Wednesday, May 9, 2012

California Sun

I am working on the FMQ for the "California Sun" quilt..

I wanted something light and airy, so decided to go back to a flowery pattern, except make it bigger and more open. I have realized that I don't need to quilt everything so densely, and the more open quilting gives the quilt a softer more drapey feel.

So I sketched out my design first. I find this really helps to not only give me practice, but also a reference that I keep beside the machine the check back to as I go.

And then off I go....

Of course, as usual...I ran out of thread before I finished ...darn!! Interestingly, I had 2 large spools of both the top thread and the bobbin thread, and I ran out of top thread, but still have quite a lot of bobbin thread left! Does that mean that my tension is off, and it is pulling the thread through to the underside more??

When I look at the back, I don't see much difference though. Maybe I should try adjusting the top tension a bit higher and see.

I guess it is a quilting mystery. So off I go to buy more thread!

And to check in with the Needle and Thread Network...

And Lee's Work in Progress over at Freshly Pieced...

12 comments:

  1. Love your original design. Are you the one, Flo, that told me to not lower your feed dogs when FMQ? I have tried that and it seem to work for me. Going to check out WIP Wednesday. Have a good day.

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  2. Very pretty quilting design, Flo! Love it!

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  3. Great quilting design and quilting. Who knows with machines,eh. I just cross my fingers and hope for the best...haha.

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  4. Oh that is beautiful - I wish mine was half as good!

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  5. Really nice! Love the pattern

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  6. I love your FMQing!! I'll have to try that design. thanks for sharing.

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  7. Great quilting pattern. Thread is very strange indeed! =D

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  8. I agree that the less dense quilting feels nicer. I am still working up the courage for FMQ. Love your flower design.

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  9. Lovely flower design , too bad you ran out of thread before you finished .

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  10. Such a lovely design! I wouldn't play with the tension settings if the stitches are fine, just assume that they made an error at the thread factory. ;-)

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