What have you gotten sewn so far?

[Shirley R.]

Barbara, our quilts look very much alike except I didn't put the triangles in the corners. How are you going to quilt yours? I will be doing mine on my domestic machine and I'm a beginner of FMQ. Shirley 35

[Shirley R.]

Dear Shirley;

Is your quilt on-line yet? I too am fairly new to quilting. I may copy a design I have done on my Granddaughters receiving quilts I made them out of the reproduction 1930’s fabric that had 2 1/2 inch squares. It varied from row to row with like an outline of a flower in one row of squares, then a semi-circle in another row, then a squiggly line in the next row; only I think I may try to instead of horizontal or vertical rows; quilt the larger squares all the half square triangles make when you step back from the quilt. I hope this is making sense. The person who is really good at suggestions is Margo. Rosemary does beautiful work but she is so-o-o advanced for me to try anything she does! Margo is advanced also but she breaks it down really well for beginners. Have you seen any of her videos? They’re wonderful! RiverOwl, Barbara , Bluffton, SC

[Margo C.]

Thanks for the kind words Barbara! This isn't like you described, but if I were doing this on a domestic machine, I would stick with simple straight lines to emphasize the layout. I would also SID (stitch in the ditch) between each and every border and the corner blocks. Just keep the density of the quilting even all over the quilt.

Maybe something like this?



EDIT: Just be aware that the lines I sketched in the center of this are all stitched on the BIAS!! Be sure that your sandwich is very carefully pinned together and that you don't do any unnecessary stretching!

[Lois B.]

Still loving all these quilts. Has there been official word about the deadline for completion being extended? I saw it mentioned one or two places that there would be some official notice. I haven't seen the notice. My plan now is to practice machine quilting on a few more pieces to give me practice before I tackle this very special one. I hope I am not being too relaxed about this because if the deadline is still January 1, 2012 I'd better get moving. Lois

[Lois B.]

I believe the new dead line is May 1st.

[Shirley R.]

Barbara, Margo helped me get my quilt on line in time to be in the CD that Carol made. Thanks for sharing, I might do the quilting like Margo is suggesting. I think I can do that. I think I will use some of your suggestions on another quilt that's ready to be quilted. This whole process has been so exciting and I have learned much from everyone.

Thanks again, Shirley35 from Iowa

[Shirley R.]

Rosemary does beautiful work but she is so-o-o advanced for me to try anything she does! RiverOwl, Barbara , Bluffton, SC

:shock: :shock:

Do you mean me? I've only completed 2 bed quilts, 2 cushion covers (to be made up) and maybe half a dozen samples in hand & machine work in my life! (& the samples were only because I had to :evil: , as a general rule I avoid working samples like the plague :lol: )

What I do have is experience(day-job) in tailoring, dressmaking and embroidery. I have also always been good at working with fabrics. I am a fully-fledged member of the 'Chuck-it-and-Duck' as well as the 'Hot-needle-&-burning-thread' school of working, who regularly wears out seam rippers, but is not too good at finishing things. ops:

My brain also has a habit of 'why do a simple flat sample when you could do something much more complicated and make it wearable - oh an by the way you probably don't have quite enough fabric, unless you really squeeze things around'

PS I've just remembered that I also made 2x10 very roughly quilted cushions filled with polystyrene beads for party favours, but they were dog rough, and 6year-olds are not that critical :lol:

[Margo C.]

Still loving all these quilts. Has there been official word about the deadline for completion being extended? I saw it mentioned one or two places that there would be some official notice. I haven't seen the notice. My plan now is to practice machine quilting on a few more pieces to give me practice before I tackle this very special one. I hope I am not being too relaxed about this because if the deadline is still January 1, 2012 I'd better get moving. Lois

Re: SOS A memory book for our exchanges.
by CMOELLERS » Sun Nov 06, 2011 4:34 pm

Good Afternoon Everyone. I am waiting for my flight back home from Houston and had a little time to send a note. It sounds like a number of you are working really hard to get your HST exchange and Strip Exchange projects done. Well, I have some very good news for those of you that are afraid that you may not make the Jan. 1, 2012 deadline. IT HAS BEEN EXTENDED. Yes, that is correct. The deadline has been adjusted and the new revised date in May 1, 2012. So relax and take a deep breath. You will get them finished and you can still have them included in the S.O.S. HST/Strippers Keepsake book/DVD.

There were be an official announcement coming shortly on the Daily Blog and in the newsletter.


Carol

[Margo C.]

Barbara, Margo helped me get my quilt on line in time to be in the CD that Carol made. Thanks for sharing, I might do the quilting like Margo is suggesting. I think I can do that. I think I will use some of your suggestions on another quilt that's ready to be quilted. This whole process has been so exciting and I have learned much from everyone.

Thanks again, Shirley35 from Iowa

Just be aware that the lines I sketched in the center of this are all stitched on the BIAS!! Be sure that your sandwich is very carefully pinned together and that you don't do any unnecessary stretching!

[Margo C.]

If stitching on the bias is not comfortable for you, you can get a similar effect by stitching along the grain and changing direction as shown in orange:

[Shirley R.]

Thanks Margo, I think I would do better on the grain because I'm sure I would stretch it. I will start on the quilting after Christmas.

Your a gem Margo. Did I tell you I have you, Rick, Alex and Edyta as the center four in my quilt?

Shirley from Iowa

[Margo C.]

Thanks Margo, I think I would do better on the grain because I'm sure I would stretch it. I will start on the quilting after Christmas.

Your a gem Margo. Did I tell you I have you, Rick, Alex and Edyta as the center four in my quilt?

Shirley from Iowa

I'm honored! ops: Looking forward to seeing your finished project!

[Annis C.]

Thanks Margo, I think I would do better on the grain because I'm sure I would stretch it. I will start on the quilting after Christmas.

Shirley from Iowa

I've found diagonal lines easier to quilt than straight grain lines.

[Margo C.]

Thanks Margo, I think I would do better on the grain because I'm sure I would stretch it. I will start on the quilting after Christmas.

Shirley from Iowa

I've found diagonal lines easier to quilt than straight grain lines.

Annis, I also think they are easier to stitch, but newbies often do better with straight of grain. Also, the fact that bias grain stretches means that if there is not enough stitching to make things really secure, seams stitched on the bias are more likely to break if the fabric is tugged. I did a bias grid on a large postage stamp quilt and a lot of the threads have broken on it because my lines of stitching were too far apart to be really secure. Seams sewn on the straight of grain or cross-wise grain are not subject to quite as much stretching when a quilt is used.

Of course, the more stitching that is done, in any direction, makes a more stable quilt.

[karen f.]

That's good to know. I never thought about the threads breaking.