacing, perseverance, and attention to detail for everything to come out right. And then there is the artistic element, the combination of designs, and hope that everything you've chosen works where it should, and supports the rest. I find it a little daunting at times.

Planning Custom Quilting: Christmas Wall Hanging

Christmas Wall Hanging

Around here a wall hanging might be referred to as a "wall hanger". The first time I heard it I had one of those eyebrow raising moments, but it's a common way of saying it for many local people. I accept it now. When I first typed out the title, my fingers magically typed "wall hanger". Obviously my brain has accepted it, too. 

This is a client made piece by Connie Karlowicz, and I think it's just the prettiest thing! I found myself singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" more than once working on it yesterday. Thankfully, I was alone. 

Charity Quilting: Gnadenhutten Quilt Project

Local Needs

Many of the comforters made by the Gnadenhutten Quilt Project lately have not stayed in our local area lately, but were sent where they were needed most. They were taken to MCC Connections in Kidron, Ohio, a thrift store, and collection site for Mennonite Christian Committee. Donated comforters follow the path to people in need through Mennonite Disaster Relief. Our little group has 8 at the moment ready to donate. That's wonderful!

Vintage Fabric: Remake to Original

 Flea Market Mix Fabric by Cath Holden  Pattern from Charming Baby Quilts     

Quilt Maker MaryAnne Sheffield

The Vintage Vibe in Fabric

Either you love it, or you don't. Some of us swoon over anything that whiffs of the 1930's-1970's, and some of us are purists loving only one era: Depression prints, mid-century modern, or those fabrics we distantly remember from our childhood. Something draws us into them like the first bite into a stick of Beeman's gum. Oh, we remember!

Julie Stocker Quilts Weekend Workshops Register Now!

Julie Stocker Quilts Weekend Workshops

Two Part Workshops held at my studio

in Gnadenhutten, Ohio

Group I: Classes on Saturday, September 19 & Saturday, October 3, 2020

9:30-12:30 All seats filled

Group II: Classes on Sunday, September 20 & Sunday, October 4, 2020

1:30-4:30     All seats filled

$15 per class    Limit of 6 per class

The kids are back to school, and it's time for you to learn some new skills, and sharpen some old ones. It's ME TIME again! Hurrah!! Think you know how to sew a straight line? Great! I'll help you take it a big step forward. You're a seasoned quilter with a few quilts behind you? Feel confident you'll leave the class a much better quilter as I introduce more advanced options for you!

Class I will include:

· How to choose, read and decipher a pattern

· How to choose and prepare your fabric for this quilt

· How to sew a consistent ¼” seam

· How to cut and sew a log cabin block accurately

· Pressing for accuracy

· How to read and use a ruler

· Squaring up blocks

· Options for designing your own colorway for a unique quilt

· Pattern, additional printed support materials, coloring & planning pages, etc.

 

Class II will cover the garden variation of the 8 pointed-star, and use the Two-Peaks-In-One ruler by Creative Grids. I will cover additional design layouts, borders, and tips and tricks for assembling your quilt.

These relaxed Saturday classes are perfect for beating back the Covid blues. If the weather is warm or mild, the large canopy door will be open to provide maximum airflow. It’s like sewing on your porch so you might want to include a hoodie with your supplies.

·  Work in a large, bright, open space at your own 6’ table with ample spacing between tables. One floor layout with restroom. Coffee, tea, water and packaged snacks provided.

• 12 ½”Creative Grids square ruler for the session will be provided and available for sale
• Ironing station will be set up with 2 irons or bring your own set up
• Bring your own sewing machine, notions, rotary cutter, ruler and mat, and fabric to experiment with. Ask me for more details when you call to register.

  Register with your own small group for more fun! Future dates will be added.

 

Email me at julie@pinkdoxies.com for more information or to reserve your spot. Let’s get back to quilting!

 

On and Off the Longarm: Custom and E2E

Custom Quilting for Lynn Caley's Original Design

Teaser pictures only for this quilt today because the maker has plans for it, and I don't want to get in the way of anything. If you plan to publish a quilt, there are often rules in place that the quilt may not have been shown in its entirety. And because I am delivering it today, this post needs to be short. How about I just say, "It's a gorgeous quilt! Great work, Lynn."

Creative Quilt Play

Flower Child

September moved in almost without incident last week. My work flow has been steady, and I have a routine. I never thought I'd be in favor of life in a pattern, but it feels better than all the craziness we've been through. I had a couple small quilts that were E2E with long stitch outs, and that gave me time to continue my studio revamp. Sorting bins and fabric is therapeutic to some extent, but I came across a jelly roll pack I had bought a year ago. The colors were bright, and I craved a creative fix. 

Custom Quilting Goose Tales

Original Quilt Design by Stephanie Metz

Goose Tales Fabric Line by 

J. Wecker Frisch

Produced by Riley Blake

I will admit to being a little biased about quilt panels. They're not the first thing I run to when I visit a quilt shop, and I'm not sure I've ever bought one myself. But when this quilt turned up a few weeks ago, I was gobsmacked. I understand that Halloween themed fabric isn't everyone's love, and this runs on the cusp of Halloween and horror, but it's technically a fairy tale-themed fabric with utterly fantastic graphics. Awful and lovely faces that make you look at them.

Photo Roll of Longarm Quilting by Julie Stocker

Quilts, Quilts, Quilts and More Quilts!

One evening as I sat contently reading a book, yes, about quilting, my husband turned to me and asked, "Don't you ever get tired of quilting?" I didn't think that deserved a reply other than the look I gave, but I did think about it for a few days. I never tire of the world of quilts. I love it, and I love what I do. I like old, torn, well-used quilts as well as crisp new ones. I love simple designs as well as complex, and all the technical jibber-jabber as much as talking about my favorite new fabric lines. How does one get sucked in this deeply? Again, a rhetorical question which should not be considered too deeply. I just accept that quilts chose me, and not the other way around. 

Enjoy the montage. Owners/makers and some information may be listed as I remember, but this is all for your eyes more than your brains. This work started sometime in late June, and doesn't include everything I've done. I've been busy, but very happy as my husband will attest to.

How to Tie Comforters on Antique Quilt Frames

How to Use Vintage & Antique Quilt Frames to Finish Quilt Tops

Before I go further, I need to tell you the story behind this quilt. The center blocks were given to a friend of mine by a quilter who had to move to a care center. The original quilter is now 98. The quilter who received the blocks is a young 84. She carefully sifted through the leftover fabric stash sent along with several partial tops, and finished this design. She brought it our comforter frolic, and our small group tied it. Back home for binding, and then with some luck, the original maker will have a chance to see it finished, and ready for donation to MCC (Mennonite Christian Committee). Doesn't that just warm your heart? I love this scrappy, vintage-inspired design so much I may have to remake it for one of my own!

Now let's talk about the how-to stuff you need to know! I chuckled earlier this year when I read how a family had to teach their children to use a land line phone during the early Covid days. Today we're going to investigate quilt frames from the past century or so. Think of it as another form of 'quilt technology', and much the same story!