Wish Upon a Quilt Blog

Successful quilts contain lots of ingredients and we’ve discovered having the right foot for the job is one of those ingredients.  We’ve put together the list below to help you understand some of those choices. Most of us do not need to own all of these feet, but it’s a great idea to become familiar with what they can do for your quilting! You can certainly use a Standard foot (the one that comes on the machine) for piecing, but you will definitely need a special foot for the actual quilting process, such as an Even Feed foot and/or Darning foot. Many of our Janome machines include an even-feed foot, walking foot, and/or darning foot. Several models include the Acu-feed system as well which is a built-in feeding system that will knock your socks off!

A. Quarter Inch Seam foot – The standard seam allowance in quilting is ¼”. Accuracy is vital when piecing a quilt top. This foot makes that process very easy. We’ve found plenty of other uses for it too!

B. Even Feed foot (or Walking foot) – Another foot that has plenty of uses. It has a separate set of feed dogs built in that help feed the fabric layers in conjunction with the feed dogs on the machine. You are essentially feeding from both the top and the bottom at once as you sew. It’s ideal for difficult fabric types or bulky layers. We use it for stitching through the layers of a quilt.

C. Even Feed foot – Open Toe – This is the exact same foot as above, but the front of the foot is open so you can see exactly where you are stitching.

D. Darning (or Free Motion foot) – Unlike the Even Feed foot, this foot works without the feed dogs. It’s used for what’s called “Free Motion Quilting,” a technique used to stitch through the layers of a quilt. You drop the feed dogs of your machine or cover them with a Darning plate, depending on the type of machine you own. Then, you move the quilt around under the needle, instead of the machine feeding it for you. Some people describe it as “moving the paper under the pencil, instead of moving the pencil.”

E. Darning foot Open Toe – Again, this is the exact same foot as above, but open so you can see precisely where the needle is penetrating the fabric layers.

F. Ditch Quilting foot – A term you often hear in quilting (and other forms of sewing) is “stitching in the ditch.” The built-in guide on this foot helps you to stay in the ditch and stitch accurately along the seamline.

G. Appliqué foot – A historical, and still quite popular, form of quilting is appliqué. Although it can be done by hand, appliquéing by machine is much faster. This foot is clear, and specially designed to go around all kinds of shapes.

Stop by to see one of our Janome Specialists and we’ll help you put your foot wardrobe together.  You and your quilts will be glad that you did!

Happy Lucky 2013! We have been very busy getting ready for 2013.  We have rearranged the store, organized our fat quarters in new easy to view containers, added lots of new clubs and programs and completed our inventory.  Our biggest and most exciting accomplishment is the opening of our Janome Sewing Machine Department.  We are just thrilled with these fabulous machines.  Janome has been the World’s Leading Manufacturer of Home Sewing Machines for over 150 years.  If you haven’t come by to give one a test drive – come in and check them out!  Lori is our new Director of Janome Sales and Education.  She’d love to meet you and share all the exciting plans for our machine area with you.  These machines offer lots of great features, awesome prices and amazing sewing possibilities.  We are stocking genuine Janome Accessories as well and have plans to open our service department in early 2013.

We believe this is the year to change your sewing luck and spread your sewing wings.  Here’s a list that will help you take on some sewing challenges, experiences and conquer some sewing fears.

