February On the Docket Part 2: Other MPF Blocks

 The key block has two foundation sections to complete. Please update your foundation to note that patch #1 is background (not violet).

When both sections are done, remove paper, then join with a conventional seam, with stitching length adjusted to normal setting. Take care that key shank and bottom of "heart" top align attractively.

 Complete one Tall Heart Block. Please update your foundation to note that patch #1 is background. 

Use the folding and positioning techniques described and demonstrated in February On the Docket tutorial part 1.

This image shows that positioning again. Section is folded on crease for patch #5. At right the shape's edges converge into right angle corner. That corner can be "tucked" into the corner of the background fabric shown on work surface, shown below the folded section in the image. This assures better grain line at block edges.

Complete 2 small heart blocks using different light backgrounds for each. 

Follow the same folding and positioning steps as for other heart blocks. Please update your foundation to note that patch #1 is background.

Again you can see the corner patch #9 includes the right angle corner which can be easily placed in the correspondingly-shaped area at the corner of the fabric being added (shown benearth the section's corner).

Continue the project in Tutorial #3.

February On the Docket Part 4: Machine Quilting & Finishing

With center panel piecing completed, use rotary tools to "straighten" edges  by trimming ONLY scant irregularities along all sides.

After this, add narrow borders (sides then top & bottom) and outer borders (same order). Take special care to make straight seams to avoid "wobbles". Press seams outward after each is stitched.

Mark quilting guidelines as desired. All Docket mini quilts have a 1/4" "echo" line traced beyond narrow border outer seam (tracing onto outer border). Use temporary marking tool, either tailor's style chalk pencil or wash-out fine-tip as is shown here.

This image shows the 1/4" echo line being added around the Scrappy Heart Block. For February, all other quilting follows seams or applique edges, so the two echo outlines are the only ones to be traced.

Cut a backing panel of your own choosing, and a thin batt panel, each about 1/2" larger than quilt top on each edge. Center the layers in the order shown: backing face down, batting, quilt top face up. Smooth and pin with straight pins or safety pins, or quickly add hand baste stitches to secure the layers from shifting.

 Machine stitch will be just slightly larger than a regular piecing stitch for the quilting. Engage machine's walking foot if you have one.

Since tying off the quilting runs is tedious, I suggest beginning near the lower right edge of the quilt at the outer border seam to eliminate one tie off. Stitch from the top's raw edge in the seam - referred to as "in-the-ditch" or "ditch" quilting. Take care that the needle is piercing NEXT to the fold of the seam and not ON the fold. Take care for this throughout.

 Quilt in the ditch along this narrow border OUTER seam all around, pivoting carefully exactly at the corners. When you return to the previous quilting stitches, pause for the next stage without stopping and tying off.

At the corner that ends the first circuit of the mini quilt, carefully pivot to stitch following the seams (and thereby "hide" the transit stitches) to get to the marked echo line. 

Quilt on the echo line all around until quilting connects to the beginning of the run. Then stitch following the seams to work back toward the inner seam of the narrow border.









Quilt in the ditch all around along this seam. When the circuit is completed, you will need to "tie off" to secure the stitching.

A. Begin the tie-off process about 1" before you reach the end of the quilting for that section. 
B. Adjust stitching length to about half of what you have been using. Quilt for 1/2 to 3/4". 
C. Adjust stitching to very short length, but not to stitch in place. Complete quilting to end of run. 
D. Adjust stitch length to 0. Make 2-3 stitches in place.
E. Clip top thread next to fabric surface. Tug bobbin thread on backside of quilt to pull top tail end toward backside, then clip bottom thread next to fabric surface.

Complete the quilting along the panels, "tying on" in reverse order as listed in previous paragraph. That is, begin with 2-3 stitches in place (machine set at 0 length), then adjust to very short stitch and stitch 1/4" (5-6 short stitches). Adjust to half of final length and stitch 1/2" to 3/4" further, and finally adjust to preferred quilting stitch length and continue quilting.

Here I am "ditch" quilting the Scrappy Heart block. Stitch on top of previous stitches for short, selected lengths, or follow connecting seams to reduce tying off whenever possible.

After completing quilting, trim excess batt and backing even with quilt top. Square up quilt top by trimming away "wobbles" or irregularities at the same time.

Baste layers together with long hand stitches, if desired (this can be done prior to beginning quilting).

Before binding, cut the ribbon ties (or fabric tabs for tubes, as referenced in next image) and position in place at top raw edges of quilt layers; refer to pattern for placement notes.

Here you can see - near center left edge of photo - that a ribbon end is positioned BOTH on the backside and exactly corresponding on the front side.

Pin in place, machine baste. Also complete cross-stitched tag with twill tape and position ends at upper raw edge as directed and shown below, then apply binding. Refer to the binding tutorial on this blog for further details.

This image shows the alternate fabric tab tube for hanging detail from the quilt's front, along with the embroidered month tag twill tape secured in the binding seam.

Tab end not caught in binding seam on front is folded to the backside, positioned, then included in the hand stitching of the binding on the backside.

Winter Quilts Etc. Classes by Jodi Warner

If you live in the Sandy or Salt Lake City, Utah area

and have been hoping to enroll in a class to create your own

On the Docket month-by-month mini-banner quilt projects,

the first three of the series have been scheduled in the opening months of 2013

at Quilts, Etc., in Sandy, UT.

See their class listing and other details at

www.quilt-etc.com

and click on the "Classes" tab for the alphabetical class title listing.

MARCH On the Docket

February 16th, 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

APRIL On the Docket

March 16th, 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

One more class on the schedule:

Act Upon These Values

Young Women's Values Quilt

March 23 & 30, 10:30 am - 12:30 p.m.

Fabric Kit Chart for February On the Docket

The following image is a photograph chart

of the fabrics selected and included in the kit provided for sale by

Quilts, Etc., in Sandy, Utah,

prepared for class members and other customers

(January 2013).

If you are not able to see it clearly enough this way,

please email Jodi Warner at hearthsewnpatterns@yahoo.com

to request a return email with a scan attachment.

Carefully sort through your fabric kit, identify the fabrics and label your piece with a small sticky label or post-it note. Assemble into groups according to the panel or blocks.