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How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:58 am
by afdish
I tried to do this tutorial on my blog, but since Blogger (i.e. Google) can't seem to figure out how to play nice with Microsoft's new version of Internet Explorer, I still can't add any photos to my posts. This has been going on for months, and I am very frustrated. So since I took the time to create the tutorial I figured I would post it here so at least it will be here for y'all to use. So, without further ado, here it is:
=====================================

I am participating in the Passione Ricamo 20 Year Celebration Mystery SAL. This is a huge project and I did not have any scroll bars wide enough for it, so I had to order them. Since they are for my Millennium frame, they will take awhile to get here. In the meantime, I am making do with my Q-Snaps. I found the 17x17 was too wide to work with, so I messed around with all the pieces I had from a couple frames and the extension kit until I found a configuration that worked, which turned out to be roughly 11x15. I worked on my project using this frame for one evening and due to the large amount of excess fabric, I quickly became aware that I was in serious need of a grime-guard for this frame.

I learned to make my own grime-guards for my Q-Snaps a couple of years ago through a great tutorial on a blog that just isn't there anymore. Thankfully, I had copied the instructions in my own shorthand into a word document. So when I found myself needing a new grime-guard, I had that to refer to. I also decided that I would build my own tutorial on it, to help others. It is quite easy to do. While I can sew, my skills are quite basic, and I have no problem with this project.

Here is what you need:

- cotton fabric (light weight fabric is best, I just grabbed
some of the fabric I had in my stash from
my quilting class adventure)
- elastic (I use 1/4" width)
- 4 safety pins
- sewing machine
- iron and ironing board
- measuring tape
- scissors

other items I used that were quite helpful:

- cutting mat, quilters ruler, rotary cutter
- serger


STEP 1. Determine the size

I would suggest you run a measuring tape around the outer edge of the q-snap to determine the circumference. The frames do say they are something like 8"x8", 6"x6", or 11"x17", but from my experience that is not their exact measurements, it is close but being borderline OCD, I need exact. I hold the tape against the frame, starting at one corner, and slide it along the outer edge all the way around.

Image

Once you know the circumference, then determine the size of your fabric and length of elastic pieces using these formulas:

Cotton fabric: length = frame circumference + 1"
width = 5 1/2"

elastic: length = 1/2(frame circumference) + 1"

Here is what my calculations looked like for my 11x15 frame configuration:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... W9ZWFc5V00

STEP 2. Cut fabric to size. Cut 2 pieces of elastic to size.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... W9ZWFc5V00

STEP 3. Serge across short ends of fabric. You can zigzag stitch across, or use whatever you like to use to finish a raw edge. I used to leave this for the last step, but I learned to put the step here instead because of an incident I had when I was making my last grime-guard. The thickness of all the layers was just too much for my beloved Babylock serger and broke it.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... UZjWm8yd0U

STEP 4. Iron the fabric. Then with right side facing down, turn in 1/4". I finger press it first, using a few measurements along they way, and eyeballing the rest, then press it in place with the iron. Do both sides.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... DRuTEtiRFk

Then turn edges in 3/4", same way, ironing in place and doing both sides.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... jNZa0RBQVk

STEP 5. Sew a straight seam down each side at about just under 1/4" from the inside of the turned edges. This creates the channels for the elastic to run through.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... GtxX3JEMXM
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... Dg5WGQtYUk

STEP 6. Now it's time to insert the elastic. Start by attaching a safety pin to each end of the 2 elastic strips.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... XJndDhWeVE

Insert the end of one elastic into the channel in one end of the fabric, and thread it through until the other end of the elastic is flush with the fabric. The safety pinned end you were working through the channel will be only about halfway through at this point. Tack the end of the elastic in place at the end where it is flush. Repeat with the other piece of elastic for the other channel, working from the same end.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... HNRcXFxQUk
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... GxWaXg5cTQ

Next work the end of elastic the rest of the way though to the end of the channel. The fabric will start gathering and bunching up at this point. Once I have the elastic pulled through, I push the gathers away from that end and towards the other end. This allows me to have a flat, un-gathered section at my working end, which makes it easier to work with in the sewing machine. I get the elastic end where I want it and then use a safety pin to secure the elastic and fabric together a little ways back so it won't interfere with the sewing process.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... WItLThhY0E

Tack in place. (My tacks consist of sewing over and back, twice)

Repeat for other side.

