My Whimsical Quilt Garden centre

The centre of this quilt is done! This is my first full-size hand applique quilt, and I'm so happy with how it's looking so far!  I'm not doing the border as designed, which is basically a lot of circles of various sizes...I have a few other ideas that I'll be sketching or trying out in EQ 7.

The applique blocks were made from block of the month kits; I used wool for applique in small bits of most blocks for a little something different.  I chose my own sashing fabrics.

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Finishing the table runner

I didn't want the disappearing nine patch table runner to end up in a ufo pile, waiting for binding; I also wanted to practice machine binding on it before tackling a full size quilt.  So I decided to use the multi-colour fabric as binding and it worked out great!

I do almost all my bindings completely by machine...saving the handsewing for special quilts.  I start with 2" wide strips, iron in half lengthwise, and sew with 1/4" seam allowance to the back.  I then bring the binding to the front and sew itdown with a blanket stitch or a decorative stitch.  This is the tricky part, that requires some practice and patience (I also remind myself that this process is still faster than hand sewing!)   To make the binding and stitching look nice on the back, you have to be sure to bring the edge of binding to the front just to the line of stitching made from the  initial sewing of the binding to the back.  I used to use pins to keep the binding in line, but these new clover binding clips are great!  I just put on a couple at a time, and I also use an awl to keep the binding up to that stitching line; I can steer the fabric with the awl up very close to the presser foot.

 I think I discovered my favourite feature of the Horizon 7700! Favourite stitch.  I played with all the blanket stitch variations, settling on the right stitch and the right width and length, then a simple touch on the screen, one more touch to confirm, and that setting for that stitch is saved forever!!

When I chose the blanket stitch, the screen told me to lower the presser foot pressure to 4, that seemed like a lot lower, so I chose 5, then realized that tthe Janome was pretty smart, and 4 was better, lol.  As I used the dual feed walking foot for sewing on the binding, I got along fine using a regular foot for the final binding.

I  used the open toe foot for sewing the binding on the quilt.  I haven't yet bought the dual feed 1/4" foot, and I'm not sure yet that I need it.  I used the open toe dual feed foot, and moved the needle to the right to where a 1/4" seam can be made, keeping the dual feed on the fabric.  I easily used the right side dual feed "leg" on the edge of the fabric to make the 1/4" seam.  Again, the favourite stitch!  I picked the piecing stitch, which is just a straight stitch with a small stitch width, and altered it to the right needle position and a longer stitch length, pushed a couple of buttons, and there's my go to 1/4" seam!

I have the "pick up sticks" quilt all sandwiched and ready to quilt.  My husband is making noises like he might set my machine into my table for me.  Oh, how nice that will be!  Since we moved house last summer, I am so enjoying my good-sized sewing room, and the icing on the cake will be to have my new machine set flat...no more getting that quilt hung up on the extension table!

 

Disappearing Nine Patch, first project on the horizon 7700

We misplaced our dining room table runner over Christmas, so I'd thought I'd make a quick disappearing nine patch as a way to get to know the Horizon.

I used two fat quarters and a half yard of fabrics, cut 27 - 4 1/2" squares to make three starter nine patch blocks.  I'm not sure it's going to get bound soon, as (of course) I didn't think about the binding fabric. I'd like to use the brown, but I don't have enough; I don't want to finish it with the same fabric as the border, but I do have enough of the multicolour, so maybe that one.

Here's a close up of the quilting.  I did vertical straight lines with the accufeed (walking) foot, stippling in some of the brown squares, and a meander on the border. I also sewed a lightning stitch (a tiny zig zag) next to the border and centre seam. I used Aurifil for the straight quilting; Mettler 60 wt for the stippling, and Connecting Threads thread for the border quilting and lightning stitch.

 I always test threads and stitches on scrap placed at the batting/backing overhang.  Sometimes I'll put made up blocks there as well, to see what an idea might look like over seams or a shape.  My batting is almost always Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 cotton/poly; but I did have some cotton batting left over from other home dec projects so I used cotton batting in this table runner.




I was able to sit down and immediately feel comfortable in playing with the Horizon for a few reasons...I have used Janomes and know how user friendly and well designed they are; I've had the opportunity to join a wonderful Yahoo group for the Horizon 7700 which has tons of tips and info from users; and, Janome (and others) have provided lots of videos on you-tube to help with getting acquainted.

So, this is what I found about the Horizon during yesterdays sewing

My 1/4" wasn't all that accurate, using the piecing foot.  I blame that on the flange or guide that's on this foot, I hate that thing and I've taken them off other 1/4" feet like that.  Didn't do that yet to this foot, as I will likely be doing all my piecing on my other machine (a Juki F600).

