I am back to working on my Sampler Quilt – one more block to quilt and then I have to put the thing together. I am embarrassed about how long this thing is taking – 7 years and counting (and it has put me off quilting).
I am determined to get it finished.
Filed under Foundation Blocks, Free Motion Quilting, Patchwork, Quilting
Another block is quilted
I am back to trying to finish my sampler quilt. I am trying to spend a bit of time on each of my three main crafts – knitting, canvas work and this.
I discovered today (in the manual) that my sewing maching has a setting for free motion quilting – how good is that? And it worked well.
I have never tried ‘quilt as you go‘ before and I am interested to see how it comes together. It has definitely been easier to pin the quilt sandwich together and to quilt the squares.
I have been thinking about my goals for next year and the big one is to finish my ongoing projects – this quilt was started in May of 2013! The other goal is ‘no more craft supplies!’ – always hard.
Filed under Digitizing, Foundation Blocks, Free Motion Quilting, Quilting
I’ve begun quiting this quilt – I’m free-motion quilting using a double heart pattern (it’s from Quilting Arts magazine June July 2011). See below
It’s coming together quite nicely, but I have trouble covering the quilt in a fluid direction (I have to stop and start).
Filed under Free Motion Quilting, Inspiration, Quilting
I finished my Dino Quilt. Above is the front and below is the back.
I free-motion quilted it using a stippling pattern. I found this to be quite tricky simply because of the size of the quilt, but in the end I’m pleased with the results. As always, I could do with more practice.
I tried a new binding technique. I remembered what happened last time and followed my own advice. I cut the binding strips 2 inches wide, attached them to the back first and then machine sewed them to the front.
Still not completely perfect, but I am happy with the results.
Filed under Free Motion Quilting, Patchwork, Quilting
I finished quilting the Dino Quilt – the above image is of the back. I stippled it, but I don’t think I pinned it enough – there seems to be a bit of shifting.
Onto binding and labelling.
Filed under Free Motion Quilting, Quilting
I’ve started quilting. I’m stippling this one. I’m finding it physically quite challenging – manipulating all of the fabric and then bits fall of the table and drag on the needle. It is still probably the best part of the quilting process.
Filed under Free Motion Quilting, Patchwork, Quilting
Another baby is on the way – due at the end of February (not me obviously!).
It is 30 charm squares and a white border. I bought the charm squares ages ago from the Fat Quarter Shop (sorry I can’t remember the name). Everything including the backing and wadding came from my stash (slightly embarrassing that I have so much stock piled).
I just quilted it using my swirly free motion quilting (see picture below).
This time I didn’t lower the feed dogs while doing free motion quilting. I read about it here and thought I would experiment. To be honest I can’t see that it made much difference – I won’t be dropping the feed dogs in future. I did change the stitch length to zero and everything seem to work as normal – there are a few places where my stitches are too big, but that will just get better with practice.
This quilt came together really quickly – about 5 hours so far and all I have left is the binding.
Filed under Fabric Stash, Free Motion Quilting, Quilting
When I free-motion quilt I tend to do loops and swirls – it just seems to be my natural style. I’ve been trying to make the loops rounder. I’ve been concentrating on the getting the sewing machine speed and the speed I move the quilt right. Sometimes I have big stitches and sometimes small ones but I am getting better with practice.
This time I’ve also had a bit of trouble with the tension – I’ve tried fiddling with the needle tension, but I haven’t been able to solve the problem completely. Increasing the needle pressure has helped, so I might try altering the tension with increased needle pressure and see what happens.
Filed under Free Motion Quilting, Quilting
I’ve started quilting this quilt. I’m doing free-motion swirly things (my version of stippling). I’m definitely getting better with practice. I found a supreme slider (it’s a silicon sheet you put between your sewing machine and the quilt – there is a hole for the needle) made things much easier to move the fabric.
Filed under Free Motion Quilting, Quilting
