Moto Me Jacket Sewing Challenge!

CHECK IT OUT!!!! This is such an cool jacket, and given the liberty to add your own design elements is even better! Read on for how you can make your own Moto Me Jacket and enter the challenge today! 

Moto Me Sewing Challenge!

Channel your inner biker chick and sew up one of these bad girls! Use your creativity to turn this motorcycle inspired jacket into a fabulous original!

If you're looking for inspiration? Check out my Pinterest "Hello Moto" board.

For the contest, you must use all pattern pieces in some way, but you are free to modify them as you like. Have fun. Go crazy or go sophisticated. Anything goes!

Click  here  to purchase the Moto Me Jacket pattern.

THE HIGHTLIGHTS

• contest deadline is April 1, 2015
• open to residents of Canada
• must be 18 years of age or older
• finalist entries will be displayed at Spring 2015 Creativ Festival
• all finalists will receive a gift 

Questions? Email them to info@distinctivesewing.com .

MOTO ME JACKET CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES AND APPLICATION

Sponsors:

      

     

Kathy K. Wylie Quilts - February

Kathy K. Wylie Quilts – February February has arrived with colder temperatures and a lot of snow, but we can keep warm with thoughts of love as we snuggle under our beautiful quilts. In a month dominated by themes of love, we have two whole days to celebrate that beautiful emotion that bonds us together. Valentine’s Day: a celebration of romantic love, friendship, and parental love; and, here in Ontario, Family Day: a day off in the middle of winter to enjoy spending time with our loved ones. Speaking of time, I promised to keep you updated on my quilt about time. What does February look like?

Pressing Quilt Blocks: Tips for Flatter Blocks

Pressing Quilt Blocks: Tips for Flatter Blocks Our fast and easy technique for pressing quilt blocks creates flatter blocks with no special tools or products.

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY! Permission Purse by Indygo Junction

Enter now for your chance to win a Permission Purse by Indygo Junction. This pattern gives you permission to have fun with the decorative stitches on your sewing machine, decorative threads, circular embroidery attachments, and felted fabrics. See more at:

http://www.indygojunction.com/Permission-Purse-p/pij910.htm

Contest ends Tuesday March 3rd at 5pm. Get your entries in now!

Congratulations to Melissa C., winner of the HUSQVARNA VIKING® With all my Heart Embroidery Album from our last weekly giveaway contest!

Permission Purse by Indygo Junction

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hard at work Quilting...

Crazy Quilter on a Bike!: Working hard........ What a great day at Monday Mania!  The ladies were in fine form and they sewed up a storm!  I know I keep saying it, but that group is such a therapeutic tool.  The `round table`format keeps everyone in the loop, everyone helps each other and well - I just can't wait for Mondays to roll around. Have a look at what was accomplished yesterday. Lynn brought in her Farm Fresh - the top is DONE. She just needs to quilt it!   (yes - the orientation looks weird because I took the picture on its side and rotated it!)

Let's Make quilted coasters with Jen!

Let's make quilted coasters with Jen! | Quilts By Jen Let's make quilted coasters with Jen!

Making an eight-pointed star

Crazy Quilter on a Bike!: TUTORIAL - Making an eight-pointed star This tutorial focuses specifically on the eight-pointed star. We will be dealing with Y seams. If you want more information on Y seams - there is another tutorial that deals with more Y seams. For this block you need to have EIGHT diamonds (cut on the 45 degree), FOUR squares for the corners and FOUR triangles for the sides of the block. When cutting the triangle, it is important to have the STRAIGHT of GRAIN on the LONG side of the triangle. This is prevent distortion on the edge of the block.   The easiest way is to take a square and cut it twice on the diagonal.   Follow the size directions for the block size you are making.  DO NOT make this bigger for fudge factors. It will be harder to deal with if you do.

