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Thursday, August 13, 2015

UFO Report

The UFO of the month (well, the last three months actually!) is almost ready to be quilted. As all quilters know, there is a lot of prep work getting to this stage. The top has to be "de-threaded" (technical term) and pressed, the backing must be pieced and pressed, the batting has to be purchased, measured and cut, and finally the three layers are ready to become a quilt sandwich. Boring. 
But then the fun part starts - pin basting. Most people dislike this stage of quiltmaking but I like it.  I put on some great music and spend the basting time thinking of possible thread choices and quilting designs. 
I consider where the quilt will be going (gift, donate, or keep) and what it's job will be (utility vs. heirloom). And I think about the quilting I've done lately and what technique I might want to learn, or try again. While basting this quilt I decided to try a chevron design, but wasn't sure if I was patient enough to stitch a whole quilt of straight lines with the walking foot. As soon as I sat down to quilt and realized how many times I would have to turn the whole quilt to stitch straight chevrons, the decision was made - free motion wiggly chevrons it is.
This quilt is getting done in August!

9 comments:

  1. Ah yes, I dislike attempting to straight stitching complicated designs on my DSM because of all the turning. Looking forward to seeing your wiggly chevrons!

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  2. Now I love straight stitch no matter how many times I have to turn that quilt - just love the texture it gives. I usually break it down into 3 or 4 work sessions - doing something else inbetween.

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  3. Yes it will! Now to go do that prep work for mine! I'd love to have some binding for Sunday. Hope you have some binding for Sunday too!

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  4. Yea for wavy Chevrons! Can't wait to see them. You have a few more days in August to do it! Go Kathy, GO!

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  5. I love pin basting aswell. It gives the quilt the time to talk to me and tell me how it wants to be quilted

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  6. LOVE it!! This is one of the FIRST quilts that I was going to make. 25 years later, I still haven't made it!!! Funny how that happens with lure of some OTHER awesome quilt that we just HAVE to make. LOL

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  7. The layering and basting always hold me up. To make enough space to do it I have to move furniture! So I tend to put it off. Your chevron quilt looks awesome!

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  8. You've done such a good job on your UFOs this year. Hope you've had time to get it all ready. My least favorite stage is the de-threading stage.

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