Miss Loreen's Schoolhouse

Saturday Sew Along- Bookmark using a Twin Needle

We started out our Saturday Sew Along 2021 with a simple project using a twin needle! Most every sewing machine comes with a twin needle included so why not start out the new year using that twin needle that has been sitting with your sewing machine pieces and parts since you bought it! 

 

Here is what you will need to sew along:

Twin Needle - came with your machine or one that you have - 2.0 to 4.0 size is fine.

Regular sewing needle to stitch with.

Sewing thread with matching bobbin. If you are going to try the twin needle, you will need another spool of thread or wind another bobbin to use on thread spool.

We will probably be making more than one bookmark. I used four 2 1/2" strips x WOF and had plenty left over. Otherwise, you will need:

Bookmark 1 - two pieces of fabric - 2 1/2" x 8" - one for front, one for back; one piece of Shape Flex 2 1/4" x 7 1/4"; 3 pieces of 1/8 - 1/4" ribbon about six inches long.

Bookmark 2 - one piece of fabric 2 1/2" x 8" - back; one piece 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" and two pieces 2" x 2 1/2" (all for front) - same Shape Flex and ribbon as Bookmark 1

Bookmark 3 (if we get that far) - one piece of fabric 2 1/2" x 8" - back; 5 pieces 2" x 2 1/2" for front - same Shape Flex and ribbon as Bookmark 1.

Usual sewing supplies like rotary cutter, ruler and mat; seam ripper, scissors etc.

This is a fun and easy project and you will learn about stitching with a twin needle.

 

 

Check out my video here:

http://www.youtube.com/missloreensschoolhouse

Join our Saturday Sew Along Saturdays at 1pm!

 

Happy Sewing!

 

loreen

Saturday Sew Along - "Quit as You Go" Mug Rug

Here's a sample "Quilt as You Go" from a Saturday Sew Along on Miss Loreen's Schoolhouse YouTube channel.  Add some Pizazz and Protection to your Hot Winter Beverages with a cozy Mug Rug!!!  

For this project, you will need to have a machine embroidery design stitched  or fussy cut a flower, etc.

Use your 4" x 4" hoop as the design square will be trimmed to 4 1/2" square.

If you are fussy cutting, cut your square to the 4 1/2".

You could trim to 5" square if you need to.

 

The rest of the supplies are a few scrap strips that are 1 1/2" wide, backing fabric and batting measuring 8 1/2" x 10 1/2".

 

We will be seaming and quilting at the same time so keep that in mind when picking your thread and bobbin colors.

 

 

Here is my YouTube Channel link: http://youtube.com/missloreensschoolhouse

We do all sorts of Fun Projects like this, Together!! 

Join us Live! for Saturday Sew Along!!! Saturdays at 1pm on Miss Loreen's Schoolhouse YouTube channel.

Have a great day!!
loreen

 

                      

New Year New Masks!

Happy New Year  everyone! With the new year and still some time for wearing masks, why not make some new masks!  In these Schoolhouse video tutorials, I show you how to make your own mask pattern with an optional filter pocket.  There is a part one and a part two to this mask series which includes how to stitch the mask together making a chin dart to better fit whomever is going to wear the mask.

 

Here's to a great 2021!
loreen

Coming soon! EQ 7 Row-A-Long!

The 2015 EQ7 Row-A-Long will be starting September 1 and goes through October 6.  There are 20 quilt designers (myself included) who have designed an amazing variety of patterns for you to download.  Each week there will be patterns based on the seasons of the year.  Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter along with some "filler" patterns.  Lots of give aways and more!  Be sure to mark you calendar!   

Pop on over to the Electric Quilt Blog for a list of dates and designers along with links!  

I'm honored and excited to be participating in this great adventure!

Keep sewing,
loreen

Row by Row Experience - 2015

The nationwide 2015 Row by Row Experience will be starting on June 21st and goes through September 8th.  If you participated last year, you know what fun it is to go to all the different participating shops around the United States and Canada.  Last year there were over 1200 shops that participating and lots of folks went visiting shops while on vacation.  

Here's the website that will give you all of the information about how it works and what shops will be participating and it's FREE.   Like a shop hop only a thousand times bigger.  Once the Row by Row starts, I will post a picture of the row I designed for the shop I work and teach at.  The theme this year is H2O.  Be sure to check out all of the row patterns around the country while you are visiting the website.

As a sneak peak, here's a picture of the free bag pattern you can download from the Row by Row website using some of the fabrics that were designed just for this year's theme. Isn't it cute!!

Hope you get to visit some of the participating shops over the summer.  Remember, you have until September 8th to collect your free patterns.  Oh yeah, each shop has designed its own fabric license plate that you can purchase when you visit.

Lots of fun!
loreen

Have an interest in sewing garments or think you might like to give it a try?   Nancy Zieman (Sewing with Nancy) is having a Knit Dress Sew Along.  Here's the scheduled dates and times if you would like to join in. 

