An Alternative to Binding

This idea would work for wall hangings that are relatively small.

I love the look of binding but sometimes its a bit of a bother and then I opt for a "pillowcase" method of backing my small quilts.  I am sure you know what I mean - sew the quilt wadding & backing together with the right side of the backing facing the right side of the quilt, sew around it remembering to leave a gap to turn it the right way out.  Then I had the problem of trying to make the sewn up gap look as neat as the rest.  (and I never could.)  Then I had a flash of brilliance - well I thought it was pretty clever.!!

Sew - try this:

Start with 2 pieces of fabric you can use for your backing - in this case I used the same width as the 'quilt'  [tiny baby thing it is] and made my pieces more than half the length - confused ? - read on!

Sew the seam across the backing - I sewed to the first pin mark - did a locking stitch - changed my stitch length to a lot longer- sewed until the next pin mark and then reduced my stitch length to normal, did a lock stitch and sewed to the end.

Iron the backing and trim to the size of the quilt top.

Put the  quilt and the backing right sides together and sew all the way around the quilt.

I usually do locking stitches in the corner but that is optional.

Trim the corners

Now - you unpick the seam in the backing where you did the larger stitches - and because you did do longer stitches it is easy enough to do.  You can't really see that here - but use your imagination!

Now you can turn the quilt the right way out and push out the corners with your favourite instrument - I use a "Purple Thang" and if you don't have one it is certainly worth the investment (not much).  I tidied up the corners a bit after this picture was taken.

Voila!!  you have a neat little quilt and all you need to do now is sew up the small gap in the backing.

You might like to then use either a triple stitch or machine quilting stitch around the quilt.  I haven't done that on my sample that I used here - but I have used triple stitch on this one - the effect is similar to binding in the same fabric as your border.

Now, there is a drawback to this - as I found by experience - your quilt will end up smaller than if you had used regular binding - after all your 1/4 inch seam allowance is now INSIDE  instead of under the binding - that is why I showed you this red sample instead of my original - but then I have a motto - You can learn something from every quilt you make - I certainly did this time.!

Hopefully you found that interesting - else you can just forget all about it.

A Message from Carla in the US

I visit Carla's blog frequently.  Today I read her message (titled Natural Disasters dated 18 January) to us all in Australia and was very moved by what she wrote.  The last week has been very emotionally draining - even for those of us totally unaffected by the floods in Brisbane - but after reading Carla's message I was all choked up again.  She has been through some tough times herself - but she has overcome all that and has a lot of words of encouragement.

Help Queensland Flood Victims

You will all have heard how devastating the floods are in Queensland.  There are two things happening that I know of where you can help.

Gum Tree Designers are organising small sewing parcels to be delivered to Quilting Groups to help those who have lost everything - to give them a little start to be able to enjoy some sewing again.  The parcels will consist of a thread caddy,some scissors, some threads etc. Please go and look and help if you can.
Jenny of Elefantz is also auctioning two of her gorgeous Shabby Roses Quilts and donating the proceeds to the flood victims.

Take Care everyone - especially those in flood areas and also in the bushfire areas on the other side of the country. Unfortunately the rain is likely to be very heavy for a while yet and extend all the way down the east coast of Austalia.  Its a strange country sometimes!

UFOs - 1 2 and 3 DONE!!

My Christmas break is nearly over but I have done a lot of organising and a fair bit of sewing - there can never be enough but I am only human and need to sleep a bit.


I am happy to say I have 3 UFOs finsihed - so I will post now but update my list a bit later.

The first one - a black and gold bag that has been cut out for several months:  Pity the gold doesn't show up very well.

The second one - (started and finished in 3 days!!!!) a very colourful bag made for a friend of a friend who very kindly finished a cross stitch for me - I had done less than a quarter of it - started more than five years ago. This is in no way comparable to the work she put into my cross stitch - but she said she enjoyed doing things like that! (The pattern was Sew Cosy in case you have it.)

The third one is the Victorian Sewing Pouch from the Gift of the Month program for 2009. I had all the inside pockets made, just needed to put it all together.

Well that is 3 down and ???how many to go???

Hugs to all
Susan

Sew Its Finished 2011 UFO Challenge

Well I have just spent quite a bit of time listing in a spreadsheet - all the UFOs that came to mind - based on existing lists and what I can see - and although I only finished it half an hour ago I have already thought of 2 more that I HAVE to include!! (lol).    Then I gave them a rating -  10 being DO SOON and 1 being - When on earth will I ever get to this??)  And some of them are date deadlines - eg by 1st July and by end of year.  I found an alarming 58 (after the 2 new ones).  Ratings 10 - 6 are meant to be done by the End of the Year - that is 46 or something - eek - can I do it???  All my project (one missing ) are listed at the right - if you want to have a good laugh!!!
Don't forget to leave a little comment if you come visiting - it does mean a lot to me!! :-)
Susan

New Years Resolution

I am always telling myself that I must finish some UFOs before I start something new - but then along comes a great idea and I am off again - so I have decided to join in the Sew have you finished it? project.  A look at my side bar will give you an idea of some of my UFOs but over the next few days I will make a proper list, prioritise it and organise myself.  I still have a week off work and I had already decided I was gong to get things cut & ready to sew or traced ready to stitch.  This is the hardest thing I find time to do while I am working.
I suspect I will end up with a shopping list of "extras" but hopefully not too much - thin waddings and bag bits will most likely be there.
From there I will just have to shut my eyes and NOT buy magazines - (after all they ARE only $3-$4 if you buy a pack of three!!!!).

Please leave me a comment if you come visiting!

A Giveaway

The lovely Vicki Tucek who used to be Tozz'z Corner and is now ‘The Pickledish Patch’ is having a huge giveaway - over at her blog.  These are the goodies - including hand grown and dried lavendar:

And she has a great new banner to show off her new name:

and to top it off she is starting a free BOM in January - called Out of the Box.  You will be able to go there form my side bar.  But here is the clue:

Wow - a great start to the new year to win these goodies - thanks Vicki.

A Christmas Giveaway!!

Found a fantiastic Christmas giveaway - here.  Some absolutely gorgeous fabbrics.  And look at her more recent posts to find a lovely famly photo and an interesting tale of how they got there - I am sure most of us can relate to her story!

Same Girl - New Name

I have just been over to Vicki's blog - it was Tozz's Corner - but she has renamed herself and is now The Pickledish Patch - and she has a website .  But also she is starting a Free BOM on 5th January - and if you go here you can read all about what you need to start.
Oh sew many projects - sew little time! 

Just relaxing on the computer - blogging around!

I have had such a tiring few days - a work Christmas party, Daughter #1's 21st Birthday party at home - for approx 70 people - and it rained a lot - and of course tidying up afterward - today.  I have not touched any sewing for days but was just too pooped to even think about it today, so I thought I would sit for a while and blog.

So I checked Shirley who is making quilts for the family members of the miners who died in NZ - she has plenty now so I will wait for the next call to help before I make any more.

Then I went "travelling" and found a clever tutorial to use an old metal tape measure (the handyman type) - and although I don't think we have one we don't need anymore - perhaps I can buy my husband a new one for Christmas and then use his old one for a very useful idea!  Well I think its useful.

I will be off to bed now so I can get back into sewing - still have some little angels to put together and our Christmas cards to be sent.

Cheers everyone
Susan