Tag: Teri Lucas Quilts

Quilted Block of the Month August week 2

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
The congratulatory messages on my new position with Floriani are simply awe inspiring.

Now onto our regularly scheduled program:center square

 

Oh I do remember giving  you this update sometime during the week in Instagram. Debby was stitching this motif on a postcard, and I was inspired by it. I’m not entirely certain that Debby posted this anywhere publicly so just know that I have permission to copy her homework at any time. Cool, eh? With this project you have permission to copy my homework. If you’re playing along please feel free to send me pictures and I’ll share them here on the blog.
Remember I tend to show all the stuff that I’m not happy with because I’m still learning how to machine quilt. 2017-08-11 19.29.52

Bernina 24 foot on ruler

 

 

The free-hand embroidery foot is aboutt 1/4” from needle center to the outer edge of the foot. I chose a spot roughly in the center of the square to start stitching a circle. Once the circle closed I very slowly started curving out until the edge of the foot was on the center circle. I kept stitching around, and around, and around, and around, and around and around. Once I reached the edge the ditch helped me keep the curves consistent. Using 80 weight thread in the bobbin means that there is little thready build up, and the fabric doesn’t distort.

IMG_20170804_163514

I’m going to show this one in a very quick vid.

This should give you an idea of how this motif is stitched out. This one looks like a wonky log cabin block, however it’s stitched from the outside in. On the quilt itself I simply winged it. In the video I used a ruler to make the lines. Going from the outside in is what helps create the visual twist.

in block stitching square 2
It’s interesting how thread looks on different color. 80 weight thread is the best!
in block stitching square 3
I like the different texture with the straight lines in the square and the ribbon candy in the border.
in block stitching square
This is the first square I stitched in. While I’ve done this before I wasn’t quite remembering the rhythm of the stitching. It came back after the first full round.

square ribbon candy

Stay tuned next week for the next installment of the Quilted Block of the Month.
Quilted Block of the Month August week one

Happy Quilting,

Teri

 

 

 

 

 

Quilted Block of the Month Part 3

“How do you get from here to there?” she asked. I promised to show her. When stitching on a pieced block, the ditch is your bestie.
qbom ribbon candy peak

The ribbon candy ended at the peak, to start the next wedge there are two options:
stop, tie off the thread, then restart in the next wedge. A viable option, one that I’d give consideration if this were a competition quilt.

travel in the ditch. This is a favorite option as it saves time, and thread. Depending on the weight of the thread it’s possible to stitch in the ditch several times without creating bulk, or warping the look of the quilt.

qbom travel 2

Stitching on the line, or in that ditch is key, however remember it’s perfectly fine if it’s not perfect. Wobbles on quilts add character.

qbom travel 3

I pause here to reposition my hands for a smooth transition.

qbom travel 4

You can see that the stitching isn’t exactly on that line. Yes I’m breaking my own rule for now showing the flaws. It’s my job as the teacher, and I take it very seriously. Yeah. Bridge. Brooklyn. I’ll make lots of money.

qbom travel 5

It’s only a little off, and most people wouldn’t notice it. Starting at the top of the peak let the ribbon candy begin. Next week there will drawings of the ribbon candy in the wedge, and the swirly sun motif in the lower corner.

qbom done

The next bit is NOT picking apart my work at all. overall I love this piece and will be happy to show it at any teaching venue.

Design Decisions happen.

Now I had to set this block aside for a few days. Upon returning I didn’t look before starting to quilt to see what thread I was using. I switched from Superior’s MicroQuilter to Wonderfil’s FabuLux, noticing only when starting the second wedge. I could have taken the stitching out, however I was grooving on the change in look, and the overall feel so I left it.

qbom yellow arrow

While stitching all the straight lines some distraction happened, phone call, meeting whatever – on one of the straight lines I stopped earlier than intended, to “fix it” an echoed circle seemed a great idea. It’s different, eye catching, and helps the eye travel over the surface of the quilt block. Were this a competition quilt the seam ripper and I would have had a hot date.

20170325_084043
One HOT date

I chose to bind front to back and stitch in the ditch, there are a couple of places where it’s not exactly pretty and there’s a wee bit o’fixin’ that needs to happen. Just not today.

Here are links to each one of the posts:

Week 1
Week 1a
Week 2a

Next week will be the final post for this block. If you have questions please ask. I love giving extra information.

Happy Quilting,

Teri

Some Family Time

New on the teaching schedule: Saturday September 16, at the Quilt Basket (Pawling, NY) I’ll be doing the “If the Foot Fits Use it” and offering some advice on quilting your quilts. First lecture at 11, second at 1, and I’ll be there til 3. Give them a call and sign up. Bring two quilts and a sketchbook, let’s talk.

We had some family time over the weekend so not much in the way of quilting.  I did visit Quilting Possibilities. This morning I’m going to open the big box

I like big boxes I cannot lie

A post shared by Teri Lucas (@terilucas) on

that I like. And get started on a project for the magazine.

Before all of this I’m going to finish writing my first post on Quilt Coach.

Have a great quilterly day.

Teri

 

Blogs I follow and the like

IMG_0226Kelly Ann’s Quilting Warrenton VA Kelly Ann is a shop owner I met on Facebook, then in person she writes about her shop, being a shop owner, and quilting. She’s a wee bit snarky like me, and when I have shop related questions I can ask her.

Beauty Beyond Bones I stumbles across Caralyn’s blog through my faith blog. Caralyn writes, with great candor, about having and recovering from an eating disorder. Her most recent post deals head on with an accusatory, unkind, bullying email.

