WOW! Pacific International Quilt Festival XXI was bigger and better than ever this year. The quilts were breathtaking and the vendors were irristible. The Mancuso brothers, and staff, work very hard to produce a show that appeals to many levels of quilters and fiber artists. They don't dissapoint, they deliver!
If you've never experienced the Pacific International Quilt Festival get your calendar out right now and mark the dates for 2013. The festival will be held October 17 - 20, 2013 at the Santa Clara Convention Center.
Plan to attend next year and treat yourself to a truly great experience.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Busy October
October 3, 2012
What a busy time of year!!! Not only is it harvest time in the Sacramento Valley but the WCQA A Course on Judging Quilts and Wearable Art is next week!!!!!
The staff and instructors are really looking forward to teaching the course. I must say the course is intense. There's lots of information to absorb by the students. They will even have homework. That's not a very nice thing when you want to see the fabulous Pacific International Quilt Festival show but, in order to be well trained, it is necessary.
On another note: New course dates and locations will be announced in January, 2013. If you are considering the possibility of judge's training check back for more information.
Monday, July 16, 2012
The WCQJA class in October is full. We have a wait list. If you are interested in taking A Course in Judging Quilts and Wearable Art we would be happy to add you to our mailing list. The next course is not scheduled at this time but if you are on our wait list or mailing list you will receive notification as soon as the schedule becomes available.
To join the mailing list send your name and e-mail address to: Jody Ohrt at: quiltmarm@succeed.net.
To join the mailing list send your name and e-mail address to: Jody Ohrt at: quiltmarm@succeed.net.
Let's talk about "Hensteeth". Do you know what the term means? It is the description of the stitches that sometimes show in a seam. The cause of hensteeth showing is ususally caused by one of three problems.
First - Thread Tension - If your stitches are showing after you gently press the seam check the thread tension. Your tension may be too loose causing the stitches to show. Adjust your tension until you get a stitch that is of even tension on the front and back of the seam. Loose stitching will not secure your blocks. It is important to correct your tension so your seams are secure. Why spend so much time creating a quilt that may not endure wear, washings and lots of love?
Second - Pressing - We all like nice flat blocks - but - pressing the seam so flat that the stitches show is over doing it. The seam should lay flat but still cover the stitches. Hensteeth may be caused by the way the seam was pressed. When pressing seams go easy and press with care.
Third - "Unsewn" seams - Sometimes a seam will "unsew" itself on the edges. This usually occurs within the seam allowance. If this happens, and is not corrected, the stitches can continue to "unsew" themselves. When they are added to another section of the block the stitches will show and the seam will not be straight. Check your piecing to make sure the seams are sewn from edge to edge.
Checklist for "Hensteeth":
1. Thread tension
2. Pressing
3. Unsewn seams
First - Thread Tension - If your stitches are showing after you gently press the seam check the thread tension. Your tension may be too loose causing the stitches to show. Adjust your tension until you get a stitch that is of even tension on the front and back of the seam. Loose stitching will not secure your blocks. It is important to correct your tension so your seams are secure. Why spend so much time creating a quilt that may not endure wear, washings and lots of love?
Second - Pressing - We all like nice flat blocks - but - pressing the seam so flat that the stitches show is over doing it. The seam should lay flat but still cover the stitches. Hensteeth may be caused by the way the seam was pressed. When pressing seams go easy and press with care.
Third - "Unsewn" seams - Sometimes a seam will "unsew" itself on the edges. This usually occurs within the seam allowance. If this happens, and is not corrected, the stitches can continue to "unsew" themselves. When they are added to another section of the block the stitches will show and the seam will not be straight. Check your piecing to make sure the seams are sewn from edge to edge.
Checklist for "Hensteeth":
1. Thread tension
2. Pressing
3. Unsewn seams
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Judging Kit Quilts
Today's post is regarding kit quilts. I was recently asked why a judge wouldn't judge a kit quilt. I don't know of any judge that has refused to judge anything that the venue had in a category. Kit quilts can have their own category or they can be included in one of the general categories. The decision is up to the hosting venue.
A judge is under the direction of the guidelines set by
the venue (guild, fair etc.). It is not the judge’s job to determine what will
be judged. The venue sets the categories for the judge to evaluate. (My guild
has a category for kit quilts.)
