Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Making UFO Progress



Progress has resumed on my January UFO. I recovered from the border frustrations of last week, and gave myself lots of pats on the back for not tossing this project back into the darkness of the UFO closet. 
Then I prepared some bobbins to start the machine quilting. I must like this taupe colour of thread because I have a few spools of it. 


I decided to try quilting a straight grid for this one. I was inspired by the beautiful effect of the grid quilting that Tanya did on her Merry Little Christmas quilt.  I have done a diagonal grid on mini quilts and on a tablerunner, but haven't yet tried it out on a large quilt. 

I began by using painters tape to put down some lines to stitch beside (using the 45 degree lines on the rulers). But the tape didn't stick very well, so then I started marking some lines with a frixion pen. So far, so good!

14 comments:

Jo said...

I'll keep watch on this.. Hope all the frixion marks come out.... Quilt looks good

Kate said...

This is such a fun quilt. The straight line quilting will look great.

Deanna W said...

Oh friend do be careful using those frixon pens. I have read and heard horror stories of the marks staying or a white line staying after the colour is gone. My rule is if there is a chance of chemical reaction, I don't use it to mark with. Even a regular pencil is better.

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

Yay! I have to just mark the quilt with the bigger projects too, but the painters tape is perfect for hand quilting. It is going to be amazing!

Mary said...

Painter's tape is the bet thing for Quilter's since sliced Bread. Glad to see you getting this one done.

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Love that quilt! I use a water eraseable pen, frixons don't have a good reputation for coming out and staying out. Chalk is a good alternative too.

Teresa in Music City said...

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out Kathy! You definitely get extra points for persevering with this one! The Frixion pens should be fine since you will be covering the lines with stitching. I use them all the time. If the lines were to ever show up again, simply iron them out again or a quick fluff in the dryer.

Janet O. said...

Hooray for your stick-to-it-iveness! : )

MJinMichigan said...

Friction pens are NOT intended for use on fabric. Even the manufacturer's website has a warning about using them on fabric.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I've found that some of my painters tape is 'low tack' instead of regular tack. The low tack doesn't stick to fabric well.

Jeanna said...

This was one quilt pattern that I actually stayed current on and finished. I had ornaments quilted edge-to-edge on it.

I love the Frixion pens and have had great luck with them.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Congrats for not throwing it away! it is a very beautiful quilt!!!

allthingzsewn said...

Kathy, this is turning out so well. Such a cute quilt, you will be so glad that you did not throw it up i that dark closet.

karen said...

Kathy, I'm just curious. I bought the exact thread that you're using for your Christmas quilt quilting project. I'm doing an a 3" grid. I'm having a heck of a time with the top thread breaking! It's driving me crazy. I've changed the tension, I've changed the needle. I can't figure out what the problem is, but it seems like the thread is really fine. Could that be it? Do you have a problem like this? Any advice appreciated