Sunday 25 November 2012

UFO Sunday #14

It's UFO Sunday on Leah Day's Freemotion Quilting Project today.
I am nowhere near as productive as some people have been, however I have been steadily working away on my projects. I am back onto my Japanese Table Runner and decided to use the Echo Shell design that I saw on Leah Day's Craftsy class. Initially I was going to quilt that design into the second border ...however, then I decided that this, while nice, would hardly be seen given the busy pattern. Decided to KISS (Keep it Simple) and placed the Echo Shell design in the inner border instead, so it can be seen.

Echo Shell Design
Do you like this? Certainly adds a whole other dimension to this table runner. 


 I placed the shells facing inwards after trialling it the other way (see below)

Shells facing outwards
 Not sure whether you can see it properly but having them face outwards created a bit of a ridge across the top edge due to the seam allowance being literally encased in the last echo...did not like this and hence had all my shells facing the other way. Stitching the shells in one direction rather than at random was certainly a challenge, but once I had started, I was determined to get it done. Consistency wise it is not too bad and I like the pattern.

I used Aurifil thread (Mako 50/2) and must say, I absolutely love this thread...I used needle size 70/10 Sharp and it went like a dream. Also noticed (as I had before) that when I quilt at a slower speed where more accuracy is needed, I have to take my Machingers gloves off because I seem to need my finger tips to gently guide the material around. I have noticed this before when I am quilting motifs. As I am usually concentrating really hard (and it is summer here) my grip on the fabric is usually enough, i.e. sticky hands. However, for added grip, Diane Gaudynsky in her post about moving the quilt in a home machine, recommends Neutrogena handcream...it just leaves that little bit of sticky residue that will help with the grip.

Well, almost there with this table runner...

UFO Sunday has certainly helped me to get going on those projects that have been hanging around forever, i.e.
- the English Paper Piecing Project
- the Cat Wall hanging

In fact, I remember packing them up when we were moving house in the beginning of the year and with some guilt was reminded that they had been lying around for a very long time before that. I have almost reclaimed all of my basting pins again.

Karin

10 comments:

  1. Karin, I like this very much! Your border is a great place for Echo Shell! I love using Japanese fabrics, and look forward to seeing a photo of the entire table runner.

    Nicky

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    Replies
    1. Not much to go...I might just do some lines in the border and be done with it. This is the second time I am making this table runner (because I liked the look of it when I made it as a gift for someone). Probably was not a really good idea...really dragged my feet with this one.

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  2. I love how this is coming together. The fabrics are wonderful and the blocks look interesting and not quite the common versions.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, this is my favourite star...I have done several of these and they always come out looking very striking.

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  3. I love how you are quilting this and I love Aurifil thread too! I do all of my piecing with it and any machine quilting where I can use my basic piecing colors (grey, white, beige).

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I am so impressed with the thread...it is just so smooth and sews so well. I had not used it for a while and was so impressed. Need to get some more of this.

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  4. Beautiful. Well done on the echo shell. It looks great. I cant wait to see a photo of the whole thing when it is done. I have quite a stash of japanese fat quarters in my stash and a table runner sounds nice.

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    Replies
    1. I like doing table runners. Usually they are a bit quicker to make (than this one was for me)and you can try different designs on it without committing to a whole bigger quilt.

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  5. Nice! I really like how you quilted this - simple goes a long way on those stars

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  6. Yes, agree...they always look so dramatic

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