Category Archives: Quilt Therapy Lesson

A Binding We Will Go…A Binding We will Go…

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Hi Ho a Merry Oh, a binding we will go.

I am here to testify that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!  I have diligently cut and sewn my binding fabrics for the last three quilts I made as well as the binding for the beautiful retro quilt that is my cousin-in-laws.

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LOVE being organized with my binding fabrics…is SO difficult, once I have a quilt ready, to either find the correct fabric for the quilt bindings as I occasionally (shhh, happens more than occasionally) use the fabric for other purposes or put it in my scrap file for others.

Do YOU make your binding when you finish a quilt top?  Or wait until the quilt comes back from your quilter before getting the binding ready?

Microwave Hot Bowl Potholder

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I believe I first heard about these microwave potholders from my MIL. With this goofy MS comes memory loss – and I have it in spades!  Anyway, I needed ONE more gift for both my MIL and my SIL and BIL, so from somewhere in my memory these bowl potholders came to my mind.

After researching online for a free pattern, I chose this one from Quilt in a Day.

This was the first microwave potholder I made and although it looks great on the outside, I did not like the way the fabric bunched up in the center of the inside.  Unacceptable by my personal standards.

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So, when I set out to make the second one, I made the outside square the 10″ as is shown in the pattern…and my inside square 9 3/4″.  When it was complete, the inside nestled perfectly without the fabric bunching up – LOVED the finished product!

You can see the second one I made through my Instagram account here.

And now that I am happy with the pattern, I will start making some microwave hot bowl potholders for my own family!

iPad Tote Bag

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I was gifted with my iPad about six months ago.  The only thing I’ve done to it was to purchase a waterproof casing for it.  I think it’s time I treat myself to a bit of my own quilted fun by making an iPad tote bag for it!

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It’s been fun to re-size my ‘normal’ tote bag pattern to fit my iPad.  Sometimes, I design a quilt and just go on remote and memory to make it, sometimes following my own design pattern and sometimes enhancing it.  I really only have to use my own noggin when making a t-shirt quilt.  Hence, although it took me a while to mathematically figure out the fabric dimensions to make it perfect for my iPad size, it was a breath of fresh air to know that I am still able to do those types of things with my diminishing brain power because of my MS.

I haven’t had time to get back into my sewing room to finish the tote – but, I’m anticipating being able to do it sometime this week.  Next up will be a cover for my iPad itself.  Because the waterproof case is thicker than any iPad case on the market, will have to once again use my noggin to figure out how to put it together so it further protects my iPad.  Stay tuned to the continuing saga of the quilted iPad cover!

Stash Buster Project Organization

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I will be the first to admit that I break training when it comes to keeping my fabric stash organized.  I have a high cutting table (built especially for my height so as not to strain my back) and I am forever piling projects or papers on it – instead of using it for its intended purpose.  Part of my reasoning is that half of the table is out of my reach because my sewing room is the smallest room in the house.  The other part of my reasoning is that I am quite forgetful (thank you MS) and by having my projects right in front of me, I can remember what I need to work on next, after I finish a project.

During the summer, our middle daughter and I had to make a run to a dollar store for some items to get the kids ready for summer camps and I found baskets that I thought would fit perfectly on my sewing room shelves.  Once the baskets were in my sewing room, middle daughter wanted to help me with my organization of fabrics – I also think she was searching for fabric that she may want to use for a project 🙂

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The dollar store that we went to wasn’t actually a “Dollar Store” as the products were anywhere from a dollar and up.  We purchased six medium sized baskets and two smaller baskets – they were $2 each.  Later, on another of my dollar store trips, I *did* find the same size baskets for $1 and snatched up six more of them as my DD had to overfill some baskets because I had more stash on that one shelf than I imagined (blush).

As my fellow quilters know, there are just some quilts and quilted projects (table runners, table toppers, etc.) that are just meant to be made from scraps.  The stash speaks to us, just as a pile of new fabric speaks to us.  Okay, I am going out on a limb with saying that – MY fabric speaks to ME – you don’t have to admit that yours does, too 😀

Here is the fabric I picked out of my stash for a fun quilt project:

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Now comes my long overdue revelation – those one dollar baskets?  They are PERFECT for holding the fabric for the next quilt or quilt project on my to-do list.  And I can organize them by placing one inside the other with the most pressing projects in the top basket!

It’s a shame I am so slow in understanding how important it is to organize my fabric stash – but, it’s downright embarrassing to say that may of you may already be organizing your projects with some type of basket.  I have done well in keeping my stash organized throughout the summer.  Although, I have to admit that once I cleaned off my cutting table, I had to start piling finished projects or works in progress projects there – there just isn’t room for a larger basket and my shelves are all full to brimming over!

Quilt Secrets Revealed: Pinwheels or Half-Square Triangle Formula

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In December of 2011, I posted this video as a Countdown to Christmas tutorial:

Absolutely LOVED the idea and practiced it many times.  Problem was, I couldn’t get the FORMULA figured out.  You know, the formula for making the half-square triangles the size needed for various quilt projects.  I searched and searched online for someone who knew the secret formula but never did find it.

This past weekend, I needed to make a number of half-square triangles and I was bound and determined to figure that elusive formula out.

I needed 5 1/2″ unfinished half-square triangles.  My first practice piece was made using a 2 1/2″ increase in the 5 1/2″ unfinished size I needed – so, the squares were 8″.

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Once cut apart, I was still loving the much simpler technique for making half-square triangles!  But alas, the size was incorrect as I ended up with 5″ half-square triangles instead of 5 1/2″ ones that were my goal.

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But, those measurements obviously meant I was on the right track!  The next size I tested was 3″ bigger than my goal so I used 8 1/2″ squares.

The results – PERFECTO!

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And to finish out my half-square triangle success, I squared up the blocks and the results were so darned perfect I almost jumped for joy!

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So now, the secret is no longer a secret to me.  To make half-square triangles using the method shown in the video above, you need to add 3″ to the size of your unfinished squares.  It sure made my piecing go very quickly once I had the formula figured out!