No time for January blues this year! A new year and so much to do. As I visit blogs, I see many quilters trying to finish up last years projects. Others, will have it no other way, than to begin the year with a new one. And, lots of resolutions being made. Some even saying they are not going to purchase any fabric this year. Can you imagine? Those crazy quilter's! What a sense of humor! Don't they know.....
A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown
And, how about the free BOM's? Country Calender , Once Upon a Time , A Tisket, A Tasket 12 Months of Baskets , Red Delicious and A Christmas Wish and challenges like, One Project a Month , This Quilter is Going Green and Project Improv.
My Dear Jane and Quilted Diamond journey continues, but I will have to begin my Polka-Dot Girls again. Yesterday I pressed My Friends, from the back, and when I flipped it over it was covered in tiny bubbles. Just like when you hang wallpaper and if gets bubbles behind it. If you look closely at the photo (fence area shows it best) you will see the bubbles I am talking about.It appears the fabric and Pellon separated during pressing. I tried to press down the tiny bubbles with my mini iron, but it didn't work. My stitchery is ruined. On the bright side, I had only completed two and I had not yet ironed the Pellon onto the back of the rest of the stitchery blocks. Why I used a fusible in the first place, I don't know. How could that be any different then paper glued to paper. It gets wavy and in time, discolours and comes apart. I should have enough fabric left to recut the first couple of blocks. Now, how to back my stitchery?? Most likely, I will use a thin muslin. I have heard only good things about muslin. Another option is a thin batting. May Britt uses both polyester and cotton batting. Cotton being a little harder to work with. I read on the Internet, when using cotton, if you don't use a hoop, your stitchery will have a quilted look. That would be nice, on the right project. Oh well. Live and learn. No hurry I say.....
The only thing that has to be finished by next Tuesday is next Monday. ~Jennifer Yane
Before Christmas, I went through my stash, in search of red fabric. It was time to prepare for Red Delicious. How disappointing! What a sad collection of red fabric. But, Santa brought me a wonderful collection. Have you seen Quaker Quilts by Judie Rothermel for Marcus Fabric? This is what I will be using for Red Delicious and my background fabric will be a very bright yellow. Put your sunglasses on!
Started and finished appliqueing my Cherry Butterfly block this past week. My Dad selected all the fabric and I think it's just beautiful! The pattern is from a wonderful book called Circles of The East, by Kumiko Sudo. Now, I need to decide what to turn it into. Any ideas?
Until next week.....happy quilting!
Karen
20 comments:
Love that stitchery!! Did you find a shop here that carried that pattern?
Your reds are delicious. :-)
I'm sorry that you will have to redo your polka dot girls block, but at least you found the problem early on! I had the same thing happen with an iron on interfacing with a t-shirt quilt that I made for my son (after the first washing). It was heart breaking! I've been hesitant to use it ever since and your experience just confirms my feelings about fusible products. They are fine for fast projects that you don't expect to keep forever, but not for projects that have a lot time or sentiment invested in them.
I had the same problem with my very first stitchery. I think my interfacing was just too stiff. It almost looked like leather on the back after I pressed it when I was done. And it had the little bubbles you're talking about. I switched to the Whisper Weft that I think Jan recommended and it's been a dream to work with. It's nice and thin and easy to stitch through. I love it! :0)
Oh, darn it - such a shame you have to redo such cute pieces - but at least you didn't get too far along. The polka dot girls are really cute. You do such lovely work, Karen. Now a question - I was wondering why you backed the fabric with fusible web. Does that elminate the need for a hoop? I just had not heard of that before. Haven't done a lot of embroidery - some redwork which I just did in a hoop.
P.S. I love your quotes!!
Love your reds and can't wait to see your blocks. You could make a pillow with the butterfly block. It is beautiful.
I've been working on a stitchery that I ironed the fusible on the fabric before I started stitching. Is there a reason for after? I want to say the Cinderberry Stitches is where I learned to do it before you stitch but can't recall at moment.
Karen I love the reds you have picked out.
Imagine if we do stop buying fabric then we would complain that there are no quilt shops.
we must use from our stash but we must support the shops or they too will go out of business.
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about what happened with your Polka Dot Girls. EEEE Gads! I just love them anyway. I love your reds and I am very impressed with your fathers selection of fabrics. Fabulous!
What a pity that you could'nt use this beautiful stitched block!
You could make your butterfly block a book cover :)
Have you tried pressing the pellon again and then peeling it off your stitchery? Sometimes, once the glue is warm you just might be able to pull it off. It's worth a try.
Such a shame that your block was spoilt.
What a beautiful selection of red fabrics1 I wasnt going to buy any....but found some very pretty bits and pieces in my store at 20% off!
If you hadn't pointed out the "bubble" we wouldn't have seen it. Your work is beautiful to me. I love visiting this blog and seeing what you are up to. Always a pleasant journey.
I also visit many blogs linking from one to another, but find myself with about a dozen or so that I have coffee with regularly...your's is one of them.
Shame about your Polka Dot Girls. Lucky you've only stitched two. Maybe you could use these blocks for a bag. I love your red fabrics ... adore anything by Judie Rothermel.
Christine
I hadn't seen those reds by Judie Rothermel...they look beautiful! Also, really like the quotes.
Gosh I love them anyway...I guess it's disappointing if you didn't want it to be that way...I think it's beautiful (I really do) and I'd 'go with the flow' and make it part of the pattern.
Your work is lovely.
I'm adding you to my blog...Woohoo!
Glad I found you :c)
hugs
Robyn xx
Me again :c)
I wanted to say for stopping by my blog and commenting on my Scissors Companion.
hugs
Robyn xx
Sorry to hear you have to redo your PDG's block, they are so much work to start with. I put fusible on the back before I start stitching and never had a problem with the entire quilt. I hope you find a solution that works for you.
I used muslin on my Winter Wonderland block and it worked wonderfully. I just machine basted the edges of the block and muslin and if I'm going to be doing a larger block I will put a criss cross of big hand basting through it so there is no shifting. Your block is beautiful as is though!
Hi Karen,
Thanks for coming by on my blog. Just had a short visit to your blog.
Love your 'Cherry Butterfly block'!!
I will come back another time to read more, you have a nice blog.
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