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.