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... and by golly I was determined that the little squares I cut and diagonally halved from a pretty sripe fabric were gonna get sewn perfectly ... after several tips IN the feed dogs - I pulled out the like new roll of Golden Threads and put it to work I CAN do (FM quilting doesn't seem to be one of them ) So NOW I am having fun .. and will make a pretty little topper or something for the lovely lady who gave me the Jim Shore figures in memory of my daughter.
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Look at you go!!! All those pretty little striped squares perfectly lined up. Great job!!

I've used toilet tissue before. You can tear off a roll, fold it, then cut in half lengthwise.

Can't wait to see how you arrange those. Have fun with your therapy.

Looking forward to seeing it come together!

I love the look of your hst's, but I'm sorry, but I don't know what the tissue is used for.

Bunny... sorry, I guess I should have explained better ... the little squares started off at just over 2 3/4" .. odd size but I needed to make the repeat work and I only had a fat quarter of the print. After cutting them diagonally to sew along the bias, making sure the stripes match-up, the little tips of the triangles were getting needled down in to the feed dogs and getting all messed up ... I tried pinning but I couldn't get a pin where I needed it AND sew! The pieces of golden Threads paper are folded in (sloppy) triangles and fitted around the top edge near the fabric tip, with that tip being inside and the paper extending on the seam side also. So when I slipped the paper under the presser foot and started stitching it pulled the fabric along with it thru the feed dogs,,, and I use a stilleto a lot - so using it at the last part of the little triangle going thru, the seam stayed pretty straight all the way thru.
I have the papers all torn off, tomorow at friendship group I will trim the tips back, so they dont have wings, before I open each of them - as I am pressing the seams open to help keep them flat and lined up ... there - how did I do
**The Golden Threads paper is a very thin but sturdy paper used for drawing quilting patters onto for free motion quilting. It's why I bought a roll. But my FM is not all that good so I just do it without patterns and tell myself it looks good.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: City/Sandie,

You go girl! That's going to be something really pretty.

Sandie, with the organizing of my stash I have lots of small triangles and would appreciate any method that will help me put them together. Would you show a photo or two that will give me an idea of how you did this?

Paus someone else showed their quilt and I was really taken by it .. asked HOW and was given some easy intructions ... not new, just re-visited and I LOVE when we re-visit things like that .. we get these ideas and run all over doing something new when a good idea is still sitting there - that said .. I will try to look up the thread - and get you the info because you will really like seeing the picture of her quilt. In a nut shell, cut strips from stripes, exactly alike for same pattern repeat in every block, fold in half RST very carefully - I Best Pressed mine to death as there is that bias cut - make sure your lines are matching.... cut squares from the strip - meaning same width as strip - and while stsill RST Cut on the diagonal - so when you open it after stitching it - you have that mitered corner look ... oh yes, far too easy the challenge is keeping those lines matched up and the TIPS out of the feeddogs!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: City/Sandie,

wow City/Sandie! those are some pretty HSTs and i LOVE the idea you used for keeping the little critters out of the feed dogs I have lots of scraps of Carol Doak paper from when I paperpiece, and that is the perfect use for them! Thanks for the tip!

Sandie, can't wait to see what this looks like cause I'm lovin the colors!!

I am also excited to see what you use these beauties to make.

I'll tell you what, these little critters area lot of work, primarily because they are pretty small - I like the idea though and will finish them into a large block or a couple of mug rugs... still looking I cut the setting triangles today and laid it out to look at it - tomorrow I will do it again and see what I like - I'll take a couple of pics if I make any progress!
Thank you for the encouragement

Sandie, the answer I'm looking for is how to use those Golden Threads papers to keep the tips of the triangles from being eaten by the machine. Sorry I wasn't more specific. Thanx.

LOL .... sorry Paus ... but now you know how to do the other stuff!
If you look in the picture kind of to the left, you will see the little squares of GT that I just tore off of some strip I whacked off the roll ... I folded them into a triangle-- you know, corner to corner - then with the fold in the paper to the left, wrapped around the tip of the fabric with the paper extending beyond th eseam area to the right and above that tip, I slipped the paper under the feed dogs and started sewing, the fabric inside the folded paper is pulled along with the paper and sewn beautifully .. call me if I'm still obtuse

Sandie - that was a great idea. I really love how they turned out and am looking forward to seeing the final project.

One question: do you think the Best Press works better than regular magic sizing (I don't have starch - always leery of inviting silverfish - I'm not even sure if that's true, my grandmother always told me that) I've been tempted to try the Best Press but haven't so far.

Thank you, Sandie. Duh, guess I should have been able to figure it out but brain was in slow mode, or something.

Royal boomer I just wrote you a nice long note - but the wifi at Lowes jumps aboard and takes over my internet now and then; like just now.
YES I think Best Press is great stuff .. i buy it by the gallon jug (I live close to soft Expressions) and carry a smaller bottle with me everywhere my patchwork goes. Try it - I prefer unscented - but the scents are ok ..
I am from the age of Argo cold wawter starch in my petticoats .. oh was there anything stiffer than that???
It gives a nice firm tocuh without flaking.

Hey, Sandie!!!! That paper lead trick works great...when sewing half circles, too. Thank you so much for that hint.

Just finished up 20 of those puppies in no time flat without having to dig the fabric out of my machine even once.

COOL .... I HAD TO PUT MY LITTLE PROJECT ASIDE FOR A FEW WHILE I FINISHED UP A COUPLE OF WIPS/UFSO/PIG .... AND I made up kits of some of them so i can be in my guild challenge this year .. that and I am dealing with my right knee still in ace bandaage - cana't sew, can't drive,canbarely walk - LOVE SEEING YOUR PROJECT

Here's the start of my latest project, a gift for Gary.

The half circles are dimensional...so much easier. lollll

Oh Paus-your block is so pretty!

Sandie-you are such a little smarty!!! I also have a roll of Golden Papers-I think I bought like 5 years ago caz I thought I'd be a "whiz" at quilting on my Janome-LOL!

I can't wait to see your pretty blocks with the triangles! I also have a deluge of triangles in a box-hmm might have to give your little trick a try. Afer all-my roll is just gathering dust!

Hugs,

Pam

Pam ... I sent Paus a 1 word note : 'splain.
i want to know what she meant by dimensional.

Dimensional.....ain't part of the background fabric. Sits on top of the background. Also known as a 'foldy' in some quilting circles. See how I've flipped up the bottom half-circle?

Sorry my camera battery is dead so I'm using my scanner for the photo.

that's cool... so is the underneath of the 1/2 circle cut out to avoid bulk? I cut out all the middles (from the back of course) when I made my bulls eye quilt.

Sorry, been gone for a bit.

Not sure what you're asking, Sandie, but the half circles are made by folding a square of fabric in half, drawing and then sewing the half circle on the wrong side of the fabric. No fabric was cut from anywhere other than cutting out the half circle shape. Want that circle to stand out from the background fabric. Used the same method on a table topper that had half circles for the Patriotic show two years ago. See my photo above of the circles as I sewed them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: paus4quilts,