progress report

I had a week in the middle of Maine for work, so no sewing. I have been easing back into my studio since then. Not a ton of progress on any 1 project. Just piddling on several smalls:

Flimsy made from TMQG patriotic blocks:

I fleshed this out using scraps from my stash. Currently 78" by 61".

This is the beginning of something I am making for my partner in the Modern She Made Swap group on Flickr:

3.5" Drunkards path blocks.

5 minis completed (using my Trapunto-faux©  technique) [Sarcasm, why yes!]

1. Grey Lark Mini 18" Square

This uses Lark leftovers on gray Kona. This is FMQed using a layer of poly batting over a layer of cotton batting.

2. Rainbow Star 18" Square

I used a variety of prints from my stash, along with Kona solids and the dark gray border is Westminster Manatee. (Love this gray!) I FMQ-ed this with a layer of wool batting over a layer of cotton. I added the button in a fit of whimsy. THIS quilt is for my TMQG partner in our Doll/Mini swap.

3. DS Quilts Doll Quilt Swap (for my partner)

18" square featuring DSQuilts prints with a dash of FMF thrown in for good measure. I FMQ-ed this with a layer of poly over a layer of cotton batting. 

4. Red Flower 16" Square

Prints given to my by a TMQG sista' {hi Sarah!}, Kona Coal solid, FMQ-ed on 2 layers of cotton batting. To be donated.

5. FMF Flower 18" Square

18" Square,Mostly Flea Market Fancy prints playing with some Westminster solids (which feel so good!) and Kona Gray and Snow. I FMQ-ed this on 2 layers of cotton batting. To be donated.

These small projects are really working for me while I am traveling ever 3 weeks for work. But I am getting the itch to finish my king-sized summer quilt. So, who knows? Maybe I'll get back on that!

Last, but not least in the Trapunt-faux Follies

Now I have moved on to my final trial on this journey.

This trial involves a layer of wool batting over my thin cotton batting. [No brand names here, because I buy my cotton batting on sale from a number of places and I just do not remember. And I bought the wool off the bolt at my LQS over a year ago.]

I switched up my thread to using the YLI Soft Touch in top and bobbin. I really LOVE this thread. I really LOVE all the YLI threads I have used. Never a bad spool and they all play nice with both my Baby Lock (which is a bit peculiar) and my Viking Sapphire (which is not). Anyway, I am using a small thread to focus on the effect of the stitching, not the stitches themselves and this fine thread sinks nicely into the fabric. I also had coordinating colors. I like the Aurifil as well, it is excellent quality but I have to order it as there are no retailers near me that carry it. It is also a bit more pricey than the YLI and honestly, I can't tell a difference in my work. 

Back to the trapunt-faux:

This sample was a total joy to stitch. The wool is like air. It has such a nice loft, quilts very flat and springs back wonderfully. That is why wool is so often used by the pro's in show quilts, it has a great memory and does not hold onto creases like cotton! I love the distinction between the more densely quilted parts and the unquilted parts.  

 I really love this one!

Pars tres, Trapunt-faux

This sample (Trial 1, for those of you keeping track) has 2 layers of cotton batting. I have played with this combo before, but never to this extent).

Pros: I have a lot of cotton batting scraps so this was a great way to use them up. The 2 layers also gives the stiffness I wanted for these minis. The free-motion stitch shows up nicely, but the cotton just does not give any "pouf". Not a bad effect, just different.

  
Again this sample has the YLI Soft Touch (60/2) in top and bobbin. No tension issues, stitched fine. Just not very "trapunto-ish". These minis have been so much fun. I am involved in several mini swaps and really enjoy the process. I am also looking forward to the feedback from my partners. 

Trapunt-faux, part deux

So, here's what I did:

I did "stitch in ditch" around the borders and figures first. I like how this creates a clean line and contains the free motion stitching. I did a stipple of varying scale, pebbling and curly swirls in my flat areas. All have a similar stitch density from quilt to quilt, but I did not get bored doing the same thing time after time.

First up:  Trials 2 & 3, polyester over cotton. Used Aurifil Mako 50/2 in top, YLI Soft Touch 60/2 in bobbin. All was not sunshine and rainbows! I started with PolyX in the top, but my Baby Lock despises that yarn, so I did some un-sewing. Not having a great week anyway, this made me feel like the universe was out to get me.

But it is quilting after all, I grabbed my brass stiletto and brass seam ripper, a Diet Coke and sat on the deck to rip the teeny-tiny stitches.

Then I pulled up my big-girl pants and went back into the studio.

Trial 2:

Trial 3:

I am happy with the extra "pouf" the layer of polyester gives. I had to play a little with my presser foot pressure, even thought the feed dogs are not engaged, and I am using my open-toed quilting foot, I needed to increase the working space beneath the foot to accommodate the extra height. I just do not like handling the polyester batting. I will say, it is cheap, thin, non-name brand batting from a certain chain fabric/craft store so it is readily available and did not require a huge investment for this experiment.

And to answer why I did not place the extra batting and cut away what I did not want: these are all min quilts, intended to hang. The extra layer of batting lends a nice stiffness for this purpose. I would not do this technique on a bed quilt or wrap quilt, it does make it stiff and I like a nice, soft, cushy quilt to wrap up in!

Next up, wool over cotton. I know you can not wait!

Adventures in trapunto, part 1

I am giving faux-trapunto a try. (Trapunt-faux?) I have researched traditional trapunto a bit, but since I have to learn the hard way, I just layered some battings and off I go.

Here is how I matched up my batting and my mini quilts:

Trial 1 - thin cotton batting - 2 layers

Trial 2 and 3 - thin cotton batting on bottom, polyester batting on top (why 2 like this? 'Cause I have 4 minis, and only 3 combinations of battings)

Trial 4 - thin cotton on bottom, wool on top.

More to come!