Update on Bloggers Quilt Festival. HERE is the link for voting for nominations. It’s a little confusing – and I couldn’t find the place to vote for viewers choice but it’s not really about the winning. There are just so many amazing quilts on display – like going to a quilt show in my pajamas!
There are about 15 categories you can put quilts into. Some of my favorites that I nominated are numbers 477, 178, 567, 242, 35, 569, 21, 468, 3, 50, 214, 107.
Several of you have asked and my number is 597.
Now….on to my SewCalGal update for May…..
It’s hard to believe it’s mid-May already…..the year is just whizzing by!
This month Leah Day is the featured quilter with SewCalGal. I’m doing Leah’s weekly FMQ challenges so was greatly looking forward to this lesson and I wasn’t disappointed. She taught us two designs (double stipple and rail road tracks) that were simple but upped the technique a notch or two.
I chose to do the double stipple. I decided to use this on my Magic Pudding top. I did a large stipple in the center – probably about 3-4 inches between the loops in most places. Then I went back and did the double stipple on top of that line. My tension was good and I really enjoyed the process. It was almost meditative.
One of the troubles I had with this quilt was the thread. I really like variegated thread and so the last time I ordered Isacord thread, I asked for a recommendation (they don’t carry the Isacord variegated) and they suggested trying Hemingworth Poly Select. It’s a 40wt so I was hopeful. For whatever reason, I didn’t have much thread trouble in the center part of the quilt – occasional breakage but not bad. However, once I got to the outer border and doing the spiral flower I started to not only have tension problems but thread breakage.
I did the entire dance…..change needle, rethread, change to a different kind of needle (worse), change back, one-two-three, one-two-three, break-two-three, shred-two-three…..finally I finished the last border after what felt like a bazillion thread breakages.
I won’t be using this thread again. I think I’m just going to stick to what works - which for me and my machine is Isacord thread. Or at least only do thread experiments with small pieces. If it wasn’t for my dedication to staying in my ZEN ZONE, there would have been a whole lot of cussin’ going on (and mama don’t like it when I cuss!).
Here’s a shot of the ‘eye lash’ problems when doing the spiral flowers. I think I just don’t have my speed and movement right because when doing other stitches, I don’t seem to have these types of tension problems. I’m not discouraged though – and I love the spirals so I’ll just keep practicing. Plus….I think once I wash this baby up, the eye lash issues won’t be very noticeable.
So, another small quilt done and dusted. Label was sewn into the back and binding has been hand stitched down. No identified use for this one – it will probably sit on the shelf until one of my nieces or nephews produce the next girl child.
That is so beautiful! So sorry to ‘hear’ about the thread situation…..been there/done that. You are probably correct about the issue of ‘eye lashes’ (speed of machine vs. fabric movement) but why sometimes and not others—-it’s a mystery (so many factors…..even humidity can play a part sometimes, ugh!). Anyhow, you did wonderful work and the ‘someone’ who receives this one will be very blest!! Hugs, Doreen
Thanks Doreen. Safe travels through SD this week!
Thread issues drive me crazy! I’m hoping that once my new machine loosens up, I’ll be able to turn the tension down a little. Right now, free-motion requires it to be at 9. The one time I tried using fancy thread, it was almost more trouble than it was worth, breaking constantly…. Those flowers are really cute, though!
Thanks! I know it shouldn’t but messing with the machine tension makes me very nervous. I think it’s a flashback to childhood when I was told “DO NOT TOUCH THAT DIAL”. (Which was probably the right thing to say to a 10 year old – but this 53 year old should be more adventurous – throw caution to the wind and TOUGH THAT DIAL! hehe)
thread issues are one of the great mysteries to me. you tried all the typical fixes. sometimes i find it can even just be a different fabric. i can have good stitches until i hit a particular fabric. or it can be fine until i do a tighter curl (which speed could be a factor too) so…..i do what you do….finish the bugger that is on the machine and then ditch the thread.
Ahhh…..the welcome words of a professional! Good to hear that you still struggle too – and that it’s not always operator error/issue. Have you found a variegated thread that you return to time and time again?
You’ve just summed up why I have so many unquilted tops! I hate when you’re movin’ along nicely and things stop co-operating! Thread breaks…needle breaks…thread shreds…. I’ve been using King Tut (Superior) and Bottom Line (bobbin) and I’m not sure I like it. This is the combination that Superior recommends for quilting but I think the King Tut is almost too heavy. I’ve never tried Isocord….hard to get round here….but many people seem to like it. I may have to find some and test it. Some days I long for the time when I sewed with any old thread in ignorant bliss!!
I’ve only tried King Tut once and I wasn’t thrilled with it – I thought it felt heavy also. yeah….give Isacord a whirl and see what you think. I think it’s the one that Leah Day uses?
I’m actually down to maybe 4? 5? 6? unquilted tops in my possession……I’m totally in shock about that. At one point – I had a couple dozen. (Oh, I forgot about the 6-8 in South Dakota in a box…..dang…..I guess I’m not as caught up as I thought….)