Rag Quilting Tutorial ---Part One

This week we are going to start cutting out our pieces for the first block of our quilt.

You will need a backing fabric, cotton batting and dark, medium and light value fabrics.

First you will need to download the two pattern pieces for the quilt, a square and a triangle. The pattern pieces include a 3/4 inch seam allowance.

The pdfs for the pattern pieces can be downloaded here.   Pattern One.   and    Pattern Two.

Print them out twice.
Take one set and mark a 1/2 inch all around the edges of the pattern pieces. Then trim this 1/2 inch off the patterns. These will be used to cut only the batting out.

You will need to cut out 8 batting triangles and 5 batting squares.

With the other set of  pattern pieces you will cut out 1 dark square, 4 light squares, 4 dark triangles and 4 medium value triangles.

Then you will need to cut out 5 squares and 8 triangles from the backing fabric.

Now that our pieces for the quilt square are cut out,  I will walk you through putting together your quilt sandwich or block.  Rag quilting blocks are composed of a backing, batting and fabric piece that is sewn together and then the blocks are sewn together.

   Take 1 backing square and lay it down with the wrong side of the fabric facing up.  Then center one of the batting squares on top of this.

Now lay the fabric square on top with the right side of the fabric facing up.   Pin all three layers together.  Repeat for all 5 squares.

Now take a triangle backing fabric,  lay it down with the wrong side of the fabric facing up.   Place a batting triangle on top.

Now place a fabric triangle on top with right side of fabric facing up.  Pin all three layers  together.   Repeat for all 8 of the triangles.

You should have all the blocks for the quilt square ready to sew now.

Next week we will begin sewing our blocks.  Before I go  I want to recommend a tool that I use when I sew rag quilts together.    It is called a walking foot and what it does is feed your fabric evenly so that your block stays together as you sew.   They are pricey but worth it if you make a lot of rag quilted items.   

Some sewing machines have a feed attachment built in like Pfaff and some other newer machines.

See you next week with part two.
Bette

Etsy Autumn Celebration from Old Farmhouse Gathering

The Etsy team,  Old Farmhouse Gathering is having an Autumn Celebration on Etsy from August 2 -15, 2010.

They are a talented, professional group of artisans who create everything from Primitive to Shabby Chic, with an old fashioned flair.    These are just a sampling of the creations made by the Old Farmhouse Gathering.  To see all the offerings from the team on Etsy,  click here.

These are the offerings in the Autumn Celebration.   Just click on the picture to be taken to that listing. Or is you want to see all the listings on Etsy,  click here.

Do you have a minute??

By Your Hands Reader Survey. Please take a couple minutes to help us make our blog better.

What is your favorite crafting style?*

Primitive   Shabby   Retro   Mod   Other

What is your favorite crafting medium?*

fabric   paper   yarn/fiber   paint   wax   wood   other

What is your favorite type of article to read on By Your Hands?*

organization   tutorials   product spotlight   featured artist   trash to treasure   giveaways   link parties   other

Would you recommend By Your Hands to other people?*

Definitely   Probably   Not Sure   Probably Not   Definitely Not

Do you sell handmade craft items online?

Yes   No   No, but I would like to

Additional Comments...

Powered byEMF Email Form

Trash to Treasure --- Suitcases

Today's trash to treasure is about vintage suitcases.   It is interesting to me to see all these ways to repurpose an old suitcase.

You can find a tutorial here on how to make this pet bed from a suitcase.   It includes directions on securing the lid.  You wouldn't want it falling on your pet!
Kirsten's Suitcase Pet Bed

Add legs to a suitcase to make a side table.

Here is a tutorial showing how to do this on Good Housekeeping.


Here is a beautiful cottagy side table  with the suitcase sitting on a table made by Songbird

Here are some pictures of other uses to give you some inspiration.

Paint them.

Suitcase Chair

Storage for Craft Supplies

Stack them and use them for storage.

Thanks for visiting today.
Bette Shaw
www.byyourhands.com

Would you like to sponsor a giveaway? Would you like to be a featured artist?  Are you interested in promoting your store or blog at a very reasonable cost?   If so, just email me. I would be happy to send you the details.
                                          byyourhandsblog@gmail.com

Today's Featured Artist - Primgals Primitive Palette

    Today's Featured Artist is Jody Seilheimer of Primgals Primitive Palette

I live in a sleepy little town called Sandwich, Illinois with my husband of 19 years. We married in 1991 and have a wonderful blended family. I have always had a love of the arts...painting, music, etc since early childhood. Everywhere I went I had a coloring book and crayons, then at the age of 8 my mother took me to my first ceramics class. I have had a brush in my hand ever since. I also love to cross stitch, knit, and make candles when time allows, but my first love has always been primitive and folk art painting.

I have been in business now for 19 years.I started online in 2002, first as Simply Primitive, and then as Primgals Primitive Palette a short time later. Prior to that I did craft shows, supplied my local customers here at home, and also had booths in several craft shops.

I started out at my kitchen table with a handful of paints, and a wood washboard my husband made. I thought it need a little something, and that was the beginning. I then needed an outlet for my painted items, so I started selling at craft shows in 1992. My husband and I did shows on the weekends for several years until I discovered the Internet. I started my online business in 2002 on Ebay and then joined Etsy in 2008.

My work involves most of all planning. Finding the right design for the right surface. I enjoy painting on wood, but also love to paint on vintage pieces I come across at yard sales, estate sales etc. Prepping your surfaces is vital to turning out a quality piece, so I devote allot of time to that. Depending on the piece, it can take an hour or three days to bring it to the finished product.

My favorite is painting wood door crowns. They are hand cut, making my product truly handmade from start to finish. The design possibilities are endless, and they allow me such a creative outlet in choosing how they will turn out. I use many pattern designers such as Terrye French, Donna Atkins, and John Sliney, but all of my work has my personal interpretation of the design, so they are always a challenge, and so much fun to do.

My typical day in the studio is at least 8 hours, and sometimes more, depending on the orders that need to be filled. My day starts with answering emails, and doing promotional work in the mornings, and then I use the rest of the day for painting, packing orders, etc.I usually set the brushes aside in the evenings, and spend that time with my family and friends.

At this time my goal is to concentrate on my shop on Etsy, and to continue to supply my primitive gift shops with products. I have considered having my own website, and hope to get that accomplished in the next year or so.

Handcrafting is to me "Art from the Heart" that cannot be mass produced. Weather you paint, sew, cross stitch, or make soap and candles, a little of your heart goes into each piece. Etsy is a wonderful outlet for handmade, and I support their efforts for keeping the love of handmade available. I try to do my part in supporting handmade on my blog found at http://primgalsprimitivepalette.blogspot.com/


I can be found on Etsy at www.primgal.etsy.com
I also have a shop on Artfire at www.primgal.artfire.com