Silent Sunday
Seamstresses in Fine Art
A Child Sewing
Robert Barnes (1840-1945)
English
NOTE-Contrary to “Seamstresses in Fine Art” tradition, I was unable to find any biographical information on Mr. Barnes. If there are any sleuths out there who can find information…we’d love to read more about these adorable images.
Open Line Friday – Fabric Markers
Hurray! It’s Friday…
Time for another Open Line Friday…Please ask away…No question is too big or too small. Also, please help answer questions…as a group we have a lot of experience. So join in! The More, The Merrier!
I’ll start by commenting on the Mystery Whole Cloth Quilt-a-Long. (By the way, if you haven’t joined in, it is not too late…You could easily catch up with the group!)
THE ZIG ZAG
I know a lot of you are struggling with the Zig Zag…and I think a little struggling is okay…that’s how we improve. However, The Zig Zag is not critical to the design of this quilt and it is more important that you enjoy the process. No one should be discouraged, nor should you spend inordinate amounts of time on The Zig Zag. If you are struggling, replace the Zig Zag with a gentle wavy line. Double this line IF it would be fun and a reasonable challenge for you. If not, skip it. Later in the project, you will be able to go back and add the extra line IF YOU WANT to do so…
I would rather see you do any free motion quilted line than a programmed stitch or a “feed dogs UP” design.
PERMANENT MARKING PENS FOR FABRIC
Today, I have a question for the group: What are YOUR favorite permanent marking pens for fabric? Can you recommend any good articles, links, tips about using marking pens on fabric?
FOLLOW UP ON STORING BOBBINS
Last week someone asked about storing bobbins and you all had great ideas!
I have two favorites: The Bobbin Saver and a wooden bobbin spool rack.
The Bobbin rack is found at JoAnn Fabrics. I use it of the Bernina 820 bobbins which are too large to fit in the Bobbin Saver above.
Now it’s YOUR turn…What are YOUR Questions and Answers!
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin, or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
Tackling Tension – The Mini-Series
Good Morning, Quilters!
You’ve managed to find twenty minutes to do a little quilting. You RUN up to your sewing room, flip on the lights and the machine, take a sip of your tea and settle in for a little happy creativity…
You begin stitching…and your serenity is shattered by terrible looking stitches…
Sound familiar?
It happens to ALL of us.
It doesn’t matter if your machine is old or new, computerized or treadle…
TENSION issues are a part of everyone’s sewing life!
Last week, in our QUILT ESSENTIALS: Know Your Sewing Machine, we watched two videos demonstrating how a sewing machine creates a lockstitch. These excellent videos demonstrate the precision required to create a perfect stitch. There are many factors that can lead to poor tension and a poor stitch quality.
For the next several Thursdays we will tackle tension and put YOU back in control of your machine by:
- Discussing the eight factors that influence tension
- Create a troubleshooting checklist
- Demonstrate how to test your bobbin tension
- Demonstrate how to test YOUR sewing machine
- Provide links to articles and useful information
- Provide Tips and Tricks for adjusting your tension for Free Motion Quilting
- Offering an Open Line Discussion on how to get help from your service person and dealer…
So let’s get started:
WHAT DOES PROPER TENSION LOOK LIKE?
I chose the football photos as an example of IMPROPER TENSION–(how did this get past me?!!!)
The top tension is too tight and there is a “railroading effect”. The top or needle thread is pulled tight and the bobbin thread shows on top.
Another problem is “whiskers”. This can happen on either the front of the quilt (Needle thread too tight) or on the back of the quilt (Bobbin thread too tight.)
PROPER TENSION IS BALANCED
“Tension is a tug of war between the bobbin thread and the needle thread and you don’t want any winners.” –Paula Reid
In proper tension the bobbin and needle threads are in balance. The Needle thread does not show on the back and the Bobbin thread does not show on top. Ideally, the knot is buried in the quilt sandwich and does not show at all.
This graphic was taken from Superior Thread. Read more HERE.
The following three photos are examples of better tension:
- Individual stitches can be seen.
- No bobbin thread is showing on top
TO DO THIS WEEK:
Examine your free motion quilting on quilts and on practice pieces:
- Do you like the look of the stitch on top?
- How does the stitch look on the back?
- Any “railroading” or “whiskers”?
- Do the stitches look perfect in some parts of the motif, but not perfect in other parts of the same quilt or motif?
CHANGE ONE THING AT A TIME
To get started, try changing just one aspect of your tension this week–the upper tension dial…(Check your owner’s manual!)
- Increase the top tension (higher number) if you see any top thread pulled to the back.
- Lower the top tension if you see any bobbin thread pulled to the top of the quilt.
