MACHINE KWILTING TUTORIAL & TIPS

This tutorial shows you some of my 
machine kwilting techniques and tips

Well call it what you will...kwilting can be fun.
Remember, everyone has an opinion !!


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 KWILTING GLOVES

Kwilting gloves will help you control the kwilt  movement during any type of kwilting.  

My favorite glove is Machingers...light weight and comfy.
(not being paid for this endorsement...I just like em)
  

BASTING 

 I pin baste to the carpet, sticking the large safety pin thru all 3 layers 
and into the carpeting.  Keeping all three layers taught!  
Very hard on my knees and I hate this part. 

Small curved pins for basting, placing them about a fist-distance apart.  
Don't be stingy with those pins!
I use a grapefruit spoon (with those little jagged teeth) 
to close the pins and save my fingers.

During the kwilting,  I remove the pins and toss them to the container
 sitting on the floor beside my sewing table. 
My lightning fast sewing speed causes the container to jiggle if on my table ...
THEN boom - pins everywhere !

 Toss the pins in open and ready for the next quilt.
(see the little grapefruit spoon)

FREE MOTION QUILTING (FMQ)

• Stitch regulator foot if you have one or a regular FMQ foot
• New needle
• Needle down position - if your machine has that option
• Feed dogs lowered
• I don't always use the same thread on top and bottom and have been known to mix types of threads as well (cotton, rayon, metallic) 
• Have a practice sandwich of muslin and the type of batting you are using  - Practice FMQ before you put that quilt under the needle.  Check your thread tensions and make any adjustments as needed
• Begin FMQ meandering in the middle of the kwilt, 
• Work out to the sides, turning the quilt as needed.
• Keep you eye on the kwilt space and where you need to go...NOT on the needle!  It knows exactly where it is.  

  SCRUNCHING - your kwilt...not your shoulders

Keep the entire kwilt on the top of my sewing surface by scrunching / bunching it up. This eliminates DRAG and makes moving your kwilt easier.  If you have a small space use an ironing board surface set up by your sewing table, at same height to help hold the kwilt weight.

Using "gloved" fingertips will help you 

to control the movement of the kwilt top.
Relax those shoulders!!!  wrists!!!  fingers!!!
 I know you are scrunching just reading this!

FMQ - LINE KWILTING 

FMQ an easy back and forth line design, soft curves ahead.  
This it works great in  small areas or border/sashing sections. 

 This baby kwilt has both FMQ lines and meandering.

 A view of the kwilted top.

A white backing really shows off the kwilting.

A close up look

STRAIGHT LINE  BASTING
If you choose to spray baste PLEASE don't buy the cheap stuff!
You will be sorry and your machine will hate you!

I use 505 Brand found in most kwilt shops and on line




NOTE:  My Bernina Stitch Regulator (BSR) foot
DOES NOT LIKE ANY BASTING SPRAY
She gets mad as hell , skips stitches and causes cursing!
If I kwilt without the regulator foot, use the walking foot 
or other feet, then no problems.

STRAIGHT LINE QUILTING (SLQ)

The beauty with "organic" straight line kwilting is 
your kwilting does not have to be perfect. 
A little wave in the "straight" line or 
varying spacing between the straight lines called  = creative license

Here is how I setup my Bernina

• Machine straight stitch is 4.00
• Walking foot on
• Presser foot at a medium pressure (28 on my Bernina) (I have a knob on my machine to adjust this.  Most high end machines should have this function (look in your manual).  The higher the number on the pressure knob, the looser the area under the pressure foot allowing feed to go more smoothly.
• Needle down
• Feed dogs dropped
• I use LARGE OFFICE CLIPS to hold my kwilt in place as I stitch the lines. 
• FOLD (don't roll) the kwilt in from each side and clip it.

• A walking foot provides a nice even feed for SLQ
• I use a "seam" as my first row of kwilting or you can use blue painters tape, sew along side it - then remove it
• From that first stitched row, begin to alternate sides as you kwilt the rows - helps eliminate puckers
• Turn or flip the kwilt around (from one end to the other) for each row you stitch - helps eliminate puckers
• Use the side of the walking foot for spacing between lines
• Shift the needle position to make the spacing between lines bigger or smaller and continue to use the side of the walking foot as your stitch guide

 Even with clips on the kwilt to hold the sides in...
I keep it bunched up on my sewing surface to avoid drag.

