Sunday, August 18, 2019
Saturday, July 27, 2019
One Loose Thread and Sisters Oregon!!
I am just going to take a minute here to post some pictures of our FABULOUS trip to the Sisters Quilt Show in Oregon. I'm trying to get all of our pictures together so I can share all of them in one place, but, that will take some time and I am currently prepping for Summer Quilt Camp. So, this is what I currently have. Hope you enjoy them.
The 'Frayed Knots' were in SISTERS!!!
There will be more later when I have more time. Special thanks to those who supported this trip. I hope we can do something like this again in 2021!!! This time....Lobster!!
Thanks to Country Heritage Tours for taking such good care of us!!
Let's go sew!!
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| One Adult Beverage |
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| Maybe there is a Clemson fan in Oregon??? |
The 'Frayed Knots' were in SISTERS!!!
There will be more later when I have more time. Special thanks to those who supported this trip. I hope we can do something like this again in 2021!!! This time....Lobster!!
Thanks to Country Heritage Tours for taking such good care of us!!
Let's go sew!!
Sunday, April 7, 2019
So......you want to make a t-shirt quilt?
So, you want to make a t-shirt quilt. No problem, right? All you have to do is sew the shirts together. Put a border around it. Get some fleece for the backing and take it to the longarmer.......right? WRONG!!!!
Let's talk about t-shirt quilts.
#1.Choosing the shirts. You do not have to include every t-shirt you or your child has ever worn........No, you don't.
It's really better to pick anywhere from 12 to maybe 24 of your favorites and only use them. The more shirts, the heavier the quilt. A queen size quilt with 60 or so shirts can weigh up to 10 pounds!!!! Mercy!! you could not even turn over under that quilt and heaven forbid if you need to wash it. Sort out your shirts and keep your quilt a comfortable twin or long twin size.
#2. Stabilizer. We all have our favorites. Mine happens to be French Fuse. I have a commercial heat press and it is a simple matter of fusing this to the backs of the 'rough cut' shirts. Then I can cut to size and work with my design wall to arrange. French Fuse is also easy to quilt through..another consideration when choosing your stabilizer.
#3. To sash or not to sash. I like the quilts with sashing. That's my personal preference, but, you can stitch them all together in a pleasing design and work with that. The larger the quilt, the more it needs sashing for stability and reduction in weight. Cotton fabric in the sashing weighs less than all of those shirts sewn together.
#4. Batting. Personally, I prefer Thermore for the batting in t-shirt quilts. It is lighter in weight and will dry faster when washed.
#5. Backing. Although I have not had any problems quilting minkie and fleece..........I really prefer not to use them on the backs of these types of quilts. The stuff is just TOO HOT!! and requires almost a commercial washer when it's time to clean them. But, if that's what you want to use...I can still quilt them and won't complain. It is, after all, your quilt. My personal preference is either Grunge wideback or Moda's Primitive Muslin. Both quilt beautifully and they are snuggly on the back of a quilt.
#6. Binding. I prefer that my clients do their own, but, I will bind for you for a fee. Binding, I feel, should be cotton fabric to either match the border, or sashing, or to compliment the shirts in the quilt.
#7. Quilting. Yes, you can hand quilt these quilts and I will pray for you and your muscles, joints, and fingers while you do it. Yes, you can quilt them on a domestic machine. You need to have lots of Advil or Tylenol handy and a massage therapist on call......but, you can do it. Or, you can send them to a longarm quilter and we can do this for you. I do alot of these quilts.
Many longarmers will do these quilts and will use a large open meander. That's what I do if the quilt is not well stabilized and square. If it is, stabilized and square, I will put speciality designs on it with my Statler Stitcher. We can do a design that works for the quilt and for the special person that you are making it for. I have done, baseballs, tiger paws, ballet shoes, just to name a few.
So, you want to make a t-shirt quilt. I think that is fantastic, but, let's just follow a few guidlines so that you can have a beautiful end product.
The easiest way to make a t-shirt quilt is to 'quilt by check book'. Yes, just bring me the shirts. We'll discuss the quilt and the layout along with the quilting design and the finished product.
So, you want to make a t-shirt quilt.........LET'S TALK!!
That's it for today. We'll talk again soon.
Let's talk about t-shirt quilts.
#1.Choosing the shirts. You do not have to include every t-shirt you or your child has ever worn........No, you don't.
It's really better to pick anywhere from 12 to maybe 24 of your favorites and only use them. The more shirts, the heavier the quilt. A queen size quilt with 60 or so shirts can weigh up to 10 pounds!!!! Mercy!! you could not even turn over under that quilt and heaven forbid if you need to wash it. Sort out your shirts and keep your quilt a comfortable twin or long twin size.
#2. Stabilizer. We all have our favorites. Mine happens to be French Fuse. I have a commercial heat press and it is a simple matter of fusing this to the backs of the 'rough cut' shirts. Then I can cut to size and work with my design wall to arrange. French Fuse is also easy to quilt through..another consideration when choosing your stabilizer.
#3. To sash or not to sash. I like the quilts with sashing. That's my personal preference, but, you can stitch them all together in a pleasing design and work with that. The larger the quilt, the more it needs sashing for stability and reduction in weight. Cotton fabric in the sashing weighs less than all of those shirts sewn together.
#4. Batting. Personally, I prefer Thermore for the batting in t-shirt quilts. It is lighter in weight and will dry faster when washed.
#5. Backing. Although I have not had any problems quilting minkie and fleece..........I really prefer not to use them on the backs of these types of quilts. The stuff is just TOO HOT!! and requires almost a commercial washer when it's time to clean them. But, if that's what you want to use...I can still quilt them and won't complain. It is, after all, your quilt. My personal preference is either Grunge wideback or Moda's Primitive Muslin. Both quilt beautifully and they are snuggly on the back of a quilt.
#6. Binding. I prefer that my clients do their own, but, I will bind for you for a fee. Binding, I feel, should be cotton fabric to either match the border, or sashing, or to compliment the shirts in the quilt.
#7. Quilting. Yes, you can hand quilt these quilts and I will pray for you and your muscles, joints, and fingers while you do it. Yes, you can quilt them on a domestic machine. You need to have lots of Advil or Tylenol handy and a massage therapist on call......but, you can do it. Or, you can send them to a longarm quilter and we can do this for you. I do alot of these quilts.
Many longarmers will do these quilts and will use a large open meander. That's what I do if the quilt is not well stabilized and square. If it is, stabilized and square, I will put speciality designs on it with my Statler Stitcher. We can do a design that works for the quilt and for the special person that you are making it for. I have done, baseballs, tiger paws, ballet shoes, just to name a few.
So, you want to make a t-shirt quilt. I think that is fantastic, but, let's just follow a few guidlines so that you can have a beautiful end product.
The easiest way to make a t-shirt quilt is to 'quilt by check book'. Yes, just bring me the shirts. We'll discuss the quilt and the layout along with the quilting design and the finished product.
So, you want to make a t-shirt quilt.........LET'S TALK!!
Friday, January 25, 2019
Catching up with Longarm Quilting
Yes, I was out of the studio for a full week, so, yes, I am really behind. I had a great time at the Myrtle Beach Quilt Party and I now understand why many of my friends have been attending these last 29 years. I'll certainly go back.
However, now to get back to work.
The first of this week I was working on the border of this Dinner Plate design and I kept having severe thread issues. I contacted Fil Tec (Hab+Dash) and they have replaced that thread. It was delivered today and I should be back to using the 60 weight thread by Monday. In the meantime, I have been working on the red areas of the quilt. I have arrived at the middle!!!
Obviously, you can't see the quilting in this picture, but, trust me, it is there. Tomorrow I will continue down the quilt and will hopefully finish the red areas and start the black areas. I am actually going to hold off on going back to the borders until the full interior of the quilt is completed.
What is shown here in the red is all of the quilting that has been done this week. It does not show the weeks+ stitch in the ditch that was done before I went to the beach.
I love every piece of this quilt. Carol had told me that she felt as though a lot of these quilts are done heavy in feathers, and I agree. What appears as 'feathers' on this quilt are what I call 'bat wings' and the swags are some type of leaf. They don't have the curve of a feather and I just love them.
This quilt has an 'edgy' feel to it, so there are a few curves, alot of spikes, plenty of lines, and there will even be some circles....
I've got a long way to go on this project, but, a very hard deadline that I am seriously trying to make. We'll be up early and work late over the next few days trying to make that deadline. I'll let you know how it goes.
Have a great weekend!!!
However, now to get back to work.
The first of this week I was working on the border of this Dinner Plate design and I kept having severe thread issues. I contacted Fil Tec (Hab+Dash) and they have replaced that thread. It was delivered today and I should be back to using the 60 weight thread by Monday. In the meantime, I have been working on the red areas of the quilt. I have arrived at the middle!!!
I love every piece of this quilt. Carol had told me that she felt as though a lot of these quilts are done heavy in feathers, and I agree. What appears as 'feathers' on this quilt are what I call 'bat wings' and the swags are some type of leaf. They don't have the curve of a feather and I just love them.
This quilt has an 'edgy' feel to it, so there are a few curves, alot of spikes, plenty of lines, and there will even be some circles....
I've got a long way to go on this project, but, a very hard deadline that I am seriously trying to make. We'll be up early and work late over the next few days trying to make that deadline. I'll let you know how it goes.
Have a great weekend!!!
Saturday, January 5, 2019
A day in the Life of a Longarm Quilter
OK, so this was day 2 of stitch in the ditch. Day 1 was totally unsuccessful and nothing was accomplished. I had thread breaks, skipped stitches and nothing but frustration.
Well, I spent 36 hours reading, studying, dreaming and problem solving with my brain and a few hundred longarm quilters. I figured there were several problems.
First: This is not the way that I loaded the top. I had originally loaded it where it rolled on the inside bar. That caused tension when I moved Penelope. The quilt rolled too 'fat' and caused some drag. So, when I started this morning I unzipped it and rolled it on the outside roller. That really helped alot.
Second: I really loosened the quilt sandwich. Not so sure it was to tight, but, that couldn't hurt.
Third: I cranked the tension back down on the primary tension disks. Then I really loosened the tension at the intermediate tensioner.
Started stitching and would you believe.................It's perfect........well, almost. I am still seeing some of the dark gray bobbin thread pull close to the top of the quilt, but, not so much that I'm concerned.
Long story short...........I quilted for over 6 hours with 1.............I repeat ....1 thread break. And, I went back to using Superior Monopoly on top.............It has been a glorious day!! PLUS the sun was shining outside!!!
I did not get to the half way point, but, things are moving faster, so hopefully tomorrow I can finish this part.
That's it for tonight...........I'm off to try out my new Air Fryer. We'll see how that goes. Now that things are moving along, I know I'll sleep better. So, until tomorrow!!!
Thursday, January 3, 2019
The Story of a High Custom Quilt and the Life of a Longarm Quilter
It is January 2, 2019 and I have finally loaded this quilt on my frame. I am starting the quilt with it on Penelope Statler. I have had this top for over a month, but the client knew that I would not be in a position to start work on it until now. I have also just received the digital designs for this quilt. Most of what I will be using is from Laurie Thomas of It's a Quilt Thing. I will use a few others from other designers and let you know what they are and I will also be doing some freehand work on the quilt.
The first decision that I needed to make was whether or not to add additional batting. My client wants Dream wool and that is a really good choice. However, I feel as though this quilt needs the additional stabilizing that a thin cotton, poly or blend black batting on the back would offer. So, I have added a layer of Hobbs 80/20 next to the black batik backing.
I have those on the frame and now comes the quilt top. Perfectly pieced by a Certified Judy Niemeyer instructor. It is the new Technique of the month, Dinner Plate Dahlia and it is beautiful (even though it is done in Georgia red and black------or Carolina garnet and black). Insert evil laugh and a big tiger paw!! It is also 100% batik fabrics. Not just the top, but, the backing too.
It took 5 hours to load and baste the quilt top on and now it is time to stitch.
January 3, 2019:
Well, I have spent the entire day with this quilt. To say it has been frustrating is an understatement. Bull Bat time could not get here fast enough. I am working on the stitch in the ditch that is really necessary on these tops. I started with a medium gray bottom line bobbin on a black and gray batik backing using first Superior monopoly smoke. Well, I was having thread breaks every few inches and when it wasn't breaking I was getting skipped stitches. Talk about frustration!!! So, I unquilted what I had stitched. Next it was Dark Gray in the bobbin and Clear Superior Monopoly on top............same thing. So..........I tried YLI clear thread with the dark gray in the bobbin......same. I also stopped plotting for the Statler, dropped the belts, put on the extended throat plate and started hand guiding the machine.........no change.
Finally, I decided I was exhausted from fighting with the process for the day. So I shut down and turned off the lights.
I have poured a glass of wine and I'm sitting here talking to you. I think that I have also decided to try Superior Microquilter tomorrow instead of invisible. Microquilter is 100 weight thread and should work well. Notice I said 'should'.
Once I get these 'bugs' worked out, things will begin to go smoother and faster. It is still going to be quite a journey. So, you are on board and we'll talk periodically to let you know the progress. So, what does the quilt actually look like? Well, this is a look at part of the top:
Remember, as I go forward with this, that this top is 100% square and perfectly pieced. Any problems that arise are typical of some that longarmers have, but, that are not usually known by our clients. I just thought you might be interested and it might also go well for you to understand why we charge what we do for our quilting.
Have a good evening and remember that 'Tomorrow is another day'..........
The first decision that I needed to make was whether or not to add additional batting. My client wants Dream wool and that is a really good choice. However, I feel as though this quilt needs the additional stabilizing that a thin cotton, poly or blend black batting on the back would offer. So, I have added a layer of Hobbs 80/20 next to the black batik backing.
I have those on the frame and now comes the quilt top. Perfectly pieced by a Certified Judy Niemeyer instructor. It is the new Technique of the month, Dinner Plate Dahlia and it is beautiful (even though it is done in Georgia red and black------or Carolina garnet and black). Insert evil laugh and a big tiger paw!! It is also 100% batik fabrics. Not just the top, but, the backing too.
It took 5 hours to load and baste the quilt top on and now it is time to stitch.
January 3, 2019:
Well, I have spent the entire day with this quilt. To say it has been frustrating is an understatement. Bull Bat time could not get here fast enough. I am working on the stitch in the ditch that is really necessary on these tops. I started with a medium gray bottom line bobbin on a black and gray batik backing using first Superior monopoly smoke. Well, I was having thread breaks every few inches and when it wasn't breaking I was getting skipped stitches. Talk about frustration!!! So, I unquilted what I had stitched. Next it was Dark Gray in the bobbin and Clear Superior Monopoly on top............same thing. So..........I tried YLI clear thread with the dark gray in the bobbin......same. I also stopped plotting for the Statler, dropped the belts, put on the extended throat plate and started hand guiding the machine.........no change.
Finally, I decided I was exhausted from fighting with the process for the day. So I shut down and turned off the lights.
I have poured a glass of wine and I'm sitting here talking to you. I think that I have also decided to try Superior Microquilter tomorrow instead of invisible. Microquilter is 100 weight thread and should work well. Notice I said 'should'.
Once I get these 'bugs' worked out, things will begin to go smoother and faster. It is still going to be quite a journey. So, you are on board and we'll talk periodically to let you know the progress. So, what does the quilt actually look like? Well, this is a look at part of the top:
Have a good evening and remember that 'Tomorrow is another day'..........
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Christmas Presents and Other Important 'Stuff'
This quilt is so large, that I can't get a full picture of it. However, here are a few, both before and after quilting.
This one on the far right is a picture of the finished quilting. Now, with each quilt I learn something.
What did I learn on this quilt?
1. Never put the quilt on the frame until you have decided on at least 75% of the quilting designs that you will use...........otherwise, you spend hours, days, WEEKS trying to make those decisions.
Mary brought this quilt to me in AUGUST!!! AUGUST!!! (yes, it was this year). We decided on what we wanted to quilt in the gifts. We decided on what to use for the outside border. So, I zipped it on the frame basted the whole quilt in and just KNEW that this was going to go 'lickety split' ( that's really fast for those of you that don't speak Southern). Wellllllllll, I started with the border because I knew what we wanted in that area. I set it up and stitched the whole side border and two corners. The tension was perfect! I looked at the finished product and decided it should have been stitched 1/2" lower so that the bottom of the gifts would stitch in the ditch............out comes the seam ripper for stitch removal. I know better than to NOT listen to that little voice in my brain that tells me to stop after 6 inches of quilting.
While I am un-stitching, I can at least take some time and go ahead with the gifts. After all everything has been ditch stitched and is stable. So, I set the designs in the first two gifts and 'LET'S GO TO IT'!!' I stitched those out and wonder of wonders, turned the quilt over and I HATE the way that the tension is working on the bottom. OK, more work for the seam ripper.
By now, it must be at least October. Remember, Mary brought this to me in AUGUST!
OK, fast forward to Halloween..........the border has been un-quilted, the gifts have been un-quilted. I have all of the gifts now stitched with their special designs and now it's time for the sashings and spaces between the gifts.....but, no, the borders have not been requilted. It's time for quilt camp, so, we need to stop for that.
So, we get back to work after camp and it's time for the sashings and borders..........I decided to stitch the borders first (after all, I know what I want there). This time everything works BEAUTIFULLY!!! (I love my Statler!)
Fabulous! now I'm really on a roll. Let's get this finished before Thanksgiving. So, this is where everything stops.........again. I have no idea as to what I wanted to stitch in the sashings and around the ribbons. Thought about this for several days. Shopped all of the designers for ideas. Tried to dream about the solution.........wasn't happening. Anyhow, I finally came up with what I thought would work. Stitched it out and I was pleased, so then worked on finishing the quilt.
Well, guess what!! It's done!! Mary will soon be binding this beautiful quilt and have it on her bed for when Santa delivers his gifts.
Now, that was one thing I learned. What else might I have gleaned from this experience.
2. Thank goodness my custom clients are very patient and understand that I am not stitching anything on their quilts that doesn't 'feel' right to me. I love everyone of them.
3. My clients understand that my custom work is VERY SLOW............Thank you.
4. To that end, I will only be accepting 2 quilts a month for custom work. They could be hand guided, Statler assisted, or both, but I will only accept 2 per month. That said, my custom schedule is currently scheduled out to March of 2019. There is one quilt that is scheduled in for January 2019 that I do not currently have 'in house'. If it appears that it will not arrive, then everyone moves up in the schedule.
Custom quilting is something that I enjoy, but, it is also the most stressful, so, I am having to set some limits. I'm sure everyone can understand and we will all adjust to this new scheduling.
NOW AS FAR AS EDGE TO EDGE--------bring it on. I can usually have that back to you within 2 weeks..sometime sooner. This schedule is independent of my custom schedule, so, it moves faster.
Registration for February Quilt Camp will start the first week of December. Time to start thinking about the beginning of a new year as we finish up this one.
Now, here we are, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Tomorrow I will load Penelope Statler and begin working on all of the edge 2 edge quilts that have been waiting for me to finish the Gifts. The weekend has been full for food, family, and football (GO TIGERRRRS). Time to settle in, decorate and enjoy the season. I have a few extra special quilts to complete before Christmas morning, but, that will happen. Life is great and I am enjoying the process. Hope you are too.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!! and LET'S GO SEW!!!
