Estes Park Whole Cloth Quilt

I am very lucky to be a part of a local quilt group for Longarm Quilters.  We meet on a monthly basis and encourage each other in various ways.  Each year we participate as a group at the Heritage Park Festival of Quilts by displaying our work in a group format.

For 2016, it was decided that we would give members opportunity to participate in 2 groups.  Some of us did Log Cabin Quilts and some of us did Wholecloth quilts.  Right away I knew that I was going to participate in the Wholecloth Group.  I took a class from Barbara Chaney waaaay back in 2003 at the first ever Harriet Hargrave's Machine Quilting Celebration.  My first day of classes was with Barbara and English wholecloth quilts.  This is what I drafted in class.  It's been rolled up in the bin ever since.  So, I pulled it out and re-worked it for our size requirement (40" max per side).

I chose a lovely neutral grey solid fabric and marked out all the outlines with a white marking pencil.  

 I loaded the quilt and started quilting.  My daughter chose this bright neon lime Fabulux thread from WonderFil.  I wasn't sure, but she assured me it would look good.

I thoroughly enjoyed the quilting process on my Handi Quilter Avante.  And I agree with my daughter, the lime looks good against the grey.

You can see below that I got through a good chunk of the quilting.  But as I rolled the quilt, I noticed that the tension was not as perfect as I expected.  Also, there was a rotten "knocking" sound which meant to me that the needle tension was too tight.

I played with the tension, but couldn't get it to be just right.

        

I ended taking my machine off the frame and taking it with me when I went to Edmonton in April to teach at Central Sewing Machines.  The guys cleaned and oiled.  The only thing the technician said was that I was using the "wrong" bobbins.  These were new to me, and I have not used them since and have gotten good tension.

 So, I decided to start over.  When I went back to the store to get more grey, they didn't have it, so I chose this lovely teal instead.  The pictures show blue, but it's a lovely teal.

I marked and loaded the quilt.

 This time I chose WonderFil's DecoBob thread.  It's an 80wt polyester rather than the 40wt Fabulux.

I started by quilting in each section and then went back the quilted the background fill.  Because I had a cotton and a wool batt (to get as much loft as I could) I was afraid of the fabric shifting at the edges. I quilted lines spaced 1-1 1/2" apart to stabilize, then went back and filled in with dense piano keys.

 I spent a lot of time with my nose very close to the quilt.  I outlined as much as I could.

I then filled in with very dense "squiggles".

 Once the marking lines were removed the quilt looks great!

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 It was hanging behind the RCMP building at Heritage Park,

I had my husband hold it up to the light so we could get a better picture.

 I printed the label on fabric with all the details.

Classes: Free Motion Quilting - BASICS and NEXT STEPS

I'm going to be doing more teaching at different locations in and around the local area in the coming year.  In the process of up-dating the Classes page on the blog, I've decided to to write a detailed blog post about some of the classes that I teach.  This blog post will give more information about the classes so that those wanting to book me, can find as much information as needed right at hand.

I'm starting with two of my favourite classes: Free Motion Quilting - BASICS and NEXT STEPS classes. 

I started teaching Free Motion Quilting classes WAY back in the mid 1990's.  I took an all-day class from a local store and fell in love!   The only downside was that we used 12" blocks to practice our FMQ.  I found the pieces too small to hang on to and when I taught my first class I decided on FQ (Fat Quarter) sandwiches.  In the 3 hour classes students were often going through 3 and 4 sandwiches.  We are now up to 1/2 meter and 1 meter sandwiches for a 3 hour class and that seems to work fine.  The reason for the larger size quilt is because of the amount of space for the quilter's hands.  When there is a very small quilt (12") there is very little room for the hands to hold the quilt.  A FQ sandwich will give more quilting space, but the larger 1/2 meter sandwich gives lots of quilting space while still giving the quilter room to hold the quilt.

