Laura Nownes

[Nancy R.]

Hi Marianne -

Welcome to the site!

I'm like Lorchen on the starching issue. I will use it where I really have to, but avoid it in general because I'm really into the tactile experience throughout the process. I've found that I get unhappy while piecing if my fabrics are stiff or feel like they have any chemicals in them, and then I don't enjoy the process as much. Since I don't starch my fabrics for piecing, I notice this most if I happen to be working with fabric that hasn't been prewashed for some reason. My accuracy definitely suffers, but I'm happy with my results and that's what's important to me. So startching, like most other things in quilting, has many answers and they are all right! I love it when there are so many right answers!

I'm planning on working on this quilt and will start later this week. I hope you'll join us because I think we have a fun group working on this together! We will all probably deviate from the instructions in one way or another, but we'll all create something beautiful in the end! And have a great time doing it!!

Nancy

[Nancy R.]

I've just watch part one, but Laura refers to a pdf that lists how many strip sets to cut, I've had a good look but cannnot find it, only the introductory pfd, which lists the basic requirements but not the cutting instructions. Will check out with Guru Bob....

[Marianne G.]

Just logged in to take a look at the forum. Big wave to everybody - Thank you all for the welcome! Looking forward to working with you
I guess the starch is a personal thing then. I will try both with and without and see how I go. I am generally not keen on chemicals but this project is all about keeping an open mind for me so I will go shopping and see what I can get in the way of starch.
Off to watch the first video and iron my fabric. I have too much choice in the way of fabric so haven't made up my mind yet :roll:
Marianne

[Rita C.]

I am sure the PDF will appear soon - as if by magic. In the meantime I see from the first PDF that there are 9 nine-patch blocks. 5 with the dark in the four corners and 4 with the light in the four corners. Happy quilting everybody.

[Rita C.]

Just logged in to take a look at the forum. Big wave to everybody - Thank you all for the welcome! Looking forward to working with you
I guess the starch is a personal thing then. I will try both with and without and see how I go. I am generally not keen on chemicals but this project is all about keeping an open mind for me so I will go shopping and see what I can get in the way of starch.
Off to watch the first video and iron my fabric. I have too much choice in the way of fabric so haven't made up my mind yet :roll:
Marianne

Starch is not so much a chemical - in that we are all composed of chemicals, as a different way of using a food stuff - corn starch to you (corn flour to me in UK) I know there is references to making up your own - possibly a Diane Gaudinsky (sp?) recipe floating around the forum, if you were to put 'starch recipes' into the search engine it will help, or hopefully Margo will come to our aid.

[Renata L.]

I've just watch part one, but Laura refers to a pdf that lists how many strip sets to cut, I've had a good look but cannnot find it, only the introductory pfd, which lists the basic requirements but not the cutting instructions. Will check out with Guru Bob....

I think we will need five dark strips and four light strips.

One nine-patch block requires two little blocks with the dark fabric on the outside. So, nine nine-patch blocks will require us to cut 18 of them. Since each is 2.5", multiply 18x2.5 and you get 45". If a strip of fabric (without selvage) is about 40", one set of strips is not enough--you will have to double it (and you'll have a lot left over). So, for this part of the block (the outside part of the block), you will require four dark strips and two light strips. If you can get 45" worth of cuts out of one strip, then you will only need two dark strips and one light strip.

The nine-patch block also requires one little block with a dark center and two lights. Each little block has to be cut 2.5", mut since you only need one for the middle part, multiply 9x2..5 and you get 22.5". In this case you will only need one length, or two strips of light and one strip of dark fabric.

Assuming fabric strips are less than 45" in length, you will need a total of five dark strips and four strips of light colored fabric.

Yes, it would be easier if the .pdf file materialized... :? and beware... I could be wrong with my math...

[Annis C.]

This is a starch recipe I was given at a recent seminar. Add 1 tbsp corn starch to 1 cup water. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave another minute on high. Add 1 cup cold water. Use in spray bottle. For heavier starch add more corn starch. I haven't tried this yet as I seldom use starch but I do agree that starch is good for some piecing methods.

[Annis C.]

Oh Rosemary, don't make us wait... post your fabrics starched and pressed! Do you have any new ones besides the reds?

At 11.40 at night the lighting is abysmal for decent photos of shades of fabric. I have one more, a yellow, that has a very slight tinge of red, but it is also a bit of a deeper hue of yellow, because I decided to just use up the last of the packet, and it was a bit stronger than the rest of the mixes I had done.

Now I have to try and find what I did with the new roll of egyption cotton that goes with what I have been dyeing so I have some white for the background :roll: I snuck it into a safe place...... :lol:

the second from the left is the extra one that I did, not really any orange about it, but it is a stronger yellow and it fits in the general scheme of things. (sorry the picture appears dark, it seemed fine on the camera. :roll: )

[Renata L.]

How gorgeous, Rosemary! I know the photos don't render as you'd like them to but all I see is a fantastic sampler coming up. Are you going to combine those colors into a border? Do you have a border fabric already? Your effort was well worth it... I wish I could hop over and learn from you! :P

[Renata L.]

No I don't have a border fabric, these were just ad hoc dyeing to use up left overs from the Hestia costume, and the border will depend on either what is left or maybe a shopping trip or something. I definitely haven't got that far in planning yet :wink:

[Marianne G.]

Watched the first class now. More questions: where is the resource library that Laura Nownes talks about?
I have done a search but nothing came up although I did find other things that I had no idea was on the site ops:
I aso got some spray starch. If I don't like the smell I will try my hand at the homemade variety if I find it helps me to be more accurate.
What a gorgeous set of hand dyed fabrics - very summery. Must make my own choice now.
Marianne

[Catherine S.]

Hi Marianne, the resource library is in classrooms, then Laura Nownes, then view lessons. The resources are the ones about fabric, thread, sewing machines, etc. Just general info for us. Welcome to the forum. Hope you have alot of fun, and learn alot. The forum can be addictive, so enjoy.

[Marianne G.]

Cathy,
Thank you - now I get it! It is the short, sharp videos listed before the class today. Wow, how silly of me :shock: I have actually already watched them once but will watch them again tonight. Thanks again.
I am sure I will have lots of fun here. Must try to get some sewing done in between running around the whole web-site like a headless chicken
Marianne

[Marianne G.]

Hi Marianne, and welcome to the forum. I am not doing this exercise but I am watching the videos to see if you can teach this old dog a few new tricks. I do not starch my fabrics but I have be sewing for a very long time. I think it would be very advantageous to a beginner just because it is easier to cut a stiff fabric than one that is soft. Also, I think that the starch keeps the fabric from slipping when you are sewing two pieces together. Hope you have fun with this and learn a lot. These girls are a lot of fun.

[Marianne G.]

Hello Ritzy!
I am looking forward to trying the starch if it can help not only when you piece but also for cutting because I always get the "ditch" or "valley" if I fold fabric like Laura Nownes shows and that she warns against. I tried cutting like this the first time after I had watched Sharon Peterson cut long strips right across the fabric by folding but gave up after realising I would have to cut several inches away in the middle anyway. I am getting excited especially now I have chosen my fabrics (mostly fat quarters so I would not have to cut long strips :lol: )
Marianne