DO YOU HAVE A DIRTY IRON??

I didn't realize that I had a pretty dirty iron until I ironed a quilt block and found that my iron had left a bad rust colored spot right in a white area. I was pretty disgusted and hope that I can get the rusty looking spot out because I really don't want to remake the block. 

I found a site that shows how to clean an iron using vinegar and soda and only takes a few minutes. Regular cleaning can prolong the life of an iron and will keep whatever is being ironed from getting a stain.

Here is the link:

Cleaning your iron

METHOD FOR FOLDING AND STORING QUILTS

I found this method for storing quilts that I thought was pretty interesting. I have some quilts that are really sentimental to me and I have wondered if it was hard on them to be folded and put on a shelf. Well, according to this I have been doing it wrong. 

Here is the link to the article:

Folding and storing quilts

Here is another method that looks fast and easy too. If these things will make our quilts stay beautiful longer than it is worth it to give them a try.

Here is the link:

Another method for folding quilts

Machine Quilting taught by Helen Butler

We were very fortunate to have Helen Butler come from Alpine, UT to teach her specialty which is machine quilting. Helen demonstrated the techniques of many different designs which we practiced on paper before actually free motion quilting them. She also showed her own quilts which are beautiful beyond description. Everyone learned so much and I am sure that we will practice and practice and be machine quilting our own quilts before long. Maybe we will be ready for advanced machine quilting in a few months. Following are some pictures that will show what a treat this class was.

Continuous Prairie Points

I needed to make some prairie points for a pillow I was working on and decided to search for an easier, faster way to make them. I found a great tutorial for continuous prairie points that allows you to make a long long line of them if you want, or a small amount according to what you are making.

Click on this link--Prairie Points to go to the tutorial. I think you will find that it is pretty amazing.

Our April meeting was lots of fun and very informative. We have three birthdays this month--Helen, Cheri and Layle. We hope they celebrate and have a great day. Helen will be 96 years young and is an inspiration to us all. 

We are excited for our class on the 12th of April. Helen Butler will be teaching machine quilting. It is from 9:00-3:00 and we will learn a lot from her.

Our May meeting will be a shop hop with the Canyon Country Guild and Jeanette is contacting all the fun quilt shops in our area to prepare them for our visit.

Our alphabet blocks for the month of April are Indian Mats and Jacob's Ladder. Jeanette did the blocks for this month and they are really colorful and pretty. Here is a sample of the alphabet blocks that are finished.

All the blocks are really pretty and very different because of the color choices.

For the TOOLS, TRICKS, and TIPS segment Ilene demonstrated her L ruler. She showed how you place the ruler on a 10" square of fabric, then add a 5" square and after sewing around the outside of the small square use the ruler to measure the cut line of the larger square. The resulting block is very fun and has lots of possibilities.

Ilene also discussed the Bryce Quilt Guild trunk show that will be the 16th of April. She would like 2 quilts from each member to show the Bryce quilters.

For our show and tell we saw some beautiful work as usual. Linda Elkin showed her bargello table runner (that is Linda behind there). So pretty and we loved the unique circle design.

Linda Rhodes showed one of the first quilts she made. She learned it was not a beginner quilt. It is beautiful.

 This is Linda's picnic quilt and she said it is very easy. She also has a pillow to match and napkins to put in the pockets of the quilt.

 Linda brought 3 darling little aprons that any child would love. She won blue ribbons on each.

Jeanette showed two very nice quilts that she made for her very lucky friends. Really nice colors and patterns.

Kris shared her finished landscape picture. She said that a friend thought it was a painting. It really is beautiful.

 Kris also showed her mystery quilt from the Canyon Country Guild project. She referred to it as summer weight (meaning unfinished). We appreciate the new definition Kris and think your quilt is beautiful.

Joanie thought we might need sunglasses to look at this quilt that she made for her grandson. Everyone loved how bright and colorful it is. Good job Joanie.

Kathy made the Mary Poppin's bag from the pattern on the blog. It is huge and holds a lot of quilting treasures. She decided to line it and add a pocket on the inside. 

Our QUESTION OF THE MONTH time was really touching as we heard everyone tell when they started quilting and what their inspiration was. It turns out that quilting is a family, friend, theraputic, bonding hobby that we all love.

Kathy did a demonstration on a quilt pattern that she learned from a class at the Bryce Retreat. This pattern has been around on the internet for quite awhile and is so easy. The pattern is Scrappy Trip Around the World and can be made with scrappy fabric or a planned selection of fabrics. 

This shows the block after it has been measured and cut into sections but before it has been sewn together.

 This shows several blocks arranged together and shows a pattern. There are many ways to arrange the blocks and a large variety of possiblities for block placement.

The measurements and reference chart for this quilt can be found on the pattern page.

Following is a link for a tutorial for the quilt that will be helpful.

Scrappy Trip Around the World Quilt