Burp Cloths and Bibs on the Longarm II

Finished Bibs & Burp Cloths!

It was a really nice day here in Littlefield, TX today...not too warm, and just a tad muggy.

Decided to finish up the Bibs and Burp Cloths (Click here for my previous post for how I did these on my Longarm machine). 

Binding not real good...that's what I get for trying to use a new fangled binding foot.  Flimsy plastic foot.  Works great on plain fabric, but not on quilted bibs! 
Here are more pics:

The last set (above) are kind of mismatched...but still cute.  The bib has a pocket (red/white dots)...this is done just with adding a folded piece of fabric before the last stitching on the longarm machine.  All binding is done after taking off the longarm & cutting out the bibs/burp cloths.

I haven't uploaded these to my website yet, so until then, if you would like the quilt/embroidery applique files, please email me at margecam52@yahoo.com  and let me know what format to send.  Also, these are not small items, the bib (finished) measures 13 x 9-1/2", and the burp cloth is 19 x 11"...so you need a really large hoop for embroidery. 

I did mine on my TL18LS, using my Qbot.  The designs are just the outline stitches...a red & a blue for the bib, and the same for the burp cloth file.  I loaded the backing flannel, put on the thin batting (optional), stitched the first color, which gives the placement for the top fabric (and the pocket if you want one), then you run the 2nd color (I used the same color thread...color is just to make the machine  pause while you set the fabric). 
Next, I'll figure out how to do these on the longarm & leave room to "Birth" them once they are off the longarm. 

Until next blog...off to watch a quilt show (The Quilt Show w/ Alex Anderson & Ricky Tims).

Photos to Fabric Using BubbleJetSet2000

*Reposted from my QuiltersClubofAmerica blogs.  Trying to get all my blogs in one place.*

Making Fabric Printer Sheets

Hi everyone...thought I'd show you all how I do my fabric sheets.

Picture 1: For this blog, I'll be doing one small fabric only. I usually do two yards at a time, sometimes three.

Below shows the fabric folded in the BJSet2000 (the maker recomends laying out one sheet at a time flat in an oblong glass container...didn't have one. I find it does not really matter, as long as the BJSet2000 is absorbed into all the layers.

This is what the bottles look like. the large (32 oz) blue label is the BJSet2000, the smaller, orange label is the BJSet Rinse (I use a capfull in a quart of water...so it goes a long way).

Picture 2: The above picture shows the fabric when I have squeezed it to make sure it's completely covered in the BJSet2000 solution. I soak it for 15 minutes...sometimes a bit more if I am doing more than a half yard ( 1/4 yard shown here). Make sure that the fabric gets fully saturated in the solution...turn the fabric every 5 minutes if your container is small like mine.

Picture 3: Above is the fabric after I have removed it from the solution. I lay it on an absorbant cloth (this is one of those "miracle" cloths...but a regular wash rag or towel works just fine. BJSet2000 instructions say not to wring the fabric...I do with no problem. The solution is reusable...so I save as much as possible. If I am doing several yards...I first squeeze (ok, I wring the heck out of it to save as much solution as possible, since it goes back into the bottle & reused) out the excess and lay on large towel, or a folded sheet...NOTE: use an old towel/sheet...and don't get ink or tea on the towel/sheet...it will be permanent! I once used a towel that had BJSet2000 still on it to put my cartridge from the ink jet printer on and refill...I have a spotted towel...been washed 50 or more times...still as bright as when I did it...guess that means my prints are still bright, lol.

Picture 4: Above shows the freezer paper marked for two printer sheets. Note that on the left the measurement goes to the edge of the paper...you really DON'T want this...you want a bit of space so you can cut on a line to get perfect alignment between paper & fabric. This freezer paper is pressed (shiny side down) onto the ironing surface. This helps keep the paper flat and in one spot. It also allows the steam iron to shrink the freezer paper...yep it does shrink...like cotton...not much, but just enough to cause problems sometimes.

Picture 5: Sorry, it's fuzzy...was doing one handed. This shows the cut out sheets...the foremost is the fabric side, the under sheet is showing the paper side. You are now ready to print!

Picture 6:...sorry...still one handed, so fuzzy. Here I have a teflon pressing sheet over my photo printout & I'm pressing with a steam iron (can be dry...I prefer steam). I do this for laser prints only. For ink jet prints...you just wait 1/2 hour, then rinse. Laser printers don't get hot enough to set the toner into the fabric...so pressing is needed. See that Tweetie Bird sticking out...that is my paper test print...it's on plain paper...just to see if it looks ok.

Tweetie is printed and ready to be rinsed in the BJSet Rinse. I show the printout fabric pulled away from the freezer paper...you want to see that toner on the freezer paper as shown here..if you don't...you want to press again. Once this is rinsed & dried..it's ready to use in any sewing/quilting project.



This Tweetie is actually a photo of some fabric I have. I enlarged it & darkened it a bit, as laser printers print lighter than an inkjet. Once the picture is ironed though, as you can tell...the color becomes more vivid, almost matching the paper print perfectly.



This would be a great method for repairing antique tops...you can scan the fabric needed and print a sheet of it.

You can find BubbleJetSet2000 at many fabric/quilting shops, or you can go to:
http://www.dharmatrading.com
Dharma Trading Company
Freezer paper can usually be found in the same isle as foil, baggies, etc., at your local grocery store.
Dharma also carries precut sheets of freezer paper.


I'm off to quilt some more! Till next blog...see ya!... oh, I'm an official Texan now, so.... See Yawl'!





