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Author Topic: Current Projects  (Read 12306 times)

VorFemme

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #435 on: January 13, 2019, 08:11:19 pm »
Quote from: Pattycake on January 13, 2019, 04:38:09 pm
Quote from: VorFemme on January 13, 2019, 10:16:48 am
Got any "newsprint" or "magazine pages" prints that could make it look like the finished puzzle page is on top of a pile of papers that the puzzle worker might have been reading?

Printed numerals might work, too...keeping up the numbers theme.  Or perhaps a small marble tabletop that someone might have on an end table, with a pencil or pen set down beside the puzzle?  A cup of coffee and a ring or two like it's where the puzzle worker sits a lot to do their puzzles?  Make it like a still life that you look down at?

For the checkerboard, set up a border of captured pieces (chess or checkers), an appliqued snack, as if someone just walked away from their game for a moment?  Or just make it look like a table cloth that the game board is sitting on.

At first, I couldn't figure out what you were talking about! Then I realized, it was my Sudoku quilt! Perhaps I should explain more - it doesn't LOOK like a Sudoku puzzle as there are no actual numbers on it, it's just based on one. You assign the fabrics the numbers 1 through 9, and place your fabrics in those spots as per the Sudoku. I used four puzzles for my quilt. The "checkerboard" is just the term for the style of border. I will definitely post pictures when I am done! those are all great ideas though, and if I had a suitably dark numbers fabric, I would for sure look at using it!

So - it's a nine patch inspired by a Soduku puzzle...well, my mental visualization is clearly wrong...you've managed to almost stump my inner designer. 

Do you have enough leftovers to cut a lot of thick & thin strips and do a kind of UPC pattern of stripes around the four edges, echoing the colors?  This is the only suggestion that she's been able to come up with...
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Pattycake

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #436 on: January 13, 2019, 08:31:32 pm »
Quote from: VorFemme on January 13, 2019, 08:11:19 pm
Quote from: Pattycake on January 13, 2019, 04:38:09 pm
Quote from: VorFemme on January 13, 2019, 10:16:48 am
Got any "newsprint" or "magazine pages" prints that could make it look like the finished puzzle page is on top of a pile of papers that the puzzle worker might have been reading?

Printed numerals might work, too...keeping up the numbers theme.  Or perhaps a small marble tabletop that someone might have on an end table, with a pencil or pen set down beside the puzzle?  A cup of coffee and a ring or two like it's where the puzzle worker sits a lot to do their puzzles?  Make it like a still life that you look down at?

For the checkerboard, set up a border of captured pieces (chess or checkers), an appliqued snack, as if someone just walked away from their game for a moment?  Or just make it look like a table cloth that the game board is sitting on.

At first, I couldn't figure out what you were talking about! Then I realized, it was my Sudoku quilt! Perhaps I should explain more - it doesn't LOOK like a Sudoku puzzle as there are no actual numbers on it, it's just based on one. You assign the fabrics the numbers 1 through 9, and place your fabrics in those spots as per the Sudoku. I used four puzzles for my quilt. The "checkerboard" is just the term for the style of border. I will definitely post pictures when I am done! those are all great ideas though, and if I had a suitably dark numbers fabric, I would for sure look at using it!

So - it's a nine patch inspired by a Soduku puzzle...well, my mental visualization is clearly wrong...you've managed to almost stump my inner designer. 

Do you have enough leftovers to cut a lot of thick & thin strips and do a kind of UPC pattern of stripes around the four edges, echoing the colors?  This is the only suggestion that she's been able to come up with...

No. Even if I hadn't used all the left overs to do the checkerboard, there wouldn't have been enough. But I did find a suitable blue fabric, and am going to use that even though I have to do mitred corners, which I haven't done in years! It's got a sort of stripe pattern and I think it would look better with mitred corners rather than butted ones.
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Pattycake

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #437 on: January 17, 2019, 01:35:54 pm »
Well, none of my quilt projects are far enough along yet to photograph, so here's a couple little things. I did the towel topper thingy from a pattern a friend made. Turned out well, and as I have a bunch of little towels left over from when I used to cross stitch, I think I know what a few people will be getting for presents this year!

