Quilter’s Virtual Yard Sale and Pony Club Update

This week I finished block “Fishing Boat” from the Pony Club Sampler. This was such an easy, simple block and it was so nice to be able to put six of them together so quickly.

Fishing Boat

This week’s mail call also sent me “Home Treasure” & “Girl’s Favorite” which are pictured below.

Home Treasure & Girl’s Favorite

One of the members of the Farmer’s Wife Quilt Swap Spot demonstrated a method for keeping her blocks catalogued and in order. She simply used clear plastic page protectors and a 3” binder. Such an easy concept, and I just happened to have those lying here in my yard sale pile. So I dug them out, found all of my squishies (a squishy is a package containing either swapped quilt blocks or quilting fabric) that were sliding off my desk, grabbed some scissors, a stack of 3×5 cards and a pen and spent two evenings sorting blocks and filing them in the sleeves.

In other news, the Quilter’s Virtual Yard Sale has been experiencing significant growth this week. Apparently Facebook has been putting the QVYS in quilter’s side bar as a “Might Like”. Sales over all have been tremendous and I was able to de-stash much of my overflow this week.
What is the Quilter’s Virtual Yard Sale you ask? It is a Facebook group that I formed in September of 2013 to help clean the excess “stuff” out of my sewing room. QVYS started with about 30 members, just “Friends” that I added to the group, and it has grown to well over 5700 quilters. Free to join, you aren’t under any obligation to buy, sell, or trade. We are a drama free group whose number one rule is no commercial business practices. There are a few other rules/guidelines to help everyone have a favorable experience, but not so many that the group isn’t enjoyable. Have you ever asked yourself, “How do I get rid of all this extra fabric?” or “Where is the best place to destash quilting supplies?” That’s what the Quilter’s Virtual Yard Sale was designed to do. So if you have extra fabric, scraps, thread, machines, or anything to do with sewing, feel free to join. DISCLAIMER: I try to screen new members to weed out clinkers and spammers, so if you don’t have anything quilting related on your personal page or if your privacy settings are too high, I probably won’t add you. Send me a message to let me know who you are and I will add you. Just look for the logo!

This post may contain links to external sites where I receive a (very) small commission. Thank you for taking the time to look.

Linking up with Mel over at The Quilting Room.

Next week is spring break so I hope to have lots more to show you!

Blessings!
Melissa aka Nakeytoes Quilting

Perfect “Y” Seams Tutorial and TFWPC update

This week did not include a finish. It did, however, see me finally master the Bird’s Eye View block from The Farmer’s Wife Pony Club.

I also managed to make seven Captain’s Wheel blocks from the same book. Two were not the correct size, and it took me a couple of hours working with my printer to get them to the proper scale. For my printer the setting needed to be 105%. But I’m pretty happy with the outcome.

The Captain’s Wheel block includes four “Y” seams. Mine always end up looking puckered, so once again our leader, Debra, provided us with a tutorial that she is graciously allowing me to share.

Step 1. Let’s get started!!!

Step 2. Pin 1/4 inch away from the edge. Wiggle the pin so it will make a hole that is easily seen.

Step 3. Line your edge up that you are going to sew, pull the pin out, hold everything in place and put your needle directly into the hole you made.

Step 4. After putting your needle in, sew this seam.

Step 5. Do not cut threads.

Step 6. Fold back your orange piece and place pin inside the last stitch and also through the pink piece 1/4 away from the edge.

Step 7. Wiggle the pin so you can put your needle into the hole holding everything in place.

Step 8. I removed my foot so you could see. Sew this seam.

Step 9. Do not cut threads.

Step 10. Fold over fabric to one side and pull up the thread from the backside and tie a knot. Don’t cut threads.

Step 11. Flip over to the other side and do the same. Do not cut threads.

Step 12. Now grab the threads and fold the 2 edges back. Your last seam should be lined up for sewing.

Step 13. Once again, place your needle into the area where the knot is. Make sure your points are lined up.

Step 14. Sew this seam. Do not cut threads.

Step 15. Fold back fabric, pull your back thread through and tie the last knot. Trim threads.

Step 16. I press this seam open, some press to the side. My experience, there is less bulk this way.

Step 17. after pressing seam open, press the yellow piece flat.

Step 18. Flip over, Perfect “Y” seam! YAY!!!

If you’re in the market for bargains or need to empty a closet, this weekend is a BIG SALE in my Facebook Group “The Quilter’s Virtual Yard Sale.” Send me a request and I’ll add you.

This Saturday concludes the East Austin 100 Quilts For 100 Kids program. We have roughly 8 more tops to get sandwiched, tied and bound. That will probably be the extent of my weekend sewing.

It’s the weekend! Get off the internet and go sew something.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Blessings!

~ Melissa