Woohoo! APQ Podcast with Pat Sloan and A Quilter's Doodles Published!

It's been a whirlwind of a few weeks here in Redbird Quilt Co. land but today I'm excited to share that I've been invited to chat with Pat Sloan, "The Voice of Quilting", on her weekly Podcast for American Patchwork & Quilting (aka All People Quilt).  Woohoo!  

I Know!  Is that Crazy or What ?   

When Pat emailed me I about fell over...   I've listened to Pat's shows for a while now, especially when one of my Quilty Mentors is on, like Wendy Sheppard & Karlee Porter, and Lisa Bongean, and Carrie Nelson (Miss Rosie's Mom)... Just to name a few from recent shows.

Anyhow -- with working full-time it's sometimes hard to steal away for the live show -- so it's nice to know you can always listen later. 

For tomorrow though (Monday, May 9th) I'll be on at 4pm Eastern for a 12 minute segment and following me are some amazing talented ladies!!

Oh Goodness.... !!

I was already excited to be chatting with THE Pat Sloan but when I saw my image on the same page as these other ladies I was really humbled.      

I'm a bit nervous but here's the scoop: 

Pat and I are going to be chatting a bit about Free Motion Quilting

 and a bit about my history

 -- and we'll sneak in a snippet about my newly self-published

(with A LOT of help)

collection of my hand-drawn quilty doodles

(thanks for all your encouragement on this)

Book Front: 

Back Cover:

I hope to have a few tips to pass along too!

A Quilter's Doodles is made up of 20 of my

 #dailyquiltydoodles

shown on Facebook and Instagram for the last several months.  

I doodle at night or early morning

to enhance my Free Motion Quilting skills

and learn and practice FMQ motif.  

Doodling helps build muscle memory so when you're stitching the designs out you don't have to calculate the motif as you go... 

Here is one of my more recent doodles... from March 2016: 

A Quilter's Doodles I - March 8th, 2016 - Copyright 2016 Redbird Quilt Co.

A Quilter's Doodles I

is available to purchase

 on my Redbird Quilt Co site

... you can see a few more sample pages there too!  

It's all very exciting and I'll be sure to share a bit more about it after the show.

Yes -- back to the show!! 

If you can,

tune-in just before 4pm on May 9th.  

You'll find the live Podcast on this page ==>  Live PodCast
In case that doesn't work here is another => Live Podcast II
And just in case -- here is a direct link to Toginet
where the banner across the top has
the current live show playing => Toginet APQ Radio

If you miss out on the live cast I'll be sure to share a link to the show archive when it is available.
(Any of the 3 links above will take you to the archive ;) 

From the bottom of my heart....  

Many thanks for supporting my quilty adventures and crazy pathway

to where I am now.   

From blogging, to applique, wool,

free motion quilting to tutorials, 

Moda Bake Shop & other 

pattern design, teaching and sharing --

-- it's been a really fun ride and 

I hope to keep giving back to all those that gave to and supported me.

Hugs my friends -- until tomorrow.

Karen

More Info:

I'm booking Redbird Quilt Co. Lectures, Trunk Shows and Workshops for 2017.

If your Shop, Group or Guild is looking for programs or workshops I would love to hear from you.

Domestic Machine Quilting,  Wool & Needle turn Applique - Technique or Project oriented workshops are available.

Send email inquiries to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com

or redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

*

Social Media:

*** Follow Me ***

Did you know you can visit me on

 Facebook ~ Redbird Quilt Co

and/or

Follow Redbird Quilt Co on Instagram

I post all sorts of fun things there!!
**

If you love to Free Motion Quilt consider joining my 

Facebook Community Group

 Free Motion Quilting Frenzy

*

Plus

I share quilting related

videos on my YouTube Channel
*
I'll soon be sharing live feed TV on my Periscope

*

I'm also on Pinterest and Twitter 

and I share other tutorials and patterns on
My Tutorials on my blog
*
I have a few patterns available in my Craftsy Store
Thanks again for stopping by...

