Loving the new colors of Linen/Rayon from my talented hand dyer.  Easy fusible raw edge appliqué.  Not a method i usually do but oh so easy.  Will be a new table runner and placemat pattern.  Gotta hurry . . NW Quilting Expo in Portland is almost here.  

Happy Stitching!

NEW YARN DYED WOVEN FABRICS ON OUR WEBSITE

I know that many of you love all of the hand dyed woven cottons that you find whenever you visit our booth at quilt shows.  I've uploaded a small assortment of a new line to the website.  These have not been seen at shows.  They combine beautifully with the hand dyed wools and osnaburgs.

Hop to our website and click on "Shop" > "Fabrics".

TURN UNDER APPLIQUE AND. . . LINEN !!

Because linen does ravel a good bit you might be hesitant to try turn under appliqué with it.    I use the freezer paper/starch method with all appliqué but it works especially well with linen.  In case you are unfamiliar i'll briefly describe.

  

Flip your pattern over on a light box and trace the appliqué piece in reverse onto the dull side of freezer paper.   Cut out on the traced line.   Iron the paper to the backside of your fabric.  NOTE:  On most fabrics you would use an eighth inch measurement but with linen make it almost a quarter inch.

Cut out fabric piece a scant quarter inch beyond the paper edge.  Spray some starch into a small plastic cup and with a paint brush (I use my finger) brush the starch onto the wrong side of the extended quarter inch of fabric.   With your fingers press the starched edge to the back, over the edge of the paper all the way around.   Press with hot iron.  Remove paper and press.   For more detailed information and photos check the internet.  Best appliqué method i have found.

This little bear is part of a new pattern design.  He has a few friends I think you are going to like.  More soon!  

NIFTY LITTLE POUCHES - LINEN!

I'm in love with linen are you?  These two little pouches combine our new hand-dyed linens  and yarn-dyed woven cottons.   Nifty Little Pouches pattern can be found on our website as well as the Slide Clasp w/Magnetic Snap fixture.  Whenever using fabrics for projects of this sort,  i like to give them that slightly crinkled look so i lightly quilted the linen before cutting out the larger 9" pouch.  This step is optional but included in the instructions.

If you make TEN of these . . it won't be enough.   Fun little bag.

LOVIN' THE LINENS

At last . . 100% hand-dyed Linen.

Looking forward to using it in designs and mixing it with the hand-dyed wools.

YUMMY!

Have you seen our updated website?

I hope that you find it fresh and  easy to navigate.

Still have to correct some images and there is product to add like wools, fabrics and floss.  Working on it!

Also . . Facebook.   After doing it wrong twice last weekend, there is now a Reets' Facebook page.  Please use the badge on the right to visit and "Like" us . . never thought i would be saying that.

Hope you are having some stitching fun this week.

BABY QUILTS AND PANELS

I'm off to spend the week with our new granddaughter . .  daughter's first baby.

If you ever want to stitch up a baby quilt quickly but still want it to have those precious qualities, find a panel that anyone would adore.  The quilt below . . . it grew a bit beyond crib size . . uses Cori Dantini's Beauty Is You panel.  Just one of many she has designed for Blend Fabrics.    I had been hoarding this last favorite for some years.   I just added this and that borders all around.   Each border fabric was an old favorite from my stash, none from the same line, and I had just enough of each one.  Can you believe how the outside border matches her hair!!   Did go buy a half yard for the binding.   Made it up in a day, except for the quilting.
 Enjoyed every minute of time with these happy fabrics.   

They make you love to stitch right?

YARN-DYED WOVEN COTTONS

A fabric company sent some of their newest yarn-dyed woven cottons to me before Quilt Market. 

I stitched up a 3 block table runner in time to ship off to them for their booth.

I love these wovens and they mix well with all of your woolens . . great backgrounds too.
These six taupes and browns have just been added to our website Accessories/Fabrics Page.
You can order them by the half yard.

I couldn't resist adding some whimsical placemats to the table runner . . 
pattern almost ready.
And of course Woolbert will announce a drawing here for the free one we'll be giving away.  I hope you win . . really!

Below is a scan of the basket block I designed for the runner . . just a bit "off" from the traditional.  After the scan, there was some hand stitching added and then some fabulous quilting by my friend
Angie of All Washed Up Quilts.
So what's in your basket today?