8th International Art Competition

I finally did it. My 8 collective hours of sleep in the last 3 days have finally paid off, as well as two years of work. Here are a few photos.

I'd like to express special thanks to all of my friends who have helped, offered to help and encouraged me to complete this work. I'd also like to thank Jessica Fort for taking the wonderful pictures!

Next Class

October presents new challenges because we're moving classes from the first and third Thursday to the second and 4th Thursday. This means that we won't have 2 classes during the months of December and November. The next class will be held on Thursday, October 9, the next on Thursday, October 23. Good luck everyone and remember, if you have any questions call, e-mail or comment if you can. See you in a few weeks!

Assembly Instructions

Here are some starting directions for your quilt. Gather your materials and make a plan. Alternate colors or do whatever you do to make your quilt color pattern the way you want it. Use graph paper to determine where you want each different fabric square to be when you sew it together.

First, cut your fabric & batting/flannel into the desired number of 6" or 9" squares (if you are doing a pieced back cut that fabric as well).

Then, layer your squares as pictured, with the "right sides" facing out. Pin if desired...

The next step is to sew an "X" onto each pinned square group.

Once all of your "X"s are sewn you'll need to sew around the entire square creating a 1/2" seam (1/4" seam if you want, this will result in a smaller "rag" and slightly larger quilt). This will give you a guide to follow as we complete the quilt as well as create a cutting guide for the "ragging". I recommend sewing this 1/2 seam two times on all squares to strengthen the seam to stand up to the cutting and fraying in the "ragging" process. Some sewing machines have a stitch that will automatically sew this seam 3x on a single pass, if your machine has this feature, use it! For those of you who are doing this by hand, double up your thread on your needle and you'll be fine.



Now all you need to do is sew the squares together (right sides/top side out) using a 1/2" seam allowance. Sew each row together in long strips and then sew the rows to each other to make the quilt. Sew intersecting seams open to ease in cutting.

Let me know if you have any questions or need any clarification. I try to make the instructions clear, but what is clear to me may not be to someone else.

Thanks for all your help and support.

I've had a request for yardages for a larger quilt so here they are. If it's not large enough, let me know. This quilt is 72" square (6 feet square), but it has 9" cut/8" finished squares. This square size will be better proportioned for a larger quilt and it will save on fabric costs because you'll have fewer seams to sew and less seam allowance.





3 color quilt=
Color 1= 2 yards (28 squares at 9")
Color 2= 2 yards (25 squares at 9")
Color 3= 2 yards (28 squares at 9")
*Center batting, or flannel=5 ½ yards (81 squares at 9")
*Backing (SOLID)= 5 yards
*Backing (PIECED) = 5 ½ yards (81 squares at 9")

4 color quilt=
Color 1= 1 ½ yards (21 squares at 9”)
Color 2= 1 ½ yards (20 squares at 9”)
Color 3= 1 ½ yards (20 squares at 9”)
Color 4= 1 ½ yards (20 squares at 9”)
*See above yardage guides for batting/flannel, and preferred backing.

5 color quilt=
Color 1= 1 ¼ yards (16 squares at 9”)
Color 2= 1 ¼ yards (16 squares at 9”)
Color 3= 1 ¼ yards (16 squares at 9”)
Color 4= 1 ¼ yards (16 squares at 9”)
Color5= 1 ½ yards (17 squares at 9”)
*See above yardage guides for batting/flannel, and preferred backing.

6 color quilt=
Color 1= 1 ¼ yards (15 squares at 9”)
Color 2= 1 ¼ yards (14 squares at 9”)
Color 3= 1 ¼ yards (13 squares at 9”)
Color 4= 1 yard (12 squares at 9”)
Color 5= 1 ¼ yards (13 squares at 9”)
Color 6= 1 ¼ yards (14 squares at 9”)
*See above yardage guides for batting/flannel, and preferred backing.

We also have one girl in the class who is using flannel with denm for her quilt. This was she doesn't have to use any batting or flannel in the between the two facing fabrics. If any of you have any old jeans that will work for this purpose now's the time to pull 'em out!

Next Class

Our next Formal class will be on Thursday, September 18 at 7PM at Ridge Crest Commons. We will have a sew-session on Thursday, September 4th at 7PM but it is an informal Q&A day, I'll help with the current project (Rag Quilts) and also help with any other projects you may have in que (such as mending holes in your husbands pants, etc.). Happy Sewing, all!!!

