Machine quilting.

 I have had my bookcase basted for the whole year.

 I did a swap with the QATW girls for these blocks. It was started in 2019 and the top put together in 2020. It’s about time this one was finished.

I have started quilting it. I am using the Westalee rulers. 

My first attempt was bad. I changed needles, thread, tension and cleaned the machine. I got so frustrated with the thread breaking, fraying and skipped stitches. I could also see the backing thread on the front at repetitive areas. I couldn’t fix it. So it went on the floor. Now, we didn’t go away for Christmas so I picked it up again. Wound a new bobbin and had no issues at all. I am not the best quilter, especially when the top and bottom threads are different colours. But, I will go with how it’s working. This quilt is for me…

Machine quilting ruler class.

 It was the Anzac Day long weekend and I had been busy every day. But I needed to get some prep work done for an upcoming class. First up we had a platter of cheese and crackers, dips and wine…

It was a hard decision figuring out what fabrics I wanted to use. But when I was showing Janice my messy room I picked up a bag of fabrics left over from a quilt I had made. That was what I was going to use…

I needed to make 6 placemats & 1 table runner

And here they are ready for the workshop

Now I just need to cut the wadding and backing

A great finish for me...

This weekend is International Quilters Day celebrations over at TheQuiltShow.com with Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms. Watch over 200 episodes for free this weekend only. IF YOU CAN GET ON & THE SITE DIDNT CRASH. They have extended the free viewing for another day.

 I did manage to watch about 12 episodes while I sewed, sewed and sewed. I caught up on finishing some blocks, taking photos of things over the past two weeks and sat down to do a heap of posts...

I have been working on a lovely quilt for a special lady and it's done....
This is the design I have decided to do on my friends quilt. I do not have to draw or follow lines. I am using rulers...

Thanks to Anita from https://hillside-quilting.myshopify.com/pages/about-us For teaching me how to use the Westalee rulers. I had trouble setting up my machine and getting all the needles and thread sorted out. Anita was very patient and helpful. I won't hesitate to use these more often.

Can you see the clam shells coming together. I am only doing 4 arcs. Yes, there are a few mistakes but for my first full size quilt using the ruler I am very happy with the results.

 I have finally finished all the clam shell quilting. Can you see my set up watching The Quilt Show in the background. Now to go on with the white sashing area with stippling and then to attach the binding. I enjoyed using the Westalee ruler for this but boy, this quilt was heavy. I haven't really done much quilting in the last year so I worked slowly on this one...

Here it is on a queen size bed. I think it will fit a king size single ok. The binding is machined on the front all ready for my friend to hand stitch the back down. She quite enjoys it.

WIP flimsy is done

I have been having fun using up some scraps. They don't seem to be getting any less. I chose a free pattern from Bonnie Hunters blog. The Spider Web...
http://quiltville.blogspot.com.au/2005/06/string-spider-web.html
I have enough papers and kite centres for 3 quilts.

Before I quilt this one I need some more practice with the Westalee rulers...

So I started playing around with some Westalee ruler quilting on my Santa Sack Swap gifts. I have 2 partners so there will be a lot of hidden work, snap shots and secret sewing happening.
You can just see some of the quilting patterns.

I am linking up with 

http://www.freshlypieced.com

And

Vals Tuesday Archives

http://myplvl.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/tuesday-archives-75-strip-quilts.html

Mmmm well my past few days

My good machine was in getting a service and readjustment with timing issues and other stuff.
Well my hubby and I decided to go shopping for Basil, our bus...... So off to Mildura we headed. Only a 5 hour drive, night in a motel, dinner at a pub, shopping the next day and home. It was so good.
I crocheted all the way there and back. I am making a baby shawl for my stepsons girlfriends baby....

Hubby and I had a great time talking and laughing, telling stories and just communicating... A great trip....

We got what we wanted for Basil. Hopefully can go away in him again soon.

When we hot home I had a call from the sewing machine shop. My machine is ready... Whoo hoo....
I miss my sewing and quilting. I really haven't had it here for a month...
Here I go to pick it up. Off an hour away to Coburg and talk to the technician.... All is good. Seems ok.. So while I was in the area I thought I'd go to Darn Cheap fabrics shop. I hadn't been there before but it was only 10 minutes down the road... So glad I did. What a bargain I got....
27 metres for only $107.
These will be great for any male quilts I have to do... What a great price....
These were only $5 per metre

And this lovely Xmas fabric was only $2 a metre. Of course I bought the whole lot left on the bolt... Yep 9.5 metres. Watch out for all the projects this will be used in...

I will definitely be going there again........

Then I got home and tried my machine.
I was trying to get it to work with the new Westalee rulers and foot to do great quilting.... I had been having trouble with it..... But guess what. It worked.... The tech got it right..
My machine sewed with any fabric, threads and foot. It was great. I even enjoyed using metallic, invisible, silk, sulky, quilting, rassant and whatever other threads I had. They all worked...