Adjust that tension!

I often see the surprise on quilters' faces when I do a free motion class and start fiddling with their tension dials. Some were even told by their dealers never to touch the tension dial.

So for all those who still don't believe me that it is perfectly okay to adjust the tension I found a lovely article by Susan on the Sew-whats-new blog and to add to the explanation on setting the tension lovely illustrations to explain these by Superior Threads.

To read and see these, click HERE...... and adjust that tension.

Skyrise

Now that was fun being able to take a 2 day blog break while Karin wrote what the Goody Bag group was all up to.  I think you all can see that the festival plans is still running smoothly with every member doing their bit.

Back to everyday quilting.  Amanda Murphy from the blog AmandaMurphyDesigns posted this interesting block and gave the free instructions on how to make a quilt over HERE.

Look at how dramatic the difference in two color ways.  Enjoy!

GOODY BAG PROJECT

On Saturday the Rafels got together to work on our goody bags. Here are some of the group members hard at work.

GOODY BAGS.

On the photo below are the boxes of two items packed and sealed. They will only be opened again next year when we pack them into the bags. Everything is going according to plan and on schedule. There are only a few items still outstanding and once they are all together they can also be stored away.

I have cleared a whole room for all the boxes to be stored in until there is 1300 of an item, then it goes to a member of the Rafels group for storage.  The Rafels group is eating sleeping goody bags at the moment, as that is our main project at the moment. We are a working group so most of the work happens on a Saturday afternoon. That’s all I have time for now as I have to finish 150 things for the bags.

Beaded car

Most of us have a couple of beads from past projects lying around.  Not sure what to do with these?  Check out this article in the Denver Post and get the creative juices flowing.  Not sure what the men in our lives would say about this but it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission.

Photo courtesy of The Denver Post

Read the full post and see more pictures by clicking HERE.

Binding Tutorial

Many seasoned quilters still struggle with the dear old binding on a quilt and when I found this pictorial from Quilt 'n Queen I just knew I had to share it.

With these lovely explanations it just doesn't get any easier.  Take a look and fear bindings no longer.  To see the step by step instructions, click HERE.

Have a heart free pattern

Another link from blogging friend Chris.  What would I have done without her?

This free pattern is from Piece o' cake designs and can be downloaded by clicking HERE.