The content that I used to teach in 3 hours, I now teach in 15-20 hours of classes!  That means more concentrated time on each aspect and more in-class practice!  I am a hands-on teacher and like to spend time with each student giving them individual tips and tricks.

Many of my classes are planned for a 3 hour teaching time.  I often am asked for whole day classes and will tweak the class content (add more) for these classes.  Sometimes we will combine the BASICS and the NEXT STEPS classes into a whole day class, but I prefer to give students some time to practice between the two.  The whole idea of practice is not to make it PERFECT but to make it PERMANENT.  The more you practice, the less thinking is involved and muscle memory takes over.

Free Motion Quilting - BASICS.  Learn the basics of 5 shapes that make up all FMQ designs and the foundation for all future FMQ. Learn how to set up your machine, the basic mechanics of FMQ, and how to stitch the 5 basic shapes.  This class is ideal for those who have never tried FMQ before, but is also a valuable refresher for those have some experience.

• I always start my classes by talking about the machine set up. Sometimes we need to begin by cleaning out the machine.  Mostly I discuss the importance of machine cleaning.  We also talk about the needles (I go into more detail later in the class) and the sewing machine accessories recommended for FMQ.
• We cover a demonstration and explanation of layering a quilt for FMQ on a domestic machine.
• We get right to it and start stitching.  This first quilting time is focusing on thread choices and machine tension as well as hand positioning and tips on how to move the fabric.
• Many years ago I read a book Pathways to Better Quiltng by Sally Terry.  I found the 5 shapes for machine quilt patterns an eye opening concept.  I have based my BASICS class on these shapes and once students see that almost all quilting designs are made from these shapes they "get it" and can FMQ.
  
• The BASICS class focuses on these shapes.  I give students detailed notes and lots of time to practice drawing as well as stitching these shapes.
• I bring along a (large) selection of quilted samples to show students.  I don't just show my latest (most perfect) projects, but the early ones too to show that everyone can FMQ!

Free Motion Quilting  - NEXT STEPS.   Students will gain confidence in their Free Motion Quilting by taking what they learned in the Basics class and learning how to put the basic shapes together to create a variety of quilting motifs. Students will get lots of practice stitch and trying a variety of different motifs.

In the NEXT STEPS class we continue what we learned in the BASICS class.  Although I recommend students to have taken the BASICS class first, anyone with any FMQ experience can join.  I'll just be expecting that students know how to set up their machine, and have some knowledge and experience of FMQ skills.

• We spend a lot of time learning how to combine the 5 basic shapes to create a variety of different quilting motifs.  How to draw and stitch a basic flower or leaf. How to recognize what shapes are used in a variety of quilting motifs.
• We also focus on scale and how to stitch shapes in a variety of sizes to coordinate with the size of the quilt.
• Students will get a lot of time to practice drawing as well as stitching these new motifs.
• Students are encouraged to bring in a quilt so as a group we can discuss ideas on quilting. 

Quilt Club

I have joined many sewing/quilting groups over the years.  Some have been formal organizations and some have been loose gatherings of like minded people.

I currently belong to 3 quilt groups and sew (almost) regularly with a group of friends.  Each of these groups serve a different purpose in my sewing/quilting life.

One group I have wanted to join is one where we challenge each other and encourage each other in our craft.  I have't found a group yet, but I am still hoping I'll find a few like minded people soon.

One group or club that I did start this year at WonderFil Threaducation Centre was a quilt group.   We meet the 4th Wednesday evening of the month and look at a different quilting shapes and it's many variations.  So far, we've looked at Squggles and Loops.  We have spent time doodling and creating many, many variations.  

I have created a Quilt Club Binder that the participants got on the first night.  I've included some of my doodles and give lots of space for club members to add their own designs.   It's amazing what we can do with paper and pen or needle and thread.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 23 at the WonderFil Threaducation Centre.

Thought I'd share some pictures of my doodling on the white board during our last club meeting.

In our Loops meeting, we started with simple loops and looked at variations.

