Totally Tubular Strip Piecing / Supply and Homework List Basic Sewing Supplies Sewing machine that you are familiar with and that is in good working order 50 wt. 2-ply long staple cotton thread [Aurifil or Superior recommended / Available for purchase in class] Scissors, Pins, Seam ripper.9mm ceramic lead mechanical pencil for quilting. [Available for purchase in class] 6 X 24 See through ruler with 30, 45 and 60-degree markings in both directions 4 x 14 or smaller See thru ruler with markings Rotary cutter with a sharp blade and a spare blade Cutting mat at least 24 on one side Pencil and paper for taking notes. Optional 45, 60 and 90-degree Kaleidoscope wedges [Available for purchase in class] Optional 1 x 6 ruler with ¼ markings. [Available for purchase in class] If irons and regular ironing boards are not supplied by the venue Please bring these if you are travelling locally. [the kind that sit on the table have limited use for this class] We will first complete a series of exercises on the basic techniques for making tubes and make diamonds, triangles, Sawtooth borders, half square triangles, etc. You will become familiar with this new way of thinking and creating pattern. Once the basic techniques are grasped participants will will veer off in their own directions exploring different concepts for making patterns. It is up to each individual whether or not they wish to make one quilt containing the parts made from the exercises. If this is your wish than bring fabrics that will be coordinated. Fabrics One dozen: ½ to 2 yards of at least 12 different fabrics. o Use quality fabrics that are pre-washed and dried. Iron folded in half selvedge to selvedge. Do not use starch. o Batiks are highly recommended for learning this technique because of their stability. o Pick some fun fabrics you really like. o The print on these fabrics should be fairly small so the patterns you are making are more apparent. o Choose a variety of lights and darks o Solid fabrics or tone on tone prints are good to bring. o Include stripes. Uneven stripes and strips already on an angle are good to use o Contrast is the biggest thing to consider, it will be easier for learning.. o Bring more of the fabrics you may want to use more of. o Most of all don t stress out about your fabric choices Homework [please read carefully before you cut or sew] You will get more out of the class if you do a little pre-class homework sewing strips together. You will be way ahead if you do these simple steps. Use the fabric above for the homework. Use a rotary cutter and ruler to cut required strips for each exercise from the full width of the fabric [apx. 42 ]. When ironing seams open a few stitches at the ends of the seams are likely to come out when you are working with them. Use a small stitch [I use a 1.9 on my Bernina], and good tension when sewing the strips together and this will not be a problem. Strips cut from different fabrics will 1 of 3
be slightly different in length. Do not worry about making the ends even at this point. Work from one end and make them generally even. I prefer not to use pins unless I have to match up seams or ends. Without stretching, pulling or distorting, gently feed the strips through the sewing machine matching the edges. Sew your strips together using an even and consistent one-quarter inch seam allowance. Use a hot steam iron and iron seams open. It takes a little extra time but the work will lie flatter. It will be easier to iron seams open if you set the seam first and then iron it open. Be careful not to stretch your strips while you are ironing or you will get a strip set with a big curve in it. Exercise One: Flying Geese and Squares on Point. 1. Choose two contrasting fabrics. Follow the directions above for cutting and cut two strips for the geese 2-1/2 inches wide and two strips for the background 3-1/2 inches wide. 2. Follow the directions above for sewing and ironing and sew strips together as shown below. Exercise Two: Diamond Rows which are an angled variation of Squares on Point. Read beginning paragraph in homework section. These strips will be used to make two different sets of 45-degree diamonds with different alignments. [see pictures included with class description] 1. Choose two contrasting fabrics. Follow the directions above for cutting and cut: Two 2-inch strips for the diamonds from one fabric. Two 3-inch strips for the background from the other fabric 2. Cut a small 45-degree right triangle off one end of each strip. [make your cut going in the same direction as the illustration.] 3. Follow the directions above for sewing and ironing and sew the strips together as shown below. 2 of 3
Exercise Three: Mirror Image Patterns Read beginning paragraph in homework section. Strips will be used to make two mirror image stratas. Students will have the option to create a variety of patterns with these stratas. 1. Choose three contrasting fabrics. See picture of strata above. Follow the directions above for cutting and cut: Six 2-inch strips [three for each mirror image] Four 3-1/2 inch Strips [two for each mirror image] This is a good place to use stripes Two 3-1/2 inch Strips [one for each mirror image] 2. Cut a 60-degree angle off one end of each strip. Cut half of the strips on one direction. o Line up the 60-degree line of your ruler against the long edge of the strip. Cut the other half of the strips going in the opposite direction as shown below. o Turn the ruler and use the other 60-degree line along the long edge of the strip to make the cut in the opposite direction. 3. Follow the directions for sewing and ironing and sew the strips together as shown in the two mirror image stratas pictured above. 3 of 3
Exercise Four: Sawtooth Borders and Half Square Triangles to beat the band Dotted lines represent seam allowance, as in dressmaking patterns, and are not actual stitching lines. 1. Choose two contrasting fabrics. Follow the directions above for cutting and cut one strip from each fabric 4-1/2 x 40-42 2. Follow the directions above for sewing and ironing and sew strips together as shown below. Cut your strips in half on cutting line as shown below. 3. Sew the two halves together. Cut four 4-1/2 strips as shown below. 4. Flip every other strip to make a checkerboard. Exercise Five: Angled Triangles 1. Choose two contrasting fabrics. Follow the directions above for cutting and cut two 3-1/2 -inch strips from each fabric. 2. Cut a small 45-degree right triangle off one end of each strip. [make your cut going in the same direction as the illustration.] 3. Follow the directions above for sewing and ironing and sew the strips together as shown below. NOW THE FUN REALLY BEGINS Please contact Rita if you have any questions or concerns. 4 of 3
REMEMBER MISTAKES ARE INTUITIVE DECISIONS AND A MASTER IN THE ART OF LIVING DRAWS NO SHAPE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HER WORK AND HER PLAY, HER LABOR AND HER LIESURE, HER MIND AND HER BODY, HER EDUCATION AND HER RECREATION. SHE HARDLY KNOWS WHICH IS WHICH. SHE SIMPLY PERSUES HER VISION OF EXCELLENCE THROUGH WHATEVER SHE IS DOING AND LEAVES OTHERS TO DETERMINE WHETHER SHE IS WORKING OR PLAYING. TO HERSELF, SHE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE DOING BOTH. 5 of 3