3/21/13

Quilting in Perfect Harmony

Yesterday I was able to finish all the quilting for the Perfect Harmony quilt.  It was a bit of a challenge figuring out all the little idiosyncrasies of my new machine.  I used the walking foot for echoing the curves of the guitars, and then I switched to the stitch regulator to do some pebbling on the background fabric.


I was trying to make each guitar just a little different from the one beside it so that I was echoing a different curve on each one.


All-in-all, I'm pretty happy with how it is turning out.


This next image shows the pebbling.  I was using a monofilament thread in the bobbin with the walking foot, but when I switched to the stitch regulator, it didn't seem to recognize the monofilament thread.  I kept getting a message that the bobbin was out of thread.  Since I have lots of wound bobbins from my old machine that are incompatible with my new machine, I've been winding the thread from the old bobbins to the new ones.  With the monofilament thread, it didn't wind very smoothly, and that could be the problem.  In any case, I wasn't able to continue with the monofilament thread for the pebbling and had to switch to a cotton thread.  It looks fine, but I was still frustrated.  It's the blessing and curse of having a new machine.


Despite the problems I had with the bobbin, I liked the way it sewed with the stitch regulator.  I have a stitch regulator on my old machine as well, but this new one is updated a little bit.


I sewed a pocket on each upper corner of the quilt so that I can insert some sort of dowel into it for hanging.  I saw this method on someone's blog, but I'm afraid I can't remember whose it was now.  This quilt is 24 inches wide, and so it's possible I'll need to add a loop in the center to keep it from sagging.


Finally, I sewed a little green straight stitch around the border and then sewed on the binding.  


This morning I sat and hand-sewed the binding about half way around before quitting.  I'll finish it up later today or tomorrow morning.

Next up is another wall-hanging.  This is my March NewFO project.


It might need a larger border, but my goal is to hang this quilt over the circuit breaker panel in my laundry room.  It has real miniature clothes pins that attach somehow to make it three dimensional.  So far, I haven't looked at the instructions, and so I'm not sure exactly how they attach.  You may remember the quilt I made for my friend Lisa.


The Laundry Room quilt is by the same designer.

So that's it from me this morning.  I want to watch the instructional video for my sewing machine, and I need to go do my Curves workout.  Even after just taking one week off, I feel out of the groove for that.  After that, I'm going to go do a half grocery shop...just to get us through the weekend.  

Just now I looked outside, and it is snowing.  Hm.  So glad Spring has finally arrived.




20 comments:

Scrapatches said...

Fabulous projects! I absolutely love the guitar quilt. The quilting looks great on this.

We have had a long cold stormy second half of winter. I am calling this "the winter that won't go away." May spring be warm and sunny soon ... :) Pat

WoolenSails said...

Beautiful quilt and beautiful quilting.

Debbie

Quilting Babcia said...

Wow, those guitars are really neat! Love those shiny strings and the echo quilting is perfect for this one. Laundry looks like a fun project too.

Quiltsmiles said...

Beautiful quilting on your son's guitar quilt.
AS for this New FO, uh hummm.... your unmentionables hanging on the line are too cute not to mention! lol Jane

Lynette said...

oy, We're supposed to get snow, too, the next 2 or 3 days. Sooooo different from Florida, where they've had full-on spring for well over a month. heh! Barbara, **love** your guitar piece!

Lee said...

You've been strummin' right along - it looks great! Your March project is CUTE!

Lynne said...

Learning the ins and outs of a new machine can be frustrating but I'm sure a few weeks form now you'll wonder what all the fuss was about!

I saw a quilt once along the same lines (pun intended) that said "Home is where the washing is!" (We say "washing" where you say "laundry". therefore we do the washing in the washing machine in the laundry while you do laundry in the washer in the laundry room).

Lynne said...

Oops, I forgot to say - the guitars look fabulous!

Brown Family said...

The Harmony quilt is looking good. THe other two are very cute. I know the new machine can be frustrating but hang in there, it will get better!

Tammy said...

Love tehm all. They are fabulous. I need to make soemthing to hang to covveer up the big old nasty looking circuti breaker panel in my Laundry toom too. What a great idea...

Rosa said...

Love them all. Wonderful quilts and quilting!

Rachel said...

Wow, I am in awe of Perfect Harmony. It just looks amazing!! Laundry Room is adorable! Wonder how those clothespins are attached! LOL, Snowy Spring...Could be a great quilt name, LOL.

Dana Gaffney said...

I think you're so brave to start quilting Perfect Harmony on the new machine, it looks wonderful. The little pockets are how I hang my quilts and you will need a little loop, over time they sag. I "pinned" Perfect Harmony to show you off.

Heidi said...

Thanks for sharing! Your quilting looks great - really brings the guitar quilt to life - Love it!

Snoodles said...

Your quilting is so beautiful...the guitar piece is super. Thankfully, we have no snow, but it has gotten cold again.....whaaaaa! I want spring!

Dar said...

Barb, your guitar quilt is turning out so great. I love the way you put the strings on and your quilting is wonderful. Your new machine is a keeper. Your Little March NewFO is darling. I have some tiny little clothes pins that I use to hang up Christmas cards on a line around the door frame at Christmas. Wonder if they are the same type. Will be interested to see how they work. Thanks much for sharing all your lovely projects.

Marti said...

Your quilts are amazing! I love the guitar quilt, it is a work of art.

The Laundry quilt is so cute, a great addition for your laundry room.

Diane Wild said...

Your quilting on the guitar quilt is wonderful. You know why the stitch regulator didn't recognize the monofilament, don't you? It's "invisible thread." Duh! Sorry.
Darling laundry room quilt. I bet a dab of hot glue would attach those clothes pins. Or, the glue dots used for scrapbooking work great. And, acid free.

Ranch Wife said...

Your quilting on Perfect Harmony is wonderful! It just brings the guitars to life. It sounds like you are winning the battle of the new sewing machine!

quiltzyx said...

Love the way the guitars are coming out. You've been overcoming the new machine annoyances (sp? word?) quite well! I think the stitch regulator is the one thing I wish my little Janome had.
The laundry quilt will be a lovely addition to your laundry room too. :D