Don't Go "Sleeveless"...

Seen on the Quilting Daily email blast today:

A Guide to Making a Quilt Sleeve In case you missed it, we just revealed the finalists for the Quilting Arts Magazine 2012  Calendar on my Editor's Blog. We always get an incredible response to our reader challenges, and our Quilting Arts  Magazine 2012 Calendar contest was no exception. It amazes me how our reader/artists  can take a broad theme  (in this case, “Getting Pet-ty”) and translate it into a compelling, beautiful, heart-warming,  thoughtful, or funny (sometimes all of the above) image through fabric, thread, and  embellishment. One thing that continually surprises me, though, is that  when we require the finalists of any challenge to attach  a quilt sleeve for hanging, we get numerous emails asking,  “How do you make a quilt sleeve?” Or, “Exactly what  kind of quilt sleeve do you want?” Although attaching a quilt sleeve isn't necessary for every  art quilt and it certainly isn't the most fun part of quilting,  it is almost essential if you're submitting a quilt to an  exhibit or contest. For this reason, I asked Leslie Tucker Jenison to demonstrate  how to make quilt sleeves on an episode of "Quilting Arts  TV," airing in Season 7. She and her buddy Jamie Fingal  did an entire segment on preparing your quilts for entering shows. Both are  award-winning mixed-media and textile artists who are quilt show veterans. Here's an overview of Leslie's quilt sleeve tutorial, with her photos: 1. Cut a piece of cotton fabric to the exact width of your quilt by 9 inches deep. 2. Fold and press each edge into a ¼ inch fold. 3. Then turn again and press so raw edges are concealed. 4. Stitch the folded edge in place on both ends. Then stitch the length of the quilt sleeve "tube" (right side facing inward). 5. Turn the tube inside out. 6. Press the sleeve tube so the seam is on one edge and the fold is on the other. 7. Baste the folded edge with the longest machine stitch possible. 8. Then, roll the basted stitch to the top center of the sleeve so the basted stitch is situated over the other seam, which will be situated against the quilt back. 9. Pin the quilt sleeve to the quilt back one inch below the top of the quilt. The width should allow the sleeve to be positioned approximately one-half inch from each edge. 10. Stitch the sleeve securely in place. Be sure to whip-stitch the ends to the back of the quilt, which assures that the hanging device is inserted into the sleeve properly. It helps to take an extra stitch every 4-5 stitches so the sleeve won't become loosened from the quilt if it is hung in multiple venues. Check to be sure that the stitches do not go through to the front of the quilt! 11. Once the sleeve has been securely stitched to the quilt back, remove the basting stitch from the sleeve. This tuck allows room for the hanging device to be inserted without creating excessive tension on the front of the quilt. NOTE: It is important to attach the name of the quilt and the artist's name and contact information onto the quilt sleeve, as well as the date the quilt was completed. Want more tips and other quilting instructions? You can watch Leslie create a quilt sleeve in detail and get tips for preparing your quilts for shows from her and Jamie, on “QATV” Series 700, now available on DVD.

Quilting Arts TV Episode 705: screenprinting with facial cloths

See my segment in Season 7 of Quilting Arts Television, episode 705:

It frustrates me that our local PBS line-up does not include Quilting Arts TV!  Luckily, anyone who is in the same boat as I am can order the series on dvd.  I got an early copy of the series and started watching them.  I learned how to install a proper "facing finish" on a quilt and it has already come in handy several times!  No matter what your level of experience in surface design or quilt making, there is a wealth of information in each episode.  I recommend it (and not just because I'm in it ;-).

Quilting Arts TV Season 7

Quilting Arts TV - Series 700

Series 700 Episodes 1–13

Episode 701: An elegant portrait finish for small quilts with Jean Wells •Jeannie Palmer Moore shows how she stitches first, then paints with water-soluble crayons • Leslie Tucker Jenison and Jamie Fingal introduce a quilt exhibit and share tips for shipping quilts

Episode 702: Inspiration, techniques, and “Boro Bobbles” with Victoria Gertenbach • Transforming commercial fabrics and free-motion quilting with Deidre Adams • Tea bags as imagery for mixed-media art quilts with Judy Coates Perez

Episode 703: A messenger bag with Candy Glendening • A painted, collaged, and stitched tote with Valori Wells • Save My UFO (UnFinished Object): Pokey and Susan Brubaker Knapp address a viewer’s design dilemma

