Monday, November 18, 2013

I'm on a roll

After I finished Good Morning Starshine, I got right on some other things. I did my Schnitzel and Boo mini, which I'll share later this week after it's had time to get to the recipient. And I also got started on quilting California Dreamin.

Do you ever get an idea, and then you have to execute it, like right NOW? That's how the quilting for this one came about. I had been looking at some ideas online, and sketching some out to see if I could get the shapes down so they were pretty uniform. Then after I finished the binding on my S&B mini, I decided what I wanted to do and started it immediately. In that first session, I got almost half of this quilt done!

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I decided to do little branching leaves to go with the fall-ish theme of the quilt. I'm digging it so far!

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This is also the largest project that I've ever free-motioned. I've done a couple wall hangings, a couple lap quilts, and a sewing machine cover. This is also the first time I've done a branching design, whereas before I've done more regulated, symmetrical patterns. Remember Georgia on my Mind and Tears?

Georgia On My Mind



 It's been easier than I thought, and makes me fell kind of silly for having three more tops set aside that have been waiting to be quilted. I just thought quilts this big would be harder! I guess it helps a LOT that I have a large-harp machine, but my set up could use some help. I've been thinking about ikea-hacking a drop-in table for some time now, and I might give it a shot sometime soon.

Have you had any experience jerry-rigging a quilting set-up?

8 comments:

  1. Love those Maple leaves--I always seem to hesitate to begin quilting, too. I don't know why, really--once you get going it's not bad...hugs, Julierose

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  2. Thanks for sharing this inspiring post on quilting! Love your ideas! Pinning these!

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  3. Lovely quilting. My husband cut a hole in my sewing table at the weekend and we inset the machine. It does make quilting more comfortable. We set the machine about 10 inches back which sounds a lot but you can rest your forearms on the table which relaxes your arms and shoulders.

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    1. Setting it back some is a good idea - I never would have thought of that! Let me know how you like it after using it for a little while!

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  4. I've been thinking about finding a way to get my machine in a table, but haven't thought hard enough to do it. I did buy this recently and it is life changing:

    http://www.amazon.com/Sharon-Schamber-7110A-Quilt-Halo/dp/B005A9J66K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384918854&sr=8-1&keywords=quilt+halo

    I haven't had a chance to use it on a huge quilt yet, but the times I have used have been totally different. After I try it on my next big quilt, I'll write a lot of words about it. :)

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    1. I've seen those! Let me know what you think of it! I use machingers, and really like them. Sometimes I use this grippy stuff called Lickety Grip, which I like too, but with bigger quilts I need to use the gloves. Let me know how the halo works on big quilts!

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  5. I just finished my Ikea sewing table hack Sunday and I'm really digging it so far! I used this tutorial and it worked great. The only downside is that the tool used, a Kreg jig, can run either $40 or $100 new. I bought the $100 version and I'm planning to use it on other wood working/building projects around the house. Good luck!

    http://frommartawithlove.com/diy-ikea-sewing-table-tutorial/

    PS I love the quilting on your maple!

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    1. That tutorial is my inspiration! I'd love to do it, but I need to be able to get to my front-load bobbin, so I need to have a table that doesn't have that front support so I can reach under the table top to get to it. I've seen a couple tables that have suspended platforms, and that's what I'm hoping to do. I'd love to see your set-up!

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