Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Inserting a zip for a cushion back - Tutorial

Hi, I hope you all had a lovely Labour Weekend in New Zealand and achieved some kind of stitching.

As promised I have the tutorial for the zipper insertion on a cushion back.  This is photo rich to ensure you can acually understand how I do this. Thanks for the reminder Debbie, I hope this helps.

First you need the fabrics for the backing, cut to size of back making sure you allow for another 3 inches on the top colour of backing.

For example if I want to make an 18" cushion, I will cut the back panel as follows:
top colour 18.5" x 9" (2" will be the fold under)
bottom colour 18.5" x 11.75" ( allowance to cut back 0.25")


Choose colours for backing
making sure they will fit the finished
of cushion


1. Place zip right side to right side of fabric
and stitch to the top colour of your backing

2. You will then have this zip sewn to
 the top of the fabric


3. Take the bottom piece of backing
 fabric, place the zip right side to right side
 of fabric matching the sides of fabric








5. Turn right side over
you will have the zipper attached
6. Pull about 2" down over
zip to create a fold, iron
this




7. This creates a fold over the zip


8. Turn over to wrong side and pin
the zip through all layers
then prepare the ends
with pins as ...






4. Sew this to the top of the fabric


9. Make a z, sew along the fold
across the zip and then along the zipper
teeth edge to secure the zip onto
the layers



10. Sew along the zipper along the marks
on the zipper
11. When you get to the edge of the zipper
turn the foot and sew across the zipper to
 the fold.........
12. When you reach the fold on the underside
turn the foot again and sew along the
edge making sure you catch the edge
of the fold



13. Follow the pins and stitch..

14. It will then turn out like this...
Remember when attaching this backing to the cushion top
to open the zip slightly, so you can get into the
cushion when you have sewn around the outside of the cushion


Saturday, October 18, 2014

Pickledish progress, 12" Summer Mini has arrived

Welcome to pickledish land, it seems like all I've been doing is making pickles....
but is addictive like hexagons, you just have to keep going... and going...

Here is my progress on the design wall...  A cushion panel, appliqueing the centre down.... I will give you a tutorial on this centre soon...


 
The quilt size on the design wall....
 
 
 
I have a few tips and tricks to put this together, the above quilt is put together with the centre square a pieced four arc piece, (I personally do not like this look as it gives you seams through the block. the black one above is appliqued in a whole piece) I will work on putting up as a tutorial, just give me a day or two a bit slow today as I had a class of ladies last night from 6 - midnight.... it was fun, hope to show you some pictures if they give me them of their designs....
 
A Summer mini has been received from Michell, this is the final in my mini swaps for the year...
Thanks to stitchingcubbyhole for the organising of this it was fun..
 
Thank you Michell for your lovely design
 

Thanks for calling by and Happy Weekend Stitching

Sharon
 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

In the sewing room

In between the pickle dish quilt I have been steadily working on finishing up some items and continuing on more blocks

More pickings from the pickle, finished up trimming the arcs, hope you can see, as Paris was not moving!!

I managed to get this oragami folded fabric bag done last week, uses two fat quarters and I had it all made in an hour. A great gift, one for the present box. You can get this pattern from the brother sewing website. "Fabric origami bukuro"




While I am doing this Paris is keen to remove all of my heart pins from my pin cushions on display and not letting me even pick them up



She is a bit or a ratbag and thinks the sewing room belongs to her and her alone.

Queen of sewing




I even managed to get three more blocks prepared for my flower Kim McLean quilt

Keep stitching, thanks for calling by, must get on and stitch

Happy stitching
Sharon 







Sunday, October 12, 2014

In a pickle


This week I started the pickle dish quilt for a class I am teaching, I have ended up with these so far, shame I cannot turn them into chutney!
 
Lots of pre cutting of the colours I liked


Then there was plenty of sewing to do! Lots of foundation arcs 
Which gave me lots of these! 


Which when trimmed look great! 

I even have the background picked






Let's hope this pickle dish is going to look great

Happy stitching
Thanks for stopping by
Sharon

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Addictive Hexagons

What a busy time with a return from our fabulous holiday it has been all go, and now its the holidays and kids home does not make for too much time in the sewing room, however I have tried to be disciplined to get at least some stitching moving along.

My quiltalong with faeries and fibres is coming along nicely onto block 11 and the second side block
only 7 more to go.  I am making progress in getting the first path around all the blocks I have done so far, this is a good sit down in front of tv job.




Happy Stitching
Call back soon
Sharon

Monday, October 6, 2014

Weekend Stitching with Natalie Bird

Wow, how lucky were we to have a two day stitching weekend with Natalie Bird from the "Birdhouse".  She was lovely and helpful.  Thank you to Kitz n Thingz who hosted this event, it was very well organised and fun, with very helpful staff.  Thank you.

We made this lovely new design from Natalie,


 A few of Natalie's lovely quilts and bags
cushions, etc.

Thanks for visiting.
Happy Stitching
Sharon