Another month, another journal quilt theme. This time we made a small 8” x 11” piece on the theme “Beach”. I love shells and the Nautilus was the thought that first came to mind. I really enjoy making these small projects just to try out some unfamiliar techniques or materials. The main technique I practiced in this one was bobbin drawing or bobbin quilting using metallic thread. I chose a heavy thread to give lots of shine and create a strong outline. The thread would not have been suitable to go through the tension and thread guides as a top thread. But by winding it on a bobbin, I was able to stitch the shape from the back side of the quilt with regular thread in the top, and have the metallic bobbin stitches form the shell on the right side. There was no thread breakage, and the “reveal” of turning the quilt right side up and seeing all that shine was exciting. I purchased an extra bobbin case for my machine to dedicate to this stitching method so that I’m free to adjust the bobbin tension as needed for various weight thread.
Some simple free-motion quilting and white paint carefully sponged into parts of the design for accent completed the quilt. Except, of course, for the embellishments. We’d spent a lovely day at Anastasia Island State Park in St. Augustine, and I found some shells that needed to be part of this quilt. My husband drilled small holes in some of them, I stitched them on the surface, and added a few to the edge finish. They almost sound like wind chimes! Two colors of eye-lash yarn are twisted together and overcast to form the edging. Our next theme is “Secrets” and so far I’m drawing a blank. But something is sure to come to me. Any suggestions?
5 comments:
This is Beachy perfect! For secrets the very first thing that came to my mind is "diary" wih lock and key. High on Life July...
This is wonderful!!!! I love it!!! So clever!!!! You are getting so good at all these techniques. Before long you'll be teaching all of us so many different things!!!! Secrets? Hmmmmmm That's a good one!!! Google 'secrets' and then look at images..you'll get lots of ideas!
Golly, I love this. I have some very THIN metallic thread that I have to wind around my bobbin, too. I don't have a free motion capability on my machine and I have NO way to adjust the bobbin. I looked and there is NO little screw, only a plain bobbin holder that you drop in the case. However, I used the same technique when I had a metallic challenge recently. Obviously, mine didn't turn out as well as yours (OBVIOUSLY!!!).
Your nautilus shell is perfect. I'm really impressed and was also impressed with the way you used the eyelash fibers on the shells. Your bobbin quilting technique turned out fantastic!
a secret is something i whispered into my horses' ears as a teenager.....
You did a fantastic job with this technique....several years ago, I started to try this but never did. I think the sponged paint just finished it off.....Right now I am busy monogramming my grand daughter's T-shirts....
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