Why machine quilt on a home machine?
Jul 21, 2005 Quilting
I intended to write one blog entry about getting ready to machine quilt. I started writing my entry. I quickly realized that it would be a very long entry. Instead of a very long entry, I’m going to write several smaller entries about my machine quilting adventures.
I really should start off with explaining why I’m choosing to machine quilt instead of hand quilt. That topic would require a long well thought entry. I’m not in the mood to think about that topic. It’s a topic for another day. I’m ready to machine quilt. I’ll start off my explaining why I’m choosing to machine quilt on my home machine.
Motivating Factor #1
Paying someone to machine quilt costs $100+. Given the work that is done, the talent that is used, and the time that it takes, $100+ is fair price. However at this particular point in my life, I can’t afford to pay someone to quilt every quilt top that I make. Since I’m not paying someone else and I’ve chosen not to hand quilt a particular project, I have two choices. Choice #1, I can make a lot of quilt tops that never get quilted. Choice #2, machine quilt my quilts myself. I choose number 2.
Motivating Factor #2
I consider my quilt tops a creative expression of myself. Sometime I capture what I’ve imagined. Other times I’m learning a lot about the process. Regardless, each quilt top contains part of my artist expression. If I were to turn the quilt over to somebody else to finish, then my quilt isn’t just expressing my artful soul. It also contains the artist expression of the quilter. Perhaps I’m greed. I want my quilts to express me and me alone.
I’m lucky enough to have a good sewing machine, a Bernina 130. While it is no where near a top of the line machine, it is a good machine that won’t give me fits during the quilting process. My Bernina and I are off for an adventure.
Next post: What kind of design will I quilt?
Lots of progress!
Jul 18, 2005 Quilting
Time to report. I’ve made lots of progress on a lot projects, some big some small. I’ll start with the big.
The first week of July was a vacation week for me. After I recovered from the 4th of July festivities, I went to work on the Irish Chain quilt. I needed to finish 16 star squares with the light background. I thought this would take forever. Luckily I was wrong. It turns out that if I’m not tired, I can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. I finished 16 squares, laid out the blocks, and sewed them into rows before my vacation ended.
My helper, Cedric
Last week I decided I had to get it assembled. I’m a part of a quilt group that meets the 3rd Saturday of each month. I really wanted to bring the top completely assembled. I finished it in 2 evenings. Here’s a picture of the quilt draped over my bed. While you can’t see the whole quilt, you can envision what it will look like. I’m motivated to finish it.
Remember the batiks that I bought? On Friday evening, I assembled these blocks. Carol will be the proud owner of these blocks and other blocks that the group is making for her.
By Saturday evening I was feeling quite accomplished. I plan on machine quilting the Irish Chain myself. Yes, I know I’m crazy. My machine quilting experience is limit. Before I quilt the Irish Chain, I decided I should warm up with another quilt. Luckily for me, I have plenty of quilt tops that are ready and waiting for me to quilt. I decided to start with Christmas Picture. (I just named that quilt. It is an attic window quilt with Christmas scenery.) I was really excited about quilting it. I had the back, the batting, and the thread. Then I realized that my quilting area was a disaster. It was getting late. So I watched a movie with Ross.
Now is a good time to mention a smaller project that I’ve been working on. Knitting is my side hobby. When I’m discouraged with quilting or I need a to-go project, I knit. I like to knit socks. While I’ve only knit one pair, I think I can honestly make that statement. They are small and light. There is hope that they will get finished.
When I learning how to make socks, I was surprised that most socks were made with a heel flap. I don’t think there is anything wrong with the heel flap method. However since my store bought socks aren’t made this way, I thought it was a little weird. I made my socks with heel flaps and I have no real complaints.
Still, I wanted to know how to make socks like my store bought socks. Then one day, I was catching up on my blog reading, and I found Alison’s instructions for short-row heels and toes. I was happy for 2 reasons. First, I finally had a name for the technique. Second, I had instructions to follow.
Now I wasn’t going to start another knitting project until I finished a poncho that I started last fall. Finally, I couldn’t help myself. I bought 2 balls of Cascade Fixation. Over the weekend of the 4th of July, I started my ankle socks.
(Insert picture of first ankle sock)
The first sock is done. It is ok for a first attempt. There are a few holes in the heel and the toe. It fits. It will get used. I started the second sock. I’m done with heel. My results have improved. The instructions make more sense now. Hopefully the toe will be just as nice.
