8,072

Last week a friend wrote that she'd had 3,000 days of constant pain.  I did some calculations and I've had 8,072 days.  It was the week before my 17th birthday, so needless to say that birthday sucked.

But during those thousands of days there have been bright spots.  Today I mended my leaf quilt, adding embroidery over an insufficient seam allowance.  I really like how it turned out.

Music has definitely been a positive.  I've been listening to Tom Waits today, he is just right for a stormy afternoon.

But love is the main thing.  Love is what life is all about.  May you all have a happy and love filled weekend.

Leaf Quilt--Done!

I finished the autumn leaf quilt!  The blocks were completed several years ago, it remained to sew them together then quilt and bind everything.  The quilt is quite large, about 5' x 6.5'.  The perfect size to snuggle on the couch with a companion :)  Now to find a snuggle buddy...

I'd planned to use some cool free motion quilting designs, before I knew how hard that is.  Instead I quilted mostly in the ditch with some free motion on the white inner border.

The leaves have Art Deco-ish straight line designs, more visible from the back.  I added yellow perle cotton bobbin work to outline the sawtooth border.  I may add a line of burgundy stitching outside the dark red border.

Leaf Quilting

Sawtooth border; free-motion quilting

At right are the sawtooth and white borders.  The edge of the quilt has a 3" wide dark red border, 1/2" white border, then green binding.
More photos here

Back: leaves

The bobbin work was done using a straight stitch, 3.5mm stitch length, invisible nylon thread in the needle and perle cotton in the bobbin.  I bypassed the bobbin case's tension spring when inserting the bobbin.

You can also couch thicker threads, especially textured threads or yarn.  In that case use a narrow zig zag, nylon or matching thread, and pull the thread through the hole in your needle plate if there is one.  A couching presser foot would be even better.  A center pull ball or thread wound around a reused thread spool are good ways to hold the thread, and I typically let it dispense from my lap.

Pfaff Presser Foot Review

Stitch-in-Ditch foot, source

One of my birthday presents was an Edge Stitching presser foot for my Pfaff, what they call a Stitch-in-Ditch foot.  I was excited at the thought of almost effortless straight line in-the-ditch quilting--with IDT! (built-in walking foot)

I attached the new presser foot, checked settings, and started sewing.  Sadly, the guide causes a 1/8" gap between the seam and your stitching.  So disappointing!  I played with it some more and always had the same problem.  The foot is being returned. 

Blindhem foot, source

Then I remembered that I'd had good results with the Blind Hem (aka Overcast) foot that came with my machine.  The wire that runs under the foot sits in the ditch very well.  Depending to which side the seam allowances are pressed, I steer with the seam centered on the red adjustable guide or approx. 1/8" to the right, centered on the guide's "blade."

The edge stitching foot I'd originally seen was an older version (L), the new version (R) is the one I tried.

New style, source

Old style, source

I wonder whether the old version stitches closer to the ditch: the blade appears thinner.  It allows for adjustment of needle placement and use of decorative stitches.  The new version has many handy 1/4" markings.  Both are IDT compatible.

I haven't been able to try the old version, though, and am doing fine with the blind hem foot.

Baby Quilt Photos

Without further ado:

Quilt measures 57"x48"

Previous posts found here.
I really like that I had enough of the darker print, an almost pointillist design, to bind the quilt.  It adds a lot of interest to the back while blending with the outer border on the front.

I quilted in the ditch around the stars.  Then quilted diamonds in the large white squares where the blocks came together.  The secondary diamond design created is fun :)

The quilting creates a secondary design

Free motion quilted middle border, 
diagonals in outer border match stars' edges

The middle border was quilted more densely, in a loopy style to contrast with the straight lines of the quilt.  The outer border has simple diagonals, which leaves the fabric softer and puffier.  I stitched in the ditch between all borders.
The quilting is quite unlike what I'd originally planned, shown here.

Actual color of backing, cobalt blue

Closeup of quilting on back

I'm working on the label now, testing whether to write the message with Sharpie or embroider it.  Each has its pros and cons, so we'll see.

