EPP Needles

Let’s talk about my favorite needle for EPP, ok?

I love the Tulip Milliners size 10 by @hiroshima_needle.

They run about $8.00-10.00 for 6 needles.

Many say they bend... they are not wrong, however it is because of how you hold it, and that just means it fits your hand.
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Why are they better than other size 10 needles?

Milliners come in sizes 1-10, with 1 being larger and 10 being finer.

Tulip uses an electrodeposition coating.

What is electrodeposition coating? Here is their description:

Electrodeposition coating is a process of forming a coating film by dipping an object in a bath filled with water-soluble paint and then passing an electric current through the coated object.

Features of electrodeposition coating

1) Produces a smooth and even coating film with excellent surface quality.
2) Achieves uniform coating even on irregularly shaped surfaces, due to the high throwing power of electrodeposition paint.
3) No sagging or cracking of the coating film occurs.

They polish the needles lengthwise minimizing contact surface with the fabric

I have found that the Tulip brand are thinner/sharper than any other brand I have tried (I have tried a lot!) Once you try one, all other needles feel like you are trying to push nails through thread!

They make a larger eye size 10 but I haven’t found them anywhere so I highly recommend a table top needle threader like this one by @cloverusa

More tips and tricks will be shared in my Take &Teach classes at International Quilt Market Nov 3-6. The classes are just $10.00 when you register, so be sure to ask about them.



                                                                                                                                                         

Kwik Sparklers Medallion

                     
                    Kwik Sparklers Medallion 


                           

One of the most amazing things about this EPP (English Paper Piecing) pattern is how many different ways it can be configured. This layout and quilt has been in my head since the conception of this design.

At that time I saw it in Navy Blue with a White Medallion but all that changed when Alison Glass shared the fabrics for her Kaleidoscope line with me back in February. Her Kaleidoscope line is a woven shot cotton and feels fabulous. I decided to make the miniature version in the Navy.  She sent me some advance yardage (this color is called Beetle) so I could make it for the launch of my pattern. Like most things, this quilt was put on the back burner when it was crunch time so I didn't get it made till last month. I was still planning on using white for the medallion but when I started looking at it the Lime Insignia was begging to be used.  

Quilting is not my favorite part by any means and whenever possible I let one of my longarm friends make the magic happen because I mostly just do straight lines. I could just imagine this done in graffiti quilting with green thread but never imagined that Karlee Porter, author of Graffiti Quilting, would have the time to do it for me before market.  Karlee and I are friends on Instagram and had recently discussed a new project she is working on (more on that later) so I took a shot in the dark and amazingly, she worked me in! It is more breathtaking than I could have ever imagined and she used Sulky 40wt Rayon1835 peapod green.  The thread just Sparkles!!!!

Alison Glass fabrics are available from Andover Fabrics and if you can not find them locally they are available at alisonglass.com
Karlee's book Graffiti Quilting volume 2 is available on Amazon
Sulky Threads are available in most quilt shops

Kwik Sparklers Binder Cover

Kwik Sparklers Binder Cover with Pencil Pocket

 

Do you remember the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, brand new school supplies, and fresh book covers made from brown paper bags? Oops....I think I just dated myself! Notebooks ready to be doodled on? This is a project perfect for students and teachers alike... a fresh new way to doodle with thread! It is packed with Sulky products because they have EVERYTHING!!!!

I designed this notebook cover around the mini 7” size of my new EPP pattern Kwik Sparklers so that it would look like any teenage girl could have doodled it. Since my ability to doodle is VERY limited, I used my Alison Glass Iron on transfers that I made copies of to make up some of the doodles. I used the same technique described in my previous post to copy the designs onto my sheet of Sulky Stick ‘n Stitch. 
So.... here is everything I used and how I assembled it . 

1” binder

1 Kwik Sparklers Mini Block

1 Kona mini charm pack (or your choice of fabric) 

2 - 13 x 34 fabric

1 - 3.5 x 11 fabric

1 -13x34 batting

1 - 13x34 heavyweight Fuse ‘n Stitch
1 - 13 x 34 Soft 'n Sheer 

1 - 3.5x11 fabric 

1 sheet of Stick ‘n Stitch
Spray Baste
Elmers Glue Stick
60 wt Polylite  

Alison Glass embroidery iron on transfers 

Assorted 12 wt Petites for embroidery 

Assorted 30 and 50 wt Sulky Thread for quilting 

Sulky Monofilament thread 

Assemble your Kwik Sparkler Block using the fabrics of your choice. I used 60wt Polylite to stitch the Kwik Sparkler block.
Starch and remove the EPP papers.
To figure out where to place the block and embroidery designs, fit the outer fabric around your 1” Binder. Mark where the binding of the binder will be and where the fabric will fold around the front and back flap. Iron these registration marks in place and then center the Kwik Sparkler Block in the area that will be the front flap and pin in place. Sew block down with Sulky invisible thread in clear.  

Figure out the doodles you want to use for the binder. If you are using premade designs like the ones I used you can copy them onto your Stick 'n Stitch or you can use a thin tip sharpie to draw your own doodle.

Cut apart the Stick ‘n Stitch to figure out where you want the designs. I recommend that you only stick one design in place to embroider at a time so that the other pieces don’t lose their sticky.

