A Dog Story
EDUCATION: A Dog Story We have a Golden Retriever. She was easy to train, is very eager to please, obedient, and loves everything we do. Our neighbor has a Dalmatian which is rather high strung and not yet properly trained. Unless trained, some dogs cause a lot of frustration. Sewing machines and longarm machines are like dogs. . . .
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Thread
There is more to thread than simply the strength. If strength were the only determining factor of thread quality, I think we would all be using nylon all the time because nylon is the strongest fiber in the thread industry. However, other factors are also important. Consider this example: . . .
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Quilting Terms
What Does it Mean? Discover Definitions for Common Quilting Terms.As is true with many hobbies, crafts and skills, quilting has developed its own language, with terms that are so unique that a non-quilter might not be able to even guess what they mean. . . .
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A Bit of Quilting History
Reprinted with permission from; Penny Halgrenwww.How-to-Quilt.comInspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters 1) A Tidbit of History -- Album Quilt . . .
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Bobbin-Tension
Early Erwin
Reprinted with permission by the author " Early Erwin," a long time sewer and embroidery and Brother Educator. In answer to a question about there being 2 different places to change tension on the 4000D In'novis and the Ellegante Embroidery Machines. . . .
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Todays-Tip
Today's tip is about Appliqué and comes from the book by Mary Thomas published in 1935. "Mary Thomas's Embroidery Book" Appliqué De . . .
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Tip-8-16-2006
This was sent to me recently and as I do not know who wrote it, I cannot give credit for who originally wrote it. But I really liked and wanted to pass it on to all of you. . . .
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Silk-Quilting-Fabric
Silk quilts are relatively unusual although not totally unheard of. Silk tie quilts have been popular for many years, and silk quilts made from kimonos are also relatively popular. Working with silk sounds very elegant -- the fabric drapes really well, and it feels wonderful -- yet it presents its challenges. . . .
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Thread-Tension
Check Your Thread and Sewing Machine Tension for Better Results Bob Purcell, President of Superior Threads, was a guest in our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation. He answered critical questions about thread and sewing machines. Reprinted with permission from Penny Halgren . . .
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The-Things-Cats-Love
Courtesy of Penny Halgren; Penny is the author of 9 books for beginner quilters and a self-taught quilter of more than 25 years who seeks to interest new quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create beautiful quilts. . . .
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Quilting-Fabric-Color
Making a quilt should be a fun and relaxing experience, so you should choose fabrics that you enjoy working with. Keeping that in mind, there are a few tips that can make your quilt interesting and dynamic to look at. . . .
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Fabric-Dyed-Red
When folks became interested in creating different colors of fabric, processes were developed for yarn dying and vat dying. Yarn dying is when the yarn or thread is dyed before it is woven into a fabric. Using two or three different colors of thread can produce a pattern in the fabric, such as a plaid or stripe. Today, we call fabric woven in that manner "homespun." . . .
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Common-Quilting-Terms
Discover Definitions for Common Quilting Terms; As is true with many hobbies, crafts and skills, quilting has developed its own language, with terms that are so unique that a non-quilter might not be able to even guess what they mean. . . .
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Selecting-Fabric-Quilting
Cotton Quilting Fabric Most quilters use 100% cotton fabric for their patchwork quilts. While part of the reason has to do with tradition, another part is due to what is practical. . . .
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Right-Side-Wrong-Side-Fabric
When I was a beginner quilter, I didn't pay much attention to the type of fabric I bought. I was happy to find a color I liked, and didn't care whether it was cotton, polyester, rayon, or some kind of blend. . . .
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TO PRE-WASH OR NOT?
July 31, 2005 -- To tell you the truth, I had not really thought much about the question prior to last week. Long ago, I took a quilting class, and the teacher told us to arrive at class with our fabric already washed and ready to cut. When we arrived for the class, she explained that quilters always pre-wash their fabric -- for many reasons: . . .
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Thread Count
Thread count is the number of threads per square inch in the fabric. It determines the quality and weight of the fabric. . . .
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Buying-Cotton-Quilting-Fabric-Pt-I
Buying quilting fabric seems like it should be pretty simple. And, frankly, when I began quilting, it was simple. At least I made it that way. I wandered through the fabric store and found fabric I liked -- the pattern, the color, the design. But generally, I bought fabric just because I liked it. . . .
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Quilting-Fabric-grains
Maybe you've heard about straight grain, cross grain and bias cuts of fabric, and wondered what it is all about. Here is a brief description of what it all is and what it means in the quilting world. . . .
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Create-Your-Own-Unique-Fabric
Quilters are known for taking a perfectly good piece of fabric, cutting it into little pieces, and then sewing them back together. Generally these pieces are triangles or squares, but sometimes, quilters will cut strips of fabric and sew them together. . . .
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Color - Some Basic Definitions
Color and fabric selection seem to be among the most frequently asked questions relating to quilting. "How do I pick the right fabric for my quilt?" "How do I know which colors go together?" "What about all of those multi-colored print fabrics - how do they fit in?" . . .
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Selecting Fabric Color using the Ives Color Wheel
Several years ago, I decided that I would explore the world of fabric dyeing. It was in dyeing fabric that I really learned about color, and the difference between yellow-green and blue-green. By mixing the colors to make the dye, all of a sudden the resulting colors make more sense, and now, many yards of dyed fabric later, it is easier for me to pick out colors for a quilt. By actually seeing what color results from mixing 1/4 yellow and 3/4 red versus 1/2 yellow and 1/2 red, it all makes more sense. . . .
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Tip-July-30th 2006
We often get questions about thread colors to use when stitching out a design. Many times as both a seller of designs and an embroidery instructor, this subject has come up. Many times people will write to me and ask for the exact color of pink or whatever that I have used. . . .
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very-important-tip
Sally Fravel
Why choose cotton fabric? For safety! When quilting, making children's pajamas, items for your kitchen, PLEASE choose 100 percent cotton fabrics! I have always been a cotton fan, I . . .
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Tip-July-3-2006
We need better transfer designs drawn by experts, who understand embroidery. At this moment we suffer from designs made by artists who perhaps understand drawing as applied to line and water co . . .
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Tip-of-week-06-08-06
Here is a good tip for you. Always take pictures of your work and also sign the work. Get in the habit of signing and dating your embroidery work and your quilts. If you cannot sign the piece itself, . . .
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Quilts with Diamonds
1) A Tidbit of History -- Quilts with Diamonds The diamond was a special favorite in New England for use in making "best quilts." Almost always the quilting on diamond quilts was more elaborate and painstaking than that on square or triangle patches. . . .
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Wool-Quilting-Fabric
Wool is a little more difficult to work with than cotton. Because it is generally thicker (each thread of wool is thicker than each thread of cotton), the seam allowances don't finger press well, and will require pins to keep them in place. . . .
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Bruised Rose Ministry
