Followers

Sunday 28 September 2008

Sew far sew good - sort of!!


I’m conscious that I haven’t posted for nearly 2 weeks, so thought I’d better post a quick note. The reason being that I’m undertaking the mammoth task of quilting my first quilt – ever wished you hadn’t started something??!! I know a lot of ladies have theirs professionally quilted and I did think about it, but then realised I couldn’t afford it, so it was either let it sit in a cupboard for the next 12 months until I could afford it, or have a go myself! I’ve decided I’m going to look upon this as a learning curve (quite a big one!). Until you try it, you can never imagine how difficult it is to man-handle a quilt this size (it’s about 88 x 82 inches) through a domestic sewing machine – it is so heavy. And the idea of doing free-motion quilting all over soon went out of the window, so I’ve, so far, quilted ‘in the ditch’ (not terribly accurately!) over the diamond pattern in the centre and then I may have a go at free-motion around the borders, but we will see!! It’s a bit puckered here and there on the back, but I’m sort of hoping that when it’s all finished and I put it through a warm wash cycle and tumble dry programme, it might just sort of do something miraculous to it and pull it altogether – I live in hope! I had to smile last Sunday, because, I sat down to start it in the morning, convinced that if I worked hard at it all day, I’d have it finished by the end of the day – OK, you can stop laughing – I got about a third of the way through it, so it’s Sunday morning again and perhaps I’ll achieve another third today – just can’t wait until it’s finished though!!


5 comments:

Faith said...

I have given you an award so go and have a peep at my blog. Well done to attempt with the sewing machine at least you are braver than me I dare not use the sewing machine to quilt through all three layers incase I spoil it, so I hand quilt and hand quilting is not as bad as you think with practice it can be therueputic.

Katie said...

Very pretty quilt! I am probably the worlds worst machine quilter. I absolutely detest it. I started a magic tiles quilt for my mom a couple of years ago and have so far only managed to quilt half of it.
http://kateyz.blogspot.com/2007/03/can-you-keep-secret.html

Gina said...

Keep at it. You'll soon have it finished.
I machine quilt all mine on my domestic machine. It gets tricky but practise makes it easier.

Love and hugs Gina xxx

Unknown said...

Hi Julia, did you receive a copy of a dvd with your homespun magazine previously that is by Debra Louie showing how to machine quilt on a domestic machine? It is really good and I would recommend getting copy of it to watch. good luck with it...it can be very overwhelming! Jo xo

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

You go girl...you will get there and you will be so pleased with yourself....