quilt saga, woe is me

Fun stuff first!

I had to go to a birthday party outside the city last weekend. I took a train out early because I had heard of a quilt store near the train stop. It turned out to be well worth the trip!

Fat quarter bundles hit me in the worst way. My fingers itch. I want to take them all home, even when I have nothing planned to do with them. I did have one project in mind though, and found some lively bright prints for a friend

This friend asked if I would make him a quilt. He has a whimsical sense of humor and once had a couch upholstered in cowboy fabric, so I don't think these jolly designs will be out of line. (If they are, here's your chance to say so, you know who you are!) I have a few others from stash to combine with them, and I'll probably try for a coordinating solid of some sort to add a little cohesion. At first I was thinking of a design from Nickel Quilts, but some of the fabrics have large-scale designs and I don't want to cut them small. Probably I'll improvise when it comes down to it.

However, before I start on that, I've set myself some goals for July. The big goal is "dimish the pile of fabric on the studio floor". To that end, so far this month I've completed a pair of pants and a skirt in red corduroy, and pants and a shirt out of cuddly pink velour fabric. Does that sound nasty? It's really nice velvety knit fabric. In the winter I like to come home and put on something warm and cozy and totally non-restricting. Hence the velour outfit--just a step up from a sweatsuit, but hey, sometimes that little difference is all it takes to lift a dark winter mood. (No pics of these completed projects since they are very basic). I'm so behind that I'm sewing a season ahead for the first time in my life! Next up is machine quilting a baby blanket I started last fall for a baby that was born in September. Is it still ok to send a baby blanket to an almost-1-year-old? Or should I gulp, apologize, and keep it for the next little boy that comes along? Either way, I want to get it done and off the floor where it has been sitting for months in the paper bag the batting came in.

Another goal is daily quilting practice. Foolishly, I did not realize how long hand quilting takes. Nor how difficult it is. If I don't keep to some goals for my State of the Studio quilt, it will never ever be done. Each morning I try to do a little bit. So tell me, is this normal?

This is the fourth needle I've broken on this quilt! Since the picture was taken yet another one snapped, for a grand total of five needles destroyed on this project. I've never broken a handsewing needle before in my life. Am I doing something wrong? The batting is warm & natural cotton--not specifically for hand quilting. Does it really make that much difference? I wish there were a hand quilting class somewhere near me, because I sure could use some tips. Luckily I have several packets of needles, so I am no danger of running out, but I still wonder...

and by the way, getting the imbedded half of the needle out of the quilt sandwich can be a royal pain. Even with a thimble.

Comments

[Chelle]

I don't know how normal it is, but I went through quite a few needles myself hand quilting a queen size quilt a few years ago. They would always bend on me until they were unusable and I may have snapped one. I think it's hard to get the nice little stitches through the seams.

[Cassie]

Warm & Natural is on the dense side for hand quilting. What brand of needles and what size are you using? If you let me know I can make some suggestions. Oh, and for the broken needle? Pliers.