RAG TIME!!!

Here are 4 color examples of a rag quilt. The first one (in pinks) is a 3 color combination; the second one (blue & green) is a 4 color combination; the third one (in blue & purple) is a 5 color combination; and the fourth one (in muted tones) is a 6 color combination. If you want to put more colors in your quilt let me know and I'll get you the yardage for each color. Also, each of the quilts are going to be "Crib Sized" (45"x60") if you want to make a quilt that is smaller or larger that this let me know and I'll figure the yardage for that.

Each square will be cut in a 6"x6" square, and I've allowed for a 1/2" seam allowance to allow for the "ragging". Let me know if you want a solid back or a pieced back and I can give you specific instructions for the assembly, according to your preference. You can also lay out your fabrics in your own pattern, it can look like a heart, diamond, diagonal, etc...

The quilts require a lot of squares, but I have 2 rotary cutters (I might be able to get 2 more from my sister before class) to aid in the cutting. If you'd like to cut your squares prior to class and want to use the rotary cutter, let me know and we'll get you started.

The fabric yardages are as follows:

3 color quilt=
Color 1= 1 1/4 yards (36 squares at 6")
Color 2= 1 1/4 yards (36 squares at 6")
Color 3= 1 1/4 yards (36 squares at 6")
*Center batting, or flannel=3 1/2 yards (108 squares at 6")
*Backing (SOLID)= 2 yards
*Backing (PIECED) = 3 1/2 yards (108 squares at 6")
4 color quilt=
Color 1= 1 yard (27 squares at 6")
Color 2= 1 yard (27 squares at 6")
Color 3= 1 yard (27 squares at 6")
Color 4= 1 yard (27 squares at 6")
*See above yardage guides for batting/flannel, and preferred backing.
5 color quilt=
Color 1= 1 yard (22 squares at 6")
Color 2= 1 yard (22 squares at 6")
Color 3= 1 yard (22 squares at 6")
Color 4= 1 yard (21 squares at 6")
Color 5= 1 yard (21 squares at 6")
*See above yardage guides for batting/flannel, and preferred backing.
6 color quilt=
Color 1= 2/3 yard (18 squares at 6")
Color 2= 2/3 yard (18 squares at 6")
Color 3= 2/3 yard (18 squares at 6")
Color 4= 2/3 yard (18 squares at 6")
Color 5= 2/3 yard (18 squares at 6")
Color 6= 2/3 yard (18 squares at 6")
*See above yardage guides for batting/flannel, and preferred backing.

Good luck all, and let me know if you have any questions!

1st Class Start's NOW!

The first quilting class for the Pocatello University 3rd Ward starts Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 7pm at the Ridge Crest Commons.

In the next several months I plan to teach lessons where we will learn to make and work on the following projects:
1-Crocheting
2-Embroidery
3-Knitting
4-Basic Sewing & Quilting
5-Rag quilts
6-Puff quilts
7-Paper piecing
8-Hand quilting
9-Aprons & Smocks
10-Sundresses
11-Boys clothes
12-PJs

For the quilt based lessons I will try to get some fabric from the Humanitarian Aid Center so that we can learn the skills without "breaking the bank". Then, we can donate the finished quilts back to the Humanitarian Aid Center.

For each class I will also bring a few samples of the finished project so that we can see how our efforts will pay off.

I would appreciate an RSVP to classes so that I know approximately how many patterns, handouts, needles, etc. that I need to bring. I some cases we may have to share a little bit.

If you have any questions about sewing, what's coming up next in classes or anything else let me know by phone, e-mail or comment to this blog. My phone# is x5026 and my e-mail is trista_hibberd @ yahoo.com

See you in class...or church...whenever...

Any Questions?

This blog is just starting out. I'm trying to locate some of the websites that have helped me along my way as a quilter. I will also post pictures of my latest work. If you have any quilting questions, or coments, feel free to ask them as a "comment" to this post.

I would love to hear from you... Tell me about your quilting adventures, triumphs and not-so-triumphant experiences. My next post will address your questions, prompt discussion or talk about quilting adventures in my quilting group. Even if you are not in this group.... feel free to join in the discussions we have.