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Friday, March 21, 2014

Filling in the spaces

I'm working my sock (or gloves) off on Lazy Girl! Do you think it is time for a pair of new gloves? They are pretty beat up but they are like a pair of old shoes....so comfortable!

I've quilted the feather that runs the length of the quilt on one side and am debating whether or not to stitch a feather on the other side. In the meanwhile I'll continue with the first feather. I echoed stitched around the feather. I'm using Superior's So Fine (LOVE IT) on top and Superior's The Bottom Line in the bobbin.


I added a second echo because I really want to flatten the area immediately next to the feather.

Here you can see both sides of the feather have a double echo. At this point the background on either side of the feather appears to come forward and the feather recedes. I want it the other way around.


To do this I'll fill in the background. My original plan was to meander or stipple but that gets boring very quickly. I saw my practice swatches and decided to just do a mish mash of different shapes and designs - kind of mindless doodling. I use my test swatches to test my threads, needle and machine setting each day before I start quilting and I think they look interesting so I'll just use a bunch of different stitches to fill in the background. Here is the first side filled in and I am a happy quilter! There are pearls, and swirls, feathers and bouncing bananas. I also tried a little bit of McTavishing! So Fine is a great thread for this type of quilting because it is fine enough that I'm not getting thread build-up but heavy enough that I can see the stitches.


Here it is a little closer. What I like about this stitching is that it is surprisingly easy or at least easier than feathers which require long, smooth, sweeping, large movements. While the feather shape itself is quite easy once you deconstruct it, you are working over a very larger area so you are making sure your quilt is flat and smooth and your hand/arm movements are even. The filler is small so it is very small muscle movement that is required and mistakes are less obvious! There is so much going on that if there is a mistake it isn't obvious and although it is densely quilted it goes very quickly.


Here is the other side of the feather filled in with doodling! When I worked myself into a corner I could just travel on or parallel to a line I had already quilted so that I could get to an unquilted area. Again I'm not getting a thread build-up because the So Fine thread by Superior is quite fine .


And one more close-up!


And this is the feather with both sides filled in. Now the feather comes forward and the background recedes which is exactly the look I was going for! I'm doing all of the quilting with Superior's So Fine and am just loving it! I'm having to do a little travelling (sewing on lines that have already been quilted) to get to other spaces so they can be filled in and I'm not getting a heavy thread build-up. The thread colour is soft grey so it works well with the background fabric and again helps minimize the thread build-up.


I've said it many times and it bears repeating - the only way to learn machine quilting skills it to practice, practice, practice. All of that practice is paying off because now I've got an interesting filler design and the idea came from my practice swatches! If' you want to get started free motion quilting (FMQ) my best advice is to make yourself some small sandwiches and use thread that you and your machine like and start quilting shapes that are comfortable. I'll bet you can quilt your name with no difficulty at all. Cursive writing is a great way to practice FMQ!

I've also got the next quilt back ready so when I done with Lazy Girl I can get started on Piccadilly to the Nines. I've got some beautiful thread for the hourglass border. It is a variegated green thread by Superior and it is called Fantastico. It has a gorgeous sheen and I can't wait to try it out!


Yesterday I had a sewing day with friends. My Mom pulled out a set of six old linens with beautiful cut work. They are little envelope and Mom was asking if anyone knew how they were intended to be used. The motif is a pear so I am assuming they have something to do with a dining room. Does anyone have any ideas?

Finally I have a request. Does anyone out there know of a shop that has this fabric in stock? If so could you leave me the details in a comment or send me an email. I just love the little birds and the colour but can't find the fabric anywhere. It is made by Moda and it is from the line Dominique II. The colour is paprika.


That's it for today! Until I post tomorrow, happy sewing!
Karen H

28 comments:

  1. Hi Karen. Your quilting is beautiful. Wow, it is going to be a work of art when it is all done. Those cutwork envelopes are intriguing - I wonder if they are used to store silverware in. If you cover silver or put it behind glass it does not tarnish as quickly.
    Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thanks Chantal. The quilt will make a nice summer quilt I think! As for the envelopes there are six of them and my first thought was the same as yours which is they are meant to be use to store silverware/cutlery.

