Monday, November 8, 2010

Are you Quilting Today?

The Lemons, Limes, and Oranges Half Square Triangle Quilt has made good progress over the weekend.


Once the backing was pieced I was on a roll, and continued on by basting the quilt sandwich. As you can see I use loads of safety pins which certainly makes the whole basting process hard on your knees, back,  and fingers (although I have had success using the Kwik Klip tool to close pins - it saves time and your fingers from pin pricks).


This morning I finally got to start the quilting, and I have finished stitching almost all of the foundation grid.  This first step stabilizes the quilt sandwich and also quickly shows you if there are any issues with how well the quilt was basted.  So far so good, no stitch ripping and re-pinning required.


I must say that I do enjoy Monday mornings, where the house is returned to its quiet state after a busy weekend. No hustle and bustle - just the hum of my sewing (and the washing) machine.

Are you quilting today?

38 comments:

  1. Yes, I quilted today. Some lovely little mug rugs. I need to get back to quilting my red/black/white strip quilt. I need to just get it done.

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  2. I definitely am quilting today. However today still refers to Sunday night, I have yet to go to bed as it's only 9pm. I was so confused when I first read your Monday morning post! I thought, no need to rush things, then realized we were in different time zones! For this reason blogging is so wonderful. You have inspired me, I now know someone else is accomplishing much on a Monday and therefore, I shall as well. It's so easy to forget that we are all separated by miles and miles (and sometimes an ocean or two)!

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  3. I was quilting a mug rug too but late Sunday night, today I'm at work and your yummy citrus quilt is my lunch-time quick fix!

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  4. I have! Well, I basted a quilt today and will start the stitching tomorrow. I think I'm going to take the leap and pebble quilt it even though it's time consuming pattern. It'll be worth it!

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  5. I am quilting today! I am working on a summer picnic quilt for my brother and his family. It has a checker board for playing checkers and chess and on the back it has tic tac toe and mancala.

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  6. I'd love to be quilting today, but alas correction and school reports beckon me ...

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  7. It's still Sunday night here, 9:30 ... but I AM working on the squares for a quilt top. I'm taking a break after pressing a bunch of seams open. Gotta get back to chain piecing here in a bit. I want to finish the blocks up tonight!

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  8. Well, it's Sunday night for me right now. ;) I sewed some today and will probably knit in a bit. I've also been researching new machines....which begs me to ask...why are you using a walking foot on your Bernina?
    I *just* sold my short arm quilting system yesterday b/c I had outgrown it's capabilities and we are moving into a much smaller space. That leaves me with my Bernina 640, which I'm not totally in love with.
    I'm debating between the Janome Horizon and the Bernina 820. What do you think of your Bernina? And why are you using a walking foot if it has the dual feed? Sorry for all of the nosy questions. I'm going crosseyed reading reviews (they are either amazing or horrid), so I thought I'd ask!
    Love all of your work!

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  9. I have been quilting! But it is still Sunday night here and with the time change it feels later than the clock says. So I thought I would sew some more...but maybe in the morning.

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  10. have you ever tried basting spray instead of pins? I have heard it works great but have never tried it myself.
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

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  11. I'd love to be quilting too but have been messing around with the computer it doesn't want to co-operate today argh! Your quilt is looking fabulous!!!

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  12. I love the name of the quilt...it reminds me of the nursery rhyme - 'oranges and lemons rang the bells of St Clements'

    No quilting for me yet today, I'm at my day job but planning on cutting out and beginning to piece a quilt tonight.

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  13. Well, it's 9:30 on Sunday night here, and today I have pieced a quilt back, put the sandwich together, and done about 2/3 of the quilting. Now I'm trying to catch up on my blogs!! Love your quilt, by the way...

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  14. Can't say I have had much success with the kwik klip but i am quilting this afternoon. I am usually a freemotion girl but have been gridding the quilt I am working on at the moment which I have to say I don't really like doing. The effect is excellent but I find it boring to do, give me no feed dogs and and embroidery foot any day over the walking foot.

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  15. I had every intention! But the only thing I got done was a binding on a table runner. At least I got it done!
    I LOVE your quilt - the colors, the pattern! So appealing! Makes my mouth water : )
    Tami

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  16. No quilting today but a lot of sewing done. As usual, your quilt top is stunning !

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  17. Oh yes, I'll be quilting today too! Those lemons and limes make me all excited and want one too!

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  18. I'll be sewing this afternoon, after I start to draw a quilt for Kaffe's next book, 6/20 drawn so far....

    On your recommendation (and others) I've just picked up a new Bernina 820. After many years of Pfaffs this is my first Bernina. So far I'm very pleased although I'm struggling with the foot peddle, keep 1/2 stitching as I'm used to a heel on the floor postion! I'll get it in a day or 2.

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  19. Adore your citrus quilt Rita it is fabulous. Had a wonderful stitch day today (where I was able to show off your beautiful small quilt to Andi, yay!).

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  20. Love the bright citrus colors. A perfect quilt to work on first thing on a Monday. My Monday am has just begun and we have our first snowfall. It is anything but quiet outside, quite blustery. I don't much care for that, but I have many more months to go. But inside it is quite quiet and I am looking forward to a little humming in the studio and the wash is ready to go.

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  21. Everything is always so fresh, crisp, pretty and well ordered over here, Rita! Popping in brings a breath of clean air! Lovely citruses!

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  22. Not yet, but I hope to be by this afternoon! I have to get all my other stuff done, and schooling with the kids accomplished.....then its sewing time! Beautiful quilt so far...can't wait to see the finished project!!

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  23. love this quilt! I'm not quilting today BUT I am making quilt blocks! so my day does have something to do with quilting! plus this evening I am sandwiching a quilt and pinning it to get ready for quilting, which I will be doing on Wednesday! Whew!

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  24. I just love this quilt!! Beautiful!

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  25. That quilt is so much fun to look at. I love al of the colors. I love getting to the quilting stage, it means that you have almost completed a goal.

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  26. No quilting. :-( But lots of other sewing. I only have time for teeny, tiny projects right now but you continue to inspire me to do something larger someday. Love, love, love this quilt!

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  27. Working today, but quilting vicariously through you! Thanks for letting me tag along! :)

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  28. Yup, just finishing up on my Reader, then heading to my sewing room to finish up quilting the border of a baby quilt commission. It's always nice to finish other people's work so I can back to my own!

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  29. I'm working too. Thank goodness for Reader!

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  30. Rita, dear - you must say more about your "foundation" grid - for those of us struggling with straight lines and puckers!!! I have not done any quilting today - but yesterday I basted (with spray) a quilt for a friend!

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  31. Love this quilt. The citrus colors are wonderful!

    I did quilt today :) I got about 3/4 of a quilt quilted today and hope to get it done after car pool today.

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  32. I am quilting today! I've been hand-quilting my very first quilt ever, accompanied by a Jane Austen movie marathon.

    Your quilt is *so* beautiful. It makes me thirsty for a margarita!

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  33. Lovely quilt as always. I am not quilting today. First day home after a weekend at the Houston International Quilt Festival! Had such a good time! Hope to start using some of the new fabric I got tomorrow.

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  34. I have been machine quilting today. I really enjoy the process and watching my stitches bring a flat quilt to life. Great way to spend a day!!

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  35. Gorgeous fabric selections, as usual!! I noticed another commenter asked about spray basting...do you find that it leaves tiny puckers in the layers? It could just be me.

    Pinning IS a short cut for those of us taught purists' full thread basting. LOL
    Happy Quilting!

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  36. Sadly, no quilting today....
    Packing up my craft room to head to a new home in a few weeks!

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  37. I love quilts like these where you can spend forever trying to pick out your favorite fabric.
    Mine: the red-orange flowers with light green leaves or the green background with yellow sketched flower. :)

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  38. I love your quilt. I love quilting and does that 7 days a week...can't stop quilting!

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