Free-Motion Wrestling!! and Thread Painting Experiement

Perhaps you have this same situation: quilt tops that need to be quilted. The dilemma: how to quilt them. I'd love to use a long-arm machine, but don't own one. I'd love to RENT a long-arm machine, but that's a two hour drive away. So it's time to take matters into my own hands, literally, by going "domestic," as in use my home "domestic" machine. Of course, it has turned into a wrestling match. It didn't look anything like Leah Day, believe me.

Safety-pinned and ready to whirl

I pulled out the quilt I began making for my husband back in 2007. I had it sandwiched and pinned, ready to quilt. My domestic machine does not have its own cabinet, so I use an acrylic table attachment when quilting. It's small. When machine quilting on a domestic machine, it helps to have a level surface to help support the weight and size of the quilt while quilting it. It's ridiculous, but here's what I did:

The QUEEN-SIZE quilt sandwich is on the dining room table. I decided to use the living-room throw pillows to prop the weight of the quilt up to almost the level of the acrylic table attachment. The pillows would also, in theory, be soft on the table surface and slide easily as needed in maneuvering the quilt. Clumsy, but I'm desperate.

The dining room chairs are substantially built, but they're not the right height to wrestle with this monster. Add throw pillows and practically fall off the chair.

Now I have to learn how to work with the speed and rhythm of the machine. Result? Skipped stitches, uneven stitch lengths.

The thread is also important. I used King Tut cotton in the top and The Finishing Touch polyester thread in the bobbin. Result? Broken threads...un-sew...restart...broken threads...repeat. I won't show you THAT ugly photo.

I think the bottom line for quilting on my domestic machine is to use its high speed, which is scary at first, and then the other key is: don't swirl too quickly (skipped stitches, broken threads).

I like swirling, but I think many of my swirls end up looking like velociraptors from the Jurassic Park movie. (Speaking of velociraptors, have you ever noticed that they move around and act distinctly like chickens?? If you're a chicken-lover, you'll notice it!)

I'm not done with this "monster" yet. I've imperfectly completed about a third of it. I figured that it's better to get this done so we can use and celebrate the love we share. Since it's for our use, who cares if it's not perfect?? I won't let the "quilt-police" examine it. And someday, when my children inherit it and realize it's not their style or colors, they can donate it to a quilt museum where the caption will read: "Had this quilter lost her mind??!!"

Thread Painting Experiment

During the local quilt show last week, I attended a presentation about thread painting. Of course I had to go home and try it.

My first attempt: a cup and saucer. I drew a crude picture with a Frixion pen. I used a light stabilizer behind the top fabric (an old cotton sheet) and machine embroidery thread, neither of which were thick enough for this project. I believe she recommended a thread weight of 30, but I currently don't have any. I hooped it on a wooden hand-embroidery hoop.

My second attempt: Thick, wash-away stabilizer, a layer of old cotton sheet sandwiched between the stabilizer and top fabric, raw-edge applique fabric scraps for tree trunk, tree roots and branches and leaves, multiple layers of that machine embroidery thread and varied colors. I used the wooden hand-embroidery hoop again and I suspect that it wasn't tight enough, since the fabric is rumpled or gathered. I might try my machine embroidery hoop next time and purchase some thick thread to try this out in the future.

Linking up with other creative ones like you at:

                     

My life in Japan...

...continues to leave its mark on me and my extended family. I lived and worked in Yokohama for 2 years in the 1980s, and Tokyo for 6 months in 2001. Before our marriage, my husband worked in Tokyo for 2.5 years in the 1970s. He became our cultural ambassador, and the rest is history!

When my friend (now husband) returned to the States in the 1970s, he prepared an authentic Japanese meal for me. How sweet! He made 2 mistakes: he served white rice and raw egg. I didn't like white rice, and I've always disliked eggs. Thus began my education into good cuisine (how to cook rice correctly and the importance of using the right variety!) and the expansion of my cultural horizons. Now I eat quality white rice on a regular basis, love most Japanese foods and often prefer them over Western meals, enjoy cooking their foods, and even found ways in which eating an egg is acceptable (fried and chopped to little bits, sukiyaki, etc.). (Baking with eggs has never been a problem--let's hear it for cookies!) Japan continues to influence our personal lives in a number of ways: our behavior and cultural sensitivity, foods, customs, literature, drama, and the decor of our home! Our children attended bilingual Japanese/English public schools in our city. My husband and I each led cultural excursions to Japan for 25 fifth-grade students and chaperons from these schools. Our daughter lived in Japan for 9 months during her second year of high school as the guest of four different Japanese families while attending a private Japanese high school.

Now Japan influences my art and stitching. I couldn't pass this book up at a fabric store and have fantasies of making some of these luscious blocks--has anyone else used this book or a similar one? (Warning: Most of these blocks are not simple!)

Japanese motifs adorn my home. I love Asian fabrics, and the simplicity of sashiko. I haven't dabbled in sashiko yet, but I probably will someday. Hand-stitching is calming and I usually enjoy this part of the process. My mother taught me hand embroidery long ago. Several years ago I did a quilt block swap with others around the country who enjoy hand embroidery. I haven't committed these blocks to anything yet, shame on me! Their personal designs are lovely!  

Have you been influenced by another culture in your creative stitching endeavors? What have you done or are you pursuing as a result? Do you do sashiko? I'd love to see!

I would love to hear from others who enjoy Japan, Asia, and other cultures. I know that we now have access to translators on our computers. If you can't write in English, write a little about yourself and interests in your native language, tell me what language it is (if it's not Japanese or Spanish), and I'll try the translator, too. I know these programs have their limitations and get the nuances wrong sometimes, but we can try :)

May your day be full of creative expression!