Let's get Ziggy With It

It's so hot outside that we actually broke a few records yesterday, but I am still NOT complaining.  Not that I need an excuse, but I do feel the heat has given me one to stay inside and finish my Ziggy Quilt by Cluck Cluck Sew:  

The last post I showed you how to use the walking foot to "Stitch in the Ditch". Here is a close up of when it worked: 

Can't see any stitches can you?  And here's a picture of when it didn't quite work: 

See those stitches sitting on top of the printed fabric?  Sometimes that happens and I don't stress about it.  I'll drive myself crazy if I do that.

  

One of the things I like to do is stitch the binding on entirely by machine. (I'm very open about the fact that I do very little hand-sewing.) Normally the binding is stitched to the front of the quilt and then fold it to the back.  But because I use my machine I stitch the binding to the back and bring it to the front.  This way I can see where I'm stitching, making sure that everything looks nice.  Something that would be hard to do if I were sewing it from the back.   

It's hard to see in this picture, but I used a zig-zag stitch to stitch the binding down. I will often use a decorative stitch because:  1. I think it looks better and 2. It's a lot easier for me to do then a straight stitch (remember that Stitch in the Ditch gaff above?)

Here's a shot of the back.   

So with this post and the last we covered the Walking Foot, Stitch in the Ditch and Binding.  Who's ready to make this quilt?  Stay tuned because on Friday I'll be giving away enough 5" squares to make this quilt.  Till then try to stay cool!   

This Foot is Made For Walking

Today's weather in Minneapolis was hot and humid!  There was even a heat advisory issued, but so far I haven't heard anyone complaining! We've had such cold, wet weather that this heat is feeling kinda nice.
However, that doesn't mean I wanted to stay out in it too long and since I was going to be inside anyway, I decided to try and finish up this quilt for the store.

This pattern is Ziggy Baby by Cluck Cluck Sew in Amy Butler's Soul Blossom line. To quilt it together I decided to 'Stitch in the Ditch" and to do that I need a Walking Foot.  For those of you who don't know what a Walking Foot is, it looks something like this:

 If you don't have a foot that looks similar to this you should be able to purchase one at your sewing machine dealer.  It's a handy gadget to have, especially if you like to quilt.

Stitching in the Ditch is a term used when you quilt in the seams.  So you can see by this picture that I have my foot/needle lined up on the seam of the solid and polk-a-dot fabrics.  If everything works out just the way I want it you won't be able to see my stitches ..... because they'll be hidden in the seam or the 'ditch'. 

I want to use the walking foot to do this because if I use a regular (universal) foot the feed dogs (teeth like things under your presser foot) will pull the fabric through the machine, while the universal foot will create a drag on top of the project, causing the two fabrics to be fed through the machine at two different rates.  If you are quilting this is especially problematic because your quilt top will shift creating puckers.  (Fun Fact: there is a formula tailors use to account for drag when sewing sleeves and pant legs.  Once figured out they will cut one piece shorter than the other so that by the time they reach the end the two pieces are even)

By using a Walking Foot I can avoid most, if not all, the drag.  The way the Foot works is like this:  the walking foot has a arm that sits on top of the needle bar.  You can see in the picture above that the needle is down, the arm is down and the foot is up off the fabric.

In this picture you can see the needle up, arm is up and the foot is down.  So if you flip between these two pictures you'll see that the foot is literally walking along the project as you sew.  

No drag means no puckers when you get to the end of the rows.  :-)) 

No puckers on top either and by Stitching in the Ditch all my stitches are hidden (well most of them anyway).  Now who's ready to take a walk?   

How to Make Bias Binding

We get quite a few people in the store looking for bias binding.  We used to carry it, but we always seemed to stock the wrong colors and I would end up either giving a quick demonstration on how to make your own binding, using the method below, or referring them to the 'big box' store that everyone seems to dread going to.

Making your own bias binding is not difficult and the benefits far outweigh the time it takes to make it.  It's less expensive AND there's no matching colors and settling for 'close enough' when what you really want is something with some 'cute' factor in it.

There are many ways to make bias binding, but this way seemed to be the easiest for me.  So without further ado, here is how I make bias binding:

Start with a piece of fabric, I used a fat quarter for demonstration purposes.

Lay your fabric out on your work surface.  

Take the upper left corner (A) and fold it down till it is even with bottom edge (B)

Now take the bottom left corner (C) and fold it up towards the top edge (D)

C & D will now become E

Take the left corner (F) to meet the top (E)

Fold down any extra fabric (wrapping it around the folded piece if necessary) till you have  a nice neat rectangle. 

View from the folded end.  All folds should line up one on top of the other.

You are now going to square up the fabric using your rotary cutter and ruler.   

Being sure to use your ruler so that the  cut will be on the true bias.

Once everything is squared up cut off just the folds. (about 1/4")

Now using your ruler line up your bias strips.  

I like mine 2 1/2" wide so this is were I'll make all my cuts.

I'll cut down the full length of fabric - I can always use the extra bias strips. 

Now we sew these all together.  I like to sew mine on the bias.  I've marked my stitch line.

Sometimes you luck out and the strips will line up.  Here I'll sew in  1/4".  Note the corners extending 1/4".  You'll want to be sure to have this so that when you open the strip everything lines up perfect. 

All the strips sewn together. 

Press the seam to one side. 

Make the binding by folding the strip in half lengthwise. 

When you sew your strips on the bias, you avoid the seam stacking, which reduces the bulk when sewing. 

 

You can now add your binding to any project.  

Tutorial: iTouch Pouch

As promised here is the tutorial on how to make a iTouch pouch. 

First, measure your iTouch.  Mine is 4 1/2" x 2 1/2".  If you were doing a iPhone or other type of phone you'd want to take the depth measurement also.  But since the iTouch is pretty flat I didn't bother with that measurement.

For this project you will need:

• 2 pieces of fabric that measure 7 1/2" x 5 1/2" (one of the inside the other for the outside of the pouch).  
• 2 pieces of fabric that measure 6 1/2" x 5 1/2" these will be for the pockets.
• 1 piece of thick interfacing (I used Pellon 70) that measures 7 1/2" x 5 1/2",
• 1 small hair band or 3" of small piece of elastic; and
• 1 button.

 Take your two pocket pieces (6 1/2" x 5 1/2") and fold in half so you have two 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".  Press

Top stitch 1/8" from the fold. 

 Lay your interfacing down on the table. 

Now lay your inside fabric right side up ontop of the interfacing. 

 

Lay the two pocket pieces on top of the inside fabric so that the folds are facing one another.  

Line up the raw edges.  

Next take the rubber band or elastic piece and lay it in the middle of one of the shorter ends so that the loop lays to the inside.  (I taped mine down instead of pinning to avoid a big 'pin bump'')

Next lay the outside piece face down on-top of your pile. 

Pin everything to hold in place.

Stitch starting on one long end 2 inches away from the edge.  

Now sew all the way around the pouch stopping 3" away from where you started.  (You will be turning your project inside out through this opening so you'll want to leave plenty of space to do that.)

Clip your corners so that everything will lay nice and flat once you get it turned right-side out.  Once it's turned right-side out press it flat with your iron.  

Top stitch 1/8" away from the edge, going all the way around.  This will not only give your pouch a nice finished look, but it closes up that opening so you won't have to do it by hand. 

Sew your button on by hand to the side of the pouch opposite from where the elastic is.

Voila!  A pretty pouch to hold your iTouch, phone or if you make it a little smaller it will hold business cards, gift cards etc. 

Have fun and post what you make on our flicker page.