New Type of Display for Search Results

Sometimes teenagers can be good sources of information. I recently learned about http://www.searchme.com/ from one. I don't think it will replace Google or other search engines for me but I do like it. Instead of displaying short descriptions of the search result matches, it displays an actual web page.

Click here to see the results I got for desert quilts. As usual there were some results that were useful to me and some that were not. I can save the pages that are useful into a stack.

Free Patterns from Vendors

I got my Connecting Threads catalog the other day and discovered that they have a lot of free quilting pattern downloads available on their site. If you scroll down on the right side of this screen, you'll find a box labeled "Free Patterns from Vendors". You can click there to see what is available. Bird Brain Designs usually has a free pattern for embroidery or wool work.

If you have some other favorite links for free patterns from vendors, let me know and I'll add them to our list. You can email nimblethimbles@gmail.com or just click below to leave a comment.

A note from Kathy

At the next meeting (July 15) we will be drawing names out of the bucket for prizes for
UFO, stash builders, and charity quilts. Also, the August 5th
meeting is Carol Rich talking about appraising quilts.

I'm looking for volunteers (3) to come do a Quilter's University for the Prickly Piecers in Ahwatukee on Thurs. Sept. 18th at 7:00pm. I will be happy to give a ride to any volunteers. -- Kathy

July Meetings

July 1st is Gudrun giving a trunk show, which should be pretty neat. Also we are going to do a book and pattern exchange so everyone can bring patterns/ books they no longer want.

Power Paws has agreed to do the program at the July 15th NT meeting. The meeting should be fun, we may have some 15 week old Golden Retriever puppies at the meeting.

Hope to see you all there!

Google Reader - Quilting Articles

I've added a new section on the right side of the blog. It is a box of articles from Google Reader. There will be articles on quilting there that will vary periodically. You can click on any articles of interest to you in order to read them. In some cases, once the article comes up you may only be getting a summary and may have to click on the article title to see the whole thing.

If you are interested in making the news of any type you select, come to you, you can sign up for your own free Google Reader account. Then, you search for and sign up for various feeds of news stories that would be of interest to you. No, I am not advertising for Google, just letting you know what is out there.

Sue’s Tips on Preparing Your Quilt for a Long arm Quilter

(These tips are also pretty good for preparing your quilt for your own quilting too.)

· Press well!!!
· Get all of the stray threads and hanging threads off the quilt. You might want to use a lint roller to assist. You don’t want anything that could get caught in the sewing foot and cause a rip in your quilt.
· Get the borders on the quilt properly. Measure through the middle of your quilt horizontally and vertically and cut your borders to this size. This will make your quilt square up properly. Back tack all seams on the border. Consider adding ½ inch extra to the border to allow for truing up when trimming.
· You might want to straight stitch around the outside edge of the quilt 1/8 of an inch from the edge to prevent stretching.
· Try to keep all fabric weights and types similar.
· On backs rip fabric at edge to find the straight of grain. Use this as your straight edge. When sewing seams use 1” seam allowance and then trim down to ½”. Use a smaller stitch length on the back and always back tack at the start of seams. Always press seams to one side on the backing, do not press them open. the backing needs to be a minimum of 3 inches bigger than the top all the way around - 4 or 5 is better.
· If you provide batting to the quilter, always provide the package it came in so that quilter can determine how closely the quilting needs to be done.
· Make sure you discuss clearly with your quilter what you want done on the quilt and what color thread you want used.
· If you are allergic to cats or dogs, ask the quilter if they have pets in their home. If they do, you should consider using another quilter because it is almost impossible to keep pet hairs 100% out of quilts.

AZ Blankets for Kids

Just a reminder that the Prickly Piecers are holding a sew in for the Az blankets for kids on Saturday the 28th at the firestation at 40th & Chandler. I hope that you and some of your group will join us for this happening. Thanks Diane Hansen , Prickly Piecers