Crazy Quilter on a Bike

Crazy Quilter on a Bike! It has been a totally crazy day.  I managed to get some critical paperwork done, but it took way longer than I planned. Like everything. Then I made EXCELLENT progress on a couple of critical projects. However I am not at liberty to share any of it with you at this time.  The projects are for QUILTSocial and I think you are going to be impressed. I have been holding my breath a LOT today as the embroidery machine chugged away and I am so EXCITED with the results. Just wait until you see!!!!! But I was also ripping and ripping as I tried to get a quilt top together. There was one part that I wasn't happy with, but I thought I might get away with it. However M came downstairs and said NO. And I agree - so tomorrow - rip rip rip!   It won't take that long to fix, but I don't have a lot of time to fix things. I need to keep moving!!!

Stitch Along Sunday February 2015 Week 4

Stitch Along Sunday February 2015 Week 4 | Quilts By Jen Hey Everyone, welcome back to Stitch Along Sunday.

Decorative Stitches On The PFAFF Creative 4.5

With the blocks sewn into sections and the applique added to the quilt top, meeting the What’s Good for the Gal is Good for the Guy quilt challenge is well underway. Yesterday, after getting the applique shapes ready, I navigated through the stitch menu on the machine. Today, I'm going to test drive some of those decorative stitches on the PFAFF Creative 4.5. 

Let's get started! This is going to be fun because there are so many stitches to choose from and so many different designs.

Getting ready

I’m going to look at the standard decorative stitches for applique first. These would include such stitches as zigzag and its variations, blanket and satin stitch. 

Before using these stitches, I'll put one of the open toe decorative feet on the machine. I like to have an open toe foot so I can see where the edge of the applique is and what I'm sewing. 

For a review on how to change the feet check out my post the other day on Paper Piecing The Intertwined Block.

1A open toe foot

Zigzag stitch

The zigzag stitch is a very versatile utility stitch and is often used as an applique stitch. The goal is to cover the raw edge of the applique shape to prevent fraying of the fabric, especially after washing.

The zigzag stitches are found on the home page of the LCD screen. This is stitch #5. The width and length can be adjusted. Below, I have stitched three lines of zigzag with the stitch length staying the same in each but the width varying from wide (6.0) to narrow (2.0).

 

Three lines of zigzag stitch

The satin stitch

This is a very close together zigzag stitch. To get the stitches this close together, the stitch length is nearly 0. The width can be anything depending on the look you want to achieve. I like to have a satin stitch width between 2.5 and 3.0. 

Below is a satin stitch with a stitch length of 0.4 and differing widths from 2.0 to 6.0. It is stitch #7.

This stitch uses a lot of thread and, for best results, I put a matching color or the same thread in the bobbin. 

As well, when the stitch length is this close together, you can't push the fabric through the machine. Let it feed along at it's own speed to get the best results. 

Three lines of satin stitch

The stitches above look like they are pulling on the fabric. When doing decorative stitching, you should have a stabilizer behind the fabric for the stitches to grab into. This just makes for a smooth even stitch. 

I did the stitching on a quilt sandwich and should have changed the tension, but I didn't. For the actual project, I'll change the tension to get better results. 

More about tension next month when I start quilting the quilt...

Double zigzag

A double zigzag is created when the stitches are stitched twice. This makes for a nice thick line of stitching that will stand out. This is stitch #8.

Double zigzag - bold and thick

Two and three stitch zigzag

These zigzag stitches are also found on the home screen as stitches 9, 10 & 11. This stitch is made up of more than one stitch in each zig and zag. The last one is a double two-stitch zigzag. 

Zigzag stitches made up of more than one stitch

Securing the zigzag stitches

The PFAFF Creative 4.5 has a built in feature to tie off at the beginning and end of sewing a seam. This can be achieved in two ways. 

The first is to press the button on the front of the sewing machine beside the scissors. This will put a small knot into the stitching to secure the threads. 

Use the scissor button to cut the threads for you. The top thread is pulled to the back of the piece. Pretty cool.

Tie off button next to scissor button

The second way to do a tie off is to program it into the machine using the icon on the home screen as shown below. 

