Pins

I was teaching yesterday at Primitive Patches when one of my students asked me which type of pins I use and recommend. It astounds me the number of people who come to class with crowbars for pins and wonder why their seams don’t meet! When I made one of my Giant Dahlia quilts I came across one very fine pin in my pin container, but I have no idea how it came to be there. I found that I constantly searched for this one pin because I got more accurate seams when I used it, especially where seams had to meet. Eventually I found out that it was a Clover Patchwork Pin (Fine) Art No. 2507. These pins are only 0.4mm  round x 36mm long. Because they are so fine they allow the piecer to achieve more accurate results. I ended up contacting the supplier to find out where to purchase them because they were hard to find and some of the shops I work in now stock them.  Everyone I have recommended them to has loved them. They are not the cheapest pins, costing around $15.00 Au for 100 but they are worth it. Not the pin to lend to everyone in class at that price!
Another pin worth trying for accurate matching of seams is another Clover product, Fork Pins Art 240. These are double pronged pins with a bend for easier handling. When matching seams one prong is inserted on either side of the seam and nothing moves. These are also not cheap at around $17Au for 35 pins but well worth a try. I am currently piecing a quilt using a combination of both these pins and I’m not having to  unpick because my seams don’t meet. If a jobs worth doing, it’s worth doing well, as my Mum always says.
Having the right tools for the job makes life easier in the long run.
Look out for both these products in your local Patchwork shop and if you can’t find them let me know and I can get them in for you.
Happy Piecing!
Michelle

Pattern Price Cut!

Due to troubled economic times I have decided to give a bit back and encourage the quilters amongst us to keep quilting. Prices on all patterns on Michelle Yeo Quilt Designs have been reduced for both download and patterns by post. Visit the site and take a look!

The Shadow Star pattern is currently on special as are the accompanying templates.  Save further by purchasing the Shadow Star pattern and template set.

Keep an eye out over the next day or so for a new pattern: Feathered Mariner’s Compass. If you love Feathered Stars and Mariner’s Compass blocks this may be the quilt you’ve been waiting for. The pattern provides instructions for both traditional  hand & machine piecing and also includes the foundation piecing patterns and directions. The new Carpenter’s Wheel templates will also be available on the site over the next few days. (I just need time to photograph them!)

Enjoy!

New Fabric Range

Yesterday I dropped into Somerset Patchwork, which is one of the shops I teach in, to get some extra fabric for a new project I am working on. Somerset has the new Colonies Cheddar range from Windham in stock and it is Yummy! It is cheddars, poison greens and navy. Amongst it are 2 tone stripes, both narrow and larger ones with a floral print, small florals, spots & 2 tone paisleys to name a few. I just had to take some home with me to put into my new quilt, which also has reds from the Lancaster ranges and shirtings. If you are into reproduction fabrics then check out the new Colonies Cheddar range. It will add a zing to any quilt.

There are some great new repro ranges out that are worth looking at including Sturbridge Calicos and Vicksberg both by Judie Rothermel. Keep an eye out also for Inkwell which should be here within the next few months. It is a range of blacks and creams. I’ve already designed that quilt!

New Templates Coming!

After enquiries as to whether I had templates for Carpenter’s Wheel, I have finally had some made and have just received my first stock of 8 sets. These templates will be very useful for both hand and machine piecing and provide the holes for marking the seam allowances for set-in seams, thus removing the guess work and associated anxiety often experienced when piecing such blocks. They can be used to make both the Carpenter’s Wheel and Antique Carpenter’s Wheel quilts on the site and include the templates for the Le Moyne Star blocks which are the cornerstone blocks in the Carpenter’s Wheel quilt.. These templates can also be used in other 8 pointed star blocks such as Star Crystals, Ponsettias, Dutch Rose, Starry night & Star Flowers. All blocks will be 12″ finished.

The Carpenter’s Wheel template set retails for $22.00AU for 7 templates plus postage

They are available for sale now and the details will be posted on the site shortly. If you are interested in purchasing a set in the meantime send me an email via the Contact Michelle page on the website.