Completed HST projects

[Lotti D.]

kathy, that quilt has turned out absolutely wonderful - and i love the quilting - fabulous

patti, the border fabric was well worth the wait - looking great

am just loving these quilts we're being treated to - fab fab fab

[peg j.]

Kathy and Patti - your quilts are beautiful. Great job quilitng the names Kathy. Peg

[Lois B.]

I am working on the Tree of Life wall hanging and am benefiting from all this information about the bleeding. Even though it will be used as a wall hanging I had planned to wash it because I would like the soft look of a bed quilt for it. Like Edyta's original design I am using a very light background and planned to use a light backing as well. I will wash it and try all these products and the layering and spraying between sheets before I wash it. I am doing the turned edge machine applique on this for the very first time. I am not getting any work done on it at all for a few weeks. My DD and DGS are visiting from NV. Baby Zachary is not yet 5 months old. Since NV is such a long way from PA I am not using this precious time doing anything but helping to care for him and having lots of family around to visit them while they are here. I am finding time to keep up with what all of you are writing about and of course knowing that I have this project waiting for me and all of your friendly help waiting for me will help take the sting out of saying good-bye to them on Friday. LoisB

[Terry K.]

Kathy, I didn't see any bleeding and your quilt is awesome!!! Patti, waiting for that border fabric was sure the right choice!! Right now, I don't have a space where I can try the sheet test unless I go outside. Hmmm will have to think about that!

[Terry K.]

Margo --Love, Love, Love, your layout!!! It looks great. It's really fun to see how everyone looks at this differently. Thanks for sharing!!!
Pat

[Terry K.]

I just logged on and didn't realize it took me back to the 1st page of this forum--even though I look a little stupid--I still love your quilt, Margo--is it finished now. I'm just a little behind this summer--not sure if I'm comning or going!!! Pat

[Margo C.]

Thanks Pat! See the finished quilt here: community/my-profile/Margo

[Paula Z.]

Wow Margo, to be able to quilt like you do!!! I just saw your quilted top. I do believe I see THe Quilt Show star in your border. I am really liking that.

[Paula Z.]

Margo--it's fantastic!!! Beautifully quilted--wonderful talent!! Thanks for shareing I'm glad saw the first page again. Pat

[Paula Z.]

Kathy, I love your quilt and the quilting is inspirational. Did you outline the names first with a pencil/marker or did you just do them free motion?

Also, has anyone ever tried Crayola washable markers to mark the top for quilting? Do they really wash out or can you just wet it a lot or what? Maybe a quilter's pencil should be used, but someone I know says be careful of the blue ones? I have yellow and white. What about an ordinary mechanical pencil, like someone in my guild uses? There are so many varieties of ways people do things, it's hard to know what to do, until you've done it. Know what I mean? Any advice on this is appreciated.

Also - Patti - You quilt is wonderful. I had originally chosen that pattern, but changed my mind. What an array of patterns from little HSTs!

[Margo C.]

Also, has anyone ever tried Crayola washable markers to mark the top for quilting? Do they really wash out or can you just wet it a lot or what?

You will find some discussion of Crayola WASHABLE markers here: http://forum/friendship-triangle-exc...-a-small-world

I've used them for years with no problem, but I always soak my finished quilt in COLD (NO detergent) water for about 15 minutes; drain out that water; then run a gentle cycle with mild detergent like Orvus Paste, or use Synthrapol if I'm at all concerned about bleeding.

[Margo C.]

Thanks, Margo - To the rescue again, and f-a-s-t!! Wow!

[Kathryn S.]

Update! I got my Synthrapol from Dharma, re-washed my quilt in HOT water with plenty of synthrapol. It went through the entire gentle cycle by machine. Then it went into the dryer and dried all the way, with no damp spots that might run or bleed. This took out most of the previous color bleeding, if not all of it. Yippee!!! And the color catchers were dark gray. There was still a lot of excess dye in that quilt even after its initial washing.

Crocus, I didn't mark the names. Here's what I did:
Took Debbie's excel file of names, extracted first name and last initial. Ran a character count- it was around 3600 characters.
Did some samples of free motion names to see how many characters I could fit into a row.
With 51 rows, the first name and last initial would fit perfectly.
Rearranged the Excel file to give me 51 rows of names, which i could print out and follow to quilt.
I had 2 inch blocks, so could fit 2 rows of quilting along each row of HST's. Just marked the halfway point along the row on the quilt and the list to keep track of how I was doing.
It was so much fun!!!!!
If someone's quilt is bigger, or their natural quilting size is smaller, they could probably fit first and last names on the quilt.
I DID quilt every other row of names for the first pass, so as not to draw up half of the quilt and leave the unquilted half poofy. I had to ditch quilt along each block row to prevent the seamline from sticking up.
I can't wait to see what other people do!
Kathy

[Kathryn S.]

Good news all around, Kathy! So glad things are looking better today - remember - "It's a new day - everyday!"

Thanks for the info on how you printed the names - just wondering if you used a domestic machine or a Gammil/Log Arm?

[Kathryn S.]

I just got a Handiquilter Sweet Sixteen sit-down machine, so I used that. It was nice to have to side-to-side room for quilting the rows. I'm so used to machine quilting on a domestic machine, the HQ sit-down is almost the same. I have tried long arm machines with the frame at quilt shows, and it isn't easy for me to move the machine instead of the quilt! Kathy