Whisper Block #2

Remember my post about the Whisper Block project at my quilt guild?  Well the next block is due tomorrow (assuming the meeting isn't cancelled due to the weather).  I guess some members were a bit confused about the workings of this project because this month I received both the original picture and the first block (You are only supposed to see the previously made block and create yours from that).  In this case it didn't matter too much because the first person did a rather straight forward interpretation.  Here's the picture and the first block:

At least, I think that's the original picture.  In the same envelope was also another Christmas picture of a sled and a snow scene.  I'm guessing that the maker of this block thought she needed to choose another picture related by theme to this one.  In any case, since I was only supposed to get the block I choose to ignore that other picture.  This block is all applique but I didn't really want to go there, so I decided to make use of my machine embroidery module and came up with this:

So, two down, two to go.  This has been an interesting ride so far!

Donuts Anyone?

I made this placemat for an uncle of mine.  He teases that when his wife needs to go somewhere for a few days and he is left along, he stocks up on donuts to last him until she returns:

I got to use my embroidery machine and do a bit of small scale free motion stippling.  I hope he gets as much fun out of it as I got out of making it!

The Embroidered Quilt

I've finally finished this one!  This is the project for a Craftsy class by Eileen Roche that I started at the beginning of the year.  Not only is it a quilt finish but it is the first Craftsy class that I've finished. Being new to machine embroidery it was a challenge at first to understand the technique, but I think I'm falling in love with the idea of embroidering on a quilt.

Due to the limits of a home embroidery machine the quilt is made in strips of about 9 inches.  A continuous technique is used so that you can create an embroidery that runs the entire width of the fabric by continual rehooping.  This project also used a raw edge applique technique along with the embroidery.

You had the option of embroidering on a full quilt sandwich of three layers.  This would have resulted in the bobbin side of the embroidery being visible on the back.  I chose to use a "quilt cracker" which is just the top fabric and the batting.  I pieced the strips together and then attached the back with lines of stitching on the sashing. 

As with any quilt I've ever made, there are things I like and don't like about the end result.  The back is a bit looser than I would like.  I think the raw edge applique is a bit out of sync with the elegance of the embroidery.  That might be due to my inexperience in the technique and the applique trimming.  I might have liked a more visible thread color on the grey parts...perhaps just a lighter or darker shade of grey.  I also think these embroidery patterns would look good without the applique in a contrasting thread color.  But all in all, I really like the end result.

If you have an embroidery module to your sewing machine I would recommend this course.  It made me a lot more comfortable with the workings of my machine and opened up so many creative possibilities.  Eileen Roche also has a lot of other embroidered quilt patterns on her blog and once I work through my current "to do" list (that would be 2014 or later) I may try another one.

 

An Embroidery Kind of Week

I haven't had too much in the way of quilting to show lately, but I have been busy in the sewing room.  I've finished up my Skirting the Issue projects as well as curtains for son #1 and his partner (more about that soon).

And...I've been machine embroidering my heart out.  I signed up for a Craftsy class early this year called the Machine Embroidered Quilt and I've finally made some progress.  Here are all the pieces on my design wall waiting to be cut to size and sewn together:

Here's a close up of some of the embroidery:

Since most of the quilting is basically done, I'm hoping that this will soon be finished up.

And, since I had my machine set up to embroider, I made these pieces:

This has always been one of my favorite saying.  If you're reading on a small screen, it says:  Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow. But children grow up so we've learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep. I used to have it up in the baby room when my sons were small.  I had intended this to become a wall hanging, but it turned out much bigger than I planned.  So for now, I'm just going to think about what to make with it and keep my eyes open for some coordinating fabric.  It may still turn out to be a wall hanging, or it may turn into a quilt.  I'm still so new at this embroidery thing that I had plenty of lessons to learn to create these pieces. 

 

And now, I'm ready for a good quilting project!