Wordless Wednesday

Happy Spring!

(Link to my fat quarter give-away!
http://rocknquilts.blogspot.com/2011/03/100th-post-give-away.html )

I'm totally sold on something 'new'...

...serging!

Last night was the first Serger Club meeting I have ever attended.  It started in January and this was their third meeting.  Naturally, I felt like a fifth wheel, but I showed up after Cindy told me that everyone else had just started.  In January, they were taking their sergers out of the box!  I thought, OK, this is the club for me; total, complete beginners!


And so now I'm not a complete beginner anymore :-)  I've got almost two hours of serging under my belt and have already created a square edge rolled edge hemmed napkin, a curtain and a dresser scarf for my DD's room!


Plus, I want to share the tips and techniques that I learned here with you :-)

(Link to my fat quarter give-away!
http://rocknquilts.blogspot.com/2011/03/100th-post-give-away.html )

Did you know that you don't have to be hesitant about serging because...
 
1)  once it's threaded properly, you don't have to rethread it to change thread (I'll show you this!)
and
2)  once you get used to the idea, it makes projects so quickly and provides such a professional touch that you'll never 'go back'.


Like I said, "I'm sold."


This is why:


First of all, someone took the time to talk me into this.  Good job, quilt store sales clerk!


Secondly, I already had one, but didn't have the 'courage' to try it on my own.  I was hesitant.
You can't do anything if you hesitate, so you just need to get over that and dive on in!


Thirdly, I have things to make...the last time I had a new kitchen curtain or tablecloth I can't even remember.  I took the plunge and bought the fabric, sew...I wanted to try the serger to make things look more professionally done.


In this photo, you'd think that I was happily serging away without any hesitation at all...HAH!  This is the "after" picture (I thought it would help you feel more confident.  The before pictures are below....)

I'm thinking, "Oh, my word!  What have I gotten myself into here?  I've spent too much money on this thing, I'll never get it to work...you know, all that jazz....

Here is after I first pressed the foot pedal to make 'er go....now I'm thinking, "Hey, this isn't so bad!  Actually, this is pretty darn cool!"

So, that's how I went from hesitation to success!  You can do this, too!!

Below is the practice square.

We were set up with thicker threads (which can only be used in the two bottom cones - the ones on the farthest right.)  The left upper needle thread had regular thread.  We were creating a three-thread rolled edge or rolled hem.  I used the settings as described clearly in a chart located in the booklet that came along with my serger.  I got it for right around $200 from WWW.AMAZON.COM  and it's a Brother.  It works very nicely and was not hard to thread - challenging, yes; impossibly hard, absolutely not, esp. with someone from class helping!

So, I thought..."If you can do this in a quilt store with help, the big challenge is, can you do this at home?"

So, I armed myself with the following:

1.  new fabric my DD is waiting for me to change into a curtain and a dresser scarf.

2.  My favorite cappuccino resting on my new mug rug

and

3.  my booklet of "how to" and notes from last night's class

By the way, this particular Serger also comes with two instructional CDs.

Here's a front view of my sweet little serger.  Before class last night, I didn't realize that the gray thread holder bar is supposed to be in the 'up' position, but I know now :-)

Last night at class, the gal cut the threads off leaving a long length so I can rethread my serger without having to do all this (see below):

When you are creating a three thread rolled hem (or rolled edge), then this piece must be 'out':

This must be set to 6:

The left one has to be set to 0.7 

and

the right one has to be set to either 2 or 3

(try a practice piece first to see what it looks like is the quilt shop recommendation)

and

the four tension wheels across the top of the serger (mine are color-coded) should all be set to 4 

(except the far right one which can be set to 7 if your thread is really thick.)

Here I am demonstrating cutting off a LONG string so that I can tie this together with a new thread (black in this case) and then simply pull it through the needle....

(See the yellow, pink and blue tension wheels here?)

Here I am tying the old thread and the new thread together.

Here the old green, multi and red threads are still there with my new black thread tied to each of them...

Now I pull all the threads through - I begin with the first two bottom threads and then pull the top thread through the needle  (the 'old' threads are in my left hand, after having pulled them all through...

and here are the three new black threads all 'threaded' through the easy way!)

This is the rolled hem (rolled edge).

I'm very happy with how this looks.

After serging the entire 1 1/2 yards of fabric (that matches my DD's graduation quilt), I cut it in half and then serged those raw ends.  One half I made into a curtain, like sew:

...and the other half I made into a dresser scarf...like sew:

and on National Quilting Day 2011, I created this pillow case

to match her large Euro pillow, so my DD's bedroom is coming together and she's happy :-)

My DD's new graduation quilt will soon take the place of her great grandfather's quilt, but it's a favorite because it's nice and warm and made with his hands.