The foot pedal is very responsive, even when the speed slider is set at its highest, I can still easily achieve one stitch at a time precision.

Very quiet, even with the accufeed.

I bought the open toe accufeed foot, because I remembered from when I had the Janome 6600 that the standard foot has limited visibiity to the fabric.  I had to mark the centre needle position on the open toe foot with a pigma pen, then I could pretty easily achieve straight lines without marking.

The jog dial, used to choose stitches, is easy to use and I think I'll enjoy this feature.  At first I was wondering why there was no way to choose a stitch just by punching in the stitch number on some kind of a keypad, but the jog dial is a quick way to get to where you want, and, it gives you the opportunity to see stitches as you go by, ones you might not have considered by looking at the chart.

The free motion feet are the best I've ever used...the metal open toe foot is very small, and the visibility is great.  It floats, or skims, along the fabric instead of bouncing which makes it much quieter...and the way the foot just skims along the surface seemed to make the stitching easier.  On my first stippled squares, I seemed to be focusing on that foot too much, just because it was so different than what I'd been used to.

The APC, where you push a button to create a single hole needle plate, works like a charm.  I've heard that others have had the occasional problem in this area.  This doesn't concern me too much, I've never used the straight stitch plate that I had with other machines because I couldn't be bothered to switch them; and I've always been happy with my free motion work.  I have been using the APC on the Horizon, and will continue to do so as it likely does improve the stitches somewhat.

The auto tension worked just fine.  Never made one adjustment to it, or the bobbin case, or the presser foot pressure.  The feet were easy to change, but a screwdriver is needed.  I found the presser foot lifter is a bit stiff and heavy, it needed a bit of muscle...so I'm glad to have the knee lift!

The only real concern is the black plastic covering over the arm of the machine on the right side.  I found it to be grabbing my backing.  The quilt sandwich wouldn't move all that easily over that area.  The last bit of stitching on the border ended up with this, that no quilter wants to see!  The back had doubled over on itself, so some of the stitching had to be removed and re-sewn.  I'll have to think of something to "shine" that black surface.

I like the new kind of needle threader.  When the threader is pulled down, it stays in that  position until you slide it up and the needle is threaded.   On other machines, the needle threader is similar, but you have to hang on to it in the threading position while you loop your thread on to it.  I also really like the foot storage at the top of the machine...already, I'm  finding myself just placing a foot I'm not using up there, like a table!

The Horizon does not have a separate bobbin winder motor.  But... I set my bobbin thread spool on a basic cone thread holder to the side of the machine, and followed the bobbin threading path.  For once, the needle thread did not get all funky or loosened or whatever, I wound that bobbin and the needle thread was still exactly how I left it.  I can't tell you how many times I've wound a bobbin on other machines, while supposedly keeping the needle threaded, only to have the the two threads tangle or  loosen out of their slots.

Free Motion Quilting Challenge...Feathers!

My new Horizon 7700 arrived yesterday and I am so happy to have it in my sewing room! I could go on and on about how much I think I already love it, but right now I'd rather talk about free motion feathers :(

Who knew that when I decided to commit to the free motion quilting challenge, first there'd be leaves, which I've struggled with, then feathers, which have definitely been on my "do not do that on any quilt anyone would see" list, lol.  I can fee motion quite a few doodles and designs, but feathers, oh my.

So reading Diane Gaudynski's tutorial, this is what I came up with.  No.1 on the top left looks like a feather!  No. 2 is even a bit better.  Then I just lost it. I couldn't make a shape right, and i didn't care to echo properly!!

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Okay.  Time to gain some control.   I decided to go try working from top to bottom....this seems to be working much better!!  Number 3 is pretty good!  Then, just when I think I'm getting the hang of it, what happened at the end of number 4...just like the top of number 2??

I still feel  that I could benefit from some kind of shape drawn on the quilt...I quickly lose the shape of the teardrop, as can be seen on these examples.

So I'm going to order the June Tailor templates and see what comes of that!  So I think that\'s the end of my free motion challenge for this month...I'll continue to practice, and I will make a feather I'm happy with on my sampler quilt in the next couple of weeks.

Just Takes 2, February part two

Here's a pic of my red and white February blocks.  Haven't yet done the applique on the one block at the bottom of the picture.

There's been a lot of paper piecing on these blocks!  Thank goodness I've developed good skills and patience with paper piecing since working on  my Dear Jane quilt blocks.  I don't like paper piecing!! and I would never do a whole quilt of all pp blocks, but I have learned to get along with the method when needed.

