Stitching the pieces together

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  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,786
    edited March 2012

    Ginger!  Beautiful little girl!  I know how proud you are of her...Wink 

    Sheila, what a great idea!   I'd love to see pictures when you are finished....

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2012

    Awe how sweet Ginger!

    A word of caution if using basting spray.  Clean your machine after you sew something after your done.  I had a small moment this morning because my new machine started going messing up really bad.  Got my book out to troubleshoot and finally decided to tear it down and clean it up, hoping thats what it was.  Sure enough a chunk of stuff came out and probem solved.  So know I know that after each time I use it I will need to clean it.

    Shelia cant wait to see the challenge hanging when its finished.  

    Off to make another baby doll quilt.  I have found out that I really need to pay closer attention to the videos as I sew.  Im really tired of ripping and sewing, sewing and ripping.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    Cute grand!! I have 3 boys..I need a pink one next!!

    Paula, that is called the "frog" stitch!! (ripit, ripit)

    Sounds wonderful Sheila, can't wait to see pics!! Are you going to get a new machine??

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited March 2012

    Boy do I ever know the Ripit song!

     I went to this huge Sewing Expo in Pullallup WA today. It was just super I went to one session and then just looked around. It made me unreasonably happy to be doing this and to have done it!  I got a kit to make a little organizer to take sewing necessities to sewing class with me. My husband gave me some money before I went and I felt obliged to spend it. I got my daughter a watercolor quilt kit. It used some sort of fusible on the back. My DD said it feels like it is somehow cheating. I hope it comes out nice. I also got some really cute trims for DGD's clothing.  

    This may just be a regional thing but I sensed no agression in the crowd, none at all! This is a huge sewing show, larger than any I ewver attended in Chicago.  I am from the Chicago area and there was plenty of agression to go around in a crowd there. Here in WA it is a much milder social climate, very pleasant actually. The displays also had more space alloted and the aisles were nice and wide. I really recommend this show. Next year Dd and I plan to spend a night there so we can go to some of the longer classes.

    I left feeling re-energized and ready to do some sewing once again. 

    Wish you all were here,

    Ginger

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2012

    LOL, I can say with all honesty that that is the one sewing skill that I am really good at.  I did do very well at on the rail fence block and not much froggn has gone into it.  And I did really good at not having to pin as I sewed my strips.  Im really gettn my lead foot under control!

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited March 2012

    I turn down the speed on my machine to keep it under control.

    GInger

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2012

    barbe I told a group of young sewers that I got to hang out with yesterday about the frog stich.  OMG they were rolling on the floor laughing about it.  Then it was so funny because the next thing ya know  on of them goes grrrrr here cause the frog, lol.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    Paula, it helps if they sing along as they rip it!!

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited March 2012
    To the tune of "Beat It", by the late MJ! Laughing
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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited March 2012

    Good one girls!

    This weekend, FDIL and I went down to the Fashion district to look for wedding gowns and decoration stuff.  We parked in the fabric district and it was neat to go into the shops and see and touch fabric.  FDIL was laughing at how excited I was to get to buy a piece for the flower girl's dress.

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited March 2012

    Oh, and, Ginger, your GD is adorable.  Look how satisfied she looks with her bag of craft stuff!

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited March 2012
    Hi all, my sister sent this to me today.  I haven't watched all of it but immediately thought of all of you. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=7lfaSmDxVZQ
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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    HA! I didn't watch the whole thing either, but was wondering why she was quilting without the light on and had no glasses on!!! Very cool...

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited March 2012

    Wow!  I watched the whole thing.  What an amazing woman!

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2012

    That was so cool!  Thanks for the share.

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  • JoanQuilts
    JoanQuilts Member Posts: 633
    edited March 2012

    Ooooohhhh!  Just discovered this thread!  I, too, am a quilter and am looking forward to getting to know all of you and your beautiful quilts!

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited March 2012

    Welcome Joan, we talk about alot of different things but quilting is a big thing on this thread.(pun intended)

    I had seen that report about the blind quilter before, but I can't remember who sent it to me or even when but I do remember seeing it.

    Today I am going to my quilt guild for our every other week sew-bee. I am going to start my project for the class next week using the 'twister' tool. We have to have the base sewn up and we will learn how to use the tool to make the pinwheels.  http://country-schoolhouse.com/twister_tool.htm My sister-in law has several of these tools where you start with 10" squares, 5" squares and 3" squares and made her own where you start with 1.5" squares. She has made some beautiful wall hangings with the twister. She is letting me borrow the 5" tool for the class next week and if I like it I will buy one. I will also take the batik and start on my blue quilt.

    Sheila 

    edit: just checked my email and the usual sew-bee ladies are not going to be there today so I am not going since I would be the only one there. Frown 

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2012

    Welcome Joan.

    Well I have found that free motion takes alot of practice and skill.  Tried it on a babydoll quilt and the top looked ok.  When I turned it over, yikes!  Looks like my sissys are going to get tons of potholders from me as I really am gonna need the practice.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    Paula, sometimes you won't have a problem with the back and you might not even have to adjust the tension, but try a sample in the border edge that will be cut off. Then you are testing the exact fabric and thickness that you will be doing. Did you drop your feed dogs? Moving in an erratic manner and jerking rather than moving the fabric gently will cause the back to look like crap. Slow down and have fun with it, drop your machine speed (lock in on the machine) so you don't have to move your hands too quickly and try again!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    When I used to teach free-motion, I would sometimes make someone sing if they just couldn't get it. You can tell if you speed up cause you sing faster!! Use a song with a good rhythm and have another go. Another tip is a glass of wine!

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2012

    I did drop the feed dogs.  I was just a bit jerky and I think thats where some of the problem is.  Also I do need to adjust my tension as well.  What do you think is a good stitch length to use.  I'm sure that had some play in it as well.  Do I need to drop my speed down to granny slow or just medium speed?  I figured that potholders would be great size to practice on.  I did a great job on the blocks though.  This is the first on I did where all the seams lined up perfectly.  I will for sure try the singing tip, thanks Barbe!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    Drop to mid speed. Stitch length is determined on how fast you move the fabric. I actually don't drop the feed dogs (I always forget!!) and the rhythm of the dogs is what I use to move by. Takes a LOT of practice, but one day the penny will drop and you'll never have issues again. It's all about finding your own personal rhythm.

    Here is a small sample of trees I did on batik-like fabric:

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    I have some pics on my Facebook page already that are easy to copy and paste to here. I wish I had more there! I am having trouble loading new pics, but one day I'll work it out.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    OOOohhhh, meant to ask, what foot are you using??? It needs to be a circle-like foot that will push the fabric back down to the starting position. Otherwise, it will grab onto the fabric and do nothing.

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  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited March 2012

    Thanks for the tips Barbe!!

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited March 2012

    I love when Barbe answers someone's question because I learn a lot!

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Barbe for the tips.  You do wonderful work!  I am going to give it a whirl this weekend.  I still have to find a song though, lol. 

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    Paula, something as simple as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2012

    I didn't want to make you too conscious of it, but it's your breathing that is off. That's why I have you sing. If I told you that you held your breath while you were doing it, would you believe me?

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2012

    Thanks barbe.  All I can think of was the beat it song that Joni got stuck in my head, lol.  I like the twinkle twinkle little star, that is super easy. And no I probably wouldnt have thought of the holding your breath thing.  Oh man why cant I be home now!  I am so ready to sew!

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