"Hooked On Feathers"

I finally got far enough on my quilting to put up some pictures of it. It's a technique where you use a single hooked feather and FMQ around the spine using it. No marking necessary. I think it's one of my favorite techniques.

From Quilted with Love

From Quilted with Love

I'm using Marathon polyester thread on the back and invisible thread on the top. I'm showing the back so the quilting is more visible. I just did the feathers around the butterflies in all directions.

I also walked 1.5 miles today and burned 240 calories. I made my January goal to walk 10 miles. I'm at 3 something within the past couple of days. I know it's not a big goal, but it's doable.

Quilting With Vilene

I spent to day trying to mark a quilt.   After weeks of thinking about how to quilt it, my brain finally kicked in. 

Normally I do pretty good at this.  I have several pens and a couple of pencils.  My water soluble pen which worked last week is not working today.  None of my pencils were dark and light enough to see the motif.  I finally got one done and then...

I'm using fusible batting.  Water soluble pen if pressed with an iron doesn't come out.  Good thing I only have one motif done.  Sigh.  At least I was smart enough to remember that.   

There has to be a simple way to mark a quilt.  And then it hit me!!  Vilene water soluble stablizer!!!  When you do machine embroidery, you put a WSS on top of something like a knit so the stitching doesn't disappear into the fabric.  Then you just wash it out.  Vilene looks like a mesh type fabric.

I traced out my design onto the stabilizer using my water soluble pen that protested and pinned it to the quilt top.  Check this out!!!

 

From Quilted with Love

And the back:

From Quilted with Love

My Sapphire 870 has no problem using invisible thread and has perfect tension when doing FMQ.  I love the floating foot that I bought.  

I could really use another WS pen though.  This one is dying big time.

"Main Motor Overload"

My Sapphire is an interesting machine..LOL. I was trying to do binding and it kept acting up and making a horrible noise. All of a sudden it said "Main Motor Overload" and stopped. I hate binding quilts.

My dealer said you didn't really need a walking foot because of the electronic sensor system. When I bought the machine, the owner threw in a walking foot to sweeten the deal as I wanted one. I put the walking foot on and it got all caught up again. Sigh. I really do hate binding.

Then I remembered I have the "Sewing Adviser" system which I really have no clue how to use. I get the idea but never really thought it was needed. I took a look at the adviser and put it on "stretch heavy" since I'm working with Minkee fabric. I started the machine it worked with ease the rest of the way. The walking foot is so wonderful! Guess that sewing adviser thingy really does work..LOL.

I did give up with FMQ on the Sapphire for today. I didn't feel like spending an hour quilting something I knew my 6600 could do in a few minutes. The Sapphire does a great job of FMQ. It just works differently than the 6600 and I haven't adjusted to it yet.

My camera batteries died so I don't have a pic to show of my finished quilt.