I finally finished quilting the String Spider Web quilt, and decided to take another leap forward in my process by blocking a quilt for the first time ever. Thanks to The Stitch Girls and some advice from Leah Day, I worked up the courage to try this even though I have to turn the quilt in on Saturday and have no time to mess this up!
I really wanted to wash this quilt since I've been working on it for EVER! I didn't think a spray bottle of water was going to be sufficient, and dunking it in the tub ala Leah Day sounded like a huge pain. Another Jenny, Jenny Lyon, washes hers in the washing machine, and that seemed like the way to go. I was a nervous wreck while it went through the spin cycle, wondering if one of those strips of fabric would bleed or if the unbound edges would fray badly. Amazingly enough, there was almost no fraying and the color catchers did their job. Hallelujah!
The Pit Boss and I picked up these insulating squares at Home Depot last week, and some T pins from JoAnn's. I was sure I bought enough to put them every inch, but you know that math is not my jam. They're every inch-and-a-half, and I think that will be fine.
The squares just barely fit on my sewing table, and I held them together with binder clips so they wouldn't shift.
I have the ceiling fan on high, and now I'm just waiting for the quilt to be dry enough to trim and bind. What are you working on? P.S. The color in these pictures is crazy! I swear to you that the insulation panels are lavender and the carpet is beige, not green. It's like some weird version of the gold/white/black/blue striped dress.
So, even though it's week 5, we're working on Chapter 6. Clear as mud?
This week we move into the free motion quilting designs that are more in my wheelhouse; the curvy, loopy ones that come easier for me. In Christa's class back in February, she mentioned that most people have a preference for either the straight line designs or the rounder designs, and I definitely prefer the latter. I've done lots of loopy hearts and flowers going back to my earliest attempts at FMQ. That's why I wasn't worried about what to do this week - I was already doing it! Remember how the String Spider Web quilt has to be dropped off by Saturday? Yes, I'm almost done quilting it! And I've been taking a few pages out of this awesome book for inspiration. Some of these are easier to see from the back, so I'll try to show them to you from both sides.
I used Switchbacks in the background stars.
I used spirals in the spider web blocks. I'm sure it's obvious that I didn't mark them, and this is the one thing I may go back and redo after the show. Unfortunately I don't think I have time before the drop off to fix them ahead of time.
I used variations of Echo Plumes and Echo Leaves and Paisley and Pearls all along the border, and more switchbacks on the edges.
I really love how this is turning out. Even though it is far from perfect, and my stitch length is not even remotely consistent, it is still a giant leap forward in the complexity of my quilting. I just have to keep reminding myself that this quilt is practice for the next one. If you haven't yet, please join us as we practice our way through this book and improve our machine quilting for our future quilts. You don't have to have a blog to participate - just use the hashtag #machinequiltingbloghop on your favorite social media channel. One more thing I keep forgetting to mention is that the book is on sale over at the Martingale site. Now is a perfect time to buy it and start quilting along with us.
I decided to use the scrolling swirls that I learned in Angela Walters's class at QuiltCon. It's okay, but I'm at that point where I think it all looks terrible, it's not good enough for the show, and I'm wondering why I even decided to enter in the first place. Luckily I've been here before and I know this feeling will pass. At least I hope it will!
Next I have to figure out what to do in the corners. Suggestions are welcome. Seriously, what do I do with this? What are you working on?
I decided that this orphan Night and Day block left over from the Modern Blocks Quilt Along would be a great place to practice these walking foot designs.
I used the Clover Chaco Liner to make some registration marks, but mostly I just used the edge of my walking foot and aimed for the next dot.
I still prefer free motion quilting to straight line quilting, but this was a fun exercise. The straight line spiral kind of bugs the OCD side of me, but I love how the triangles with the overlapping grid turned out.
There's still time to jump in and join me, HollyAnne, Kristin, and Vicki as we work through this book. You don't have to have a blog - just post on your favorite social media channel using the hashtag #machinequiltingbloghop and show us what you're working on.
Remember last week how I thought I might be done with this piece? Well, after looking at some of the cool designs for triangles, I knew I had to add just a little bit more.
First we did some simple echoing. Since this area was so small, I just did it with freemotion and used the edge of the darning foot as my guide. It's not perfect, but it's also not noticeable unless you really look. I love how this echoes the straight lines on the purple border!
This continuous curve design is where I really had a good time, though. I love how easy it is to get this gentle, leafy curve without having to mark. I just used my zigzags to check my spacing and create a focal point.
