Thursday, August 5, 2021

Cat's Tip of the Day..."Rotary Cutting Small Incriments"

 Hey quilter's....hope your week is going well. This week while rotary cutting "small increments", which I would rather not :-) I forgot my own tip. I messed up a perfect square due to not cutting the 1/4 " seam first. I know, sounds so simple. But sence I've gotten into the habit of cutting my "small increments" first then my whole increments things go a lot smoother. Maybe it's my age...who knows! I do stress this technique for new quilter's getting used to rotary cutting. Just helps in the long run so you don't make mistakes like me. Although if you do...no sweat....you just have another piece of "scrap fabric" :-) I also like to share that "rubber backed gardening gloves" are also wonderful while using a rotary cutter. Helps with slipage of the rule when cutting and protects your fingers. Yes...I do know the horrible feeling of a rotary cutter. Kids gardening gloves work great for small hands.

Have a great week!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on my cooking blog @ www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com


Here's what I do....

Alway's square up your fabric edge

Rotary cut your sm increment (1/8, 1/4, 1/2) then measure out and rotary cut your whole number. 

Hope this tip helps!



Wednesday, August 4, 2021

My "Scraps" are Growing!

 Hey quilter's....hope all is well. I've been working on a design that I'll be sharing next week & I had to laugh. While I'm using my "stash"....I looked on my cutting table & my "scrap" pile looked larger then when I started. Oh my gosh....I did laugh although I felt defeated. I hope that I'm not the only one that feels like this from time to time :-) Sharing a little humor below to give us a little "encouragement." I consider myself "a lady" although I am "sharing" the fact that my "Scraps/Stash is Growing!" :-)

I'll be posting a "Summer gift" soon....it's very "Coastal" but can flip to any design you wish. The "gift" is for my daughter's birthday so I'll post after she sees it :-)

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest





Thursday, July 29, 2021

Scrapin w/Cat..."Aurifil thread scraps 2 Aurifil Art!"

 Hey quilter's hope y'all are having a great week. I've been trying the quilting trend of Quilt Art. I recently finished a wall quilt and had loose ends of Aurifil threads. (see pic) My machine does not have an automatic thread cutter and I hate to "throw away" the scraps of thread. My "scrap threads" had a pretty hue all in a pile and all I could invision was "Blue Coral." This project is very "theraputic" especially for me doing things a little bit at a time. I designed this to be more "wall art" so doing a border with my scraps of "wood grain fabric" gave it the look of a "wood frame." I used Insul-Bright for the batting due to it's stiffness for hanging. I did not "quilt" over the thread as some quilt art is due to wanting a 3-D design with the coral. This is the first project of my "Coastal Wall Art" & you know me....it's not perfect but "being imperfect if perfect" for me! :-) I hope you save your "thread scraps" & have fun creating your own "thread art." Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest

 www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

 

                                                 

Here's all you need...

Sraps of Aurifil 50 weight 2710, 1320, 4093, 4663, 1126.

Scraps of Hoffman Batik #2670 (Frost) rotary cut to 7 x 7

Scrap of Wood Grain Fabric for back...rotaty cut to 9 1/2 x 9 1/2

Insul-Bright...rotary cut to 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 

Scraps for borders/binding (instructions for cutting below)

Fabric glue

Shells or your desired decor

Here's all you do...

Rotary cut strips of your desired "first border" to 1 X 7 1/2, 1 x 7 3/4, 1 x 8, 1 x 8. 

Using the "log cabin method" and right sides together, sewing with a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the first strip to bottom of block....press & trim as needed.

Then sew the second 1 x 7 3/4) strip to left side of block using same method as above.

Next third strip (1 x 8) to top of block, using same method.

Last sew right side strip ( 1 x 8 )....same method and press when needed. 

Rotary cut strips of wood grain fabric for border/binding using the same "log cabin method" and sew as above. This will form your "picture frame look." See pic.

2 1/2 x 8 (bottom), 2 1/2 x 10 (left), 2 1/2 x 10 (top), 2 1/2 x 12 (right)

Press and your square should finish out approximately 12 x 12 (machines tend to be different)


Now place your back piece of fabric (front side down)
Then your insul-bright
Next your front square on top.
Using the same "log cabin method) fold over your bottom edge to back a 1/4...finger press and use clips or pin in place once you achieve about a inch border on front side. 
Then do the same with left side of block....then top of block and then right side.
Once you have the "picture frame as desired" then sew in the "ditch" on front of block around borders to catch seam from front to back. You can also use a "zig zag" stitch so you don't need to be so precise.
Remember...being "imperfect is perfect"...no stress...do what you are comfortable with. 
Once this is complete you may "notice" certain parts of seam did not catch on the back side of block, well no worries...this is why we have "fabric glue"....use as needed....it's wall art so we're not washing it :-)
Now the fun begins....before you begin....if you have "back issues" like me, I reccommend placing your block on a small cutting board of hard surface that you can move around with if needed. This step is very theraputic but a bit time consuming so if you need to sit down this tip will help :-) 
Now depending on your design....start spreading the "scraps of threads" to your desired design. I love blue coral and tried so hard to accomplish the look of coral moving throughout the ocean. Once I did achieve my desired design, I then used touches of "fabric glue" to hold threads in place. Use your desired method. 
Hang as desired.
Remember....have fun....no stress & "being imperfect is perfect" :-)

