March 17th, 2007

This pic shows some of the same fabrics in different positions on the quilt, since the colours vary som much from the top to the bottom it is as important for it to be compatible up top as doqwn on the lower part.

It is possible, and in at least one quilt,”Western Desert” 1991, I did actually bind it in such a way that the binding that changes colour according to which part of the quilt it is binding (in the case of Western Desert it was every 4″) but this is not appropriate in this case – the client requested a binding. and I am interpreting this as some kind of linear definition which would not be as pronounced with one that changes colours as it goes around the edge…. so that possibility is dismissed.

In this pic, the spotty one along the lower edge shows strongly positive, it is emerging as a favourite. Although the purple on the right is a match to a sliver in the quilt, I think it is just too predictable, a little boring, but very safe. Interestingly the hot tomato pink I had previously dismissed out of hand ( how could I have so much left over? etc ) is still in there, IMHO.

And the fine strip along the top right edge is looking OK, but when compared with the spot with varigated background, I don’t think ‘does enough’ . Posted by Picasa

Anatomy of a Commission – Quilted, Trimmed

March 17th, 2007

The quilting is all done, which took a bit of fiddling around – the pearlescent thread would not work without incessant breaking, perhaps it is old thread – but despite all the known remedies I applied, it was just not going to work, so, further sampling revealed a fine soft gold thread would work up nicely here, and so that is what I did, about 1/2 inch separated gently undulating, parallel, lines of machine quilting on this soft gold over the whole quilt.

All this took time in addition to the actual quilting, but the result is always worth the effort of fiddling with samples. This pic shows the work trimmed to 24in. x 36in. and ready for the binding….. which proved not to be the cut and dried issue I felt it was a few days ago.

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Anatomy of a Commission – Day 7

March 14th, 2007


This is actually day 9 – I have not done anything to this piece since monday.
Over the last couple of days I have heard from my client, who is happy with progress so far and has again expressed her preference for a binding, with which I quite agree, now. It is not always possible to see so far ahead – the answer to the question, “To bind, or not to bind,” may not become clear until all the piecing, or even the quilting, has been carried out.

I mentioned in the earlier posts on this subject that I had found a couple of pieces of (leftover) binding from other projects which might be considered suitable.

The tomato/red/pink opiece to the left is so long, I am thinking “How could someone have SO MUCH leftover?” I must have been really out of it the day I worked out the measurements and bound that quilt, But, already I can see, particularly from the next photo, that this long leftover piece lives to bind another quilt, another day – it just does not do enough for this one.

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March 14th, 2007

Although somehow I am unable to flip this image , maybe being 90 degress out helps see the options more clearly, anyway. At east this is better than seeoing only a little suare with red x in it in place of the photo, as faced me when I turned in to write more today. The only one of several pics I posted a few days ago. Bloody computers and Bloody Blogger, when they act together the results can be a little unpredictable.

So, these three strips pinned across the finished layers are in the preliminary auditions so to speak, for being the binding fabric chosen for this quilt. At this point I think the purple is safe but boring, the tomato red isn’t nearly as exciting as the stripe containing a lot of black. MOre fabrics will be assessed, and one finally chosen – but no rush until after the quilting is completed.


OF COURSE, before setting out to quilt this piece, I will be doing some quilting samples on scraps of fabric sandwiched with offcuts of the same batting and backing, to make sure it gives the look I want. And, I am prepared to spend however much time is necessary for this as it always pays. My machine is cleaned and oiled, a new jeans needle fitted, and the pearlescent thread I plan to use in the top third or so, is threaded, ready for samplising first thing.

March 14th, 2007

Although somehow I am unable to flip this image , maybe being 90 degress out helps see the options more clearly, anyway. At east this is better than seeoing only a little suare with red x in it in place of the photo, as faced me when I turned in to write more today. The only one of several pics I posted a few days ago. Bloody computers and Bloody Blogger, when they act together the results can be a little unpredictable.

So, these three strips pinned across the finished layers are in the preliminary auditions so to speak, for being the binding fabric chosen for this quilt. At this point I think the purple is safe but boring, the tomato red isn’t nearly as exciting as the stripe containing a lot of black. MOre fabrics will be assessed, and one finally chosen – but no rush until after the quilting is completed.


OF COURSE, before setting out to quilt this piece, I will be doing some quilting samples on scraps of fabric sandwiched with offcuts of the same batting and backing, to make sure it gives the look I want. And, I am prepared to spend however much time is necessary for this as it always pays. My machine is cleaned and oiled, a new jeans needle fitted, and the pearlescent thread I plan to use in the top third or so, is threaded, ready for samplising first thing.

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