Basting the Surprise Quilt--Part 2

I need to finish basting the surprise quilt.

Yes, I know--I'm tired of pinning and my fingers are getting sore.  Ahh...the price we pay.

Getting on with it

I can see the last border!! I'm almost done!

There is a lot of quilt in my lap at this point.

Yes, I am at the end.

Making sure the corners are pulled straight.

The "Ta-Da" moment when it is all basted.
Now....to start doodling!

Not yet...we must stablize the quilt by stitching in the ditch with the walking foot around the borders.  That will keep it all straight and square.

Hmmmm.....a little bit of a swirl here and there.

Some of this and some of that

Playing and doodling within the blocks...oh and some curved crosshatching, too!

How's that for a teaser?

I am still working on the center portion of the quilt--in other words the blocks.  I have an idea for the large border and will let you in on that secret as I go.

I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!  If you live where that American holiday is not celebrated or was celebrated earlier (you know if you are Canadian, eh), I wish you a lovely November and hopefully a chance to be with and enjoy your family.

Keep doodling!

Basting the Surprise Quilt--Part 1

It's time to take a deep breath and do it....I mean baste the quilt.  I really do dislike this step but I know from experience that if I don't do a good job in the basting....well, let's just say my vocabulary will get ugly during the quilting.  So--to prevent my having to put a dollar in the swear jar--I am going to do a very good job on basting this quilt.

First there is the pressing.  Starch and press your top and your backing at least 3 times.  I know, that seems like such a waste of time.  Let me assure you that it will all be worth it when you are floating along in your quilting and everything goes smoothly.

Here is the link to the video showing Sharon Schamber's method of table basting.  This is the method I use with a few slight changes.  First of all she thread bastes--I pin baste.  She explains in the video why she prefers thread basting.  I prefer pin basting with safety pins so I can adjust accordingly as I am quilting.  I also don't like to stop and take out the basting so I don't stitch over it.
Sharon Schamber's Basting Method

Here is me and the basting:

You can see that Sharon's method does work on a larger quilt.  My top and my backing are both wound onto trim boards while the batting is free.  I am safety pinning the first row after squaring everything up and making sure everything was straight.

Check out those mitered corners! ( Hint: lots of starch and glue basting.)

Pulling the quilt toward me as I baste.  Notice I am not bent over the table and my back is happy.

Pinning

Making sure my seams are straight as I go.

Unrolling the back some more

Now smoothing out the batting

Pulling and smoothing out the top

Back to pinning.

It sure is easier this way to roll up and down the side of your table than hurting your back by bending over to accomplish this.  The backing of your quilt stays nice and straight and smooth, too!

Keep doodling while I finish basting this quilt.  See you soon--any questions?

What Am I Working On?

Do you remember these blocks from a few weeks ago?

They are now in a quilt.  I showed you what they looked like all sewed together.  If you don't believe me, just scroll back and look.  Put together, they don't resemble the blocks themselves at all!

This is the elusive fabric that I had run out of and really wanted more to make a small inner border.  I just about kissed the vendor lady at the Philadelphia quilt show who had 2 yards of it.  Yes, I came home with 2 yards even though I only needed maybe half a yard.  You just never know.

See--strips for the inner border.  Yes, I use the Martelli ergonomic rotary cutter.  I fell in love with it maybe 8 or 9 years ago and haven't found one I like better.  Now...what to use for the outer border....I have that lovely batik that was what I was thinking about using.......

This is what happens when you listen to your fabric stash when it begins to yell at you.  I had this lovely piece of pale aqua silk sitting in my stash.  It was screaming at me even though I was doing my best to ignore it.  Oh well.  This is what it looked like after going through the washer and dryer.  Yes, I washed it and dried it before wrestling it into something that might go in my quilt.

This is what you have to do to silk.  Starch...iron...starch....iron....starch.....iron....etc.  ad nauseum.

Now that I have the silk pressed into something I can work with, I fold it and cut it into wide border strips for the quilt.  I am beginning to get excited about the prospect of what it will look like.

First, I sew the small inner border strips onto the wide silk strips.

Then I run the raw side of the silk through the serger to control the raveling.  That takes commitment!  Dragging the serger out....setting it up....remembering how to thread the darn thing.....and making sure it is sewing right....oh well, it worked.

Sewing the border strips onto the center of the quilt.   Hmmmm....how's that for a teaser?  More to come....

Keep doodling....in spite of the earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods of central Oklahoma.  Really....you want me to stop sewing for that?!!

Cleaning Your Machine

OK--I've been absent from blogland for a bit.  I went on a quilt retreat!  It was SO much fun!  I highly recommend going on a quilt retreat.  You get a lot done, you learn a lot, you eat a lot of goodies, and you get to relax and have fun.  Enough said--find one to attend.  That brings us to today's topic: cleaning your machine.  Having just spent several days running my machine at full speed, it needs some TLC.  I try--really try--to clean out my bobbin area every time I reload the bobbin.  That's a good idea and will keep your sewing/quilting going smoothly.  From time to time, though, it needs a real cleaning....so here goes....with graphic images...this is not for the faint of heart...this is NOT suitable for viewing by your sewing machine....it may make it faint!  Lol!  I crack myself up sometimes.

Sad, abused, dirty machine

First of all, get out your machine manual and read it.  Follow the manufacturer's instructions.  That said, here is my machine which very much needs some TLC right  now.

Remove the presser foot and the needle.  Make sure your machine is UNPLUGGED before you attempt to clean it.

Remove the presser foot plate.  I know, it's dark and dirty under there! Also remove the surround insert or table.

Ickky!

Yes, this is what my sewing machine looks like after about 6 hours of sewing.  That means I stopped and cleaned it out more than once.

Open the front bobbin door to expose the bobbin and hook.

Remove the bobbin.

Check the bobbin case for lint and check the spring on the outside to see if there are any thread pieces stuck in there...or lint.  If your bobbin case looks dirty, you can clean it out with a Qtip.

More ickies.

Remove the clip and fold down the brace that holds the hook in place.  Please make sure you know how to put it all back together before you attempt this.

Take the hook out and wipe it off with a soft, clean cloth.  Check for burrs or scratches.

I am using a 1 inch art paintbrush to clean my machine.  The long handle makes it easier to use than those little nylon jobs that come with the machine.  Now get to it--clean all the lint out that you can see.  Do NOT blow it out with canned air or even your own breath.

Clean around all of the pieces to get all the dirt and lint out.

Check the edges and grooves along the hook race.

You can clean the grooves by using a Qtip with one drop of machine oil on it.

AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!  All nice and clean and put back together.  Your machine should purr now and make you a very happy sewer/quilter!

Now...let's see...what should I work on next?

Did anyone go to Houston?  What impressed you the most?  What did you come home with that you are in love with?  Spill your guts.....please.

Happy Doodling!