Machine Quilting

Well, I've been stitching.  I machine quilted the watermelon table topper.  I used the ruler in the center, then just straight stitched in a few other places.

just needs binding

ruler work from the back

I may stitch thru the ruffles again, for more quilting

I just need to make the binding for this. The binding is the black with polka dots. 

I know I was going to practice more ruler work on the Project Bag backings, but, I opened  up Victor, the blue treadle, and remembered how much fun he is to stitch on. 

Victor, the blue treadle

Since these backs only need a bit of stitching, I had fun playing around with them.  Most of them have wavy lines running thru them.    On the machines with treadles or hand cranks, I just stitched between the machines.

wavy lines stitched around the hand cranks

more wavy lines around the treadles

These treadles are much larger, and needed more quilting.

wavy lines in one direction only

This fabric was easy, since I just followed the white dots with the walking foot.

straight lines, at an angle (hard to see)

Here are the other fabrics.  Some are hard to see the quilting.

more wavy lines, going up/down & side to side

can't see the wavy lines on this busy print

it was fun reading this fabric

That last fabric is a lovely baby blue.  It just doesn't show up.  My camera was messing with the true colors of some of these fabrics. 

That is a total of 14 quilted Project Bag backs, on the treadle.  Not bad. 

I have Ladies Crafting at church tonight, and I'll be working on hand projects.  I need to draw the line across the squares on about 100 more squares, for the family reunion blocks.  I haven't worked on those blocks for a while now, and want to get them finished, so that I can start the next blocks.  For once, I want to be finished EARLY on a project.  The reunion blocks need to be ready by October 2018.  I may make it...;)  We'll see.

I'll be headed to Michigan for the TOGA in the morning.  What fun!

Don't forget the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop, that starts tomorrow morning!

Last Finishes of 2016

Woohoo!  I finished both Baby Bear Paw quilts this afternoon!  The pattern is from Sew Fresh Quilts Quilt Along.  No, I didn't put the 'Bear' blocks into either of these baby quilts, since I couldn't figure out how to make rainbow bears. 

Baby Bear Paw #1

Baby Bear Paw #2

I pieced the blocks on my 1927 Singer 15 hand crank sewing machine.

1927 Singer 15 hand crank

Due to my elbow injury, I switched to my 1939 purple Featherweight to sew the blocks into rows, then a quilt top.

I machine quilted both quilts, and attached the binding on my Janome.  There is something to be said for needle down, and an electric machine. 

up close of machine quilting

Each quilt is the same, except the backing.  The backings were different colors.

both quilts, showing both backings

up close of quilting from the back

I put a faux piping binding on both quilts.

faux piping binding

I will get to deliver both of these quilts to their new owners in January.  I'll try to get some pictures, if the parents allow. 

Now that these are done, I'll be taking a few weeks off from sewing, to rest my elbow, and hope it heals.  It is getting better, but, very slowly.  I'm still using it too much (had to, to get these done).  The last present that is due, will be made in February.  Thank goodness my mother doesn't mind.

Things Finished and Unfinished

I did get one thing finished.  I made a table topper, for a Christmas present.  I still need to mail it.  I machine quilted it. 

table topper

up close of the machine quilting

backing, showing the quilting

I injured my elbow 2 days after I started the Pat Sloan Machine Quilting Challenge.  That was over a month ago.  After it started getting worse, not better, I finally went to the doctor.  He diagnosed me with Tennis Elbow.  I've either been wearing a brace, or, hubby has been taping the elbow (much more comfortable).  Because I've now been very limited on what I can do, I've not gotten much sewing done. 

Sewing binding doesn't hurt (thank goodness), so, I've been getting some binding done.  I've finished the Signature quilt, along with the table topper above.  I'm also 3/4's done with the Happily Scrappily Irish quilt, that I got back from the quilter the day my elbow started hurting.  I couldn't even hold the quilt up, to look at it.  It was too heavy. 

I have 2 baby quilts that I have to finish by the first of the year.  These should have been finished several weeks ago, but, I've been stitching super slowly, trying to keep from hurting my elbow even more.  I finished the blocks, with sashings attached to 2 sides, this afternoon. I really wanted to finish the quilt tops on my hand crank (it doesn't hurt to hand crank, but, is starting to make my arm really tired, as of this afternoon) :(. 

blocks stitched on 1927 Singer 15 hand crank (shown)

2 quilt tops worth of blocks

I had hubby move my hand crank (I'm not allowed to lift anything with my right arm) and set up Betty Sue, my Featherweight.  I'll finish these quilt tops with Betty Sue.