Adjust the tension slowly, 1/2 step at a time.
NEXT WEEK:
The Eight Factors that Influence Tension
Happy (Stress Free) Stitching,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images, and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
Mystery Quilt-A-Long: The Plot Thickens
Good Morning, Quilters!
Welcome back to our weekly installment of:
QUILTER, TAILOR, SEAMSTRESS, SPY
A Quilt THRILLER in several parts….
The Oyster Shell-A Free Motion Quilt Tutorial
Good Morning, Quilters!
In my continued efforts to feel warmer…more seashells! (See last week’s The Sand Dollar-Free Motion Quilt tutorial)
Today we will be working on another all over or fill pattern. It can be used to cover large areas in your quilt. One shell builds on the previous shell and does not have to be stitched in a line.
THE OYSTER SHELL FREE MOTION QUILT TUTORIAL
Begin by stitching a small coil.
Reverse directions and echo stitch back to the beginning.
Continue echo stitching back and forth around the central coil.
Stitch three to five layers and then begin a new shell.
The new shell can begin either on the right or left of the completed shell.
Add shells on top of one another and shells on each side. Also, the initial coil can be stitched to the right or left…
To add a little more design, add a row of scallops between the layers.
Mix the “fancy shells” in with the plain oyster shells.
Or add a few loop-de-loops between the rows.
A little star-shaped spikes…
To make a long shell: Start with the Basic Oyster Shell and stitch back and forth in a taper shape.
This adds more interest to a beach full of plain oysters.
A grouping of Oyster Shells is a beautiful way to embellish any quilt. Don’t limit this beautiful motif to beach quilts…
This design is just pretty and will make a beautiful texture on your next quilt!
It’s easy and forgiving so give it a whorl!
From the beaches of Minnesota to you,
Happy Shelling,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, information and images are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog and pin with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
Silent Sunday
Seamstresses in Fine Art
Open Line Friday
Good Morning, Quilters! Welcome to Open Line Friday….Everyone asks–Everyone answers.
Today I have a special request from one of our French friends:
We had a very bad time in France recently ( people killed, a satiricnews paper and a shop were attacked)and I made a small quilt …I had the idea , to sew, embroider, or quilt, a pencil , somewhere onall our works in 2015, to remember and agains obscurantism …would you share this ?
You can see the whole Crayon and Pencil quilt and read more at CrayonandPencil.wordpress.com
I think we’d all be happy to support our friend!
CREATING RAFFLE QUILTS THAT SELL
Thank you to all who participated last week. We had a very informative discussion on creating Raffle Quilts that Sell…
HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE YOUR THREADS?
January is the traditional month for organizing and planning…and that includes our sewing room!
Let’s give our threads a little attention…a quick re-organization, and culling…
I’ve had several organizational systems for my threads over the years.
For a long time, I organized by color.
Later, I organized by purpose: hand quilting, machine quilting, etc.
After experimenting with several organizational systems, the method I now recommend is to organize by FIBER. Separate boxes for : Cotton, Polyester, Rayon, Silk, Specialty Threads. Within each box, group the threads by weight, clustering 30 wt, 40 wt, and 50 wt together.
One of my goals for 2015 is to experiment with different threads. You will be hearing a lot about threads this year…so let’s start with a clean slate!
What about YOU? How do YOU organize YOUR threads…
We’d love to hear!
Lori
You might also like: Taking a Thread Inventory HERE.
PS…All images, information and tutorials are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
The 12 Essentials: Sewing Machine Appreciation Month
Good Morning, Quilters and Quilt-Lovers!
I hope you are busy working on your Mystery Quilt?!
Take your time. Use your practice sandwiches until you feel comfortable…YOU can do this.
THE QUILT ESSENTIALS
Readers of The Inbox Jaunt have two favorite pages…
The Tuesday Tutorial, Free Motion Quilt Page…and
Twelve Essential Skills Every Quilter Must Know.
SEWING MACHINE APPRECIATION MONTH
As promised, I will be offering extra information each month on each of The Essential Skills.
In January, we will emphasize Essential Skill #1:
“Know Your Sewing Machine”
I think you will greatly enjoy these two videos explaining a little history of The Sewing Machine
as well as an excellent demonstration the precision required to form THE PERFECT STITCH…
Great video HERE of the rotary hook (30 seconds)–from Generation Quilt Patterns.
Even better: 9 minute video: Secret Life of Machines: The Sewing Machine (NOTE-this video ends abruptly, but all the info you need is in this first video.)
Enjoy,
Lori
PS…Tutorial of the above sewing machine quilt coming soon…
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other uses, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!