2/4/14

Anything worth doing is worth doing right

All of my quilting time this morning was spent re- pin basting the Indian Orange Peel quilt.  I decided I wanted a good poof to the quilt and…okay, you’ll have to forgive me because when I say this, you’re all going to cluck and say, no, that wouldn’t work.  I knew it too, but for some reason I needed to actually experience it before my brain could grasp it….I doubled my layer of thin cotton batting.  I wanted more loft.  And, we know you do that by buying higher loft batting, not by doubling the layers.  I tried to quilt the first line of stability quilting in and I knew it wasn’t going to work.  It was too heavy in my lap.  I had no control over the quilt.  But, I still had to put in a second line of quilting.  And, in those two lines of quilting, I broke 4 needles and changed feet three times trying to find something that would life high enough to let me move the quilt under it.  And, I roared and I cried.  This is supposed to be my show quilt this year.

And, yesterday morning.  I pulled out those two lines of quilting and separated all the layers.

And, this morning, I pin basted it all together again with just one layer of batting. 

100_6451

Teaching an old dog new tricks is very hard work. 

So, we’re back on track and have only lost three days of quilting time.  Not bad.  I have another quilt that isn’t nearly this far along that I also want to finish.

Lofty goals for the common man.

Be well.  Have a good Tuesday.  I did say yes to the board position, but they had already found someone to fill it.  As my friend JC said to me at the meeting last night, I still get points for being willing.  There was another job that was still open, but I just am not up to coordinating volunteers.  I’m afraid my riding crop management style might not really be taken well by the ladies of the guild.

Lane

12 comments:

Rebecca Grace said...

Lane, have you tried Hobbs Tuscany Wool batting? It might be exactly what you're looking for to get that loft you want for this show quilt. It puffs up nicely, quilts like butter, and is lightweight enough that it's easy to handle under a domestic machine. I first read about it on Wendy Sheppard's blog here (http://ivoryspring.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/thread-talk-from-my-sewing-machine-2/), or maybe in Diane Gaudynski's book.

Pam said...

Wow -- I love this quilt! You've put some seriously time in and have pieced together the fabrics wonderfully! Great job!!!

Kath said...

my riding crop management style

Yee-ha! :-D

Marei said...

I think your orange peel is beautiful and look forward to seeing what quilting design(s) you use in it. Glad you didn't take the coordinating volunteers job. That's like trying to herd cats.

Hazel said...

Your orange peel quilt is just stunning Wow lots of hard work put into that one .

lw said...

I think Rebecca Grace has the right idea-- using Hobbs Tuscany wool for your batting. She's right about the loft, and I would love to see everything about this quilt match your vision.

Becky said...

Big SMILE!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wool batting that is what you need. Having done an Indian Orange Peel myself I certainly understand why this will be your show quilt . Hobbs Tuscany wool batting is the way to go , excellent loft and not too heavy and warm
( should you dare to use your masterpiece as a bed quilt!)
Congrats on your orange peel it is beautiful. Joanne

Coloradolady said...

This is my all time favorite next to the Christmas quilt. This is just beautiful! I wish I had the courage to make one of these, but this looks way over my head!! I love it Lane...it is a masterpiece!

Lakegaldonna said...

Again, I love this quilt top. I also agree with the folks commenting before me that perhaps you might try the wool batt if you can stomach pin basting just one more time.
This WILL be your show quilt. We all here in blog land can't wait to see the quilting journey for this top.

Mary Ellen said...

Next time try a wool batting. The loft is second to none, it quilts beautifully by hand or machine, and is relatively light in weight.

Elizabeth said...

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.

That quilt is fabulous.

I'm sure you'll have another opportunity for a spot on the quilt guild board.

xo -E