2012 Fall International Quilt Festival

Going to Houston for International Quilt Market draws me like a magnet.  I love this wholesale market seeing vendors, new product, gathering ideas and viewing the vast special quilt exhibits.  I always love Preview Night for International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX.  The sky is dark, Halloween costumes are on parade and at last the public's attention is focused on the remarkable skill, creativity and artwork of quilters. One of the perks of Quilt Market is accessing Quilt Festival quilt exhibits.   I am back home now, but I am thinking about all the excitement and viewer exhilaration of seeing the quilts for the first time.  Here are just a couple of my personal favorite quilts:




Kitty Corner by Janet Fogg
2012 International Quilt Festival

Kitty Corner is a literal interpretation of the traditional quilt block, Puss In The Corner.  The larger-than-life Maine Coone positioned in the corner of the traditional layout of the blocks pushes the point that innovation in traditional work is possible.  This cat has personality!  I love cats.  I love dogs.  Can I be a cat and dog person?  :)



Zinnias Three by Jean Smith
2012 International Quilt Festival

Zinnias Three is fused, pieced and free-motion quilted. Inspired by Melinda Bula's zinnia class, Jean created three zinnias in her favorite colors. I love the colors and cheerfulness!

Natural Wonders by Kathy McNeil

2012 International Quilt Festival

Beautifully executed hand applique, hand embroidery, Yo-Yo embellishments, piping and machine quilting.  Wow!  Natural Wonders looks like a photograph.  Kathy hand-appliqued 123 different fabrics to create a seascape that existed only in her imagination.  Stunning!

America, Let It Shine by Sherry Reynolds

2012 International Quilt Festival

America, Let It Shine is an original design using paper piecing, hand applique, fused applique with machine finished edges and free-motion quilting create a tribute to American foundations and values with hope for a brighter future.  5,121 Swarovski crystals, 13 points representing original 13 colonies, ring of 50 stars representing 50 states.  Wow!  A show standout!  Stunning!

For more information on International Quilt Festival visit www.quilts.com. 
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda

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Sewing Machine Needle: Change Your Needle

How long have you been sewing with the same needle?  How many quilts have you made using the same needle?  Have you experienced these dull needle symptoms?

Shredded or Broken Threads

Skipped Stitches

Puckered Fabrics

Damaged Fabrics

Uneven Seams

Popping Sound by Sewing Machine

Guess what?  These are clues - clues that you can see and hear - that you need to change your needle. 
The general rule of thumb is to change your needle after 8 hours of sewing.  Depending on the project, some sewists change needles once and sometimes twice insuring a quality stitch.  Others start every new project with a fresh out of the pack needle.  No, we are not trying to sell you more needles.  We are trying to help you sew better . . .  with better stitch quality. 

Change your needle!

It's the easiest way to improve your stitches.

Tune in next week and get a close-up view of a dull needle.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

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Sewing Machine Needle: Does SCHMETZ Work With My Machine?

Wondering if SCHMETZ needles work with your home sewing machine?

SCHMETZ works with all these machine brands!  SCHMETZ 130/705 H - see the October 8th post if you need a refresher on the meaning of 130/705 H -  is compatible with all these home sewing machine brands in the marketplace.  That's a relief!  There are a few older Singer machines that require a different needle system, plus a few specialty machines such as needle felting and sashiko machines that do not use SCHMETZ 130/705 H needles.  SCHMETZ engineers work with sewing machine manufacturers around the world to ensure that the SCHMETZ needle performs properly in your home sewing, embroidery and quilting machines. 

Becca Asks "Needle, Needle, Which Needle?"

2012 State and county fairs are warm summer memories.  Kids worked hard under the watchful eyes of 4-H leaders hoping for those special blue and purple ribbons.  Meet Becca from Oregon State.  Becca loves to sew and decided to learn more about sewing machine needles. 

Becca first contacted us in July asking for permission to use the SCHMETZ logo for a 4-H project.  We were happy to help and sent her the SCHMETZ ABC Pocket Guide.  We were thrilled to see the ABC's incorporated into her informational board Needle, Needle, Which Needle highlighting needle anatomy, importance of using a new needle and the benefits of using the correct needle.  We even learned a thing or two from her project. There was an area called Sewing-Machine Needle in Antarctica that was named by whalers.  What a terrific trivia question!

Becca certainly did her homework resulting in all these trophies.  Bigger yet is the smile on her face.  I imagine her parents and 4-H leaders are smiling too.
 

