Baby Lock Tiara Doodles

I haven't had a chance to do much quilting this month, but yesterday I went to one of my favorite local quilt shops (Quilters Corner) and tried out the Baby Lock Tiara. I think I'm in love, what a cool machine. It's so much easier to quilt on this than a domestic machine, yet I still have the control for dense quilting.

Baby Lock Tiara

Here is the sample I quilted.

 I think that I have to play with the tension, the back doesn't look quite as good as I want it to.

Back

Back

I plan on working up in my sewing room today. It feels good to have time to play - and maybe plan were to put this new baby!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Quilter's Favorites!

I'm joining in the fun at Geta's Quilting for Quilter's Favorites. Bloggers from around the world are sharing there best quilting tips and tricks!  Can't wait to check it out!

 List a few of your favorite quilting notions. 
1. Tweezers that are fine enough to pull thread and have a pointed end to use like a stiletto.
2. QTips for cleaning out under the bobbin case. It captures more lint than any brush I've ever used.
3. Queen Supreme Slider for free-motion quilting. Helps your quilt slide easier while your quilting.
4. Elmers washable glue, instead of pins for bindings. Here's a tutorial of what I mean.
5. Pinmoor pin anchors - little silcone pin anchors used for pin basting with straight pins.

Any advice for a successful color scheme of a quilt ?
1. Use what appeals to YOU!
2. Keep your colors in the same level of saturation (also called purity or chroma), i.e. not try and mix a bright clear blue with muddy fall colors. (unless you really, really like it)!

3. Personally, I'm not a big fan of lots of prints. I like one or two standout prints surrounded with a lot of solids.
4. Again: Use what appeals to YOU! - You will have a lot more fun working on your project.

Some thoughts about thread and needles, batting, fabrics ? 
Thread: I have been bitten by the Aurifil bug. It's my latest addiction. I'm afraid it's worse than fabric for me. Just can't help myself. Then of course free-motion quilting (FMQ) is my favorite part of quilting.

My stash! Shhh, don't tell my husband.

Needles: Schmetz Microtex (sharps) 8/20 is the most common one I use. But I'm very fickle here, I switch to a different type of needle anytime I'm having a problem FMQ or anytime I work on something different.


Batting: I have two current favorites (I like to try different battings), both are Quilters Dream. QD Request (a low loft cotton) and QD Puff (very puffing polyester). It really depends on the look I'm going for, it's part of my design.

Tips for easy piecing
Did I mention my favorite part of quilting is FMQ? The only tip I have is piece with Aurifil 50wt. It's a lot less bulky, seams press flatter. I also press my seams open, better for FMQ!

If you enjoy other quilt techniques than patchwork, could you share some tips with us ?
Did I mention, my favorite part of quilting is FMQ???

Machine quilting tips 
1. If you can draw it, you can quilt it. Practice drawing what you want to quilt.
2. Make up a whole bunch of quilt sandwiches to practice on.
3. Get a sewing table that you machine drops down into so that you have a flat surface. This made the biggest difference in the world for me. I got a very inexpensive Gidget II table and insert. Really, it's less than the cost of fabric for a king sized quilt.
4. A Supreme Slider helps
5. Relax, enjoy drawing, doodling on your quilt. NOBODY's  quilting is perfect, get over yourself and just enjoy the process.

Hand quilting tips
Sorry I machine quilt!

Other tips related to quilting
Make things that speak to YOU! Don't quilt to make other people happy, quilt to make YOU happy. Along the way, you will find out that others like things that you do.

Do you have free tutorials on your blog? Share the link.
I have a whole page of tutorials.

Here are a few that I've gotten quite a good response on.
1. Basting with boards for pin basting and spray basting. Takes up less room and no kneeling on the floor.
2. Faux Piped binding. Looks cool and it's all done by machine, no hand stitching.
3. Two methods for QAYG (quilt as you go), wide sashing and narrow strips.

The sewing machine - share a few things you love at your sewing machine; what makes it special? What features do you think are the most important to a sewing machine used for quilting?
I have a Pfaff Quilters Expression 4.0. I love the 10" throat space, the thread cutter, the built in IDT (walking foot). But the BEST thing is the fabulous service and support I get from Quilters Corner , my local quilt shop where I bought my machine. Nothing beats great service and knowledgeable technicians.

What about modern quilting tools? Quilt software, die cutting systems, other tools? Why do you like them ?
I have an embroidery sewing machine and I love Urban Threads designs - not so cutesy

Tips for organizing the sewing tools, the fabrics, the sewing studio?

Bobbin storage - Dritz bobbin box. The foam inside is soft and it holds the bobbin securely.

Solution; "Mini Bolts" stored in a double Martha Stewart bookshelf. This represents over 175 pieces of fabric ranging in size from a fat quarter to multiple yards.Wrapped on acid free "comic book" boards. I still need to wrap more fabric.

