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november 12, 2007
quilting weekend After getting a crash course in machine quilting in our last class, I jumped right in and quilted my four-block practice quilt this weekend. Look at how much texture it adds to the piece. Wow, what a difference!
And who would have thought that stitching in the ditch would be so intense? It is completely crazy with the paying attention and staring at those seams. I found a piece of advice online that was very helpful though, suggesting that you don't stare directly at the needle while stitching. It said something like 'it's going to go up and down, just like it always does'. The idea was to keep your gaze a couple of centimeters in front of the needle to keep things on track and not go totally blind. It's actually just like knitting. Do you ever find yourself just staring at those needles clicking away for no good reason? It happens to me all the time and man, does it ever make my eyes tired! Stitching in the ditch also has that same quality that seaming up a sweater does - it's a lot of precise work and if you do it right, you shouldn't be able to see it at all! Don't you love/hate things like that? You can, of course, still see the stitching on the back. See, I went around each large block and then each four-patch inside.
It totally looks like a quilt, doesn't it?! I even stitched the binding onto the front and folded it over to the back, ready for the final step, hand-stitching it into place.
Like weaving in the ends on a big knitting project, I can see that this is the point where projects are going get put on hold. Because you want to jump right on into the next project, you know. Uh, like my rulers quilt.
Yeah, I did all the stitching in the ditch on that one too this weekend. It's still all pinned together because I need to add some more quilting. The quilting needs to be done every 5 or 6 inches so that the batting doesn't shift around with wear and washing (this number varies based on the batting you use). For this quilt pattern, Amy Karol I hate to sound like a McDonalds' commercial, but I'm lovin' it! posted by alison at 5:25 pm | in
are you going to start quilting now?!
Comments
It's beautiful!! Posted by: Bonney at November 12, 2007 5:37 PMI love it!!! your quilts are fabulous!!! I'm in total awe. Your quilting is terrific! I did my quilt yesterday and now just the binding to go. You'll be surprised how quickly that binding gets done! I was dreading it the first time, but it isn't a long process at all. I agree about not looking at the needle and I find myself doing it all the time. I finally, after my eyes were crossing, decided to look at where the fabric was entering the walking foot, at the presser foot, and it was more accurate for me as well as saving my poor eyeballs!! It's fun, isn't it! Glad you are enjoying the process. Posted by: samm at November 12, 2007 5:55 PMIt looks like you have a Bernina. They may have a foot similar to the one I have for my Pfaff. There's a fine "blade" that rides along the ditch - it's much easier to control and keep the stitching straight - not sure what it's called though. Posted by: cindy at November 12, 2007 6:40 PMWow! It really does add lovely texture. Quilt on. :) Posted by: Lynn at November 12, 2007 7:08 PMWow - your quiltette is beautiful! Nice work. The first time I had to stitch in the ditch was on an apron for a girlfriend's bridal shower. It was totally stressful! However, it came out so well, then in the midst of my happy dances I promptly sewed the apron tie to the waistband. Doh! Riiippp... Happens to me in sewing too :). Posted by: wendee at November 12, 2007 8:15 PMThey're looking great! Posted by: Andrea at November 12, 2007 11:35 PMThat quilt is simply adorable! I knew you would! Posted by: Kerstin at November 13, 2007 7:10 AMI remember in art class in high school, a favorite art teacher telling me that most people did not understand how easy it was to free hand, draw a perfectly straight line. All you did was watch the paper a few centimeters in front of your pencil, rather than where the pencil met the paper. Great job! You make me want to dig out my fabric stash :) Posted by: Carla at November 13, 2007 8:37 AMI second the suggestion for a 'Stitch in the ditch' foot for your machine. It makes a World of different and eases up some of the stress of getting it lined up. I bought BTR sewing after seeing all the fun you are having with it and of course didn't check for the errata on the 'simple tote' Do'h! Luckily it was something for myself!! Posted by: Deana at November 13, 2007 8:47 AMLooking good! Instead of using pins to hold the binding in place, I use some hair clips to hold it down while stitching. Makes the quilt easier to move around and the clips are easier to find then pins if they fall out. They also hurt less if you step on one. :D Posted by: CanaryJen at November 13, 2007 9:14 AMI just finished my first quilt ever this weekend, and it came out, not great, but good enough to give as a gift, as originally intended. I fell down on the hand-sew part of the binding, too, but it really wasn't that bad once I buckled down and did it. Posted by: heather t at November 13, 2007 9:30 AMIsn't this "sew" fun! I am lovin sewing and quilting again too. Thanks for posting about quilting too. It is always inspiring to see what others are doing. Have you been following Sew Mama Sew - she is doing 30 days of projects and the Domestic Diva has added all kinds of tutorials to go with each day. Check it out and enjoy. Posted by: Marcia at November 13, 2007 9:33 AMVery pretty. So, are you going to move from this to crazy quilts? My mom made (she's moved onto painting last I asked) amazing crazy quilt portraits of us going to the beach and all sorts of other fun things. Posted by: Seanna Lea at November 13, 2007 9:54 AMI'm a knitter who has been quilting off and on for many years. It is fun to read how new and exciting quilting is for you. Here are a few of my tips that you may or may not be getting in class: I have no helpful hints, except to think that a nice line of machine stitches in a cool contrasting thread might look just as nice as hand stitching. Personally, I try to avoid hand stitching as much as possible. Posted by: colleen at November 13, 2007 12:30 PMWow, that looks gorgeous!! Posted by: C at November 13, 2007 4:58 PMVery nice! I love all your fabrics and the arrangement of them! Great little starter quilt! Posted by: Zonda at November 14, 2007 12:11 AMYou have learned one of the most important lessons early on - don't watch the needle. And yes, the quilting is a whole 'nother design element. :-) Your work looks fantastic! Posted by: Anita at November 15, 2007 7:51 PMI love hand sewing the binding to the back! Send me your quilts when you get to that point. :) I promise I will send them back all finished. Posted by: Ang. at November 16, 2007 11:12 PMYour quilts look amazing. Nice work! Posted by: Daphne at November 18, 2007 4:57 PM |
recommends stitching in the ditch along the long vertical seam lines between the strips and then adding more vertical quilting lines between them. The rulers in my fabric however go horizontally, so I decided not to add more vertical lines to the quilt. Instead, I quilted along the horizontal seams where the flower fabric was set into the ruler strips. Next, I'm going to do some more quilting following some of the lines in the actual design on the fabric. This whole process of thinking up ways to quilt your quilt is so fun. It's a whole 'nother design element that you don't even realize is there until you do it yourself.