This week I began working on the month 6 band for Simply Dreaming. There are twenty eight blocks with pairs along with 4 corner stones. The blocks are assembled and the sandwich is made. I also did the quilting on one pair today, which are making me smile!
This quilt makes me smile every time I look at it…. It isn’t perfect but I have already learned so much! It is the first time I have attempted to quilt in the hoop. It is truly a labor of love and a record of my learning along the way.
Month’s 1 through 4 were creating the embroidered applique blocks. Month 5 is quilting all the negative spaces (cream fabrics) for each of the 4 month’s blocks. I have done month 3, 4, and one half of month 2.
This is my first time using my embroidery machine to quilt within the hoop. Learning a lot about how to align, trace, size the designs. Also found my magnetic hoop works really well for ease of hooping. The only issue is when needing to replace a bobbin during stitch out. Because the quilt isn’t in a traditional hoop that is screwed tightly, it is tricky removing the hoop to replace the bobbin. Rather than playing ‘chicken’ with the bobbin, I make sure there is enough before I stitch out.
Hung it up on the design wall so I could actually see the whole quilt so far. It isn’t perfect but I am still very happy with my results so far.
To make my ‘quilt sandwich’ for this quilt, I used my longarm to assist. I mounted my backing, then added my batting. I basted along the top, bottom, both sides, and horizontally about every 10 inches. This insured I was able to keep it all aligned and smooth.
Next I placed my well pressed quilt top on the frame and pinned it really well to the basted backing and batting. Next I removed it from the longarm, and smoothed out further on my large cutting table.
The next step was stitching in the ditch following the ‘basting map’ provided with the pattern. While the pattern refers to it as ‘basting’, I is not meant to be temporary and removed later. Once I completed the stitching in the ditch, I flipped my quilt with the backside up, removing the basting threads stitched on the longarm. My quilt was then ready for quilting in the hoop.
Next I did a tension test on my Luminaire XP1, using a sandwich with the same front, backing, and batting used for the quilt.
First up, quilting the twenty month 3 blocks in the hoop. I used my 9.5” by 9.5” for the first block. For the second and third, I used my monster magnetic hoop. The fourth block, I used my 10.5” x 10. 5”. I decided the 10.5” was the best hoop for this job. My 9.5” hoop has a screw type lever for opening and closing the hoop. This was not efficient because it must be unscrewed and then screwed down every time. My magnetic hoop was okay but was not holding the quilt as tightly as I wanted. The 10.5” has a ‘lever style’ fastener. This allows me to unscrew only once for the amount needed to hoop the quilt. then the lever that closes the hoop with a single push. Below is the results for month 3’s quilting.
Pieced month 3 and month 4 to the center of the quilt. Next up will be learning to use my magnetic hoop to machine quilt for month 5.
Finished month 3’s twenty 8-inch blocks.
Started month 4’s sixteen 11.25-inch blocks.
For the last 2 years, life has been overwhelming. I am a two-time Cancer survivor, with out a spleen. This means I am extremely immuno-suppressed. In a non-pandemic, pneumonia and the flu are risky – with Covid, my world completely shut-down. This lead to the difficult decision to take leave from work as an elementary teacher and give up my contracted position.
My Mom’s dementia had just begun to take hold at the beginning of 2020. For the whole year she was cut-off from the world with no idea what was happening. In a long-term care situation, her campus has been closed to all visitors. She couldn’t have meals in the cafeteria any longer nor socialize. She couldn’t remember how to use a phone, computer, television and was left on her own. In March this year, she took a serious turn for the worse. Feeling abandoned and alone, she escaped into her own reality and became combative. Within a few weeks, she would refuse food and care, leading to her death.
When Sarah Vedeler introduced her 2019 block of the month, “Simply Dreaming”, she commented she had been coming off a very bad year. At the time I had made her “Peace, Love, and Joy” as a gift for my sister. Next, I made the “Sedona Star” which I finished at the end of 2019 and planned to send out for custom longarming in early 2020. I had no idea how the world would so drastically change.
After so much loss, putting my heart into something beautiful is what I need. I started my “Simply Dreaming” quilt last weekend. I finished month 1, month 2, and half of month 3. When my quilt is finished, my hope is it will bring me comfort, help recall beautiful memories of those I have loved and lost, and that beauty can be found even in the darkest of times.
Well month 1 through 11 are finished! The triangle circular border is added along with the 4 large embroidered corners. The tricky part, sewing the quilt center into the circular border. The 9 aqua corner stones that make the quilt a full circle have bias edges. For accuracy and embroidery, the majority of the quilt cover has been stabilized. The next time I make this quilt, I plan to stabilize these pieces to prevent stretching. I actually sewed in the quilt and had puddling. I ended up ripping out the seam and then reapplying the border. I am much happier now! It is laying flat!!! Now onto month 12 and the final diamond border! Then….finding a Longarmer to quilt for me.
meditativesewing.com 