Thursday, May 6, 2010

More of the same.

I've not been myself, I've had sinusitis for two months which I thought was allergies. After a dose of antibiotics, I got better. Then we ran out of coffee, real coffee and I've been drinking the only pods we had left which were decaffeinated. Disaster! Headaches happened and in desperation, I bought coffee. At the counter there was a sign which said 1/4 strength capuccino available. What the heck is that? Why don't they call that a "don't bother coffee"? Today, the coffee arrived and I'm ready to bounce off the walls! Happiness reigns at my house once again.
I ordered two more thimble kits from Ma Mercerie in Japan that are bigger than the last one I made. I do believe my stitching is improving.
The last one I made is tiny in comparison and I think I like the bigger size. My poor eyes are surely going to thank me. Everything is bigger including the silk thread. They take me an evening to make.
This is the other kit I bought, the pincushion insert is made of wool felt and is included but there are no instructions so if you want to have a go and order something, get the starter thimble kit which has photo instructions. I want to get going on these, I'm enamoured with them and want to learn some new patterns.
I've been getting on with my applique and  I wanted to show you this block and it's big flaw. Can you see it? Well, let me just point it out in case you don't. Take a look at the background fabric behind the stems, see the puckering? Ugly, ugly, ugly but I'm not changing anything. It'll quilt out, I hope. It will won't it?
Now check out this one, as yet unfinished and not ironed. See, no puckering. I am constantly learning with applique. The problem is with the tension when stitching and the fact that I wasn't paying attention.
I have learnt a technique to control this and I'll see if I can get Mr Quiltsalott to take some photos and show you next time.

52 comments:

Sue-Anne said...

Janet, your pincushions are amazing!

I would love to see how you avoid the puckering. I always get puckering on my bias stems but I can reassure you that it will disappear once it is quilted. Mine always have.

wishes, true and kind said...

Absolutely gorgeous appliqué!

Cardygirl said...

The pincushions are so cute. Your applique is looking good. Puckering is definitely related to attention.

mbroider said...

I love those thimble things... Wish i could them myself!!!

Lurline said...

Love your pincushionsand looking forward to seeing how to keep the correct tension whhen appliqueing!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Julia said...

Gorgeous pin cushions..me too, I would love to see how you avoid the puckering.
Julia ♥

Marit said...

Janet, we don't only share a love of Kaffe, we also share a love of the exact same coffee! (the two words are pronounced more or less the same, around here). Your applique is gorgeous - please share more of your techniques when you can. The blocks are so colorful and pretty. One day....

Unknown said...

as a needleturn newbie i am really enjoying your posts and tutorials, thank you! i am curious as to why you use a thick pencil to mark around your templates?

Anonymous said...

Those blocks are gorgeous. I love your colour sense.

Good to get your coffee fix! :)

OneLittleThread said...

Sometimes I swear the fabric shrinks when pressing. This would be obvious when using steam, but it's happened to me this week using a dry iron and caused my blocks to pucker up.

Funnily enough I just ran out of my coffee caps and the dreaded red ones were all that's left...off to Nespresso in the morning!

jean said...

Janet
Glad the coffee has arrived lol your stitching is beautiful, I also have that problem with puckering , is it tension ? I hope it does quilt out, I read Sue-Anne seems to think it does, I am sure she is right, if not just put it down to one of lifes little imperfections.

Chloe Patricia said...

Hello Janet, thank you for mentionning me in the post. You did quite well with your pin cushions, cannot believe it's your third one. Your aplique are gorgeous. I especially like the third one, looks like strawberries to me. Chloe Patricia

Anonymous said...

Glad you feeling better and yes coffee I need a proper coffee too not the funny stuff.
Take care
Christine

antique quilter said...

It will quilt out, I learned from one of the applique guru's in mho that when your working with small blocks like this you should cut your block larger it helps with the tension and the handling of the block too.
If you use pins to hold the piece down make sure you have the pins going in different directions, holds the piece to the background evenly....
just a few tips off the top of my head that I remembered to help with small blocks and pieces
LOOKS GREAT! and yes it will quilt out!
love the pin cushion I can't wait to see more I may have to try this someday too!!!!
the day can't start without my coffee and 3 in the afternoon another cup to just sit and enjoy!
Kathie

Joan said...

