CONTEMPLATING QUILTING

 I've been thinking about how I want to quilt Spider Legs.  I keep coming back to quilting it on the diagonal.  Which means loading it onto the longarm on the diagonal.  I've watched a few how-to videos on YouTube.

I think I might do it.  So, now I'm wondering how I want to quilt it.  I printed out a photocopy of the quilt and started drawing lines on it.

Since it's called Spider Legs, I thought about putting hairy spikey things on the legs.  So, one of the legs on the photo has straight spikes the other has curved spikes.  I'm leaning towards the curvy ones.  And then there's what to quilt in the black legs.

What do you think?  Any ideas or suggestions?  I'm open for input.

NOT HAPPY WITH QUILTING

 I really don't like the way the quilting on the Sunrise quilt is looking.

I made the difficult decision to take it all out and start over.

It's too 'puffy' and it detracts from the curves in the piecing.  It may be the wool batting, so I may use cotton instead.

But, anyway, it all needs to come out.

IS IT CHEATING?

 I had tried to use a different colored thread in the 'shadow' part of the Flowers, but continue with the pattern.  That didn't work out at all.

So, I just quilted the whole background with the light grey thread.

Now, I'm going to darken the thread in the 'shadow' with a marking pen.

Is that cheating?

GOT IT DONE

 I got the straight line quilting done on the inside of the circle today.

But, first, I had to do them in the wrong direction.  And, then pick them out.  Luckily, I only did about four lines.  That was enough though.  I got frustrated with my picker-outer that I usually use, so I tried my favorite little awl.  I found it shreds the thread less and gets under the stitching better, too.  It has a smoother tip.  

In order to do a complete line inside the circle, I had to roll the quilt forward and then backward at each end.  Getting back to the straight lines across the rest should be easy.

DONE WITH URSUS

 I finished up the quilting on Ursus Abstinere, the bear paw quilt today.  It turned out great.

SUNDAY

 I worked a bit on quilting Ribbons.

I finished the backing for the Pegasus quilt, one from Joe's Quilt Freedom Workshop.   I love it.  Still need to put a label on it.

And, to top off the day, I made another silly doodle sketch with watercolor.

CHALLENGE DONE

I got the Challenge quilt trimmed and binding made and finished it up today.  It looks better than it actually is.

QUILTING CHALLENGE

I've been working on the Echoes & Curves Quilting Challenge with Angela Walters.  I'm almost done.  I got the body done and started on the borders today.

DONE AND DONE

I started and finished the quilting on my Japanese quilt, Unexpected Visitor.  Or should I say, Eduard did.  And, while he was busy quilting, I was busy working on our Holiday cards.  Darrell had taken a picture of us and the dogs at the park the other day, so we used that photo as a holiday card.  I had to run up to Capitol Hill to pick up the cards.  It was either that or wait two weeks for them.   When I got to Walgreens, they said the cards were ready, but they hadn't been cut yet and their cutting machine was broken.  I don't know what they were planning, but I told them I'd take them as is.  I figured I could cut them with my rotary cutter - which I could.

So, I was cutting the cards apart while Eduard quilted.

After Eduard gave me fits by losing his mind and losing his place in the world, I had to shut him down and start over - a couple of times.  But it's done.

ALMOST

I was hoping to get the quilting on Starry Starry Peace done today, but It didn't happen.  I'm so close, just one and half rows to go, but I gave up for the night - it's too hot up here.

While Eduard was busy working on this quilt, I kept busy working on my Value Study quilt.  I gotta get a better name.  I was trying to incorporate the blocks I made for my design class into it.  I don't think that one on the bottom left is going to work - it's gonna get ejected.

The dogs were hot, too, and happy to finally leave the studio.

BINDING DAY

Hello September!  I love you!  

I finished off 'G' because I had made the triangle squares yesterday.  I needed to get them off my table.  That didn't take long.

Darrell was shooting photos of his newest piece, a Tall Corner Table.  He set it up in the dining room.  The dogs and I were an interested audience.

Then it was on to the binding for Pub Path.  First I cut the excess off.  I use my big 15" ruler to square up the corners.

I made the binding then sewed it onto the back, ironed it, then folded it over to the front.  I use the new binding clips to hold it all down.  I need to buy more clips.  Then top stitch it down on the front.

When sewing it down onto the front I love using my little awl.  It really helps.

THIRD BOBBIN

Before I started this Frolic quilt, I made three bobbins.  I figured that would be enough.  I put the third bobbin in today, and I'm not even done with the first row.  Guess I'll be making more bobbins.

The quilting is much more dense than I normally do.

While Eduard was working on his own, I got a couple of City Sampler blocks done.  Here is 49 and 50.

This block 50 has 30 pieces.  Yea.

OOPSIE FIXED

After I got the Autumn 2017 quilt off the machine and was putting the binding on, I noticed that I had missed one of the leaf squares.  I set it aside until I could get it onto the machine, which was today.

Voila, it's done - I gave it to Darrell.

This is the first time I have reloaded a quilted quilt onto the machine.  It wasn't as traumatic as I thought it might be.

FLORAL TRAILS FINISHED

In record time, I've finished the quilting on Floral Trails.  It's 87" by 102".  I used Hobbs 80/20 batting and Signature thread, top and bottom.  I was not happy with that thread by the end.  After several hours of quilting it would start breaking and shredding.  I never did figure out why.  

I did a Baptist Fan over the body and Piano Keys on the border.  I used Lisa Calle's Pro Circle Rulers - and I love them.  They are easy to use and just feel good in your hands.  They made quilting this huge quilt fun and easy.  This was definitely one of the biggest quilts I've quilted.  I used 7-1/2 bobbins and racked up 6:06 hours on the machine.  I'm very happy with it.

NEW HAND WORK PROJECT

I sent away for a Sue Spargo's kit.  I started working on it today.  It's so relaxing - even at work.

I'll fill you in on the details about it as we go.

 I left work early, came home and put a little time in quilting.

Here's one of the rulers I'm using on the Baptist Fan.

BAPTIST FAN FAN

I am a big fan of the Baptist Fan quilting pattern.  I love how it looks - it's simple and clean, yet not easy.  The curves really complement an all straight line quilt.

I'm using it on this quilt, which is all 1-1/2" squares.  It is looking so good!  And I'm enjoying doing the quilting and it's going well.  All good stuff.  I love the feel and ease of Lisa Calle's circle rulers.  They are making this go so smoothly.