Comments on: Are You a Newbie? http://independentneedleworknews.com/2008/03/08/are-you-a-newbie/ ~ It's like CNN, but all needlework news, all the time! ~ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:17:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Norma http://independentneedleworknews.com/2008/03/08/are-you-a-newbie/#comment-764 Norma Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:45:25 +0000 http://independentneedleworknews.com/2008/03/08/are-you-a-newbie/#comment-764 I've been cqing less than two years but more than one and although that doesn't qualify me as a newbie I still consider myself one. Susan sent your site to one of our shared groups so I'll try to share some of my cq tips. *First I prewash ALL fabrics even the non-washable ones. If it doesn't hold up I don't use it (who knows how others will use the finished product). *Sometimes I just free-hand a design directly on the fabric (been embroidering since age 5). *Sometimes I trace a design on tissue paper and baste to my fabric. After stitching the basic components I then tear away the tissue paper (use tweezers to remove the smallest pieces) and complete the embroidery. *I have used Carole Samples templates as well as some draftsmens templates, coins/thimbles for circles , the 1/4" quilter's guide.... drawing on with a very fine pencil. Also use tailor's colored pencils to draw design and slivers of soap .... both of which brush away as I'm stitching. *Waste canvas is also a big help for not only seam designs but fill-ins. *I stitch in the order that my block speaks to me .... usually all seams first. My stitches/seams do not have to be perfect .... they just need to please me. (As yet I don't have RSS.) I’ve been cqing less than two years but more than one and although that doesn’t qualify me as a newbie I still consider myself one. Susan sent your site to one of our shared groups so I’ll try to share some of my cq tips.
*First I prewash ALL fabrics even the non-washable ones. If it doesn’t hold up I don’t use it (who knows how others will use the finished product).
*Sometimes I just free-hand a design directly on the fabric (been embroidering since age 5).
*Sometimes I trace a design on tissue paper and baste to my fabric. After stitching the basic components I then tear away the tissue paper (use tweezers to remove the smallest pieces) and complete the embroidery.
*I have used Carole Samples templates as well as some draftsmens templates, coins/thimbles for circles , the 1/4″ quilter’s guide…. drawing on with a very fine pencil. Also use tailor’s colored pencils to draw design and slivers of soap …. both of which brush away as I’m stitching.
*Waste canvas is also a big help for not only seam designs but fill-ins.
*I stitch in the order that my block speaks to me …. usually all seams first. My stitches/seams do not have to be perfect …. they just need to please me.
(As yet I don’t have RSS.)

]]> By: CAROLE (WIPPY) SULLIVAN http://independentneedleworknews.com/2008/03/08/are-you-a-newbie/#comment-755 CAROLE (WIPPY) SULLIVAN Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:06:26 +0000 http://independentneedleworknews.com/2008/03/08/are-you-a-newbie/#comment-755 WOW--wonderful look into the newbie world of crazy quilting! I have been crazy quilting for almost a year now and have joined Carolyn's new "group" of newbies....I also bought the cd book of hers to play with...About a year ago, I joined an email list called - cqfornewbies - it is at yahoogroups..I am here to tell you that folks on the list that are much more experienced than I will tell you over and over that there are no rules! I have Carole Samples book and her templates for stitching. At this time, I am not certain I could find them quickly if I had to. I also use a neat little book by Dorothy Bond and refer to the two books all the time for ideas and inspiration. I have only marked my fabrics maybe twice. The first time I wanted the effect that the writing would provide by having my hand writing showing along with the stitches to present a shadowed affect. The second time, well, I didnt like it at all! LOL The majority of the time I pick up needle and go! I have embroidered, crocheted, needlepoint, all of that all my life--well since about age 7. I do not have any pics or plans or demos, etc, at my site but I do have nekked (no embellishments) blocks and blocks I have worked on for others, and some things I have done for myself! Just remember two little words---no rules---it really works! There are plenty of tutorials on the net and I like 101 crazy quilt blocks by Linda Causee--tho I hardly ever use that either! LOL---In a nutshell, it is all about having fun--and NO RULES!!!! LOL--have fun *~*CAROLE*~* WOW–wonderful look into the newbie world of crazy quilting! I have been crazy quilting for almost a year now and have joined Carolyn’s new “group” of newbies….I also bought the cd book of hers to play with…About a year ago, I joined an email list called - cqfornewbies - it is at yahoogroups..I am here to tell you that folks on the list that are much more experienced than I will tell you over and over that there are no rules! I have Carole Samples book and her templates for stitching. At this time, I am not certain I could find them quickly if I had to. I also use a neat little book by Dorothy Bond and refer to the two books all the time for ideas and inspiration. I have only marked my fabrics maybe twice. The first time I wanted the effect that the writing would provide by having my hand writing showing along with the stitches to present a shadowed affect. The second time, well, I didnt like it at all! LOL The majority of the time I pick up needle and go! I have embroidered, crocheted, needlepoint, all of that all my life–well since about age 7. I do not have any pics or plans or demos, etc, at my site but I do have nekked (no embellishments) blocks and blocks I have worked on for others, and some things I have done for myself! Just remember two little words—no rules—it really works! There are plenty of tutorials on the net and I like 101 crazy quilt blocks by Linda Causee–tho I hardly ever use that either! LOL—In a nutshell, it is all about having fun–and NO RULES!!!!
LOL–have fun *~*CAROLE*~*

]]> By: Susan http://independentneedleworknews.com/2008/03/08/are-you-a-newbie/#comment-754 Susan Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:27:58 +0000 http://independentneedleworknews.com/2008/03/08/are-you-a-newbie/#comment-754 You are going to be a great crazy quilter, Heather. The first seam embellishment is the hardest. =) I would suggest that you make a block out of non-print fabric, using cottons, and do some practice stitching on it. It doesn't matter if the block isn't pieced perfectly, and it doesn't matter if the stitching isn't perfect. It's strictly for practice - to evaluate and improve stitching. You don't ever have to show it to anyone! Next week, after I've spent the weekend with my best friend, I'll post a blog entry with what I do when marking - which is definitely not the last word in how it's done! =) You are going to be a great crazy quilter, Heather. The first seam embellishment is the hardest. =) I would suggest that you make a block out of non-print fabric, using cottons, and do some practice stitching on it. It doesn’t matter if the block isn’t pieced perfectly, and it doesn’t matter if the stitching isn’t perfect. It’s strictly for practice - to evaluate and improve stitching. You don’t ever have to show it to anyone!

Next week, after I’ve spent the weekend with my best friend, I’ll post a blog entry with what I do when marking - which is definitely not the last word in how it’s done! =)

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