Blog Tagged "Tutorial" - Purple Daisies Quilting

Blooming Meadow Quilt Block + Tutorial

November 01, 2022 2 Comments

Quilt Block Mania - November 2022

Land of Magic Quilt Sew Along: The Castle

September 20, 2016 2 Comments

Nesting and Spinning Seams Tutorial

August 08, 2016 10 Comments

Tips and Tricks for Fixing Quilting Mistakes

March 24, 2016 5 Comments

Hi Everyone!

A while back I was working on a mini quilt, and the backing tucked under as I was quilting it, and I stitched right over backing. Not once, but twice. Ugh! I know we've all made mistakes like this, but can be so frustrating and feel almost impossible to to fix without undoing your hard work. While I was fixing my little "boo-boo", I took some pictures so I could share a few of my tips and tricks for fixing quilting mistakes like this.

Here is my first mistake in all of it's glory. If you look closely at the left hand side, you'll see that the backing folded and tucked under twice. I did a really good job with this one, haha.

I had already done quite a bit of quilting, so I really didn't want to "unquilt" my quilt and have to quilt it again. I always make my backing 4"-6" bigger than my quilt top, which gave me some forgiveness and allowed me to cut the fabric away rather than pull out my stitches.

First, I cut the backing very close to the stitches. Be very careful not to cut your stitches. Using scissors with a short blade and a blunt tip like these from Famore Cutlery help quite a lot.

Cut the fabric away from each line of quilting. Cut closely to the stitching, without cutting through it.

Use your fingers to pull the fibers of the fabric away from the quilting.

Snip your fabric as needed to release it from the stitches. Cutting the fabric close to the quilting will allow it to pull away quite easily.

In this picture, you can really see what a fantastic job I did making this mistake ;). Keep snipping the fabric away while being careful not to cut your stitches.

Almost there!! I kind of like pulling the fabric away from the quilting. It's satisfying, like pulling weeds. I hate to get out there and pull the weeds, but when I pull one out, root and all, it feels so good!

Just a snip or two left!

YES!!!!

Next, clean it up and pull away any fibers of the backing from the stitches.

It's all finished and looks so much better. The best part is that I didn't have to remove a single stitch of my quilting.

I hope this helps you if you ever find yourself needing to fix a quilting mistake.

If you do need a seam ripper to do some "unquilting", Seam Fix is my favorite brand and I carry some in the store.

Happy Quilting,
~Cristy

Tiny Geese Keychain Pattern Review

July 09, 2015 1 Comment

Hello!

I'm so happy that you've found you're way here. Last month, I came across a fabulous pattern for a flying geese keychain and just had to make one. After making it, I couldn't wait to share it with you.

The Tiny Geese Keychain pattern is a simple and fun paper piecing pattern by Michael Ann Made. It's available in her pattern shop on Craftsy. Michael Ann includes a full tutorial with her pattern, as well. The tutorial is very well done, with step-by-step instructions and actual pictures of Michael Ann making a keychain right along with you.

After reading through the instructions, I wanted to try out something a little different than traditional paper piecing. While I really do enjoy paper piecing, I don't enjoy ripping off the papers in the end. So, I decided to use the wonderful foundation paper that I carry in my shop, Sharon's Secret Foundation Paper. Typically, it's used for applique, but both my mom and I often use it for foundation piecing as well. When it's used for foundaiton piecing, there's no need to tear it away in the end. The foundation can stay in! Once quilted and washed, the foundation paper loosens up and becomes small fibers in the body of the quilt, adding softness. You can learn more about using the foundation for quilt blocks in my String Block tutorial.

To use the foundation for the Tiny Geese Keychain, I cut the foundation to 8.5"x11" to make it easy to run through my printer and print the pattern. The foundation is really fabulous to print on! In the picture you'll see a piece of foundation cut to 8" for use in foundation piecing, as a reference. In addition to printing on the foundation, you can also draw on it with pencil. Another wonderful feature of the foundation paper is that it doesn't shrink as you sew on it. Often when foundation piecing with other foundations or muslin, you can experience some shrinkage as the stitching and pressing distorts and pulls in the fibers of the foundation. With Sharon's Secret Foundation you'll experience much more accuracy. In the end, the foundation can stay in and acutally replace the need for adding interfacing to the keychain.

After printing, you can follow Michael Ann's instructions for piecing together your own keychain.

Here are a few of my own tips and tricks for foundation piecing with the foundation paper:

1. Apply a bit of a glue stick to anchor piece #1 in place. Heat set with your iron to secure it in place.

2. To help achieve accurate placement of the pattern pieces, fold the piece along the first seam line to create a crease.