Tie off icon on home screen

Once this icon is pressed, a pop-up screen appears and you can choose to have the tie off at the beginning and end of stitching, as well as, the threads cut. 

Below all three icons are highlighted with green as they are now activated. When the home screen is back on, the little tie off icon will be in green.

Tie off and scissors activated

Other zigzag stitches

The Creative 4.5 comes with an amazing array of zigzag stitches. Here are a few more just to give you an idea of the variety.

These are found under decorative stitches, section four, subcategories 1 and 2. 

Decorative stitch menu

Uneven zigzag stitch

This is one of my favorite stitches. I love how it has an undulating look and a jagged edge look -- perfect for finishing off flower petals and leaves. Not so perfect for hexagons. 

But, the second one might be better because it has a straight edge to it. I'll have to check this one out on an actual hexagon to see what it looks like. 

Uneven zigzag stitches

Waves

These wavy zigzag stitches are really cool, but they're not so good for applique. The stitch length and width can be altered in these stitches as well. 

Waves of zigzag stitches

Zigzag squares

I love the look of these squares made with the zigzag stitch. The top and bottom line of stitching may possibly work for the applique pieces but the middle one is too far apart. 

These were made at the default setting, but they can be changed in both width and length to make them larger or smaller. 

Zigzag squares all in a row

Well, I didn’t really get very far with the decorative stitches. In fact, I didn’t even move out of the zigzag zone! There are definitely lots of decorative stitches on the PFAFF Creative 4.5 and, next month, I’ll take a look at a few more before I make a decision on which ones to use to stitch around the applique shapes.

Happy Quilting

Designing Quilt Patterns

Now that the blocks have been created for the What’s Good for the Gal is Good for the Guy quilt challenge, I should back up a bit and explain how I came up with the design for this quilt. Designing the "challenge" quilt was definitely a challenge. It took time to figure out what it was going to look like, which is part of the fun of designing quilt patterns. 

Because the person for whom I designed the quilt has a logical thinking mind, likes geometry, and the double helix, I figured it should be a geometrical design with several different shapes in it. But, they all needed to blend together to form a cohesive and eye pleasing design.

There are many different kinds of software available to help us create designs. Pfaff has one called 5D QuiltDesign Creator. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a copy, so I decided to stick with the good old standby of paper, pencil, pencil crayons, and eraser to create my design.

Designing tools

Designing on Paper

I have my blocks designed and, now, it's just a matter of deciding where to put them in the quilt. I had already decided the snowball block would be along the outer corners of the quilt. 

I drew a 7 x 7 row grid on a piece of paper and then drew in the snowball blocks and the background blocks.

Snowball blocks in the corners

My idea was to have the intertwined block going from the edge of the quilt to the center. I'd made 12 of them so that meant three from each edge down into the center. By drawing them into the layout, the piece is starting to come together. Normally, I start my design from the center and work out, but this time I've designed from the outside in. I love how they look a bit like a double helix when placed together - definitely the look I was wanting.

Intertwined block through the middle

The hour glass blocks will go between the snowball blocks and the intertwined blocks. I decided to place one vertically and one horizontally. Because of the angle the pieces were cut on, the blocks create the illusion of a circle in the centre of the quilt. One of my favorite things about quilting is how blocks give illusions of shapes and movement within a quilt. 

 

Hour glass block added to design

With the design mostly complete, I can sew the blocks together in sections on the Pfaff Creative 4.5.

With the IDT system engaged, I’ll be able to sew the blocks together with no problems and no pinning required. One of the best parts about the IDT system is it feeds everything through evenly and smoothly matching the seams up pretty much every time.

I'll use the quarter-inch foot with the guide to sew the blocks together into nine sections. 

Blocks sewn into sections

Designing the last 9 inches 

Now that the sections are sewn together and the design of the challenge quilt is almost complete, I can add in the last nine inches of the quilt. The quilt is to be 72-inches square and right now it's only 63-inches square. 

