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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Product Report and a Finish!

Three years ago my friend Marjorie gave me a bag of leftover HST's that she was going to throw in the garbage (gasp!). I was happy to rescue them and you can see the beginning of the project here. This is a long term leader/ender project and I was really happy with the layout that evolved over the years. I finally pulled it out again to work on last week at quilt camp, and decided this would be the perfect quilt to experiment on. I usually use my Machingers or old dollar store gloves to help with moving the quilt around, but this time I tried out two new (to me) machine quilting aids that other quilters had brought to camp.

 "Batt Scooters"

They were "okay" to use, and gave me good control over the quilt movement. But my hands tired easily from picking up the batts and moving them from place to place. It might be "user incompetence", and if I used them more, I might find a better way to move them around that would be less tiring.
"Steady Betty Bands" 

These bands worked really well, and were easier to use with less hand stress than the batts. However, they allowed me to get way too close to the needle, and guess what happened? 
Yep... sewed right through the side of my finger! OUCH! I didn't get any blood on the quilt, and managed to finish the quilting anyway. It was also probably "user incompetence" but if this happened to an experienced machine quilter, I wouldn't want to have beginners trying them!
Honestly I wouldn't buy either of these products and prefer to use gloves for machine quilting, although they can be hot to wear in the summer. In the winter, like today where it is minus 15 degrees Celsius, but feels like minus 26 degrees... I want the gloves! 
The quilting that I figured out is a continuous design which means I started in one place and didn't stop until the whole thing was quilted. Well, I did also stop when I was bleeding! The design is curved lines around the light star HST's and in the centers of the blocks, and a swirly vine and leaves in the sashing. 


 This photo shows the finished quilt and the truer colours. It's a fun finish to enjoy, after it started 3 years ago from some garbage!
I have finished the binding but not the label because it doesn't have a name yet... any ideas?!?

36 comments:

  1. SandraCWednesday, February 26, 2014

    Blood, Sweat and Tears? lol

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  2. Sharyn Mallow WoerzWednesday, February 26, 2014

    I was going to say exactly what Sandra.
    Or maybe with a little help from my friends?

    Every time I see your header I wonder if that is a quilt from quiltville friends. I have a very similar one they sent me when I was being treated for breast cancer a few years ago. I loaned it to my sister when she was dying of cancer, and I used it again when I had BAC lung cancer this past spring. When not in use it lays over a rocker in my bedroom and I appreciate the kindness of strangers every day. Sharyn in Kalama

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  3. LesleyWednesday, February 26, 2014

    Gorgeous quilt! Well worth taking three years to complete. Hope your finger is healing quickly!

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  4. swoozeWednesday, February 26, 2014

    Another man...(woman's) treasure....

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  5. PamWednesday, February 26, 2014

    What a lovely quilt! How about O Positive - Lol - just teasing :) I always save scraps and trimmings too, but obviously you are better at actually using them! Congrats on your finish!

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  6. Dresden QuilterWednesday, February 26, 2014

    It is gorgeous. My suggestion is Autumn Soliloquy.

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  7. beaquilterWednesday, February 26, 2014

    Uh oh got a boo boo, but the quilt looks great!

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  8. Vroomans' QuiltsWednesday, February 26, 2014

    I have tried the batts and didn't care for them - really like the machinger gloves (and I have sewn myself fast a few times). How about étoiles sauvés - love how French makes things look so fancy - basically it is scrap stars.

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  9. Created by KathiWednesday, February 26, 2014

    I don't machine quilt for that reason... lol! Sorry you got a boo boo . I did one quilt on a machine and was sore in the shoulders and neck for weeks afterward! Never get that slow stitching though :) Love Love Love how your quilt turned out! And imagine if you hadn't rescued the hst's that started it all! lol Kathi

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  10. QuiltdivajulieWednesday, February 26, 2014

    Whatever name you choose, it is a beautiful quilt!

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  11. Nell's QuiltsWednesday, February 26, 2014

    It's a lovely quilt. Love the design with the sashing and the white triangles forming the diamond like element. You have diamonds in the sashing and stars and all have been rescued. It would be great if somehow all or some of these ideas could be worked into the name. "O" positive was witty.

