Thursday, August 19, 2010

Afterglow

Hi Girls! Thank you all SO MUCH for the birthday wishes! You really know how to make this girl smile! I'm still reveling in the birithday afterglow.

I like my new teapot too, I haven't used it yet, I'm thinking I will break it in this weekend :o) I have a pretty good sized collection of Mary Engelbreit tea cups & saucers, (remind me to show you sometime, they're super cute!) and in cooler weather, those are the ones I use most often when my peeps pop in for a cuppa and a chit~chat, and I think this teapot will go with all those "Mary" cups really well. That was one of my excuses valid reasons for buying, yet another teapot.

Quilting... well, I'm still a little nervous to get it started, I'm afraid once I put it on the machine and start the quilting process, I'm somehow going to jack it up and it'll be wrecked. So right now, even though it's not finished it's still "perfect". Ugh... what a dork. I don't have a quilting machine, just a regular sewing machine... but that'll work, right? I'm over thinking this, right?

I don't remember if I've shown you the completed top... here it is.
I so appreciate your suggestions, thank you! I too was thinking stitch-in-the-ditch, but the lady at the quilting shop said that since all my blocks are running in long straight rows, and that because my base fabric is white, that if I wiggle and come out of "the ditch" on the machine, it's going to show up quite obviously and might look weird. I see the logic in that, but I wasn't even remotely scared about the quilting part before she mentioned that. Now I'm worried.What she suggested was to stitch across the white squares diagonally in an X, and not stitch the colored fabrics at all. Starting in the middle and working my way out to the edges... like this... truth be told, this seems scarier to me.
(sorry for the terrible photo & quicky sketch)

I'm totally open to ideas, so if you quilt wizards out there have more suggestions, please, by all means, speak up. I know I could just have this professionally quilted and leave well enough alone, but since this is my first quilt, I want to do the whole thing 100% myself. I may not do it again, or I might if I get good results.

Anyhoo, that's where I'm at... decisions, decisions...

I have some swapy-stitchy goodness to share soon too! I'm chomping at the bit!!
Hope you're having a terrific Thursday!
oxo
Lisa

10 comments:

FeltLikeStitchin said...

You're very brave - I'm sure the finished quilt will look amazing:)
I've never tried making one myself but I can imagine the diagonal stitching would look great - you'd better start practising extremely straight lines!

kaizerin said...

I'm still in the "learning all I can" phase before I undertake my first quilt, but I think the diagonal stitches across the white squares would be great. It would make it a little more dynamic (but then, I'm a great fan of triangles and diamonds.)

sweetcakes said...

Hi, Lisa-

I'm working on a quilt right now too. I'm making one for my niece's "big girl" bed which is a twin-size. This is my first attempt to make a quilt this big.

I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed and not wanting to mess it up. I made a rail fence quilt and I'm going to stitch in the ditch. I also have a regular sewing machine but will be using a walking foot. Do you have one?

I think either way you quilt yours, in the ditch or by making an X in the white squares, it will look good. It's totally your preference.

Let me know how all the pin basting goes. I'm getting reading to start mine and can't even imagine how long it's going to take to pin almost 400 pins!

Good luck! I can wait to see the finished product!

Jill said...

I love how the top of that quilt is looking-- so cute! I know it's going to turn out fabulous! I have no advise, as I haven't quilted anything bigger than a pillow, and I never even finished that project completely!
Hugs,
Jill

Unknown said...

I admire you and your quilt. Glad you had a great birthday! Susie x

Kitchen Witch said...

Lisa your so talented! I love your creations and your blog is beautiful!!!
xo

Denise :) said...

Hey Lisa! How big are your squares? You shouldn't have any problem quilting with your sewing machine -- that's what I've always used when I machine quilt (though I admit, I prefer to hand quilt).

I like the idea of quilting an X through the white squares; an alternative would be to outline stitch about an inch inside your white square (so you'd have a square inside a square).

It'll be real important to baste your quilt layers together before quilting, either by using basting pins or a basting stitch. The lady at your quilt shop should be able to help with this. And it's also important to start your quilt stitching in the center of the quilt and work outwards, so that your keep your layers laying nicely together!

What are you using for the back of your quilt? I can't wait to see what you decide to do and then to see the finished product. Your first quilt is pretty special! :)

Aunt Spicy said...

I vote for the X stitching through the white squares, I have done that a few times and ADORE the end results!

parTea lady said...

I love your birthday polka dot teapot - easy to see why you had to have it. Your quilt top turned out great. I only seem to finish small wall quilts (hand quilted) and have nine full size UFO tops - so any way you decide to FINISH your top should be great. ;-)

Beedeebabee said...

Hi Lisa! I think your quilt top is looking beautiful! I've never done any real quilting so I can't suggest any tips, but what the lady in the shop suggested sounds good and I also like what Denise suggested about the squares inside the squares. I think it would all make me a bit nervous too, but I know you can handle it, AND, it will come out just gorgeous like everything else you do!...That tea pot is precious, and you're right, it will go really well with your ME stuff! xoxo Paulette ;)