TILDA THREAD

[Frances L.]

Today I washed the backing fabric (plain white muslin, 108 inches wide), ironed it with lots of spray sizing, and basted my Drunkard's Path quilt, using Sharon Schamber's method with boards, etc. Then I marked some of the lines for the quilting in the first border--most of it will be free-motion, but some will be on the marked lines. I'll take a pic when that border is done, but it's going to take a while.

Pat in Rockport, TX

[Frances L.]

Cheryl,where did the picture of Grandma's face go?That's one of the best portrait quilts I've seen.I was looking forward to seeing it finished. Julie

Okay Julie, you caught me. I have her rolled up on a tube while I work on other projects... I guess I need to get her back on the design wall to stare at me while I work. I am just afraid of messing her up.

[Julia L.]

No rush Cheryl,I was just afraid I'd missed seeing the finished quilt.She is a personal,important project and you should take your time. Once I finish the quillows and bags I'm making for Christmas gifts, I'll get back to the little quilt I started in June. Julie

[Julia L.]

THanks Julie, you took the pressure off. Right now as you know,I am working on a graduation quilt for my son, adoption quilt, and I just had a friend ask me to help her with quilt .. I taught her how make a quilt for her new granddaughter, and now she wants help to make another one. Plus another wants me to make 3-6 memory quilts in honor of her mother. But I am waiting for the clothes. Before you ask, yes I am getting paid to make them. Oh yeah, and another one asked me to help her make a T-shirt quilt, but I haven't heard from her for a while so maybe she got brave and tried it on her own.

Yesterday I put together the applique for the adoption quilt and will sew it on today between laundry loads.

[Julia L.]

I've been working on a few things...

First, a medallion-style quilt for my older brother; it has a star in the center and I'm adding various borders...

Second, a hand-applique'd quilt with wreaths of yoyo flowers; I've finished all the blocks and am now working on the border (I must watch more TV than I thought)...

Third, various small quilts for Project Linus; my sewing group has a monthly 4-hour meeting where we all get together and work on Linus quilts...

Fourth, I'm still trying, in between chores, to master my midarm Fun Quilter. I've done a few practice quilts with large freehand designs; now I'm doing another practice quilt on which I'm trying small freehand filler designs, continuous curves, ruler work, and...whatever occurs to me. It's enjoyable, but the dense quilting is taking a LONG time, so progress is slow. I'm thinking of taking it off the machine for a while and quilting one of my own tops (it will have to be a sacrificial one!), just so I can feel I've accomplished something.

Fifth, I nailed tarpaper over the leaky shakes on the garden shed roof...not exactly quilting, but it did involve fitting a lot of odd-sized pieces together... (and a lot of hammering)

[Julia L.]

What is a midarm Fun Quilter... I have never heard of it before... What brand is it? What is the price range... What kind of frame do you use with it and how big is the quilting area? It sounds like something I might be able to get into.

[Julia L.]

Hi Ladyrags. Here is the site. I have heard of them, but really haven't heard of anyone who actually had one to give their oppinion on it. I am also interested in the answers to your questions. Cheryl


http://www.funquilter.com/

[Julia L.]

THE fun quilter is still out of my price range for now... who knows maybe in the future...

I have done very little quilting I have basically just made knitted baby hats.... the GS needs them before winter gets here.

I am also helping my neighbor sew a MEXICAN Dance / POLK skirt for her granddaughter. It has been a adventure in patience for me and perseverance for her. She is a non sewer who wanted to make this ... so far so good.

I am trying to get caught up on my BOM... I am once again behind 4 blocks.... I need to get caught up soon. Class is tomorrow so I want them ready to go.

[Mary K.]

I finished machine appliquing (I decided on the blanket stitch) the center medallion of my Bella quilt this week. I was able to get ~1 hour of quilting in each evening after work and am very happy at the progress. Now, on to the boarder.... MK

[Mary K.]

This week I have literally just sewed one thread worth each day but I ended up with a finished block for my BOM. I also have put together half of a quilt by just sewing one line of blocks on point each day.

Today being Saturday I went to my BOM with all my blocks completed ready to start on this next block. I was the only one in the group that could show ALL THE BLOCKS DONE.

I am also planning to work on getting my quilt top pieced together while DH watches UofM beat MSU. Then he has to take me out to dinner.


I am going to finish surfing this board then hit the sewing machine.
Anna

[Mary K.]

I have a little of the quilting on the outer border done, and today I worked out the quilting for the inner border on paper. This is taking a long time, but I think it will be a nice quilt when done.

Pat in Rockport, TX

[Mary K.]

I made a label for my valor quilt today. I worked on sewing some blocks together, watched some of first seasons episodes of TQS while doing that. I would get so into the show I would stop sewing. Sandi in FL

[Mary K.]

I THINK I SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN BED YESTERDAY !!! ops:

I ended up not having enough fabric to cut out enough setting triangles for my on point setting. I had to piece several of them. I then sewed a small seam in several of my other setting triangles so it would look like it was a design element. I alternated the "pieced' triangle and the plain correct triangle around the quilt.

It worked out okay unit I was trying to square up my triangle and whacked off a big hunk .... so I ended up piecing that back on... ( THANK GOODNESS I HAD CUT EVERYTHING BIG SO I COULD FUDGE IT !) I had to do the same WHACKING OFF to the other side. I was going to let it be plain but it kept drawing my eye to the goof..... Believe me a learned a lot yesterday OF WHAT NOT TO DO IN FUTURE QUILTS.

I need to not get so far a head of myself. Not so fast with the rotory cutters... Then maybe I will do my quilting correctly.

[Terry K.]

Almost completed a table runner this past week. I also picked up one of my unfinished projects and am getting reaquainted with it. I have sewn 109 of the 142 bargello blocks. I also started laying out some bow tie blocks into a top as I needed a break from the sameness of the bargello blocks. Terry

[Mary K.]

I got the medallion centered on the Bella on Saturday.

On Sunday, my brother and his new wife were in town, so I showed them the quilt and got their thoughts on how big they would like it (they loved it too, as it was not what they were guessing I was making). We are shooting for a 90" by 90".

So, I just woke up on Monday morning, and realize that I was designing and constructing the border that I am going to add (all night while I was sleeping). So, we'll see if tonight, I can sketch out the border design and start constructing later this week.

A busy, but productive weekend!

Have a good week, All!
Mary Kay