Tag: Quilts

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Cathy’s T-Shirt Quilt and Karen McTavish

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I must confess that I haven’t quilted many T-shirt quilts over my quilting career and in this case there was a bit of a learning curve! A quick chat with Karen McTavish solved the issue that I was having… the tension was beautiful but the stitches were long at times.

She asked what thread I was using, which was Glide and suggested a less slippery thread…I switched to sew fine and problem solved! Thank you Karen for you kindness and generosity!!

For those who don’t know Karen, she is an amazing quilter whom I became acquainted with in a years ago quilting chat group called LaChat where several Longarm quilters met regularly to chat and had forums full of support from one another. Karen had just begun her McTavishing at that point at least the name was suggested at that time….her quilting career has been an amazing one to follow!

I first met her in Duluth when there was a Longarm conference and Quilt Show held at the DECC. So many years ago, it was my first trip alone, first hotel room alone and I met many Longarm online friends there….That was about 17 years ago!

Karen is an APQS dealer and has a Longarm rental shop in Duluth MN and she has recently been expanding her shop carrying exciting fabrics and supplies! Her website is very worth a visit let alone her shop when you can! Check out her amazing online classes while you are there!

https://www.mctavishquilting.com/index.html

So back to Cathy’s T-Shirt Quilt. The story behind it is a collection of T-Shirts belonging to her son in law…he didn’t want to part with them and now he not only doesn’t have to he can also make good use of them! We chose the pantograph bayside as a gentle non descriptive design which worked beautifully.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Another snowy Wednesday…

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It’s April 6th…we still have an abundance of snow! Guess what…we are again under another snowfall warning!

This is my morning view from the picture window…

Thankfully, it’s a day that I am able to stay home and I plan to do just that.

April has been a busy month so far, as was March. My Longarm and I have been busy!

I am slipping in a little baby quilt making daily now as the date of arrival is quickly approaching!

So the other night I hoped to finish piecing the backing. I was tired and didn’t notice that the print was off grain until I had sewn it and laid it out on the floor!

Can you see it? It was late at night, so I decided just to sleep on it.

The next morning I took it apart and using once upon a day home ec lessons straightened the grain. The print is so adorable…it’s a Cotton + Steel called Flower Market and I was determined to use it.

So much better!
The finished backing.

It was worth the extra time it took to match up the design while piecing this backing.

The quilt is loaded on the Longarm, I am hoping to use this snow day to finish it!

One tip for others who longarm. I keep a few pieces of trimmed wide backings from personal quilts and baste them to the top of backings that might be short as a leader preventing unpleasant surprises at the end of the quilt!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Altheas Quilt

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This quilts maker has been working on using up her Mother’s stash for a few years now. She is very creative and has a lot of fun with her designs!

I will start though with the backing that had two pieces that needed to grow into one large back. I decided on this layout as it was interesting, fun to piece and made the best use of the fabric supplied.

It also really shows off the quilting, doesn’t it?

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Spring Storms

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March can be such an interesting month. This March certainly has been.

I have been quietly working away on my customer quilts, I did get waylaid a bit by a cold that forced me into a few days of rest. This allowed time to also hand sew some bindings.

My Flock quilt top is completed and I have a quilting plan but will need to decide both on the backing and then when it will fit into the longarm que. I absolutely love the colours and pattern of this quilt. I may have mentioned before that I let the blocks land where they may…I placed them on the wall as I made them and for the most part kept them in that order.

Last week we had some really lovely weather that allowed for some coffee and for Erik reading on the deck. Then this!

I put the ruler in the snow at noon March 23rd this was in the driveway that the day before was almost bare.
March 18th
To be fair the head had melted off of the snowman but still! That was a lot of snow!

The sun has returned this morning and the temperature will be above zero all day, hopefully that was this winters last hurrah though somehow I suspect we haven’t seen the last spring storm for 2022.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Minecraft Quilt

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This quilt will totally delight the 11 year old recipient…he has been waiting for it to be completed. It is one of the first bigger quilts made by his Grandma.

The pattern for this quilt can be found on https://www.kellifanninquilts.com/p/minecraft-sew-along.html. It was part of a sew a long and the designer has kept the block patterns up for others to enjoy. She also included the patterns for lettering and the dragon that was used for the backing.

The quilts maker chose the pantograph water-world. Children’s quilts are meant to be used and loved, a quilting design such as this will help the quilt to withstand years of use!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Fun Scrap Quilts

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I suppose it would be wise to always sew up scrap fabrics into useable blocks or as I read recently, to only buy as much fabric that one needs for each project. However, a quilt that I recently wrote about and shared showed of a lifetime of collecting fabrics and scraps!

This quilt is an example of a fun and easy scrap quilt! I used the pantograph Popcorn as I always reminds me of clouds and the backing called for just that!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Millie’s Quilt and backings

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It may be March, but winter hold its grip here in NW Ontario. We already have more than enough snow and now are forecasted to receive another 20cm over the weekend.

Millie’s latest quilt was a bright addition to my studio. One of the things that I do for my customers with no extra charge is to piece their quilt backs if needed. Sometimes the piecing isn’t just a matter of sewing two or three lengths of fabric.

Millie had two different fabrics and just sewing a seam did not grow the back to the right size. I actually prefer interesting backs.

I used the pantograph Shasta Daisy on this pretty quilt.

I don’t always know where the patterns that my customers use to make their quilts. How fun for me to find out today that Millie used the pattern City Slicker by Highway 10 Designs.

https://highway10designs.com/collections/pdf-quilt-patterns/products/copy-of-city-slicker-paper-quilt-pattern

I have been following Kathy’s blog for years and really admire her work!

https://tamarackshack.blogspot.com

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

56 Block Quilt

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This quilt was pieced during a weekly block challenge of a block a week by my customer. She used primarily batik fabrics for the top and the backing is batik as well.

There is so much to see when looking at this quilt that I chose a very soft flowing pantograph that just added the right touch.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Superman Quilt

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How fun is this quilt made by a grandma for her grandson who loves superman! Liam totally approved this quilt. (If you haven’t been following my blog Liam is my 10 year old grandson)

You might notice that the binding is attached. I do upon request add the binding for my customers. Many will choose this step and will do the hand stitching themselves.

The pantograph swirls was chosen and added fun movement to this quilt.

More fun…the backing glows in the dark!!!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Why Have A Large Fabric Stash

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Do you remember those large boxes of crayons.. the ones that came with attached sharpeners? Now that was exciting! Maybe more so for some than others. I really don’t remember not creating and enjoying playing with colour.

Growing up, my Mom always had her sewing machine out and often was used mostly for making clothes but sometimes home decor. The visits to the fabric departments… were so much fun!

Seventh grade in Winnipeg meant a sewing class…that meant my very own set of new notions! The beginning of a love for sewing notions that still exists today. Oh and the fabric!

While it is true that styles change and that is very true in the quilting industry as well, and collecting fabric that may or may not get used isn’t the wisest use of money. Having a stash that has been collected over the span of many years has its benefits.

I have been Longarm quilting for others for 18 years, I have noticed that many of my customers who are ahead of me on this life journey have more time and the fabrics to make the most amazing quilts.

Marilyns quilt is one! I asked her if the fabrics in this quilt were all hers and she said yes all accumulated over many years of quilting!

This quilt is one of three queen size quilts that Marilyn has made for her adult granddaughters.