{Post 1,000} Bummer

Flying along merrily quilting some Wonky Feathers a la Pajama Quilter inspiration and suddenly, things did not seem right.  The machine was d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g along.  I suspected there were tension issues.  When I pulled the bobbin out, I noticed it was not tightly wound.  So I refilled it onto a new empty bobbin and proceeded.  Fixing the above was actually really fast and easy.  You know, just clip and rip that bottom thread that is completely straight then pull the loops up from the top.  


I have the binding sewn to the front.  Have two quilts in the dryer waiting for completion...I've gotten a lot of quilts finished lately!  Ready to start 5-6 more!  Just kidding.  I know you're worried about me.


Here is the front of the quilt.  It measures 43" square and is destined for a baby girl in our church who has yet to make an appearance.

I tried to get good shots of the machine quilting several times, but it just never panned out.  The texture is marvelous.  I used a variegated purple/periwinkle/blue thread, and it is so silky smooth!  Another baby quilt NEARLY off my list.


~Joan

{Post #947} Scrappy Trips Top Finished

I have been up since 4 AM (nap coming later this afternoon).  Rachel had to be at a meeting place at 6 AM for a competition some of our church children are attending.  So I've been sewing a little this AM.

Here is my completed Scrappy Trips top.  I used up some of my still leftover watercolor strips for the border.  

  
Now for a few close-ups.  When you see the diversity of these fabrics, you will wonder if I have another screw loose (thanks, Julie).

The point is...ANYthing goes in these scrappy quilts.  As I have preached in the past...just spread out the attention-getting prints.

The inner border is the BACK of a brushed cotton fabric.  It's 1/2" finished.  Then I cut my 6" watercolor border that was left over into 3 two-inch strips (and I still have some left over!).

My next task is to have the patience to cut an entire scrappy bargello out of plaids.  I have started using salad or spinach plastic boxes for storing kits in progress.  I will need to clean out from under my cutting table (I cringe at the thought) to make room for more storage boxes.  I am the president of the "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" club.  We meet right next to Procrastinators Anonymous.

This quilt top measures about 41-1/2" now.  After I finish my Florabunda quilting, I will pop this one on next.

~Joan

{Post #946} 12 Scrappy Blocks

My scrappy trips blocks are 12 strong now.  I am calling it a night as far as sewing.

Here's the barn raising layout with the same blocks:

Several things happened today that made me very happy.  I saved oodles of time and money.  


My sewing machine was malfunctioning.  I bought it y-e-a-r-s ago about 90 minutes from my home.  That's where I have taken it annually since we got it for a check up, cleaning, etc.  Recently I saw that a local vac/sew shop had a "sewing machines repaired" sign up.  I took it over there and found out that the man that repaired my other machines picked up and repaired the ones for the store.  I was not completely happy with that (for reasons I will not get into). 


A few days ago when I was sewing (it was on my Janome 6500), I broke a needle.  The bobbin case had jammed up under the little clear door that covers the bobbin.  It appeared that there was a problem with the bobbin case (over the years I have bought 2 others).  I found a company online that carried the parts for my machine (www.sewingpartsonline.com).  I had a question about a part not listed, and someone emailed me back within an hour.  I was impressed.


Well, back to my story.  My parts came today.  I ordered a needle threader (mine had mysteriously disappeared).  I was able to get that installed w/o bothering my overworked husband, for which I was thankful.  I also received a screw for my cover plate (which went AWOL with my threader at some point...maybe a vacation in Hawaii?).  The replacement screw was 1/4" longer than the one I had.  It would not go down into the plate all the way.    


Then I had a brilliant idea (only because it worked!).  I moved the existing screw to the other hole, and the new one went all the way down into the other hole.  Problem solved.  Well, one problem anyway.


I changed out the bobbin holder and put in a new needle.  I have not sewn for days and was so eager to have some machine piecing time.  First stitch--CRACK--my needle broke.  Same problem as before.  When the case for the bobbin holder rotated, so did the bobbin holder (it is supposed to be stationary).  After some close inspection (and wondering if I could go down to the shop 90 minutes away to drop off my machine tomorrow only to make the return trip in a few days)...I realized it had struck again...ENTROPY.  Our two water disasters of a short while back were caused by the same culprit.  I looked back and don't see where I posted about those...that was a dark day.


Entropy is the explanation for the breakdown within a system.  Loosened screws, pipes, stitches...all entropy's fault.


Anywho...if you are still with me...a screw had loosened that keeps a little tiny miniscule guard in place that keeps the bobbin case from rotating when the area encircling it does.  So with a simple turn of the screwdriver, I was back in business.


Those of you who have a Janome 6500, take heart...I fixed my machine today!!