The second item is a sock scarf, made by the daughter of the lady who gave me the towel pattern. She said you can do them either by knitting two socks together at the top, or by going straight from toe to toe, but you have to remember to put the button hole in one toe!

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gmatoy

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #438 on: January 17, 2019, 02:52:19 pm »
Those look great, Pattycake!

I like your color choices. The socks are the colors of our football team and would be a hit here just for that; however, I love the novelty of it. And I love the color pink in anything. Thank you for sharing!
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gmatoy

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #439 on: January 17, 2019, 08:52:58 pm »
I've got 22 Barbie gowns made. My machine is breaking thread like crazy, so tomorrow I'm going to buy a different brand and see if that helps. It isn't the bobbin thread, it is the spool and I'm threading the machine correctly. I changed the needle to a stretch needle, but that doesn't seem to help. Any suggestions? And thank you if you think of something that I can try. Having to stop and rethread is robbing me of the joy of sewing.
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Pattycake

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #440 on: January 17, 2019, 09:58:59 pm »
Quote from: gmatoy on January 17, 2019, 08:52:58 pm
I've got 22 Barbie gowns made. My machine is breaking thread like crazy, so tomorrow I'm going to buy a different brand and see if that helps. It isn't the bobbin thread, it is the spool and I'm threading the machine correctly. I changed the needle to a stretch needle, but that doesn't seem to help. Any suggestions? And thank you if you think of something that I can try. Having to stop and rethread is robbing me of the joy of sewing.

I don't know that you need a stretch needle, maybe just a larger one. I always check the needle first, then rethread, then rethread the bobbin. Then have a hissy fit. LOL! no, usually a new needle or rethreading has solved my problems.
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oogyda

Re: Current Projects
« Reply #441 on: January 18, 2019, 07:23:41 am »
Quote from: gmatoy on January 17, 2019, 08:52:58 pm
I've got 22 Barbie gowns made. My machine is breaking thread like crazy, so tomorrow I'm going to buy a different brand and see if that helps. It isn't the bobbin thread, it is the spool and I'm threading the machine correctly. I changed the needle to a stretch needle, but that doesn't seem to help. Any suggestions? And thank you if you think of something that I can try. Having to stop and rethread is robbing me of the joy of sewing.

I know you've probably done this, but....  Check the spool thoroughly.  Take it off the holder to make sure none is wrapped around that.  Make sure there is nothing for the thread to get caught on as it's coming off the spool.  Try turning the spool over so that the thread is coming off the "wrong" way.

Pattycake's idea is also good.  Sometimes a needle can get damaged or bent just enough to cause problems. 
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VorFemme

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #442 on: January 18, 2019, 09:56:35 am »
I had one spool of thread that kept doing that - when the thread comes off over the end of the spool (horizontal pin) instead of the side (vertical pin), even the tiniest roughness on the top of the spool or the cap holding it in place can cause the thread to catch and break.  I had one spool that I gave up and rewound it (adapter for my EZ Spool from Nancy Zieman's store held it on the bobbin winder) to an empty but smooth spool (EZ Winder comes with several empty ones to wind from a large cone when your main sewing machine has no easy way to set up a feed from the cone).  That let me use the rest of that spool.  I also stored the thread overnight in the veggie crisper drawer of the fridge to let it rehydrate, in case it was brittle due to being dried out (lived in Phoenix, Arizona and West Texas, both fairly dry areas of the country - thread that was too dry happened more than once).

I got the rest of that spool to work for the top stitching that I needed it for.  The color wasn't available to replace the spool...picking out top stitching to change all of it to a different color so that all of it would match was too going to take too much time with a seam ripper.  Making the thread work was less trouble. 
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gmatoy

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #443 on: January 18, 2019, 05:39:17 pm »
Thanks for the ideas. I have changed the needle (I'm using a size 14), turned the spool, and swore. Nothing is helping. I also slowed down, just in case.

I think I'll do another 36 (not a random number; that is how much black lace I have) and then I'll switch everything and do red gowns. Then pink. I'm on a roll!


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Pattycake

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #444 on: January 18, 2019, 06:16:44 pm »
Might just be bad thread, then, gmatoy. Ugh.

I have been trying to wrangle fabric for the back of the Hunter's Star. I think I finally have it figured out, and I have asked the long arm quilter if she can do it in March. That way, I have a deadline for myself to get the back together and the batting cut! Now I have to look at backing for at least four other quilts.