The Quilt is Done!!!

The only thing left to do is make and attach a label, and deliver it :)  And wash it--cat hair everywhere!  As it's autumn in Seattle you'll have to wait for pictures.  I finished the machine sewing over the weekend, then spent way too many hours hand slipstitching the binding down to the back.  I calculated 8 hours, but did speed up toward the end.  But it looks good ;)

And after whining about no dates. or bad dates, I had an excellent date!  We met for coffee yesterday and ended up talking for four hours.  I've felt a little hesitant to spread the news, worrying that it may jinx me, but then I remembered I'm not superstitious.

New Shoes

It's my birthday next week and I had a lovely lunch with my mom today.  Then we went shoe shopping.  I found some Docs I really like, and have liked for about 15 years.  My birthday shoes:

Double Buckle Mary Janes  dmusastore.com

The idea is they'll work with skirts and jeans.  They're more unusual, not typical Mary Janes, but still actual shoes and will keep my feet dry.  I loved the Dr Martens store--they complimented my 6yo "distressed" Timberlands :)

The downer in my day was finding out that one of the only other single woman in my knitting group is getting married in a month.  I'd wanted to get to know her better, since she's fun and we seem to have a fair amount in common.  Not so much now.  I'm so tired of being single!

I've almost finished the quilt, though.  The quilting is done and I'm about 1/4 through the binding.  Then to make and attach the label and give it away!  The quilting turned out really well, if completely unlike my original ideas, and I'm happy it's done.  I got some good practice free motion quilting, and broke a few needles.  Side to side is best rather than forward and backward, fyi.  At least on my Pfaff with a vertical hook.

Quilt: Dammit Beavis

I tried quilting the oval-y borders but it didn't work.  I'd forgotten how hard it is to sew curves with a machine.  The stitches and tension were unveven, the curves awful; it looked too much like the version I'd drawn on my camera.

Then I pulled out a piece of muslin and some scrap batting and tried free motion quilting.  This worked a little less well than usual because I hadn't changed to the fancy darning foot.  I'm giving up on oval borders and will be making triangles for the outer border, maybe a straight line bisecting the narrow white inner border.  Or try out some decorative machine stitches.

My time is filled up with medical appointments lately, very unfun.  The pain clinic doc doesn't know what's going on with me or what to do about it.  So I'm doing the rounds (again) and maybe somebody will think of something.  I've tried researching in medical journals but don't have access, and am too ill to go to the nearby med school library.  Many days I feel like Sisyphus.

Quilt Part 6

I finished outlining the stars last week!  Now to decide on border quilting designs.  For previous quilts I'd drawn a scale version in color to decide on block placement and borders.  Sketching quilting lines onto the drawing was easy.  This time I don't have a drawing so I used technology:

Curved border design

Option 1

Option 2

Drawn with a stylus on the camera's screen, not very impressive I know.  But better than nothing!

I think I prefer Option 1 with curves on the light blue border, then triangles echoing the star points for the outer border.  I have white thread to quilt the light blue border and cobalt blue thread for the darker border.

For the white areas between the stars, a free motion quilted loopty-loop thing (crudely drawn in Option 1).  Assuming I can get my free motion quilting up to scratch.  I could quilt it by hand but I have even less practice at that.  My other idea is an organic spiral design, also free motion.  I have plenty of scraps so better start practicing...

Previous quilt posts can be found here.

Finish the Quilt!

I'd better get the quilt finished: the baby's going home tomorrow :)

I've made some progress on quilting, not as much as I'd like, but doing well.  I'm trying not to stress about it and just do a good job.  I'd rather spend a few extra days to add extra detail.  The last couple weeks have been busier than usual so it's cut into my sewing time ;)  Good things, but busy nonetheless.

Quilting Oops

What happens when you're practicing free-motion quilting then switch to straight lines?  If you're me and forget to dial down the tension, this:

Back of quilt, white is top thread

I was even feeling proud of myself for remembering to put the feed dogs back up, lol.  At least it was easy to rip out, and shows the quilting lines very well.

