Random Inspiration

Today's inspiration is quite random.  They're all things I've enjoyed of late.  This bag is amazing.

Some beads in a bowl

I hope you get to quilt today!

Suzy

Free Motion Friday - Stitching on Paint - Block 1

I'm working on my quilt A Little Paint and a Little Applique and I've finally gotten to the point where I get to quilt over my Lumiere paint!  It's metallic paint so it definitely has sparkle (what girl doesn't like a little bling after all?).  Here's the center of my first block stitched.  I did some baptist fans on the blue and then had fun with the center quilting.

  

Here's the back so far.

Next I stitched in the green paint.  I made spikes and it was such fun.  I am also outlining the painted shapes as I go.

I added some green circles in the petal while I had the color I wanted loaded in the machine.  I still need to do something on the lighter green leaves, but I'm not sure what yet.

And the back so far!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Finding the Right Tension for Decorative Thread

I just got my first spool of GlaMore Thread from Wonderfil.  It's twelve weight rayon with one twist of metallic.  It's an amazing decorative thread, but I knew finding the right tension was going to be a challenge.

The first thing I do when working with a new thread is put in a brand new needle of the type the manufacturer recommends.  For fussy threads I like to use topstitch needles.  Since this thread was a 12 weight, I went with a 100 size needle instead of a 90.  I didn't want to put the same thread in the bobbin, so I chose a 50 weight cotton thread from Aurifil in black.  Once I was sure that my machine was set up correctly and the thread went through the needle smoothly, it was time to play with tension.

When determining the best tension for a thread I like to stitch curves.  You can see more tension issues on curves than you can on straights.  I started by stitching at the standard machine setting on my machine 5.25.  You can see below that there was bottom thread poking up.  So I lowered the tension to 4.5 and it got a little better.  I knew I was going in the right direction.  If it had gotten works I would have made the tension higher instead.

Here is the back of that sample.  It looks good for the most part.  I now knew that 4.5 was fairly close to the correct tension and it was time for fine tuning.

Here you can see what I did for fine tuning.  I stitched at 4, 4.25, 4.5, and 4.75 in succession and with the same formation.  A curl and then some spiky points.  This will tell me about tension.  Make sure to mark the sections with a fabric marker so you know which tension is which!  I've forgotten and had to start over.  

Next, I pulled the fabric out of the machine and really looked at the tension to see which was best.  It looked to be 4.5.

The last step is to test the thread on the actual materials you're using for your quilt.  I found that the quilt I used this thread on had a different batting in it and liked a slightly different setting.  The sample best tension was 4.5.  The best tension on my actual quilt was 4.0.  This is an important part of the process too.

So....I know you're wondering what I actually used this thread for.  Stay tuned because for now it's secret sewing.  I will tell you however that I had NO TROUBLE with snags or snarls and that it worked like a dream.  I see many more colors of this thread in my future!

I hope you get to quilt today!

Suzy

Spring Bulbs Inspiration

Spring has sprung here in Minnesota and I'm enjoying all the bulb flowers that are popping up!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

GlaMore Thread...OMG I can't wait!

One of Wonderfil's newest threads is called GlaMore and I just bought some!  It's 12 weight and is rayon with one twist of metallic.  I can't wait to try it out in my machine........stay tuned!

I had a blast teaching free motion quilting to the ladies at South Minneapolis quilters today!  It was such fun.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Free Motion Friday - Test Block Part 4

I love free motion quilting!  It's such fun!  I started here with a big spiral.  All of this quilting is done with a cone of gorgeous gray Aurifil 50 weight thread.

Then I added an extra arc.

Fill the arch with long pebbles. (the first half)

Then go back and do the other side!

Then keep going and repeat the design.

Look at that gorgeous texture!

Sometimes you have to fill in a gap.

And all done.  Gosh I love this texture!

Sooooo Prettttty!

And here is the test block all done.  Yes, I would say my idea for the quilting is a winner!  I love the variety of textures here!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Free Motion Test Block Pattern #3

I'm going to be honest.  While I managed to save this pattern by experimenting, it's not my favorite. 

I started with a curly line going in a zigzag using my favorite Aurifil 50 weight thread from a cone!  It's a good thing I bought a cone.  I'm going to need it!  I'm really not sure what made me think I could keep this even...

Well, I decided I didn't like the way it looked all by itself, so I added an outline on the top and bottom so now there are three wavy lines.  I like it better.

I then repeated the motif and my thread broke....but rethreaded and kept going.  

So now you can really see the zigzag.  It's okay, but look at all that negative space..........what am I going to do with it?

I decided pebbles would fit the bill nicely.  They're easy to make and very forgiving.  However, they are time consuming.  I was teaching some students this weekend and I told them the choice to do bubbles was a commitment!

The final results.  Yes, I like it.  The mix in textures is fabulous.  Would I do it again?  Nope.  Probably not.  The almost, but not quite symmetrical nature of it bothers me.  Does it bother you?  Probably not.  But it was also a ton of work!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy