Sunday, September 10, 2017

Quilty Fun Sampler Done


 I finished my Quilty Sampler top at the beginning of June and decided to have it professionally quilted as a birthday gift to myself. I have to say this was worth the wait for the professional quilter! I spent this week and this morning slow stitching my binding down. 
 I picked an all over swirl design. This machine is not a traditional longarm machine--it is a full frame computer quilting system. Check out this Youtube video to see how it is done:
My friend and coworker, Glenn, invited me over to watch my quilt being done--it took less than an hour and this is nearly a 60 inch square quilt. It actually probably takes longer to load it on the frame than the quilting. The machine also works vertically and made four vertical passes.
 The machine belongs to Glenn's mom, but her eyes have gotten really bad due to macular degeneration, so Glenn programs the computer and runs the machine for her. It was only $60 for the quilting and I will be prepping more tops and backings for him to quilt for me once he has some time in his schedule.
I am piecing more and more of my backings because it is economical and fun.
 I am spending this afternoon prepping blocks for Lori Holt's Bee Happy Quilt Along. My templates finally arrived, so I hope to get caught up with that soon. I will save my blocks for another post, but you can find details about the quilt along here:
I have stopped buying Best Press for my own homemade version. I use:
1 cup of vodka
1 cup of water
12 drops of an essential oil of your choice (I used spiced pomegranate)

I spend about $14 for the vodka and essential oil, but it makes a lot of pressing spray--if we don't use the vodka for bloody Mary's or sea breezes!

21 comments:

  1. What a beautiful quilt! So much fun.

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  2. Your quilt's gorgeous Tanya! I love the vivid colors that you used, and the label is perfectly beautiful :)

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  3. Your quilt is happy and lovely with those cute blocks and vibrant colors. I've never heard of making my own pressing solution. Do you think it works the same?

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  4. I always love your Lori Holt quilts, and this one is really adorable! The quilting looks great, and $60 sounds like a bargain!

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  5. LOVE your quilt and can't wait to see your new blocks!

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  6. Your bright sampler is adorable!! I'm intrigued at your pressing mixture. Hope you'll share more about it later!!

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  7. Vodka water, really?! Who knew!! Your quilty sampler came out great.

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  8. What an adorable quilt! Great idea about the vodka and water...it's not sticky?

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  9. Your quilt is gorgeous!! I love it!

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  10. Hi Tanya, wow congratulations on the quilt, it looks wonderful, such fun motifs through it, and the quilting process was interesting to read about.
    Lucky fabric, getting that vodka shower, LOL!

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  11. Great quilt with great quilting. How is the vodka water going? I have been making my own but the recipe I have is not 1 to 1. My recipe is more like Donna's. But I really would like it to provide a bit stiffer fabric so will try a higher percentage of vodka next time. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

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  12. Lovely finish on your quilt and how great to have someone else quilt it for you. At that price I would be having more done also. The colours are bright and cheerful.

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  13. What a great fun finish! love all the wonderful blocks and scrappy backing. When I first saw the vodka...I asked why would she want to water it down? Then I figured out what you were using it for, LOL!!

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  14. Your quilt urned out great! That machine is crazy. What will they think of next?

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  15. Love your sampler quilt! Every once in a while having a quilt professionally quilted is a must! I don't do it often, but it's so nice when we can splurge on it. How does the vodka work for pressing? I use starch...I love starch, but I'm thinking of switching to the vodka method myself!

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  16. Wonderful looking quilt! I bet it took a lot of time. I started sewing that quilt but couldn't get the blocks to turn out the right size--in the days before I was super careful about a scant 1/4" seam. Looking at your quilt wants me to pick mine up again and work on it.

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