Pincushions/ring - just beautiful!I also love your baltimore - the colours are georgeous. I wouldnt worry about the puckering...I am sure it will quilt out?

Abby and Stephanie said...

Such patience you have to make something so small and intricate. They're really beautiful. I do understand the misery of allergies AND sinusitis. Glad you're feeing better.

Unknown said...

Those pincushions are just unbelievable!! I don't care puckers or no puckers your applique is just gorgeous!

Nat Palaskas said...

The Stars and Sprigs is gorgeous. I bet you are enjoying it. Yes coffee, how could you do without it? I've been trying to order the thimbles, but etsy keeps giving me an error message. I will try again later - Hugs Nat

PatchworkRose said...

Just adore your pin cushions. Clever girl :-)
I can relate to the withdrawals from no real coffee and my mind does not even compute decaf.
Just love all your applique blocks. Get better soon.
Cheers
Lynne

Valentina said...

Those pincushions are a dream! I like the larger size very much!
Your applique is seriously stunning... Oh my.
I hope you can quilt the puckering out! let us know if you learn how to prevent this for happening, please Janet?
:)

Darlene said...

Love, love the pincushions - true beauties!

I'll be watching for your tips to avoid puckering however with your beautiful quilting that puckering will never show.

Lori said...

The Nespresso premium blend?! How adorable!! I'm with ya' on the coffee!
Wow, your thimbles are amazing and so beautiful.
Your applique blocks are coming along so nicely. I'm sure once the quilt is put together the puckers will not be noticeable. I can't wait to see your tip:)

Anonymous said...

Those pincushions just trip me out! They are wonderful!
As always....your applique is wonderful and to die for!!

alobsiger said...

Coffee makes everything better. :-) I watched the No Impact Man documentary last week and was quite amused by the wife's problems with giving up coffee. I empathized. The pincushions? What can I say, so amazing! I want to rub my finger (lightly) across the threads to feel the texture. It will quilt out. I'm going back up to re-read Kathie's applique tips. Those blocks! Can't wait for that pattern to come out!

Anonymous said...

You do amazing work even with sinusitis and no caffeine...?! Holy cow!!!

It WILL quilt out. Plus, couldn't you moisten the block and block it dry...? Just a thought. Hmmm. Plus, look at those other blocks - amazing!!! I know, I already said that! A-m-a-z-i-n-g. : )

Thimble/pincushion beautiful-ness!!!

Feel better and enjoy your day, Sensei.

Karen said...

Your applique blocks are adorable. I'm not that brave with my color choices - but it sure works. Can't wait to see the whole thing. What do you mark your lines with?? Thanks for sharing.

beth said...

Love your applique!! I'm sure the puckers will quilt out.
Glad you finally got your coffee. ;)

Miriam said...

I so glad you are feeling better.

Those thimbles are amazing!

I love your applique....even the puckery (is that a word??) one

Anonymous said...

Hi Janet
Sorry to hear you've been unwell. It's no fun at all and especially without real coffee. I agree with you about the 1/4 strength. It's probably the washings from he machine.
The pin cushions are gorgeous but they look soooo fiddly. I'm not sure I'd be able to do it but I enjoy looking at yours.

Your applique is lovely. Re the puckering have you tried spraying the puckers with a 1:5 mix of white vinegar to water? And then gently using a small iron? It might help.

This is going to be one gorgeous quilt!
Cheers
Munaiba
PS where did your friend learn Kantha?

Janet said...

Your new thimble looks lovely - such pretty colors. It looks like you're getting lots of applique done - I look forward to seeing your applique tips. :0)

Sharon said...

This is going to be beautiful. Yes it will work itself out between a good pressing and the quilting. Go Janet Go

Teresa Rawson said...

The pincushions are sweet, but the stars and sprigs are taking my breath away!! The puckers will quilt out...AWESOME project!

Crispy said...

