Quilting New Year's Resolutions for 2015???

[Lois B.]

Geneva, beautiful quilt. I love the stars in it.

[Geneva C.]

Thank you everyone. This was an interesting and fun quilt to make.

Regarding the shot cottons, the fabric is thinner than most cottons and of course not woven as tight as batiks. It is interesting to see the color of the woof and warp threads of the fabric. The background fabric in my quilt appears as a muddy green. The color of the threads that make the fabric are bright orange and teal blue. I've never been a starcher, but if you like doing that, it might be good to use starch on this type of fabric. Also, if you look closely there is either a nap or a right and wrong side to the color of the fabric. It might not show up in the photo. But there is slight variations to the background fabric when viewed from afar. I rather like it. It seemed that no matter how accurately I would cut squares or strips, they would "shrink". I've never encountered this before. It is a soft feeling quilt. Really nice for a quilt to use on a couch.

I neglected to share my "awesome quilter" story. I looked many places for the perfect color of the thread to quilt this quilt. I even ordered several spools which did not work. I really wanted the thread to not show too much, but wanted the quilting to provide texture. I went to my LQS and didn't find anything there either. I was about to walk out when the owner said "Wait a minute." She went to a box in the corner of her shop, rummaged around and came back with this huge cone of the perfect color thread. She handed it to me and said "here". I'm thinking, "I don't need 5,000 yards of this color thread!" She said "Just bring it back when you are done." I said "But I'm going to quilt this entire quilt!" She said "I know." I asked if I could pay her and she said "Nah, just buy me a cup of coffee or something. You're a quilter, you'll be back." Isn't that wonderful? This thread looks like whatever color the fabric looks like. Kudos to Quiltmania in Richland Washington. PS. I did add some Superior Fantastico in maroon to the quilting just to give it some eye candy.

geneva

[Judith A.]

I am a Kaffe fan. I love the colors and irridescence of the Kaffe shot cottons that I have purchased. They blend very well with other Kaffe Fasset fabrics.
However, the Kaffe shot cottons I bought were thin, more loosely woven and they dis shrink. I serged the raw edges to prevent raveling and prewash them and dry them in a hot dryer.
Make sure to test them for bleeding. I had two that bled badly. I ended up treating them with Retayne and very hot water.

I have also purchased a set of shot cottons from AQS, designed by Pepper Cory. They are not as thin. I washed them but haven't used them yet. They have a wonderful hand. So soft and silky.

Judith

[Judith A.]

Did you find out the brand and color of the thread? It would be interesting to see if it comes in smaller quantities, especially since it tends to be a 'chameleon' and adapts to the color upon which it sits.
I think shot cottons are so soft that they do a bit of shifting as they are cut. They would be happy in an improvisationally pieced block. Just a thought for your left over pieces.
And, isn't it amazing how nice some people are. You have been blessed at your local quilt shop.
Luann

[Judith A.]

I bought lots of fabric on my little weekend away. :blush: I actually do not feel guilty at all. :whistle: If I had known that, I may have bought some earlier. B)

Almost 6 months - not bad for a New Year's Resolution. :side:

[Lorna B.]

Geneva, I'd also like to know the brand and color of the thread you used.

Not bad, Terri! you did almost make it half the year. Perhaps if you could say you used up the same amount of fabric already in your stash...well then it would be as if you hadn't bought any fabric.

[Lois B.]

Lorna, I like how you think!

[Geneva C.]

Good for you Terrie!

Well, I was wrong... the cone of thread has 6,000 yards not the 5,000 I made up! It is from Quilter's Choice by Golden Threads. Color 3061 Prairie Sage. It says "poly wrapped poly" and is made in the PRC, which I believe is the People's Republic of China. The size says TEX 30. It's a very thin thread.

Well, have a good week everyone!

geneva

[Geneva C.]

I've done it now :blink: Maxiature is entered for FoQ in August. really must get on & finish it! :S :whistle:

[wendy w.]

We'll done Rosemary I look forward to seeing it

[wendy w.]

Love it Geneva - the top and the quilting!

Rosemary - looking forward to a picture of completed Maxiature!
Barb

[Dawn S.]

Geneva, I really like quilts that have a rainbow of colors! They are my favorites and yours is wonderful! Looks like an easy pattern, and very fun to work on.

Terrie, way to go girl! Any quilter who does not buy fabric on a regular basis, doesn't have current stock in her stash. We all need a shot of new fabric once in a while, just to make us smile! I usually leave my new fabric out on my cutting table just to admire it from time to time! I call it "fabric therapy!"

Rosemary, way cool! I recently sent off my entry packet for IQA Houston, and spent a week trying to get the perfect pictures of it, etc., and was a nervous wreck when I was done! How did you get yours entered, if it is not finished? IQA requires a close up so that they can see the quilting, and other fine detail. Oh, and, I found out, the smaller the quilt, the harder it is to get it perfectly square to the camera! An 1/8" is a big deal on a small quilt, but a you can be 1/4" off or more on a larger one, and never see it in a photo! But, I do love those minis. Hurry and finish it, and share a picture! And, good luck in the show!

Dawn

[Dawn S.]

Dawn, entries for FoQ is not juried (if I understand the term correctly) They just ask for the category, size(in centimetres), and a written description for the entry form - along with how it is getting there and back again and the entry fees. Pretty straightforward.

I do want to have a bit of a play with the joining up seams, The central cross is not just 'right' and it bugs me, so I will try & fix it before I proceed. As Sally Collins says, you only have to get it right - the last time.

[Lois B.]

Keep at it, Rosemary. You'll get it right!

[Annis C.]

Priorities can change in an instant. My DH is recovering from a massive heart attack that required CPR twice at the emergency room before being transferred to another hospital for surgery. He had a stent placed in his widow maker artery on the 20th. Then when we thought things couldn't get much worse we had a flash flood at our country home on the 26th. The houses are dry but his new shop building had about 18" of water and my almost finished retreat center had 5" of water. Thankfully it was a few weeks from being furnished but someone is going to have to get down on their hands and knees and scrub thousands of feet of grout lines! For now I have a few days to get ready for a retreat group that will be using our other building which stayed dry one more time. The flood happened at night while we took shelter in our guest house which has concrete and rock walls. I spent several hours watching what looked like a raging river going down the road and between the 2 buildings. My DH slept through some of it but when he woke up and asked what was going on I said you don't want to know. He said he already knew. We had crews cleaning up the next morning. Fences are down everywhere and the roads and driveways are a mess. My DH is doing his best to restrain from climbing on a dozer to repair the damage. And I'm doing my best to keep him from doing what he shouldn't be doing. Be aware of the signs of a heart attack. It could save your life. And it may not be what you think it would be. His was jaw and shoulder pain. But most important don't skip your annual physicals. Looking forward to a week of sunshiny days.