Machine Quilting Journal #3

Machine Quilting Journal #3 (#1 is filed under Starters and Enders Quilt, 7/4/11)

From Diane Gaudynski workshop 10 years ago: “Always practice on real quilts.“

No amount of stitching practice sandwiches works as well as quilting a real quilt. It ups the pressure just enough for one to progress. Since my last entry, I’ve done two charity quilts, both 50”x80”. The pressure was off. My mantra is “the baby won’t care.” These are camp quilts and were not for babies, but the idea is the same. I really zipped along trying new edge-to-edge designs from Christine Maraccini. I did ditch stitch the blocks, so I really quilted block by block, chunks of quilting that I could manage.

For ditch quilting I use Madeira Mono poly in the needle, and Bottom line in the bobbin. I use a 60/8 Microtex needle and work free-motion, as it is much faster. For the quilting I used Superior's Highlights in the needle, and Bottom Line in the bobbin. I used a 90/14 Topstitch titanium needle.

This quilt is the Ugly Scrap Challenge. It was started 3 years ago as a grocery bag of ugly scraps of uncertain origin. It has endless borders, each perfect for practiciing a different sashing pattern. Again I used ideas from Chrisitne Maraccini’s book, MACHINE QUILTING SOLUTIONS. By the time I quilted around each border, I pretty well had that pattern in long term memory.

OK: 2 quilts done, and 8 to go.

This quilt finished 60"x72". It has the Mountain Mist 100% polyester Quilt-Light Batting. To my surprise when washed, it shrank 2" in width, and 2" in length. It was light weight to handle in the machine. It's not a warm quilt. That backing was a piece of vintage polyester that I found in the thrift store. It really worked quite well.

My second Gee's Bend Quilt!

Wow, the Sister's trip with the REBELS was too much fun! In 2008 I went and took a Gee's Bend workshop and loved it, so this year I went back for more. Here's the end result..the "mid-west waterways quilt"...Great Lakes at the top, small lakes and trees in the middle...more trees and rivers at the bottom...and...of course...the flames...

Machine Quilting Journal #2

*

After pin basting quilt, I seal the edges with a line of stitching. I may use walking foot or stitch it free-motion for practice. After that, I’m able to trim away the excess batting, and not worry about it creeping back under the quilt.

Quick tips from Cindy Needham’s workshop yesterday: Best tool for cleaning your machne is a big fuzzy pipe cleaner. You can buy them at craft stores. Bend them, and use the bent end to pick up the lint and debris in your machine. NEVER USE CANNED AIR TO CLEAN YOUR MACHINE.

Also from the workshop, I was able to confirm that the Topstitch needles and Metallica needles are the same. I’d suspected that for a long tiime, but was never able to find anyone with expertise to confirm that. These are the workhorse needles for most machine quilters. They work well for high speed quilting.

www.cindyneedham. com for great information and extraordinary quilts

*

Gee's Bend quilts hanging in front of the Stitchin' Post, Sisters, OR, July 9, 2011

Rebels & Virtual Rebels Go to Sisters, Oregon, for Show & Workshops

Perfect weather (70s in the daytime, and low 40s at night), fabulous quilts, lots of great time with friends, great workshops and lectures.

This is the side of the Stitchin' Post shop. Quilts were done by employees as a challenge. There were 1400 quilts in the show! This year there was a new program on Sunday for those willing to stay another day. Special guests this year were 7 women from Gee's Bend. Pictures of their quilts to follow in next few days. It was all pretty intense, but wonderful.

Starters and Enders Quilt, 53"x79"

Home Sewing Machine Quilting Journey 1

Current focus: improve machine quilting. I'm 10 tops behind., What are the bottlenecks?

1. No backs (new house rule: make back as soon as top is done)

2. Skill level

3. Dithering over WHAT DESIGNS to quilt

Plan: Focus on skills, keep samples of patterns I learn, and QUIT DITHERING. Share that journey on blog, as I go.

Started with Pam Clarke's QUILTING INSIDE THE LINES, for this quilt. It was almost a free quilt, since it was made of the most eclectic scraps, i.e. 2 1/2" strips cut into varying lengths, and sashed with plaid thrift market shirts. I had to buy a batt, and decided to try the low loft poly by Mountain Mist, as it was the least expensive. I'm not a fan of poly batts; but decided this was worth a try. It worked fine, and I may use it again.

Pam emphasizes "practicing with a purpose" and has 10 motifs to master. The 2 for this quilt are "swirl" and "loop". The loop was easy, but the swirl took a couple of hours of paper and pencil practice to learn. I wondered why she chose the most difficult motif as the first one. Maybe, because once learned, and burned into brain, the others are easy. At first, I practiced drawing "east to west", but then realized I'd be quilting "north to south", so I turned paper 90 degrees. The "swirl" is half way to a spiral, a motif I've wanted to be able to do for a long time. I also quilted "leaf" motif on the border strips, and had a terrible time with them. They are mutant forms. I've done lots of leaves, but had trouble with Pam's version.

Bobbin thread: Bottom line by Superior, no lint, and long bobbin life

Needle thread: Highlights by Superior, 40 wt poly, no lint, no thread breakage
Needle: 90/14 Topstitch, titanium, available from Superior

Scrap childs play

My 11 year old daughter got into my scraps the other day.. 

She insists she doesn't like to sew, but...

she put some scrap blocks together... (like mother like daughter!) 

She picked out the fabrics, put it all together, and I quilted and bound it

Nifty does a tile quilt experiment

Nifty had an applique emergency, i.e. no hand work to do, during down time at the office. She decided to give this technique a try, although she didn't really have any directions. This block took care of the emergency, but she is not sure she wants to do any more.