I will love to see the technique to keep puckering away. I don't have a lot of problems with it except for really tight areas :0)

LOVE the thimbles!!

Crispy

imquilternity said...

I love the way you use your fabrics in your applique. I think that's an art in itself! No one will notice the puckers, if they remain once you quilted it, since quilts are supposed to pucker aren't they? lol

Thimbleanna said...

I'm voting that it will quilt out -- it's much too beautiful to take out. Your little thimbles are so cute -- I can't believe they only take an evening to do!

Marieke said...

Beautiful applique! Beautiful colours and the puckering will not show eventually, I think. Enjoy your coffe! :-)

A peu coix. Núria Sagués said...

I like your work and applications

http://laborsderetallsnuria.blogspot.com/

Núria

Ann Ferguson said...

Your applique is gorgeous and so are the pin cushions. I did a machine appliqued bird's tail which was terribly puckered once - not a sign of it after quilting! Kudos to you for spending the evenings making them! The coffee box is intriguing...I good coffee makes the morning brighter I think! Ann:)

Shirley said...

Hi Janet,
Those pincushions are just fantastic. I can see that from a practical issue then the bigger one is the best option but I do love that little pale dinky one. Even just the smell of coffee gives me a headache. I drink Earl Grey tea that looks like dishwater and smells like fairy liquid, but I need that first thing in the morning and then I can get on with the day. Hopeless druggie!! I tried going cold turkey and giving up tea and I had the worst headache of my life. Would rather have the tea.
Shirley.x

Mimi said...

OMG! Your colorful floral blocks just make me smile. They are so pretty. Yes...I think it will quilt out and once you wash it (if you do) it will give that crinkly look anyways.

Kim D. said...

Your blocks are so stunning. I'm sure those puckers will iron out or quilt out one. Love the little thimbles.

Kaaren said...

I am totally in love with your little pincushions, Janet. What kind of thread do you use and what is the 'form' that you stitch around made of?

Your applique quilt makes me smile. But then color makes me happy. It's going to be stunning when finished. Persistence...I admire yours.

Mosaic Magpie said...

Yes it will quilt out, and really with applique as pretty as this it won't matter.

Anonymous said...

What lovely blocks. I would love to know how to do the turning under applique...I do a lot of applique but stick to blanket stitch as it is something I am happy doing.

Dixie Howard said...

Your applique blocks are so pretty - looking forward to your advice as the puckering happens when I applique sometimes. I usually attribute it to sewing when I'm too tired or stressed! Goodness, couldn't do without my morning coffee - you are a stronger woman than I!!! Love your thimbles - you are getting really good at making them.

*karendianne. said...

I can't seem to get enough of the thimbles aka. pincushions (now) Neat to see the two different sizes. Wow. Your poor eyes for sure.

I'm so intrigued by the applique and the puckering. You know I've still yet to learn being all caught up in hand piecing that I am, which I think is find since we follow our hearts. I should think...

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

Hope you are feeling better now Janet, we are the same around here, we NEED good coffee in the house at all times!! I love your thimbles, amazing. Can't wait to see your pics on how to get your applique to stop puckering, mind you yours is pretty good anyway and should quilt out a treat! xo

M and M plus 3 said...

Hope your feeling better soon.

Please do share your tip to no puckering when appliqueing, I have that problem and not sure what I'm doing wrong since I'm so new.

Robin said...

Your work is so beautiful! Please post SOON on how to avoid that puckering, because I seem to be having that happen in odd places lately. It makes me crazy. And yeah, that's my thought with my own puckering - it will quilt out.

Taylorsoutback said...

As a beginning appliquer visiting your blog is such an inspiration & source of learning. My fabric choices are so conservative - yours are a joy to the eye!
Thank you for sharing your creativity. Those thimbles are exquisite.

Rose Marie said...

Your fabric selection is wonderful for your applique! I wouldn't worry at all about the puckering as it will quilt out.

Quilts And Pieces said...

WOW! I love those pincushions! Those are amazing! I just love the colors on the big one you made. I even had to check her site out also - very cool!