Pages

▼

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Progress on May's UFO

My version of Bonnie Hunter's mystery pattern from 2017 On Ringo Lake is finally being quilted. 
stitch-in-the-ditch quilting with walking foot
Quilting on a domestic machine is not something you see on quilting blogs very often. Most bloggers are long arm quilters or send out their quilts to long armers. I still really like to quilt my own quilts. I enjoy the creative process and as long as I have the upper body/arm strength to do my own quilting, I will.

 Having said that, there can be some very frustrating moments. If you do a perfect job with the basting stage, everything lays completely flat and there are no puckers, pleats, or bubbles on the top or backing. 
evidence of basting fail
If you don't do a perfect job, you get this happening. See how there is a hill of fabric forming between the needle and the corner of the quilt where the pins are? This means I didn't pull the quilt top taut enough on this section while basting. Because this happens sometimes, I always quilt the stabilizing grid starting from the centre out, so that I can readjust and re-pin as necessary to push the excess fabric to the edges of the quilt.

Then I switch to the free motion foot and have some fun adding other quilting designs. 
Free motion quilting late at night!
Of course I immediately notice the place where 2 scraps ended up right beside each other. I remind myself that 'random' does not mean 'perfectly spaced' (insert smile) and I continue to quilt.

 This is my favourite part of machine quilting. 
In the past with different needles and a variety of threads, I have experienced thread skipping, thread breakages, and thread tension challenges. 
But with the found combination of:
1) my Brother 1500 sewing machine (which is almost 25 years old and is still amazing!) 
2) a top stitch 90 needle, and 
3) Aurifil thread, I never have any problems.

 Famous last words... as soon as I wrote this blog post, I started having problems. I jinxed myself!
Come back tomorrow to hear my tale of woe.

12 comments:

  1. Carole @ From My Carolina HomeTuesday, May 28, 2019

    Looks wonderful. I didn't like doing the quilting myself with a domestic machine as the bulk under the short arm was a pain. You seem to deal with this easily.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Deanna WTuesday, May 28, 2019

    Although I don't mind machine quilting, it is always a tale of woe with me. My issue is my machine doesn't like sewing over bulk. It causes a bird's nest on the back of the quilt. So I have to quilt and avoid these areas. I am getting pretty good at that!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Karen - Quilts...etc.Tuesday, May 28, 2019

    I think it is neat you do your quilting on your machine and by hand. I really do not know how some afford to have so many quilts "sent out" that would really add up a lot and I think I would give up making quilts if I had to do that.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alison V.Tuesday, May 28, 2019

    I don't do hardly any quilting by hand but I do quilt 90% of my own quilts on my domestic machine! I always have to pin and repin and repin my tops as I go along with the quilting. I'm really excited to see your ORL quilted!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chopin - A Passionate QuilterTuesday, May 28, 2019

    Oh Kathy, I admire you doing the quilting on your Domestic. I am at the point where the stupid CT and Ulner Nerve won't allow me to do that. Besides, I tried it and would not be good doing it. I do not do custom work, just 3 types of meandering free motion on my 2005 HQ16. That puppy purrs!

    This will be a beautiful quilt! You are one of the FEW that finished this quilt and it is colorful!

    Can you believe it was started in Dec 2017?????????? Where has the time gone!

    ReplyDelete
  6. SarahTuesday, May 28, 2019

    I've only once ever sent a quilt to be done professionally. I must admit it does look fantastic but it feels a little bit like I'm cheating on myself! Your quilt is going to look amazing. I love the colours and the pattern. I look forward to seeing it completed.

    ReplyDelete
  7. LyndseyTuesday, May 28, 2019

    I do my quilting on a domestic machine and so far I haven't had any done by a long arm quilter. I find the weight a bit of a struggle but take my time and it gets done. I enjoy the quilting process and I can say I made the whole quilt which to me is important. Like you I start from the centre and re-pin as needed.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Needled MomTuesday, May 28, 2019

    lol. Isn’t that the story of our lives? As soon as we say something, it all goes to pot. It looks beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. JulieroseTuesday, May 28, 2019

    This quilt is lovely; I have always quilted my quilts on my domestic machine. I may, though, quilt holding lines (vert. and hor.) and then tie the rest..I can no longer be pulling big quilts through the machine--keep on keeping on there;)))
    hugs, Julierose

    ReplyDelete
  10. LauraTuesday, May 28, 2019

    I quilt on my domestic the same as you, Kathy...start in the center and stabilize before doing any free motion. I recently bought a frame and a Juki (not a long-arm), but I still enjoy quilting the way that I have always done. I have a top pin-basted and ready to play with now.

    ReplyDelete
  11. JulieTuesday, May 28, 2019

    I quilt all my quilts on my domestic machine. I don't have space for a long arm and I have done this for so long it would be hard to switch. I think I don't want to give up control to someone else to quilt to projects! I hope it was an easy fix and everything is smooth sailing on your quilting now!

    ReplyDelete
  12. MaryTuesday, May 28, 2019

    I hope you figured out the issue and no more oops happen as you finish your May UFO. I still need to load mine on my 10' table and get it quilted.

    ReplyDelete