Celtic Knot Progress and A New Applique Stabilizer

I'm continuing to work on this quilt though I'm not sure how I feel about it at this point.  Do you ever have a project like that?  I used a lot of muted colors so I could even the quilt out with heavy quilting, but the colors at this point are kind of losing my interest.

I'm going to try and force myself to applique some flowers on tonight.  I think that bit of color and visual interest will help keep me motivated!

I started to applique the small celtic knots on yesterday.  I discovered that the knot I had chosen for the center portion of this quilt was too tightly woven for the size bias tape I am using so I found a new knot - it is triangular instead of round so I think it might even be a better fit.

These are the fabrics I pulled for applique.  I may add to this - and certainly I will take away some.

OH - and I have been asking around about Sharon Schamber's  applique stabilizer.  A quilter that I follow on Facebook was asking about applique and someone recommended Sharon's stabilizer...and it really intrigued me because it is paper packed but wash away - and from what I understand it leaves a fabric behind after washed that helps to fill out the applique.  It's a little more than I wanted to spend on an experiment for now, so I looked for some sort of alternative while shopping on Monday.  I found this... Pellon Stick-N-Washaway.

It's not quite the same thing, but it does wash away - and what I like is that it has an adhesive back.  The adhesive is paper backed, so you can run it through your computer (so Electric Quilt users, this would be great for you).

What I don't like so much is that it's just not stiff enough.  It's more like a sticky fabric.  I attempted a few flowers...meh they kind of turned out bad, but I wanted to see if I could use this.  I might, I haven't decided for sure.  I like that it's soft so I can needle through it.  My trouble is with accurately appliqueing small flowers like these...closer to the size of a penny or dime - maybe smaller.

Ahh well, I'm going to try and fit some quilting time for me in today.  My Husband is umpiring a few days a week and we like to watch him at the field, and my daughters have decided to join Girl Scouts so we've been busy with those things.  It's summer now so I'm not couped up in the house from snow or bad weather so the chores are stacking up!

Just a reminder I am still looking for quilts to long arm!  I have just a handful lined up so there is virtually no wait - I should be able to begin work on your quilt the day it arrives!  

Click image below to enlarge.

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Professionally Quilted Entry

I decided to also enter this quilt in the Blogger's Quilt Festival in the professionally quilted category.  This quilt was made for my daughter and quilted on my APQS long arm machine.  My machine has no stitch regulation and all of my quilting is hand guided.  This quilt measures 50 by 50 and was my very first true custom quilted quilt!

Here is a shot of the back - I used Superior's Bottom Line thread so it's truly very subtle.

Some shots in progress...

Thanks for looking!  Check out The Blogger's Quilt Festival, participate, and VOTE!  :)

Jared Takes a Wife Finished!

So thrilled to be done with this quilt!  I've got an incredible stack of quilts that need binding - so I'm going to get working on that in the next day or so.  This took me particularly longer because I had to re-time my machine.  I'm so glad I did because my stitching is SO much better.  On to the next!

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Wall Hanging Quilts

I have followed the Blogger's Quilt Festival over the years and never participated...this year I thought I would!  I am really proud of my small whole cloth so I thought that it would make a great candidate for sharing.  It's not quite a lap and most appropriately considered a wall hanging, so I have entered it into the wall hangings category.  If you haven't visited before, go check out the other quilts by clicking here, and at the end of the week vote for your favorite!  There are wonderful sponsors and prizes, and most importantly really wonderful quilt inspiration!  :)

This quilt measures 33" by 44" and was quilted by hand on my long arm.  I did spend about 8 hours just marking the top with water soluble marker.  Below are a few in progress photos and a few in the sun so you can better see the detail.

Miniature Celtic Knot Quilt and FMQ Feather Video

Before I get into my post I just want to take a moment to reiterate the copy rite notice that is clearly visible on this website.  It was recently brought to my attention that someone was taking my photographs without permission and using them to promote their own web site.  I never watermarked in the past unless it was something that I anticipated would get circulated.  Many of the photos I share here are also shared in several of the forums I frequent, and many of those forums don't like the promotion of websites outside of their own so this is just a headache and an extra step I wish I didn't have to take.  You are welcome to pin these photos on Pinterest as long as you please link it back here, and nine times out of ten if you ASK me first I will giggle like a school girl and be tickled pink that you want to share my work.  I do have a small quilting business that would be grateful for the support and I've worked hard to get to this point in my quilting and would appreciate the credit for my own creations!  Thank you!

OK!  Back to the quilting!  :)  I finished my little mini and I'm really happy with it.  I was offered many wonderful suggestions by quilting pals and with the help of a heavy hot iron I pressed out the wrinkles in my knot.

Here's the back.  I used Sigma thread - had a little bit of knotting.  Not the thread's fault, mine for deciding to look up at the tv in the middle of stitching a feather!  :)  I love the pearly look of this thread.

I'm working on my larger celtic knot quilt but I don't want to share photographs until I make some substantial progress.  I did however finally get that video made on feathers!  Click below to watch how I make bump bump feathers on the domestic home sewing machine - but be warned I did not do my nails and they are pretty bad.

 For the best view click the video and enlarge it to full screen.  Because of the way Blogger embeds YouTube videos I have no control over the view as it is.  It is not the camera, I assure you, it is simply Blogger clipping a portion of my video - unfortunately it's a vital portion!

Celtic Knot Test Run

I played a little with bias tape and practiced my celtic knot yesterday.  It turned out so pretty I decided to make something of it.  I'm still not sure what I'll do in the green borders though.

I noticed after appliqueing it down it doesn't seem to like to be wet.  I don't care for that crinkly look that's beginning to happen.  I'm really not sure how to handle that yet, but I better figure it out before I start the big quilt.

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