We filled blocks

I've lots of ideas....probably too many, but my hope is that as a group we'll encourage each other to stretch our quilting skills and try something other than basic loops and meandering.

Festival of Quilts at Heritage Park - Part 2

This part of the Festival of Quilts shows quilts made by others.  Most of the time I took pictures of the whole quilt and then a close up of the quilting.  I was too busy looking at quilts and pushing a baby in the stroller to take more pictures....sorry.

 

I like this sunflower quilt.  The close-up shows that the curves are created using the fold back method.  Very striking piecing and quilting.

 

I have always wanted to make a Hunter Star quilt.  I have seen two methods of instruction and one method uses half square triangles....I think that method is on my list of up-coming projects.  I took pictures of this quilt because the quilt had been quilted beautifully. 

 

I don't think I need to say anything about the quilting on this quilt, other that WONDERFUL!.

 I recently joined a long arm quilting group.  They had a group submission in the show.  They all stitched the same block pattern and their own choice of fabrics.  Each quilt was quilted to show case the quilters style.

 

 
I took pictures of this quilt because if was stitched on a Sit and Sew machine and is beautifully quilted!

 

 
I am not a fan of Civil War quilts.....fabrics.  My eye always, always goes to the brighter, clearer colors like you would see in batiks and hand dyed fabrics.  But I can admire and appreciate the workmanship and quilt patterns in Civil War quilts.  These quilts were made with 1/2 inch and 1 inch squares!!!!!!

 

And a final piece of eye candy.   A Rail Fence with flying geese!  Perfect.

2014 quilting resolutions.....my dream or hope-to list.

I read a post recently from Michelle about quilting 50 quilts in 2013.  I think that is an admirable goal...but don't think I can do that.  My goal or challenge for this year is to finish 14 quilts.  I mean bigger than a baby quilt or wall hanging.  I have 4 of my own quilt tops that just need to be quilted and bound and I have a few ideas for quilts I would like to make.  I have always said that I would like to have a different quilt on my bed for each month of the year.....I have one for January (Woven Vine & Roses).

Let's see how well I do.  I've dug through the filing cabinet (the storage chest of unfinished quilts) to see what's waiting for me.  The following is a list of quilt tops that are done, or almost done and should be finished this year. You may have noticed in the previous paragraph that I said I had 4 tops......guess I was wrong....15 and counting!

My giant broken star in blues and yellows....Always reminded me of fields of grains and a bright summer sky.

Arabesque
July 2014, the border is on.  The backing is prepared...just need to load and quilt.  

 Asian Stack and Whack

Aussie Stack n' slash...it's quilted.  I just have to trim and bind.  I'll post more about this quilt with pictures soon. (Completed)

 Batik Blazing Star....some strips cut....that's all.   :(

AHG Mystery.  I've already completed one of these.  But as with many mysteries, fabric choices are always a challenge.  I want to use the big blue circles for lots of quilting.

 Blue and White Dresden Plate

 Foothills Sampler

 2 Quilts to be given away  (Completed)

 Gordian Knot

Double 9 patch (Update....gave the top away to a friend who will finish it for her daughter!)

 Hand Dyed Lone Star

 Hand Dyed Pinks

Western Retreat Mystery (completed in May 2014 and put on display at Heritage Park Festival of Quilts.) completed

 Xs and Os - paper pieced scraps (gave away...see I do check things off one way or another)

I also have a black on black quilt.  Many of the blocks have been done.   The plan was to create a black on black quilt top and treat is as a background for some fantastical applique or whole cloth quilting!  Can't find it, but I know it's here somewhere. July 2014....found it.  Used some of the black FQ to make another quilt.  These blocks are safely tucked away in a labeled box.

I guess I am good for the year!  I know I will need to get fabrics to complete many of the projects....but I am going to try not to purchase any fabrics "just because".  Would love to have at least 14 posts this year showing 14 completed project.  Wish me luck!