STEP 6. Now we are ready to sew the ends together. I massage the gathers so the bunch up toward the center, giving me flat areas at the ends, which makes sewing them easier.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... TEtRExZY3M

Place the ends, right sides together. I use a few pins to help keep everything lined up, and sew a straight seam across.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... mtTcXo0MHM

DONE! Turn right side out and it is ready to use on your Q-Snap. 8)

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... 0l0V3VvN2c

One other thing I did was to use a fine point sharpie pen to write the size of the frame this grime-guard is for one the inside. My other grime guards are on the frames that stay in their configuration all the time, so didn't really need to be labeled. I needed to construct this unusual size frame for a current project, and it will likely be broken down afterwards. But since I labeled this, I will know what configuration it will fit, in case I use it again in the future.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... UhCQi1uMVU

Here is the frame with the project loaded onto it. You can see just how much excess fabric I needed to corral.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... S1wMFQzeVk

And here it is with the grime-guard on, neatly holding all that excess fabric out of the way.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6s9H ... i1NRUdRRGc

I hope that you find this tutorial helpful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let me know.

**** I have a video tutorial of this process on my YouTube channel... you can view it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n_P_28ZkJk

As always, Happy Stitching!

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 1:21 pm
by jocellogirl
Tricia that is just wonderful :applesauce: . I've been meaning to sit down and make some covers for ages but hadn't really thought through how I was going to do it, so these pictures and really detailed instructions are just fabulous. Thank you do much for taking the time and effort to share this with us :D

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 2:58 pm
by MaggieM1750
Yay.. thanks for this
I have quite a few different sizes and now that I have gotten the hang of my sewing machine, I've thought of trying to make my own.
I do very similar to you with all the excess rolled up and tucked under the cover- it is amazing how much fabric you can keep out of your way.
I've also thought of making a few adjustments and making myself a steering wheel cover- from flannel or something. I don't like driving with gloves on in the winter, and I don't like grabbing onto a frozen cold steering wheel. Its the same idea as a Snap cover.. just a bit bigger.

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 10:07 pm
by cairee
fantastic tutorial that even a beginner (like me) can sew! now I just need a sewing machine......

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:46 am
by msufly
Thank you for this great tutorial! Next time I need a grime guard, I'll try to make one!

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 10:18 am
by annamarie23
Great tutorial! :wub:

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 3:18 pm
by kelleyjogirl
Thank you so much for sharing this!

Just yesterday I was wondering how to go about making my own grime guards, and this morning I saw this tute. Yay! :D

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:42 pm
by afdish
Thank you everyone for the great comments! I look forward to seeing all your homemade grime-guards!

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 12:38 pm
by katiestitch
Thanks for the great tutorial!

I've been wanting to make one.

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:44 pm
by afdish
Hey everyone! I just made one adjustment to my tutorial. I changed the width of the starting fabric from 7" to 5 1/2". The 7" one for my 11x15 frame configuration for the Passione Ricamo SAL worked well, because I had a bunch of extra fabric to corral. But I made another grime guard with the same width for my favorite configuration for my on-the-go projects, 11 x 9 3/4. I am finding that it overhangs too far and gets in the way with my current project, that does not have much extra fabric to corral. So a grime guard with a starting fabric width of 5 1/2" will work much better for this. I am headed to the store now to get some pretty fabric and more elastic.

So the choice is yours.... choose the width you'll need.

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 5:22 am
by Allyn
afdish wrote:I tried to do this tutorial on my blog, but since Blogger (i.e. Google) can't seem to figure out how to play nice with Microsoft's new version of Internet Explorer, I still can't add any photos to my posts. This has been going on for months, and I am very frustrated. ...
It's not that they can't figure it out; they don't want to. Download Chrome and use it for your blog. You can leave IE as your 'default' browser if you want, but open Chrome when you want to work in your blog. There are a lot of sites I use that won't work -- either at all or I lose specific functions -- when using IE. I have four browsers installed. If a site won't work in one, I switch to another one. I find I mainly use Waterfox (a 64-bit version of Firefox) or Chrome most of the time.