If a category has been created for kit quilts it is up to the person entering the quilt to be
honest about whether or not they are entering a kit quilt. The judge is taught
to judge what is presented to them. If there is a question about an entry in a
category the judge may discuss it with the venue representative to possibly move
the quilt to another category (this usually occurs when size or genre is unclear). The judge should not determine whether
the quilt is a kit - the judge did not make the quilt. There are so many kits available today that it would be impossible for a judge to know what was a kit and what wasn't. The judge and the venue representative must
rely on the word of the person entering the quilt.
So - remember - the venue sets the categories. The judge works within the categories. As a venue representative in charge of judging if you want kit quilts separate from non-kit quilts - simply create a Kit Quilt category.
Hope that clears up a little bit about kit quilts.
Jody
Sunday, May 13, 2012
AQS has a new Certified Appraiser
Congratulations to Dawn Licker!!!
Dawn has studied and worked very hard to achieve a long time goal. She traveled to Paducah, Kentucky recently to take her final exam to become a Certified Appraiser. Last week she was notified that she aced the test and is now an American Quilters Society Appraiser.
Dawn has had an interest in antique quilts almost from the beginning of her quilting career. She has collected quilts for many years. Her collection is focused on 19th century quilts. Dawn's collection and interest in quilter's of another time lead her to the quest of becoming an appraiser.
From all of us at WCQJA - A Big Hat's Off to you Dawn! Job well done!
Dawn has studied and worked very hard to achieve a long time goal. She traveled to Paducah, Kentucky recently to take her final exam to become a Certified Appraiser. Last week she was notified that she aced the test and is now an American Quilters Society Appraiser.
Dawn has had an interest in antique quilts almost from the beginning of her quilting career. She has collected quilts for many years. Her collection is focused on 19th century quilts. Dawn's collection and interest in quilter's of another time lead her to the quest of becoming an appraiser.
From all of us at WCQJA - A Big Hat's Off to you Dawn! Job well done!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Should Binding Mitered Corners Be Sewn Closed?
Is summer here or is spring just teasing us? My little corner of the world is going to be above 90 today. Now I have to dig out all my cooler clothes. I sure hope that doesn't lead to cleaning out a whole closet!!!!
Recently, a question was posed to me about binding corners. The question is this:
When hand finishing the binding on the back of the quilt should the mitered corners be sewn closed on the front and back of the quilt?
From a judges standpoint sewing the miters closed on the binding is not something we comment on. Sewing the corners is a decision to be made by the quilter. The judge is looking for square, 90 degree corners.
On a personal note, I always sew my miters closed. The extra stitches help the corner keep it's
"square" 90 degree edge. After the binding has been applied to the front of the quilt and I am hand sewing it on the back - I come up to the miter - fold it to 90 degrees then stitch the fold closed from the bottom to the top - put my needle through the top of the miter to go to the front of the quilt - I then sew the front miter closed from top to bottom - put my needle through to the back of the quilt and continue to apply the binding repeating the this process for each corner. I take small stitches that do not show when I'm sewing my miters.
I hope that helps answer the binding corner question. Remember your binding should be filled with batting and corners 90 degrees.
Until next time I hope your days are filled with smiles and lots of quilting.
Jody
Recently, a question was posed to me about binding corners. The question is this:
When hand finishing the binding on the back of the quilt should the mitered corners be sewn closed on the front and back of the quilt?
From a judges standpoint sewing the miters closed on the binding is not something we comment on. Sewing the corners is a decision to be made by the quilter. The judge is looking for square, 90 degree corners.
On a personal note, I always sew my miters closed. The extra stitches help the corner keep it's
"square" 90 degree edge. After the binding has been applied to the front of the quilt and I am hand sewing it on the back - I come up to the miter - fold it to 90 degrees then stitch the fold closed from the bottom to the top - put my needle through the top of the miter to go to the front of the quilt - I then sew the front miter closed from top to bottom - put my needle through to the back of the quilt and continue to apply the binding repeating the this process for each corner. I take small stitches that do not show when I'm sewing my miters.
I hope that helps answer the binding corner question. Remember your binding should be filled with batting and corners 90 degrees.
Until next time I hope your days are filled with smiles and lots of quilting.
Jody
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