Note:  The FTC requires that I tell you.... I occasionally use affiliate links on my blog and website.  I may be compensated for purchases made using the links.  Rest assured I will only share sales and promotions for products I know and love myself.  Many thanks for your support of my very small business.

2016 Free Motion Quit Along - Part IX Finishing Steps

Greetings Fellow Quilters!
&
Welcome to Part IX of the

2016 Redbird Quilt Co.

Free Motion Quilt Along

using the whimsical 

Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart

by Susy Bleasby

Many thanks for your patience the last 2 weeks while I traveled from Eastern NY to Western NY sharing my love of quilting with Guilds and Shops along the way!

I'm pretty blessed to travel around sharing what I love with others -- sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.

In the final installment of our 2016 FMQ Along we're talking finishing steps for the World of Susybee

Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart Panel.

But FIRST !!

If and when you're done quilting the final border on Lewe's Balloons I REALLY want you to follow these instructions!!

1. Take a step back
2. Admire your work
3. Really -- admire your work!   You Did It!!
4. Now go to a mirror and give yourself a "high five" for walking through this beginner Free Motion Quilt Along and making it to the very end --- WOOHOO!!

If you've quilted along from the 1st to the last session you deserve a BIG pat on the back!   Great job! 

If you're just joining us be sure to checkout the previously published

Free Motion Quilt Along Posts:

Introduction => here

Sponsors =>  here

Supplies =>  here
Part I Pieced Borders =>  here
Part II Pin Basting ==>  here
How to Quilt That =>  here

Part III Tools, Setup + Practice => here
Part IV Let's FMQ => here
Part V More FMQ => here
Part VI Echo, Pebbles, Loops & Swirls Oh My! => here
Part VII Landscape & Background => here
Part VIII Borders ==> here

Also, do checkout our fabulous Sponsors and their generous Giveaways....
You can read all about that  ==> here

****

Finally -- lets talk finishing steps...

They include:

1. Squaring-Up the quilt top

2. Preparing a Hanging Sleeve

3. Prepare and attach the Quilt Binding

4. Prepare and attach a Quilt Label

In lieu of writing tutorials for each of the above steps I've decided to describe and/or refer you to some of my favorite tutorials that cover the finishing steps...

1. Squaring up the Quilt top -- the objectives of "squaring up" include:

• determining the length and width that the quilt top can be trimmed such that you'll have the same width across the top, middle, and bottom of sections of the quilt and the same length to the left and right of center   
• determining the length and width of the quilt that will allow roughly the same amount of final border showing around the perimeter of the quilt   
• ensuring that your corners are cut at a 90 degree angle 

In my Lewe's Balloons Sample Growth Chart I was able to "square-up" to 51" tall by 27.75" wide and with appx 3.75" of the Green Dot border showing all the way around.

Use a large square ruler, a LONG ruler, and a good rotary cutter to "square-up" your quilt.   You may have to "fudge" the squaring along the way -- you'll want to be sure that your corners are at a 90 degree angle.   "Fudging" means you may have some corners or lengths that only have batting showing (and not top or back) -- but that is OK as long as the binding will cover that area.  The main thing is that your quilt is "square", that the corners are at a 90 degree angle and that the width and length measurements don't vary from top to bottom or side to side.

I normally start on a corner of the quilt -- and double check measurements and ruler placement to ensure that I'll end up with a 90 degree angle in each corner.    If you need detailed instruction for "squaring-up" a quilt top there are several different YouTube and written tutorials available online.  I also talk about it briefly in my Family Tree Quilted Envelope Pillow tutorial on the Moda Bake Shop.   You're also welcome to reach out to me via email for help -- I would be happy to help if I can.  My email address is available at the bottom of the post.

2. Preparing a Hanging Sleeve....  

NOTE:  The sleeve instructions below are not quilt show approved....  Preparation of an AQS Approved Quilt Sleeve can be found here.

Image shows the beginning of the sleeve process.  I cut a 8" tall by WOF piece to begin.

