Hello Lofty Sewers! It’s TJ from Studio Mailbox here bringing you an update on my quilt project this fine first Friday in August.
Snip, snip, snip. I am so proud to report that all the sewing is done. Snip, snip. And now all I have to do is go around – snip, snip – with these clippers – snip, snip – and cut these little lines – snip, snip – around more than 300 of these squares! Argh. (Anybody want to come over and work from the other side?)
My Aunt solved my biggest problem when I was explaining to her on the phone how worried I was about holding the darn thing up under the needle. “Time to move your project to the kitchen table,” she said.
Ah-hah! So that’s how you get extra support when you start putting together the big pieces. The table becomes the quilt’s bra while your family eats on the floor. Genius! This created even more incentive to finish sewing since my 7-year old was walking around with sticky fingers and crumbs flying.
The handiest tool I found for the snipping job are Fiskars spring-assisted scissors. This means if the button is open they stay in open mode and you have to squeeze down on them to get them to cut. The good news is that they are sharp right down to the very tip. The bad news is they can’t handle four layers of fabric if two of them are denim. This means that around hundreds of squares I don’t have to just snip once in every spot. I have to snip through half of the thickness and then go back in and snip the other half in that same spot. Err meh gawd. Not fun. And what a mess. I can imagine this quilt is going to have a chronic dandruff condition for awhile until it fuzzes completely out. Snip, snip, snip.
For those of you who have been following along and know me a little by now it can’t be a surprise to announce what a weenie I am with the snips too. What are the chances I’m going to hit a seam eventually? Think positive TJ! Snip, snip, snip.
Here is a summary of what I’ve learned from this little quilting project:
- 4″ squares are pretty small.
- The end size of a project is a lot smaller than when you lay out the pieces flat and look at it. I thought this thing would nearly fit a twin bed. It barely covers our daybed. Who am I kidding? It’s an over-sized baby blanket.
- Crate the puppy while laying out your work.
- Accurate cutting would serve one well. In future attempts I will try to cut straight lines and make 90 degree angles. Imagine that.
- Denim is heavy. Again, obvious to some. I suggest a weight training regimen.
- Minky is slinky. Cuddle can be a muddle.
- Just when you’re about to finish a seam the bobbin will inevitably run out of thread. Roll with it or, just go to bed.
- Don’t sew tired, while crabby or distracted.
- On TJ’s to-do list: make seam ripper holster.
- Just when you think you’re done you realize you have several more hours finishing/tying off/snipping. Snip, snip. Suck it up buttercup.
TJ Goerlitz is a mixed media artist who pretends to be a seamstress whenever possible. Come connect with her on her site, Studio Mailbox, her Facebook page, or in Pinterest. Join in the story of the denim quilt every first Friday of the month where she will share her progress (or non-progress) right here with the readers of The Sewing Loft.
Comments & Reviews
Congratulations on your success and it is lovely!
Thank you Wendy, I appreciate the praise! When I got those last sections together I walked around my house for an hour feeling like I had invented quilting!! LOL
Just had my laugh for the day. Suck it up buttercup!!! Gotta remember that one.
Glad I could give you a giggle Judy!
Hello TJ, great idea from your Aunt, lots of us take over the dining table as it is the next largest piece of flat surface besides the floor….And good idea on the Fiskars nippers, but those are nippers, better choice would of been the spring loaded Fishars Shears, they work on lots of heavy fabrics, including 2 layers of denim, also leather……I have a pair and they work great on all my denim projects where I need only to cut less than an inch of fabric,,,,,Check them out, they are great…..
Lori thank you so much! I owe you and DownHome (comment above) for the awesome tip. It just goes to show what a difference the right tool can make. The one I bought was at a smaller store and it was the only spring loaded scissor in the store. I went to the huge JoAnns last night and got the last pair of the heavy duty rag quilter shears you’ve suggested. I am nearly drunk with the power of them!
Does the minky fabric “fray” when snipped like woven fabrics or just stay in the little sections you cut?
I am wondering this very exact same thing! I hope it looks decent once it’s washed. I don’t really expect it to fray but I’m hoping the jeans fabric will be puffy enough that it’s not too noticeable. I’m hoping whatever happens it looks decent. I’m going to be super bummed if I hate the backside of my very first quilt!!
Congratulations! It’s all together! I understand when you finish a rag quilt, you run it through the washer & dryer a few times, & that helps divest it of a lot if the “dandruff.” Make sure you keep checking the lint filter, so you don’t get a fire. 🙂 Great job! Another UFO finished! You are so inspiring! Keep up the good work!
Susan you are so kind, thank you! I never even thought of a dryer fire. One of my aunts suggested the laundromat for the first washing. I hate to plug up their equipment but they are industrial machines after all. I’m so happy you feel inspired. It makes sharing my crazy stories so worth it!
Rag quilts are such fun especially when you are done making it! LOL These are a MUST have for snipping the seams: http://www.joann.com/fiskars-softouch-spring-action-8-1-2in-rag-quilter-snip/7301112.html
The blades are shorter than scissors and stronger so that you can cut thru several layers of fabric without a problem.
Thank you DownHome! I went to the fabric store last night and got a pair. WOW I am so much happier… thank goodness I can get through the rest of the rows a lot easier. I owe you one!! LOL
Have you ever tried the tool used to “fluff” chenille? That might work instead of doing all of that clipping, tho I have not used it myself.
Thank you Jeanne. That is a good idea. My same aunts have me a quick chenille tutorial once. I don’t even remember the tool but they will know and I could use theirs and see!