Misty Fuse...

Here at the Parish we are always trying new products that will make life easier and get us the best finished product. Well, recently we've been force to change fusible products due to some issues with the makers of Steam-a-Seam. We've tried a couple, but the one we love is called Misty Fuse.

What we love about this product is how sheer and soft it is. It makes the projects you use it in much more supple and nice. Here's some photos of a project I'm working on and you can see what you think.

See how fine it is. When you use this product you will need either a pressing sheet or parchment paper. You place the Misty Fuse on your fabric and I make a sandwich with my applique pressing sheet and fuse the product to my fabric.

You should be using a dry iron. Let it the fabric cool for a second or two before removing the pressing sheet.

Your fabric will now have a shine to the wrong side of the fabric. This isn't the greatest photo, but believe me it does.

You will do all your tracing on your parchment paper and you can reuse your tracing several times. I love that part!! The fusible will pick up your drawing. I just used a number 2 pencil.

I put the fabric on the pressing sheet with the fusible facing up. I put the parchment with the drawing facing down, sandwich the pressing sheet over the top and press.

You can now either: cut the piece out with the paper in place. This makes it like Steam-a-Seam. Or you can peel the paper off and cut out your shape on the lines left on the fusible. Then your scissor never has to cut paper.

Once you get all your pieces cut you place and fuse as normal, however they are not tacky. You can use the tip of your iron to tack them down if you need to and then fuse them when you get everything placed how you like it. I think you get a much crisper edge not cutting with the paper on. REMEMBER you always using a dry iron with this product.

This is a block I'm working on from my new Block of the Month called Autumn Evening. It begins Monday, June 17th and runs for 5 months. So you'll have it done in the autumn to adorn your home! Call the shop if you're interested 253.531.4309.

I hope you try this product and love it as much as we do!! Let us know what your favorite products are, share your comments below. We'd love to hear from you! Happy stitching and may your bobbin always be full!!

Wing Clipper Class...

The other night we had a fabulous class using a new tool we've found to create flying geese! The tool is easy to use and using this method makes flying geese quick and easy. Here are some reflections of the class.

 

Didn't they do a fabulous job! They all look beautiful! I can't wait to see the finished quilts! Do you like star quilts? We are offering another class on Saturday, May 11th and June 8th with yet another technique! Click here for more information and to register! Happy stitching and may your bobbin always be full!

Meet Stasher Linda Baldwin...

2013 is the year for finishing projects, at least here at the Parish! To that end we began our "Stash Dash" challenge on February 1st. We have a large group of ladies that have taken on the challenge and Linda is one of them. Our goal is to use at least 100 yards out of our stash this year and complete projects. Here's a little about Linda...

Linda has been quilting for many years and currently has two cabinets of material/kits and partially completed projects. She attempted to count them all and it's approximately 15 projects plus material that isn't part of any specific project. Linda has already finish three projects so far! Many of these projects she has had planned for 5 years or more. She says she loves all the projects she has awaiting her attention and hopes to complete most of them this year. The projects range from small lap quilts to wall hangings to full size quilts. Linda is currently working on improving her free motion quilting skills. By completing all these projects this year she will get lots of practice! Linda is actively working on 4 projects at the moment. Three are still being pieced and one is being quilted.

Great work Linda! She is well on her way to 100 yards! How about you? Are you getting those projects done? There is still time to join our "Stash Dash" challenge. Call the shop and we can take care of you! Let's inspire each other and get those UFO's DONE!!

If you are in the same boat as Linda and would like to improve your Free Motion skills, join award winning quilter Norma Jean Nyman on Saturday, May 18th for Beginning Free Motion. Click here to register.

Or maybe you need help with binding those projects? Join us for Beautiful Bindings on April 17th. We have a morning and an evening session to suit your busy schedule. Click here to register!

Happy Stitching and may your bobbin always be full!

Classes at the Parish

In honor of National Crafting Month, get crafting this March at the Parish!

Learn a new technique and create our fun table runner or topper using the "Twister Tool" in our Let's Twist Class. Hone your needlework skills and join us for our monthly tea parties with our Hand Embroidery Club. Dive into a whole new adventure in quilting with Linda Tallesbo and learn paper piecing to create Judy Niemyers Mariners Compass. Discover fusible applique with our newest BOM and construct this our fun "Summer Days" quilt by Ribbon Candy.