 And that's the Kwilty Pleasure's spin and tips on kwilting a kwilt.  

Hope you found something useful here.  

Just put this on my Tutuorial Page...

check out my other tutes if you have time.  

MY WORD OF THE YEAR!

After I blogged about my 2014 goals of "stash bustin" 

and "no buying fabric" til my birthday 

Michelle over at "Quilts from my Crayon Box" said 
my word for 2014 should be 

Who knew this "word of the year" thing was even going on in blog land.  
I'd never heard of it?

BUT, I have to agree...sew

I will RESIST

• buying  new fabrics til my birthday, May 1st
• entering swaps (unless I can stash bust it)
• signing up for blog hops (unless I can stash bust it)
• going in kwilt shops...ut oh...this will be ugly!!!
• not finishing projects

On the flip side I will
NOT RESIST

• my freedom to sew...anytime I want...ah, retirement!
• hanging out and sewing with other kwilty friends 
• entering my kwilts into kwilt shows
• attending kwilt shows
• taking better photos for my blog...maybe get a new camera
• trying new techniques to improve my sewing skills
• trying a QAL, BOM or BEE (if I can stash bust it)
•  improving my EQ7 knowledge and skills

 I could not RESIST taking a pledge with Darlene 

over at Insights from SewCalGal

to make Christmas gifts all year long.

I'm making monthly scrappy projects anyhoo....

sew why not!

Will it be a "fight" for me or will I  "give in"
to all those unknown Kwilty Pleasures?

WHAT THE STITCH!!!

I was frickin, stitchin maniac in 2013 

and didn't even realize it!

45,  2013 FINISHES  

There are more without photos, 

including some charity quilts.  

Will be linking up to the Friday Linky parties.

Icons on my sidebar. 

 Baby Kwilts

Large Kwilts

Ghastlies' Projects

Table Toppers

Mug Rugs

Bags
(updated with pattern names)

1. Peek a boo from All People Quilt  2.  Zip pouch - my design
3.  Tahitti Tote ( by Pink Sand Beach Designs (mine is taller than the pattern calls for)
 4.  Katiels Bag  by Sewphisti-Cat Designs

All are made from Run Arounb Bag Pattern...Lazy Girl Designs

1 and 4 ulies Bag by Me and My Sister Designs     2. Scrap Bag Cuties - Whistlepig Creek Productions
3. Sarah's Carry All by It's Sew Kay (I made cloth handles vs plastic one on patters. 

 Ohio State Buckeyes

Bed Runner and Pillows

And here I thought I was retired!

CALENDAR PAGE ENVELOPES TUTORIAL

This post is my tutorial on recycling paper calendar pages into envelopes

2014 has arrived and my new year wishes for your are many!
Health, happiness, lots of sewing, all those good things.
Today maybe you will begin the year 
with a fun tutorial up-cycling paper.

Turn those beautiful 2013 calendar pages...
 ...into beautiful envelopes!

I had this one in my sewing room.

Calendar Page Envelope Tutorial
(12 x 12" or 15 x 12" size works best for this tute)

 Gather the supplies:  
a calendar, scissors and glue stick, hole punch, ribbon

Tear off the calendar page 

"Ice Cream Cone Kwilt"

Trim each calendar page 11 1/2" w x 8 1/2" tall
I use my paper trimmer but you can 
just measure and mark with a ruler and pencil
 trim with scissors.

Measure in 3" from the sides and fold to make a crease

Flip the page over so the numbers side is now up
Cut out a notch at the bottom sides of the page 
3" x 3/4" 

Fold the right side in and run the glue stick down the vertical edge

Fold the left side over the glue bead and press down to secure

 

Run the glue stick across the bottom flap
Fold it up and press to secure

Punch a hole at the center, top of the envelope 

Tie it with ribbon, fabric scrap, twine or embroidery thread

 The finished size of the envelope is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Great for a small gift, a birthday card...whatever will fit.

I love this dragonfly kwilt calendar page.

And now I have a 

"Dragonfly Envelope"

  A few scenery envelopes...sorry for the bit of glare here.  

but you get the idea!!!

Make a choice to up-cycle your calendars today.

...the envelope please. 

Click here to see all my tutorials


A special thanks to "all of you" who have followed my chatter this past year.  You have encouraged my creativity 
while becoming new blogging friends. 
Who knew there would be sew many wonderful opportunities
in blogland to share our creative spirit and passion for fabric!

 Looking forward to new adventures in 2014!