Could you recommend a book to someone who just started quilting ? A quilting bible ?
I have to say that I inherited a ton of quilting books from my mom and I never look at them. I generally look things up on the internet.

List one or two of your favorite quilting techniques and a tutorial/pattern/book where you learned about them ?
So many fabulous bloggers. Thank you to all of you.

Do you have a favorite quilt designer ? 
I can't just pick one.  So many fabulous designers. I tend to like the modern minimalistic quilts the best. I almost never use a pattern.


Do you have a favorite quilt blogger? 
Again, so many wonderful quilt bloggers. I do have to call out Leah Day at The Free Motion Quilting Project. She is the most wonderful FMQer and has literally 100's of videos on quilting FMQ fillers. She also is wonderfully helpful at troubleshooting. She just ROCKS!

Would you like to share one of your favorite quilts, made by you ? 
I guess it would have to be my Koi Pond Quilt.

Do you have a favorite online quilt shops ? What makes it special ? 
There are some wonderful online shops, but I seem to keep going back to Hawthorne Threads. Great modern fabrics, good prices, and really great service.

What would be the perfect gift for your best quilting friend ? 
A couple of spools of Aurifil Thread!

Don't Do Like Me!
When I first got my new Pfaff, I had a terrible time with breaking and shredding thread. I did everything I could think of to fix the problem. Somethings would make it somewhat better, but it really needed to go into the shop and be adjusted. I suffered through seven months, fighting with the machine. The folks at the quilt shop were wonderful. WHY did I not take it in sooner???  Lesson, it's NOT always YOUR fault!

If there is something else you would like to share with us, please do it. And please tell us a little about you, we would love to know you better. 
 Here's a blog post that tells my quilting story.   

Thank you Geta for hosting such a great link up. Imagine all that knowledge in one place, phew!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

My Prince Has Come!

Well, I'd like to tell you that I have been super productive and gotten lots done this week, but no THAT didn't happen. First off I needed to take Ms. Frances (my Pfaff QE 4.0) in for service. I'm tired of fighting with her when I FMQ. She shreds or breaks thread every time I go backwards, very frustrating. The good news is I have a fabulous dealer (Quilters Corner) that will fix her AND give me a loaner while I'm waiting. Meet Prince William....

How cool is it that the shop names their machines??!!

Since the Prince is the same model as mine, it fits perfectly in my table AND he will FMQ backwards!

While I was out and about yesterday, I did stop by Golden Lane Fabric shop. The place was hopping, they were having their annual 15% off everything sale. Their prices are always good, but 15% off is just crazy.  They carry a lot of Moda, including some solids. So I decided to stock up with some neutrals.

The solids ended up being $5.10/yd, the 10 FQ were under $20 and the 5 pack of blades were about $17. Can't beat that with a stick! Of course good ol' NY puts over 8% back with sales tax.

When I was up visiting my dad this weekend, I stopped at Ivy Thimble to have a look around and came away with these...

Nope, no plans, just loved them.

I also ordered some thread. Aurifil is hard to come by in my neck of the woods, so I tend to order it. Since it's flat $5 for shipping, I decided to stock up!

The purple one behind the two midnights in front is incorrect. I'm hoping to get the correct thread soon.

I did get another panel of my Elephant quilt basted. Not really exciting, it's just a plain navy panel, but work is work.

I also finished all of the wording on my Express your Love quilt. I'm really happy with how my Goddess is turning out.

Here are this weeks stats:
In-process: (3)
Elephant quilt
Express Your Love
Layers quilt

New projects: (0)

Finished (0)


I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday

 

Color Me Quilty!

 

Pat

Quilting With Friends

Quilting is a community activity, whether it's getting together for a class, quilting or virtually in blogland. And I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful community.

First and foremost, THANK YOU to everyone that weighed in on my Elephant quilt design. I think we have consensus, that option 3 is the way to go. It will work great! I feel so privileged to be a part of such a dynamic bloggy community.

Option 3 of the Elephant quilt

On Saturday, Quilters Corner (my LQS) hosted a see it/try it day. They put together tote kits and set up stations at various machines around the shop. I got to try out some VERY cool new machines and got a new tote in the process - FREE. How cool is that! I love Quilters Corner, they really understand customer service and I am a loyal customer because of it!

At Quilters Corner, See It/Try It Day: Baby Lock Serger, Baby Lock Tiara (my dream machine) and Baby Lock Unity

Yesterday (Monday), I spent the day with a fabulous group of quilters, many of whom quilted with my mom. The second Monday of every month, they spend the day quilting together. I can't make it very often, but I love it when I can.

The wonderful "Church Quilters" group

I even started a new project yesterday. Here's a sneak peak!

