Monday 5 December 2011

One Step Forward...

... and two steps back. Or so it seems at times. I am getting things done, but not as quickly as I would like. Then on the other hand, I am not as wound up about it all as I was a week or two ago so maybe this is okay.

I have being doing the usual. Post office, butcher, groceries. Cooking, ignoring the cleaning. And then (don't tell and I am hoping a certain someone doesn't come poking around this blog in the immediate future) but I have been spending a lot of time stitching. With perle cotton by hand.

This has been quietly taking up my time while I've been alone in the house.
And then today I tried to baste my Etchings quilt again. With less wrinkles this time. I am using a different wadding than usual in an effort to save money. I don't think I will do it again. The fabric slides on it more, rather than clinging like it does with the 100% cotton. I find it makes basting far more difficult than I have ever experienced before. I have done my best and the backing isn't as bad as it looked before, but it still isn't nearly as good as I would like. At this point in time it will have to do though.


And I took the quilt off to the machine and immediately commenced FMQing.



The only problem is I don't like it on this quilt. It is too in your face on what is - for me - a rather subtle and refined quilt. So I then spent the rest of my time until the school run unpicking what you see above and a lot more besides. I think I am going to have to straight line quilt this. I haven't done straight line quilting in quite a while but I shall take a deep breath and try my hand at it again tomorrow.

Tonight is the school play. I shall be in a very old village church getting a big love on for my children while my fingers get frostbite but my toes get second degree burns on the Victorian heating system. And I wouldn't miss it for the world!

Susan

21 comments:

  1. Invisible threadis the wayto go when you don't want 'in your face!'

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  2. Dont think of it as two steps back, you'd only started, think of it as a good save ;-) Good luck with the straight lines! Have a wonderful time tonight, do you have any hand warmers? Or a wee jam jar you could fill with boiling water and stuff in your jacket pocket?!

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  3. Sorry things are going slowly but your Etchings quilt will look great - I had exactly the same problem quilting with my UJ quilt and in the end the tedious unpicking was worth it.

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  4. We all have those 2 steps back...no need to worry. At least you know what you do want...and you will love the finished piece.

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  5. I think you need to take a hottie with you to the play to keep those hands warm - hope you get a comfy seat! I can never get my quilt backings dead smooth, but I think it just adds to the handmade effect.

    Pomona x

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  6. See I knew FMQing was evil!!
    Have a great evening xxx

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  7. You've summed up perfectly the carol church services I remember from my youth (oh how old does that make me sound!) I liked your quilting. I'm sure straight line will be fab too though! It's easier than FMQ too so maybe you'll get it all done more quickly?

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  8. Hope you don't lose any fingers to frostbite, you need them for quilting! I'm sure the backing will be fine once you quilt it and then wash it - hope the play goes/went well!

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  9. Pay no attention to Hadley. She is biased. I think you are just in the wrong frame of mind for this kind of work...ya think maybe?

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  10. Try to see it as a learning experience! Hope the concert went some way to improving your day! And no frost bite!!!

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  11. I'm sure it will look beautiful straight line quilted, hopefully it'll go quickly for you.

    I'm now feeling faintly nostalgic for those Christmas concerts in huge unheated abbeys, but then I look at the snow outside and think, perhaps not ;o) Enjoy!

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  12. sounds like you have had a frustrating day! At least you have had the school play to warm your cockles at the end of it all

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  13. Your fmq looks lovely and curvy but if it's not right it's not right. Hope you enjoyed the play.

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  14. haha - i remember watching the kiddlies at school concerts - terrible singing but all made so worth it by their excited, shining faces - especially when they catch sight of their family!

    Hope your straight line goes well today

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  15. Enjoy the play! I'm going to my first on Friday and I can't wait!!
    I don't think you went backwards either, it would have been worse not to try! At least you know you don't like it!

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  16. Have fun at the concert! Your hand stitching looks lovely as does the FMQ, but I can see why it may not be your choice for this quilt. I do love the loopy swirls, though. Can't wait to see the finished quilt!

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  17. I am a fan of straight line quilting and I think it will be just lovely for your beautiful quilt Susan!

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  18. It's so hard to know what quilting style will be the right one until you have a go! I think the unpicking and straight line quilting will be worth it for the finished result. Enjoy the play! Bless their wee cotton socks! Jxo

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  19. The thread may be a teeensy bit dark... but the pattern is beautiful! And those curves! So perfect :o) I think you should stick with it... but in white or pale grey thread.

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  20. I think Sarah says wise words. What a shame you had to unpick! I hope you had a wonderful time at the girls concert and your fingers didn't get too cold :)
    You have probably decided how to quilt by now so this is probably irrelevant, but Laura's suggestion of fmq with a paler colour is a good one. ?

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  21. Sometimes near enough IS good enough with basting. By the time you wash and fluff that baby in the dryer you wont even notice that the basting wasnt 100% perfect anyway.

    Yep-totally go with the straight line quilting.

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