I think I first showed you this top about a year ago April/May - it's a string quilt made with copper and brown lame, burnt orange velvet and burgundy silk.
This quilt was a pain in my posterior extremity if you know what I mean - because of the fragility of the fabrics, I first foundation pieced them. At the time (I've only been quilting for two years now!)I thought it would be better if the seams were large. So I had thick, heavy seams, on a foundation fabric that was too heavy.
Then I added ultra suede borders and backing, and wool/cotton blend batting. This made for a VERY heavy quilt. I actually shoved the thing through my little Singer (the machine I was using at the time); and though I broke a million needles and my machine hated it, I did, eventually finish the darn thing.
Of course, it looked TERRIBLE.
So, I put it away for awhile.
A few months ago, I took out all the quilting. Have you ever ripped out ALL the stitching on a completely finnished quilt? It takes a long, long time. Especially when you're trying not to damage really expensive ultra suede, lame and silk.
After that, I was really tired of this quilt.
But, I pulled it out this weekend, trimmed all the inner seams, patched up the few booboos that were made on the top where I had ripped out all the stitches, and then re-quilted. it.
So its finally done. I may do another string quilt again, but I don't think I'll EVER do another quilt with an ultra-suede back. It feels amazing ,but I'm pretty sure I have arms like Popeye after wrestling with that sucker for the last 20 hours.
DONE.
Thank goodness!
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I'd do a ultrasuede back on the longarm but I can't imagine doing one on my DSM! Good result though!
ReplyDeleteI applaud your tenacity in finishing it! It's gorgeous- I can practically reach through the computer screen and feel the texture... Nice work once again!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vicki! It was really, REALLY hard! :) Some day, I'll get a longarm (sometime in the far future, I assume); but until then, no ultrasuede for me!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Kit
Oh my! This quilt is shiny! I like the string quilt-ness paired with those lucious fabrics...but I'm definitely not brave enough to try something like it. I enjoy quilting vicariously through you. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never ripped out all my quilting before, I'm sorry you had to go through that. But, the new quilting is gorgeous!
Thanks Alexis - it really does feel WONDERFUL!
ReplyDeleteThanks Crystal!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I’m still feeling kinda *meh* about the quilting, although that’s a hundred times better than my initial “OMG I’VE JUST RUINED $250 WORTH OF FABRIC!!!!” response. Lol
That said, I’m really pleased with my take on the string quilt – I like subverting the tradition – just a bit, by using lamé. Shiny! :D
Did you use the Juki or singer on the 2nd go?
ReplyDeleteI used both - the Juki on the inside and the Singer for the borders. I only switched to the Singer because for some reason, the Juki didn't like the borders - kept skipping stitches. Then when I went back to the Juki for another project, she was just fine. *shakes head* I suppose even sewing machines get testy now and again... ;)
ReplyDeleteNow, I kind of feel like I need to do a quilt with an ultrasuede back on my longarm to see how it goes. Maybe a small lap quilt.
ReplyDeleteI've never worked with a longarm (except at a show); but I bet it would go better than shoving it through a dsm - even if it is a workhorse like my Juki! It really does make a beautiful backing though...
ReplyDelete