I finished the embroidery on my October Rose, and have a HUGE distortion situation which is not pretty. Maybe it looks really bad to me because I've been looking at it so much, but I'm not happy with it. Two rounds of blocking have not made it behave, either. I started quilting the background, but I've stopped because I'm considering cutting out the rose part into an applique. I know if I leave it the way it is, I will never be happy with it, so I might as well fix it up the best way I can. I really like the way the stitching turned out, though, so it's probably worth saving whatever way I can.The difference on this piece is the use of polyester threads. I've never been one for polyester anything, preferring instead natural fibers, but I branched out here to get a wider variety of thread colours, and I am now looking at much more distortion. I did not know this when I bought the poly threads, but it's been a hard lesson. I'll also be continuing to try different stabilizers.
Maybe I should go shopping right now, to see if I can find the right green for a background. I looked at all my greens on hand, but none of them thrill me. What to do, what to do. That's one dilemma.
The other dilemma is on this quilt. I've started FMQing hearts into the large print areas, which is ok, but I'm realizing how much time it takes, and there are other things I want to work on, too. Each of these 20 blocks takes about 1/2 hour to do, and there just aren't enough hours in the day. I haven't decided what I will quilt into the blue segments, but I'm thinking something simple might be better if I want to finish this within my lifetime!I like to keep going on something when I have my machine set up and get a rhythm going, but maybe I'll be setting this aside for a bit. I'm also getting the binding on my R&D quilt, so I'll get back at it. Linking up with WIP over at the Needle and Thread Network, here.
Hi Ilene I have done some work with different threads and done machine embroidery but have you tried using rayon or silk threads? Definitely beef up your stabilizers. It looks beautiful, I want to smell it.
ReplyDeleteI also want to smell your rose! I don't really know what to do about the distortion. But on your blue quilt just do half of the blocks in hearts and the other half in a simpler design... or even 5 blocks in 4 different designs. Mix it up like a FMQ sample.
ReplyDeleteI really lke your rose and I could not see the distortion but I know what you mean when you say you will never like it fully. I always use Rayon thread so I am glad you mentioned the Polyester. Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteI think the problem might be not enough stabilizer instead of the polyester threads. An iron on stabilizer is best. I have had this problem before too. The rose is beautiful though.
ReplyDeleteExperimenting with the right balance of materials and time factors is a challenge for sure.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck fixing everything to your liking - from here both projects look awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you to all of you for your kind words of encouragement and your suggestions. It has all been very helpful. I've been shopping this aft, and that helps, too!
ReplyDeleteOh that's so hard. :( You know - that made me cry, and it's basically what made me start threadpainting with out batting. That's how I ended up doing what i do now. Polyester doesn't stretch. Rayon is pretty good. My suggestion is to hoop your work & use stablizer, and also thread paint minimally, just to highlight and shadow. You can try to spritz it and pin it down... called 'damp stretching'. I'm sorry - I didn't read if you had inks on that fabric or? That might not work then.
ReplyDeleteall the best!!
I'm pouting with you.
Monika
ooh I looked closer - that is VERY pretty! ; )
ReplyDelete