Table Runner Finished....

Back in April and May, I was working on sewing curves for a table runner using 1/4" Curve Master Presser Foot.  Unfortunately, very little sewing occurred over the summer.  I did get the backing ready which would have been okay had I been hand quilting the table runner but I ended using this project on my sewing buddy's new quilting frame.  This meant that I had to add fabric around the outside edge.  It worked out okay.  My table runner will not be double-sided as was originally intended.  So, here's the finished project:

I think it turned out pretty good.  This is the second time that I have done free motion quilting (FMQ).  I can't say that I really getting better at FMQ but I can say that this could be very addictive.  I didn't enjoy the FMQ so much on the Behemoth but that could be because I didn't have a big surface to work with which makes it hard to move the quilted item around.  My first attempt at FMQ was when we did the Trapunto project in January.  You can read about that here and the finished project is here.  My friend's quilting frame made this really pretty easy.  I think with practice it could be a lot of fun.  We were using a frame that she had built with a Singer model 15 for the stitching.

I also tried another new to me technique.  I machine stitched the binding.  This involved using this foot:

This is a left edge topstitching foot.  I collect many feet but don't always know what to do with them after getting them.  This was a perfect application.  Here's the table runner on my table:

My living room is a little on the dark side but you can kinda see the table that the table runner is on.  Looks like I have a runner for next spring/summer.  Now, I need to work on additional runners for other seasons.

Happy Stitching!

Pillow Cover Completed...

The trapunto pillow cover is finally completed.  Here are some pictures:

Here's the new pillow cover before it was washed. See how pointy the corners are.  This is when I realized that I forgot to adjust for the dogears.

  

Here's the pillow cover after the dogear adjustment and being washed.  I looks like I could done more than 1/2" adjustment but I do not plan on making any additional changes to this pillow cover.  I don't have a picture of the back but it has a lapped zipper application as shown in this tutorial.

I'm happy with my first attempt at machine trapunto.  As far as a technique for our monthly sewing get together, I would call this a success.  Both of us finished our projects.  This is a technique I would like to revisit for other projects.  I'm even happy with my second attempt at doing free motion quilting. I can't remember if I said anything about my first free motion quilting attempt but I wasn't sure that I would ever revisit the free motion quilting after I did it.

If you're interested in attempting the machine trapunto, this post  talks a bit about technique with links to how-to sources.  This post shows my work on the pillow case.

Happy Stitching!

Trapunto...The First Attempt

I didn't realize when I decided to attempt trapunto that there would be soooo many decisions.  I started with the instructions for the Quilted Snowflake at quiltsocial.com.  The instructions seemed fairly straight forward.  Next, I had to decide on a design.  This was really hard. I finally settle for a Celtic knot design.  Here's the design that I chose:

Due to the size of the design,  I decided to create a pillow cover .  Sorry, I don't remember where I found the design.  It was a freebie. Next, I had to choose fabric but what color? Most of the time trapunto is done is light colors or a solid.  I decided to go with a cream color fabric.

So here is my tracing.  Even though you were suppose to use a water soluble marking pen, I didn't. It was a kid's colored marking pen.  We'll find out if it was a mistake when the finished project is washed.  Actually, I thought that I had a water soluble pen and it turned out to be a air erase pen.  The air erase pen would not write on the heavy duty water soluble stabilizer.

Here's the design stitched with the water soluble thread.  I chose to use it in the bobbin as well has the top thread.  The instructions had you using thread the matched the main fabric in the bobbin but I didn't want any loose thread hanging around when the item was washed.  I used two layers of a cotton batting (it was in the stash).

Here you're starting to see the design pop.  I was really making a mess with the free motion quilting and I quilted the inside very tight.  I had to take a break at this point.  My sewing buddy had finished her project and decided that she would like to do the trapunto again in the future.

Here is the piece with the finished free motion quilting.  I did not quilt the outside portion as tightly as the inside portion.    I'm happy with the look of the project and hope that I like the look of the cream in my family room.  I'll post the finished pillow cover at a later date.  As I still need to cut out the back and get a zipper.

Time-wise, it took about 6 hours to complete.  This included me cutting out the fabric for the top, back, and batting.  Stitching the initial Celtic knot and then trimming the batting from the areas that I didn't want it.  Then, completing the free motion quilting.  There were also breaks for lunch and when my sewing buddy left.

What do you think of my first trapunto attempt?  I even feel like I got the hang of free motion quilting.  This is the second time I have done the free motion quilting and I think I'm starting to like it.  I can see it being a very relaxing why to spent a free afternoon or evening.

Happy Stitching!