Edit: Sorry, I didn't realize this was an update on an old thread until after I posted. Thank you for the update. :)

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:04 am
by 19Roland19
Thank you for this tutorial.

I have tried twice with a tutorial I found through Google...and I'm not happy. I found this link on Pinterest. I'm hoping to try it tomorrow.

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:11 am
by afdish
19Roland19 wrote:Thank you for this tutorial.

I have tried twice with a tutorial I found through Google...and I'm not happy. I found this link on Pinterest. I'm hoping to try it tomorrow.

I also have this tutorial on Flosstube (aka YouTube), see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n_P_28ZkJk" target="_blank

Happy Stitching!

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:15 am
by Talinellana
I was just reading through this and thought to myself...these instructions sound familiar!!! Then noticed the name in the signature. My grime guards were done after watching your Youtube tutorial, I had to borrow a sewing machine off my Mum as I don't have one and it took me an hour (yes an hour - plus two visits on the internet to find videos) to figure out how to work it, so to say I was thrilled to have made my own grime guards is an understatement and if I can do it then ANYONE can!! :) Thanks Tricia!

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:42 am
by afdish
Thanks Deni! I'm thrilled that I have inspired so many people to give making their own a try.

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:35 pm
by Brekkana
cairee wrote:fantastic tutorial that even a beginner (like me) can sew! now I just need a sewing machine......

Hahahaha that is EXACTLY what I thought! I actually have the fabric and elastic, thread and needles, just not keen on sewing by hand ... but I suppose I can .... might take me a bit though :)

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:09 am
by 19Roland19
Well I managed it. But just barely.

My sewing machine and I have a love/hate relationship. She loves to make me hate her. :shock: (I thought we were getting along after making a quilt together...but no....apparently not.)

Anyway, for this project I do wish I had made it just a bit wider. But I managed to get the material in, and after about a half hour of stitching I got used to it. I imagine in a few weeks I'll wonder how I ever stitched without it.

Thank you for making such clear instructions.

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 8:16 pm
by 19Roland19
I am currently making my third, and will soon be making a fourth. As I suspected, I now wonder how I ever managed without a grime guard.

I do have one suggestion others may find useful. For Step 4
STEP 4. Iron the fabric. Then with right side facing down, turn in 1/4". I finger press it first, using a few measurements along they way, and eyeballing the rest, then press it in place with the iron. Do both sides.
I have a piece of boxboard (like a cereal box or even lighter) and I draw a few lines across, one measuring 1/4" and another measuring 3/4". This way when I'm ironing I put the material face down, the boxboard along the top, and fold the material down to the line. I want to measure and iron.

I'm not good at just eyeballing a measurement, so for anyone like me, this makes it straighter.

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:45 am
by afdish
19Roland19 wrote:I am currently making my third, and will soon be making a fourth. As I suspected, I now wonder how I ever managed without a grime guard.

I do have one suggestion others may find useful. For Step 4
STEP 4. Iron the fabric. Then with right side facing down, turn in 1/4". I finger press it first, using a few measurements along they way, and eyeballing the rest, then press it in place with the iron. Do both sides.
I have a piece of boxboard (like a cereal box or even lighter) and I draw a few lines across, one measuring 1/4" and another measuring 3/4". This way when I'm ironing I put the material face down, the boxboard along the top, and fold the material down to the line. I want to measure and iron.

I'm not good at just eyeballing a measurement, so for anyone like me, this makes it straighter.
Great idea! Thanks for letting us know. I'm thrilled that you've found my tutorial so helpful. Happy Stitching!

Re: How to make your own Q-Snap "grime-guard"

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:56 am
by 19Roland19
In case I forgot to say it before, thank you so much for this.

I've never taken a sewing class in my life, and I have been able to follow your instructions. :)