Angie Juda

My subject today is a Quilting Design Wall.

When I start a quilt … I typically take an old quilt ….  lay it on the floor and then lay my new blocks on top.

Sometimes I make it larger than the previous quilt and sometimes it’s smaller.

Since I’m a visual person ….. it’s way easier for me to place blocks on top of blocks.

But … bending over …  is becoming more and more difficult … so much so that I googled the subject.

And wouldn’t you know I discovered a wonderful thing called a Quilting Design Wall!

There are tons of How to make your own Design Wall pictures and instructions ….. or you can buy one online.

I went back and forth …. should I buy one or not … and then it hit me ….. way back when I did Craft Fairs I  had made dividers for my booth …using Sturdy Boards.

So, I went in search of my 40 x 60 Sturdy Board (hidden in back of storage in basement).  This reason alone is why I never throw things away!

Next I attached a White Vinyl tablecloth backwards …on top of the Sturdy  Board ..using Binder Clips.  (Tablecloth was saved from way back when we had Chase or Brooke’s graduation party.)

If you have some Flannel fabric that will work .. but the Vinyl Tablecloth works like a charm!

Ignore the wrinkles … they bother me …. but not enough to figure out how to get them out.   I fear an iron would melt the vinyl tablecloth!   I may have Dave help me tape it on the board ….. or I could use Basting Spray … I think.  Like I said it bothers me …but not enough to take action.

Now for the quilt …. these are blocks I had leftover from when I made my aunt Betsy’s quilt (back in 2010) …. if you look closely (at the first picture) you can see I needed to make 25 more blocks to complete the quilt .. and I already had all the squares and diamonds cut (and the white fabric).

It was pretty simple to wrap up this quilt top (will take picture soon).

See ya!

p.s. I worked for a few hours today … and all I managed to do was check email and clean off my desk.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I’ve found ways to continue sewing …even though my body is in constant pain.

One of them is the Knee Lift on my Bernina Sewing Machine.

I use my left arm to hold the fabric as I sew it and I use my right hand on the knee lift.

Are you scratching your head?  Yes, I said I use the knee lift with my right hand.  I’m short and no matter what table I use for my sewing machine … it doesn’t work with my knee.  I’m not complaining .. I have a system and it works!

When shopping for a sewing machine .. a self threader and a knee lift is a must have!

See ya!

p.s. Yes the next several posts are going to be about sewing.  I’ve not been able to stand long enough to work in my office … and I’m calling the doctor again on Monday to see if she can fit me in sooner than the 9th.  I went to the grocery store today and then had to lay down the rest of the day.  I’ll stop complaining now … I know it could be so much worse .. I’m just ready to feel normal again!

Over the Christmas break we moved my office to the dining room.

My lovely iMac on the left and the sewing machine on the dining room table….. along with a big Ott Light (it’s an eye sore but it sure works good!)

We also cleaned out the computer cabinet so that I could use it for sewing supplies.  Truth be told it was storing stuff that I needed to throw away … I just need an incentive to go through it (new fabric was just the ticket).

The cabinet doesn’t look very impressive …. meaning … it doesn’t look like there’s much in there …but I have my lake house sewing machine in there … along with two Accuquilt Cutting Machines.

Speaking of the cutting machine … I broke down and bought the electric.  I look for ways to not add additional stress to my body and cutting fabric is one that I try to avoid as much as possible (at least until we know what the heck is wrong with me).

Sewing cabinet contents:

• Accuquilt Cutting System
• Accuquilt Dies
• Iron (two actually .. one is hidden)
• Grid Rulers
• Fabric Starch
• Ironing board
• Fabric (several Layer Cakes …once again to save my arm on cutting)
• Quilt Labels (I add a quilt label to the back of every quilt)
• Lake House sewing machine (We sold our lake house this summer and we’re in the process of building a new one …..maybe it will be done in 2015.  When my sister was here I took it out of storage so that she could use it.)

After taking pictures … I see the cabinet needs to be re-organized ….. again …but oh well it’s working for now so I’ll call it done.

Before I end ….  I will add that I like to buy bolts of White and Ivory fabric.  I learned on my very first quilt that you want your Quilt Top and your Backing Fabric to be the same shade of white or ivory ….. yes what I’m saying is my first quilt has a different shade of ivory for the back …. I’m okay with it …. especially since it was my first …but going forward I’d like them to match.

See ya!