The Pine Burr block, upper left, required both paper piecing for the centre and points; and templates or handpiecing for the white outer "frame".  In this case, I like to starch the heck out of the paper pieced section, carefully pressing not ironing, till its as stiff as paper.  Then I remove the paper foundation, and add the template cut pieces.  This reduces the bulk and makes it much easier for sewing.

Thoughts in Thread, February

Here's my  version of February's Thoughts in Thread block, a series by Val Laird.

For the fusible applique, I decided to try something completely different -stem stitch to outline/cover the applique.  I learned about this technique from this talented applique quilter: http://tropicalapplique.blogspot.com/2011/12/speedy-handwork.html

It was kind of tricky to learn, I kept having to remind myself that I was *not* trying to sew a blanket stitch, and I was *not* trying to needleturn!  I think it turned out great for this block, and I may try this technique again on another project.

I'm getting a Janome 7700, continued....

I woke up this morning and realized yesterday's post needed some clarifiction!  First the price...these are expensive machines, and "a couple hundred dollars more", plus tax, does mean a lot to us!!  Anyone who knows me, or reads my blog, knows that I sew and quilt a lot...its about the only thing I do other than care for and worry about my family and friends.  If the machine I use to quilt isn't giving me happiness when I do quilt, why not move on to another machine that will meet more of my needs, one that I can "bond" with?!

The Viking Sapphire was great in a lot of ways, especially the 10" throat, great for the large quilts I make and less muscle power needed from me to manouever them through the machine.  After a a year or so of using the Sapphire, two things were becoming a problem that took away that joy of quilting...the "hover" mode was driving me nuts, which had to be left on as there was no knee lift, which I depend on to lessen arm movement; also the soft buttons to operate the machine required a fair amount of "push", just one more thing that made it difficult to sew on some days.

The Babylocks were the Quest Plus and the Serenade, one a trade up for the other.  I liked these machines for a lot of reasons, mostly the built in dual feed when meant I could use snap on feet for dual feed work, regular size feet just like the Pfaff system.  It was so nice to quilt with normal sized feet, dual feed, and get the clear view that offers (versus, I know, the somewhat bulky Janome dual feed feet).  The smallish bed of the Babylocks, and a realization that free motion is really how I quilt the bulk of my quilts, made me miss my Janome.  It had the dual feed for when I needed it for sitch in the ditch and a bit of "decorative" stitching, the large bed for pushing through those large quilts, and easy to use functions.  So a few months ago I started looking for a used Janome 6600.  I couldn't find one for less than $1500, which I wasn't ready to pay for a used machine.  Finally, a call to the dealer on the weekend led to the discovery that the 7700 had dropped to $1999, so its coming home to me!!

My husband understands the importance of good tools...he has a double garage full of them! :) He has saws, drills, planers, and i don't know what all, one for every purpose.  he has a real talent for carpentry and other house trades, and his use of his shop tools have made a real difference in our lives.  I can only hope that my quiltmaking has done the same!

I'm getting a Janome Horizon 7700!

This will be short post, as I've been quite sick all week, but I did want to share my excietment!  I sold my Janome 6600 a couple of years ago, for a Viking Sapphire.  I haven't been really happy with any machine since...the Sapphire and two Babylocks later, my husband finally agreed that the expense of going back to the Janome was well worth it to stop my whining, lol.   My wonderful husband even went to the dealer on his own yesterday  to make the sale!  Turns out, the 7700 is now only a couple hundred dollars more than the 6600, so we pick it up on Wednesday I hope!  Haven't even tried it out, except for a small intro a year ago, and all that I've read and seen on the web.  Trusting Janome quality and satisfaction!

Thread! All kinds of thread!

I cleaned up my thread storage this weekend, and thought I'd share some pictures of my  thread collection....
after winding bobbins from spools with little thread, and putting threads back to where they belong, I find I have room for even more thread!!

this little unit of drawers came from an old sewing cabinet, in here I keep most of my quilt making threads.

top drawer, bottom line thread, small spools of cotton 50 wt., aurifil colours, and a container of specialty threads including fusible, metallic, serging yarn, 12 wt., monofilaent

second drawer, variegated threads (mostly), different brands, Sulky, YLI, Superior

third drawer, Connecting Threads threads

fourth drawer, neutral Aurifl threads on larger spools that I use for piecing and quilting

this little container I keep near on a shelf near my quilting machine, it has silk and invisafil threads that o I'm starting to use in my quilting, and sometimes in my hand applique

the sewing basket here contains all small spools aurifil thread and 60 wt., for hand applique

this huge collection is all polyester thread, 40 and 50 wt., that I used for garment sewing...I used to sew a lot of clothes, almost all of mine, several for my very tall and skinny 6`4`` husband, and some for my kids when they were little...I hope to get back to garment sewing some day

 



I really enjoy collecting thread of kinds!  I have jars of vintage thread in various places around the house, too!