If you'd like to see Angela in action using these same designs, check out this episode of The Midnight Quilt Show.
Now I think I really am done with this little quilt. Check out what Kristin, HollyAnne, and Vicki did with this week's designs, and follow us on your favorite social media channel with the hashtag #machinequiltingbloghop. Jump in a join us anytime!
Some of my favorite recommendations for books, movies, podcasts and TV shows have come from my quilty friends. There are exceptions, of course, (looking at you, Pam and The OA) but for the most part I find that you all have fabulous taste. I thought I'd return the favor and share what's on my Kindle, my podcatcher, and my TV screen. Mostly it's a lot of murder. What I'm reading:
On Pam's recommendation, I decided to give Karin Slaughter one more chance after she broke my heart with her Grant County Series. I have torn through all seven books in the Will Trent Series in just a couple of week. Karin and Pam have now both redeemed themselves.
Next I jumped into Golden Prey by John Sandford. I'm not sure how Sandford has avoided the danger, after writing over twenty books in a series, of phoning it in like some authors (~cough~ Janet Evanovich, John Grisham, Stuart Woods ~cough~). His writing still sucks me in, and I still love his characters. Even better, the characters grow and change, and his dialogue is fantastic. This lived up to his reputation. What I'm Watching: HBO's Big Little Lies, based on the awesome novel by Liane Moriarty, is one of those rare productions that lives up to the book. If anything, it enhances the story by bringing it so truly to life. The Pit Boss and I started watching this just a week before the final episode aired, which made for some excellent binging. This is one of those recommendations that goes full circle, since I think I was originally pointed to Moriarty's books by Tanesha over at Crafty Garden Mom.
What I'm listening to:
Aside from all my fave quilty podcasts, I really am a true crime junkie. My latest guilty pleasures have been S-Town and Missing Richard Simmons.
Neither of these turns out to be murder-y at all, but they both involve a good mystery and high production values.
It's WiP Wednesday and I'm a little behind on my #Twilters bee blocks. I hadn't made April's blocks, and now May's are posted!
Don't you love these cute bow tie blocks that Kelly requested? They are so quick and easy to make. I started with two, but they make perfect leader/ender blocks, so I'll make a few more while I finish the May block. Would you like to make some? Here's the tutorial by the fabulous Jenny Doan.
Next I needed to make the Pins and Paws block that Sharon chose. Once again, Jenny Doan gave us this adorable free pattern.
Honestly, isn't she just the best? So generous with her ideas, talent, and smile!
We're back to work on the quilt from last week's post. I chose to do the wood grain or flame stitch design in the star points. I thought it would give the star a little bit of movement and interest, but this stitch is much harder than I guessed. I have to say it's also not my favorite.
One of the topics in this chapter is about choosing thread color. So far I've used a violetAurifil 50 wt cotton thread for all of the areas. I love the purple and green together, but for the next section of pebbling in the background, I decided I should switch to a neutral.
While I was working on these pebbles, I was listening to Frances's latest podcast. Ironically, as I was just hitting the point of the pebbling where you start to wonder why you even started, Frances was talking about the pendulum swing away from really dense quilting in the modern movement.
Last, I'm wondering about leaving some areas unquilted, and I'd love some feedback. Can I leave the purple star points and the corner triangles unquilted? Is that a design choice or am I just being lazy? What do you think?
Please join us even if you don't have a blog. Use the hashtag #machinequiltingbloghop on your favorite social medial channel and get quilting. Remember, the only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice!
I have been going non-stop for the last few weeks getting ready for the last few days.
On Thursday, our company held a ground breaking ceremony for the impending campus expansion. It was kind of a big deal - in fact, Governor Nathan Deal was there.
We had every detail planned down to the little shovel-shaped spoons to put the dirt in the commemorative jars, but the one thing we couldn't control was the weather.
Luckily we had a big tent and everything went off without a hitch. Our company president gave a moving speech about how we've let go of so many of the ceremonies in life, and why they chose to stand on ceremony for this occasion because of what it means to the whole company and its associates. I may have been a little extra sentimental because of the timing, but the whole day was beautiful despite the rain.
I came home from work, exhausted and ready for a nap, but there was no time for that! We packed a bag, and left early Friday morning for Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for Deuce's graduation from the University of Alabama. #RollTide
More rain couldn't wash away our excitement and pride! We didn't get to bring him home with us since he's "taking a victory lap" and staying another year to get his Master's degree.
Now it's time to get back to quilting and work on Monday's post for the #machinequiltingblog hop. I hope you join us!
