Postcard from Sweden QAL Update 2
I've made some pretty good progress on my regular size Postcard quilt. I finally got my fabric order I was waiting on and decided to replace all the "delft" color with "stratosphere". I am much happier with the color flow now. I have 10 rows fully sewn together and two more rows made. That means only three more to go!
My best tips are to use non-white thread to sew it together and to pay attention to which way you press the seams so that they nest from half-square triangle to HST and also row to row.
I have 12 rows of the mini put together, but none are joined yet. Eleven are pictured since I haven't pressed row 12 yet.
I will be using gray Carolyn Friedlander wide back fabric for both backings. Not sure what the quilting type will be yet. My free motion quilting skills could best be described as emerging. I really like how Kelly of Jeli Quilts did the loose lines on hers, but mine never look like that. More like wonky sine curves.
I was really hoping to be a bit further along, but it is spring break for my kids, so my husband took a few days off work and we've been trying to do some activities with them. Saturday we took them to an amateur ice skating show (basically anyone who takes lessons through a few local clubs). There were tots through college age kids. It was interesting.
Monday I had my first daffodil bloom of the season. Last year's first blooms were March 1, so we're behind a bit.
Yesterday my daughter had an eye appointment in Indianapolis so we went to a few specialty stores in the vicinity--LEGO and IKEA included. I was sad that the American Girl pop-up shop was gone since I really would like to get my hands on the NASA shirt without paying shipping. I did get a bent prong on my ring repaired while we waited at a jewelry store, so I guess that's something. We came home to a dusting of snow!! I do not like that!
We read in yesterday's paper that there were American white pelicans migrating through a local birding hot spot, so we left bright and early in the 24 degree chill to go see them. We did find them, and it was pretty cool. My bigger lens on my good camera isn't powerful enough to get a good, close-up picture. There were three big clumps of the birds.
We drove around a little and watched a juvenile bald eagle trying (?) to catch a duck an American coot. (edit 3/15/18--do a Google image search for the coot. Their feet are crazy looking!) While we were watching he was not successful, but it was so fascinating to watch.
Someone who lives within the area had this lovely display of flamingos too. 😁
I have added a finish from my UFO list. This dragonfly baby quilt is probably 15 years old. I did have to purchase a new backing for it, but used the old backing as binding. I tried out continuous curve and ruler work on this one. The Juki's "ruler foot" is just the basic foot that comes on the machine and you cannot get a ruler under the part that attaches to the shank without modifying the foot. My husband gave it a go, but it's not quite there yet, so I had a hard time being accurate with the ruler. Also, I used precise mode as instructed in class. I didn't like it. It randomly shut off and was kind of jerky. But I'm not good enough with a ruler to go with cruise mode yet.
A tip that I learned from Dorie Hruska's (Forever Quilting) Facebook page is that if you have wavy borders you can use bead board stitching on them and they will flatten out. It works!
Hi Anne-Marie,
ReplyDeleteYour Postcard looks great and only a few rows to go! It is really lovely. I only have my first four rows together - I am making a queen sized quilt for my bed. I sure do love all these colors together. What a fascinating tip about the beadboard stitching on a wavy border. And the ducks and eagle are just amazing to see - you captured great pictures. ~smile~ Roseanne
Thanks Roseanne! I was amazed at how well the bead board quilting worked. Good luck on finishing up your queen quilt. Can't wait to see it finished. :)
DeleteYour quilting looks great on the baby quilt. I think you have emerged. I can't believe how far along you are with the Postcard from Sweden. I've only got 4 rows done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote of confidence, Lisa! I thought I was supposed to have the entire top done last week. Oops!
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