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Hunter's Design Studio Back to School Blog Hop

September 01, 2015


Hello! I'm so happy that you stopped by!

My wonderful friend, Sam Hunter, is hosting a fabulous Back to School Blog Hop, which is kicking off today. As all of our kiddos, and grand-kiddos, are heading back to school, Sam thought it would be great fun for us to head back too and brush up on some of our quilting skills as well as learn some new tips and tricks. Sam has put together a pretty fabulous...

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Iron Shoe: Free Pattern & Tutorial

July 10, 2015

Iron Shoe by Sharon Schamber
Sharon Schamber's Iron Shoe Pattern & Tutorial are fianlly here! And they're free for you!

Have you ever pressed your precious fabrics with your iron only to discover that the metal base made a shiny spot on your fabric? Sharon designed the Iron Shoe to help keep your pressing sheet close at hand, as well as to protect your fabrics as you press.

Making your own Iron Shoe is quite simple and requires...

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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


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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.

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Make MAGIC… Save up to 50% on All Online Classes Today

June 05, 2015 1 Comment

Make today, showcase forever! Save on Craftsy classes via my special link and help support my store, Purple Daisies Quilting: 

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A page out of my Story (+ a giveaway)

April 14, 2015 9 Comments

Welcome to my little stop on the blog hop to celebrate Carrie Bloomston's new line of fabric: Story.

If this is your first time visiting me, welcome! I'm Cristy Fincher. I'm a mom, wife, quilter, teacher, and pattern designer. I had the honor of meeting Carrie through our beautiful friend, Bari J.

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My New Craftsy Class and a Giveaway!

March 04, 2015 24 Comments

Hi Everyone!

The past couple of months have been full of highs and lows. As most of you know, my mom's best friend and soul partner, Tom Russell, passed away unexpectedly in January. I'm still at a loss for words to express how I feel about his passing, and how to express my love for him. 

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Podcast Episode 3: Quilt Shows and Competition

December 17, 2014 6 Comments

Hi Everyone!

Gosh, it's been such a long time. I'm sorry for being absent for so long. I think I need more hours in my day so I can write more blog posts and tutorials, and record more podcasts for you.

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Podcast Episode 2: Fabric Preparation

September 25, 2014 4 Comments

Hello!!!

My second podcast episode is posted and ready for you to take a listen!

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How to Spin Your Seams - Video Tutorial

September 17, 2014 11 Comments

Hi Everyone!

I have a brand new video tutorial showing you how to manage the seams of a block by nesting and spinning the seams. By nesting and spinning your seams, you'll have a block that not only looks wonderful but is strong and will quilt easily. 

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Introducing my new Podcast!

August 26, 2014 2 Comments

I just recorded my very first podcast! I'm still figuring everything out, and have to get it approved by iTunes. Hopefully that process doesn't take too long. 

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Glue Basting Basics

July 15, 2014

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