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!