Saturday 19 February 2011

Friday Night Sew In

I managed to get this runner pieced last night for Friday Night Sew-In.  This was cut out during a FNSI last year and it never made it any further than that, another project on my Sew It's Finished WIP list.  It is the Skinny Verna Pattern by Vicki E at Moda Bake Shop, using Martinique fabrics, which I absolutely love.  I recently ordered a walking foot for my machine, so I will wait for it to arrive before I quilt this wee runner.  The one I made last year showed me that I could really do with one,  I could see how much my top layer was being dragged with all the close machine quilting on this one.  Any advice on quilting generally would be much appreciated, as my experience is very limited!! 
 
  
 

Last weekend I made up the shoo fly blocks for Block One of Vignette mystery quilt and got the block together and traced.  I've only managed a little stitching during the week, but I can honestly say I love working with the Cosmo threads.  I wasn't expecting them to be any different to DMC, but they are just so smooth and silky to work with.
 
I traced parts with blue washout pen and some with pigma pen.  What do you normally use for tracing??  I like the clear crisp lines of the pigma, but the lightest green thread doesn't cover it very well.  On the other hand, the blue is forgiving if you make a mistake in the tracing, but I find it fades quickly with handling.  Would love to hear your thoughts.

No stitching here today, we're off to a wedding later on, so looking forward to that.  We haven't been to a wedding in ages and now we have two within 6 weeks.  Feast or famine! 

As always, thanks for stopping by..................................Nicky




25 comments:

Perri said...

Great progress on your Vignette block!! Sounds like you had a great Stitch in night :-)
Happy stitching, P

By Hoki Quilts said...

Yea another Cosmo convert! Your stitching is just lovely. You know I never did get a copy of Vignette - duh! I'll have to borrow one and see what I'm missing out on.
hugs
Miche'le

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Your table runner is stunning...and your Vignette is look so good....

Unknown said...

Oh I love your runner. Martinique is one of my fav fabric ranges too... so yummy. I am becoming more and more facsinated with quitling blogs these days!
You are so inspiring too Nicky!

suzitee said...

Your runner is divine Nicky. I bought Vignette with the intention of making the quilt...but have been majorly sidetracked with other things that are going to fill up my year! Such a shame...yours is making me want to start it anyway :)
I use a very sharp 2B pencil for all my tracing of patterns. The blue washout marker is too thick and fades too quickly for me, and I HATE the permanence of the Pigma pen!
Will look forward to seeing more of your Vignette quilt!

Aunty Bee said...

Love the table runner Nicky, I also use a sharp 2B pencil often borrowed from my son's swag of pencils and returned before he has noticed it is no longer as sharp. I have found it washes out well and and gives a nice clear line to stitch.

Janice said...

I love your version of Skinny Verna. The fabrics are gorgeous. I made one with Christmas fabrics and was very happy with it. You will love the walking foot once you get it. I wouldn't be without mine. Your BOM is looking nice and fresh. I trace designs with a brown 0.1 pigma pen and am happy with the results.

Michelle said...

What a gorgeous table runner, very pretty!
When you get your walking foot you'll wonder what you ever did without it, I use to to attach the binding as well.
I have been holding out on buying the cosmo threads as I have so many DMC but I think I need to try them now, where did you get yours from?
Have fun at the wedding!

Susan said...

I love that embroidery - is it a leanne Beasley pattern?? It looks so much like her Stitchers Keeper that I have just finsihed. re the tracing - I use a 2b lead pencil or mechanical pencil for really fine lines. Never use Pigmas in case I make a boo boo!

Susan said...

Me again - I have read all the other posts and see you are working on Vignette which I do remember is from Leanne Beasley - she does beautiful designs.

Wendy said...

Wow the table runner is stunning! I love the fabrics. I use a purple air disappearing pen for embroidery patterns. They say the marks last for 1-2 days but I find it's more like 1/2 hour!

Impera Magna said...

Love the fabrics and love the runner... and you will LOVE your walking foot! Makes a TON of difference...

Chookyblue...... said...

hey............like the runner.........martinique is gorgeous.........I use the blue wash out pen.........some stay better then others I find......

Jeanette said...

The runner is beautiful. I used to use a 2b pencil until someone put me onto Artline 220 superfine 0.2 It's a green pen that washes out well in cold water. I only use the green from these pens as the red doesn't wash out that well. I don't use a pigma 'cause it's to easy to make a mistake drawing & then it's permanently there. Hugs,

Lynda said...

Beautiful stitchery block and tablerunner - perhaps for starting off you could try ditch-stitching between all the strips and then around the inside of the border.

I use a blue wash out pen, a pencil or an extra fine pigma pen - I found a .005 brown pen in my local newsagency. Threads cover those pen marks with no problem. Brown or sepia are much better colours to use rather than black.

Annie said...

I'm surprised you've been doing all this quilting without a walking foot. I don't have one.. don't think they even make one for my old machine. But I suspect it would make my life a lot easier for sewing layers. For my first transfer I bought the blue wash-out pen and I liked it a lot. Came out so easy with cold water and the lines were thin but easy to see.

Love your pretty runner and that new cheery block!

Angie said...

Great color selection for your runner! Fun fabrics. Another successful FNSI.

Raewyn said...

I love this range - your table runner is going to be gorgeous!! I have started using a fine pencil for my stitcheries - as you say, the blue kept fading out too quickly. Your Vignette mystery quilt is looking beautiful as well, I have not tried the Cosmo threads but they sure look nice.

Michelle said...

Hey Nicky, new to this blog world but really love the runner, and cosmo threads are beautiful, happy stitching!

Anonymous said...

The fabrics you chose for the table runner are so pretty.

I use a pencil to trace my stitchery patterns. I'll have to look for Cosmo thread as this is the first time I've heard of them.

Nicole said...

The fabric of your rinner is beautiful.

Theresa said...

Lovely fabrics in your table runner Nicky and your Vignette is taking shape beautifully. I usually use a pencil for my tracing.

Siobhán said...

Your Skinny Verna looks great--love those Martinique fabrics! Your Vignette looks wonderful, too. Love those embroidery stitches!

Anonymous said...

Hi farmgirl you are doing well with block 1 of vignette i have only got the bird stitchery done i hope to cut out shoo fly blocks today.
well done.
cheers shez

Denise said...

Once again I'm writing to see how you & your
family are after another Christchurch earthquake?
I believe that you don't live very close, is that
correct? However, my thoughts are with you and the people of New Zealand.
Many blessings....

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