3. Draw a line of glue 1/8" (ish) below the crease. Keep in mind that the crease is your actual seam line.

4. Place piece two in its place and heat set. This glue basting and heat setting will keep piece #2 from shifting around as you move to sew at your machine. Don't worry, you're not sewing through the glue. And even if you did, the heat setting dries the glue and removes any gumminess. It's safer for your needle and machine than any fusible webbing.

5. Sew along the first seam line. I prefer to backstitch at the beginning and end of my seam.

6. Trim the seam allowance. This pattern is pretty tiny, so I trimmed my seam allowance to less than 1/4" to help alleviate bulk.

7. Press piece #2 over. Repeat each step for piece #3.

8. Fold along the long seam for the "geese" piece to create a crease.

9. Again, draw a fine line of glue below the crease.

10. Place the "geese" piece in its place and heat set.

11. Sew, trim and press the piece in place.

12. Continue glue basting and sewing each piece in its place until the pattern is completely filled in. Once sewn, there are no papers to tear away. Isn't that wonderful!! Simply trim the keychain according to Michael Ann's instructions, then add the backing and finish the ends as you like. If you use the foundation paper, you won't need to add any interfacing or batting. The foundation will make the keychain stable, but not overly stiff. It will feel wonderful in your hand.

I'm in love with my new keychain. Honestly, I don't make things for myself often enough, and I'll definitely be keeping my new purple Tiny Geese Keychain. I gave away the first one that I made, but I like it so much that I may need to make a duplicate.

I always love to see what you're creating. If you're on Instagram, use the hashtag #purpledaisiesquilting when you post a picture of something you've made that's been inspired from a tutorial here, or a design by me.

Happy Quilting!!
~Cristy

Machine Pieced Hexagon Tutorial

June 09, 2015 1 Comment

Hello! Welcome to Sew Much Like Mom! I'm honored to have you here.

I love hexagons, or as some fondly call them, "hexies". I love them pieced by hand. I love the big. I love them small. I love them in all sorts of colors and prints.

Easy Steps to Join Binding Strips

June 04, 2014 1 Comment

Have you watched, and tried my mom's amazing binding technique? Whether you love or dislike (maybe dislike a lot) sewing the binding onto your finished quilt, my mom's technique is life changing. My favorite part is the simple way she joins the strips of binding. In essence, the technique she uses is a simple version of Paperless Paper Piecing.

Double Wedding Ring QAL: Sewing the Apple Core Units

March 14, 2014

A couple of months ago, I filmed the videos for the Double Wedding Ring QAL, along with several other video tutorials. When I played them back for editing, the videos were garbled and unusable. I was so frustrated (and may or may not have taken it out on my video camera). I had spent all of that time making videos for you, to only discover that I had been talking to myself.

I bought myself a new...

Paperless Paper Piecing Tutorial: A Square in a Square, Squared

January 02, 2014

I'm so excited to share Paperless Paper Piecing with you! I almost don't know where to start. ;)

My mom, Sharon Schamber, developed the Paperless Paper Piecing technique more than 10 years ago. It is a simple technique, that allows you to "paper-piece" with precision, limitless possibilities, and no paper to tear out in the end. Once you wrap your mind around the technique, you'll discover the ease...

Double Wedding Ring QAL: Sewing the Melon Units

December 26, 2013

Well, hello!!

I'm very sorry for not posting sooner. I enjoy blogging so so much, but when my businessgets busy, blogging keeps getting pushed down on my "to do" list. Being busy with all of my business stuff is not a bad problem to have. I'm very grateful. I just wish I had more hours in my day, or maybe an assistant, or a housekeeper. I'm going to keep on moving forward, and share with you as...

Applique is My Favorite: Video Tutorial

September 19, 2013 1 Comment

Oh, how I love me some applique! It makes me giddy. It's okay if you think I'm a weirdo, I'm completely good with that. There's just something about applique that speaks to my heart.

I adore applique because it can be pretty, funky, crazy, arty, modern, traditional, simple and complicated. Applique can be used in so many ways, as well: on quilts, clothing, bags, purses, and on an on an on. There...

Piec-lique Circles & Drunkard's Path: Tutorial

August 16, 2013 3 Comments

Piec-lique (pronounced: piece-li-kay) is a technique, developed by Sharon Schamber (my mama), for creating any type of curved seam. More than 10 years ago, She began developing the technique , and published her book, "Piec-lique: Curves the New Way", with AQS, in 2005. For those who have taken classes from my mom, or myself, the technique is often an "Ah-ha!" moment. We've seen eyes light up and...

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