Keep following for my "Coastal Designs"






Monday, July 26, 2021

"Quilting Humor to start the week"

 Hey quilter's....hope y'all had a great weekend and your Monday is off to a great start. I had to share this "stash humor" especially with the "Scrap Series" that I'm doing. Recently I've been "organizing" my stash for projects and I had to laugh at some "fabric pieces" that I found. I couldn't believe how tiny they were! I'm sure I had "high hopes" at the time :-) The "quilting humor" below does make me feel I'm not the only one that "feels the need" to hide their precious fabrics :-) Have a great week!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest

& www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com



Sunday, July 25, 2021

"When doc takes away BACON...you reach for your Scraps & AURIFIL thread!"

 Hey quilter's....Sunday Blessings to all & boy do I need them! Recently, my doc "removed" bacon from my diet. After I stopped laughing I then realized how serious he was. It's been rough....22 day's & I'm still alive. He didn"t say I couldn't "smell" it though :-) Well the last pic below is how I'm getting though this :-) But for me it's Fabric & Aurifil thread!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest

www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com



 



Saturday, July 24, 2021

Quilt Series...Scrapin' w/ Cat "Starfish Trivet"

 Hey quilter's....hope your weekend is off to a good start. My prayers go out to everyone dealing with these crazy storms again across the U.S. The project that I'm sharing today is the completion of my "Coastal Trivets." My recent design of "Sea Turles" and now the "Starfish" complete my set. I had fun playing with my decorative stitches on my machine,,,trying to come up with one to make a "starfish" without being too complicated. I appliqued the background with AURIFIL thread to enhance the "starfish." This project was so much fun that it inspired another design for a gift for my daughter's upcoming birthday. My gifts are "tiny" these day's due to my health situation...so frustrating sewing at a limited time but keeping positive :-) Needless to say they need to be cute, useful & easy to make. If you wish to enlarge the trivet just add more borders. Just remember to allow for larger pieces of backing fabric....batting....stabilizer....and heat n bond lite.  Enjoy!

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Pinterest & Facebook

and www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com

Here's all you need...

AURIFIL thread ( 50 #...1126)
Scrap Fabric (Hoffman Batiks)
Lightweight batting
Heat n bond Lite
Sulky Lightweight Stabilizer

Here's all you do...

*Rotaty cut your fabric front piece to  7 1/2 x 7 1/2.
*Rotary Cut batting, back fabric, batting & stabilizer 7 3/4 x 7 3/4
*Rotary Cut Border strips 2 " x 7 1/2, 2 x 9 3/4, 2 x 8 3/4, 2 x 10 1/4
TIP...you can cut strips longer & square up as you go if that's easier for you.
*Using the "Log Cabin Method"...sew with right sides together...using a 1/4" seam allowance the bottom border strip to front design....press....square up & trim....next sew your left strip to front fabric...press, square up & trim....then top border strip....then right border strip sew together all using the same method as above. 
*Using a "real starfish" & a tracing pencil, outline the starfish design on front fabric (I used muslin)
See pic.
*Layer front fabric, batting then stabilizer & applique starfish design as desired. 
TIP...play with your stitch width on your machine using a "scrap piece of fabric to get your desired design" :-)
*For background (water affect) I used the zig zag stich to mimich waves on the sand. 
TIP...I stitched up to the starfish then hopped over it by raising my pressure foot and continueing on other side to keep the lines straight....ONLY trim thread on front up to starfish design. See pic. It's not perfect but this trick helps....
Remember being "Imperfect is Perfect" for me anyway :-)
*Layer your heat n bond lite and backing fabric & pin in place
*Border Strips now become your binding by folding to the back side of design and using the Log Cabin Method...pinning in place as you go. I used the "zig zag stitch" on the front side of trivet. This stitch allows you to catch both front & back sides as you sew. Adjust your width on machine to accomplish this method. 
*Press if needed.

Thats it! You now have another trivet for yourself or give as a sweet gift for any occassion. 










Thursday, July 22, 2021

Thank you..."Quilting Friends Warm My Heart!"

 Hey quilter's...mid year is when I like to take the time and say Thank You" for following my blog. I know life is a bit crazy these days & I'm hoping us sharing quilting designs/tips together helps a bit. I know quilting/sewing/crafting is my therapy even though I have to do it in "moderation" now. So here's a "big thank you" to follower's this year...words can't express enough... thank you for your emails and please share anytime!

Thank you...U.S., Turkey, Portugal, Russia, France, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Ukraine, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden & those areas that don't get posted on "Stats" as "others" :-)

Also, please check "following" so you'll get the most recent updates :-)

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Pinterest & Facebook 

& www.cookinganddecorwithcat.blogspot.com