Visit our website or call the shop at 253.531.4309 to reserve your spot in any of our upcoming classes!

Happy sewing and may your bobbin always be full!

Let's Twist...

Don't you just love those quilts that look complicated, but aren't really complicated. Using the "twister" tool you can achieve one of those beautiful quilts with just a few easy steps. We'll show you how.

First you begin with 5" or 10" squares sewn together with a 3" border. Then you take your handy dandy tool and begin cutting your twists. Like sew...

 

  

 

Then as you begin sewing the blocks back together you'll begin to see your twist.

 

 

 

 

 

We are offering this class at the shop on Monday, March 11th if you'd like to come and learn this fun technique. Click here to register.

Here are a few photos from our last class...

 

Twisted Pillow

 

Twisted Runner

 

Happy sewing and may your bobbin always be full!

 

First Sunday Workshop for Feb...

We had our First Sunday Workshop and I think the ladies had a great time!! Each month we have a fun quick project. This is what they made this month...

 

First you sew all your strip or scraps of fabric together. Once you get them sewn you can trace your shapes on your "steam a seam".

 

 

Once you place your steam a seam on your pieces (follow manufacturers instructions) you can cut out your shapes.

 

 

 

Then I places my pieces on my background fabric to look over placement. Once I was happy with that I fused my pieces on. Then I put on my borders, however some of the ladies did their borders first and then fused their pieces on. So there's really no wrong way, just be sure leave room for your seam allowance if you sew your borders on last.

Once I got all my pieces fused and borders on I then machine appliqued the edges down.

Next I hand embroidered saying on the hearts and put it all together. Some of the ladies appliqued the edges once they sandwiched their wall hanging together. Then your quilting is all done too!

 

A quick and fun project, just in time for Valentines Day!

Happy sewing and may your bobbin always be full!

Prepared Applique Class...

Here are some photos from our Prepared Applique Class. Didn't these ladies do a great job!

We will be offering another Prepared Applique Class soon. Watch the calendar and post for more information. Follow us on Facebook or check out our web site to see what's going on!

Happy sewing and may your bobbin always be full!

Paper Piecing...

Are you up for a new challenge this year? I know many of you out there in quilt land have been quilting for years. Many of you have admired those AMAZING paper pieced quilts and said, "some day". Well, maybe some day is TODAY! Learn something new in 2013, challenge yourself and take your quilting to the next level! We are so proud to offer Judy Niemeyer's Mariner's Compass class, taught by Linda Tellesbo.

Linda will walk you through each step of this magnificent quilt, making it manageable for even a confident beginning quilter. Linda is a Judy Niemeyer Quilting Certified Instructor. She has won many prestigious awards in almost every major quilt show event in the Pacific Northwest Region. Many of her students have also gone on to win awards for their quilts as well.

Beginning March, 23rd we will kicking off this amazing quilt. Call the shop to register 253.531.4309. This will be a 5 month class meeting the 4th Saturday of each month. The cost is $40 per month. To register you will be paying $80 for your first and last month. This class runs from 10am - 4pm. Call us and we can get you registered and answer any questions you may have.

Some of our current student are just finishing up with Linda's last class for the Glacier Star quilt. Here is one of her student's quilts. What a nice job! You can do it too! Call and register today!

Happy sewing and may your bobbin always be full!

Finishing Projects...

The best thing about taking a class here at The Parish, is having a finished project at the end of it. Most of our classes, while they may have homework, you can finish the project by the end of the class or series of classes! For me that is always a plus! I get to learn a new thing and/or technique and it's finish at the end of the class.

Case in point, look at these fabulous bags that were made in last Saturday's Miranda Day Bag Class! They are lovely and DONE!!!

 

Didn't these ladies do a nice job?! The one gal in the top photo was a 'speed demon' and finished her bag before the rest. Reloaded her stuff into her new FABULOUS finished bag and went on her way after class! So if you need a gift or a project you can finish before the holidays, check out our calendar and let us help you get it done!!

 

Happy stitching and may your bobbins always be full!!

Wordless Wednesday... reflections of the Parish

Happy stitching and may your bobbins always be full!