Blue Quilt Applique Done

Where have I been? Whatever have I been doing?! We've all been sewing away behind the scenes .So on the 2nd June with a chilly breeze outside and gusting winds howling across the top of my chimney pot there will be no gardening distractions for me today!

I have been sewing up my blue quilt with all the applique. Every border is different, which I thought would make it easier and more interesting but the only thing is they have to look balanced. Butterflies came to the rescue and filled up the gaps and I love them anyway. So here is a pic of the completed applique.

 I wanted some of the colours to fade in and out of the background, however this isn't the best picture I'm afraid. I have then added french knots to the flower middles. I'll be back with some detailed pictures later. This quilt has been a real challenge in letting go of perfectionism and I don't think I have worked on anything with such determination before! What follows are the quilting details and I will be back with less technical sewing updates later.

Quilting In the Ditch

Here I have ditched all of the blocks in the centre using a quilting needle 70 and a transparent polyester thread by Superior Threads which was definitely the best option as the colours vary from dark to light. The thread is very fine, like hair! and disappeared into the seams so there is no ugly plastic shine. It wasn't a problem to stitch with a slightly lower tension, however for starting and finishing I used micro length stitches forwards and then backwards instead of knots or having to tie and bury knots by hand. 
Machine set to:  normal stitch length, walking foot engaged.
In the bobbins I used Shade colour: Pearl, Brand: So Fine Thread by Superior Threads. Bobbin Genie plastic washer.
So with all the blocks in the middle stabilised I can take out the pins. I started out with the curved small basting safety pins but I do find that they can pucker up the back if I'm not careful enough, plus I don't have many. So I resorted to the following and would recommend it.

Basting the Sandwich

Long, fine Clover pins, flower head or glass headed. Then you can use Pinmoors to stick on the sharp ends. OR I tried cheap ear defenders which seemed to work just as well. These are much quicker to take off as you sew and perfect for the applique. I removed them once I had outlined the applique so the bulky ear defenders didn't get in the way.  I like the curved safety pins for stitching in the ditch of the blocks.

I taped the backing fabric to my large table and smoothed on the cotton batting and well pressed top. I thought I'd try not using the basting spray this time as I wonder if it causes more thread snags as I free motion. Now that It's done, I think my technique has vastly improved and so there were far less thread breaks!

Work Space

My best friend during this quilting bonanza has been Pledge Polish!! And its the only time I shall be polishing so regularly! Keeping lint and fluff from the work tables and machine area is key. A smooth slippery surface that the quilt can glide across as you work is much easier to work with and aids smooth stitching lines. Supreme Slider for the free motioning too.

I created an L-Shaped work station to support the quilt as I stitched and had this butted into the corner of the room so that the quilt didn't flop onto the floor creating weight and drag. I take my shoes off to operate the foot pedal. I also noticed it was far easier if I kept the quilt "fluffed and puffed up" rather than laying flat, immediately around my stitching bed. The advice is often to roll the quilt up into the harp of the machine, but I have repeatedly found this to make the quilt cumbersome to handle and hard work repeatedly re- rolling, so I don't bother with that anymore! Just stuff and puff it!

Machingers quilting gloves, even for the stitching in the ditch make the quilt so much easier to handle. I have a little table to my right with all my notions easily to hand but not easily knocked to the floor by the quilt or my elbows! I tape a plastic bag to the right of my sewing table for all the threads and fluff.

So, on a sunny day I'll take some nice pictures of the good bits!

Other updates will include the Class stitching updates, some shots of my garden and the stitching exploits of my cabin visitors, not to mention 2 more finished items and 2 new projects of mine! So, bye for now, I'm off for a blustery run with the dog!