Finding the right cutting table

A few weeks ago I had coffee with a new quilt guild member. As we were visiting in my studio she pointed to my cutting table and asked for more information.

I realized that I haven’t shared it before, so here is the back story…..

Back in 2020, Michael suggested that we knock out a wall and increase the size of my studio by about 75%.

I said “YES PLEASE”!!!

I had previously used a collapsible hobby table similar to this one….

It had worked well for me when I had limited space. (Click HERE for more information).

But since I now had more room, I wanted a good, sturdy cutting table.

There were two other requirements…..It had to be completely covered with a cutting mat and, because I am 5’10”, it had to be taller than a normal table.

My original plan was to build it myself so I started looking to see what size cutting mat I wanted to buy. As I researched them, I decided that I wanted a Martelli mat and their largest was 30″ x 60″. That should work.

As I started planning my building project, I happened upon a picture of a standing desk like this one……

(It can be purchased on Amazon…….)

It would allow me to easily move the table higher or lower depending on my needs AND the top was exactly 30 x 60. A match made in heaven AND I didn’t have to build it myself!!!

When I set it up, I found that it has plenty of room underneath for storage towers of scraps…..

…..and a small shelf unit to hold additional supplies, and of course, my scrap bin!!

I have been using this setup for the last 3.5 years and it has worked PERFECTLY!!

One note here…. I originally had the desk up too high and found that I couldn’t press down easily while using a ruler to cut. The problem was solved simply by lowering the desk a few inches.

So, if you are in the market for a new cutting table, I would highly recommend checking out a standing desk in whatever size you need.

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Quilters advice!!

If you remember, last week I had a disaster occur with my Color wheel quilt…..

Fortunately, I was able to use Dawn detergent and a good bathtub soaking to get the stains out!! You can read more about it here…..

How NOT to wash a quilt!

When I sent out the SOS to quilters around the world, I received several potentially good ideas so I thought that I would share them here….

Remember that I haven’t tried ANY OF THESE so am not advocating them.

The number one suggestion was that I add more circles!! While it was a good idea, it would have definitely interrupted the symmetry that I had worked so hard to achieve!!

There were several suggestions specifically for wool batting

Deb said that it had happened to her as well with wool batting. She had used Dawn, rubbed gently, and then rewashed. BUT, she had to do it SIX times!!

Sylvia said that she had soaked a wool-batting quilt in a mixture of Synthrapol and hot (as hot as it comes out of the tap) water in a bucket.

Dale said that she had used Synthrapol and had also had decent results with a heavy salt and vinegar soak and wash afterward.

Martina suggested Dawn detergent and HOT water. Her most important reminder was that you have to be REALLY patient because some fabrics won’t release until many hours later.

Judy reminded me that I MUST use detergent as it is the agent that will start shifting the spot.

Kate said that she uses “Shout”.

Mary suggested one of the OxyClean sprays.

Avon said that she had READ that Shaving cream would also work but had never used it herself.

Louise (in Australia) suggested that Rit has a run-remover.

And finally, both Barbara and Sylvia reminded me that threads can bleed as well. GREAT ….something ELSE to worry about.

The bottom line here is that I was going to keep trying things until either the spots came out, or I ruined it trying!!!

Thankfully, I didn’t ruin it!!

There is one other little place that I found and I can’t figure out exactly what it is. See that pinkish stain next to the circle……

It doesn’t look like a bleed but looks like a bleach mark. There was never ANY bleach around so I have no idea where it came from.

It is small and I probably won’t do anything with it, however…..

Donna had mentioned using Intense Pencils and a fabric medium, so I MIGHT try that to fill in that small area. But then again, I may just leave it!!

The quilt is now awaiting a sleeve so I can hang it and take photos, but here is the photo from show-and-tell at my guild meeting…..

I AM …..

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“The Intentional Thread”

I don’t often do book reviews on this blog, but this one was TOO good to miss!!

I picked this up in my guild library and have loved perusing it over the last two months.

It was published in 2019 and is a GORGEOUS book!!

I love her introduction about how to use the book….

Think of the book as a present and future menu–well, actually more like a smorgasbord–0f possibilities from whch you can choose the things that captuyre your interest or are appropriate to what you want to make, now or in the future.

Let’s start traveling….

She provides lovely inspirational photos…..

…..lots of directions…..

….and ideas about how to use the stitches…..

And finally, practice pieces that you can use to try the different stitches…..

This book is even pretty enough to be a “coffee table book” ( do we do that anymore??).

If you are interested, it can be purchased at Amazon……

Now I need to buy one as well because I have to return this one to my guild library!!

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On Tuesdays, I provide a tip, technique, or product review. Please subscribe to the blog to ensure that you don’t miss ANY of them!!

Applique Prep tools

Over the last two weeks, I have tried three different methods for preparing pieces for applique and finally declared a winner using Heat Resistant Template Plastic!!!

Here is that post……

Applique prep – Part 3

There are two products that made this process so easy and both come from the talented Karen Kay Buckley.

I was first introduced to her at the International Quilt Festival in 2018. I loved her down-to-earth presentation about prepping applique pieces and I REALLY love her tools!!

First of all, is her “Heat Resistant Template Plastic”….

The operative words here are “HEAT RESISTANT”!! Since you are ironing on top of the plastic it is VERY important.

I did learn that I was using too hot of a setting on mine when the template started to buckle a bit, so turn it down!!

Next are her scissors!!

There are two different kinds…. one for cutting the template plastic…..

These are called “Multi-Purpose” scissors….

…and they come in an amazing range of sizes.

I particularly like the large, open handles. They are certainly easy on these arthritic hands!!

Next are her fabric scissors…….

They have the same “easy to use” handles, but the great part about them is the micro-serrated blades that keep the fabric from slipping so that cutting is more accurate.

I especially love them for snipping curves…..

I am always worried about this step because I am afraid that I will either snip too far or not far enough. These scissors hold the fabric in place giving a perfect snip every time!!

I love to find a product that makes my life easier and these scissors certainly meet that criteria!!