Completed HST projects

[Lois B.]

I need a link to review the instructions for submiting the file to Carol and what all is suppose to be included. I don't know why I didn't bookmark it. Lois

Check here, Lois: http://forum/friendship-triangle-exc...our-exchanges-

Thanks so much Margo. Lois

[Lois B.]

Rosemary, your quilt is awesome!! Congrats on getting the pics taken, now we just get to wait for the book!!

[Lois B.]

WOW, i should have had my HST done long before now. I Just need to finish the border and binding. I can''t believe how bad I have been with finishing this. I don't really have an excuse, just hope to get it done in time for the deadline.

[Lois B.]

Actually, I do have a slight excuse. I am in the process of getting ready for an ABM Innova Long arm Quilting machine. I guess it has taken a priority to my quilting projects. so while I await my arrival, I pledge to dedicate my immediate time to the HST until it arrives. Oh boy, There is much I need to do. besides the project, I need to paint walls before the floor is installed in the "big Toy" room.

[Renata L.]

Rosemary,
I love what you did with your quilt! The two hearts in the middle, contrasting sets of flying geese, the colors, the backing that looks as well thought out as the front, the quilting (it shows so clearly from the picture of the back)... need I say more than I just love it? I just LOVE it!
Renata :!: :!:

[Rita C.]

Rosemary your quilt is fabulous - front and back. Love the quilting pattern too. Congratulations on getting it done in time.

[Karen G.]

Debbie - you quilt is utterly beautiful and now it seems all those hst's are back in the guest room, this time minus the rubbish sacks :wink:

Michelle - another great quilt to see. I am dying to see the finished book it is going to be so inspirational.

Here is a sneak preview of mine - DH got a snazzy new camera with 16 mega pixels (swoon, swoon) and since it has been raining cats& dogs off and on all week, I got permission to use the school hall, where I work (and just over the road), to hang my quilt for the photographic session this afternoon.It hasn't been blocked, because quite frankly I've nowhere to do it. It hasn't been washed yet either, because I didn't want to worry about bleeding batiks before the photo shoot!

Nice!!! Front and backside.

[Karen G.]

All the quilting is done, trimmed out, ironed, binding strips cut and ready for binding. Getting closer. Clara

[Lois B.]

Quilting is done. Binding is in place. Whew! I was going to be really smart like Rosemary and not wash my quilt until after the photos, but I wasn't smart enough soon enough. LOL! I should have thought of that before I decided to try basting my quilt sandwich together using water soluble thread. I am laughing at myself. I really loved doing the FMQ without having to stop to undo pins. I loved, loved, loved doing it that way. As I write this, the quilt is in the washing machine so let's all hope for the best. It's floating around in there with Syntrapol and Color Catchers pinned all over. I seem to remember someone saying it was turquoise fabric that ran so whether that's right or not all the turquoise patches have a color catchers attatched. I am drinking wine and believing it is all going to be okay. I am sure it will be. It's okay no matter what happens. There are ways to deal with it. Have a good night. Good luck everybody finishing up. Lois

[Lois B.]

It was fine. The wash cycle just finished. There was a little bit of color on some of the color catchers. It worked fine. I will not be afraid to wash this quilt although I will not do that often because it is a wall quilt. It is in the dryer now fluffing up a bit. In a few minutes I will lay it flat to finish drying. I think if you use Synthapol and color catchers you should be fine. Good luck finishing up your work. I designed my label but I have never printed on fabric. Lets hope there are no glitches with that tomorrow. Lois

[Lorna B.]

Quilting is done. Now to do the binding, label, pictures... better get busy...

Lorna

[Lorna B.]

It was fine. The wash cycle just finished. There was a little bit of color on some of the color catchers. It worked fine. I will not be afraid to wash this quilt although I will not do that often because it is a wall quilt. It is in the dryer now fluffing up a bit. In a few minutes I will lay it flat to finish drying. I think if you use Synthapol and color catchers you should be fine. Good luck finishing up your work. I designed my label but I have never printed on fabric. Lets hope there are no glitches with that tomorrow. Lois

Thank you so much for posting the results so quickly. I found myself holding my breathe while reading about washing your quilt. Whew. Glad it's fine. Turquoise and indigo blues seem (to me) to hold a lot of dye and release for a while. I love those color catchers too. I've never pinned them on. Interesting idea. I'm in the binding stage, so I better not dottle too much on line. Gotta go. Clara

[E.M. T.]

Editing the photos !!!! Closer, closer!

[E.M. T.]

I love my husband. I say this now so that I don't strangle him. While I'm quickly taking care of my kids needs he cuts the power to our bedroom to work on a quick project. Why is the bedroom an issue. Well my sewing machine is in there. I love my husband. I will not strangle him. On the funny side I've never scene him run like that trying to get a job finished. To be continued and hopefully not on the news.

[Renata L.]

Thank you Debbie, Renata and Rita. Glad you like the quilt.
Okay, here's my secret:...

Michelle,
Thank you for the in-depth explanation how you did the quilting with your longarm machine, how you set up the designs in the Intellquilter Robotic system, and finally, your process for designing the quilting and relationship between quilt-top and design. I printed out your Forum posting and studied it carefully. I am keeping it in my quilting notebook as a guide to refer to.

First, I find very helpful how you think about quilting as you decide what your quilt top will look like and reach into your experience for what looks good as you take your first swag at designing the quilting portion and then audition and coordinate elements of design. What this says for me, as a beginner, is that I should collect pictures of quilts that have quilting I particularly like and think I am capable of duplicating at this early stage of my quilting journey, ensuring that for a “focus” design, some key elements are duplicated elsewhere in the quilt (as you did with the pearls). I also like how you try to soften a hard geometric design with soft curves. I needed this explanation to help me as I think about my own quilting. Understanding actually takes the sting and uncertainty out of trying!

Second, I really like your use of computer software to edit and play with your design. I have V6 software for my Bernina and can do the same editing of designs in the CorelDraw portion of it, then print the design, copy onto tracing paper and turn to FMQ that way. If I wanted to automate my design and let the embroidery module of my Bernina 830 do the heavy lifting, I could digitize my design and the only challenge I would have would be multiple re-hooping. I agree with you that this method would not make the process any faster. However, since my goal is to improve my FMQ on a domestic machine, for now I don’t have to go there.

Finally, I could not agree more that only practice will make the difference! I’ve been practicing for quite a while on practice pieces ONLY and doggedly determined NOT to use a stitch regulator on my domestic machine. Finally, last week, to the tune of some especially beautiful music that transported me to a different world (that must have been it!), I was blissfully unaware that my foot on the pedal and fabric moving under the needle were humming along… and then it hit me that I had found my stride for consistency in the length of the stitch and I was also relaxed! Now I just have to learn to follow my markings on the quilt top—again, practice does make the difference!

So, thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and insights—I know I just benefited greatly from them!
Cheers,
Renata