Saturday 4 February 2017

Slow and steady

Well, it's been a busy week celebrating my birthday and with concentrated family time.

How am I going for the Project Quilting challenge reveal tomorrow? I think I have kind of given in to being late with this one. My sewing machine has been sewing a bit tenderly since it gave my son "Moving Soup". The bobbin case was jumping everywhere!

The seams were all loose on the bottom. I used a different bobbin, changed the tension, cleaned out the bobbin race, changed needles and re-threaded top and bottom numerous times. And frog stitched (rippit) quite a few seams...

Then I googled what it might be (it's only just had a blooming service!), and I didn't know I could oil my machine. In the manual it says not to. Well, this is a warm, humid climate. And so I oiled it, then let it soak in, and oiled it again.

Ok. I pieced the quilt top.

And the scraps are in a zip loc bag.

Uh-oh. Not enough batting. Between running to the shops on a Saturday afternoon with three children in tow, I just didn't fancy going out, then spending the next day and a half quilting a panel to death just for a challenge deadline. I prefer to spend more quality time with the children, and I think my machine needs a bit of nursing so that it doesn't start spilling the soup again.

And so, I have been making progress with the first applique block of Esther's Diamond Hill.

Only some flower receptacles left to go, and some circular knobs on the stems. I am not going to complete the baskets until later. I am not sure if we are meant to do that yet.

This has left me a little bit of time to dream about the first block of Esther's Secret Garden. While I was in the zone, I think I've come up with these colours and fabrics for the first block.

It is not a centre block, but a side block, which means I don't have to choose the main fabric themes with this first piece. I really like the "clashing" look, but it's still about balance. Some parts of the quilt are going to be more muted than others. But as there are 4 background blocks in this size, I think these appliques can all be bright.

The background is looking more grey here than it does in real life, where it's kind of a taupe/mauve.

Linking up to Friday Night With Friends.

Maybe you'd like to see what the others got up to?

9 comments:

Karen in Breezy Point said...

Oh dear, I hope your machine is done acting up. Mine just spit a piece of the thread tension spring at me--guess it's ready for it's annual spa treatment! Your applique blocks is beautiful--love the dark background!

Helen said...

Good luck with your machine sometimes a bit of tender libelling oil is all it needs. Love your Applique block.

Janet said...

I busy night for you! I hope your machine fixes itself, although they never do, do they? I have no idea what "spilling the soup" means but it doesn't sound good. :)

kiwikid said...

Love your applique block, I hope your machine settles down and is working well, your Christmas quilt looks great. Your are very organised with the scraps.

Karen's Korner said...

I hope that your machine decides to settle down and behave. Pretty fabrics.

Jo said...

You still managed to do quite a bit this week...

Quilting Chemist (Danette) said...

Beautiful projects and Happy Birthday.

Raewyn said...

So frustratng when our machines play up!! Good you got something done though. Love love love the start to Esther's project - I am trying really hard not to start this one but I love it and tell myself that surely one more porject wouldn't hurt.....

Alcea Rosea 31 said...

Wow you have so many projects on the go. I love the applique block, i hope your machine is now sewing as it should.