Friday, May 04, 2007

On a roll!

I finished the heart quilting yesterday afternoon. Whew... I was sure getting tired of all those thread breaks. I'm just glad the backing is so scrappy, harder to find those stops and starts. :)

A little action shot from the back view, I never realized how good I can be at cramming quilts! :P

I ran a bunch of errands in the afternoon and finished grading a couple month's worth of articles for my husband. So late evening, I started to pin the Star Struck quilt. Took about an hour.

Who needs yoga when they have to reach around in weird positions to get one certain spot pinned? :P

Then at 10am today, I started the quilting. My very first time with using the Essential thread for free-motioning.

I want to do a big happy dance and a couple of flips... I am LOVING the Essential thread for free-motioning!! Wonderful... absolutely wonderful. It took me 4 bobbins to meander the entire quilt in 2 hours (I did have a break half way through). Not ONCE did the thread break!!! I did have minor tension issues (pokies on the back) but then I remembered I had adjusted the bobbin casein tension for the Robinson-Anton thread for the heart quilt. After some tweaking, I got a happy tension, no pokies. :)

But really, I'm so thrilled with how well the Essential thread free-motions. It's not the best piecing thread (Aurifil does somewhat better), but it definitely outweighs Aurifil thread by a mile in free-motioning. It made free-motioning the Star Struck quilt so easy and enjoyable. I still can't believe that it only took me 2 hours!

Cuz I didn't exactly sew every 10 inches or anything. A nice dense medium meander all over.

Now need to get the binding on both quilts before I leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow. :) I'll do the hand sewing down the binding when I'm at my parents!

Speaking of my parents... I need to get started on packing!! :P And do a back up of my computer, haven't done one since December. :( It's already 4 years old from it's factory install date, but I didn't actually buy the computer until August 2003. It's done me well, but I know better than to trust it to last forever. I wish! :)

And likely, my posting is going to get a little sporadic over the next 2 weeks as I visit my parents. Just depends on who's laptop or computer I'll be able to use! :)

Leah

18 comments:

Sølvis blog said...

This quilt was really one of the most beautifylly colored i have ever seen.
Where is the pattern from?
Solvi in Norway

His Office, My Studio said...

Love your two quilts!

Have a great trip and have fun with the family.

Tanya said...

Wow! Weren't you the busy one! Two quilts to show how productive you are on the machine. Quite uplifting to any of us poking around trying to get quilts finished. Have a good trip!

Gail said...

That star struck is sooo pretty,nice job meandering, too.

QuiltingFitzy said...

Tell my buddies in the valley howdy, lol. I hear it's been wet up there!

Have a safe and wonderful trip Leah, you deserve a break!

Great quilts...what's next?

Unknown said...

I love both quilts!

Your meandering looks perfect. I have a question for you. How do you meander? Is it a specific pattern, or just sew wherever?

Greenmare said...

I love your star quilt, and the heart one is just gorgeous too!
Nicely done! Have a great time with your mom.

Quilter Kathy said...

You are really on a roll there Leah!
Great job on the quilting...good for you! Very inspiring!

a said...

I am impressed -- so productive! I get a little square done and I think I've quilted!!! You do a whole quilt in 2 hours! Have fun on your trip with your parents.

Judith said...

The quilting looks just beautifull.

Helen in the UK said...

Congrats on getting those quilts quilted. Have a super time at your parents house :)

Quilts And Pieces said...

I've always loved that star quilt! And it is all quilted now! Man your good! I'm so glad you like the essential thread, I have to try mine yet!

Hedgehog said...

Your meandering is looking great! Safe travels.

Zegi said...

Enjoy your time dying fabric! I love the star quilt...did you design the pattern yourself?

QuiltNut Creations said...

gorgeous quilt! you did a great job with the meander

Carole said...

Thanks for reporting on essential thread. I will agree with you, it's not the best for piecing. I haven't tried it for machine quilting yet! Nice quilt! You're certainly on a roll. Have fun at your parents!

~Crystal~ said...

WOW! You do beautiful work. I wish that I was a quilter.

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