Updates and Lessons

Athena's Quilt

The WIPS-B-GONE 2022 challenge is going well.  I didn't get 2 projects done in the first quarter but I am hoping to catch up in the second quarter.  I finished Athena's Quilt on Saturday and gave it to her today.  That is one project finished. Plus it was started before January 1, 2022 so it counts as a finish for Queen of UFOs as well.

Like I said, I am behind in my challenge goals. I am only a week behind but I am trying to catch up. Last week I managed to get 3 quilts prepped for the long arm. Two of which I also got the digital quilting patterns set up.  

Autumn Splendor

So yesterday, I got the Autumn Splendor quilt on the long arm and quilted. I chose Wood Sprite e2e by Christie Dillon from My Creative Stitches. It stitched out a little more open than I would have liked. I've measured several different open spaces and I am just at 4 inches between stitching. Which according to the HOBB website is the maximum distance between stitches. That is too close for my comfort but I decided to leave it. I used a gold thread and I just love how it plays across the  fabric. I did get the binding cut for it today, but haven't made it yet.  I am really pleased with it so far. I believe I will give it to my sister-in-law. But I do have to finish it first.

Off White and Royal Blue threads

I managed to get Scrappy Joy on the long arm today. I even started quilting her. It seems some quilts are just supposed to be learning quilts. Today I fought with thread breaks right and left. I think I got it fixed though. I had used a smaller needle and once I changed back to the size I usually use, things straightened out. 

I also surprised myself in the thread choice.  I had planned on using a royal blue but was afraid that the quilting would overpower the beauty of the quilt. So I thought off white on top and royal blue on the bottom. I decided to audition the thread. Well on top, the off white thread would disappear except for the borders and on the back, the royal blue would disappear all together.  I was not going to get the results I wanted with those threads.

I had two other blues in my thread cone stash. One was a very pretty variegated blue that I bought to possibly use on another quilt. But the blue tones were just not right for Scrappy Joy. The other is a baby blue thread.  When I puddled the baby blue thread out on the quilt top the thread was visible on both parts of the top but was still subtle.  So that was my choice.  

 

Since I've discovered quilting in zones, I no longer feel like I have to get the whole quilt done in a day.  Today I stitched 2 of the 8 zones for Scrappy Joy.  After the thread breaks and being tired from a very full weekend, I needed a break. So I saved the patterns and will go back to it tomorrow. 

Here are the lessons learned this week.  Sewing everyday will get things closer to finish.  Focusing on one project at a time will get that project done faster.  Practicing a skill will help you improve. Mistakes are opportunities to learn.  Filling in a tracker gives you a sense of accomplishment.

What have you learned this week?