Quilting Tip and Knitting Finish

Tonight I want to show you a marker I have been using for several years. I tried it at first on quilts that were small, in case something untoward happened. I kept track to see if there was any degradation of the fabrics, any discoloration, etc. After a couple years of okayness, I started using it more regularly, including my show quilts.

What is this, you ask? The Clover White Marking Pen (fine). That's how it is labeled. Here is a pic of my quilt marked with this pen and then hand quilted. You can go over the lines a couple times to make them "whiter", and I have even used this on a light yellow. Just remember that you have to let the ink dry for it to be seen! I used about half a pen the first time I used one trying to determine why I couldn't see the lines! Imagine what they looked like when dry!!! (The lines do lighten as your hand rubs over them.)

When the quilting was finished, I steamed the top with my iron! You can see how all the marks are miraculously gone! Just remember to have all the quilting finished before steaming. I was quilting a black quilt with black thread and wanted to see what the quilting looked like without the white lines. After completing a good-sized section, I steamed that area. Unfortunately, the steam traveled outward and took out marks where I had not quilted. So I do know what I'm talking about here!

This entire piece was batik--applique, top, backing, binding, sleeve. When I have the binding sewn down I will show it to you in its entirety. It will be my second finish to the year! This photo just shows you a section of the applique and a bit more of the quilting.

Also finished is the second sock of this pair! I am completely enamored of knitting socks! This is my plain vanilla cuff--K3 P1. Great TV knitting or travel knitting. Soft wool socks! They make your feet feel like they are having a spa day!

The colors are richer than they appear in the pictures.

So that's it for tonight. It feels good to be making a dent in the backlog. Plus I have several designs on paper--ahhh, decisions, decisions. Finish old stuff or start new and continue to add to the backlog! What a dilemma!

More soon,

Sharon

That Judy E!!!!

Have I said recently how proud I am of my students? Well, Judy E. of Auburn, New York, really outdid herself this time. You may remember Judy's quilts from an earlier post. She brought these two beauties to class last Thursday.

First is Monthly Bliss 2: All the blocks are hand pieced and she set most of the top by machine but shared that she had done some of the sashing by hand to get the most accuracy and sharp points. This is her Christmas quilt, and even though she didn't get it done for Christmas 2010, it will be a cherished heirloom from now on. And it doesn't look too "Christmas-y" to be displayed longer than the holidays. (Judy asked that I not show her face--but I did get her shoes!!!)


From hand to machine: Twelve 6-inch finished blocks all done by machine. And, trust me, those points are sharp! Judy hand quilted the blocks and then finished with machine quilting in the borders. Just delightful!

Thanks, Judy, for sharing. And, Beth, if you are reading this, we missed you at class. Hurry back!

Just got Secretariat and watched it all, movie, extras--everything! Wonderful movie! And a veritable cast of who's who! Some unexpected surprises there.

Tomorrow's post I think will include a bit of quilt marking info and a knitting finish! I'm not sure what else yet! So stay tuned!

Trying to stay in stitches (literally)!

Sharon

Finish One

The first finish of 2011! This wallhanging/tablerunner was set into a top on January 29, 2009. It has been on my sewing table, basted, for at least a year. My plans had been, as always, to hand quilt it. But, with reality setting in, I decided on Friday night to try my hand at machine quilting it.



Here is a picture of how I baste even for machine quilting. I know those who really machine quilt are falling off their chairs laughing hysterically, but I know my pieces will come out flat if I baste like I do for hand quilting.

There is quilting in the ditch in the middle of each block, around the white edge of each block and around the outside (blue) of each block. Then I marked an undulating line in each of the sashing/cornerstone rows. I matched the thread to the fabric I was quilting, except the blue cornerstones--they got red. You will see a bit of the white line still left--I used the Sewline white marking pencil. The marks will come off when I wash the piece.

Here's the back. You can see more of the quilting motifs from this side.

Saturday morning I trimmed the piece, added a hanging sleeve to a short end, and did the binding, both hand and machine stitching. I decided to add the hanging sleeve because I think this will make an equally good wallhanging for a long, narrow place I like to have a little something. And red, white, and blue will make it great for summer hanging.

By the way, the little churn dash blocks were set using Sharyn Craig's twist & turn set. Easy to do, great look. Also useful if you have blocks of unequal sizes--the setting makes them all the same size.

I finished quilting an applique piece tonight. Hopefully I can get that bound tomorrow. How are the rest of you doing?

Til next time!

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts.