Thursday 21 April 2016

Canada's 150th Mystery Quilt, New Block

Cantik Batiks/CSM have just released their newest block for their Mystery Block celebrating Canada's 150th birthday. It is beautiful. The Canada Mystery Quilt is designed by Shania Sunga and is going to be breathtaking representing our provinces and territories.




North West Territories – Block 4

           Northwest Territories is located north of the 60th parallel with an estimated population of 43,537.



           Adventure tourism attracts photographers and outdoor enthusiasts to the “Land of the Midnight Sun”

          Hudson’s Bay Company had used the region as part of its trading area before the governance
 of the North- Western Territory was assigned to the company in 1859. The British made no effort to assert sovereignty over the aboriginal people of the area.

In 1862 during the Stikine Gold Rush, part of the North-Western territory, became inundated by
American Miners. To prevent any resulting claims, Governor James Douglas declared the area a
British Territory.

In 1868, shortly after Canadian Confederation (July 1, 1867) The Hudson Bay Company agreed
 to surrender its vast territory to Canada. However it was not until July 15, 1870, that the transfer
 to Canada was made. On that date the North-Western Territory became part of the newly created
Northwest Territories.

                 The world’s longest ice road is in Northwest Territories stretching from Tibbitt Lake, 70 east
of Yellowknife to Contwoyto Lake, nearly 600 km.



To see more Information go to www.cantikbatiks.com


Monday 18 April 2016

Counting Inches #5

What an amazing response this month! 

We’ve made it just past Sault Ste. Marie, ON and are on the last leg of the trip! Should arrive in good time for Quilt Canada 2016 at the International Centre for June 15-18th. 
Maybe we can take a look around at all the places to see, and things to do that Toronto has to offer. Or maybe visit a quilt shop or two - just to get in the spirit of fabric and quilting. 

Quilt Canada 2016 is going to be the place where the quilt action is!  The vendors in the biggest Merchant Mall we have ever had are all listed here! Lectures and workshops galore! The National Juried Show will have over 100 quilts of Canada's finest works of art, and there are other superb quilt shows as well!



Black Gold Quilt Patch Guild - show & tell
Whale Coast QG show & tell
The 47 guilds/groups reporting inches have outdone themselves this year. All those charity quilts have helped get us as far as we have. It’s so great to hear of the inch counts that come from these charity quilts - great job!









Keep sending your inches to Marilyn at marilyn_cqa@vaxxine.com . A picture or two of some of your Show & Tell/Share and charity quilts would be great as well.


Buckhorn QG show & tell

Black Gold Quilt Patch Guild Show & Tell

Friday 15 April 2016

Outdoor Pillows Tutorials

This post is brought to you by Coats & Clark Canada.

It’s Spring and the Great Outdoors is beginning to call my name. This is the time of year when I start looking around the garden, inspecting the patio furniture and plotting how my sewing machine and I can make my outdoor space look more like Summer and a whole lot less like leftover Winter. You, too? We’ve got some lovely  outdoor projects for you below, but first let’s go over the basics of how to make your Outdoor Sewing successful!
Sewing for the Outdoors is a ton of fun and the possibilities are endless, but there are fabrics made for the patio and fabrics that should just be left inside. Let’s talk about what you’ll need for cushions, table coverings and other furnishing accents that need to be able to resist the weather.
Fabrics specifically made for the outdoors have a stain and water resistant finish and can withstand direct sunlight for many hours. In most cases they’ve been manufactured with UV resistant properties and have a durable finish that makes surface cleaning easy. Colors are vibrant and fade resistant making them the perfect complement to your Summer garden. Look for fabrics such as: Waverly’s Sun n Shade, Premier Prints Outdoor Fabrics and Sunbrella.

But, wait! Before you start, it’s super important that you also use the right thread! Normal sewing threads are terrific for your indoor projects, but they’re not made to hold up in the Great Outdoors. Coats Outdoor Thread is constructed to perfectly perform in all kinds of weather and you’ll love it for everything outdoor from home to boat to camping gear. Who wants to be enjoying the sun, showing off their new self-decorated patio, but secretly worrying about whether or not the seams on the cushions are going to fall apart?