NYB straight lines

Melody Crust because she’s just amazingly awesome. She manages to blog every single day about quilting. She writes, teaches, lectures, and well, she’s Melody.

Cheryl Sleboda she speaks business, art, and quilting. Cheryl is rather talented. If you’re interested in moving forward and up in your quilting business, schedule and pay for some time with her.

The Snarky Quilter because why not.

Debby Brown just because well, she’s Debby.

Treadlemusic Doreen quilts, rides a motorcycle and has fun.

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Chawne Kimber I admire Chawne deeply, and her quilts are amazing. Every single one of them.

Amy’s Free Motion Quilting Adventure Amy is in the midst of opening a quilt shop making a huge shift in what she’s doing in the quilting world. Watching this is fun!

I’ll post another list in a few weeks bloggers are cool.

Happy Quilting!

Teri

PS the next Quilted Block of the Month post is Saturday

 

Quilted Block of the Month: New York Beauty

Welcome to the Quilted Block of the Month. In each issue I’ll post the block, and supplies – batting, thread, needles. I’ll show how the block is drawn on the fabric, with any rulers.
I will be using these blocks as class samples so each one will get it’s own binding. This wil make a good quilt as you go project.

This months supplies:
SewLine Pencil – this is my first time using this pencil, and so far I’m quite pleased.
Collins Quilt and Sew Ruler
45 mm rotary cutter
6” x 24” Ruler
12 1/2” square of hand dyed fabric from my stash
12 1/2″ to 15” square of a light gray solid from my stash
12 1/2” to 15”  square needle punched cotton batting – this is from my stash and I don’t know the brand
80 weight polyester thread for ditch work and bobbin (Superior MicroQuilter)
40 weight trilobal polyester (FabuLux by Wonderfil and Magnifico by Superior)

The first block: New York Beauty.  
I chose this as one of my first competition quilts is When Alex & Jinny met in NY Beauty Happened, and I love New York Beauty Blocks, as it’s a great reminder of home in both the Chrysler Building and the Statue of Liberty.

Block one quarter inch seam

Step one: cut a 12 1/2” square of cotton fabric. Using either the Quilt & Sew Ruler or the 6” x 24” ruler mark a line 1/4” in from each one of the edges. These lines serve the purpose of seam lines joining blocks together. I will use the ditch and the seam allowance to move to the next stitching place. Oh but I am getting ahead of myself here.

NYB corner curve

After the lines were drawn creating the seam allowance I chose to freehand the corner curves, then added dots about one inch apart along the length of the corner curve.

NYB Ruler Sew Line Marking pencil

Halfway between the dots I lined up the ruler, straight up from the inside curve to the outside curve and placed a dot at the top.
Using the Quilt & Sew Ruler I joined the lines, to create the spikes. This is where the SewLine marking pencil came in handy, the lines are consistent, and there’s not stopping to sharpen pencils.

NYB Drawing lines

After twenty four years of quilting I think I have the marking pencil that works long term.

NYB stitching in the ditch

Now it’s time to stitch in the ditch. First line of stitching: along the inside curve.
NYB 80 wt thread

Then along each one of the spikes. I stitch slowly, about 1/2 speed or less. This gives me great control as move over the surface of the quilt.

NYB around the block

Once I finished stitching the upper curve, next was the entire seam allowance around the piece.

NYB stitched in the ditch ready for quilting

Right now it looks all fluffy in places and ways that are entirely frustrating and inappropriate. However, this is good practice for stitching in the ditch. This is an important component of stabilizing a pieced quilt top.

Here’s a sneak peek of next weeks blog post:

NYB tension check

This is a tension issue that I’ll show you how we dealt with this.

I have a plan for the August Quilted Block of the Month, it’s a block that I’ve been wanting to make for a while.

Happy Quilting,

Teri

@terilucas
#terilucasquilts
#quiltedblockofthemonth
@terificreations

 

Reminders

sewbatik 001

I chatted with a friend yesterday that was full of reminders, good reminders. In the quilt life we need good teaching, teachers, and good reminders.

Here’s a few good reminders:

You can machine quilt. It takes a little time to find the best way for you to do it, however You can machine quilt.

You can make quilts that make YOU happy. It takes a little time to find the fabrics that make your heart sing, it’s possible, and glorious.

sewbatik-quilt-stiletto
two of my favorite tools, seam ripper and stiletto

You can cut well. Finding the rotary cutter, ruler, mats, and other tools take a bit of time. You’re worth the time and investment to find the right tools.

Seam rippers were invented for a reason.

There’s more than one way to quilt and whatever we choose is the right one.
machine quilting whole cloth quilts of my own design, check!
competing – check (yes, this makes me happy)
teaching is the best experience!
writing is fun
I’m unique, and interesting, and weird.

Comparative thinking is part of what we do, it’s self-damaging, and getting over that is the one of the best things we can do for each other.

I’m available to come teach here’s the link to my classes. If your guild would like to hire me to come lecture and teach or  you have any questions please contact me terificreations at gmail dot com.

Happy quilting!

Teri

 

 

Are you ready?

I’m almost ready. Saturday I’ll post the first Quilterly Block of the Month. I’m working on figuring out how to have participants post links to show their own work.

#quiltblockofthemonthterilucas

A post shared by Teri Lucas (@terilucas) on

I gave a sneak peek on Instagram yesterday. For this bit of stitching I’m using Superior’s MicroQuilter the 80 weight polyester thread. I’m so in love with this thread.

For the crew on Lucy’s Nickles I’ll have a totally fab series of pictures for you.

Happy Quilting!

Teri