Using the braiding foot was so much fun that I have been mulling over ways to use it in future projects. I thought that finding braid was going to be tricky, until I had a brainwave. This is a quick test I have done today.
If you twist strands of embroidery cotton together, you can make an instant braid in any colour you like. The weather is far too sunny at the moment to get down to any serious sewing, but as soon as it rains again, I know what I will be doing...
This is a detail from another of the exhibits at the American Museum. The appliqué picture is of a family out for a walk, complete with wailing baby and grumpy dad.
The book I have says the coverlet was made in Saratoga, New York by Mrs. Peter Porter (Martha Vail) Wiggins.
Getting a bit too arty for words, here. The blue skies are going to my head... my compatriots will understand. I was amazed last night when I enlarged this picture - the seeds have tiny barbs on them, no doubt so that when the parachutes finally land the seeds cling on to the ground. A big welcome today to four new followers - Linda SewExtremeSeams, Melissa Beacham, Julia Salisbury and Ann McNab. Thank you for joining!
When it comes to joining quilted blocks, I use the method described by Leah Day on her excellent video, which you can find here if the video doesn't show up on this post:-
Leah describes the method really well, and when I first saw this video I knew I had found the method I wanted to use. There is just one snag - Leah recommends either a line of zigzagging or hand stitching for the last line of stitching. I had to adapt the method so all the stitching could be done on straight stitch machines. I also slightly changed the measurements. Here is the method I came up with:-
I use strips measuring one and a half inches wide for the top binding, and two and five eighths of an inch for the back binding. The seam guide is set to give a seam allowance of three eighths of an inch. For the first line of stitching, I put the folded strip on the underneath and the top binding on the top of the quilted panel. The machine I have been using is the 1949 Singer 15K hand machine, with the hinged regular foot attached.
Then I do the second line of stitching with the same foot and with the seam guide still in place.
Once these two lines of stitching have been done, I lay out the panels with the two edges together. With this project I usually find that there is a bit too much bulk for the edges to lie flat against each other. This is because I have been using brushed cotton for the backing and polyester wadding - when I made the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Quilt I used cotton wadding and standard weight quilting fabrics, so the edges lay flat first time.
Rather than trying to adjust the measurements, it is easier just to shave off a fraction from the seam allowance...
... and then it will lie flat.
Then the back binding can be folded down and pinned into place. The pins need to go through the quilted panel, but not the binding on the right side.
When the work is turned over you will see the pins, and a new line of pins needs to be put in on the right side. Once they are in place, the first line of pins has to come out.
Now the last line of stitching can go in. For this the hinged cording foot is ideal because you can stitch right alongside the top binding. This means that on the right side, the stitching will be barely noticeable...
... and on the back it holds down the binding just a fraction away from the folded edge. I love this method. It makes home quilting possible when you haven't got acres of space in the house. Linking up again with Leah Day's blog for Free Motion Friday - visit her blog so you can see what other bloggers are making!
This is my Serata Vibrating Shuttle hand machine, the twin of my treadle. Unfortunately it had already lost its original case and base before I bought it, so it lives in an old Singer base. A shame really. The bobbin winder is wonderfully efficient and easy to use. This is how it works:-
First the thread goes through the hook at the top of the faceplate. There is a little wire thread guide next to it, possibly originally intended to take the thread to the bobbin winder if you were winding a bobbin and sewing at the same time. However the thread has a tendency to jump out of the wire thread guide so I don't use it.
Next, the thread goes over to the little tension discs at the top of the upright bar above the winder. It needs to go between the tension discs, then through the hole at the top of the bar, and then down the back of the bar.
The bobbin has to be put in with the thread coming from the back.
The winder pivots on a large screw underneath.
To engage the winder against the balance wheel, just push it into place.
The winder is now ready to fill the bobbin. The little steel plate that rests against the bobbin will automatically release the bobbin winder once the bobbin is full.
If you want to take out the bobbin before the release mechanism is activated, just press gently on the steel plate. Welcome to three new members today, Jaylee Miguel, Edsmum and Jessie Cunliffe. Thank you for joining!
This is a detail from another of the quilts at the American Museum. It was made by a lady called Alzona Maria Green in New York in about 1932. It is thought to have been made from a kit. The quilting was done by an Amish church group in Iowa. The overall effect of the colours, soft blue and cream with pinks and greens, is wonderfully restful. No doubt it was more vibrant when it was new.
Bluebells and wild garlic - there's nothing quite like the woods in May. Peace and enchantment. Welcome to Rosemary Dickinson, the latest follower. Thank you for joining!
