Havplenty

if you can attach a seam gauge to your machine or use double sided tape or whatever works as a stop gap for you, you can achieve almost perfect 1/4" seams. when i use my seam gauge attached to my machine, i take my ruler and place my needle right at the 1/4" mark then i slide it just a scounch to the left (right inside the 1/4" mark) to mark a scant 1/4" line. i then tighten my seam gauge right to the edge of my ruler, sew a few seams to check my scant mark. presto!!! keep experimenting and you will find your technique.

i am close to wash u also. we may be neighbors and just not know it.


mary

Havplenty

what mystery pattern project was this & on what website? i just got this pattern as a freebie pattern in my email here. i have a bunch of 3.5" squares cut that i received in a swap that i will be using instead of the 2.5" one the pattern calls for so my quilt will be larger that the 44" x 44". that works for me so i won't need to enlarge through borders.

Gabrielle's Mimi

I'm just going to suggest that rather than starching everything (starch=corn starch=corn=food for silverfish and other little critters) try using sizing. I like Mary Ellen's Best Press but I'm not sure what it's made of. Good luck with this huge project. Won't it be fun to sew once you are all organized!

PurplePetal

here are pics: hope they come thru, i did this over the phone w/nephew.

i thought i would keep the white eyelet pants with the top but it looked frumpy on me.
one of the pics is of a robe made from japanese fabric
there are random cuts from collars & sleeves to show the colors i got including chartreuse.
the other pic show PJs, linen 3x man's shirt, hawaiian shirt, purple plaid bedsheet, little girls pants, yellow sundress.

i tried for a mix of colors and neutrals. hard to believe i spent $9 for all this fabric.

has anyone used eyelet in a quilt block?

(Mary--I live in the DeMun neighborhood. My husband is a profesor @ SLU & we work together near the science center).
small world...would love to meet you!!

paulswalia

It was from Quilter's Club of America - just finished up and all the finished quilts will start to be shown there.

LTeachergeorge

Welcome to the board, Purple petal!!! Sometimes the best way is just to jump in -- don't get too hung up on all the cutting!! The sewing is the fun part!! BTW, where is the outlet Goodwill? I'm from Jeff City, and visit family in SL fairly often..

RkayD

committing to a scrap system is a huge undertaking when your first starting..wish I had done it. =) That being said...don't be afraid of ANYTHING! I did that just like you did and psyched myself out for almost 5 years. I was cookin' along doing everything..including Triangles..then I started reading "the Rules". Oh My Word! Its crazy isn't it? Now the only rules I follow are my own. If and when I EVER make quilts for competition I will worry about that stuff but for now...I'm just makin' Quilts. =)

MadQuilter

When my iron gets gunky, I first run it over a few USED dryer sheets. Usually that does the trick. As for the scant 1/4" - just don't use a pattern first time out that requires anything scant. Consistent is way more important and that is something to learn by doing. You can watch all the youtube videos in the world and never know how it feels or how your machine handels things. So good for you on jumping in. Happy cutting, happy pressing, and happy sewing.

PurplePetal

LTeacher--the goodwill outlet is in the former Famous Barr warehouse. E 64, exit vandeventer left --then stay in right lane for a half block, take a quick right--immediately b/f the hiway overpass--go down 1-2 blocks and it's on the right side. very bare bones but air conditioned, they bring out stuff every few minutes. it gets very crowded. students/artists like it for bargains as does everyone else.

RkayD--I got scared of the rules too... no mistakes means no learning ...i'm jumping in!!

MadQuilter..I "feel" your moniker!! thanks

As I am cutting things up, I'm learning used clothing needs lots and lots of sizing.
The fabric may be cheap, but the labor (time investment) is intense.
I'm going to be more selective next time.
Perhaps look for more out of the ordinary stuff that I can't buy in yardage.
(but I'm having trouble cutting into the vintage japanese fabric I scored on at Goodwill --another lesson in uncertainty)

I'm looking for block patterns to have fun with. no quilt in mind, just practice making fun blocks with my strips & blocks; I'm looking in Mary Ellen Hopkins It's OK if you sit on my Quilt book. I'm going to look for the other books mentioned earlier, when I complete my cutting goals.

butterflies5518

Wow, I am super impressed by your diligence of making your stash. I love that your sharing your experiences - that's how we all learn - by sharing. I too am a "St. Louis Girl" born and bred, now a "Native Texan". Please keep us posted on your progress and thanks for the "Show Me" attitude! You go girl!