Bibs! I made bibs on my TL18LS Longarm!

I can't get into my other blog site...so here's the latest quilting/sewing for Margie's Quilting Adventures!

We have a new great grandchild (first, actually) due in February 2013, so was looking at bibs.  Bought one at the Dollar Store...cheapo...used it as the basis for my embroidery/Qbot applique design.  The design is a simple outline of a bib...copied and changed the color of the first outline from blue to red...then pasted the copied (blue) outline onto the red....saved it as bib1. 

Following pics show how I did these on my longarm (although, I could do one at a time on my AD860 embroidery machine)..three across at a time....

I loaded yellow flannel and a thin (3 oz) poly batting (batting is not needed, it was there, so I added it.  Next, I chose some fabrics I thought would look nice with a yellow backing.

Then, I marked out where I would place the first bib.  I wasn't sure of the size of the bib, so I marked for the first one.  The next two, I didn't mark for...I cut the fabric and used it's size to do the 4 point scaling (proportional NO) in Qbot.

This is what the first layout stitching looks like.  You cut and layout the top fabric to cover this outline by at least 1/4".  Pin in several places to hold the fabric in place (could use spray baste, but I didn't want to).

Qbot waiting for me to hit the GO button, to stitch out the next color.  Here is where you lay out the top fabric, and make sure it's lined up for stitching.  To make placement easier...I pulled out about 4" of thread from the needle & snipped the top thread at the surface of the batting...this let's you put the fabric all the way under the needle (makes smoothing out the fabric easier).

Closeup of the fabric laid out and pinned for top stitching the outline.  See that yellow pinhead?  You don't want to pin there!  Pin up or down 2"...that pin is at the neckline stitching...my needle missed it by a thread!



The finished bib outline.  You don't cut away the fabric at this point.  I cut away a small amount to show you how much I will leave when I cut out the bibs..the outline stitches will be buried in the binding.

Finished bibs!  You can get three across (placed top to bottom, as shown) on 44" width of fabric.

Can you see the quilting on the yellow bib?  I followed the blue lines in the fabric.  The middle bib has an appliqued bear (done on my embroidery machine before placing on the longarm), and the bright bib has a catchall pocket at the bottom (red).  I took a square of red fabric, folded it in half...laid it onto the bib..secured the top edges where the outline stitching will happen ...keeps the hopping foot from catching in the fold (yep, I did that!). 

Now to go get some binding, or make some...naw, I'll buy some, LOL.  Hm mm, wonder what a binding machine costs?!...may have to check on that!  

I also have some sew in velcro I'll use to close the bib...you just sew a little square of the soft side to the top of one "arm" and the sticky/stiff side to the underside of the other "arm", easy peasy!

I'll post the burp cloths & other goodies I try doing on my longarm...wouldn't a nice hooded towel, receiving blanket, etc., make a cute ensemble as a gift for a new baby? 

If you would like a copy of the bib outline for your personal use, click the following link to email me : Bib outline .  Be sure to put BIB OUTLINE as your subject line...and also tell me what longarm machine you have.  I have Qbot...but can do the design in most formats, including embroidery.

Please use the design only for your own personal use (yes, you can sell them, but no COMMERCIAL mass producing).

Off to dig out some binding...Think I have the red & yellow...just have to wait for the white.

Oh Goody, found my blogspot again!

Yay! I found my blogspot again! LOL. I think I have two of these, because I couldn't find the first one.

The quilt to the right is called "Blazing Glory". I did this in blues, but the pattern used rusts and golds...thus the "Blazing". I made a few errors in quilting (all freehand on my TL18LS)...but it was fun to make and quilt.

Since I first posted, I've become the owner of a TL18LS (2009 model) & a Qbot quilting robot. I love them both. They do the job that the more expensive tools do, but at a cost I can afford.

I am now the main moderator (only the owner do to starting the group...but I think it's a group effort by everyone on the group) of the TinLizzieLongarm group on Yahoo:

TinLizzieLongarm Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TinLizzieLongarm

I started the group when the old one was shut down. We discuss lots of things besides our TL products, which include the TL18, TL18LS, Queen Quilter, Ansley, Viking 18, etc. We also discuss the SS/SSII (Shirley Stitcher by TL), Qbot, and anything to do with our products, and quilting with them.

I have been working on learning to use the Qbot & it's basic software...thinking about upgrading to 4D Quilt Creator software...just not sure I need it, since I have several other embroidery softwares.

I am a blogger!

I decided to start a blog here on blogspot. It's not my first, I have them on Yahoo, Google, Myspace, etc... but they are mostly family oriented. I will try to keep this one related to quilting, but won't promise!

The photo to the left is from our trip to Mexico. Corinna (Cori) is on the left & is our oldest girl. With her is Bonnie...heaven sent for sure! There is just not enough ways to thank her for all the help & friendship she has given Cori.

My online friends are aware that Cori (as well as our son, Lon Jr) have Usher Syndrome, and Cori, as a result, has less than 5% (considerably less) of her vision remaining. For us, the hardest part of our decision to have the treatment was deciding which would be worse; have the treatment & get little or no result, or don't have the treatment & spend the rest of our lives wondering if it would have helped...we chose to have the procedure.

Cori & our great family friend & helper Bonnie came from Seattle, WA, and we flew in from Lubbock, TX, meeting in Dallas, TX. We shared the flight from Dallas to McAllen, TX, then drove to Weslaco, TX . Dr. Sapse, met us at the Holiday Inn in Weslaco, and brought with him, Nui, who also has