Tuesday, March 20, 2007

UFOs - One finished

This post, I made my photos "small" - according to Blogger - although they are still over 100 KB. I'm hoping this works. A lot of this photo/blogging is trial and error.

I was preparing for a Quilt Guild Class on Storm at Sea and remembered I actually HAD a UFO Storm at Sea, so I dragged it out, trying to remember why it was never finished. Ah hah! I had done it with plastic templates, and they were not as accurate as I had hoped, leaving lumpy intersections. However, after checking it out, it really wasn't as bad as I had remembered, and I might just finish it after all, although it needs to be larger. The diamond (Peaky) and wedges (Spike) can be done accurately using the Tri-Recs ruler, and there is also another one on the market. Remember, this diamond is NOT 60 degrees!

This next little UFO project (about 36 x 45 in.) is a Sharon Craig design - a scrappy half log cabin, but when you add those little red quick corners, it becomes an entirely different animal. The light border was the problem here -- I should have prewashed that fabric - 'something' was in it, so that when I pressed it, the fabric took on a yellowish tinge. But yesterday I sandwiched, quilted and bound it, yellowish tinge and all. The quilting thread is a red-blue-yellow variegated thread that someone had given me along the way. These little UFO's are wonderful practice for machine quilting. This particular pattern, loops and hearts (or leaves) is ONE I can do reasonably well.

A close-up of the machine quilting. I use a Janome 6500 Memory Craft domestic sewing machine which I bought simply because it has a wider throat space - about 11 inches. It is a heavy machine, which I wanted - too heavy for hauling to classes, but it doesn't jounce on the table when running at full throttle. It comes with a bunch of extra features I hadn't even considered, that I now take full advantage of, i.e., auto threader, thread cutter, knee lift, needle down, a bunch of stitches. I practiced using the knee lift (right knee) until it became second nature and use my left foot for the 'gas'. I also LOVE that thread cutter ... I can stop and start without fiddling with the thread ends. Using these extras has added to efficiency. If you have them, USE them! I also purchased an extra throat plate with a little hole, that I use most of the time. The 'regular' hole is quite wide to accommodate the wide stitches, but a wide space on any throat plate may tend to pull threads down.

12 comments:

  1. Yay, I can see your pictures. The Storm at Sea is well worth finishing - I just love that optical illusion.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the blue & white Storm At Sea. It's very pretty. :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Elaine, the Storm at Sea looks great to me. I hope you'll finish it. Thanks for the photo info, too. I'm constantly learning....

    ReplyDelete
  4. You have the perfect fast quilting set up. I like the straight stitch throat plate as well, it makes for better stitching. It's great for machine quilting. Those thread cutters are the best. I have the Brother 1500s and bought it for the larger sewing bed-it's only 8 inches, but it's better than the regular machine. I also have a hinterburg table for machine quilting and that's what you want to really get your machine quilting done, if you have the room and don't want to spend 15K, at least, for the Gammil.

    Beautiful storm at sea

    ReplyDelete
  5. Storm at Sea is beautiful. I want one of those quilting machines too. Pfaff makes one but I can't afford it at the moment. I wish I had gotten that intsead of my serger which Iseldom use now that I have started quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful quilts! I really the black, red and white log cabin.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good for you getting through the UFOs. My 'next' machine (one day) will have needle down as the no 1 priority.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the way the first one moves and the second goes 3d-going back to analyse the blocks, Tracey

    ReplyDelete
  9. oh I have an unfinished storm at sea as well...also wall hanging size. I also have the same machine and really enjoy using it. Good for you to finish off that small ufo and move on.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello!
    very nice done Elaine.
    This work is very good. yhank you
    have a good weekend

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh I love your storm at sea.... I've always wanted to make one!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a beautiful quilt! Storm At Sea has been on my "list" for a long time. You've inspired me!!!

    ReplyDelete

I no longer will accept Anonymous comments. I hope my adjustments to Comments do not cause anyone hardships.