6 Blocks to Go!

I've been plugging away all afternoon, and I have just 6 blocks left to quilt on this baby. With the end in sight, it feels like I can actually finish this job. And I'll be glad, too, so I can do some other stuff, like laundry, and eating.

I have learned some key lessons with this quilt:

The first lesson is that I'm seeing some pattern to my free motion hearts, and they aren't so random after all! I'm thinking I could set up a pantograph to make all the blocks consistent, if I were so inclined. I could also use these hearts in a circle pattern or a sashing pattern. I'd like to try both of those ideas.

Second lesson is that I used some of the leftover denim blocks on the back, and those thick seams make quilting difficult. Also, with the denim fabric, it is a soft and open weave, and it really moves as I am quilting over it, so I'm thinking now that the denim blocks would have been better quilted with a structured pattern instead of random. Lesson learned for next time.

Third lesson is that I'm loving my flatbed sewing machine, but the bobbin is a little tricky to get to. So I'm thinking of a way to make that work better, which might involve more sawing and sawdust. I'll keep you posted.

And finally, the fourth lesson is that I've learned how to get myself out of trouble when I've painted (sewn) myself into a corner with travel stitching, which I learned from Leah Day. I'm also learning about regulating my stitch length and keeping my lines straight, and although some of my hearts are wonky, they have gotten much better over the course of the quilt.

I've also been cutting out a pink, green, and purple quilt for a friend's daughter. It's not much to show yet. I need her to approve the colours, and can hopefully start sewing next week.

I'm linking this up with Leah Day's FMQ blog, she always likes to know what people are working on, link here.

Transformation

Today was a non-sewing day for me. I have been thinking for a while now about setting my sewing machine up with a flatbed table, for years, actually, but now it has become serious for me. It's hard to believe I've been sewing for such a long time this way.

I've realized lately that if I'm to be doing my own quilting on my big quilts, I need to get this done. I don't know how I quilted anything before this. Actually I do know. I did all straight lines and no free-motion, which isn't how I want to quilt anymore. I thought I might be able to wait until the weather was nicer so I could do all the sawing outside the house, but I could not tolerate my setup a minute longer!

I was working yesterday on this red and denim quilt, doing some meandering hearts, stopped right in the middle, and went out to get supplies. I recently stumbled across Marta's blog, link here, with a really good tutorial on how to do this to an Ikea table. She has a great idea for getting the machine level with the top of the table using bolts and nuts, so I did that.

I had to make adjustments for my front loading bobbin, for the size of my base plate, and for my plug-in, but I did it pretty much the way she said. I did most of it myself, too, with only a little help from Mr. Sweet, and a lot of help from his tools which he loves getting out for any project! So I now have a flatbed, and can't wait to see what happens next on it.