Toward the end the bobbin thread broke but the top thread kept looping underneath.  

It's a lovely day today so I may sit at my machine, in front of the window, and quilt later.  But first to run some errands.

Quilting the Stars

The quilting is coming along pretty well, though of course slower than I'd hoped.  I've sewn vertical and horizontal lines along the sides of the stars, now am finishing outlining them.

Some photos of the in-progress quilting:

Overhead view

Outlining the stars

The design to quilt around the stars in straight, unbroken lines (begins at #1, bottom left).  This outlines the stars completely with two passes per row.  Pretty clever if I say so myself ;)

You can just make out the star shapes behind the quilting lines

The planned motif to decorate the white squares between the stars:

All scans from "Heirloom Machine Quilting" by Harriet Hargrave

Ideas for the borders:

I think I'll use one of these on the larger dark blue border.  I'm thinking diagonal lines on the smaller light blue border to echo the edges of the stars.

Life, Quilt

Some things have gone well in my life, others haven't.  I have a new good friend and we see each other weekly or so.  Last weekend we went to a cabaret show--so much fun!  This weekend has some good plans as well.  I miss having a local best girlfriend.  Haven't had one since high school, though, so I should be used to it by now.

I have been making progess on the baby quilt.  Most of the basic horizontal and vertical line quilting is done, so is outlining some borders.  Now to do detailed quilting of the blocks and borders.  I also haven't decided on a marking technique; maybe water soluble marker.  My free motion quilting is terrible so I'm doing as much with the feed dogs up as possible.

I'm still adjusting to the loss of function in my dominant arm.  'Nuff said.

Quilt is Basted!

It took two tries but the quilt is basted :)  The first try had the backing stretched too tight, so I had to redo it.  My rug is great for smoothing out fabric--it sort of velcros the fabric.

I spread the backing fabric, then the batting, muslin and the quilt top.  I smoothed all the layers, especially the backing and top, so there are (hopefully) no wrinkles in the final quilt.

Quilt roll up

Lots of safety pins=sore fingers

 Unfortunately the backing fabric shrunk in the wash so it's a little short.  I'd calculated so there would be extra, but forgot to account for shrinkage.  Luckily there's extra width so I'll chop some off the side and seam it to the top.  If I do this well it'll blend in with a quilting line.  I think I'll hand baste 1/4" below the seam between the borders then position the backing patch and sew.  This should position the seam well, but we'll see.

Too much and too little backing fabric

Quilt Update

Quilt top in daylight

I have done no sewing.  Instead I bought and assembled a bunch of new furniture: a couch and two bookcases.  Last year I got a new apartment, now I finally I have furnishings that work in it :)


I did buy backing fabric for the quilt since my intended backing fabric was too narrow.  It's cobalt blue cotton, yum!  I need to wash and dry the fabric, then layer and pin baste the quilt, then quilt it.  Because I decided on poly batting, which isn't opaque, I am lining the quilt top with muslin.  Otherwise the white squares will look slightly blue.  So the whole project is much more complicated than originally intended.

Quilt Top Finished

Well, my plan to finish the quilt by tonight was overambitious.  A few things went wrong, other things came up, and I barely managed to finish sewing the top.  But it looks good :)

Borders

I only figured out how to reliably sew a 1/4" seam on my machine halfway through this project.  As a result my sewing was inaccurate and pieces didn't always match up.  This meant that I had to pay attention to every seam so the points and seam lines matched up, and that took a lot of time.

For borders I added a 1/2" white strip to act as a frame around the blocks.  Then 2" of the light blue and 3" of dark blue.  The blocks are 9" square.

White square begging to be quilted

Now that there's no hurry to finish I'm planning to do some really nice quilting.  In the large white squares I'll put a swirly design.  The borders will get something special, too.  Also horizontal and vertical lines on the whole thing to make the blocks pop and to hold it together.

