Fifty two

52 yards.

Yep, fifty-two yards of binding.

5-2     Y-A-R-D-S

It's been a long day.

Featheration= Beautiful!

That Golden Threads pantograph, Featheration, stitches out beautifully!  Look!

I'm still working on the other four quilts that are getting this edge to edge panto.  This is a great example of an inexpensive choice for machine quilting.  

New Pantograph

I got to shop through all the wonderful pantographs offered by Golden Threads at the  Houston Quilt Show.  There were some real beauties there.  

I was drawn to the 13 1/2" wide panots.  These can only be used on larger machines but they provide more breathing space between the stitching lines.  I know that, as a machine quilter, I like to quilt every little inch of a top.  However, most piecers would rather the stitching be less dense. 

 This panto is perfect for that.  It is call Featheration and it is so much fun to stitch.  I'm using it on 5 twin quilts right now.  

I'll post a picture later.  It looks beautiful!

Done and done!

Here's the finished batik quilt.  It turned out so nice.  What I really like is that all the elements work in harmony. 

 The color palate doesn't allow any one color take center stage.  They all lean on each other and work so nicely together.  The pattern allows each block to blend into its neighbors so that it all looks like one voice.  The gold thread used adds sparkle and interest but it doesn't shout at the viewer the way a gold thread on a more subtle palate might.  

The gold thread for this quilt and the movement the swirling quilting design motif helps the eye travel around the quilt top.   

I'm so thrilled that the piecer of this quilt top who is a long time internet friend of mine, trusted me to bring her top to life!

Next up, five quilts done for a commercial client.  They require a quick turnaround so I'm gonna be really focusing on churning these out!  I'll be doing a pantograph for them that I picked up in the Houston show last month.  I'm looking forward to working with a new panto!

Golden threads and tarnished thoughts

I've got the batik quilt on the frame today and my client decided upon the swirling scroll design motif for her beauty.  I thought a variegated thread would really make it sing. She was immediately receptive but I was really struggling to find a variegated that could stand up to the batik palate. I had a spool of golden metallic thread by Superior and I kept being drawn back to it. 

Finally, I asked my client what she thought about using a gold metallic thread and she said she thought it would really make it pop. She was so right! It really does make the quilt top sing but it is making me scream. It keeps breaking!!

I've slowed down and loosened the tension. I've changed the needle- again! I've even walked away from it thinking the thread gods just needed a little time alone with my machine. I'm bound and determined to get it done but it will take just as long to bury all these thread tails as it has to actually quilt the top! 

I'm so glad that I've got clients who trust my quilty instincts and are willing to be a bit non-traditional when it comes to thread choices.  I keep reminding myself that the end result will be stunning but I'm also reminding myself not to use metallic thread again! LOL!  Look for this thread option to soon disappear from my website- after I tame this golden beast to behave for this quilt top!