Machine Quilting
The Smoky Mountain Guild Quilt Show is fast approaching. One of my three entries has a quite a bit of work before it's finished.
I had pieced it almost a year ago intending to get the machine quilting done last summer at the cottage. Now I'm in crunch mode to get it done. A few weeks ago it got layered with the batting and backing fabric. I also machine quilted the straight lines at that time.
To experiment with quilting patterns, I placed Press'nSeal plastic wrap over one of the large blocks and drew these patterns with a fat tipped Sharpie pen.
I'm now quilting the spiderweb patterns in all the squares that have spiders. Rather than my original intent of quilting each large block, I'm quilting all the small squares scattered through the twelve blocks that will have the same pattern. Each one gets easier as I develop a rhythm for stitching that pattern. Also, this sequence gives me the option to change thread color for the other patterns.
I'd like to share my trick for getting a grip on the fabric while machine quilting. I use 3M sand paper foam rubber pads that I found at a JoAnn Fabric/Craft store in the woodworking department. It takes only a slight downward pressure for them to do their job of keeping the fabric taut and sliding it around on the machine bed. It's easy to reposition them AND my fingers are free for all the other things that have to be done while sewing.
Well, back to the machine.
Fabric Bird Sculpture Pattern
7 comments:
Hello Nellie,
I have never done quilting before.
Your patterns look great.
Nellie I'm looking forward to see all the quilt that will be fantastic.
ciao ciao
Thanks for the sand paper hint. Your quilt looks fabulous
HEY that quilt is almost exactly like the one in my head....hehehe. I used to work in rail safety and travel to australia a lot, so I envisoned my aussie fabric collection criss crossed with railway track stripes. heh! I LOVE your quilt. happy quilting.
What a wonderful quilt - the fabrics you have used have a lovely ethnic quality and say Aboriginal art to me. The colours are gorgeous as are the patterns, all without being overpowering, and the way you have put them together is just stunning. I am sure it will be well received.
I do like the idea of the stitching being suggested by whatever block it is going into-spiderwebs for spiders, etc. It will be fun for a child to look at that and see all of the different patterns.
i'm loving what i see nellie, how you keep making DIFFERENT is beyond me. your well is deep :)
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