Free Motion Quilting-Mini Christmas Quilt
After completing the sample for yesterday’s free motion quilt tutorial, The Chevron, I stitched this mini Christmas quilt using The Chevron to create the trees. The quilt is six inches square and I think I will frame it.
I’m toying with the idea of opening an Etsy shop with a few framed pieces. Does anyone have any experience selling on Etsy? I’ve bought several darling things from Etsy in the past…just wonder if I have the time…
Below, is my new BEST FRIEND — I began using them last week after I reviewed my dangerous work habits (see HERE and Cautionary Tale HERE)— I really like using the tweezers and don’t know how I ever stitched without them!
I hope you will find them to be a faithful friend as well!
For more Christmas Trees–make sure you try these trees, too! and you might also like Christmas tree quilt HERE.
On Friday, we will be talking about Needle Selection and one of our readers would like YOUR help with monofilament thread-her needles keep breaking—Love to hear what you all think of monofilament thread and how you use it!
Keep stitching. Buy yourself some tweezers. And Keep Doodling,
Lori
I agree, there is nothing like those Bernina tweezers. In my drawer, I have 3 or 4 others and find myself always searching for the Bernina tweezers. Perfect for my embroidery too.
This is the first time I am replying to your page, I just discovered you about a week ago and am truly enjoying and learning on your page; Thank you. I have Stitched my finger twice,once when I was a girl and then latter when a trip to urgent care was manditory..Tweesers never acured to me , slow I guess. Thank you I will give them a try! Sew Safely, Mary P.
Mary, you will love using tweezers-just make sure you get a pair that closes tightly and easily.
Lori, what do you use the tweezers for? (I know, ending a sentence with a preposition is grammatically wrong, but I don’t care!) I hope your finger is healing well! I’ve been worried about you.
I use tweezers to remove unwanted facial hair. What does one do with quilting tweezers? And will my Revlon tweezers do the same job?
I think any good tweezers will work. I have been using the tweezers to grab the tail ends of the thread as I start to stitch to prevent the threads from jamming the machine. I happened to have the Bernina ones in my sewing kit–they are nice because they are long and they close on threads tightly.
Hi Claudia, Just got the stitches out this morning and all is healing well! It may take a long time for my nail to grow back, though! I use the tweezers whenever I reach near the needle to grab the thread tails. It’s actually much easier (and safer) than reaching my chubby digits under the needle!
I have no experience with etsy, either as a seller or buyer, but there was an interesting op-ed piece about etsy and what constitutes “handmade” in the NYT this week: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/opinion/etsys-industrial-revolution.html?_r=0
Thanks for the article. I will read it this evening!
Hi Lori! I enjoy reading your blog and seeing your FMQ – so creative! Sorry to read about your injury. I cringed when I saw the Xray and read you ripped your nail off! Hope you are healing up well. Great advice for using tweezers. I recently had a needle shatter and the shards flew into my face. So glad I wear glasses to quilt! I had accidentally set a zigzag stitch while using a straight stitch presser foot. Very startling! Happy quilting and fast healing!
Thanks, Julia–Accidents happen so quickly, don’t they? I had heard warnings about wearing glasses, but now I take safety seriously–so I always wear my glasses now.
You continually amaze me with your fun free motion patterns! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you! There a thousands more swirling in my brain, trying to get their turn on fabric…I’m sure you feel the same way with your paintings!
I had a few items listed on Etsy for about a year and nothing sold. Hopefully you will have better luck!
My daughter has a shop on Etsy and gets customers from all over the world. She designs and makes custom clothes. Just like everything online, there are good and bad practices. I remember she told me that it’s better to post something everyday rather than a whole lot at once, because it keeps the page active (or something like that). I’m sure you could google and come up with lots of tips.
That’s a great tip. What’s her Etsy site called?
Thanks, Audrey! I’d love to see some of your greeting cards!
My etsy store is still open. When I got sick I never closed it, I hope to be adding a few things soon. (Famous words) just attach it here to your blog and vice versa, you don’t have to conquer the world but putting your wonderful items out there would be great, including your videos. http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SisTaughtMe
I can’t live without my tweezers! I have a pair at each machine and one extra just in case. I also have a really nice small pair of needle nose pliers, which are also awesome for pulling out threads, and catching little threads that my fingers can’t get. My machine cuts the thread and when I need to pull the bobbin thread up, it’s quite short, sometimes the tweezers can’t quite grasp the thread, the thread slips out, so the needlenose pliers grab and hang on.
Thanks, Laura. My machine cuts the thread quite short as well and I wonder if that wasn’t part of my problem–one really needs to get under the needle to reach that short thread. I love the tweezers! So much easier–not to mention safer. I’ll add some needlenose pliers to my toolkit now…
Cute stitching! Looks like you are gearing up for the season!
Oh my gosh I love your trees! I am so glad I came across your blog. I love to free motion quilt but I haven’t had too much time to experiment yet. I will be thoroughly checking out your blog. Thanks.
Kristin, So glad you found us–please tell your friends about us, too! The trees are a lot of fun–wouldn’t they make great tags on your Christmas presents?
Luckily I’ve never injured myself while sewing. I joke with hubby about my sewing machine being a “power tool,” but it really is, and power tools get used with safety equipment… I really felt for you when I saw the X-ray, and reviewed my own practice. Foot comes off the pedal before sticking fingers into the needle area, and glasses on, I’ve shattered needles, and having a barrier in front go my eyes is just good sense. Feel better fast!
I now believe that a sewing machine is a power tool–and I can’t believe how many of us have had this injury. I’m not tempting fate anymore–glasses for me!
Lori, do you ever help someone figure what pattern to us on a wall hanging? I pieced a 4ft tree and need help with the quilting pattern in tree and out. PatQ Tx
Send a photo and I’ll try to help!
I’m new to this how do I send the picture? Email? I do not. Know who to use a blog. Thanks PatQ tx
Hi Pat, Thrilled that you are sending a photo… Do you have a cell phone or a regular camera? On your cell–add it as a medium attachment to an e-mail. On your computer, do them same…my e-mail is lckennedy@hotmail.com label it “Blog Photo” because it will end up in my “junk” folder…I will look for it. If that doesn’t work, let me know.