Machine Quilting Monday - What I Learned from Entering My Quilt in a Show

No, I haven't been machine quilting much lately, but I realized I had never wrapped up my experience of entering my quilt into the East Cobb Quilters Guild show back in June.

For the backstory, visit these posts first:

1. Bonnie Hunter - the class that started it all
1. too many posts to list over the years detailing the incremental progress being made (or not)
2. Bobbin Chicken - entering my quilt 
3. I'm In! - my quilt was accepted into the show
4. Bordering on Insanity - quilting String Spider Web
5. Hip to Be Square - blocking a quilt for the first time
6. Georgia Celebrates Quilts - seeing my quilt hanging in the show

We were in Boston when it was time to pick up the quilts, so Ben generously collected mine for me. I didn't see him until our July guild meeting, and then completely forgot about it.




The Stitch did an episode where they shared their judges comments, so I thought you might like to see mine.

The comments were very kind, and none of the critique was a surprise. For instance, I got a "Good" on Complexity of Design (it was a pattern, and not particularly challenging) and Piecing Techniques (I cut off most of my star points by making my original template wrong).

I also got a "Good" for Finishing Techniques, with a note that says "pieced binding frames quilt well but could be smoother and straighter." That's fair.

The only other "Good" I received was for Quilting Techniques, which has the words "even stitches/tension" underlined. Tell me something I didn't know! I was happy to be rated "Good" in this category since even stitches are still my biggest challenge, especially when quilting teeny, tiny pebbles and other motifs.

But I was thrilled to also have "Very Good" in every other category, as well as these positive comments:

• "Clever idea, great assortment of fabrics" (that's what you get when you take this many years to finish a quilt!)
• "Quilting motif well chosen specific to quilt" (shoutout to Christa Watson, Angela Walters, and my #machinequiltingbloghop partners in crime, Kristin, HollyAnne, and Vicki!)
• "Held up well under stiff competition" (squeeee! Lynn says this means it was held for consideration for a ribbon!)

I am so pleased with this experience and only regret that it took me so long to try entering a show outside my own guild. It was a great learning experience, and pushed me to do my best work. I know that this quilt truly has been practice for the ones that come next, and I look forward to stepping up my game in the future.

Have you ever entered a judged show? How was your experience?

Georgia Celebrates Quilts

It's time for the East Cobb Quilters Guild show, Georgia Celebrates Quilts! If you are in the the area, please take time to go today or tomorrow. It is a fantastic show full of over 300 mind boggling quilts. Plus my String Spider Web is there.

String Spider Web by Jennifer Greer

Last week a supportive and optimistic friend from work asked, "When do you find out if your quilt won?" Isn't she cute? I had to break it to her gently that I already knew, and there was no way in hell my quilt was going to win anything in this show. I'm not being modest or self-deprecating; I am very proud of my quilt and I love how it turned out, but it is not even in the same ballpark as the winners. There are quilts in this show that will make you weep for how beautiful they are with no ribbons on them. The winners are simply breathtaking. I cannot imagine how hard this was for the judges. Honestly, I'm just honored that my quilt was accepted.

My Belle by Cindy Christenson
Best Machine Quilting - Computer Guided. 1st Place - Special Technique

Being in the middle of the #machinequiltingbloghop, I was very drawn into the fabulous quilting in this show. There were some examples of every stitch we've practiced and many, many more. 

My Belle by Cindy Christenson
Best Machine Quilting - Computer Guided. 1st Place - Special Technique

My Belle by Cindy Christenson
Best Machine Quilting - Computer Guided. 1st Place - Special Technique

HollyAnne and I found ourselves leaning in, oohing and aahing, pointing out little details, and fighting off envy. 

My Belle by Cindy Christenson
Best Machine Quilting - Computer Guided. 1st Place - Special Technique

We found the section above and many more like it and called Lynn over to ask, what is that? She said it's microstippling. HollyAnne and I just looked at each other and agreed, we've both been calling regular stippling microstippling! It is so tiny and dense, and gives the illusion of snow.

Omigosh by Christie Stevens

And that's not to say that the piecing was lacking. There were so many quilts with so many tiny pieces. Walking away from this one I overheard someone say, "She obviously has a problem throwing away scraps." 

Omigosh by Christie Stevens

Yes, there are 10,000 pieces in Christie's quilt!

Bonkers by Lynn Rinehart

It was fun to see quilts by people we know... 

A Celebration of Lines by Ben Hollingsworth
3rd Place - Special Techniques

...especially quilts with ribbons on them. I didn't even realize this was Ben's, although I should have recognized his style immediately. He had been keeping under wraps until the show. 

A Celebration of Lines by Ben Hollingsworth
3rd Place - Special Techniques

If you look closely, you can see some very special lines on the elephant.

Snow Day by Andi Settlemoir Barney

I don't know how Andi still has time to quilt while running Red Hen, servicing machines, and working with Paul on Lasting Impressions. She is the queen of multitasking!  

These pictures are just the tip of the iceberg! I hope you make time to come see the quilts and shop with the vendors. 

Sunday Stash - Finally!

I haven't been linking up with Sunday Stash for awhile now because there hasn't been anything to share. I've managed not to take in any new fabric, but I haven't finished anything either.

However, this week I'm thrilled beyond words to tell you that String Spider Web is FINISHED and dropped off at the East Cobb Quilt Show, Georgia Celebrates Quilts!

What I didn't realize until I sat down to write this post is that I didn't take a picture of it all done. The good news is that I'll see it hanging in the show at the preview party on Wednesday night and can take a picture then. 

I can't even begin to imagine how much fabric I used with all the string piecing and the pieced back, but I'm going to put it at 9 yards total. I'm really happy to cross this 4 year old UFO off my list and check that yardage out of my stash.

Additionally, I completely forgot to calculate the yardage I gave away. I didn't measure before I brought a whole box of fabric to guild last month for the "Free to a Good Home" table, but again I'm going to guess at 5 yards. I love that the whole box, plus several hardback books and some patterns, were gone in an hour! I think a lot of it was taken by the charitable service committee, but I'm not sure enough to add it to my "used for charity" column. 

I'm still in the red, but the gap is closing. One more decent sized finish would get me back on the right side of zero.

• Fabric Used this Week: 9 yards
• Fabric Used year to Date: 21.5 yards
• Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
• Fabric Added Year to Date: 23.5 yards
• Net Fabric for 2017: -2 yards used
• Used for Charity Year to Date: 2.5 yards
• Percentage Used for Charity: 33%

See more stash reports at Molli Sparkles!

#MachineQuiltingBlogHop Week 5 - Quatrefoil Applique

Welcome to Week 5 of the Machine Quilting Blog Hop!

Today we are working on Chapter 6 of The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting by Angela Walters and Christa Watson, Quatrefoil Applique. If you've been paying attention, you may have noticed that we skipped Chapter 4 and moved right on to Chapter 5 last week. That's because, when Vicki, Kristin, HollyAnne and I looked at Chapter 4, we all decided we were not ready for that one yet. Chapter 4 has been renamed Chapter 10, and we'll work up to that one at the end! 

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.

WiP Wednesday - Bordering on Insanity

It's WiP Wednesday, and this week I've been working on finishing my String Spider Web quilt. I have to have it finished by June 3 so I can turn it in for the East Cobb Quilters Guild Quilt Show, so I need to stay focused.

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?

WiP Wednesday - Where Does It End?

I'm linking up with WiP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

I have actually been doing some sewing every day this last week, even if it's just a seam or two before bed. Some of it is for the WannaBee round robin, which I can't show you. I do have to brag that I have finished my second round to hand off tomorrow, while some of us have just passed along the center block. I don't say this to make anyone feel badly, because the whole point of this is NO PRESSURE; it's just so you know that I am not personally responsible for slowing anyone else down. I'm very proud of that.

Design A - chopping off the spider webs

The other thing I've been working on is my spider web blocks. Our bee group met last week and Lynn was showing us her finished top. Well, it was finished until she decided she didn't like how the spider webs were incomplete on the sides, so she took it apart. At first I didn't understand what she meant, because when I look at this top I see the stars (or whatever you want to call them - the part that isn't string pieced). Those are complete in the layout she first used and that I was planning to use. This is also how Bonnie Hunter has it laid out.

Design B - border after the stars

Lynn is looking at the string spider webs, which probably makes more sense given the pattern name. She is enlarging her top by completing the spider webs and leaving the "stars" only partially finished.

Design C - border after the spider webs

I'm not sure I like that either.  Where does it end? What do you think is the natural border for this pattern?

I've drawn it out a few ways and am trying to decide which I like best. I really don't like Design C, either with the "orange" border or cutting off the star points. I think I like B the best, but then I have to come up with another fabric.

*Update: after looking at how many blocks are done and how many I would need, it turns out I've actually done too many for Design B and would have to unsew several blocks if I choose this design. Just in case that influences your decision. It probably will influence mine, although the more I look at Design B, the more I like it. I also found several green fabrics that I think would look great.

Please forgive the primitive design process - I don't do EQ anything. Also, please know that red and orange are not even remotely on my list of possibilities. I just thought they showed the most contrast.

Thoughts?



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FAL Q4 Goals - Finishing Strong!

It's time to list our 4th quarter goals for the Finish-A-Long.

After spending so much time trying to finish my Q1, Q2, and Q3 projects, I find myself starting over on my list now that none of those are lingering around anymore.

For ideas, I decided to look at the guild's UFO challenge for this year.  Every January we make a list of five projects we want to finish by the end of the year.  If we complete at least four of them, we get a special UFO bead.  I would show it to you but I've never gotten one. 

Do you see this?  Yes, four of those projects are finished!  I'm so excited.  The only one left is our guild challenge quilt, which is my Bonnie Hunter Spiderweb quilt.  Even though I have already earned the bead, I want the satisfaction of crossing all of these off my list.

So that's project #1.

Project #2 obviously has to be Batman's quilt, which remains nameless at this time.  We're taking suggestions.  As soon as Mom finishes quilting it, I will bind it so she can take it to California for the big arrival.  The label will have to wait until this baby shows up and gets named and all that.

For my last trick, I thought I'd try to finish a really old UFO.  I think I'll let you all vote on which one I should tackle.

Should it be:

1. My president's quilt.  This was a gift from the guild at the end of my presidency.  In 2006.
2. My four inch block swap.  This was a swap I participated in with a friend's bee group.  In 2002.
3. Both.  Both of these are completed tops that need only sandwiching and quilting. 

Ugh.  I already know what you're going to say.  Okay, okay...I'll do both!

What's on your list?



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WiP Wednesday - Ready for Retreat

I'm linking up with WiP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

Today is less about a work in progress and more like a packing list for retreat this weekend.  It's always a challenge to figure out how much to bring.  

• Batman's quilt - catch up to the Star Surround Quilt Along
• Spiderweb Blocks - these are perfect leaders and enders for anything else I'm working on
• Hexies - a good hand project for late night talks
• QOV Block Drive Components - like the Spiderweb Blocks, these are great leaders and enders.  I have eight more foundations already cut, so I'd like to get those all done and mailed off to Alycia.
• Social Tote - this is a long shot, but I am bringing the supplies just in case I run out of things to work on. 

 

Today I'm also making my mini pressing surface (ala one of these tutorials from Oh, Fransson! and American Quilting) to bring along.  I spray painted my table yesterday; today I covered it with the Insul-Bright and fabric.  It took no time at all and is just what I wanted!

Notes:  I used Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Satin spray paint in Island Splash.  I cut a layer of Insul-Bright about 1 1/2" bigger than the tabletop and a layer of home dec weight fabric about 3" bigger than the tabletop.  I staple gunned it down and voila!  It probably took me longer to buy the supplies than to make the whole thing.

I'm so looking forward to my retreat weekend.  I think some time spent sewing and hanging out with friends is just what the doctor ordered!




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WiP Wednesday - Now With Actual Progress!

I'm linking up with WiP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

It's true, I have done some actual sewing AND quilting this week!  Oooh!  Aaah!!

After our conversation lat week, The Pit Boss encouraged me to spend some time on Sunday getting back into the sewing room.  I really needed to finish up the little quilt that I had donated to the school auction.  I delivered it to the buyer yesterday and she seemed genuinely appreciative and excited to see this special college graduation gift for her daughter.  I blurred her kids' faces so you could see how I put it together. 

And that was enough to get me moving again.  While I was working on that piece, I was using my Spider Web blocks as leaders and enders and actually finished three more sections.  I love how this is turning out.  I'm up to 16 sections, which equal four blocks - only 16 blocks left.  I will need to step it up if I'm really going to finish this quilt for my guild challenge.

I kept going after that.  Tomorrow I'm going to show you another FINISH!  Yes, I pulled out my Rainy Day bag and it is just about done.  Two finished projects in one week...I'm on a tear!

What are you working on?



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Going to Guild - By Me!

Last night was our June guild meeting, and I did the program!

It was my first attempt at presenting, unless you count that one time where our guest cancelled at the last minute and I scrambled around trying to put together enough information about a 4" block swap to entertain everyone for at least 20 minutes.  Which I don't. 

Everyone was so sweet, even though I was a nervous wreck. I wasn't helped by the fact that I couldn't get the projector to work.  Apparently the cords aren't as "universal" as I'd hoped.  Thank Heaven for Ben, who not only lives just minutes away from our meeting location, but who also loves gadgets and technology at least as much as me, and who had his computer, a flash drive, several cords, and his own projector.  All of which were necessary.  It would have been a quick meeting without him, and I am so grateful.

The program was on social media for quilters, and I really need to thank all of YOU for providing my content.  You have made the online quilting community so rich and diverse and interesting.  You have taught me things I didn't understand and introduced me to technology I'd never used.  You are awesome!

I have to give a special shoutout to those of you whom I specifically mentioned (and linked to in the notes I shared with the audience).  I wish I could have talked about all of you, but went over by about 15 minutes already and have no idea what I would cut out.

• Cara Quilts, Sampaguita Quilts, and The Bashful British Quilter for my examples of the global quilting community
• Sandy, Pam, Sandi, and Frances for just a few examples of podcasts I love
• Bonnie Hunter demonstrating quilt cam on Google Hangout
• Leah Day for proving the benefits of YouTube
• The #TalknT and #QHC crews for answering "Why Bother?" with Twitter

I had a blast - at least once the projector problem was solved.  Have any of you ever done a guild program?  What did you talk about?  What would you like to hear about?

Sighing with relief...



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