~Joan

{Post #945} Scrappy Trip Piecing

I did some more machine quilting on my Florabunda.  The design is very small and it is slow going.  It will be worth it in the end, so I'm not complaining, just updating!


Somewhere I saw a pic of dear Bonnie Hunter with two scrappy trip quilts.  I just looked for it and cannot find it.  Some help with that?  One was a baby size made with 2" strips and the other was much larger, made with 2-1/2" strips.  I am in the process of making one from 2" strips.  It's a hodge podge of everything...plaids, florals, and the every-present Thimbleberries.  As with every other scrappy quilt though, it all goes when there's enough variety. 


I am going to have it set 4 x 4 blocks.  That will make it 36" square.  I might add a border and call it done for a baby quilt.

~Joan

7/8 of Offspring and Scrappy Trips

Here's most of the crew. DS1 is at work. I knew some of you couldn't sleep without a picture of my Scrappy Trips to see before bedtime.

Front L-R are DS2 (holding his birthday sword--yes, you read that right), DD4, DD3. Back row L-R is DD3, DS4, DD1, and DS3. Get that??

I'm thinking this would be a great gift quilt. So easy and fast.

~Joan

Ever Have One of THOSE Days?

In my attempt to quilt up some tops instead of starting to piece new ones, I thought I'd just machine quilt my scrappy trips top yesterday. The best laid plans...

It was a very frustrating experience. I was doing it on my DSM. Above is a picture of one of the SMALL thread nests that pulled to the back and drove me near insanity. The top thread is chestnut brown, and the back thread is baguette. I finally had to stop and leave the premises.

The thread kept breaking, the tension wouldn't stay optimum. Sigh...so much going wrong. I rethreaded, cleaned, and oiled my machine. I tried a new needle. I surrendered. After coming back (hours later), I did a little piecing just to see if my machine had a major problem. Well, now it's free-motion quilting like a dream, but I was very keyed up about it for quite a while. I have about 1/3 of the quilt yet to machine quilt.

I bought this backing fabric from a (now) friend on eBay a while ago. It's butter yellow with pears...flannel, too! It's such a pretty fabric. The pears look like they've been stenciled on there.

~Joan, who is back in her right mind

Scrappy Trips Top Finished

This is an all-over picture and close-up of my Scrappy Trips quilt top. It measures about 72" square. I am going to quilt it in black thread, hopefully starting on it tomorrow. I put a 9-patch in the corner instead of taking the border fabric all the way to the edge. I used up every bit of the strips I had cut, so I cut 36 more 2-1/2" squares for the corner blocks.

I rewatched part of the Pajama Quilter Reloaded DVD, and I want to do some freehand floral echo quilting on this quilt. I'll try to get a close-up of the quilting if I can.

The colors in the picture are not true on MY monitor. It was taken in the sewing area under fluorescent lights. This was made with all Thimbleberries (surprise, surprise), so the colors are dark. I did throw a few lighter ones in just to give it some sparkle.

Off to church tonight in about 30 minutes. We are keeping 2 of my Canadian friends' girls for a couple days. They are going to try to induce her labor tomorrow AM. Be praying all goes well for her. Not much sewing time for the next few days, but I think I've gotten my share's worth today and yesterday!

Can you believe I'm already thinking about the next piecing project? Of course you can!!

~Joan, who is going to tackle a UFO next...a flannel one

Scrappy Trips Nearing Completion!

This is the result of my laundry (sewing) day. I stayed up later than usual sewing. When this top is finished, it will be 72" square. I put 16 blocks together. The inner border is a 2-1/2" strip of a black with a tiny green and red print. I will put 2 rows of 2-1/2" squares outside of that on the three sides that don't have one yet, then a 6" border of the same black.

I hope to try some adventurous quilting on this one. We will see!

On another positive note, I took a walk with DS4 (child #8) this afternoon. I am trying to exercise occasionally. I also moved my ironing board all the way across the room. You can stop laughing now! Every little step helps.

Until tomorrow,

~Joan

Which Setting Do You Like?

A productive "laundry day" (translated...sewing day). I wanted to try one of Bonnie's scrappy trips blocks, but one wasn't enough. The top picture is a scrappy bargello (sort of a zigzag), the bottom is scrappy trips around the world (notice that in the bottom pic the center chain in every block is reds). Which do you prefer?

I thought if I made a scrappy Trips Around the World, we could designate it as our "van quilt". You know, for when we make all those trips (that we never take!).

These are big blocks--12-1/2" square unfinished. I hope to sew at least two more tonight. It's hardly worth making quilts less than 80" square since my children are so grown up. So I'll press on with these blocks (get it...press on?? Quilting joke!).

~Joan