Knit Dress Sew Along Schedule

May 5 – Kick Off: Pattern overview, fabric considerations, yardage, and cutting directions

May 12 – Dress construction tips and steps

May 19 – Finishing techniques and dress reveal

June 2 – Photo gallery showcase of all your progress and finished dresses 

Nancy will have plenty of step by step instructions and illustrations with time enough between each session to get your sewing done.  How fun is that!!

Here's a picture of the McCall's pattern that you can purchase online or from your local Joann Fabrics store.

The dress pattern is fairly simple and flattering to many so why not give it a try?  You might be surprised at how easy it is to garment sew.  Same straight stitching as quilting, just a bigger seam allowance and no points to match!!

To read more information about this Dress Sew Along click HERE

Nancy Zieman's Block of the Month Block 2

If you're following along with Sewing with Nancy's Nancy Zieman, here is the link for Block 2.

 This block is 12" x 12" finished and is called  "Corner Hearts".  Nancy's BOM is a great place to use up some of your scraps.  Pick a background fabric that you have plenty of and use your scraps for all of the applique pieces.  What fun!

Just click on the picture of the Corner Hearts blocks for the link to Nancy's blog and full instructions and illustrations.

Happy sewing,
loreen

English Paper Piecing

Have you ever tried English Paper Piecing?  I haven't yet but lately I've seen lots and lots of patterns and videos showing this method of piecing and I find it really interesting.  Have to admit, it is hand work though there are plenty of times that I just can't get to my sewing machine but would like to have something to work on so maybe this is the answer!

Found an English Paper Piecing link at Bonnie Hunter's Facebook Quiltville page.  Check out Bonnie's FB page at Quiltville

Want to give EPP (English Paper Piecing) a try?  Here's a pattern from the other side of the ocean in the UK at Nellie's Niceties blog that's pretty and colorful.  Can't imagine sewing these on a machine!

What a great way to use up scraps.  Have you noticed how much gray background there's been these days?  Really sets those colors off nicely.

Check out Nellie's website and this free pattern to download at this link. Nellie's Niceties

Happy sewing,
loreen

Related articles

May's Book Review: "More Adventures with Leaders and Enders" by Bonnie K. Hunter

Project Bonnie - a mystery quilt from Quiltville.com

Jessica Vaughn Class

Easy Street progress and link-up to Quiltville

Charming Jelly Quilt Final Stitching!

It's time to press again.  Be sure you have cut the stitching between each block so you will have a nice pile of blocks ready for pressing!  If you place the block on your ironing board with the middle block wrong side down, lift the top section and slide your iron along pushing the top section the rest of the way open so that it is now flat.  Repeat the same for the bottom section.

Don't over "iron" your block.  Press enough to get the seams flat.  Be sure to turn your block over to press the wrong side as well.

See how nice your seams will look! But sometimes, the seams just don't go the way you wanted.  Not the end of the world!  Just press it as nicely as you can and don't worry about it!

Doesn't the block look nice!

Once you're done pressing, you will have a nice pile of blocks again!

Now you need to lay out your blocks to decide what order you would like them in.  

You should have five blocks in a row and seven rows of blocks.  Once you have the blocks the way you would like them, stitch the blocks together in the first row.  Press the seams to the left.  Move on to the second row and work you way down, one row at a time.  Second row, press the seams to the right.  Alternate pressing seams to the right and left as you complete each row.

Once you have each row stitched together, take row one and two and stitch them together. Return the stitched rows to your block layout.  Pick up row three and four and stitch them together.  Return the stitched rows to your block layout.  Continue to the end.  The last group will have three rows stitched together.  Next stitch your row sections together until you have your quilt top complete!!

Now wasn't that pretty easy?? I haven't decided yet if I'm going to add any more to this quilt top.  I have pieces of strips left over that I would like to use for the binding.  I also have another charm pack from this same fabric collection which I may incorporate into this top.  So many decisions!  If I didn't have the additional charm pack, I would make binding from the remaining strips and not add any borders.  Just to keep it simple.

Keep sewing,
loreen

 

Charming Jelly Quilt Part 3

All blocks sections are pressed and ready for the final stitching!  Wasn't that quick!  Pile your blocks up and let's get going.  Grab the first block and simply flip the top section onto the middle section, right sides together and stitch. Do not cut the thread.  Grab the next block in the pile and flip the top section onto the middle section, right sides together and stitch.  Continue this with all the blocks in your pile! 

Make sure as you stitch towards each seam intersection that you take the time to match your seams then continue on stitching.

Once you have stitched all of the block tops to the middles, you will turn the blocks and now stitch the bottom section to the middle just the same as above.

Here's my pile of blocks as I finish stitching the bottom sections to the middle sections.  Now didn't that go fast!!

Once you have finished your stitching, clip the stitching between each block and set them all in a pile ready for the final pressing.  Time for a little break!

Keep sewing,
loreen