Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Swoon #2

The second Swoon block is quilted. You can see the first block I quilted last week here. I tried to quilt this second one using a similar design. I lost my bearings once or twice, but I don't worry about that. I just get back on track as soon as possible :)
Machine quilting is only enjoyable when the machine and the supplies and the operator work well together. A big part of the learning curve for me was finding the threads that my machine liked the best. 
50 wt. Aurifil threads run through my Brother domestic sewing machine like butter. And believe me I have tried every thread out there. Although there was a bit of tension adjustment to make at the beginning of quilting this block, there was not one single thread break! And I was quilting at high speed most of the time. 
Then I started the prep work for block #3. I am using up small batting scraps for this quilt-as-you-go project and joining them together using the Heat Press tape (review here). The iron must have been on too high a setting, and I melted it. That's the first time that's happened! I will be more careful with my iron as I continue to join together these batting scraps.

8 comments:

Janet O. said...

I just finished machine quilting two little quilts today, and I look at your block and wonder where you think you lost your bearings? I have to mark everything to get it to look this good!

Dasha said...

Lovely block, and lovely quilting. You also have to have the right needle for the thread you use. That makes an enormous difference.

Sue said...

Your block looks great! Aurifil is nice thread. I like it for hand pieceing, too.

Ellen said...

Another beauty! I love the fabrics you are using for your blocks - so pretty.

Needled Mom said...

That is gorgeous. I agree that the treads are so important and each machine seems to have their own preferences.

margaret said...

this looks such a complicated block works so well

momquilter said...

Your block is beautiful! What machine do you use for quilting? Jo Anna

Kate said...

The quilting turned out beautifully!