susan

I’m a crafter and writer in Portland, Oregon and the author of four other craft books. I love shopping for fabric, printmaking, sewing, and making quilts. You can also find me at my craft blog, West Coast Crafty.

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Susan, I’ve had fun using your book learning to make quilting projects. I’m am totally new to it and your work is so inspiring and beautiful I decided to give it a try.

My first project was to make a charming camera case and have had a very difficult time with the bias tape around the top. (produced a blood satin on my blue bias tape ) Do you have a special sewing machine that allows you to sew around this tiny opening or could you share your technique so I can produce a better finished product.

Again, thank you for sharing this craft with the me. I am excited to get better and make gifts for others to enjoy!

Shelley

Comment by Shelley Mosley— May 5, 2011 #

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- Hi Shelley! Thanks so much for your kind words and comment. So sorry to take a few days to reply – this got caught in my wordpress filter and I didn’t see it right away.
  
  To add the bias tape – first, I used very, very wide tape (about 2″ across flat, sold in stores sometimes as hem facing or quilt binding) which helps sandwich all the layers in neatly. I sewed pretty slowly, close to the bias tape’s edge, and gently rotated the opening of the case forward in the stitching direction as I went so it didn’t get caught up with the foot. It is a small opening, so I know it can be tricky to stitch… sorry about the bloodstain, I have been there with crazy sewing projects many times!
  
  I took some photos of my process of making and sewing the whole camera case and would be glad to do a post on it with some details in the next couple of weeks if that’s ok? I’m getting ready for Maker Faire and my Bobbin’s Nest event (yay!) but when I’m done with those two events I’d love to post about it.
  
  Comment by Susan— May 12, 2011 #
  
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Dear Susan,
Thanks for publish such great book…!!
as soon as I saw the cover, just have to make one of my own => modern cross quilt,
So far, I had completed the quilt top, the next step quilitng the sandwich.
Looking through the back photo of the modern cross quilt that showed on the book, I could not see any quilt pattern on them, not even stitch in the itch.
The back quilt looks so marvellously great with a big cross on them!!
Just wondering what kind of the quilt patten do you quilt them?

Thanks again for ever publish the GREATEST book!

Have a lovely day!

br
happybekymom
can’t wait to finish the quilt…

Comment by happybekymom— May 23, 2011 #

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I’m having a difficult time w/Modern Crosses Quilt. Did you do a tutorial on the process? I don’t see any corrections to the pattern. My squares are wonky when sewn together. Using 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 center sq sewn together, then add 2inch logs…..what am I missing?

Comment by LOVE2STITCH— November 22, 2011 #

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- Hello! My friend Jen Carlton Bailly did a photo post on constructing her Modern Crosses quilt blocks that several readers have found helpful. It’s right here:
  
  http://www.bettycrockerass.com/2011/04/modern-log-cabin-quilting-by-susan-beal.html
  
  There are also lots more photos of Modern Crosses in this flickr group for reference:
  
  http://www.flickr.com/groups/moderncrosses/
  
  Please let me know if you need more specific advice, the chain-piecing technique really makes the block-building efficient (as you can see in Jen’s post). Thanks so much for your comment, I hope my answers and links give you some helpful ideas!
  
  Comment by Susan— November 22, 2011 #
  
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