I overdyed the backing fabric, hung it up to dry, and realized it has a crazy diagonal pattern.  I don't really like the dye job for this project anyway, so I'll buy a different fabric for the backing.  I may buy cotton batting to replace the poly batting I was planning to use.  I'll test the poly batting against a sample of cotton I already have, see which looks better.  I need to practice my free-motion quilting anyway.

Quilt Progress

Finished blocks

I finished piecing and pressing all 20 blocks last night :)  This makes me a day ahead of schedule!  So there's time to have a bad day, and spend more time on the quilting, while still finishing the quilt for Saturday.  I hope.

 Still to finish:

• sew the blocks together and add borders (creating the quilt top)
• layer the backing, batting and top, and safety pin them together
• quilting
• binding
• sign and date the quilt

The blocks are 9" finished size, and the quilt will be 4 blocks wide by 5 high, plus borders.

Quilt layout

If I have time I'd like to quilt a special design in the large white square created where the blocks meet (center of photo at left).











The big decision now is what to use for backing.  I'd love some opinions!

The white and larger blue floral in the blocks are flannel, and I have enough of the blue to back the quilt.  Except that it works in small amounts and is, imo, rather hideous on its own.  I have another flannel, a small floral, that could work.  However I'm leaning toward bleached muslin at this point--I have it, it looks and wears well, and nobody dislikes white.

I am decided on the borders.  The lighter blue for the inner border and darker blue for the outer border.  I may add a narrow innermost white border, to visually separate the blocks from the borders.  The whole thing will be bound with the dark blue print.  It's a really cool fabric, pointillist in appearance, and won't show dirt.  I want this baby quilt to be used.

Block with border fabrics

We Interrupt Regularly Scheduled Sewing

For a baby quilt!  Yes, I used to be a quilter and sometimes still dabble in it.  I'd started a small quilt several years ago but never finished it.  I'm hoping I can bust out the finished product by next Sat, the baby shower.      There's maybe half the piecing for the top left to do, plus some quilting then binding.

I'm too tired to take pictures tonight, but soon.  Bonus: sewing (or quilting) is so much faster than knitting!

UFOs (UnFinished Objects)

I have a few--we're only talking sewing now, k? lol  I also have several projects in the planning stages.  I thought I'd list some to give myself a kick in the butt and hopefully polish some off!

Oldest: Brown/Purple faux suede jacket, lined and interlined for warmth.  I started this right: made a muslin and fitted the pattern before cutting.  Then I realized that I'd get very little use out of such a thin jacket.  I found some awful poly stable knit, perfect to add warmth, and it has stretch to match the suede.  The jacket was sewn together at this point, however, so I needed to rip out the seams and resew them.  I also had done no tailoring so wasn't sure how much interfacing, what kind, where.

Now I've learned a bit more and have a cool buttonholer device.  Once the 1930s blouse is out of the way I'll try to finish this jacket and wear it this autumn.  Or winter...or next spring.

Most needed: A quilt.  An autumn leaf-shaped quilt for a sofa throw.  It's beautiful and I only need to finish the quilting then bind it.  It's not too hard to straight line quilt, it's the free motion that's worrying me.  I've never made a quilt using free motion quilting, thus have very little experience with it, so am not very good.  I need to give up the idea of it being perfect and accept that it'll be good enough, and done.

Main problem with this one: Once I'm set up to quilt I can't sew anything else, and vise versa.

Most under my skin: 1930s blouse.  I need to just finish it and move on.  I'm wondering whether the waist ties may help the saggy boob look.  Only one way to find out!

Newest: Some undies that just need elastic.  It's new fabric so I'm not sure how they'll fit.  Should take less than 2 hours to complete both pair.

So the plan is to finish the dreaded 30s blouse, set up the machine for quilting and work on it a bit each day.  This was working until I got the itch to sew clothes.  Theoretically I could set up the Singer for quilting but that's a whole new set of skills I don't want to try and master just yet, thank you very much.