Wednesday, December 1, 2010

W.I.P. Wednesday

I feel like a broken record with my W.I.P.'s.  I am still working on the same two quilts, the Hushabye and the baseball quilts.  I was able to make progress on both, but neither is finished.  I didn't have a lot of time to sew this past weekend due to traveling and visiting with family.  I'm not complaining of course because it was great to spend time with both my side of the family and the family I married, I just wasn't very productive.

The Hushabye quilt is coming along nicely.  I have attached the binding and just need to hand sew it to the back and then I'm finished.  I am so happy to be so close to finishing this one!  It is so pretty!

I am hoping to post a finished photo of this by the weekend.  It is going to be cold here so I'll need it!!

There is good news and bad news for the baseball quilt.

The good news, there is a finished top,

A pieced back,


Both of which are pretty darn cute if I do say so myself!!

The bad news:


What is with all these stinkin' loops on the back of my quilt!!  I decided to do "easy" organic straight line quilting for this one in order to meet the quickly approaching deadline for 100 Quilts for Christmas, but I keep messing up!!  I am so frustrated!!  The quilting on the front is perfect, the only problem is the loops on the back!!  I have tried adjusting the tension and cleaning the machine of dust, but nothing is working.  If anyone has any suggestions I could really use some help.  I have decided to FMQ this so that it will be finished in time (I never thought I would write that sentence).  Even though I have decided to change quilting methods I really am open to any advice.  I am so looking forward to the time when this quilting thing is a little easier!  While my piecing still isn't perfect I do feel comfortable doing it.  I used to have a problem with binding, but I seem to have worked through that process.  Quilting is always such a problem for me.  I know I need to practice, but I just get so frustrated!!

The only other update I can mention is I have started cutting out the red, white and blue quilt I am making for a Christmas gift.  I am hoping to get some serious sewing time in this weekend, but we'll see.  I also need to decorate for Christmas.  Hope everyone else had a very productive week!!


8 comments:

Megan said...

Everything looks great! Don't get discouraged with the straight line quilting. Have you tried using a new needle? Hope you get things figured out. I am in awe that you are FMQ it! That is amazing!

Happy WiP Wednesday!

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

The hushabye quilt is gorgeous! I usually have more tension problems with FMQ rather than straight, so no advice from me I'm afraid.

Diane said...

love the hushabye! I like the color binding you chose and this is going to be a beautiful quilt!

Baseball is so cute! When I get those lopppy issues I rethread both the top and bottom, normally it is an issue with how my bobbin is sitting. changing your needle has already be recomended I see. For me the needle results in skipped stitches but you never know.

Good luck!

A.J. Dub. (Amy) said...

Cute quilts! But what a bummer on the quilting! I have no experience with quilting so I am no help. I wish you luck!

Lee said...

Yes, when in doubt, change your needle. : ) That was the advice I got one time from the ladies at the sewing machine store. I never thought that would solve my problem, but it did!

I can totally relate to everything you said about quilting, I feel just the same. I suppose it will just take TONS more practice for me to start feeling more comfortable with it. Good luck! And thanks for linking up, see you next week!

Leila said...

Sounds like everyone else said everything I could think of - except - have you thought about quilting it with blue thread in the bobbin? Then if there are any minor problems they won't be as visible and won't drive you batty.

I LOVE the baseball fabric. This is such a fun quilt.

Carolyn said...

I have no tips for you because I'm a quasi-newbie quilter myself...but I do feel your pain! The quilts are beautiful though and hopefully the quilting problems work themselves out.

Melanie said...

Thanks for the tips! I changed the needle on my machine and it is working so much better!! Plus I switched to dark blue thread, so the mistakes aren't as obvious...I knew you all would come through for me!