Coats Outdoor Thread is a bonded polyester, the same construction as the thread used in awnings you may have purchased. It’s UV resistant and comes in 200-yard( 183m) mini king cones in plenty of colors.  This means you can create stunning outdoor accents with a no worries, weather-resistant polyester thread that won’t fade or rot from direct sunlight. And, if it happens to rain on your party, this almost-magic thread won’t mold or mildew from the effects of a downpour either.  

 


To create weather resistant magic on your sewing machine with Coats Outdoor Thread, you’ll want to make a few, easy adjustments.
·        Outdoor Thread is heavier than normal sewing thread, so you’ll need a larger needle. This will somewhat depend on the weight of your fabric, but in general, you’ll want a topstitching needle from a 90 to a 110. Topstitching needles have a longer eye than Universal needles so you’ll have less abrasion on the thread as you’re sewing.
·        Lengthen your stitch to between 3mm and 5mm as a thicker thread needs more space in the seam.
·        A heavier thread is less flexible, so slow down a bit while you’re sewing for best results.
·        You may want to make a slight tension adjustment when using Outdoor Thread in the needle and bobbin both.

·        Make a few stitching samples from two layers of outdoor fabric scraps before you actually begin and make a note of the settings you used. You’ll thank yourself later!
By the way, Coats Outdoor Thread isn’t just for new projects. You know the rip in the awning, boat sail, camping gear or umbrella cover that just needs a little stitching? It’s perfect for that, too! To review the basics, click here to view a video on Coats Outdoor Thread from All People Quilt. Click here for more Outdoor Thread information from the Coats and Clark web site.
And now, we have Pillows, Cushions and a charming Cube for you to make! 



Simple Pillows in Three Versions
Karen Schaphorst designed these Simple Outdoor Pillows for Coats and Clark. You can choose from three finishes along with three backs for your pillows. It’s a well-done tutorial with lots of options for your outdoor space.  

A Knife-Edge Pillow is the simplest style of pillow and looks great anywhere it’s used.  You can create a variety of pillows with this tutorial in any size or shape you’d like!



You’ll need a pillow form for each of your pillows, but it may not need to be new. This Stitched Flange Pillow would be perfect for updating an outdoor or indoor pillow that’s ready for recovering. Just be sure that your upcycled pillow form isn’t soiled or moldy.



Pillows are an easy way to create a cozy garden environment. Think about using an assortment on a swing, bench or patio chair or maybe in the corner of the deck. Click here for the Simple Outdoor Pillow tutorial.

Poolside Pillows
Cushions are perfect for the pool deck, but can easily be adapted for patio seating.  Coordinate the fabrics with your Outdoor Pillows for a “hired a decorator” upscale look for your outdoor space.  For versatility, make the top and bottom in different prints so you can switch up the look from time to time. When you purchase foam for your cushions, you may want to mention that it will be used outside in case there is a weather-resistant foam available. Click here to download a PDF tutorial.



Outdoor Cube
The final touch for our self-created fabulous outdoor space is not only practical but absolutely, totally fun! An Outdoor Cube or Pouf will add extra seating for parties and become a favorite with the kids. Coordinate the fabrics with your pillows and cushions or use a bright accent color for a decorator look. Your guests are going to love this at your next BBQ! Click here for the tutorial.
You’ve put time and effort into stitching up an inviting outdoor ambience, so be sure to take good care of your creations. During the outdoor season, keep anything made of fabric clean by wiping off surface dirt, pollen, leaves and debris. If the dirt is stubborn, use mild, soapy water and a soft brush or cloth and let everything dry thoroughly. When outdoor days are over, repeat this process before storing them for the next year. 

It’s Spring, so you’ve still got time to dream and plan. Think about the look you want, measure, make a list, shop and gather your supplies. You’re going to love stitching up a handmade, outdoor Summer space that’s exactly your style! 

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Check out the Vendors at Quilt Canada 2016

Quilt Canada 2016 in Toronto ON is shaping up to be the biggest conference to date. Our Merchant Mall is huge! So much so, we had to make it bigger to fit in all these awesome vendors that are coming to see you! They are there to help you with your quilting needs!  They will be bringing the newest, most colourful, different and unique products to show you what is hot and trending in quilting these days!

