Hello everyone! I’m adding this page to my blog to give you a place to ask questions that may not pertain to a particular blog entry. It can be a question on quilting, crafting, sewing, or anything you’ve seen me talk about on my blog.
I may not get back to you immediately – but I will try to address every question that is submitted. If you want me to just email you with your answer, please include your email address. All comments on this page are moderated, so your email will not be viewable to anyone else – and if I do decide to use your comment as a means of answering a question others have asked me in the past, I will remove your email address before adding the question.
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila
Sheila,
I attended your quilt show in Roseville last night. I really enjoyed it. You showed a memory quilt that your daughter made, I thought you said there was a photo of it on your blog. I don’t see it here. Am I missing something? Where can I get the pattern? Nice blog!
Thanks
Gail
Gail,
The comment about the photo quilt was that I am going to write instructions for that quilt soon and I will post on the blog. I am thinking that I will post it in the next couple of weeks. Keep checking. Thanks for attending the quilt show. Glad you enjoyed it.
Sheila
Hi Sheila,
I sure enjoyed being at the class in Woodbury last week. Thanks for all the great new ideas and tips.
Can you tell me the name and author of the Memory Quilt book you said had the good instructions for T-shirt quilts? I’ve looked for it on the Hancock site and online, but it’s not listed with Hancock and there are many to pick from when I google Memory Quilts. I want the one you said had such good instructions.
Thanks so much,
Marti
Marti,
Thanks for attending the class. The Memory Quilt Book #4323 is by Better Homes and Gardens. The Hancock Fabrics stores should have in their stores in the next two weeks when they make a change in their books. However, the Woodbury should already have the new books since it is a brand new store. Check with them again. They can order for you for sure.
Sheila
All I wanted to say was thank you for your class today in Onalaska WI – it was very informative, my first quilting seminar and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Will be fun to implement some of your suggestions.
Carla
Carla,
Thanks for coming.
Sheila
I attended the free quilting seminar with Cindy in Plano last weekend. I have been trying to figure out how to use a pre-printed panel as the centerpiece for a wall organizer. I was planning on building detachable quilted pockets with either fishnet or clear plastic pockets to border around the printed panel.
At the seminar, the three-piece quilters’ tote by Kwik-Sew gave me an answer. Zippers sewn into plastic pockets will cover up the panel only if the pockets are occupied. I also had never thought of using flannel to hold quilt pieces in place while transporting to and from quilting classes.
Beckie,
Glad Cindy could help you. For anyone wondering the pattern – it is Kwik Sew #3464
Sheila
Sheila,
Wonderful show in Eau Claire, WI. So many new projects to add to my list! I loved the scrappy pineapple quilt and thought I wrote the name of the book down that you mentioned it was in, but now I cannot find my scratch paper! Can you post where the pattern was for that quilt? Thank You! Carolyn
Carolyn,
Thanks – the show was fun to present. The book with the scrappy pineapple quilt was in Scrap Lover’s Quilts #4147 from Leisure Arts. Let me know if you need anything else.
Sheila
Hi Sheila,
Did I miss your instructions on daughter’s memory quilt? I came to this question/answer screen to see if you can send me a picture of it and then I saw the previous inquiry regarding possible instructions.
I took your Memory Quilt seminar when the Sewing Expediation was at the Quest Center…I’m not able to locate the snapshots I took. I’m in the process of making a quilt for a graduation gift. Figured if I saw a picture, it would help me out. Thank you! Cathy
Cathy,
Great timing. I am working on the fabric photo projects for the blog right now. My daughter’s quilt idea should be on Monday or Tuesday next week. This project is a great graduation gift. One thing we did on my daughter’s quilt is complete the top and hang for graduation open house. There was one picture that we took out and did replace with a picture we had taken of her in her cap and gown.
Sheila
I recently attended a quilt seminar with Cindy in Hurst, TX. She showed us a quilt template that was and octagon with a cut away triangle. I would like to purchase one but I’m having trouble locating it. Would you please let me know the maker and possibly where it can be purchased?
Linda,
The tool that Cindy was talking about is the 4 piece Hexagon set #85014 made especially for Hancock Fabrics by Marti Michell. Your local Hancock Fabrics store should have. If they are having trouble getting it for you let me know and we will get you taken care of. That is such a fun set of tools.
Sheila
Sheila,
Can you post pictures of the quilts from the “Say it with quilting” seminary? Ok now this next one is going to be asking alot………..Can you also give the book that they came from? I just thought it might be helpful for some that have a short term memory problem!! I always enjoy looking at others quilts. Some day I may make that one or add it to my ever growing list of quilts i want to make. Thanks so much.
Beth
Sheila,
I attended your quilting seminar last night in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I was very interested in the “I Spy” quilt. I purchased the hexagon tools, but I can’t seem to find the instructions on how to make this particular quilt. Can you help me out?
Kim,
You can check out the blog next week and I will post some pictures and how to information on using the hexagon ruler by Marti Michell to make a matching game quilt for kids.
