Konza Prairie Quilters' Guild |
Our program for April featured a Round Robin demonstration with four of our skilled guild members sharing a technique or craft: Perfect Circles, Expert Flying Geese, Sashiko, and Punch Needle. Everyone walked away with a new insight into a tip to use in their next project or to be tantalized with the challenge of immersing themselves in a new craft.
Dona Koster has developed a strategy for making perfect circles for applique'. After beginning a quilt that required her to make dozens of circles, Dona decided she needed to find a faster method for expediting her circle production. Her supplies include precision scissors (Karen Kay Buckley), heat resistant plastic templates, aluminum foil, fabric spritz (water or Best Press), 50 weight machine embroidery thread, an iron and wool pressing mat.
Dona's process:
*Cut a plastic template in the size that you need.
*Place the template on the fabric you are using and cut around the template leaving approximately a 1/8" excess.
*Spritz your circle on the wrong side. Replace the template in the center of the fabric.
*Cut a small piece of foil slightly larger than the fabric. Place the foil underneath the fabric and template (foil will be against the right side of the fabric).
*Gently press the foil around the template and fabric, firming it up against the edge of the template. Repeat and tighten the foil. Then press on both sides.
*Cool for a few minutes and unwrap the foil. Stitch around the circle so that the needle comes out on the fold and the thread will not show.
*You may want to make multiple templates so that you can mass produce as you let each set cool.
Dona's resources, click here.
|
|
|  |
Lori Gray was demonstrating how to make perfect flying geese in multiple units. Her favorite strategies are those taught by Eleanor Burns, using a Wing Clipper tool, Generations Quilt Patterns Flying Geese 4 at a time, and Generations Quilts 3D Flying Geese. Lori also advocates the use of a Flying Geese Math Worksheet for precise sizing.
Use this link to access the tools and videos that Lori uses.
|
|
|
|
Mimi Benedick's expertise at the Japanese stitching art of Sashiko is extensive. She presented options for materials, recommended texts for beginners to use, and offered strategies for stitching. Many of us who have done embroidery or cross stitch are used to completing a section or image before moving on. Mimi recommends stitching diagonally following the intersecting lines of the pattern to maintain even stitching lines and to stitch more efficiently.
Mimi's suggested resources.
|
|
|
|
Carla Williams has been a puncher for many years...Needle Punching, that is! Carla demonstrated the importance of the right sized needle for the thread being used, as well as the importance of punching straight in and out so as not to catch any thread already in place. Logically, Carla can vary the look of her art by using very tight stitches or leaving the thread looser to create a fringe effect like you see on the flower below. Carla touts punching as a great lap activity while watching tv, traveling, or just sitting around.
Carla's supply sources are here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