We are thrilled to introduce you to the incredible  line up of vendors for Quilt Canada 2016!

APQS Canada/Whirls n' Swirls Quilting
Babylock
Bernina Canada
Big Village

Black Sheep & Ewe
Bluefig
Border Creek Station
Brother International (Canada)
Bytowne Threads
Cantik/CSM
Cobwebs and Caviar
Cj's Quilting

Collection Inedith
Cotton Mill Threadworks

Country Clothesline
Country Concessions
Cozy Quilts
Creative Sisters
Creemore House of Stitches
Distinctive Sewing Supplies
Earthly Goods Quilting
Eddycrest Furniture
Edna's Travel

Fabric Please
Fabric Spark
Fabric Spot
Flare Fabrics
Fun with Stitches
Grantham Books
HA Kidd
Handi Quilter
Harebrained Happenings
Hawaiian Moon

Hyggeligt
Inspired Getaways
Janome
JP's Quilt Studio
Kalabandar: Scarves from afar
Kallisti Quilts
Kawartha Quilting Systems
Kindred Spirits Quilt Co
Len's Mills Store

Meerkat Trading


Pastime Pieces
Quilted Cardinal
Quilt Thyme
Quilters Line
Quilters Nine Patch
The Quilting Bee
Quilts at the Creek
Quilts of Valour

Quilting by Design
QUILTsocial
Quincy's Quilting Inc
Qwiltr
Redfern Enterprises
Ruti's Needlebed Ltd
Sew Fancy Inc
Sew Little Time
Sew Sisters Quilt Shop
Sewrite Distributors Inc
Soft Impressions
Stitch
Stone Threads Fibre Art
SVP Husqvarna Viking
SVP Pfaff
The Cotton Mill Threadworks
The Quilted Cardinal
The Quilting Bee
Threads that Bind 
Trend-Tex Fabrics
Ultimate Sewing Centre
Village Square Quilts
WonderFil Specialty Threads
X's&Oh's   


Monday 4 April 2016

6 Reasons to Love WonderFil's DecoBob Pre-wound Bobbins!


WonderFil Specialty Threads is excited to be attending Quilt Canada 2016 in Mississauga, June 15-18. Come join the fun and visit our booth (#100/102/104) to see samples of all our beautiful thread lines.


At WonderFil our goal is to provide you with innovative high-quality and well-designed products that will facilitate your work and creativity. As participants of over 100 annual shows and events we believe in fostering the needlecraft, quilting and sewing community. Visit our website  to see all the colour charts, hints and tips, as well as all the products that are guaranteed to elevate your project.


Quilt Canada 2016 is every quilter’s dream under one roof. Come for 4 incredible days packed with workshops, lectures, demos, giveaways, a huge Merchant Mall and hundreds of quilts on display!


This week’s feature is the DecoBob Pre-wound Bobbins and here are 6 reasons to fall in love with it!



6 Reasons to Love DecoBob Pre-wound Bobbins



There are a lot of reasons to love WonderFil Specialty Threads pre-wound DecoBob bobbins. Here's a list of our top six reasons to keep these wonderful little bobbins in your sewing room:
1. They come wound with a higher density of thread than if you wind your own bobbin on a machine.
2. When winding your own bobbin you will often notice the thread filling a clump at one end before moving to the other end. DecoBob pre-wounds are wound completely evenly at the factory, which results in your stitches becoming a lot more consistent when sewing and quilting.
3. Unlike threads by many other manufacturers, DecoBob pre-wounds are not sprayed with any glue, which leaves a residue on the thread that can eventually cause build up in your machines and reduce stitch consistency. Using DecoBob in your machine will keep it happy!
4. The thread is wound in a reusable plastic bobbin, so you can always refill them again and again if you ever need to.

5. Because DecoBob is a super thin 80wt thread, it will reduce the bulk in all of your seams and allow them to lay crisp and flat. It is recommend to use DecoBob in the bobbin for all WonderFil thread lines because of this.
6. DecoBob pre-wound bobbins are available in 36 different colors, meaning you can find the perfect match to any project! Because DecoBob is a cottonized polyester thread, its matte finish will also help it blend into your fabric so that the bobbin thread shows less.