Bias Tape Class

I just got done with watching lectures and taking all my classes at QuiltCon Together. I took some pictures as I worked through the bias tape class with Latifah Saafir. There were some interesting techniques that I hadn't tried before that she demonstrated really clearly in the class videos. If you're interested in using bias tape in quilts at all, I really recommend taking a class with her.

A pile of bias strips cut really quickly and accurately.

For a seam guide, I used washi tape, which looked cool, but in retrospect, the blue painter's tape might have worked out better. It was a cool technique for joining the strips that took a bit of fiddling around to figure out.

It worked, it actually worked! I know I've used this tool at least once before, but it's been a very long time, it's a little magical. The 

All the practice blocks from the class. I don't feel like an expert on bias tape or anything, but I definitely have a much better understanding of the process. The design for my tree branches quilt is still in progress, more on that later, and no, it won't be done in shades of pink. I might make this quilt first to practice a little more before tackling my own design.

Tracing Trees

I started converting my picture of the curving oak trees into a state that I could abstract out the lines for a quilt design.

First, I printed out the black and white version and traced it. But it kind of ending up being too busy and I got lost in all the details.

To get some of the details out of the picture I flipped the printout over. 

Then I traced the flipped over printout. I think this was much better and will be easier to transition into a quilt design. The class I'm taking uses various size widths of bias tape to make a quilt top, and this sketch will lend itself pretty well to that. I'm feeling pretty ready for that class now.

I also had the idea of using the shape of the trail that we hiked as an additional design element.

I traced the trail that we followed and it looks like kind of like vague country outlines. I think that it's also the wrong size to incorporate with the size of the tree tracing. I'm thinking this might be good to use as the quilting design once the top is done with the tree outline curves, but blown up much much bigger. Almost like the topographic curve lines on the map printout give another dimension.

 

Handwork Supplies

Recognizing the upcoming increase in my handwork efforts I did a mini online shop for new supplies to make it easier. I can't resist a coupon sometimes, and "they" seem to know it. As part of the QuiltCon Together experience, we've gotten some great offers from the sponsors and vendors, one of which was from Brooklyn Haberdashery. 

I ordered two things that were irresistible to me. A ruby red leather scissors sheath.

And a magnetic ceramic button by Cohana, in this lovely sage green. My plan is to use it as a needle rest because I'm always losing my needle when I set down my handwork.