TILDE TOPIC - THREAD revisited

[Frances L.]

I have been working on my machine quilting techniques... trying to improve them and doing it myself. I am working through all TQS deomonstrations, my DVD machine quilting DVDs... Karen Mc Tavish and Patti Thompson. I am following their instructions and making the samplers... I am taking the samples I make and turning them into to a ( quilt as you go) THROW for the sofa... That way nothing is wasted ( fabric and time) and I can always refer back to the samples when I need and idea... Might be crazy but so far it is working pretty good. I have a small throw made. I am also seeing progress on my ablilities.

[Karen M.]

That is a great idea...I can see how that would be so nice to have in so many ways. Good for you. Can we see a photo sometime?

[Karen M.]

I will post pictures of the machine quilting sampler when I get it finished... actually I think I will be finishing it before some other projects since I consider it a teaching tool.

I have just finished my farm quilt for my 19mo old grandson. I am putting the binding on it. I did machine quilting on it and it came out pretty cute. I will be posting it's picture when I get a chance.

I need to get working on a Christmas present for my M_I_L ... I started it a couple of months ago but got stalled on it. Maybe I should get sewing... see ya all later.

[Karen M.]

Had a huge, major sort of 'stuff'! I bought a few bits on holiday and spent a lot of time pondering on things to do. I now have Ziplock bags with projects in and an idea of what to make. I'm also going through the huge pile of magazines I bought again and I'm flagging the things that caught my eye.

I'm almsot organised!!! :shock:

[Karen M.]

I have two christmas gifts done, and one to go. I'll post pics once christmas has gone. My Sis is a member of TQS.

[Frances L.]

I got a lot done today. I've been working on my son's graduation wall hanging. I had been trying to decide what to make when I found a pack of FQs in Houston with police vehicles, badges and other stuff on them. I fussy cut out a lot of squares of vehicles, badges and patches. Then I sewed a border around each square. Then I squared them all up. I finished that earlier today. Then I measured them all because they are all different sizes. I sat down with some graph paper and figured out what to add to make all the squares in a row the same height. Then I added spacers between the blocks in the longest row and figured out the size for the other spacers so each row was the same length. Got all that sewed together also. Tomorrow I just need to sew the rows together. I have another fabric for the spacer between the rows. It is black with yellow tape that says, "Police line do not cross". I think I have enough to do one between each row and a small border all the way around. Decided to wait because I was getting tired and didn't want to screw up.

[Frances L.]

Frances, that sounds just too cute!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

[Frances L.]

slowlly getting quilt tops done YEAH!

WORKING on the one fabric wonder with THREE colorways of the same fabric... it has been fun but takes me a while to get things done.



I am also trying to finish my GIBLET AND GRAVY / mile minute block quilt done for the holidays. I just want a simple sofa thow but this quilt keeps on going.

[Frances L.]

Well the graduation quilt top is all done and it is pin basted. Glad I didn't cut the borders the other day. Somehow I added 7 rows where the shortest row is 3.5 inches and added eight 1 inch borders (one between each row and one top and bottom) and figured that I would be able to use a FQ for the backing. When I sewed it together yesterday, I was surprised at how long it was. Don't feel like quilting today so it's gonna wait for another day. Did a little work on my bee challenge but gotta wait for fabric to get out of the dryer. First I have to go downstairs and put it in. So now I'm working on May's BOM.

[Frances L.]

I have been trying to finish my ONE FABRIC WONDER QUILT. ( book: Kay Nichols) I finally got the blocks put together and I put on the first border.

When I made the original blocks I had problem with all the bias legs on the triangles. I solved that problem by fusing one inch strips of light weight Pellon to bias legs. This stabilized the blocks and prevent them from getting out of square. I only did this to the blocks that were to the outside of the quilt on one side ( The idea did not come to me till I was working on the last blocks.).... I was amazed at how much this improved the edge of the blocks. It made putting on the border much easier.

Tomorrow I am going to put on the large borders I am hoping I have enough fabric to miter the corners. I think I do but I wont know for sure until tomorrow.


How's everyone coming with their XMAS projects ?

[Frances L.]

YEAH !!! I finished my quilt top and am planning to take it to the quilter's tomorrow. I did my first mitered borders and frankly I think I did an good job and it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I am very happy with the quilt top. I will try to post pictures if I can.

I posted pictures of my grandson's quilt in the profile.

I am now planning to organize my UFOs so I can work on them. I will be off for 4-6 weeks as of Dec 21 for knee surgery... I am hoping it will not interfere too much with my quilting... I have some hand projects lined up.... my neglected DJ and applique quilt blocks I have started but never finished.

[Frances L.]

Well New Year, new ideas!

First I really must have some sort of a plan!

I've a large sheet of paper on one of my walls and I've been writting down all the projects I have started and all those I want to start. It's quite long. :roll:

I will finish 2 projects before I start 1 more!

With that in mind I have just finished piecing two tops and they will go on the Nolting when I have the wadding for them.

I also have Jinny Beyer's White Knights fabrics all in the washing machine so they can be pressed before cutting. This is the one for the principle bedroom!!! :shock:

[Frances L.]

I got a lot done at bee today. I got two sets of logs sewn on my Friday quilt (log cabin that I am repairing). And they were the big logs at the outer edge of the block. It's really coming along now. I did several days of sewing at the museum so I got a lot done then.

[Frances L.]

Did a FUN AND DONE quilting class today... What a great technique... I think it can be done to any block as long as you realize there will be sashing between the blocks. I made 2 blocks in class then went home and made two more blocks.

I also got out some of my wonky blotto blocks put a frame around it then practiced doing Machine Quilting using Mary Masuta's technique with contact paper as seen her on TQS. I then used the F&D connecting techniques and it worked great. I have over half of a quilt finished in less then 3 hours.. It is great. I am able to quilt 2 blocks in an hour, attach them together and do the sashing sewing too. This is a fast and I think easy techniques.

I will post pictures when I am finished.

[Frances L.]

Hi...

I am still off work for another couple of weeks. I am making a toddler quilt for a new baby. I am not going to be done with it .... as I am so slow, for a while and I am doing it all including the machine quilting.

What is everyone else up to? The board seems quiet lately but I figure it is cause of the sleet, ice storms to the south. 17 states covered. It is less than 10 degree here but no snow or rain at the moment... I hope it stays that way.