Anything Goes Quilt and Sew #26 - My First Video Tutorial

I have made a short video tutorial, showing you how I quilted the circles/loops inside the sashing of the baby quilt I'm making, and as I was uploading the video to youtube, I realized I did not even do a little into, or explained any machine settings I use, I just jumped right in and started quilting.  

Next time I will definitely plan ahead before making a video tutorial, this is a first for me.  I guess I was so excited to show you, that I did not think it through properly, and oh boy, the state of my gloves, shame on me, very dirty.. 

I use a Bernina Artista 180.  I bought it second hand little over a year go.  I don't know how old is, if anyone knows which year it came out I am curious to know, I use it for both piecing and free motion quilting, and it runs beautifully.  

Here is the way I set up my sewing machine for free motion quilting, and a few preferences I have that I've learnt along the way.  By no means set in stone, but thus far, I know it works for me...

- Stitch length set at ZERO.

- Feed dogs are UP / engaged. 

- Presser foot no 24 called a "Free Motion Embroidery Foot"

- I prefer to use Schmetz Quilting or -Embroidery needles.  If I know the quilt I'm working on calls for a lot of travel stitching, like I've done on my Goddess quilt, I use embroidery needles. 

- I am using Little Genie Bobbin Washers.  Instead of dropping the washer inside the bobbin casing, I place the washer inside the bobbin housing.  I have written a blog post explaining why I could not use it the conventional way, you can find it HERE.

- Lastly I use machingers quilting gloves.

One thing I've recently played around with, is tension.  I have always used the standard setting which is automatically set at 4, but I noticed that I got even better top and bottom stitches when it is set at 6.

So without further a due, here is the video tutorial.  My Son helped taking the video, I think he got a bit mesmerized by the swirling motion and as he held the camera he started moving it as I quilted, LOL.  I've added text to the video hoping it would make up for the lack of planning on my part.

If the video acts funny, click HERE.

Sew now it's time for this week's linky party

It's Monday and a new week, so lets all share some of our projects, please link up any current projects you've been working on, anything at all...  This link is open for a week and will run every Monday.  Remember to come back next week, or follow my blog to get regular updates.

If you wish feel free to add any other blog posts you write during the week, since this linky stays open for a full week, I think its a great idea to share and keep sharing.

All I ask is that you either add the 'Anything Goes' blog button to your sidebar or add a text link to your blog post, and comment on a few of the other links too, share the love and make this weekly link party a fun way to connect.

<div align="center"><a href="http://marelize-ries.blogspot.com/" title="Stitch by Stitch"><img src="http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj592/MarelizeR/LinkyButton2_zps83805f35.jpg" alt="Stitch by Stitch" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy quilting.

Hand basting your quilt

I've had a few e-mails asking me how/why I had my quilt rolled up on a piece of board.  So I decided to share Susan Schamber's videos on how to hand baste your quilt, easily and without putting any strain on your body.

It was the 1st time I've tried this method, and by far the most comfortable and effective way to baste your quilt.  I have not been quilting for a very long time yet, and basting my quilts was the one part of preparing my quilts that I never looked forward to, but after trying it, I will always (unless there's even an easier way) use this method.

I have finished quilting today and I'm busy hand stitching the binding, and I'm happy to say that there's not one pucker at the back of my quilt.  Cant wait to share the finished result.

This is a 2 part video, and I'm so glad to have found them.  

If the video does not appear, click here.

If the video does not appear, click here.

Happy quilting.

Diamond Block, -the way its intended

A couple of days ago I posted that I needed help with a quilt I was planning, you can read up on it here.  

HUGE FLOP..

But  when I looked closely to my original block (right), I realized it didn't look one bit like the one I intended on making in the first place.  Why would I want to complicate something that is already done, and which I liked enough to make.

Diamond HST Block

Because of silly pour planning, I started out all wrong, so after looking at the block (left) again, and comparing it with mine, I noticed that my purple block did not even 'match' the one shown in the picture.  So I drew out the block on a piece of paper, numbering the fabric, and went from there.  I should have done it in the first place, as the tutorial called for 4 different types of fabric, I wanted it like the picture, using 9.

Now the center block, is purple all round with the green around it.  Exactly the way it should have been.  At least now, the block makes sense, right?

After I was happy with the result I carried on piecing all the little half square triangles.  I've linked up the video tutorial I used to make them at the end of this post, be sure to check it out, it's very simple to do.

So after cutting, piecing and pressing the seems open, which comes to a total of 160 small half square blocks (excluding the 2 finished blocks I already made) I decided to carry on tomorrow.

Happy quilting.

I'm stuck and need help!

This morning I was looking at some videos on the web, specifically easy ways to construct pinwheels...  

So I had a look at this video on how to make fast and easy pinwheels.  Which was very easy to follow and so simple to do

But instead of ending up with your basic pinwheel, I wanted a completely different look, and searched the web again and found a tutorial for this diamond block.  

I used 3 purple, 3 green and 4 cream printed fabrics.  But once I started playing around with the placement of the blocks I came up with so many different settings that now I am completely stuck, and I don't know what to do.

I took pictures of the different block setting, and copied them next to each other to see what it will look like, and to get an idea of how they will fit and how the 'movement' of the blocks would be, but now I cant decide which looks best...

With this placement, I had to add quite a few blocks to see the effect.

I really need some input, and I realize its all about personal preference, but this time, I just don't know.........?

Happy quilting