Quilting Essentials

Welcome to our series on Quilting Essentials!  I was chatting with my dear husband about doing interviews with various tools associated with quilting and his response was, "If anyone can pull that off, it's you!"  Not quite sure how to respond to that comment, so I got to work setting up an interview with my rotary cutter.

Now, not everyone talks their quilting tools and even fewer hear their responses (the jury is still out on the social acceptability on this issue), so you're in for a special treat!

The time was set and we sat down with a lovely cup of tea for a chat, my rotary cutter and me.  Let me introduce you to Ms. Rotar E. Cutter!

Rotar E. Cutter and a cup of Earl Grey!

TMQ:  Hello, Ms. Cutter!  So glad you could join us today!  May I call you Rotar?

REC:  Actually, it's pronounced "Ro-TAR."  Thank you for having me!

TMQ:  You've created quite a stir in the quilting world for the past, let's see, 33 years!! 

REC:  Yes, it's been quite a ride!  My inventor, Mr. Yoshio Okada, thought scissors made too much of a jagged edge when cutting fabric.  My design is quite ingenious and has been a major time-saving, accuracy building tool for quilters ever since!  Of course, I have to share credit with Acrylic Rulers and Selfhealing Mat because without them, I'd really tear up the place!

TMQ:  It's no secret to those who have the pleasure of knowing you that you have done some damage in your day!  Perhaps you could enlighten us to your needs and wants?

REC:  Ha, ha!!  Yes, it's not my intention to be destructive, just a by-product of what I do best!  First of all, users need to keep their fingers away from my sharp edge.  I know this seems basic, but you'd be surprised at how many stitches people attribute to me (and we're not talking quilting stitches!).  Always use my buddies Acrylic Rulers and Selfhealing Mat--we are inseparable partners.

TMC:  I know I've had my close encounters with your sharp edges!

REC:  Also, my blade is safest when it's closed!!  Get in the habit of covering up my sharp side every time you put me down.  By the way, I enjoy my own case when traveling!

TMC:  Learned that the hard way!  Stopped a class one time when you fell out of my bag, your sharp edge exposed and I caught you.  The teacher had to put me back together so I would stop bleeding on the fabric.

REC:  Ouch!!  Like every other girl, I like to look my best and have a sharp blade, without lint, nicks and free flowing.  I'm not too shy, so feel free to take me apart, remove any fuzzies and add the tiniest bit of sewing machine oil.  I'll be terribly temperamental if I'm not put back properly or if you put in two blades instead of one.  One cut should let you know if I'm not feeling like myself--I wear my emotions on my sleeve.

TMC:  Thank you for all the great information--we quilters know that if Rotar E. Cutter ain't happy, ain't no body happy (and no quiltin' gettin' done!!)!  Now, knowing how busy you've been helping quilters make their quilting dreams come true for the past 33 years, have you had time to settle down and raise a family?

REC:  Funny you should ask!  Why, yes, I do have a family!  Here, let me show you our latest family photo!

From left to right:  Aunt Olfa Cutter, Rotar E. Cutter, Sixty MM. Cutter, Pape R. Cutter, Mini Cutter and Grandma Fluted Cutter.  Our trusty pet Fiskars jumped into the picture at the last minute!

TMQ:  Great looking family!  I noticed you have quite a variety of blade sizes in your gene pool!

REC:  Yes, that's true!  Each of us is specially suited to do a job.  I take after my Aunt Olfa--we're both 45 mm and usually the quilter's first choice.  My husband, Sixty MM, can handle cutting up to eight layers--he's very handy to have around when there's a lot of strip cutting to do!  Pape R. Cutter only helps out with scrapbooking projects around the house.  Grandma Fluted is great for pinking edges or fancy cutting.  (She always wears that bonnet when not hard at work!)  Mini Cutter is our daughter who is 18 mm right now and we're finding that to be quite a challenging age--she only likes to cut around tight curves and small templates on a single layer of fabric.  Fiskars is a wonderful pet to have around the house--able to fill in when one of us isn't up to snuff!  Although, he tends to be quite a camera hound!

TMQ:  Wow!!  You've given us so much to think about in today's interview!  Appreciate your helpful hints and introducing us to your family!  On behalf of the quilting community, thank you for your incredible contribution over the past three decades!

REC:  Thank you, Tuffimom Quilts, for having me!

Well, that wraps up our first interview of Quilting Essentials!  Look for our next post that interviews the most elusive component of quilting--time!

Wooly Wishes BOM Posted for March

Is March zipping by for you??  Traditionally, March has felt like the longest month with no days off from school for the girls or holiday get-together for our family, but when you have a block to post, it seems to fly by and suddenly, you're late!

Thanks to those how expressed an opinion on my Lucky Charms sheep--I appreciate your input!  Did post both versions on my website, so you can pick your favorite.  Click here for the templates and placement.

Please send me a picture of your finished blocks (carole@ewesquilting.com)--I'd love to post them so everyone can "ooh" and "aah" over your fantastic creation!

Decisions, Decisions!

Lucky Ewe  (I can hear the groaning from here!)

Well, the March BOM is getting ready to be posted, but I have a dilemma and I need your input.  "Lucky Charms to Ewe" is pictured in its original form above, but the nagging feeling that she was missing something kept running through my brain.  In my mind, every leprechaun needs a rainbow, so I added one and now she looks like this:

The rainbow adds a little splash of color in that corner of the quilt, but also adds a bit of bulk to the applique. 

My question to you is, which one do you prefer?  Thinking it might be nice to offer the templates for both versions and everyone picks their favorite?  Please post a comment and let me know!

New BOM for 2012--Wooly Wishes!

With all the excitement of getting my new website, posting my new BOM was a bit delayed.  In celebration of the fantastic up-grade of Ewe's Quilting, we're having a sheep-themed BOM, filled with fanciful sheep, simple applique and corny sheep puns.

Here's Wooly Wishes.....

Last year's BOM was a lots of work piecing all those blocks and sashings, so this time around, we're taking it easy.  You probably have all the fabric you need to complete this quilt in your stash!  The blocks are only nine inches square, so it will probably take you longer to audition fabric than to actually put it together.

The first two blocks are already up.

Here's January's block, "Happy New Year to Ewe"......

For pattern and templates, click here!

Feel free to embellish and add your personal style!  Notice there is lots of room around each block for quilting--you can try an assortment of background fills you haven't had a chance to try for other quilts.

February's block is "Happy Valentine's Day to Ewe".....

For pattern and templates, click here!

The bowstring will need to be sewn in either by hand or machine.  I can see Nichole Webb's Bottoms Up Hearts quilted in the background--just love her work!

Hope you'll stay with us to finish this whimsical quilt!  Feel free to post your best sheep pun and I'll reward he winner with a plaid fat quarter!