This one on the far right is a picture of the finished quilting. Now, with each quilt I learn something.
What did I learn on this quilt?
1. Never put the quilt on the frame until you have decided on at least 75% of the quilting designs that you will use...........otherwise, you spend hours, days, WEEKS trying to make those decisions.
Mary brought this quilt to me in AUGUST!!! AUGUST!!! (yes, it was this year). We decided on what we wanted to quilt in the gifts. We decided on what to use for the outside border. So, I zipped it on the frame basted the whole quilt in and just KNEW that this was going to go 'lickety split' ( that's really fast for those of you that don't speak Southern). Wellllllllll, I started with the border because I knew what we wanted in that area. I set it up and stitched the whole side border and two corners. The tension was perfect! I looked at the finished product and decided it should have been stitched 1/2" lower so that the bottom of the gifts would stitch in the ditch............out comes the seam ripper for stitch removal. I know better than to NOT listen to that little voice in my brain that tells me to stop after 6 inches of quilting.
While I am un-stitching, I can at least take some time and go ahead with the gifts. After all everything has been ditch stitched and is stable. So, I set the designs in the first two gifts and 'LET'S GO TO IT'!!' I stitched those out and wonder of wonders, turned the quilt over and I HATE the way that the tension is working on the bottom. OK, more work for the seam ripper.
By now, it must be at least October. Remember, Mary brought this to me in AUGUST!
OK, fast forward to Halloween..........the border has been un-quilted, the gifts have been un-quilted. I have all of the gifts now stitched with their special designs and now it's time for the sashings and spaces between the gifts.....but, no, the borders have not been requilted. It's time for quilt camp, so, we need to stop for that.
So, we get back to work after camp and it's time for the sashings and borders..........I decided to stitch the borders first (after all, I know what I want there). This time everything works BEAUTIFULLY!!! (I love my Statler!)
Fabulous! now I'm really on a roll. Let's get this finished before Thanksgiving. So, this is where everything stops.........again. I have no idea as to what I wanted to stitch in the sashings and around the ribbons. Thought about this for several days. Shopped all of the designers for ideas. Tried to dream about the solution.........wasn't happening. Anyhow, I finally came up with what I thought would work. Stitched it out and I was pleased, so then worked on finishing the quilt.
Well, guess what!! It's done!! Mary will soon be binding this beautiful quilt and have it on her bed for when Santa delivers his gifts.
Now, that was one thing I learned. What else might I have gleaned from this experience.
2. Thank goodness my custom clients are very patient and understand that I am not stitching anything on their quilts that doesn't 'feel' right to me. I love everyone of them.
3. My clients understand that my custom work is VERY SLOW............Thank you.
4. To that end, I will only be accepting 2 quilts a month for custom work. They could be hand guided, Statler assisted, or both, but I will only accept 2 per month. That said, my custom schedule is currently scheduled out to March of 2019. There is one quilt that is scheduled in for January 2019 that I do not currently have 'in house'. If it appears that it will not arrive, then everyone moves up in the schedule.
Custom quilting is something that I enjoy, but, it is also the most stressful, so, I am having to set some limits. I'm sure everyone can understand and we will all adjust to this new scheduling.
NOW AS FAR AS EDGE TO EDGE--------bring it on. I can usually have that back to you within 2 weeks..sometime sooner. This schedule is independent of my custom schedule, so, it moves faster.
Registration for February Quilt Camp will start the first week of December. Time to start thinking about the beginning of a new year as we finish up this one.
Now, here we are, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Tomorrow I will load Penelope Statler and begin working on all of the edge 2 edge quilts that have been waiting for me to finish the Gifts. The weekend has been full for food, family, and football (GO TIGERRRRS). Time to settle in, decorate and enjoy the season. I have a few extra special quilts to complete before Christmas morning, but, that will happen. Life is great and I am enjoying the process. Hope you are too.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!! and LET'S GO SEW!!!
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