Applique Tuesday

Machine Applique that is.  This is taking me much longer than I thought.  It's those zagged edges to the palm leaves.  Have to be done slow.  And yes, I discovered that it does need stabilizer in the back.

Did one with and one without. What a difference.  I'm using invisible thread and So Fine in the back with a zig zag of 1.0 wide and 1.0 long and a 60/08 needle.  I get these nests of top thread every once in a while in the back.  ??? Don't know what causes this and the top thread isn't broken. Strange.  Has that happened to you?  

On my design wall is the church festival quilt:

I am quilting it now.  Think of it as a square I Spy quilt.  We're going to raffle it at our church festival May 31st.  St Anne members are doing a booth for kids to color fabric squares to later use in baby quilts. Our goal is to show them that they can help others with simple tasks and make a difference. Will also teach them how to make finger crocheted bracelets.

I can't understand how I keep getting sidetrack from my WIPs and applique projects.  Always something. Nothing changed in my stash report.  Still YTD fabric usage stands at  YTD total of 46.39 yards.  

How are you doing?  Leave me a comment and I'll come back to see your endeavors.   And don't forget to visit the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  So much inspiration there. Button on top of sidebar. Bye for now.

Slow Sunday Stitching

Here's the latest.  10 to go.  and here is what our skies have been looking like - strange for CA in May:

So weird to be under a winter storm warning, too, this late in the year. Today it was 29 degrees cooler than the norm. And just two weeks ago this was my view out my kitchen window:

All gone now except for the Primrose.  But we did get an 1.5 of rain in those weeks.  I'm linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching. Take a break and do some soothing hand stitching. And for eye candy overload do visit the Blogger's Quilt Festival.   My entry is in the Home Machine Quilted group. There are 11 other categories - not to be missed. Enjoy!

WIPs Be Gone Week 20

Oh-ho!  Almost got away from me. But I have been busy with quilty stuff although not much of it WIPs except for the hexie I made for WIP #3.  Here's what I can show:

 While I have done this quilt design as FMQ on seams for SITD, this time I thought I'd try my walking foot and the S-curve stitch on my Bernina.  I used blue painter's tape to mark my register line - starting at the center. I used the tape to line up the edge of my walking foot and walked down the tape to form the line.  As I finished both sides of the first laid tape, I moved the tape to a new position and continued making lines (one direction at a time).

  This gave me lines about 1.5" apart. I was done in no time.  The advantage of the FMQ it is even faster as I didn't have to keep moving tape, however not as precise, but I got my walking foot quilting practiced.  A great way to quilt for a beginner quilter who wants uniformity.

Here is the finished baby quilt. Measures 30" square.  The block is Album.  I expanded the size.  It's a preemie quilt for our local Neonatal unit. I used Superior's So Fine Thread with a 80/12 titanium needle.  I'm linking to Michelle's Let's Make Baby Quilt, Richard's Link A Finish, Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, and Julie for her Pet Project Show.  

How about your WIPs?  How are you doing on those?  Would love to see - doesn't have to be a finish, but we'll admire those, too.  Linky below - remember it doesn't even have to be a new post. Ends Monday, midnight.  Lots of eye candy on the NET.  Have a great weekend!

An InLinkz Link-up