No quilting, just piecing

My Janome Horizon is still not fixed properly...I don't know why a sewing machine tech can't determine the problem and repair a machine!  When the machine came back from the tech shop a few weeks ago, I encountered the same problems as it had when it went in, the top thread shredding and breaking during free motion.  I'm doing nothing different than I did when I had the best quilting ever with this machine, and these problems are really frustrating.  After a few weeks of putting up with constant thread breaks, but still getting some necessary quilting done, I sent it back to the tech shop complete with video of what is happening.  The machine came back "fixed", but not...so back it will go again on Monday.  The gift quilt and table runner is ready to be washed and wrapped, I'll post pics soon.

So, I'm piecing.  I put together a top which is a variation of Summer Reigns by Kathy Schmitz.

[caption id="attachment_1285" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Summer Reigns, variation[/caption]

 

Piecing the Past is a scrap quilt presented in a Craftsy Class....I had  completed the main blocks and it was time to dig through the repro scrap drawer to sew  a number of setting blocks  to make the quilt as presented by Kaye England.  Now that these are sewn, I've put them away with the main blocks and I'll put the quilt together at another time...still thinking about the borders!



 

I did put together the Just Takes 2 quilt...wow!  There is a lot of pressing to do on the finished top, the picture will have to wait until I can manage that...and find a place to lay out the top in all its glory!

So, all this piecing is just adding to my collection of tops!!  I want to be quilting!  I've stocked up on batting and backings and have several quilts that I'm looking forward to finishing.  Since my machine has been out of commission, I've managed to finish one top, have two ready to put together, a pieced one started and kitted, and Bonnie Hunter's  Easy Street on its way! Oh - and Snow Days!..that will be another posting.

 

Works in Progress

In the last week or so, I've been quilting my version of Pat Sloan's Meadow Breeze.



Unfortunately, I really do need to take my Janome in for service.  It seems to be really happy for a while, then that darn top thread breaking starts happening again.  I need to make sure there's really nothing wrong with it  before I continue pulling my hair out trying to find what I'm doing wrong!

I've completed the last block in the Piecing the Past Series.Included in this Craftsy course is setting instructions, using various small setting blocks to create an interesting layout.



And, I've been keeping up with Summer Reigns by Kathy Schmitz.



Yesterday I took a good look at my Grandmother's Choice blocks that I've sewn to date...and I think I've decided that I don't like the purple colour theme.  I'm cutting up fabric to re-make these blocks a different way!  Pics soon!

Stitch good thoughts!

 

 

 

 

Have you heard of Craftsy?  What a great place to take on-line classes!  Great teachers and subjects, and not just quilting but sewing, knitting, cooking...all kinds of things!

My first class that I took was Stupdendous Stitching...I should be writing about that first...but somehow here's a post about another class:  Re-Piecing the Past.  I signed up for this when the class was on sale, because I love traditional patterns, I thought that the teacher , Kaye England, would offer some interesting history about how the block pattern came to be; and, I was hoping to pick up a trick or two about piecing.

The class has checked all the boxes for me!  Kaye has offered a great quilt pattern for blocks and setting; she gives some great facts about the blocks' origins; and I have learned a few new tricks for piecing.  I'd recommend this class for beginners, but you do need some confidence as Kaye does seem to skip over some piecing steps after they've been introduced in a prior lesson.

Here are the blocks I had finished during July and August, followed by a block called Harriet Beecher Stowe.  The block with the flower applique in it is called "Rally 'round the Flag" and should have an American flag in the centre...while I have American roots, I am Canadian and so I put an orphan flower block in instead (although I guess I could have put in a maple leaf!).

 



 

 

 

 

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