Monday show and tell

Lots of blocks from various quilts were made this week!  I love working this way, I never get bored.  When I saw this picture, I realized a mistake I made in the large red and white block...ooops!  one quarter of the block is turned the wrong way and I never noticed it while sewing, ironung, or measuring it! (I think I've had this same kind of thing happen to me with a wrongly constructed block not noticed until I was quilting the quilt!).  I made some log cabin blocks (decision made!) stars & sprigs applique, fundamentals 30's sampler blocks, dear jane blocks, and that mistake block for the Just Takes 2 series.

Pineapple? Log Cabin? Courthouse Steps?

Now that I discovered a great selection of lights and darks for the Nature's Neutrals quilts...the ideas started.  Stick with that quilt pattern?  Make a log ...so many ways of designing log cabins!  And I have Judy Martin's log cabin book with even more ideas!  Courthouse Steps?  I really like the Small Steps quilt by Jo Morton in American Patchwork and Quilting, Dec. 2010.  And my friend Audrey sent me some very inspiring pictures of her pinepapple quilts!

Small Steps by Jo Morton

Many of the fabrics in my dark/light piles are wovens, and as I've already learned, they can be a bit unruly.  If I were to do a pineapple quilt, it would be 8" blocks so I could paper piece them onto water soluble paper stabilizer.  If I do a log cabin, I'd be checking for straightness, carefully, and often! I've started cutting everything into  1 1/2" strips, and a few 1 3/4" strips (for potential centres) and that's a start. If it's courthouse steps, I'd stick with the 1 1/2" strips as 1`strips, as in Small Steps, are just too small for the wovens.

Pineapple Greens, Penny P.

One thing that is keeping me from the pineapple idea, is I have stashed away a bundle of green batiks...it would make a fantastic two colour pineapple quilt, which was my thought I purchased the bundle.

I could stick with the Nature`s Neutrals, but the organization part is still bugging me, having to keep the same fabric for all four rounds around the square.






In the meantime, I made a couple of not-quite Funky Chickens!  from Sindy R. at Fat Cat Patterns.  I reduced the size to 6``, used wool and  hand blanket stitch.

Quilt planning changes

Early yesterday morning I was sewing the second of two blocks in the Mingelwood Sampler pattern..and I still wasn't liking how the project was going.  The colours seemed so dull, even to me!, and I don't think my background fabric was working.    This picture actually  makes them look better than they are!(why can't my pictures always turn out that good!?)  The wovens were unruly, curling at the ends even with lots of Best Press.  If there was any un-sewing it was too easy to rip the fabric.  Just lots of things wrong.  I knew.that I really did have to start over on this sampler, something I kind of new at the beginning, but I was really hoping things would get better.

Now I needed to decide if this sampler really meant that much to me...and why...and what fabrics I'd use.  I wanted to make the Minglewood Sampler for a few reasons...I don't have a full size Christmas quilt, I've never made a pieced quilt with red and green, I liked the idea of twelve inch blocks which are twice the size of the blocks I usually make, and I liked the applique centre....actually, there were a few good ideas in the book for setting the blocks.  So I played in my stash and came up with these.. I'll see how it goes!

Update on the Minglewood Sampler....it is on hold indefinitely.  I went to make up a block in the red and green, and while I want a Christmas quilt...I'd like the colours or design to be a little livelier than what I have...more prints maybe.  I've also realized I'm tired of this quilt already!  I'm going to see what Judy Laquidara (Patchwork Times) and friends are up to with their Christmas Town Sampler, starting in July, and in the meantime, keep on the lookout for bargains that might make up the Sampler.


  I also very much wanted to make good use of the wovens.  I browsed patterns, magazines, books, and EQ, made a few sample blocks from this or from that, and none were making me happy.  There just didn't seem to be enough contrast in the fabrics themselves, and I couldn't find a neutral that would play nice.  And then, ta da!  I found this.   Natures Neutrals, in American Patchwork and Quilting, August 2010. And I had a stash of fabrics that would work great.  These are all fat eighth or smaller size pieces.The only thing that scares me about this quilt, is figuring out how best to cut and store the strips.  How many at once?  How to keep like with like?  How to pull out what I want to sew at one time?  Hmmmm...will require some thinking!

So now I've gone ahead and planned for two loooonnng term projects...and still nothing on the horizon for the quilts I should be thinking about, my cousin for her wedding in July, and my niece for college in August.