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  12. AnnieOWednesday, February 26, 2014

    I've never tried the batt things, but batting sheds so much and gets inhaled, I'd be coughing! Sorry your finger got stabbed, yeouch

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  13. Janet O.Wednesday, February 26, 2014

    I love what you have done with those rescued HSTs!
    I also love my Machingers, but I have never tried anything else. : )

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  14. MaryWednesday, February 26, 2014

    Nice to get it quilted and off the list. Sorry about your incident with TOO close. Diamond and Stars would be fitting I think for a name. I like the floating cornerstones that look like diamonds.

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  15. TerryWednesday, February 26, 2014

    What a beautiful quilt! :0)

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  16. AnneWednesday, February 26, 2014

    What a lovely quilt you've made. And thanks for the product review. I have one Steady Betty product - a pressing board - and I quite like it, especially when I'm trying to make sure no shifting takes place during the pressing process. But I can see how these wraps don't cover enough of your hands (like gloves do) to make them fully functional.

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  17. Deb AWednesday, February 26, 2014

    From trash to treasure or a treasure from a friend? I'm not good with names.
    Hope the finger heals quickly.
    Love your quilting on it.

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  18. ChristineWednesday, February 26, 2014

    'One Man's Trash' is my name suggestion. It is a beautiful quilt and you did a great job quilting.

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  19. The Cozy QuilterWednesday, February 26, 2014

    How about "Marjorie's Garbage". ????

    LOL

    You and I should get together to compare battle scars!

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  20. ChantalWednesday, February 26, 2014

    You got yourself a GOOOOORrrgeous quilt ... and a boo boo! ;) I love it and the quilting is just perfect if you ask me. So happy you rescued it from the garbage. How about Rescued Twinklers? or simply Second Chance? Any which way, you have a wonderful quilt that was worth the waiting.
    Congrats and thanks for sharing.
    Chantal

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  21. Carla A Few Of My Favorite ThingsWednesday, February 26, 2014

    What a rescue! Love the colors and your quilting looks great. Wish I could do that

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  22. KateWednesday, February 26, 2014

    Beautiful quilt. Congrats on the finish. You've gotten some fun suggestions for a name.

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  23. Kathy ... aka NanaWednesday, February 26, 2014

    What a beautiful quilt!! I sure wish I knew someone who was going to throw away triangles, especially such beautiful ones!

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  24. KristinWednesday, February 26, 2014

    What a wonderful story! Congratulations on making a beautiful quilt out of "trash"

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  25. margaretThursday, February 27, 2014

    good that you rescued those half square triangles and have made a lovely quilt with them. I have not tried any gloves or aids when quilting but people say thr glove make life much easier

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  26. BarbThursday, February 27, 2014

    What an awesome finish, sorry about the finger...that smarts!!

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  27. Deb @ Frugal Little BungalowThursday, February 27, 2014

    "From Trash to Treasure" ? : )

    It's gorgeous! The colors, design, quilting, everything! I love it.

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  28. Lisa J.Thursday, February 27, 2014

    I'd like to suggest Marjorie's scrap transfusion. Hope your finger heels up quickly, and yes it is a lovely quilt, as always.

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  29. AnonymousThursday, February 27, 2014

    How about Recycle?

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  30. Elaine MThursday, February 27, 2014

    What a great save. I think Marjorie wants her scraps back. Autumn Stars or Autumn Treasure.

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  31. Susan PThursday, February 27, 2014

    I like Deb's suggestion "From Trash to Treasure."
    It's a beautiful quilt. Do you have a stitch regular on your machine? I'm trying my hand at FMQ and struggling with my stitch length.

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  32. Teresa in Music CityThursday, February 27, 2014

    Ouch!!!! I did that a few months ago too - it hurts like the dickens :( I haven't found anything I prefer better than gloves either. Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Love your little quilt, and of course the quilting you've done makes it so much more interesting! :)

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  33. DoloresFriday, February 28, 2014

    Rolling Star?

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  34. The Calico CatFriday, February 28, 2014

    From Trash to Treasure. (Someone else beat me to it, but...)

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  35. Teresa RawsonFriday, February 28, 2014

    Lovely, lovely...and hey, try not to get too attached to your work...get it?!? But really, BE CAREFUL!

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  36. KarenThursday, March 06, 2014

    I know I should get used to wearing gloves for machine quilting but have never been able to master using them or any other product including the rubber finger tip things. I just do it with my bare hands.

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