Thursday, June 16, 2011

Hands Across the Water

You’re picking me up at WHAT TIME??!!  

It’s time for the annual ‘Hands Across the Water’ trek…  Quilters from our Heritage Quilting Guild are heading over to beautiful Mayne Island for a mix and mingle of quilters from all over…places like Galiano Island, Saturna and the Pender Islands, and Duncan (which is where Heritage is from)… Some quilters will be coming by small boat, others by ferry. We drive to Schwartz Bay Ferry Terminal and take the ferry from there.  I’m told to expect great food and a wonderful display of quilts set in a beautiful Japanese Garden by the ocean.  Sounds like it’s going to be worth getting up at…5AM !

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I’m taking my camera…so I will keep you posted!

ON THE QUILTING FRONT~ Going in Circles…

Ever wondered how to make a perfect circle…?

Not an easy feat unless you know this easy technique!  

First decide the size of your finished circle and make a cardboard template that is PERFECT.  (I glued two pieces of tag board together and then used the lid of a yogurt contain as a tracer.) Cut out fabric circles that are 1/2” larger than your template..these circles don’t have to be perfect.

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Baste all  around your circle about 1/4” in from the edge…

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Put your cardboard template into the middle of the circle and pull the thread to gather it in….

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Pull tight…and tap with a hot iron…

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Then brush or spray with spray starch and iron it dry…

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Look…so pretty and perfect!!

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Carefully remove the template…

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Tap with the iron…and she is done!  Easy peasy!

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Oh so pretty…

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It’s a good thing this technique is fast, easy and works great because I need to make over 16 perfect little circles!!

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Have a thrilling Thursday and Happy Quilting!~P

11 comments:

  1. have a great time!!..happy quilting!!

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  2. Oh, you're going to have so much fun - I just know it.

    Can't wait for pictures and such.

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  3. Have a wonderful time, sounds like a great way to spend the day.

    Debbie

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  4. Thanks for showing this circles tutorial - I needed to be reminded! Have a wonderful time - we're all jealous. blessings, marlene

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  5. The perfect polka dotty circles look great with the black and white polka dot background!

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  6. Thanks for the tip!!! If I knew it, I forgot it.

    Have a great day at the quilt gathering. What a cool event.
    xx, Carol

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  7. Very Mary Engelbright, love it. You make circles look sew easy!

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  8. love the demo! No complaining...I remember a time I stayed up all night to get a seat for Earth, Wind and Fire concert...boy...those were the days. 5 am for a quilt show...piece of cake...or rather, scone and coffee! my word verification was suckkya...what???

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  9. Have a wonderful time...love your dotty circles and the great tutorial.

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  10. Even I could get up at 5am for that, lol! Have a great time - your circles are wonderful!

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  11. Gotta get me some polka dot fabric! Have a great time!

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