Summer Applique
I would like to thank all the people who responded to yesterday’s post: Let’s Talk About Threads. I was surprised that so many people use rayon threads! Please take time to read the comments and add your ideas/thread recommendations. I can’t wait to try all the recommended threads! There are so many threads on the market and I hate to experiment too much unless I have a recommendation. I plan to try every thread that was suggested and I’ll let you know how the thread works for me. Perhaps we could continue the conversation on a regular basis? I’d love to hear how the threads I recommended work for you!
I pulled this applique out of my closet last week. I made it several years ago to brighten my kitchen table. (As you all know, I love “vase quilts”.)
I experimented with several threads, including a few metallics, for this applique. Metallics remain a challenge for me–they break so easily, that I rarely use them. Someday, I will take the time to find the proper machine/needle settings to use metallics…
I rarely use stippling to fill in my quilts. It is a pattern that is hard for my brain to pattern. Instead, I filled the spaces with tiny leaves. Occasionally, I added clusters of circles or a feather to add interest to the overall design.
In the setting triangles, I stitched the Orange Peel–or Woven Cross-Hatch pattern. It looks complicated, but it is very very easy. (A beginner pattern) See the tutorial HERE.
I was hand dyeing a lot of fabric at the time…
Do you have a small, unfinished quilt or block that –with a little free motion quilting–would work as a “vase quilt”?
You might also like: Fall Vase Quilt
Absolutely love it! Your fabrics really show off here — great job!
Beautiful! Love your fabrics and the quilting is amazing! I look forward to your posts.
Thank you!
Oh the work in that piece is absolutely beautiful!!
Try Superior metallic thread. I have embellished feathers with it and no breakage! They even have a downloadable chart with needle and tension suggestions.
I’m going to order some other Superior threads that others have recommended so I will try the metallic, too! Thanks for the recommendation.
If you do FME with your 820, your tech can make adjustments to allow it to better sew with metallics. There are some metallics that my 830 just doesn’t like. YLI is one of my favorites. I’ve heard Zundt had great metallic threads also. Slow down the speed and adjust tension settings. My favorite threads are from Superior – good company, lots of integrity and quick response. I look for sales on sewthankful.com or at Superior’s site. Wonderful work on the tablecloth!
Thanks for all the great ideas, threads and websites. I have purchased from Superior and agree about the great service. Love their newsletter as well. I have never tried Zundt. I can’t wait to give all of these new threads a try! Thanks for the recommendations.
This is a wonderful vase quilt! I’m soooo glad I’m not the only other on the planet that has a mental block regarding stippling. They end up turning into waves and not puzzle pieces. I love your idea of micro leaves and feathers as I have a couple of quilts in the quilting to-do list that would benefit from this design idea. Thank you!
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
I think it is a shame that so many beginners are taught stippling–it is difficult and has too many “rules” on how to do it!
Lori, oh my how beautiful! I reviewed the tutorial on the Orange Peel and it looks like I will have to try that one! One thing I am noticing is that you mark your work, what do you use to mark? I haven’t marked anything yet, but think that may be something I start trying. I don’t do any small projects right now mostly quilts about twin size. I think maybe marking in small sections would still work. What is your take on that? Thank you for posting, I am so learning!
I usually mark a few large squares or shapes before I start and then mark in small sections as I proceed. I like chalk so I can brush off the marks and I like Fons and Porters mechanical pencil in white. Check out the post “Divide and Conquer”. If you can’t find it let me know and I will send it to you when I get back to my computer.
Sent from my iPhone
Lori, thank you, found it and so much more!
Absolutely gorgeous. Colors are so bright, so inspiring.
Thanks for the word about stipling. It is so difficult and boring. I start out ok but performance gets worse as I stipple along. lol Lovely table cover.
Ann Fahl has an excellent booklet about working with metallic threads. You should check it out. It is really helpful!
Thanks for the recommendation–I will check out the book this week!
I know NOTHING about threads, stippling, or even what a vase quilt is, but I do know that I love these photos and the colors of the applicque.
Wow! What a community of commenters 🙂
Thank you and so glad you could join us! Perhaps we’ll make a quilter out of YOU!
I love everything you do. Your work (art) is outstanding.