Simple borders have been added, just as Karen Moore did in her original Ginger Blossom Pinwheel which I am shamelessly copying. Basting was completed on our large dining table, in two halves. I'm using Sew Easy 50/50 Bamboo Cotton batting for this quilt - a beautiful light even-coloured soft batting with minimal flecks. Then the straight-line quilting began. I find I have best control if I roll each side up, letting the quilt feed through the machine while I hold each roll as if they were reins on a horse.
Early this morning, before the children began to stir, I finished the quilting on Ginger Blossom Pinwheels. I would not have dreamt of using my noisy old machine with clackety walking foot while any were sleeping. I do however, find that my new machine skips the odd stitch here and there, sometimes several in a row, even after changing needles, so if any have suggestions to help, I'd love to hear from you.
This is the first quilt I have sewn without prewashing all fabrics. Using a fat quarter bundle it seemed impractical (and it is generally not advisable to prewash these smaller pieces of fabric), however I find the smell/chemicals tend to irritate my throat when I've been working with the unwashed fabrics for a while. I'm contemplating squaring the quilt, zigzagging the edges and giving it a couple of washes (along with the binding fabric separately) before I attempt to attach the binding and hand stitch it on the quilt back. I'll let you know how I go...
I'm keen to finish Ginger Blossoms so Miss O can begin to use it and so I can start to play with the beautiful organic fabrics which have arrived since I last posted. More on that soon!
*Update: I did square off and zigzag the edges, washing and line drying the quilt and separate binding fabric twice! I'm very pleased to be able to report that this almost completely removed the new fabric/dye smells/irritation and has caused no further issues. :)
*** You can see the completed quilt in use a few days later here.
Sharing at WIP Wednesday.
Karen, This is such a happy quilt - Miss O will be snuggled in colorful love. I often have trouble with fabrics - I have a formaldehyde allergy and many fabrics contain some formaldehyde either in the material or the dye. For me, washing before handling would be necessary. Organic fabric will not have formaldehyde.
ReplyDeleteThat’s interesting Barb. Conventional cotton often involves the use of formaldehyde in the printing/dying process and again in the finishing to help prevent shrinkage and wrinkling. The formaldehyde is then locked into the fabric with an exposure to extreme high heat.
ReplyDeleteThat could be the problem - or one of them. Another good reason to switch to organic (and prewash).
You are nearly there, Karen. 'Tis a vision of happiness and delight. Re the skipping stitches problem...do you use a quilting needle when quilting? I'm feeling around the dark re this l'il hiccup of yours...sorry.
ReplyDeleteNo I haven’t tried a quilting needle - maybe that’s the answer. Thanks Kim!
ReplyDeleteKaren this is just going to be/ is a gorgeous quilt. Very interesting how you have this rolled up on the sides to sew it. My only quilt experience has been the little wall hanging that I recently posted, so have never had to deal with how to sew on a large quilt like this is. With the new sewing machine that I recently bought, they told me that If i was going to do much quilting that i would need a special foot which would make the feed more smooth and keep from skipping stiches. It is a foot that also has a top feed dog, so there is one on top and one on the bottom. Also told me to change the tension to a thicker material. Wonder if that is something that might help you out.
ReplyDeleteSuch joyous colors in this quilt :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful quilt. I love all the colours.
ReplyDeleteSuch joyous colours in this quilt - really lovely! I have had stitch skip on one quilt - drove me insane. The key for me was to change thread type (and make sure I was using the same thread for top and bottom, which I had not been) and needle type - so not just a new needle, but a different type of needle all together. Hope you can fix up that problem!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty pinks..a color I am freshly seeing lately :)
ReplyDeletePretty Pretty!
ReplyDeleteAnother gorgeous quilt and great colors! Miss O will surely love it!
ReplyDeleteThankfully I haven't had any physical problems when sewing with unwashed fabrics but I do know what you mean about the smell. Some fabrics seem to be worse than others. I'm curious to see what you do about washing it before binding.
utrolig hvor kreativt er du !
ReplyDeletesuperb colors! very nice work!
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful Karen- really love the pretty prints and fresh colours against the white.
ReplyDeleteI seem to be reading more and more people who have trouble with the chemicals in fabric. Your quilt is very bright and pretty, just right for snuggling up in.
ReplyDeleteDear Karen, I am sure that Miss O will be happy with this beautiful quilt you show us here in this post. I like this traditional pattern of pinwheel.
ReplyDeleteBy the Way, I Must wash all new clothes befor wearing this. My Skin get red, if I forget this.
Wish you and your Family a very good time
Heidrun
Love the beautiful colors and always love pinwheels!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful work of art, Karen.
ReplyDeleteI love the colors you chose for it.
Beautiful! I'm sure the finished quilt is going to look so pretty! Do you thread baste your quilt using soluble thread or just regular?
ReplyDelete