I also spent time getting something ready for our retreat in April. My friend is going to show the other ladies how to paper piece, but i have so many patterns that I decided while I WILL paper piece, I will do one of the patterns I already have. So I was cutting the papers apart, and picking out fabrics. It will be in batiks, and it will be the Mariner's Compass. 

I have two other quilts that I have some of the fabric cut for, and so I need to cut the white fabric for the backgrounds. I think I shall take that with me to quilt group on Monday as well, as I can deal with the huge chunk of fabric there better. It's 108" wide backing, and I think there's 6 yards of it! the two quilts are actually the same one, but in very different fabrics. I started collecting the one set of fabrics, then when I saw the other fabric I thought it would make a great quilt too so it will be fun to see how different they will turn out. It's called Avignon Picnic, if you want to google it.
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oogyda

Re: Current Projects
« Reply #445 on: January 19, 2019, 01:51:36 pm »
Quote from: gmatoy on January 18, 2019, 05:39:17 pm
Thanks for the ideas. I have changed the needle (I'm using a size 14), turned the spool, and swore. Nothing is helping. I also slowed down, just in case.

I think I'll do another 36 (not a random number; that is how much black lace I have) and then I'll switch everything and do red gowns. Then pink. I'm on a roll!

My grandmother had the perfect fix for everything sewing and yarn related. 

Make sure you are sticking your tongue out at just the perfect angle!
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gmatoy

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #446 on: January 20, 2019, 09:26:40 pm »
My finished count is 40 Barbie gowns finished. Steps are done on many more. Hope to be at 50 done by tomorrow evening. Then I'll take a break and work on PJ bottoms for my DGD. (She bought a pair at a thrift store because she loved the fabric, but they were swimmingly big on her. So, I've taken them apart and will recut and sew them up again.)
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VorFemme

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #447 on: January 21, 2019, 11:44:07 am »
My current project is to find the sewing machine table space and clear it for the new (to me) quilting machine that I bought yesterday.  The January clearance sales extended to the used machines when someone traded their older machine for a newer machine with more bells & whistles.  I can live with the previous generation's bells & whistles as I am saving a significant amount of money over the manufacturer's price on the same machine when new.

But when the motor burned out in November, the machine that couldn't be repaired had its space slowly encroached on...the Rule of Horizontal Surfaces took effect and all the flotsam & jetsam of a sewing room migrated to that four square feet (well, close to four square feet, anyway).  And the new machine is a quilting machine - so it's a little bit wider than the previous machine. 

I cleared off my cutting table, reversed the gateleg supports, and I'm moving two carts on wheels under the cutting table to clear floor space.  I may  have to pull out an extra sewing table (I had a spare folded up & set aside) to make this work...or I may do something else...we'll see how it works out during the next three days before it gets delivered from the repair depot to the pick up location close to me.

I have a quilting project on the cutting table, ready to start quilting a row at a time - then adding glass beads for weight and doing the next row of stitching.  I ought to go upstairs & start sorting things out some more.
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gmatoy

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #448 on: January 21, 2019, 02:37:02 pm »
VorFemme, good for you! I'm glad you found a machine that meets your needs (Wants?)  and I do know the Rule of Horizontal Surfaces!



As for me, this morning I sat down  and sewed almost as soon as I got up. The Barbie gown count is officially at 50! I had a goal of making 100, so I'm half way there! I put 25 into a gallon Zip-lock bag, that way I have them counted and ready to go.
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VorFemme

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #449 on: January 21, 2019, 05:21:37 pm »
Rolling wire cart under one end of the cutting table for patterns with a 5/8" deep shelf on top to support the table top at the correct height (due to the gateleg having to be way off-center to make room for the rolling wire cart) and a rolling printer cart at the other end with my real linen stash being folded & rolled (remnants) to fit the shelves.  Temporarily, I have a wire basket on top to help keep the cutting table level in that area.  I need to measure the difference & see what I can find for storage space.  I have some plastic storage containers to go under the bottom shelf, there's plenty of room for them!  Anything to keep stuff under the table instead of in the middle of the floor.

Back to rolling remnants...I love the feel of linen in the evening.
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