Sunday, August 09, 2009

Painful Passion

I quilted almost 5 hours yesterday, yes, machine quilted on my domestic sewing machine (DSM), with all the tenseness in my arms, shoulders, neck, back, and .... oh my, not much sleep last night - PAIN, PAIN, PAIN, and yet this morning, I downed a few Ibuprofen and returned to this passionate hobby. We are all demented, me thinks!

Below is the quilting in the center of the quilt. Pattern, and inspiration, came from PatsyThompsonDesigns.com. This one is called something like "Loosey-Goosey" something or other. I've used it before and so far, it's been easy for me, and pretty.


More of the same


Comments invited for a better idea in this wide border!!! However, my good fortune stopped when I came to the border. I tried this 'dwirling' but it's NOT what I am keeping. It's too large in scale, too casual, and just not right, so out it came. Now I have to decide something better. Come on quilt, talk to me!


FYI - On another subject, did you know that in Windows IE, you can enlarge any photos by doing Control +, and reduce it again with Control -. This did not work in Mozilla Firefox.

FYI - Also, when I include photos, I always have to reduce them by 25% - a little fiddly in my Kodak program, to get them to about 100 KB. This time I reduced them "best for web" and it made no difference from the 25% thing. It appears to be the same size.

14 comments:

  1. 5 hours quilting on your DSM!?? I hope you took frequent breaks! Sometimes after a heaving sewing day, I find that ice packs help cool down my sore shoulder muscles.

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  2. Have you thought about just cross hatching the borders?? Following the directional lines from four patch blocks? Love your free motion. I've got to get a copy of Patsy's DVD.

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  3. I agree that cross-hatching would be my first choice, but I have limited design ideas! lol And once you draw the crosshatch I find they can be easily stitched as 2 huge zig-zags.

    Thanks for the CTRL-(+/-) info!! It works in Chrome too... even on the text page.

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  4. Yes, I would do the cross-hatching. It is the first thing I thought of when I saw the border.

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  5. I agree with the other commenters--my first thought was a simple cross hatch. The geometric design will complement your 4 patches and serve as a counter to the free motion curvy design in the center. Good luck with your decision! One question: I also quilt with a DSM but mine does not sit level with my desk surface. Do you have an inset for your machine to do this?

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  6. Elaine, I am with you. I too am extremly sore.

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  7. Your quilting is well done! You are like me. Machine quilting wears me out. Makes the shoulders hurt. I know you are supposed to relax, but.....I just can't manage to follow that advice.

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  8. If not cross hatching, how about just diagonal lines, again using the 4 patches. It would be in contrast to the loopies on the body of the quilt. I am inpressed with your quilting on the DSM. And I know the PAIN. LOL

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  9. You need a massage, Elaine! I have so much admiration for people who quilt on a DSM -- makes my neck hurt to think about it. I love your Loosey Goosey quilting, very fun. Good luck with the border.

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  10. The main reason I love my mid arm machine. You quilting looks good. I think cross hatching would be nice on this border too.

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  11. You're TOUGH! I've done the same thing tho...so guess we're demented together.

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  12. Your loosey goosey is looking good! You're right, we are demented! I'm with you on using the Ibuprofen. The things we do to quilt!

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  13. Sometimes the pain is worth it. In this case, I'd say so. Beautiful Elaine.

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