Quilting the Scrappy Double Irish Chain Quilt

As almost always, I began quilting with straight lines.  I decided to stitch through all the scrappy squares first.  Then I continued on, to stitch-in-the-ditch around the plain border; then I added the binding, so that I wouldn't have to deal with the raw edges of the quilt.  I always used to leave the binding until the end, but prefer this method instead.
While tidying up my sewing room, I found some quilting designs, prepared on "golden" tissue paper, that were the perfect fit for my alternate blocks!  I had to make a few more before stitching the pattern.  The original pattern was from a Quilters' Newsletter free download in 2003 - amazing what you find tucked into corners in your sewing room!

Then I decided to stitch loopy fans in the background areas of both the white and purple edges of my scrappy border.

I finished off with a couple of swirls in the 4-patch in each corner.

This quilt was machine quilted, using a Juki, and hand guiding without a frame or stitch regulator.

Last Section Quilted!

Finally finished the last round of feathers!  These travel between the gold and rust stars, and the blue plaid "chain" area.

Once again, I planned the route that the stem travels by tracing a pencil line on the gray-scale print out of the quilt design.

Machine quilted using my Juki with no frame.

Just the feather quilting took 14 filled bobbins of tan thread!  Now I have to spend some time checking the front and back for stray threads.  I try to do this while I am stitching, but there are always just as many "hidden" on the quilt - especially a busy quilt with a pieced plaid backing!

Now I just have to wait for a wind-free day to get a picture of the whole quilt!  This is a big one - blocks are 12 inches finished, and they are in a 7 x 9 layout.  DH wondered why I wasn't adding a border!

Circles of Feathers

There are quite a few small yellow plaid stars in this quilt, so I decided to quilt a circle of feathers around each one.

I found a plastic bowl lid that was just the right size to mark the circle, using a hera marker (sharp edged plastic that makes a visible creased line).  Once the stem was stitched, I was able to make "Hooked on Feathers" hooks and flourishes on both sides of the stem.  Hand guided machine quilting with a Juki machine and no frame.

Making a template using Press n Seal

I just smooth the Press n Seal over the pattern in a book or one that I have printed from my computer.  It leaves a tiny bit of tackiness, but not enough to even make the pages stick together.  When I mark a template for use on darker fabric, I use the golden tracing paper, as it tears away very easily.  I used to use it exclusively before Press n Seal hit the market.  The plastic wrap moves easily when you are manipulating your quilt through your machine.
I only pre-mark about 10% of my quilting designs before stitching.  I usually decide what design I want to use, and if I want part of the design to be in a regular spot on the quilt, I mark the spots with a pin, to remind me to stitch a leaf, flower, butterfly, etc. in that spot.  I have also quilted words and phrases in the border of a quilt, using a chalk marker as a guide line for the letters, and rarely in a straight line - curves are so much nicer!

Questions Answered

1.  Yes, the Glad Press n Seal that I mentioned is the tacky type of plastic wrap used in the kitchen.  I use pastel fine point Sharpie markers to draw the design onto the wrap.  I let it dry well before placing onto the quilt top and stitching.  I recommend testing on scraps before stitching on your quilt.  I tried using my Pigma Micron pen to mark, but some of the ink rubbed off on the thread as I was stitching.  I usually test all the different colours on a scrap of wrap to see which colour shows up best.  Remember to always test!
It is easy to pull off after stitching, but if you have done any stitching over previous lines, little pieces can get caught.  It takes a bit of time to pick all the bits out, but is good TV watching work.
2.  I use a Juki TL-98Q to stitch almost all of my free motion work, although I do some using my favourite Pfaff as well.
My husband altered my table so that my  machine can sit flush to the table top.  He cut a hole in the table top and built a box at the correct depth.  He even drilled a hole, so that the presser foot knee lift can be used.  I find that my quilting has improved greatly having the machine a table height, instead of sitting the machine on the table and adding the extension table.  I still use the extension if I go to a workshop etc.
The Juki is a straight stitch machine, with a great stitch, and seems easier to adjust the tension.  It comes with a walking foot and two free motion feet as well.  I don't like the 1/4 inch foot very much, but that is just a person preference.   I did purchase a free motion foot from Sharon Schambers, and use it when I have to follow a pre-marked line, as it gives better visabililty while stitching.  I only pre-mark quilting designs for about 10% of my quilting. 

 

This is where I sew while in Florida.  The sun  hits the room in the afternoon, so the matchstick blinds keep it out of my eyes.  You can see my Juki set into the table.