In the morning DH and I cleared the sideway, in the rain, because a chap's coming this morning to dig up some dead and dying conifers that make up our hedge. That was a job and a half, since we use it as storage space for garden rubbish and old pots that aren't being used yet. Then DH had to go up to London for the rest of the day and was going to a show in the evening, so I was more than ready to devote the rest of the day to sewing.
I'd finished quilting the main part of the quilt so 'just' had to put the borders on. Aaaaggghhh! They take as much time as the rest of the quilt I'm sure. And could I get the blasted things to go on straight! Because I was 'quilting as you go' I had to do the wadding and backing too. I decided to use the method from my new book Machine Quilting in Sections. I WON'T be doing it that way again! I'll stick to the method shown in Quilting-on-the-go by Carolyn Forster, it takes longer but it works first time. Eventually, after much wasted thread and rather bad language I got them stitched on. Then I decided to be brave and machine quilt using a template that I'd bought, so I marked up one border, set up the machine, took a deep breath and the plunge. Yet more wasted thread - yes, you've guessed it, tension problems. Finally, one border done. WONKY!! UNEVEN!! A MESS!! So I spent the next two hours unpicking it. Then I re-marked and started quilting it by hand. I don't think I'm cut out to be a machine quilter (perhaps it's my machine? I wish.)
Perhaps I'll have better luck today.
8 comments:
I'm sorry you had such a bad time with your quilt. It might have been because you were tired from working in the garden.
You did the best thing by putting it away until another day. You'll probably find it all goes right straight away next time.
love and hugs xxx
Sounds like it was one of those days like we all have. Tomorrow is usually better. I'm thinking of trying to do some quilting on a small quilt on my domestic sewing machine just to see if I can. I'm sure I will have a similar story. I have a book about it that I have had for years, and haven't really read, so I guess I better get that out first. Sorry for your bad day.
Oh Amanda - what a horrible day you've had!! I think every quilter will feel for you, we've all had days like that. Hopefully a new dawn will make things seem better.
I've had a lot of success with the Marti Mitchell techniques (p22), but if you've found a method that works for you - go for it!
Hope you don't let this experience totally put you off machine quilting though :)
Wow, you have been having a rough time with one thing or another.
Hopefully all of this is in the past and the next few days will be full of wonderful surprises and things to make you laugh!
Amelia in Oklahoma
Ohhh... that is frustrating! Hope your quilting will go more smoothly today.
Amanda,
I feel your pain! I have been exactly where you are and it is not a fun place. I used to be so frightened to put anything I was proud of into the machine for quilting in fear that I would wreck it. I would get so fed up and frustrated that I was sure I was never going to finish an entire quilt. For me a new machine was the answer to all my problems. Not a cheap answer, but I'm glad I took the plunge. Has your machine been serviced recently. When I was having problems with my old machine, getting a good cleaning and adjustment would tide me over for a few months. Good luck, I hope it all works out.
Oh Amanda! I feel your pain! I HATE it when tension problems happen. I really want to believe it's my machine; and hence, yours too???
I sure hope your day went smoothly after that episode! Don't give up on machine quilting yet....the tension just has to get figured out and then you should be in business!
(I know I need to take my own advice!!!!! Figuring out the correct tension is easier said than done!)
Now you've got me curious about the black and white quilt! Don't suppose you took before and after pictures (or in this case the before pictures. After can come when it is gorgeous and completed!)
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