Tag: Longarm Quilting

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Postage Stamp Progress

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I began piercing my Postage Stamp quilt in January… personal piecing time is at a premium these days which is one of the reasons that I chose this project.

It does at times make a bit of a mess in my already at times messy looking studio but then creativity can be messy!

My piecing time is usually after I turn the Longarm off for the night… and allow myself an hour or so to play.

The project began by cutting strips of scraps 1 1/2” and sewing them together alternating with Kona White until I had 9 strips together and then cut those units into 1 1/2” strips. Playing with so many different fabrics was where the mess was mostly made… this was followed with evenings of putting together groups of 9 strips with the rule of no same fabrics in a block.

Once I had enough 9 strip units together I tucked away the strips etc into a tote…until the next time I needed to put the 9 strip units together.

I find it relaxing to have some simple sewing to do and this project fills that need right now. I haven’t decided how big to make this quilt or who might want it…or should it be made into smaller quilts…it will come to me at some point.

I counted the blocks the other day and I have 53 finished.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Memory Quilts…

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When Darlene brought me these two quilts made with her Mothers house dresses it very quickly brought to mind my Grandma who we lovingly referred as to Grandma on the farm (my other Grandma was in the city)

Anyways my Grandma and many Women of her generation wore house dresses and saved their “good clothes” for when company came or they were going out. Anyways this job brought happy memories.

There are two quilts in this picture. Darlene chose the pantograph Two of Hearts…(an often requested design) as these quilts were made as a gift for family.

Some of the fabrics were seersucker… more memories of childhood clothes!

The backing fabric is the softest flannel, so nice to work with!

Her quilts were trimmed and ready for binding when they were picked up.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Kaffe Fassett and Hunter Star Quilt

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Kaffe Fasset prints always inspire me, there are very few that I have seen that I wouldn’t add to my stash if I lacked self control haha…thankfully I know that I don’t have to own all of the fabrics that I love!

Jan used Kaffe Fassetts classic print Paperweight in blue against a white (reading print) background to make her Hunters Star Quilt.

Using the pantograph Rhododendron played on the large blooms on the backing fabric along with some of the shapes in the print on the quilt top.

This design adds a softness to the angular piecing as well as a perfect density for a lap quilt that will be snuggled under.

When we discussed backing I suggested a Kaffe print on the Cabbage print for its gorgeous large blooms and colours that complement her quilt top.

How gorgeous is this backing print!

This quilt is trimmed and ready for binding a complimentary service that I always offer my customers.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Suzanne’s Quilt

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When Suzanne and I met to discuss her queen sized quilt, we looked at several different quilting designs.

She chose Feather Grande (a design by Bethanne Nemish)

It really was a perfect choice with its feathers and swirls as well as its density. Suzanne knew that there was some fullness in the centre of the quilt and I knew with enough density that the quilting would take care of that and it did.

While I am one to choose print backings for my own quilts most of the time one that reads solid really showcases the quilting.

Suzanne’s quilt was trimmed and ready for binding when she picked it up. A complimentary service that almost all of my customers take me up on esp for the larger quilts.

I love this picture of her quilt on the bed, how nicely the piecing sits on the top and the borders fall so nicely along the edges of the bed.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting Decisions and Star Swirl

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I am often requested to choose the quilting design by my customers.

When I first began quilting for others in 2006 I remember feeling nervous making the decision…however over time it became easier to read the quilt and less intimidating.

Of course I also gathered information about who the quilt was for, its purpose as well as my customers preferences.

This sweet winter themed quilt gave me a few ideas, I could have used the border print and played on the theme of the holly or birds or pine cones. The backing fabric also had holly. However, I wanted something that would be complimentary to the animals and chose a quilting design that would play in the background giving a bit of windy movement along with perhaps a starry night…yes I have an imagination 😊

The quilt didn’t need me to replicate what was already there ie birds, pine cones, holly but instead it needed something to softly tie everything together.

Star Swirl is a wonderful pantograph for its soft density and easy flow.

Although the backing has a Christmas vibe to it, by adding more of a swirly starry theme with the quilting this quilt becomes a Winter Quilt.

I never tire of looking a the beautiful stitching I can obtain with my Longarm!

This quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Summer Fun Making Pouches

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I saw a reel on Instagram for the Holland Pouch by Center Street Quilts and liked it so much that I bought the pattern!

The pattern has three different sizes, it’s well written and is easy to follow.

I had fun playing with scraps and also quilting it with my Juki. The Zippers by the yard with fun pulls a fantastic to work with.

I love how this one turned out…

This led to making a smaller pouch to match…

And an even smaller one…

Not pictured is the fourth even smaller one.

The Holland Pouch was so much fun I made another one…

My little sewing buddy Kaija and I have been busy making pouches when she has been here this summer… we made a Holland Pouch first (not yet pictured) then this week a smaller pouch. She loves the idea of making smaller ones so that will be next week’s project!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Birch Tree Baby Quilt

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Baby quilts are always fun to make, quilt and give.

Jan made this one for her great niece and we chose the pantograph Two of Hearts.

How pretty is this pink Minki backing!

Her quilt was trimmed and ready for binding when she picked up her quilt.

Once she finished binding the quilt she made a tote bag with her left over fabric.

A great idea for using up the left over fabric and a very practical gift bag!

She sent me this picture when she was finished.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Wildlife Quilt

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A wonderful gift for an outdoorsman, that my customer has pieced for her brother.

We chose the pantograph Leaf Pile as the quilting design, with its medley of different leaves it was a fitting choice for this wildlife quilt.

I really enjoy quilting this particular design, it doesn’t have a lot of repeats like some pantographs do.

Her quilt is trimmed and ready for binding!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Little Bit of This and a lot of Colour!

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The use of black for the background on this quilt really allow the colours to pop!

The pantograph A Little Bit of This was the design chosen, often adding a soft flowing design opposed to strong angles or lines in the piecing of the quilt adds a different dimension and plays on the designs of many of the fabrics in a quilt like this one.

The backing choice was perfect for this quilt! if anyone knows somewhere still selling this wide back please let me know!

The quilt left trimmed and ready for binding.

Wendy’s Quilting for Professional Quality Longarm and Quilting Services wendysquilting@gmail.com

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Pouch Play

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Sometimes I just want to play in my sewing room and lately when I am not quilting (which is how I spend most of my sewing time) I find myself trying new patterns that I find for pouches.

The first two were made from watching you tube videos…

Easy Zipper Box Pouch

Itty Bitty Boxy Bags

I used the pattern Itty Bitty Bowlers from Around the Bobbin to make these three little bags. They are a little more challenging than the above pouches but are so cute!

I gifted the first two to two of our Granddaughters after their dance recital and I am sure that the third will be claimed sooner or later.

I have my eye on some patterns by Minki Kim that I think my Tula Pink fabric would be fun to use for…

Do you like making small pouches?