1939 Singer 221 (Betty Sue)

These blocks are from the Bear Paw QAL.  I'm only using Bear Paw blocks, not the 'Bear' blocks for these baby quilts.  I already have 2 different colors of Minkee for the backing (purple and green).  I'll be seeing both of these babies in early January, which is why I really  need to finish these quilts. 

I still have 2 purses to make, too.  I haven't even tried to cut them out (using a rotary cutter for very long is uncomfortable).  Some of my Christmas presents may just be really late.  At least straight line machine quilting doesn't hurt, since my elbow sits in a nice position when I do it.  Flat is fine, but, turning my hand causes pain. 

Several Firsts for Me (and some misc.)

I've done very little machine quilting in the past.  I took 3 different free motion classes, and I stink at free motion quilting.  Oh well, we can't master everything.  I can do straight line quilting on my Janome 4800QC with it's walking foot, and I've made a few small projects on my hand crank using a regular presser foot. 

Well, earlier this month I got a walking foot for my vintage sewing machines.  Here is a picture of both walking feet, together.

vintage walking foot, and Janome walking foot

bottom of vintage walking foot and Janome walking foot

Can you see how much wider the foot on the right is?  That is the Janome walking foot.  Vintage sewing machines have more narrow feed dogs, so, the Janome walking foot is too wide to feed properly on my vintage machines. 

Here is a picture of my new, more narrow walking foot on my treadle.  The practice sandwich is from a long ago long arm quilting class.   I love quilting on a long arm, I just can't afford one.  The light pink line of thread is my practice stitching on the treadle (see the tip of the scissors).

narrow walking foot on my treadle, showing the stitches it made (light pink stitches only)

This is the first time I've ever tried to quilt on a treadle.  Yep, I'm SCARED!, especially since this is a quilt that my Aunt requested for her first great grandchild.  Pressure!

I bought a lovely thread stand several years ago, but, I've never used it.  Poor thing sits neglected on another treadle, with a huge cone of thread on it.  Here it is, threaded, sitting on the back of the treadle, getting ready to be used for the first time.  Isn't it pretty!

thread stand waiting to be used for the first time

To make sure that the thread feeds properly to the treadle, I used an idea I got from other vintage machine users, and threaded the thread thru empty bobbins on the thread spool pin.  I love all the great ideas I get from others.  Thanks!

thread threaded thru empty bobbins

Another first I tried was to use blue tape to mark my quilting lines on the quilt top. 

blue tape to mark quilting lines

 Others may have success with this method, but I did NOT!.  The tape kept shifting across the quilt top.  I had to unsew a whole line of quilting.  After that, I got out my trusty blue chalk marker and drew on the quilting lines.  MUCH BETTER!  My chalk lines didn't move.

quilt being quilted on 'Victor' my post WWII Japanese treadle

Here is the quilted baby quilt (just needs binding now).

treadle quilted baby quilt

up close of treadle quilting

up close of treadle quilting

back of quilt, showing quilting on Minkee

Oh yea, I spray basted this quilt, but, I did add some pins, just in case.  Nothing shifted.  Woohoo!

Now for my Miscellaneous.......

I picked up a treadle pillow at the thrift store on Saturday.  I can't tell what companies name is on the treadle irons but, it's a company I've never heard of (guessing they couldn't use the name of Singer).

treadle pillow

I was busy earlier in the week, too.  I made another set of 21 garden flower blocks for wedding quilts.  I need one more set done to make 2 wedding quilts.  Now to cut out more corner squares.

both sets done

I also cut out 5 sets of strips for my family reunion rail fence quilt.  I'll make blocks, with white in the center, and the family members will sign the white strips.  

5 sets, using 7 colors, plus white

I still needed one more color, to make 8 colors, so, I picked up some lime green Kona on Saturday.  It's washed, and ready to cut into strips.  I got half of one set of strips stitched on Saturday, during the beginning quilting class.  This will be my first all Kona quilt.  Solids are NOT my thing, usually.  I like prints.  This is really growing on me, though.

Wego Quiltin' (my little quilt guild) is tonight.  I get to show off my treadled quilt.  I won't get to show it to my larger guild, since I need to finish it and mail it before the baby comes this month.  Hopefully I'll get a picture of the baby on the quilt.