Home for the Holidays BOM - What you need for Wool Applique'

Wool Applique' 101
For the wool applique' portion of this project you will need the following:



Wool thread or embroidery floss to match your wool - I used Auriful 12 weight -  100% Lana wool thread for both the embroidery and the applique'.  We have this at the shop in large spools - 300 or so yards per spool for around $10 per spool, or one of the fun things that we sell at the shop is 10 yards spools of wool thread in a variety of colors for $2 each.  This is a good way to collect the colors of thread that you may need without spending a lot of money. 
If you are using embroidery floss, use #310 black for the words, and colors of floss to match your wool.  I used brown 898, green 934, a dark neutral 640 since I didn't have wool thread in those colors. 




Freezer Paper - My favorite is Quilter's Freezer Paper Sheets

Black Pigma Pen - I like to use a permanent pen to trace the patterns onto freezer paper, and to trace the words onto the background fabric.  I'm using a black pen because we are using black thread.  A mechanical pencil will work also, but it makes a mess of your hands and the lead can smear onto your fabrics


Applique' Glue - any kind of glue or glue stick will work, just choose your favorite



a 7 inch Embroidery Hoop - I prefer a spring-loaded hoop

 









Size 7 Wool/Embroidery Needles - I like the length of the size 7 Foxglove Cottage needle for the applique'

Needle Threader - this is a must

Scissors - a great pair of sewing scissors like Gingher or Dovo Scissors



My next post in this series will focus on the embroidery stitches, methods for tracing and cutting out your wool appliue' pieces, and how to place and stitch your wool onto your background fabric.


to be continued........
Joni    :)

Home for the Holidays BOM - part #1

Step #1 - Felting Wool: 

Working with hand-dyed wool is wonderful.  
Because of the dying process, it has already been "felted".  It's ready to use whether you buy it in squares, fat quarters or by the yard - and yes all the wool in your Home for the Holidays kits are either hand-dyed or have already been felted for you - so no worries

If you are using wool in any project, first make sure it is 100% wool.  If you have purchased wool by the yard, or you are using a recycled wool skirt or jacket from the local goodwill, it will more than likely need to be "felted" or washed.
Larger amounts of wool can simply be washed in your washing machine in HOT water ( I will usually set my washing machine to a hot soak cycle first, to allow the wool to absorb the hot water)  then rinse in COLD water, and repeat.  Spin it well and toss in the dryer.  Wool has a tendency to have an odor when it is washed, so I generally add a little detergent to the wash water to help with the smell.

Smaller pieces of wool (like squares or fat quarters)  You can hand wash in the kitchen sink.  Fill one side of the sink with HOT water  (again with a little detergent)  and the other side with COLD water.  Soak and agitate the wool with your hands until it has absorbed the hot water - and this might take a while -  the key is the agitation.  Then soak the wool in the cold water.  Then repeat with clean Hot and Cold water.  This shocks the fibers, shrinks them and the hand agitation "felts" the fibers.
Remove as much water as you can and toss in the dryer, or simply lay flat to dry on a clean towel overnight.

Once you felt a few pieces of wool yourself, you will be able to tell right away which wool fabrics need to be felted or not, just by looking at the weave and by feeling the wool.  It should be a tight weave and be soft like it has been washed.


If you are not sure if you are buying wool that has been felted or not, just ask your local quilt shop.  They will gladly tell you if your wool is hand-dyed or not and whether or not you need to  "felt" your wool before working with it.

HOT lanta

By the way, in case you haven't seen me at the shop in a day or two, I have been in Atlanta, GA for the last three weeks, and can I just say HOT lanta.

I'm loving the yummy fresh peaches, the beautiful southern-style homes that have HUGE wrap-around porches, and of course -- all the quilt shops -- Not as many shops here as the lucky people in Utah have of course -- but I can sniff out a Quilt Shop anywhere

Little Quilts is in Marietta, GA by the way  - www.littlequilts.com

and people are really friendly out here and call you by your first name, 

but with a MISS in front of it....

Thank you Miss Joni.... How are you today Miss Joni?     Ha Ha -  I love it



But just to give you a little taste of what August in  HOT lanta Georgia is like -

I would really like an ice cream right about now ..... but I think this truck is all out


See you soon - and keep quilting ladies

Harley & Me

spent the day sewing and watching Marley & me on TBS.... and cried for two hours!!

reminded me of my own naughty dog.... "Harley"

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself"

Spring Quilt Market Recap

I just returned from Spring Quilt Market in Kansas City.  As always, it was a fabulous market full of new and fresh ideas and a lot of inspiration! 

 Let's start off with my good friend Barbara Jones of Quilt Soup who has a new line of fabric she introduced at this market called "Cruizin'".  It has fresh shades of aqua, red, yellow and grey.  She has a fun large chevron print in the line and a darling bicycle print.  Look for this in the shop later this Fall.

And here is a preview of her Halloween line called Frank & Friends.  Aren't those candy corn pillows cute!  She has used a little applique', which she is famous for, on the the Pumpkin Patch table runner, and used the darling panel for the frankenstein and ghost pillows.

Our friends from Abbey Lane have done it again with their new book Just 4 Fun.  It features 4 quilts with matching fabric wreaths.  I can't choose a favorite quilt from this book, I love them all.  But wait, that's not the only new book they have...Baby Times features 24 handmade treasures for baby and Mom.  Yes I said 24 items that all are amazing!

Cluck, Cluck, Sew has 6 new patterns, and let's face it, we all love Cluck, Cluck, Sew!

New from Moda is  Basic Grey's Little Black Dress.  This is a sophisticated line of blacks and creams....Love it!

And From Bunny Hill comes Windsor Lane, and of course she has a new block of the Month

A new designer for Moda, and a favorite designer of mine, Vanessa Christensen of V and Co. designed this amazing line called Simply Color.  It has a selection of Ombre solids, and yes they are available in what Moda calls a Junior Jelly Roll.  Watch for this one to arrive in October ladies...It's going to be a huge hit!

Fig Tree & Co has done it again with her collection called Tapestry and it is in the traditional Fig Tree colors!  Of course Joanna made my favorite quilt pattern out of the fabrics which made me love it even more!  This pineapple quilt pattern is simplified for easy piecing.   Thank you Joanna, you always seem to amaze me!

This is the newest line of fabric from French General called Chateau Rouge, it of course is French General's classic red, tan, and taupe, with a touch of butter yellow.....yum!

Blackbird designs is still designing hits like their new line Cinnamon & Spice, and watch for their new book to be released in mid June.  I can hardly wait!

and let's not forget my favorite Moda designers, Bonnie and Camille with the amazing follow-up to Vintage Modern called...Marmalade.  With a name like that, how can you not love it.  Marmalade ships in October with precuts coming in September.  Start planning your projects now ladies!

and last but not least Primitive Gatherings new line of fabric is called old Glory Gatherings!  I love the red and navy and the muddy backgrounds in this Blazing star quilt that is 105" x 105"...wow!  She also has four new Primitive Muslins in this line that you will surely love.  You won't believe how many new patterns Lisa has designed that made their debut at market, from wool projects, pieced quilts, needle cases, penny rugs, and a monthly wool banner project.  We will be sewing up a storm to get all the shop samples made!



There are so many more new lines from Moda, that I can not show them all...I will post more as the new lines start to come into the shop.  You can always view future lines that we have on order on our web-site www.quiltershaven-ut.com and click on coming soon!

And now a little inspiration.....

 

a cute little sewing kit by Oliver + S, Apples and Oranges

fun little booties and stuffed Softies

A good use of the little rosebud trim we have in the shop

Chevron, Chevron, and more Chevron....Yes we are expecting more to come in this month

More Riley Black goodness, and a new turtle pattern by Freddies Friends

Another great quilt by the Quilted Fish...Check out her new book!

Make sure you stop by and see all the new Ruffle Fabrics available soon at the shop

 

A new fabric line by Sarah Jane coming this fall!

A cute display of a Shore Thing by Emily Herrick.  She also has a new book called Geared for Guys.  Look for it coming soon to the shop!

 I Can't forget to show you the "dark and dirty" side of Quilt Market, which there was a lot of!!  

This is just a sneak peek of what I brought back, and soon to have in the shop!

From Kim Diehl's new Book!  I love this quilt

Another great book from That Patchwork Place

Primitive Gatherings goodies

Love this!

and the hotest trend of the show.....English Paper Piecing. Can you believe this entire quilt was made from paper pieces.  It is the newest craze!!!!

and here is proof that you can surely mod podge anything!  All you need is fabric scraps and a bottle of this!!  Go for it Ladies!!

Do you know the name of this fabric line by Benartex?

Leave us a comment naming both the lines of fabric and the designer, and you could win the Growth Chart panel in both colors, and the new book with the same name!!! 

Good Luck !!

I will pick a winner Friday May 25th

Shop Hop is just around the corner

Shop Hop is just a Month away.....are you ready?

 

check out the Utah Shop Hop website for a map and more information

http://utahshophop.com/