All in all, I have had a wonderful few days. But today, it's back to work - I have to have some way to pay for all of this fun! ;)

I'm linking up with A Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday and Free Motion by the River for Linky Tuesday. 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

The Importance of a Class

Kate and my Pfaff Quilters Expression 4.0

As many of you know, I recently purchased a new machine, Pfaff Quilters Expression 4.0. I loved the great big 10" throat and sensormatic FMQ setting, but I have had some serious struggles with the machine. Luckily, the shop where I bought it (Quilters Corner) is absolutely fabulous and give free new owner classes (4 hours long!!!) to help you get to know your machine. My friend Kate (shes got the same machine as mine) and I took the new owners class on Thursday. WOW!!! Amazingly, I can now FMQ like a champ. Funny how knowing how to set the machine properly makes ALL the difference in the world. The Pfaff owners manual is AWFUL compared to my Babylock manuals, so having the wonderful support from Quilters Corner is AWESOME! 

Today Kate and I are taking a FMQ class at Quilters Corner. I'm hoping to be able to make a pillow top out of the results. The class asks us to bring a 20" square quilt sandwich of a solid color. I chose black, because I had some cool scraps from this wall hanging that my mom and I made together years ago.

Stack n' Wack quilt

Black Quilt square and scraps for a pillow.

Wish us luck!


Color Me Quilty!

Pat

My Continuing Saga to Troubleshoot My FMQ!

Quilters Corner Owners - Exceptional Service and Support!!!!

 As some of you may know, I got a new Pfaff sewing machine that has been giving me some issues when I FMQ. Actually that isn't really fair to say. I'm not sure it's the machine's fault, I think more of the issues rest at my feet - operator error. One of the BEST things about the machine is where I bought it - Quilters Corner. Their service and support are fantastic! I took my machine and my quilt into the shop yesterday and one of the owners (Katie) patiently worked with me to get my machine and I working together!

Before help!

After help!

 So you may ask, what did we change??? I have been using Isacord thread and I noticed that it was twisting, so Katie had me change the direction of the spool.

We used an end cap on both the front and back of the spool.

Changed to the single hole needle plate

Lowered the top tension to 2.6 (default is at 5.2) and changed the pivot height to -3 (this lowers the height of the presser foot).

Stitching on a sample worked beautifully!

I then started started stitching on my quilt. It went smoothly at first, but then started skipping stitches. Katie came back over and started troubleshooting, we changed needles from a 90/14 topstitch needle to a 75/11 quilting needle - worked great. So what was the difference between the sample and my quilt? I have batik on the back.

Batik is a much tighter weave, because of the dyeing process. I think the smaller needle penetrated the fabric better. I sewed at the shop for the next 20 minutes or so without a single problem.

After I got home, I sewed for another half hour without problems. But after a while, I started having thread shredding again, although no where near what I had before. I think it may be the needle. I think I will try a Microtex/sharp needle next. The one thing that I did learn, buy your machine from a dealer with excellent service and support. Can you tell I'm a Quilters Corner fan??!!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Sew Cal Gal FMQ Challenge for July

Well, I'm just making under the wire for Sew Cal Gal's FMQ Challenge for July! I struggled mightily this month, not so much with the design (I loved Angela Walters' design), but my new sewing machine. Miss Frances (my new machine) was showing me whose boss and I think she won this round! I think I had some serious operator error or something.

I think I broke about 1/2 a dozen needles just stitching this much!

A lovely bird's nest on the back

Luckily this stitched up nicely

At my local quilt shop (Quilters Corner), where I bought the machine, they have a "Make Your Own Class" next Friday. Bring a project you are struggling with and they have someone there to help. Well, I signed up and will take this project. I think the problem is the thread (Isacord), it seams to want to twist. I know I had lots problems when I first started FMQ on my Babylock Ellegante. I just think this is part of the learning curve!

Today I'm linking up with Sew Cal Gal for July's FMQ Challenge and A Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Meet the Newest Member of My Quilt Family...

...Frances Pfaff. Otherwise know as Miss Frannie. And yes, I know I'm weird, I name my machines, (and really spoiled for getting a new machine).

Miss Frances (Frannie) Pfaff - Pfaff Quilters Expression 4.0

Two different setting for Free Motion - Traditional spring free-motion and Sensormatic free-motion

The Sensormatic free-motion setting lets the presser foot hover so the quilt sandwich glides. 

The free-motion foot is nice and open. Love it!

The little black arm in the back of the presser foot is a build it walking foot.

10" Throat - oh yeah!

Hundreds of stitches

Even the foot petal is nice and big. Easy to use.

But the very best part is the service from Quilters Corners, the store where I purchased this machine. This machine was used for a year in their classroom. They cleaned and serviced it, and because they never actually sold it, it still has it's full warranty.  It also includes basic training when you pick up your machine, the a 3-4 hour new owners class that goes through all of the functions of the machine. You can take this class over and over again, for the life of the machine - FREE! And if Frannie goes in for service, they give you a loaner from their classroom. Oh and did I tell you the machine was $1000 off MSRP! You just can't beat this deal!

Quilters Corners just ROCKS!!!!

And since I've never purchased a new machine (I inherited my Babylocks), this is definitely trying something new. So I'm linking up with Melissa at Happy Quilting for TNT Thursday! 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat