I had a pretty good week, productive wise. I finished quilting my Sun-print Plaid quilt. I wanted to quilt on my Sweet Sixteen, but that did not work out. I swear that I got a lemon with this machine. I purchased a Bobbin Case Tension Gauge for 50 bucks because I thought it would solve my problem. A friend swears by it. The gadget said to put the tension at 220, so I did and all I got was a big snarl of thread on the back. So I fiddled with it and ended up setting it at about 400. That seemed just fine for about 10 minutes and then the thread broke. Rethreaded it and I got terrible tension and puckering. I GAVE UP! And I was using the thread that came with the SS, Superior Thread So Fine 50, on the top and in the bobbin.
So back to my trusty Bernina, on which I have quilted many a quilt, and doesn't care what kind of thread I use. Since this quilt was only 42 inches wide, it was very easy to do. I quilted it block by block, working from the center to the side. I didn't roll the quilt at all, just bunched it lightly so there was do drag. I love doing this leaf patten, it was almost zen like. If you look closely you will see that the leaves are not all exactly the same, some a little fatter, some a little longer, but it all goes together and is part of the charm (or so I tell myself). Remember to click on each picture twice if you want to see the details.
I photographed it outside on my deck, hoping to get a truer color than I did in my studio.
Now I have to bind it and I'm not sure what to do. I can piece it with different plaids or maybe use a solid that will go with the plaid. I also have to find a recipient. Does anyone have a good charity to recommend?
Lastly is the collage I made for August. The theme was SUMMER. I used my usual "formula" with pages torn from the encyclopedia, dictionaries and online dictionary, which I enlarged. The sunflower is one of my photos and the sun was from my Sunday Morning Suns, both printed on tracing paper so that the words would show through. I also wanted to do a velvet embossed sun. I had no yellow velvet so I dyed a small piece bright yellow and used a Hot Potato stamp that I had. I filled in the spaces between with a stamp that has script that is not really words and a sunflower stamp. Another mixed media collage.
I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.
2 comments:
One of the reasons I love FMQ versus following a pantograph is because it isn't precise. Every leaf in nature, like snowflakes, are different, therefore, quilted leaves should have some leeway.
One charity that is close to my heart, but would require you shipping the quilt, is the one started, called The Power of the Quilt Project. It is still going strong. The mission is to provide lap quilts to people in need. Originally, the focus was on women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I'll send you a link in a private email.
Love the quilt! I personally like it when the quilting isn't perfect, because it really shows the hand of the quilter.
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