Sunday, April 30, 2017

One Monthly Goal: April 2017

Pregnancy nesting has had a favorable result on my quilt completion. I am pleased to report that I finished my One Monthly Goal for April, a wonderland quilt I designed using EQ7, which was inspired by Cotton + Steel's Wonderland collection designed by Rifle Paper Co.
The blocks are a combination of traditional piecing, machine appliqué, paper piecing, improv, and curved piecing, set within a non-standard grid.
As you may have seen in my planning post, I quilted selected poems from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass using 12 wt Medium Red #5002 Aurifil thread. As this was a new technique for me, I learned a few helpful strategies.
  • Adjust the tension while practicing on a sample quilt sandwich 12" x 12" square of layered fabric/batting/fabric miming the actual quilt. 
  • Use a size 90 needle.
  • Use 40 or 50 wt that matches the color of the top thread in the bobbin.
  • Increase your stitch length and decrease your speed.
  • Hold onto the top and bobbin threads really well after pulling the bobbin thread up to begin sewing. 
  • When tying off threads, refrain from popping the knot into the batting, and instead pull only the thread tails through before clipping. 
  • Use a busy (colorful and patterned) backing or one the same color as your 12 wt thread. 
  • Order the large spool, as the small spool of 12 wt runs out before you know it.
  • Do not backtrack directly; go alongside.
  • Forego the automatic needle threader.
Also, see what Angela Pingel advises, as well as Yvonne Fuchs.

I also chose free-motion designs to highlight each block. In the background space lacking words, I did some composite quilting consisting of swirls, pebbles, feathers, and paisleys in 50 wt Aurifil Avocado #2886.
This quilt was so much fun to create by pulling my favorite elements from Lewis Carroll's classic tale.
 I'll be back later with more details and close-ups. For now, I'll leave you with a parting picture.
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11 comments:

  1. It's a fantabulous finish! Great tips shared, too!

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  2. This is an amazing quilt! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish.

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  3. Boy, was I glad to notice that you wrote out your words before you quilted them--whew! Now it gives me hope that I can try this as I love love it on your quilt.

    This is a pretty fabulous quilt all the way around. I love the theme and the fact that you used your cool fabric to make it. I also love the mixed construction methods, as it "works" on this quilt. When I was nesting, I was happy to get the baby's dresser set up--and you make a quilt! Awesome, as usual.

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  4. This is an amazing finish, Alton, and I look forward to those details!

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  5. This is a great quilt. Congratulations on designing it and finishing it. Thanks for the tips.

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  6. Wow! Great quilt, and sure looks like it was alot of work!! Pretty brilliant concept, and I love that you quilted some of the text of the book into it! so fun!! Hugs, H

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  7. What a creative and beautiful quilt. You are truly skilled at quilting and designing.

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  8. Fabulous finish!! What a wonderful theme and a great way to quilt it!

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  9. wow, this is amazing! What an incredible quilt!

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  10. This is so amazing Afton!! Love it!

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