For quilts used at home or gifted... my standard way of preparing a quilt sleeve is:

• Cut the sleeve fabric 8" tall by the width of the squared quilt minus 1 inch
• Fold the short ends of the sleeve fabric over twice at .5" (each fold) and machine top stitch to make finished short edges
• Fold the sleeve in half length (long) wise with wrong sides together.
• Center and position the raw edges of the folded sleeve at the top of the quilt sandwich on the back and pin or baste in place -- be sure it is centered left to right.
• The sleeve will be sewn to the quilt back when the binding is applied
• Once the binding is complete, hand sew the bottom and sides of the sleeve to the quilt back -- leaving the outer layer of the short edge open for the rod.

For our Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart I suggest you start with a raw edge sleeve 8" tall by 27" wide -- once it's sewn into the binding it will finish to be 3.75" tall by 25" wide.  

3. Preparing and attaching a quilt binding...  

Oh there are so many ways to make and attach a quilt binding.   The most common method is detailed in this Moda Bake Shop Binding tutorial.

PLEASE NOTE:   We planned for binding strips 2.25" wide and sewn on with a 1/4" seam allowance.   The referenced Moda Bake Shop tutorial assumes the strips are 2.5" wide and sewn with a 3/8" seam allowance.   You can follow the Moda Bake Shop tutorial step by step -- except you'll cut your strips 2.25" wide and use a 1/4" seam allowance.   (If you have enough fabric to cut your strips 2.5" wide, you can follow the Moda Bake Shop tutorial exactly as written).

For our Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart Binding:

• I cut (5) 2.25" strips by Width of Fabric
• I sewed the 5 strips together (end to end) with a mitered connection - this reduces bulk when you're attaching your strips to the quilt top.  (See Moda Bake Shop tutorial above). 
• Once your strips are sewn together end to end and the seams are pressed open, fold the binding in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and press
• Now align and pin the raw edge of the binding on the raw edge of your squared quilt on the front side of the quilt (machine stitch to the front and hand stitch on the back). 
• See detailed instructions for the remaining steps in the Moda Bake Shop recipe.

Label -- it's really important to label you're work.  I normally include these items on my quilt label:

• Name of Quilt
• Name & Location of Person who made the Quilt
• Name of Person who quilted the quilt (if different than the maker)
• Date the Quilt was completed or gifted
• Name of Person the Quilt was gifted to

I've tried many times to make a hand-written label and I never seem to be satisfied with them.  For quilts that won't require extensive washing and drying I use the computer to prepare and print the label on fabric.   I've written a tutorial for preparing a label with your computer, you can see it ==> here ==> Printed Quilt Label Tutorial -- sew fun!

Ok then -- once you've completed these steps you've made it to the end game.

In the next few days I'll be posting a recap of our Redbird Quilt Co 2016 FMQ Along AND having a Linky Party so you can submit entries for the Giveaway.   If you don't have a blog, Instagram or Facebook account you can submit your entries to me directly (email below) and I will post them for you so you are eligible for the giveaway drawings.

Great job everyone!! 

Take care now and Keep on Quilting!

Karen

****

More Info:

I'm booking Redbird Quilt Co. Lectures, Trunk Shows and Workshops for 2017.

If your Shop, Group or Guild is looking for programs or workshops I would love to hear from you.

Domestic Machine Quilting,  Wool & Needle turn Applique - Technique or Project oriented workshops are available.

Send email inquiries to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com

or redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

*

Social Media:

*** Follow Me ***

Did you know you can visit me on

 Facebook ~ Redbird Quilt Co

and/or

Follow Redbird Quilt Co on Instagram

I post all sorts of fun things there!!
**

If you love to Free Motion Quilt consider joining my 

Facebook Community Group

 Free Motion Quilting Frenzy

*

Plus

I share quilting related

videos on my YouTube Channel
*
I'll soon be sharing live feed TV on my Periscope

*

I'm also on Pinterest and Twitter 

and I share other tutorials and patterns on
My Tutorials on my blog
*
I have a few patterns available in my Craftsy Store
Thanks again for stopping by...