Sewing away.................

I told you all I had working "behind the scenes". I made the quilt above. It is a generous "throw sized" quilt.It has a lot of my favorite fabric line in it, "Lakehouse Fabrics". I made this quilt, and had some of the fabrics left over. I added other fabrics, and made this quilt below! they are both machine quilted by me.

 I hope  you didn't hear the swearing as I was doing it. I must say, it gets a little easier each time, as I learn a few more tricks. I think the biggest help has been a big enough sewing table, so That the left side of the quilt is supported. I didn't realize that ANY pulling on that quilt will distort the stitches.

 I have been avidly reading blogs to get different ideas as to what makes machine quilting easier for people. One thing I could not machine quilt without is June Tailor fusible quilt batting". It holds both surfaces down so that there are NO puckers. I also do not roll my quilt. I have found that "puddling" it where I am working, works best for me. I also do  (gasp of horror here) my binding BEFORE I quilt. I read this tip many years ago...and truthfully thought the quilter was nuts. But, her theory is that the outside edge is now stabilized. I cant tell you how many quilts and wallhangings I have machine quilted this way with great results! Oh...and with using the fusible batting, you dont have to start in the middle. You can start and quilt wherever you are the most comfortable!

I think you a lso have to find what "works" with YOUR particular sewing machine. Mine  balks if I dont have the same thread in the top and the bottom. I also get skipped stitches  if I use a normal needle, and forget to change it to a quilting or topstitch needle. Each machine has it's own quirks I guess.

I have always done hand  quilting, but, the older I get, I realize I won't get too many done that way. Also, you don't want to put the labor of hand quilting into a lot of projects. So...I persevere, stay tuned...................
 

Comments

[Mickey]

OMG, Barb - Your eye-rolling buddies are going to go blind!! You are UN-believable. What beauteous quilts and, of course, COLORS! Thanks for all the machine quilting tips. I must admit, I have never heard of binding before machine quilting either. I'll have to give that a try on a small wallhanging or runner and see how it goes for moi! :-) Keep on treating us - we love it. Right girls???

[Gari]

Right, I am bowled over by the beauty of your quilts. And your quilting is great. No wonder that fabric is one of your favorites.

[Zlaty]

Hi Barb,

Beautiful quilts! Not one but two! I didn't think of doing the binding first. I found out that I like using the quilting gloves for quilting.

Happy sewing!

Zlaty