TGIFF - Quilted Pillow with a little Extra

Hello! Welcome to Quiltscapes for today's "Thank Goodness it's FINISHED" Friday!  So glad you are here!  

"Oh, My Stars! (& Garters) quilted pillow

It may not look like much at first glance, but this little quilted pillow has a little something special about it.  It's "Extra" as they say these days.  

The design is based on a vintage quilt I saw several years back, made with a cheddar background and paisleys, checks and big bright prints - it had to be from the 60s or 70s.  I immediately fell in love! 

My local guild has a Friendship Block Exchange group, where each person makes one block for everyone in the group.  When it was my turn, I supplied the cheddar (or is it mustard?) and the gals in the group each made me a block.  I told them that anything goes!  I put it together during the pandemic.  It's wild, it's weird, it's wacky and chaotic, and I love my quilt dearly.  With winter just getting over last week, I've had this quilt out all spring - it just makes me happy!

So, back to the pillow.  This little orphan block needed to join her sisters.  I have been experimenting with pieced binding lately ↑, and the binding on this pillow is a little bit technical, but totally doable and worth the extra effort!

This "piece-as-you-go" color-change binding tutorial will be a chapter included in my upcoming book on binding and other alternate endings.  Stay tuned!

Thanks for joining me today on my first TGIFF linky party! 

So, how about you?  What have you been up to lately?  Now, it's your turn for "Sew & Tell." Join the linky party below and show us your latest finish!  Then be sure to visit the others at the linkup party.

Happy Quilting!
Deonn

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How to Roll & Store Binding

Here is my favorite way to ROLL & STORE quilt binding, using a "Figure 8" technique!

Years ago, I watched a gal at the cutting station in a fabric store rolling lace in this figure 8 manner and asked her to show me how.  That was a fun way to store it, but later on, I realized that when you turn it over and pull the strip from the center, it comes out straight!  Wow, I was amazed!  

How many times have you started to add the binding to a quilt - especially a large quilt - and because the binding has been stored by rolling it into a circle, you have to unroll the entire 450 or so inches of binding down the hall, through the house and down the stairs?   I exaggerate.... a little!  I know you know what I mean.

This trick of "pre-twisting" will fix that!

There are some super-cute binding storage gismos out there, but the binding is usually wrapped around these in a circular fashion as well, causing the same issues.  Cute, yes.  But I am all about finding easy, practical, economical solutions to common issues, and this figure 8 technique doesn't cost any extra!

A figure 8 roll is handy for storage, too.  Sometimes I'll slip one of the loops over a hanger that holds the backing and quilt top, keeping the set together and ready for quilting.

When I'm ready to use the binding, I set the roll on my lap or on the floor by my chair and it simply pulls out from the center, ready to apply without twisting!  

Leftover binding strips can be re-rolled and used for smaller projects, or pieced together for a fun scrappy binding.

Or, just keep them in a large jar to decorate your quilt studio.  It's a beautiful thing.  And, it makes me happy.  And when I sit down to bind a quilt, I have a smile on my face.

Happy Binding!

Deonn

Tips, Tricks & Tools, Part I: What's in Your Sewing Kit?

This is Part I of a 3-part series of my favorite Tips, Tricks & Tools when it comes to quilting. 

One thing I was advised when I first started quilting:  Always use the best tools and supplies you can find and afford: sewing machine, scissors, rotary cutting equipment, fabric, needles, thread, even good quality pins can make a difference.  

TOOLS 

Here are a few of my favorite tools and toys in my quilting arsenal:

Log Cabin Tree Runner & Lubkuchen

It's that time of the year, again!  Carol @ Just Let Me Quilt is hosting her annual Virtual Cookie Exchange.  

Virtual "Cookie" Exchange

It's time for Carol's annual Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange!  These "cookies" might be new recipes, new quilts, fun family traditions - could be anything!  Check in daily to find out.  My turn will be

Those Who Wish to Sing...

I came across this Swedish Proverb a few years ago, and kept that saying in my mind.  When Carla @creatininthesticks put together this "Music" blog hop, I knew it was time to transfer that saying into a little quilt.

"Those who wish to sing always find a song."

Log Cabin Trees... continued

I feel really honored that the gals from Missouri Star Quilt Company have chosen a couple of my patterns to feature in recent tutorials, including the Log Cabin Tree Skirt pattern (previous post)!  

MSQC TUTORIAL: Log Cabin Tree ~ Quilted Tree Skirt!

At Home with Misty:  Log Cabin Tree Skirt Tutorial
Find the printed pattern at Missouri Star Quilt Company
Digital patterns are available at Quiltscapes
How fun is this?!?  Misty Doan has a new tutorial featuring my LOG CABIN TREE SKIRT pattern!  

How to Bind a Quilt by Machine

Teaching my Binding & Alternate Endings Lecture today at Garden of Quilts!  Join me today at noon in the gardens.  But if you can't, here's a quick little binding video I threw together.

Sewing Table Upgrade!

Many years ago, I purchased this foldaway card table. customized to fit a Singer Featherweight 221 sewing machine.  The table folds up and is lightweight - perfect to carry anywhere.  It also has extendable legs so I can adjust the height.

After 17 years, it was looking a little mangy!  Time for a makeover!