Friday, 29 April 2011

I Spy Quilt Finished ..............

The last stitch on the binding finished literally just seconds before Kate arrived at the abbey.  My first quilt and no matter where it ends up I'm always going to remember when I made it or else what I was doing when William and Kate married.


 


Though I loved it as it was, I had to wash and dry it if only to see for myself how it would behave should it find a new home.  A couple of colour catchers in the machine (half hour 30 degree cycle with a low spin) picked up quite a bit of dark blue and there was quite a bit of shrinkage.



Though I really, really like it there is still room for improvement.  Quilting "in the ditch" with one of the general feet I have was not as easy as I thought.  Some of the stitching isn't quite in the ditch and it shows more than I would like - particularly in the darker areas.  Maybe I should have used a different stitch length and/or perhaps tightened the tension a little more?  It's been a great learning curve and I still have much to learn.  Having chosen a beige thread, I feel I could have gone darker too.  Still, it's not exactly a showpiece so probably not that bad for a first effort!

I'll have to look out for a good patchwork/quilting book - one that explains/advises on the tensions/threads/stitching/feet etc..
.
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6 comments:

  1. Chris Gray29 April 2011 at 19:23

    It's STILL an achievement Shelley...

    ...even though it may not be perfect.

    I'm envious that you've completed something so big :-)

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  2. Dana30 April 2011 at 19:39

    Hi- thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. Your quilt looks great. Especially as your first! Like you, I found quilting in the ditch a challange. I dont think it has anything to do with your tension. I have learnt since that, A- you can get a stitch in the ditch foot to help. It has a little groove in the middle that walks in the ditch- see this video http://www.sewingmachine-sales.co.uk/sewing_machine_info/video/49/stitch-in-the-ditch-1/4-inch-with-idt.html and B- If you press your seams open rather then to the side this should help prevent your stitches falling out of the ditch if you see what I mean as there will be even seams on both sides. Also, dark colours bleed so wash on a cold wash to minimise it and prewash dark fabrics first (I dont bother with light ones) hope that helps xx

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  3. Anonymous30 April 2011 at 21:58

    Shelley that is beautiful - I love that kind of colourwash quilt. Lovely!

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  4. Beverley19 May 2011 at 13:29

    Helpful hints are to always pre- wash your fabrics.
    Then it is tricky doing in the ditch with one colour in a scrap quilt. Beiges and greys are the best in my experience.
    Having said that, you quilt looks beautiful. Congratulations on finishing it.
    Bev

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  5. Brenda1 June 2011 at 05:40

    I like it. thanks for another variation in I Spy quilts.

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  6. Sandra18 October 2011 at 11:06

    Very nice! Love how you laid out the blocks.

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