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  2. The fabric envelope I have was used to store hankies. To me it looks like this one might have been made from a linen napkin (maybe she got tired and didn't make the set as planned and thought up another use.

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    1. Hi Shirley - I was going to send you an email but you are a no-reply blogger so I've no way to contact you! :-(

      I don't think they were meant to be napkins. There open work on the sides and at the edge is only on the flap and when you look at the construction on the interior it appears that all six were made to be envelopes. Initially I thought silverware/cutlery envelops but they could also be hankie holders. What is throwing me is that they are an identical set of six so I'm leaning more towards silverware holders.

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  3. Your quilting is wonderful, how long did it take you to wear your loves out? That is my favorite background fill and shows off your feathers beautifully. My first instinct on the envelops was for cutlery. The fabric is divine, i am not surprised it is no longer available on-line, I'll keep my eyes open as i get out and about.

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    1. I've worked with these gloves for just over a year I think. I have to say I like working with them with the missing finger tips!

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  4. I have to say it has been fun to watch your machine quilting process in pictures. The feathers are so neat and flowing through the rings. I really love how you did a second line to make the feathers edges lay down. The Mactavishing designs are delightful!!

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    1. Thanks Judy. I made myself very happy with what I did with this quilt! It is rather boring but the quilting has spiced it up!

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  5. I adore that fabric, I have not seen it before, but I shall look out for it.
    I am in awe of your quilting.I went on a class once and managed to produce some reasonable samples, but I only have one quilt a year to quilt and I fear I would get rusty in between :-)

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    1. For me machine quilting is like riding a bike. You never forget. You might need to practice a little to warm up but once you do that you are off to the races!

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  6. Da noi in Italia quelle bustine in lino ricamate ad intaglio si usavano per mettere il tovagliolo di ogni commensale e, forse, anche le posate. Comunque sono bellissime.
    Se avessero avuto un altro tipo di disegno e non fossero state 6 ti avrei detto che si utilizzavano come bustina per mettere la biancheria intima in viaggio. (sempre da noi si usava così).
    Ciao e grazie per tutto quello che fai e pubblichi.
    Silvana Italia

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  7. Your quilting KAren is fabulous ! ! ! I dream of quilting like you ! Your feather looks so perfect...congratulations!
    My mother embroidered an enveloppe like yours when i was a child:we put our table-napkin in it
    If i happen to see this beautiful fabric, i'll tell it to Your

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    1. It took some practice but I got there and you will too!

      It sounds like many think that the envelopes are for table napkins!

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  8. The quilting is gorgeous--you certainly have been giving those gloves a workout! The size of the envelope makes me think it may have been used for gloves--it sure is pretty!

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    1. Yes the gloves are pretty beat up! Maybe I should tuck them inside one of those envelopes!

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  9. Hey.....everyone used all the good words! You quilting is all the above....just stunning.

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    1. Thank you! Everyone is so generous with their praise!

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  10. Your feathers are gorgeous and your fillers are exquisite. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  11. And YES, you need a new pair of gloves.......lol.

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    1. Thank you Jo! I do have a new pair of gloves but the old beat up gloves are just so comfortable!

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  12. When i was a child when dining at my Grandmother we used linen napkins and after the meal we had to fold then neatly and put then in a linen envelope just like yours
    Paule

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    1. Thank you Paule - I will tell my Mom! She will be pleased to know what they are!

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  13. absolutely beautiful - just beautiful~

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  14. Hi Karen, your quilting is beautiful, gorgeous, and everything else everybody said above. I can only dream of quilting like you.

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    1. I never thought I could do it but found that with practice it was possible! Keep at it and you'll get there too!

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  15. I forgot to say that I love that fabric too, as you know I LOVE birds. Let me know if you find it, I'd love to buy some too.

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  16. How much do you need? I have some in my fabric stash.

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    1. Hi Patti - thanks for the offer. You are a no reply blogger so I have no way to contact you!

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