Episode 704: A kitchen ensemble with Pearl Louise Krush • Unique, colorful scarves with Diane Gloystein • Hanging sleeve how-to with Leslie Tucker Jenison

Episode 705: Surface design with Kerr Grabowski demonstrating the permanent application of pastels, charcoal, and water-soluble crayons •Pokey monoprints with oil paint and transfer paper • Screen printing using dye and facial cloths with Leslie Tucker Jenison

Episode 706: Pokey and Pippa Eccles discuss fabric choices and show how to create a table runner for all seasons • A simple Y-piecing technique for machine stitching with Malka Dubrawsky • Save my UFO with Pokey and Leslie Tucker Jenison

Episode 707: Free-motion zigzag stitching and zippers with Jamie Fingal • A stenciled and free-motion stitched business card holder with Susan Brubaker Knapp • Save My UFO with Pokey and Beryl Taylor

Episode 708: Piecing techniques with Jean Wells: gentle curves, narrow inserts, and detail piecing • Mary Hettmansperger uses metal and found objects to enhance beautiful fabric choices • Pokey and Helen Gregory share 10 time-saving quilt tips

Episode 709: Mod house ornaments with Candy Glendening • Art dolls from found objects with Mary Jane Butler • Save My UFO with Pokey and Judy Coates Perez

Episode 710: A reverse machine appliqué series with Beryl Taylor • Judy Coates Perez uses oil paint to create and enhance imagery on fabric for art quilts • Save My UFO with Pokey and Helen Gregory

Episode 711: A mixed-media shadow box combining freeform strip piecing and knitting with Valori Wells • A potholder and trivet set from improvisational piecing with Malka Dubrawsky • Contemporary fabric beads with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Episode 712: Pokey demonstrates a reversible dog jacket • Susan Brubaker Knapp makes a quilted dog bed • Pet portraits with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Episode 713: Dyeing embellishments (from buttons to raffia and fabric trim) with Dianne Giancola • Art quilts that incorporate zippers with Jamie Fingal • Shelley Brenner Baird discusses her techniques and inspirations

You can pre-order your DVD today

Quilting Arts TV taping in Cleveland

Jamie and I departed from Chicago on Sunday and flew to Cleveland to prepare for our segments on QATV.  Jamie is an old pro at this, but I'm a newbie.  I was really looking forward to the whole experience.  In my past life as a nurse-clinician I did a number of television commercials for the Women's Center I worked for, but that was about a million years ago.
The production staff at the studio is a well-oiled machine:  very organized and professional.  The set is lovely, lighting beautiful, and the experience fun and easy.  I brought more supplies and clothing than I needed, but I thought it was better to be over-prepared than the alternative.
I mixed print paste in our hotel room Sunday night, then separated it and mixed dye into small containers in the restroom at the studio Monday morning.
I was really glad to do my segment on dye-printing facial cloths first, as this was the one that required the most preparation.  I felt relieved when this one went well.  I can't tell you what I said on-camera to save my life.  I hope it made sense!

This photo was taken by Susan Brubaker-Knapp of the television in the Green Room

Tuesday, Jamie and I did a segment about the "Beneath the Surface" exhibition, showcasing a selection of quilts chosen by Pokey for the segment.  We discussed the importance of properly labeling and packaging a quilt for shipping.  I did another segment on how to make a properly sized quilt hanging sleeve.  My final segment was "Save My UFO!".  For the record, I looked through the list of possibles to discuss without actually looking at who made the quilts.
I selected several possibilities.  The two chosen were "Hot" http://tinyurl.com/2uzvtgo and "My UFO from QA TV" http://tinyurl.com/3yaua6q.
I'm a little slow on the uptake, but I didn't realize the latter quilt was Pokey's until we had a discussion about it in Chicago.  I planned to recommend that we cut the quilt up.  I didn't know we would actually CUT IT UP on camera, but we did.  It was a blast!  I spent the afternoon in the Green Room reconfiguring the quilt.  I am so happy with the results!  I need to check to be sure it is okay to post images on the blog before the show airs.  I'll put them up as soon as I can.
Here are a few shots that others took of me while at the studio.  I haven't even loaded my photos onto the computer.  I am certain more will follow!

Pokey, Jamie, and Leslie before our segment on how to prepare your quilt for shipping

Chillin' while the cameras are being set for the segment on making a quilt sleeve