1. Organize and de-clutter – No matter which space in the house is your sewing space – it’s nice to start the year in an organized and de-cluttered space.  This always creates a new perspective and going through things can sometimes inspire you to think of your “stash” in new way.  Maintaining the new tidiness is often difficult.  Moving forward, do a little bit each time you sew and your space should stay relatively organized.
2. Stretch your wings – sign up for a class or club that uses a technique that is new or is rusty.  Exposing yourself to new ideas makes creativity feel fresh and powerful.
3. Be Resourceful – From books to magazines to blogs to social media – there are lots of ways to find what you want to make.  Make use of search engines and your local quilt shop.  There is definitely a way to find the perfect project!
4. Share – Sewing is definitely a group sport!  Join a club (Block of the Month), join a bee or teach someone you love to sew!  Sharing what you know helps reinforce your knowledge at the same time.  It’s a win-win.
5. Be Complete – Finish at least one project you have been sitting on for a long time.  That feeling of accomplishment just might jump start your momentum.
6. Improvise Artistically – Learn new improvisational techniques that free you from cutting and piecing restraints.  Try new colors and textures in your projects.  Name your quilts as though they are going to hang in a gallery.
7. Treat your sewing machine like an oracle – have it cleaned and serviced to keep it running perfectly.  Make sure to use the right needle for your project and change your needles often.
8. Improve and modernize – Treat yourself to a new tool or new sewing machine.  Technology has brought us many tools that make our sewing success easy.  From amazing clips for holding binding in place to state of the art, top of the line embroidery machines – there’s a new tool you can find to inspire great feats of sewing!
9. Dress It Up – Embellish your projects with buttons or trims.  Utilize the decorative stitches on your machine and variegated threads.  Experiment with hand stitches, hand embroidery or machine embroidery.
10. Emulate the pros – why not try a French seam or a blind hem?  Give an invisible zipper a try.  Who says installing cording or piping is difficult.  These little details translate into big sewing success.
11. Overcome – Tackle a sewing fear!  Is it free-motion quilting, handwork or applique?  Hit those fears head-on and overcome them.  There is no better feeling than turning a fear into a skill!
12. Be a cut-up – repurpose your old clothes, linens and abandoned projects.  Giving an old item new life is fun and great for the spirit!
13. Go calling – visit your local quilt shop.  They are your sewing family.  They love to see what your working on and offer advice on colors, textures and patterns.  The Internet is a wonderful place, but there’s nothing like the collaborative spirit you find in your local shop.

We are always happy to be part of your quilting and sewing dreams here at Wish Upon A Quilt.  You are the reason we keep trying to improve and grow.  Thanks for so much inspiration and support.  We know together, we can make 2013 the luckiest year ever.

Hugs and stitches,

Cathy and Team Wish

Here in the Raleigh Area of North Carolina, we are blessed that the effects of Hurricane Sandy were a few gusty winds and rains. As we all know, our friends up the rest of the Eastern Seaboard did not fare as well as us. More cold weather is headed to an area that still has no power in some cases and to poor folks who have lost everything.

Our friends at Moda and Victoria Findlay Wolfe of BumbleBeans Basics are doing what we quilters do best. They are collecting quilts to help our friends affected by the storm. According to their website here are the details:

WHAT WE NEED:

QUILTS AND BLANKETS are needed ASAP.
Home-made or Store Bought QUILTS AND BLANKETS: ANY SIZE.
Quilts will be accepted, and handed out as quickly as they come in.

Give Selflessly. Thank you cards will not be sent out due to the urgency of the events of SANDY.
REAL THANKS:  LABEL YOUR QUILTS, Name, address and email.
The person who receives your quilt may want to thank you themselves.

We are proud to take your donations through the weekend at Wish Upon A Quilt and we will box them up and send them out on Monday. During this month of Thanksgiving – it will be a wonderful thing to give to those in real need, since we have so much to be thankful for ourselves.

BRING QUILTS & BLANKETS ANY SIZE
TO WISH UPON A QUILT
BY MONDAY November 12
WE WILL MAIL ON BEHALF OF OUR WISH FAMILY

Sheryl attended a mystery retreat to make this gorgeous quilt. There are over a thousand pieces and the quilt was designed by Dee Dalton. Sheryl added the southwestern applique to fit her style. Isn’t it stunning?

I love teaching beginning quilters because of the big smiles when the quilt is finished. This is Charlotte’s quilt and she took on the challenge of fussy cutting the border! Fantastic Charlotte! Pattern is Yellow Brick Road.

Verna recently brought in this great quilt…Cindy helped her select the border. Isn’t it stunning? Thanks for sharing, Verna.

Cindy recently made this great baby quilt using the pattern TV Dinner. Love it!

Johanna made this great quilt from Reunion - the colors are much brighter in person. Great job Johanna!

We had so much fun with Groovy Girls – with these placemat projects, the Groovies tackled lots of triangles and machine quilting. Great job!

Bali Bowls are such fun to make…here are some of our most recent Bali Bowl  class graduates and their beautiful creations! Well done ladies!