Saturday, March 12, 2016

A Quilting Marathon

As Stephie wrote in her recent interview, I'm still working towards starting and finishing one quilt at a time. It's a goal. I doubt I'll get there soon - in part because program chairs take more workshops than most. A couple of years ago I focused on sorting old tops and blocks into keep (and finish) or donate piles. Since then I try to quilt one of the older ones whenever I work on a new quilt.

And then... I set the improv sawtooth top aside to mull over the quilting design. In the meanwhile, I started my current kaleidoscope. That meant pin basting four tops.  Two are log cabins from my last leader/ender project.

Six pin-basted tops ready to quilt

However, you can see six quilts in this photo. The green and coral one is from a workshop with Cristy Fincher. I've been saving that to use with Amy's Craftsy class, "Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine." What's holding me up? Bernina doesn't yet have the correct feet for my machine. So I may simply mark it and move on. There will be another chance to quilt with rulers in future and it will be helpful to have this one done. The sixth top is another propeller quilt. I found more to say with that block.

The quilts are laid on 24"x48" folding tables. These are my basting tables; I can't pin on the floor anymore. I clip the back to the tables with Sears spring clamps then drape the batting and top over that. I can pin about 20" before the quilt needs to be moved. When it's moved I clamp through all three layers on one side but only clamp the bottom on the other. The batting and top drape over the clamps on that side. (See the near side in the photo below.)

Pinning the Lobster Boat quilt.

I'll be quilting for the next few weeks. I've got a deadline to finish before the next workshop - this one with Freddy Moran. What fun!

Enjoy the day, Ann

24 comments:

Lisa J. said...

I'm curious about this basting method. Do you start in the middle and work out to the sides?

Lara B. said...

Oh that is a whole lot of beauty waiting to be finished! I can't wait to see how you do them up Ann.
Yeah, as Program Chair, you aren't going to be able to stick to one project anytime soon, LOL.
I'm so envious that you are taking a workshop with Freddy Moran!

Ann said...

I start at the top, pin across (I use 2-3 tables to get the width) and then pin down. Then I move the whole thing down.

Ann said...

Like many good plans, there's always a fly in the ointment. I would work on one at a time but I was "forced" in programs. Some day. The best part of programs though is how many of these speakers I want to see. How'd that happen? ;-)
Enjoy your time with Eden.

O'Quilts said...

So wonderful

Sue said...

I am in awe and bow down to you, prolific one! It's all I can do to quilt one little one once in awhile. The spirit is willing, but...I'm just not that organized. But I can't wait to see all these get done, one by one. Your quilts are very inspiring to me, so various, and uninhibited use of color. Keep going!

Mystic Quilter said...

Happy Quilting!!! Lucky you going to a Freddy Moran workshop, hope you'll share on a post with us.

Monica said...

Well, you have your work laid out for you now! I will be happy if I can get just one quilted this month. Those log cabins look great! What size are they? I like that narrow, strippy look.

Ann said...

Thanks. I'm glad you like them.

Ann said...

You get loads done, Sue. And it's always interesting. And you make time for walks, visits, etc. And you use color very well, too. I have a love/hate relationship with actual quilting sometimes. I love when it's done and hate getting started. But it does make me slow down and think. Once I start the quilting, I don't work on anything else till that one is done.
I am trying to clear the keeper tops out. Most of them are earmarked for others and need to get done this year. A few are still going to be mine. Much better to use them than store the tops.

Ann said...

Looking forward to the experience. She is an icon of happy quilting. I'll remember to take photos... hopefully.

Ann said...

Four are less than 50" square but two are larger, maybe 60X75". I wrote about the log cabins last year so you can search the blog if you really want more information. Half-inch finished logs. I got a bit tired of them but they are pretty when they are narrow.

Janie said...

A workshop with Freddy Moran? too fun! Let us know all about it. I love her quilts.

patty a. said...

A workshop with Freddy sounds like a blast! If you are a quiltmaker you have UFO's. I have joined Vicki of Field Trips in Fiber's UFO blast for the last couple of years. It has helped me get some projects done before I think about starting anything new. So far this year I think I have finished 3 UFO projects out of the 28 I had on my list at the start of 2016. I would definitely start with the smaller ones first because then it seems you are making a lot more progress! That's what I did, but now I am left with some very large quilts to do! It seemed like a good idea at the time! LOL!!!

Mel said...

Not sure what Bernina model you have--but Bernina does have an adaptor shank that can be used with Sew Steady's Ruler Foot. One of the LQS was carrying the combination. I will look to bring to the next guild meeting for you to see whether it might work with your machine. I too registered for that Craftsy class and have yet to do anything other than get the foot! Maybe we can motivate each other?!?

Ann said...

Will do, Janie.

Ann said...

I agree we end up with UFOs in the US, Patty. But sometimes they get out of hand. I've found many unfinished projects have served their purpose and need to be discarded. The others need a plan to finish. Sounds like your UFO blast fills that need. Good for you.

Ann said...

Thanks, Mel. I knew they had an adapter but had heard differing stories about using non-Bernina feet. First that it worked. Second that Bernina says it could damage the machine. It's on Amy's site. Thanks for showing me the feet. I think I'll get some. And I'd love to discuss the class and get started with some examples. Let's do it!

Tami @ Lemon Tree Tales said...

I've been on a mission to finish one of our study group quilts. It's finally on the frame but I ran out of the batting that I'd like to use. Tomorrow I may run over to Eddie's to get some rather than wait the week or two for my new roll to arrive. :-) (And I'm gathering lots and lots of dots for our Freddy Moran class. I need a few bright red ones ... can't have a Freddy "quilt" without red, no?)

Ann said...

Oh, I hope it's the rhythmic grid one. Love the colors!
I like your theory: We're doing it for Freddy. I've pulled some cherry and apple reds, too. There's an amazing amount of dotty fabrics in my stash already but I did buy one more last week.

Stephie said...

You'll have to explain more of this 'programs' to me Ann, I'm not familiar with it at all. Does it mean that you're organising workshops for your guild and because you organised them you have to attend?! Would love to know how these things work in the US. There's not much going on locally that I can find and I'm a wee bit envious of all the fun you have quilting together.

Stephie said...

Ah Sue, I also bow down to Ann's prolific-ness! I'm so in awe of how much Ann gets done that I asked her how she does it and she very generously shared her thoughts for an article on my blog. I think lots of people really like Ann's advice "choose with deliberation" - something that seems relevant to all aspects of life! (Something I really need to take to heart!!!)

Ann said...

The large guilds I've joined have speakers at monthly programs, usually someone outside the guild. The speaker also gives a paid workshop the next day (or day before.) Some guilds have two different people - one for the program and another for the workshop. In this guild, the program chairs run both (we alternate months). I bring the speaker and the equipment to the workshop, take the speaker to lunch and either monitor or take the workshop. We usually want to take the workshop though because we selected the speakers;-)
About 20 people can take each workshop. Different guild members sign up for different speakers but I've gotten to know several so well. It's just fun to sew, chat and lunch with everyone. So many different ideas, color ways, etc.

Ann said...

I was so surprised you asked to include me in your article, Stephie. And then, you made me sound so good. I got so many quilts finished last year because I'd made a commitment to clear out several UFOs. My children are through college so there are many graduation and baby quilts for their friends. These smaller quilts are quicker to make... and the deadline helps.
I am aware that I will never get to live any day over. Whatever I do, I've spent time that can't be recaptured. I don't anticipate ever matching this annual quantity again. But there are many details I want to add to future quilts.