Sheila,
I am a brand spanking new quilter with only ideas. I have a large mat and a two large rulers, one with a lip and without that is meant to not slip. Both are about 23 x 6. Omnigrid is one and the other is an old Olfa with a lip. Which is best and why?
Then, do I need any other rulers like a 6 1/2 square or not?
I bought jeans needles and a 45mm rotary cutter.
I am putting together all of my favorite clothes that my children wore as kids and making each of them a quilt.
Are you willing to guide me as to what you think I need to buy to get started?
Thanks for any help.
Both of those rulers would be great and with working with quilters at quilt retreats I see both rulers used alot. I perfer my ruler that has the lip. I started quilting with a lipped ruler and have always loved it. I usually use the lip ruler on every quilt I ever make. When sewing on quilting projects I would not use a jeans needle unless I was making a quilt out of jeans. I will usually use a quilting needle or size 12 /14 sewing needle from Schmidts. The other rulers that you would need would depend on the quilt pattern you have choosen. You may not need any other rulers. When I have made quilts out of clothing I usually make very simple style quilts. Sometimes just simple 4 or 6 inch squares sewn together. You will be so happy you have a rotary cutter to cut your fabrics. This will make your cutting fast and exact – which results in easier peicing.
Please let me know if I can help with any other questions.
Sheila
I used my last spool of coats & clark thread for jeans. I live in Lancaster Pa. can you tell me the closest store that sells the thread or how I can get it?
Barb,
I finally got an answer back from Coats and Clark about your thread. They said you should be able to get that thread at a Walmart and/or Hobby Lobby store. Hope you can find.
Sheila
Hi, I am using the June Tailor fabric sheets for photos. I follow the directions, but the faces on my project has a pinkish tinge. Could someone give me a hint? Thanks.
Sylvia
Sylvia,
Have you tried to print your picture on a sheet of paper? Do the faces have a pinkish tinge on the paper? Are you using the white or cream fabric sheets? If you are using the cream maybe you should try the white.
Sheila
I am really new to all this and I am wanting to try to make chenielle blankets. You keep saying to use home spun fabrics. Is this a fabric you can buy at any fabric store or something you have to order from somewhere else? I am really excited about this and want to get started right away. Also is there any other tools I need to buy besides the cutter?
Julie, I’m not sure that every fabric store would carry homespun fabrics, but most should. Another fabric that works very well is flannel. The only specialized tool that you will need other than your sewing machine is the Chenille cutter. Good luck with your first project – and send me a picture when you finish!
A good first time project for this (something that would take a bit less time than a blanket) are the chenille potholders I posted for Valentine’s day.
Hi… I had commented on the post How to Make Chenille… but maybe I’ll put it here. Thanks for any tips…
I seen one time on a blog somewhere, and I CANNOT find it anywhere!! How to make a flannel baby blanket, using 3 layers, and cutting them in squares, sewing, then snipping the seams in tiny cuts. Then you wash it and it fuzzes it up-something like what your chenille looks like. But now- you said you need to cut it with the bias. I don’t think cutting squares would be that way. And I don’t remember anything being said about the bias or grain. I want to do a blanket like that-with the squares, it was really cute. I have a picture I kept, but that is all. Will it keep fraying or what will happen??
Lois,
You are talking about a rag quilt, which is different than a chenille quilt. The rag quilt is cut in squares. My favorite fabrics to use on rag quilts is flannel, homespuns, or denim because they fray very nice. When I make mine I will cut two squares of the fabrics and one square of a cotton batting. The batting is cut smaller so it doesn’t catch in the seams. To hold the “sandwich” together. I sew a X through the block or do some kind of decorative stitching. The difference also with chenille and rag quilts are how you wash them when you are done sewing. The chenille quilt since it was cut on the bias will not lose it’s threads and the raw edges look nice and thick. The rag quilt will lose it’s threads and get a raggy look. When washing and drying a chenille quilt you don’t have to worry. When washing and drying a rag quilt you need to pay attention. At the end of the first spin cycle I will take the rag quilt out of the wash machine and shake outside. Put back in the wash and repeat again at the end. When you put the rag quilt in the dryer you need to check it about every 5 – 8 min. and empty the lint trap. You will get alot of threads in the lint trap and you need to empty often so not to ruin your dryer. I don’t find that they shed too much after the first time you wash and dry them. They stay pretty nice.
Hope this helps
Sheila
Looking for someone who provides long-arm quilting services: any suggestions?
Kim,
I do have a long arm quilting business. Let me know if I can help you.
Sheila
Hello- I just saw your instructions for the cannister on the olfa site. It is really neat and I plan on making it in the next few days. I do have a question about it. On the directions it saids that you can sew through the plastic canvas. I am unsure about that—-do you mean with the sewing machine or by hand. Could you please help me and explain it just a bit more. Thank you for all of your time and efforts. Here is my email: anyahta@aol.com
Thank you–Nena
Nena,
I did sew over the plastic. I sewed slow and my needle on my sewing machine didn’t actually go through the plastic but would advance over the plastic.