The outer edge of the quilt isn't going to be a border but an extension of some of the blocks, as if they're running off the edge. It’s going to look a bit like this: extend the snowball blocks with a single strip to the edge of the quilt, as well as, one section of the intertwined block to create the look I'm after. 

Extension of design all the way around

Sewing the final 9 inches

I start sewing the pieces together to create the last bit of the quilt and, suddenly, the Creative 4.5 whistles, stops, and gives me this message on the home screen: bobbin thread low. 

Bobbin thread low message

With the bobbin easily visualized through the clear bobbin cover, I continue to sew. I thought that clicking the check mark on the "bobbin thread low" message would be a confirmation that I was aware. But, as soon as I started sewing again, the message came up again so it had to remain on the screen. 

I continued sewing thinking that the machine would stop when the bobbin ran out. Nope, it just kept on sewing. But, the sound of the sewing changed, which alerted me to the fact the bobbin was now empty. 

Clear bobbin case allows me to see the bobbin easily

Winding the bobbin

Since I didn't have a second spool of this color of thread, I decided to wind the bobbin with the machine still threaded. 

I took the thread out of the needle, which is recommend to prevent the needle from bending and snapping in two while the bobbin is winding. It's never a good thing to have sharp objects flying around!

Then, I thread the thread back up the left hand thread guide of the machine and through the bobbin guide at the top. 

Also, make sure the presser foot is in the up position. 

Reverse threading to wind the bobbin

Once the bobbin is in place, a "wind bobbin" message comes up on the screen. I clicked start with the stylet. Pressing the foot pedal does not work; it just makes the needle go up and down - I did that first. 

I love this feature of not having to unthread the machine to wind another bobbin. 

Bobbin winding icon

Reverse back tacking

Since the bobbin ran out in the middle of the seam, I wanted to back tack to make sure nothing comes apart down the road. Normally, in quilting, there is not much back tacking done because seams are usually caught with another seam. 

To back tack, press the reverse button, which is found at the bottom of the machine near the presser foot. It only needs to be pressed a couple seconds then continue sewing forward. 

Reverse button

The final pieces

I've managed to sew some of the final pieces together and will carry on tomorrow with the rest of the missing 9 inches. 

Here are the pieces that go with the intertwined block and snowball blocks. I just need to add some background pieces and I'm all set to add them to the completed sections. 

 

Pieces for the missing 9 inches

Tomorrow, I'm going to finish off the missing 9 inches and start adding some applique to this What’s Good For the Gal is Good For the Guychallenge quilt. I'll also see what kind of stitches the PFAFF Creative 4.5 has to offer for securing the edges of the applique pieces. Designing quilt patterns for the challenge quilt has definitely been fun and rewarding. I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops from here. 

Happy Quilting

Applique Patterns

Now that the quilt top is complete or at least in sections, it's time to add some applique to the What’s Good For the Gal is Good For the Guy challenge quilt. Because the quilt is for a guy, I'll stick to geometric quilt patterns that fit in with the rest of the quilt design. I'm thinking hexagons and I've just the tools to create these applique patterns.

Now that the blocks have been sewn together and the quilt top is in sections, I can move onto the next part of this quilt challenge -- applique. 

 

Applique shapes

My main shape for the applique is going to be hexagons. I have a set of hexagon templates ranging from 1-inch to 5-inches in diameter. I’ll be using all the sizes in a variety of the Eclectic Elements fabric to be placed on the open background areas of the quilt top.

I also have a couple other templates which I may use for some different shapes. 

 

Multiple hexagon templates

Let’s get started with the applique

My favorite applique method is to use fusible web which, I believe, is the fastest form of applique. Needle turn is gorgeous but, I’m afraid, the quilt wouldn’t be ready until 2020 if I had to use this method for the applique. I’ll stick to the fusible. 

I trace my pieces out on the paper side of the fusible with a hard leaded pencil because hard leaded pencil doesn’t smudge or get lead on your hand. You don't want to get pencil marks on the fabric. 

