It's A Cynch!

I found a new use for my Babylock Unity. I took a Designs In Machine Embroidery (DIME) class and had my eyes opened to endless possibilities! I've downloaded and created my own designs to use on my quilts. I'm experimenting with a rag quilt. Instead of just sewing an "X" across each square, I'm quilting an embroidery design. So far I'm happy with the results. I'll post the finished product when it's been washed a few times. The material I'm using is I believe from the Robert Kaufman flannel collection.

  I finished another t-shirt quilt for a very special friend, Swapna Kakani!  I have so much respect and admiration for this young lady.  She has gone through a lot in her life and never complains and always has a smile on her face.  I was very honored to make this quilt for her.  I hope every time she uses it, she remembers that she has a friend who is thinking of her and praying for her constantly!  She actually came over and helped work on it.  She had never learned to sew before, so I tried to be a good teacher and give her some really good lessons on building quilts and working with tshirts.   She graduated from the University of Alabama, Birmingham.  So she had all of her old t-shirts that she wanted made into a quilt.  We were going to do a double sided quilt, UAB shirts on one side and her charity work shirts on the other side.  (Here is where my admiration comes in...she has so many things going on in her own life, but she's constantly trying to figure out ways to give

I've been sick and haven't been blogging.  But I am on the mend and wanted to share with you that I finished the baby quilt! I actually finished it back in April. My cousin and his family were thrilled! I was also pretty happy with my first baby tshirt quilt.  The hardest part was figuring out how to use the clothes without taking away the memory of how tiny the baby was when he wore them. I didn't want to cut up the pieces too much. So I ended up using the applique technique. And, oh by the way,  baby socks are really difficult to work with! It takes a little patience to get them sewn on! So here it is! My masterpiece....now to find my sons' baby clothes....

The "quilt as you go" technique is the best thing I was taught since learning how to quilt!  It makes putting together a large quilt more doable.  Basically,  you sew all of the blocks,  quilt each block layer and then piece the layer together. The final quilt ends up with sashing between each block.  So the quilter can have fun with colors.  The navy blue strip is the sashing.  You first zigzag the two blocks together then use the strip to cover up the zigzag connection on the topside and bottom side.   The finished piece is shown below. I usually try to strategize when I sew the blocks together so that I end up with two halves. It makes handling a large quilt easier. 

Remember how the upper thread kept breaking?  I rethreaded and still...snap! I rethreaded again....snap! I was really frustrated!  I thought this expensive machine better work! So...I watched a few Youtube videos, and read some blogs for advice or suggestions.  And I finally saw one that said to use a blue jean needle.  Worth a shot,  right???? Well...it worked like a charm!  It is sewing great! I am so happy again! The larger needle sewed through the jersey material layer easily! I hope after I wash it that it will lay nicely. Now I can finish quilting the rest of the blocks. 

Ok. So it took me about an hour to unbox the machine and go over the parts list to make sure everything came.  I decided I'd only learn the sewing part first.  I put the free motion foot on and read all of the directions.  It worked great until I got to the onesie that was thicker and made of jersey material.  The upper thread kept breaking! GRRRRR!!!! I looked through Youtube videos and read a bunch of blogs.  They suggested switching needles to a larger one. I rethreaded the machine several times,  but still kept having the upper thread break!  So....I'm working through this problem. If anyone has any suggestions,  it would be appreciated! 

I was pretty frustrated with my quilting machine! I have had an Elna Quilter's Pro 7200 for almost 10 years now.  It has been a great machine and we have created many beautiful quilts with it.  But,  the time had come for a new machine. After looking through reviews and watching YouTube videos and playing with machines at the sewing center,  I bought a floor model Husqvarna Topaz 30. I was so excited.  It could embroider,  it could quilt....I went home feeling good because I got a good deal on it.  But my excitement was short lived.  The first time I tried to embroider on it,  the bobbin decided to eat thread!  What did I do wrong?! So I emailed my sales lady,  and she gave me pointers.  I got it to embroider a few things,  but I kept fighting that hungry bobbin!  It kept eating thread. I took it back a few times,  but still no luck.  My wonderful,  understanding husband suggested I trade it in on a new one.  The sewing place said they would give me the full price that I had pai

Quilts, Quilts...All over the Place! I took a quilting class at my church many years back.  Two wonderful, passionate quilters, Ellen and Sharon, taught me the love of making quilts.  I was a little hesitant at first.  As an engineer, I like things to be symmetric and even.  I thought I'd never be able to finish a quilt because I'd obsess about making sure the points lined up...and the stitching was even...etc... I got over that very quickly.  They reminded me that these are handmade, so they don't have to be perfect!  I do still try very hard to make sure my points line up, and the seam ripper is my very best friend, at times.  But sometimes, I just let it go and move on! I'll post some of the old quilts and tell you about them...as soon as I find the pictures.  I've also begun making t-shirt quilts!  The possibilities are endless!  This is the quilt I made for my sister, Brigette.  I gave it to her for Christmas and she was so happy to get it.