Rotary Cutter Blades

At one of the Stitchin' Mission lessons you stressed making sure that your rotary cutter had a sharp blade. I decided I should change the one I had and bought a five-pack at my local fabric store. When I got home, I took the cutter apart and opened the package of blades. The blades are all greased and stuck together. How do I get them apart without losing a finger?! Janelle

I get mine apart apart by using two fingers to slide them. It's kinda like spreading out a deck of cards in one hand. Put your fingertips in the middle of the stack, then make a twist motion. When one blade edge is exposed, use just two fingers to pull it away from the others. To be safe you could slip on a pair of garden gloves, but I've never gotten a nick doing it this way. Linda

Stitchin' Mission Quilts to Jamaica

On the website is a photo of Stitchin' Mission #16 quilts on display at Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines, Iowa. Here are the 60 quilts as they were prepared for packing into suitcases.  On February 6, these quilts will be delivered to Robin's Nest Orphanage (Montego Bay, Jamaica) and from there, any remaining quilts will be taken to children who live in the area's dump. 

Thank you to the 50-plus quilters who made quilts, and for one quilter's monetary donation to cover the fee for an extra suitcase of quilts that will travel with the missionaries from Hope.  

Design wall question

I wanted to ask you about making a design wall that you mentioned when I was in your Holy Trinity Stitchin' Mission (which I loved and from which I learned so much!) last summer. You talked about buying flannel by the yard to cover something about insulation and that is where I need some more information. When you have time, would you please give me some more details about how I can make a design wall in the space I am creating for a new quilting studio? Lisa

Hi Lisa! I'm glad to help with your design wall project. I found that the easiest thing was to buy a twin bed size, flat white flannel sheet. If I recall correctly, I was able to purchase it (not in a bed set) through JC Penney on-line. The sheet fits around a single sheet of insulation that came from Home Depot or any home improvement store. It'll be either pink or blue (Corning or Dow brand) and is about 4' X 8'. I just wrapped the bed sheet around it and used duct tape on the back to hold it in place. You can leave it like that to move around, or hang it up.

My basement sewing area is unfinished, so I hung my design on a concrete block wall. I simply nailed two finishing nails into the wood at the top of the concrete blocks, then used old-fashioned curtain hooks--poked into the insulation--that then hung on the nails. Not fancy at all, but it works. I like the insulation because if I want, I can also pin into it.

In the photo you can see a new design I'm working on, and the paper design and strips pinned into the insulation.  Linda