Summer is so not my thing, and in southern Arizona, it seems to last FOREVER! I often change which quilty things I'm concentrating on based on how hot it is. After all, who wants to iron when it's 110F?
I actually like FMQ in the summer, because after the first day when I'm smack dab in the center of the quilt, I'm usually working my way around the edges so there's not usually that much quilt on my lap. I had been using Machingers gloves, which I really like, but they are so hot!
Here's my first game changer
Swan Amity quilting gloves! DH bought these for my birthday at a local quilt shop when I dropped off my Bernina for a spa treatment. The tops of the gloves are a very breathable fabric, and I was amazed how much cooler having two fingers out of gloves was. These gloves work with touch screens, on my Janome and my iPhone. Is it just me or does someone always text you as soon as you put your quilting gloves on? Happens to me almost every time!
The suede is quite grippy, and the padding is a nice addition. My palms are really big compared to my short fingers. The mediums I'm wearing here fit my fingers just right in length, but my palm would likely do better in a large. Overall, the mediums are probably the best fit I can get in this brand, and the velcro at the wrist does keep the glove from riding up, even if they aren't quite long enough for my palm.
I'm not giving up my Machingers just yet. My sewing studio is on the basement, and can get quite cold in the winter. Those Machingers feel really good when my hands are cold down in the basement.
Patsy Thompson FMQ DVD's There are lots of FMQ instructors out there, and they are really great. The thing is, to find one that makes sense to you! It wasn't until I starting using Patsy Thompson's DVD's that I started getting better at FMQ. The quilt those DVD's are on? Yeah, she taught me that quilting design. It's part of the rotating axis family. Now that I've gone through Patsy Thompson's stuff, I better understand teachers like Leah Day and Angela Walters. For me, Patsy Thompson was a better entry into FMQ. I like the dvd format too, so I can rewatch things easily, and I don't have to deal with YouTube ads.
Slotted rulers! I have most of the June Tailor Shape Cut slotted rulers, and all the Stripology ones. They both have their good points and bad. June Tailor rulers are less expensive, and they are also less sturdy, but you can buy them at JoAnn with a coupon so the price difference is substantial. If you want to go Stripology because they are sturdier, I use the Stripology squared and the mini the most. The XL ruler is so huge it's unwieldy, and the original was ill-designed, but I don't think it's being made anymore.
If you travel with quilting stuff at all here is the best part of having the mini Stripology ruler.
You can stick it in this 8x11 Omnigrid travel folder, it will still fasten just fine, and it protects the ruler. If I'm quilting on the go, I always pre-cut any strips I need, and I'm just sub-cutting on the road. The mini usually works just fine for me.
I've had this Sunbeam Travel iron for several years and it's still going strong. Funny thing is, when I want to travel I always have to hunt it down, because I've learned it's the absolute best when pressing smaller units, so I use it all the time!
It's not really quilting related, but who knows what this is?
It's a bodkin, used to pull things through casings.
You slide that little ring down so it clamps hard onto whatever you need to pull through and it's much easier to grab through the fabric than the old safety pin standby. It made stringing those 50 drawstring bags I made recently a breeze!
I've been putting those skills I learned from Patsy Thompson to work.
The quilting shows up a bit better on the back.
How about some freehand fans?
I'm getting some finishes in now!
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