Tracing the shapes

When I cut the pieces out, I leave about a ¼-inch of space around each one. This ensures the glue of the fusible will come to the edge of each piece when it's cut out on the line and fraying will be prevented.

Lots of hexagons

Following the manufacturer’s directions, I fuse the pieces to the wrong side of the fabric. Once in your applique career you'll fuse it to the right side of the fabric and have to start over -- it happens to all of us, don’t worry you're not the first.

Shape fused to wrong side of fabric

Now,cut out each shape on the pencil line with a sharp pair of scissors. For these straight lines, you could use a ruler and rotary cutter. Doing it that way would definitely ensure straight even edges on the applique shapes.

Cut shapes along the line

After cutting the shapes out, I position them on the quilt top. Once I'm happy with the layout of the pieces, I'll fuse them to the quilt top.

Below is a picture of the idea of what I want to do. Hexagons with lines going out to other hexagons starting in the middle of the quilt and moving out to the edge. That's a lot of shapes that still need to be drawn, fused, cut and placed!

Hexagon positioned with strips of fabric

Along with the solid hexagon, I also want to use this hexagon ring. I made it with the Jelly Monster template. I ended up drawing the middle section with lines and then removing the template and cutting along the lines. This was easier and much more precise than cutting in the lines on the template. 

Hexagon ring

I left the quilt top in sections to make it easier to stitch down the applique pieces with the Pfaff Creative 4.5. Although with the design I'm creating with the applique shapes, I'm thinking that some of the pieces will have to be appliqued in place once all the sections are sewn together. 

Thank goodness this machine does have a nice large throat space. It will make it much easier to sew those few remaining shapes in place once the quilt top is put together. 

Lots of throat space on the Pfaff Creative 4.5

Finding a stitch

I know I should be working on the shapes, but I've been side tracked by all the stitches on the Creative 4.5! Trust me, the library of stitches is huge. Now, for the hard part -- picking a stitch. 

To pick a stitch, I need to familiarize myself with how to find the stitches on the sewing machine. 

There is a bit of a map of the stitches on the top flip up cover of the sewing machine. It shows six different categories of stitches ranging from utility stitches in section one to hand look stitches in section two, decorative stitches in section four and much much more. 

Each of these sections shows subsections with even more stitch choices. Oh, this is not going to be an easy task! But, I do know I need a stitch that will cover the edge of the applique shape to ensure it stays in place and doesn't fray. 

 The hard copy manual shows all the stitches as well. 

Top cover with index of stitches

All the stitches are found and are accessible on the LCD screen.

When on the home screen, use the stylet to click on the icon that looks like lines in a book at the bottom right hand side of the screen.

Stylet pointing to icon for stitch catalog

The pink screen of the decorative stitch catalog is now available for me to preview all the stitches. The default setting is category one, which is the utility stitches, including several subcategories, such as "essential stitches". This is shown in the photo below. 

The other categories of stitches run along the top of the screen from 1 to 7.

Stitch catalog screen

I click on category two and now have the stylet ready to click on stitch #8, which is a blanket stitch. This is one of my favorite stitches for securing applique pieces. 

Category 2 stitches with the subcategory of handlook stitches

After clicking on stitch #8, a screen appears telling me what foot I should use, that the feed dogs need to be up, an image of the stitch, and much more. The stitch length and width can also be changed on this screen using the minus and plus arrows at center bottom.

As well, if I wish to switch to another stitch in this subcategory, I can do so at the right hand side of the screen. 

Info screen regarding stitch #8 the blanket stitch

Accessing the stitch catalog and picking a stitch is very straight forward and user friendly on the Creative 4.5 

What's Good For the Gal is Good For the Guy quilt challenge is certainly more challenging with the geometric designs not only in the pieced blocks for the overall design but also in the applique shapes. 

I've been busy today finishing the sections, creating shapes, and learning how to select stitches on the PFAFF Creative 4.5. Tomorrow, I'll be test driving many of the applique and decorative stitches before I decide which to use to secure the applique patterns. 

Happy Quilting