Alex Anderson 02/18/2003

HGTV: Welcome to HGTV's hosted chat room. Today, Alex Anderson is here to answer your questions. Hello, Alex!

Alex Anderson: Hi! I'm so glad everyone's here today.

Question: Question on denim fray quilts: When sewing rows together, which way should the seams lay prior to fraying?
Alex: We did a show on that, and I don't remember it being an issue one way or another. However, one thing you might want to keep in mind is to make sure the seam is about half-an-inch wide. Other than that, I don't think it was an issue.

Q: When hand quilting a border, how do you keep the border tight when using a hoop? Thank you.
Alex: Great question! There are a couple of ways, but here's how I do it. Leave at least 8-inches of backing and batting, then baste a piece of cloth around all edges of the top that is also about 8-inches wide. Not only will it keep it taut, but also it will avoid unnecessary stretching.

Q: Alex, do you really recommend washing and pressing all the fabric you use for quilting?
Alex: At a minimum, you want to make sure that it's colorfast. There are definitely two schools of thought on this. After having a quilt bleed red onto a white background, you can guess what camp I'm in. : )

Q: Have you ever tried machine embroidery? I love to embellish quilt squares and make quilt labels. You should try it if you have not yet.
Alex: I have the great fortune of recently going back to the Oklahoma embroidery and design school, in conjunction with Bernina. I was overwhelmed with the possibilities. I guess you could say it knocked my socks off. I can't wait to learn more about it.

Q: I am making a Triple Irish Chain Quilt. I have done my darndest to keep to the 1/4 measurement, but as I put the rows together, I still have to fudge a little here and there. Does this happen to you. Also I would love to see Michael James on your show. I wondered if he has been on and I missed it.
Alex: The first part of your question, yes, it happens to all of us. Here's how I cheated: Pin the opposing seams together, as you ordinarily would, and then put the fat part on the bottom so that the feed dogs can help scoot it into place. As for MJ, we've tried and unfortunately we've not yet been able to work it out.

Q: I adore your website and MB. Would you consider doing a BOM for the Lexies who meet daily on the MB. I would enjoy that so much.
Alex: Thank you!! And I love you guys too! For awhile we did block of the month, and it got away from us. So that's why we came up with block party. I know there should be more on the website, but as you know Matthew is pedaling as fast as he can. By the way, he's got some other things up his sleeve that he wants to try out, so stay tuned.

Q: Have you done any water color quilts and what do you think about them?
Alex: Personally I haven't , I think they're beautiful, and in fact we have done a few shows on it. Approach it different ways. I can't remember the seasons, but you might want to watch for them.

Q: I've had minimal hand piecing experience...(Nine Patch, applying Sashing and capstones) What would be a good beginners project ? Thank you.
Alex: I am curious if you're asking in regard to hand piecing. Because my answer would be quite different from machine piecing. Assuming that we're talking about hand piecing, then I hesitate to give you any advice because my knowledge is incredibly limited about this technique. You might like to come to my message board at alexandersonquilts.com and post your question. I'm confident you'll get many replies. A side note, Jinny Beyer is among the very top quilters in the United States, and she only hand-pieces. Her work is exquisite and perfect. So really, anything is possible with hand-piecing.

Q: hello Alex, was wondering on hand applique, after you come up from the back is your first stitch supposed to be onto the applique fabric or the background? My blind stitch is not so blind ; / hoping to improve it. Thanks.
Alex: When you come up from the back, instantly take a little "bite" where you came up on to the turned-under edge of the applique. Go back down underneath, travel about 1-16th of an inch, and take another bite. My stitches aren't exactly perfect either, so I use silk thread. It helps hide a multitude of errors. ; )

Q: Hi, Alex. I come from a family of hearing impaired quilters. Are there any plans to close caption Simply Quilts. Please have your producers look into this. My family has been quilting since the 1940's, and we always learn something new.
Alex: It's my understanding that captions are on the way. I can't give you a date, but it's in the works. By the way, it wouldn't hurt to write to comments@hgtv.com regarding this issue.

Q: Hi Alex, I was wondering if I could email you with a picture of a quilt to obtain year made? Also, I made a unique flower basket quilt and was wondering how one makes and sells patterns.
Alex: Of course I would love to see a photo of your quilt, please send your photo to alexandersonquilts.com. Please have it on the same page as your e-mail, I won't open attachments (viruses). As for patterns, I would start researching what other pattern makers are doing. Go to your local quilt show, check out how they're packaged, presented and priced. You might even mail complimentary copies to quilt shops across the United States. It's simply putting one foot in front of the other and not getting overwhelmed by the bigger picture. Good luck.

Q: I own an antique quilt in good condition but would like to more accurately date it. Can you recommend a good resource for dating old quilts?
Alex:Thank you (seeing as how I am not a quilt historian). I usually refer people to Nancy Kirk, you can reach her at kirkcollection.com. That's one place to start. There's also a little book out, and I can't remember the exact title, but it's about dating fabrics. A friend of mine came over the other day to my house and she had an old quilt top. By using this little book, we figured out the quilt was from 1875 to 1900. So that's how I would approach it. (Note from Alex: I'm not at home right now, otherwise I could give you the name of the book. Feel free to e-mail me in a day or two.)

Q: Can you recommend any quilts/blocks that use fat quarters only?
Alex: Actually, any block would work, however there are patterns and books specifically designed for fat quarters. One such show we did on this was with Mary Jane Best. She was a guest on show 415. In addition, I believe Patchwork Place has put out a few books with this concept. But you might want to start with that show as a beginning resource.

Q: Is there a book that you can recommend on quilting, that is the actual quilting?
Alex: If you're talking about hand or machine quilting (the process of), for machine quilting there are two books I recommend. One is by Harriet Hargrave, and the other (which I'm currently reading myself) is by Diane Gaudynski. As for hand quilting, I've written a book on that. As for the entire process from beginning to end, you might like to check out "Quilting from A to Z" by C&T Publishing and Quilting Newsletter. C&T's phone number is 800-284-1114. And of course, don't overlook your local library.

Q: Do you recommend spray baste a large quilt instead of pinning?
Alex: Personally, I've never tried it. But I can tell you, that some quilters that I hold in highest regard use this technique. I would suggest you give it a try and see what you think. For all of you looking to date quilts, Jules just found this website. www.antiquequiltdating.com Clap-clap-clap-Cheer-cheer!

Q: Hi! I love your shows! It always seems to have the answers I need right when I need them! I'm having difficulty finding the world wide quilting page on the internet, that one of your guests suggested. What is the exact location of that site?! Thanks! Keep up the good work!
Alex: Once again, Jules comes to the rescue. Ooh, record speed.
HGTV: www.quilt.com/MainQuiltingPage.html
Alex: Thanks, Jules!

Q: Alex, as a male who quilts (5 yrs.), I would like to see more quilting ideas, etc.. inspired by men. What do you think?
Alex: Interestingly enough, in the last couple of years, a lot of men have started quilting. I think this is great. In fact, the shows that we just taped featured several different men and their wonderfully creative work. Sounds like you were just a few years ahead of many of them who are enjoying quilting now.

Q: Hi, Alex! Your program with Barbara Brackman was timely. I have my first hand-appliqued piece that I am ready to quilt. I don't hand quilt and it is a very traditional symmetric Dutch tulip design. Can I machine quilt it and do you have any suggestions? Love your program!
Alex: Any quilt can be machine or hand-quilted. It's simply a matter of doing it right., either way. I cannot remember that quilt specifically, however one of my favorite tried-and-true ways to approach is a traditional quilt is with a simple cross-hatch grid. To date, that style has never let me down.

Q: Hi, Alex, love the show and can't wait for the new season to begin! My question is how does one go about designing a line of fabrics and marketing them? Is there a resource guide available? Thanks!
Alex: Very good question. I'm not familiar with any specific guide on how to approach this. I would contact different major manufacturers, ask for the design department, and see if they're interested in freelance designers. I'm not sure how they'll respond, but I can promise you that nothing will happen if you don't at least try. In fact, that's how I got started. I approached P&B Textiles and that's how our relationship got started. : )

Q: Thank you for teaching me quilting. How many quilts have you made?
Alex: Honestly, I've never finished one. Laugh out loud! Seriously, hundreds. I can't begin to count. I'm so glad you've been inspired to start quilting. This sort of news makes my day.

Q: I have assembled my first quilt top. What, if anything, should I do with it before make my quilt sandwich and begin quilting.
Alex: The number one error I see are seams that have not been pressed well. Make sure they aren't flipping back and forth on the back side, and that the seams on the finished side are flat and well-pressed. Cheers for your first quilt!

Q: Is there any way to revive or lengthen the life of the blue wash-out markers? Love your show! Watch twice a day.
Alex: I just learned this taping this past season. Store them sideways in a Ziploc bag. Use several pens at one time, giving it a rest after five minutes at use. Essentially, you're rotating the pens as you use them.

Q: As a fellow left-hander do you know if there are true left-hand sewing scissors available besides dressmaking shears?
Alex: Very good question. Instantly, what came to mind are Ghingers, which now that you mention it, are dress making shears. I don't think I've seen any others. My hand just seems to have adapted.

Q: Have you taped any new shows for Simply Quilts? If so, how many?
Alex: We just finished another 39 episodes this past January. I believe they will start airing in October, but check with HGTV to make sure.

Q: Alex, I need help designing a placemat. I would like to use various star patterns as the center of the placemat. These star patterns are usually square. My problem is trying to design a border that fits and is pleasing to look at on all sides of the center square. Do you have any suggestions?
Alex: Really any pattern would do, I would work with a 12-inch block, then possibly put three 4-inch blocks on either side to make a rectangle. It's simply a matter of working with numbers that are multiples of each other.

Q: Can you be requested to teach or lecture for a guild?
Alex: I used to be able to do that, unfortunately now thanks to an unreliable taping schedule I cannot commit in advance, which guilds require. So sadly, I can attend one or two events a year and that's about it.

Q: Hi Alex! When using a double sided fusible and leaving one paper side on, will cutting out the piece with my cloth scissors dull them?
Alex: I try to have two pairs of scissors when I'm working with situations like this. I tie a ribbon to one pair, and that pair is less perfect than the other pair, so I use the ribbon scissors to cut the fusible/fabric pieces. In my experience, scissors do have a shelf life. If they're good scissors it's a long shelf life, so I just use them accordingly.

HGTV: Well, everyone, our chat hour has ended. Thanks for joining us today. And thank you, Alex, for answering our questions.

Alex Anderson: Thanks everyone for coming! I can't believe time went by so quickly. I'll talk to you again on March 11.