  

Iron Fuse ‘n Stitch to the wrong side of the outside fabric and then spray baste the batting to the Fuse 'n Stitch side.  Iron the Soft 'n Sheer to the inside fabric.  Right sides together, layer the inside and outside fabrics and sew 3/8" all the way around but leave an opening about 5"-6" on one end.

Clip corners so that the bulk is removed and turn right side out.  Poke out corners, smooth and press well.  Use the glue stick to glue the opening closed.

QUILTING : Outline the Kwik Sparkler and then quilt with assorted Sulky 30 and 50 weight thread with 1/4"straight line quilting.

Fold the cover around the binder lining up the spine of the notebook with your embroidery and folding the extra around the flap. Mark and press the fold well (remove the binder first though!)

Pocket on inside front flap: Iron Fuse 'n Stitch to wrong side of the 3 1/2" x 11" piece of fabric. Fold in half, right sides together, stitch with 1/4" seam allowance leaving an opening to turn right side out.

Press and topstitch along the folded edge.

Center on the front flap between the ironed crease and the edge, with the topstitched side facing up. Stitch in place on the other 3 sides. Make sure the flap is unfolded so you don't sew the flap closed when adding the pocket. Reinforce the beginning and end of the pocket since it will get a lot of stress.

Sew the flaps in place by hand. I tack where the flap ends and then turn the cover inside out and whip stitch it closed.  Repeat for all 4 edges.

DONE!!

Stick’n Stitch by Sulky

This just a quick post on how I used Alison Glass embroidery transfers to build a design to use in the center of one of my Kwik Sparklers EPP blocks using Sulky Stick’n Stitch product.

As soon as I saw Alison’s iron on transfers I knew I would want to use them more than once.
I was introduced to Stick’n Stitch at Fall Market when Sulky’s educational instructor Kelly Nagel was sitting next to me on Demo Alley. I have long been a fan of Sulky Blendables for quilting because I love how it changes colors but I was unfamiliar with this product so Kelly showed me how it works. It is a product that you can print your embroidery design on and when you are done stitching, you run your piece under cold water and it will completely wash away.... no worries about stitching over every line in your design because it is there permanently and no tracing the image with a water soluble pen that keeps reappearing after you THOUGHT you washed it all away. 

I scanned Alison’s design into my computer as a pdf. PSA: Remember that you should not share this with your friends, it is for your personal use only. 

Since Alison’s designs are printed as a transfer, the image is reversed. It does not need to be reversed for the Stick’n Stitch so I needed to reverse the image in my computer. I used Alison's Road Trip designs because I am using her new fabric line by Andover Fabrics

Note that I am NOT a computer person, I am a quilter, so there may be an easier way to do this. I also have a Mac... I was proud of myself for actually achieving what I wanted... so this is how I did it. 

FILE  and selected EXPORT

 In the box I converted it to a PNG file

select the PNG file and open it.

Select TOOLS > FLIP HORIZONTAL

Save it and you now have things facing the correct way.

Now, it is time to play....I printed one copy to play with the designs and see what would fit in the space I had.

There were a couple designs that would work but I chose this one because it was a perfect “V” shaped design that fit like it was made to go there.

 Since there was only one per page I printed 3 more copies. With my 4 pieces I wanted to make it so it is exactly the shape I needed so I traced the arc pieces and taped the designs in place.

 I checked again to make sure it would look right. My Sparkler logo fits perfectly in the center left so of course it needed to go there. I could have also selected any other design Alison offers as well. Shrink or enlarge any image on  your copier to fit the space you want. This is my new English Paper Piecing Pattern Kwik Sparklers 

Once you have built the design you like put in a sheet of Stick’nStitch in the paper tray and copy the image you built. 

Now you are ready to Stick’n Stitch away. I am using a piece of Alison Glass Insignia 2018 and I centered the very center over one of the designs! Now it is time to start doing my embroidery with my Sulky 12 wt Petites 

Jade Top

Jade Top by Made By Rae

Jade is a fitted top with negative ease....that means it is supposed to be a tight fit.  I love the shape of this top on Rae but since I'm not shaped quite like she is,  I decided to make a 2x at the shoulder and a 3x along the sides. 

I wear a size 20 and to be honest, this was still tighter around the middle than I am comfortable wearing in public. I decided to "kick out" the side seam a bit more starting where the line is to shorten or lengthen the pattern. I added a 1 3/4" to the side on the front and the back. This adds a total of 5-6" when you sew your side seams. Not everyone is as self conscious as I am and you may not feel he need to add the extra ease but if you do, it is an easy adjustment.  

Mister Domestic

Mister Domestic

I was over the moon to work with Mister Domestic's new line Loved To Pieces with Art Gallery Fabrics. Since his line is designed with English Paper Piecing in mind I decided to use my Kwik Whirligig EPP pattern. 
I was done with my other market sewing projects and knew this one had to be in the mail quickly in order to be there in time so I got to work immediately as soon as I drooled over all of the gorgeous fabrics in this line and the best way to highlight them. 
It took just 3 days of non-stop work to finish it. 

I quilted the front with Aurifil monofilament in a circular design. 

The back was quilted with Sulky Blendables 30wt thread in a plaid design. 

I used a decorative flower stitch on my Pfaff 2056 to do the binding using 60wt PolyLite by Sulky. 

It was displayed in Matthew's booth for Spring Market with all of his other gorgeous pillows, quilts and clothing.