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!

 

 

 

 

Summer stitching

Lots of hand sttching was done this summer, especially in July when it was so hot!  I got two rws of clamshells done for the borders on Antique Sampler.  The instructions for this part of the quilt were disappointing, kind of like...prepare 20 clamshells for each border.  I'll post more tomorrow on just how I went about making and appliqueing them.

I worked on some of the blocks for Summer Reigns, a pattern by Kathy Schmitz.

Thanks to Gayle at Sentimental Stitches, I really got going on backbasting for preparing applique.  I had used this method off and on, but was never entirely happy with how it worked.  

I discovered that for me to be really able to see the holes left by the basting thread, I use a size 7 sharp needle - this needle is consistently thick all the way from tip to eye - and glazed hand quilting thread.  These holes also tend to give you a turn line even when you can't see the holes!!

I got started on Jacqueline's Album quilt...one I've wanted to do for a long time, but never could seem to choose the right fabrics...so I'm making it as a block of the month from the Quilted Crow, it may not be yellows like I wanted in memory of my Aunt Jacqueline, but I'll be sure to think of her everytime I sew it!

a block for Just Takes 2 - I don't think I could have laid out this block so precisely
without backbasting prep!

a block from Jacqueline's Album, showing basting stitches

Stitch good thoughts!