I've been busy stitching.
I wanted to keep up with my machine quilting practice, that I'm doing with
Pat Sloan, but, I've been having problems with my elbow, since the 2nd day. I don't know what I've done to it, but, it's been over a week now. I skipped a few days of machine quilting, then, I started back, in earnest. During those few days, I made and basted 8 Rooster placemats.
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| Rooster placemat |
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| showing backing of Rooster placemat |
I couldn't wait for my elbow to get better, so, I straight line quilted these (it's still practice, since we are supposed to be using our walking foot).
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| straight line quilted |
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| back, showing quilting |
Of course, the placemats still needed binding, so, instead of practicing one day, I stitched the binding on all 8 placemats, using my walking foot, instead.
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| all 8 placemats, with binding stitched to one side |
Over Thanksgiving, I started stitching the binding down to the back, during movies. I've completed 3 placemats so far.
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| completed placemat, 5 left to finish stitching |
During this time, I also basted and quilted a wall quilt.
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| wall quilt |
This wall quilt is finished, including a label, but, I haven't taken photos yet. I got a bit more creative with the quilting on it, than on the placemats, but, it's still straight line quilting.
The Saturday before Thanksgiving, I made a fleece tie blanket. I haven't made one of these in a few years.
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| fleece tie blanket |
I did work a bit more on my first panel project, for the Pat Sloan challenge. After more walking foot practice, I put the free motion foot on my Janome, and tried using it. The result was really bad stitches on the back.
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| 2nd day of stitches added (walking foot only) |
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| free motion around the flower |
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| showing the back stitches (yuk) |
Pat Sloan said to label our practice panel quilts, so, this is Quilt #1. Not as bad as it could be, since I haven't used a free motion foot in a decade or more.
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| free motion label |
At quilt guild last week, I got a few goodies off the freebie table, that will help with my machine quilting quest.
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| paper patterns to practice with (total of 3 of these) |
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| hoop, small panel and fun fabric to practice stitching around the stars with |
Just before Pat Sloans challenge started, I finally pulled out my son's wedding signature quilt, and quilted it (on the machine).
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| wedding signature quilt (front) |
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| back of wedding signature quilt |
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| up close of the quilting |
I don't trust myself to do a good job with a walking foot around the initials on this quilt, so, they will be hand quilted. This is the only part of this quilt that isn't done. (binding has also been done).
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| the part I will hand quilt instead of machine quilting |
See, I've been busy! On Nov. 15th, I mentioned listening to Eragon while sewing in my sewing room. Well, that book is done, and I'm half way thru the 2nd in the series, along with watching several movies (binding time) with family, and another movie in my sewing room.
I'm trying to keep up my practice as much as possible, but, I have so many other things that I still need to make before Christmas. (2 baby quilts, 2 purses, binding on a few things.....)
I know I'm not the only one that waits till the last minute to get presents done. What do you still have to work on?
