I saw this blog Owen’s Olivia: Your Sewing Thread Under a Microscope reposted by Generation Q Magazine this morning and thought you’d enjoy it. Seeing your thread under a microscope (photos taken by her husband) is pretty cool. Head on over and check it out. PS – she has no idea I’m doing this.
And now back to our regularly scheduled program:
When I look at Moon Over Manhattan from the back I am in awe of the quilt itself and of how differently quilts can look from the front to the back. Yes, yes, I know this is my own quilt and humility should rule. Bah!
As I look at Moon from the back I think I should remake this quilt. There is something about the subtlety of the star color that makes this quilters heart sing. The color of the thread really does change the overall appearance of the solid lime green. As I’m thinking about the thread, the visual impact and the moon I’m thinking that the inside part of the circle would be gray and the star would have more color to it. This would allow me to quilt right to the edge of the star allowing the moon and the star to be the individual components. I’m also thinking that I’d complete the star shape – thinking but not 100% sure. Or move it down and to the right a bit. Thread-wise I’d want to have the same type of visual subtlety that I have going on here. I can see the silk thread adding up now! Yes I’d use silk, it’s really fine and would allow me to do that crazy micro stitching that I do.
I would not trapunto the comet. That extra layer of batting is not doing anything for it. I’d like to see how the metallic of the comet looks on the lime. I’m thinking I’d stitch the comet differently giving it a bit of a different feel, more visual movement, drawing the eye away from the larger circle, I’d probably use red metallic in it as well.
On the peacock-blue the silver metallic is quite striking. On the lime green I’d bet it would be a lot more subtle and I’m thinking I’d stitch that right around the edge of the star or around the circular edge of the moon. Oh my mind is really going now.
Ahem, there are rules! Rules! And I should follow them.
Today’s earworm Harry Chapin’s Flowers are Red.
You see, dear quilter, there are principles and there are rules. Rules are things you have to follow. Like the speed limit. In spite of the fact that our vehicles can go 100+ mph we really should follow the rules of the speed limit for the safety of those around us. We do need to keep quilting peeps and if we’re in the hospital we can not quilt. Principles are basic tenets that give you the freedom to explore and do. In quilt making choose to follow principles and break whatever rules I can along the way. Despite popular opinion there are no quilt police. And no, quilt judges are not members of the quilt police, they are following principles and rules set forth by the quilt shows.
Rules have their place and I appreciate them. It’s kind of like the quilting on “It’s Bigger Than I Thought” – the general rule would be: “the quilt is really busy keep the quilting simple”. Apparently I’m not a rule follower.
I’m the quilter who went to one
yes you read that correctly
ONE
machine quilting class and has proceeded to do whatever I’ve wanted ever since.
I learned the principles in that class: it’s okay to change the tension on your machine, practice, there’s more than one way to quilt, using the right needle makes a difference – there are different opinions about needles, don’t show other people your “flaws”, be careful with marking implements, help other quilters it reinforces what you’ve learned
I do have a few rules
Rules like:
Don’t stitch body parts – this is an excellent rule and yes, I have broken it
though we do know that blood comes out with our own spit – something about the enzymes
Don’t use brown and black in the same quilt?
why not? Mother Nature does and who am I to argue with her?
Always use cotton batting and cotton thread.
yeah, uhm no. Just no.
Always use a motif that complements the quilt top.
Sure!
Here’s my rule: a quilt is a canvas to play, explore and have FUN!
I’m sure there are more rules but I’ve forgotten them it’s been so long since I’ve tried to follow them.
Happy Quilting!
Teri