God bless you, Grandpa Elvin! XOXO

Here are my DD's fish happily swimming away...

while outside, a blizzard rages.

Happy Spring!  Taken March 22nd, 2011.

No quilting class for me tonight, but we're all safe and sound at home with lots of milk, groceries, serging and quilting supplies, so...

all is well!

Have a blessed Day!

100th post GIVE AWAY!

In honor of my 100th post on my blog, I am offering a give away!


Sorry, this give-away is now over.

Congratulations to #32
Nanbon44!

You are the winner!

Thank you all for participating.

Please view my newest blog with recipes from my mother's recipe box (1930's to 1970's)
http://www.rocknrecipes-rocknquilts.blogspot.com/

"So, what do I get if I'm the winner?!?"

FOUR beautiful fat quarters and the very special Tribute to QN Founder Bonnie Leman issue of Quilters Newsletter from Feb./March 2011 

which has FOUR exclusive Mosiac patchwork patterns

inspired by the Alhambra Palace 

 - absolutely GORGEOUS!

Here's a close up of these fabulous, fun, springy fat quarters which could be all yours!

 A sneak peek of the article about Mosaic Tile Quilts:

And here's a close up of the cover!

"How do I enter?", you ask.

Well, just be a follower here at rocknquilts (or join)

and then create a post linking my "100th post GIVE AWAY!" info to your blog &let others know to stop by www.rocknquilts.blogspot.com 
for the give-away!

Make sure that you leave me a way to contact you.  I will need an accurate e-mail address or the correct link to you blog so that the WINNER receives their prize as soon as possible!

The drawing will be one week from today at 

9:00 in the evening, 

Central Standard Time (USA).

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

is the BIG DAY!

Thank you for helping me celebrate the 100th post at www.rocknquilts.blogspot.com !

1.  Please copy & paste this link for your friends:

http://rocknquilts.blogspot.com/2011/03/100th-post-give-away.html

2.  Be a follower (or join) rocknquilts and then

3.  Please leave contact information when commenting and link this post to  your blog so others can join in on the fun :-)      

Thank you and good luck!

Harriet's Triple Rail Fence Mock Up, QA Vol. 1

Here are my first five choices for Harriet's Triple Rail Fence

from the "Quilter's Academy Vol. 1 Freshman Year" book

by Harriet and Carrie Hargrave

www.harriethargrave.com

Before beginning to cut strips and start sewing,

Harriet encourages her students to create a 'mock up' of the Triple Rail Fence blocks.

Through the mock-up, I saw that the cream just wouldn't provide the results I would like, so...

I changed my cream to green!

(I was thankful to have just the right green 

and the right amount in my small stash.)

but kept my red/tan/print combination:

I'm so glad I took the time to do the mock up because I will now be much happier with the final results.

I bought gridded paper and a set of 50 colored pencils from Hobby Lobby for mock ups because there are many more coming up in the 

 "Quilter's Academy" series of books.

Gladware storage worked for my set of colored pencils:

*******************************

And here's a pic of delectable scones I made this afternoon - they are so good I had to use my new mug rug

My First Mug Rug Tutorial

 to show them off - and I'll give you the recipe so your family can enjoy them, too.  (I've made them three times just this weekend, my husband, kids, and everyone is in love with these!)

Taste of Home Baking Classics, pg. 19

Lemon Blueberry Drop Scones

Jacqueline Hendershot, Orange, Calif.

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp grated lemon peel

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 salt

1 cup (8 oz.) lemon yogurt 

(I use any flavor Greek yogurt)

1 egg

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 

(I used the fruit in the yogurt)

Glaze:

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

1 Tblsp lemon juice (I used about two tablespoons, maybe 3)

1/2 tsp grated lemon peel (I omitted)

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon peel, baking soda and salt.  In another bowl, combine the yogurt, egg and butter.  Stir into flour mixture just until moistened.  (If it's too dry, I have either added four more ounces of yogurt or 1/4 cup of sweetened fruit juice.)  Fold in blueberries.

Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto a greased baking sheet (I also sugared my baking sheet and sprinkled sugar lightly on top of each scone before placing in the oven.)

  Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned.  Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm scones.  Yield:  14 scones.  (I got six large scones.)

Editor's Note:  If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw before adding to batter.

**********

I hope you'll give them a try.

Your tummy and your family will thank you!