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Since Google reader is going away, here's how to find me in bloglovin. I still can't decide what I'm going to do, I have bloglovin and RSS feed. I'll use both for a while and see what works best.

If you haven't visited Quilty Pleasures Blog recently, be sure and check out the new dance craze video on it. It looks like fun!!

I'll be back to blogging in a more regular fashion in August. See you then!

Happy Quilting,
Becky

The real story of the mistake

You might have read my blog post over on Quilty Pleasures Blog about the Mandarin Express quilt I made in red, black and white for the scrap squad. In it I gave the illusion that I caught my mistake while it was a top. Not so. This is the picture I took of it for the blog:
Do you see it?  The offending section? Try the right end of the second row of stars . . . .Ah, now you see it. Note that it is entirely quilted, binding in place, and hanging for its final picture. I did not see this until posting it as the last picture in the Quilty Pleasures blog.
My DDH (double dear) was kind enough to Photoshop a correction of the quilt in time for me to meet my deadline.
This, however, is how the quilt was actually finished.

The first step was to carefully rip out the quilting, leaving as long tail as possible to each line. I was fortunate that all the edges here are turned under already. The hardest part was actually finding a stitch to start ripping out the piece. I now have increased my stitch length.

I then had to tie off each line of quilting, bury the knots, and trim off all the threads. I had used a slippery, shredding, beautiful thread to quilt with, but it didn’t like all this additional handling.

I then set the piece back in place and pinned it well with applique pins (short).


I
This was my setup of appliqueing back the piece. Ott light with 3x magnifier. I tried to put my stitches into the same holes the machine made, but I didn't use every hole – I can’t applique that small.
Now I needed to re- quilt that part. There is no way to reload this on Black Bart (Nolting) and actually line it up with the Circle Lord boards to do this. I did it on my DSM.

I set the machine up and started, 
 then was quickly reminded that Superior threads like topstitch needles as the thread shredded, again. After I changed the needle it was perfect.

Since this was near the edge, I used a walking foot to  connect some of the less curved circles. You can see that I drew them in, connecting the lines from the tie-off threads.



I switched to free motion to finish it. I did tie-off and bury all these thread ends as well.
The quilt now looks like the Photoshop version. I also added a hanging sleeve, and since DH was available to help, it’s now hanging in my hallway for everyone to admire. My daughter tells everyone it is her new quilt – maybe in a few years, but I need to enjoy it first.

My design wall is still a secret scrap squad project, one with lots of spotlight patches – lots of points to match. Here’s one block:
It’s nearly ready for Black Bart. My wonderful DH made and installed a switch on Bart that will allow me to lift the Circle Lord stylus from the front of the machine, so I can control the stitches when it moves. It's patterned after the one on the Circle Lord site. I’m excited – I’ll let you know how it works out.
Happy Quilting,
Becky

Design wall Monday 4-8-2013 The reds continue

My goal has been to use up all the grey and black diamonds making LeMoyne stars. I’m really tired of making 6” stars. There at the side you see some experiments with other settings for diamonds and scraps. I decided there was very little texture in this quilt, so I played with more of the RWBs I had pulled for scrap squad.

I bought several template sets from Material Obsessions a while back, and decided to incorporate this one. I also started a large feathered star to add to the ever growing stack of stars. Some have asked how I’m planning to put them together.

This is a very poor picture of Sam’s first big bed quilt, made in 2001-2. I had border fabric (off the sides of the table) and a bit of Jennifer Sampou’s  Rain Forest fabric, and kept pulling brights and backgrounds to go with them. I made a bunch of stars (I’ve taught a lot of stars classes), put them on the design wall, and then made connectors. That’s the same plan for the reds.
Visit more design walls over at Judy’s.
Addendum

Happy Quilting,
Becky

WOW! Two great scrap squad posts

Look at this awesome Majestic Gardens quilt that is the last one of this particular project. It has so much movement, and I love the colors. This one’s Colette’s. Click on the link (Look) to see the full posting. It is so great to see the creativity of each of these fellow scrap squad members.

The 2nd posting is of our newest project. This is Nicole’s. So great. You just have to read the full post and see all her great pictures. Look for more scrap squad projects on Fridays. It is so much fun to be a part of this. My quilt won’t show until May – good thing, it’s draped over Big Bart, waiting patiently to be quilted. That’s on today’s agenda.
Happy Quilting,
Becky

Design wall Monday 4-1-13 Red is a neutral

If you’ve read Freddy Moran’s book, you know that all reds go together as they are all neutrals. That’s what is on my design wall – leftovers of red, black, white, and grey quilts.

I’m working on emptying this drawer of diamonds that I cut from 1-3/4” strips left from my daughter's wedding quilt.
I added some of the newer fabrics when I filled out the set of pieces for 6” LeMoyne stars.


I also have 4-patches left from the wedding quilt of 4 red squares, and the string blocks made from the Christmas left-overs and another of these red drawers.
What’s on your design wall? Judy has a lot of windows open today. This one is for design walls. (I goofed earlier)
Happy Quilting,
Becky

Design wall Monday 4-1-13 for JoAnne

Wall hanging size finished, now she’s on to the gazillion flying geese for the queen extensions.
Becky for JoAnne

JoAnne’s design wall 3-19-2013

Do you ever feel like your friend is just out of your league when it comes to paper piecing, color, etc? This is JoAnne’s design wall today. Masterful - Need I say more?

Becky