More than all the learning is the chance to share knowledge and friendship with other 4-H Club members.  Becca with Bethany and Nicole.   I just wonder what sewing projects Becca has in mind for next year.  It is never too early to plan for next year. 

Thanks Becca for sharing your 4-H sewing story with us!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.4-h.org

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Sewing Machine Needle: Types

Need a needle?  How many times have you rushed into a store for needles, only to stop in awe -confounded by all the needle choices?  Really how many needles are there?  Does needle type really matter?  Because you are thinking, I just want a needle to finish my project.    I hear you, so let's first get an overview of all the types of needles available for your home sewing machine.

Yes, you have choices, not only in needle type, but needle size.  Many times, but not always, the needle name also suggests project usage too.  So what is YOUR favorite needle?
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda

The Night Circus, Sewing and Black & White

This posting is going to be my own three ring circus tying these topics together:  The Night Circus, sewing and black and white.  Here's how it all started.  At the suggestion of Nancy, our local librarian, my husband brought home a magical book The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  Little did I know how enchanting this good read would be. 

Visual reading is how I describe the story lines in this book.  The descriptions of the characters and the circus with all its unusual and magnetic tents were wonderfully refreshing and real.  I was especially thrilled to find out that . . .

Yes last night the author, Erin Morgenstern, was in my neighborhood to talk about her debut book The Night Circus.  So I grabbed a red scarf - I could not convenience my husband to wear a red scarf, but was happy that he wore a red bow tie - because I am now a "serious" fan of The Night Circus.  Yes, the red scarf has meaning from the story line.  What I learned is that Erin is an artist that writes AND is a writer that is an artist depending on how her creative energies need to express themselves.   The writing of this book started in a November -  sorry don't remember the year - National Novel Writing Month.  In 30 days the challenge was to write 50,000 words - some call this binge writing.  She wrote many vignettes that eventually all wove together especially after 2 years of editing and rewriting.  2 years of rewrites!  What tenacity!   

Years ago as an artist Erin designed tarot cards and challenged herself to using a black and white color scheme which also carried over into the menagerie of circus tents and even some of the characters in her book.   I love the poignancy of black and white and thought you may enjoy a few sewing pics I have taken from various trips:

Let's Go To The Zoo! 

Great Lakes Heritage Quilters Special Exhibit 

American Sewing Expo 2012

Baby Lock Love of Fashion by Designer Joi Mahon

Special Exhibit of Joi's Off-Beat Bridal and Formal Wear

American Sewing Expo 2012

Diane Kroll, Special Exhibit Coordinator

Standing in Front of California Dreaming Exhibit

By Lakes "Sew"Ciety Members

American Sewing Expo 2012

Rita Farro

With Her Newly Treasured Black and White Zebra Corduroy Stash
Nancy Zieman's Quilt Expo 2012

AnyWear Shoe

Comfortable Shoes Worn by Sewist Attending American Sewing Expo 2012

Just like The Night Circus, the inspiration to sew makes no announcement.  We simply must sew, collect fabrics and share our passion.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.erinmorgenstern.com
www.americansewingexpo.com
www.dressformsdesign.com
www.wiquiltexpo.com

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Sewing Machine Needle: How To Read The Needle Package

Baffled by the needle package?  What do all those all those numbers mean on the needle package?Well, let's first review the essential needle information printed on that tiny 5 pack of SCHMETZ needles.  Information that will make your needle purchase so much easier. 

Let's start from the bottom of the package and work our way up:

• Size:  Needle size is always found at the bottom of the package.  Both the metric and the Singer or international size designation will always be shown.  This package has assorted sizes - 70/10, 80/12, 90/14.
• Needle System:  130/705 H is the needle system used by nearly all home sewing machines.  130/705 refers to a needle with a flat shank.  The H refers to a German word, Hohlkehle,  that translates to scarf.  So 130/705 H is a flat shank needle with a scarf.  All brands of home sewing machines use system 130/705 H - Baby Lock, Bernina, Brother, Elna, Husqvarna Viking, Janome, Juki, Pfaff, White and more.
• Needle System:  15x1 H is a cross-reference to needle system 130/705 H.  The two needle systems - 130/705 H and 15x1 H are equivalent, same needle anatomy- a flat shank with a scarf.  Same needle, different manufacturer. 
• Needle Type:  There are 16 needle types for your home sewing machine.  The above needle pack contains Universal needles.
• SCHMETZ:  The preferred needle used by sewists around the world.  SCHMETZ is high quality.

Next week we will review the different needle types for our home sewing machine.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda