Aids For Free Motion Sewing

Since I love to do free motion embroidery and quilting and I was having some difficulty getting my fabric to move easily under my machines, I started looking for solutions. There are several professionally made items for this problem.

There are two different slider "sheets", one you have to tape and one you don't, that are each about $20. Then there is an electric motion slider thingy that costs $1000. Being of meager budget and a bit inventive myself, I first tried using one of those thin chopping mats you find in kitchen stores. This helped but it wasn't really slick enough, or really quite large enough.

Then when I got my new Babylock machine, I decided to use my "chopping" mat on my old White with it's extension table. Therefore I needed to find something to improve movement for my new machine. Then when looking around my local Meijer (like a super Wal-Mart) I noticed the For Sale & For Rent signs. I pulled one out, noticed the back is all white, and very, very slick feeling. This thing is 15" X 19" and cost only $2.49. It took it home, prepared to "make it work".

The first thing I did was take a piece of newsprint the size of the sign, and laid it on my sewing table, with the front edge at the front edge of the table, and the right side up against the machine at the throat's deepest part. I then traced the metal "plate", and the area for the bobbin. I removed the paper, cut on the traced line, and then layed the paper back where it had been, to check the opening. I also figured out where the switch for dropping the feed dogs (on the back, behind the needle on my Babylock) and drew in a square that I felt would be large enough for me to get my finger through, so I could switch it at will.

Once I was happy with my openings, I layed the paper over the plastic sign and traced the openings with a permanent marker. I then used a utility knife to cut the opening. I used an emery board to sand the cut edges smooth. When I was happy with the edges, I layed the plastic on the table, with the holes aligned in the correct position, and used masking tape to keep it in place. Please see the picture below for a full shot.












Below is a close up showing the opening around the plate and bobbin area, and how I taped it, so my fabric can't snag on it.

This plastic sign made sooooo much difference! It is much easier to move the fabric around. Because my machine is dropped into my sewing table (the opening was originally made for my White), and there is an open area behind the left portion of the machine's bed (because of the shape of the back of the Babylock), when I sew I sometimes get a bit of sound from the vibrations of the machine on the plastic sign. This is not loud, and is easily ignored, especially at a savings of $17.

I think one of the most important things anyone can do to improve their FME and FMQ is to have their machine set down into their sewing table, as this greatly reduces the drag on your fabric from gravity. Below are several pictures of my Babylock, set into my sewing table.

The legs and the lower shelf are from a computer desk that we no longer wanted and decided to remake into my sewing table. We first measured from top of my legs to the floor, to ascertain the minimum height (it could always be higher, more room is always better)to put this lower portion. Then I sat with my arms held at a comfortable position, (like I was sewing) and measured from there to the floor so we knew what the maximum height of the upper level would be. Then using the measurement on the machine from the top of the bed to the table, we figured what space we needed between the upper and lower decks, and what length the legs needed to be.

I would suggest that if you are going to err on the space between the two levels, make it a bit larger than needed, you can always put something under your machine to make the bed level with the top of the table(We used a premade shelf, 3/4 inch thick, with a bullnose at the front). NOTE: Be sure to take into account the thickness of the material you will use for your upper level when figuring out how much space between the two.

My White, for which the table was originally made, has the old style bobbin, that is put in from the front, so we made (and attached with hinges) an L shaped piece that went in front of the machine, and to the left of the machine. The front piece was kept in place by a latch (kind of like a wing nut, only larger) which kept the piece from vibrating and lifting during sewing. You can see the latch in the next photo, just to the right of the Babylock's base (under the table top, near the dark vertical line-which is the opening)

I know these discussions are a bit long for a posting (for me at least), but several people on the QuiltArt list had asked about my system, after I had talked about my "sign slider" and I had promised to put pictures on my blog.

Photo To Landscape Class

Above is the black and white photo I took in a park near my home. This is what the landscape quilt below was taken from. There is NO photo transfer in this project. This project was done for a class I am teaching on April 19 for the Kalamazoo Log Cabin Quilters, which is my local guild. This is my first time trying this technique, and my first time to teach a quilting class. I have been fascinated with thread painting since seeing Nancy Prince on Simply Quilts and seeing her wonderful quilts at the IQA Quilt Festival in Chicago. She is my inspiration for this project and class.











This close up shows the first tree that I did thread painting on. I actually had it completely covered in thread and realized it looked too heavy, so I added the sky fabric with the branches toward the top, giving it a more airy look.










Below is a close up of the wall and the bushes. You can also see the thread painting on the path in the distance.










Below is the last of the close ups. This is of the bushes, flowers and grass in the lower right corner of the piece.










Now that the class sample is done, I need to go back and make the mock ups of the various stages, to help the students see the progression of the piece.

I am starting the students off with a black and white photo because I want them to use their imagination and make this their piece, and not an exact copy of mine. They will start off tracing the main components of the picture onto clear vinyl with a permanent pen, and then transfer that to a medium weight stabilizer. This stabilizer will act as the foundation for the fabrics to be built upon and will also assist in the thread painting.

The piece starts by blocking in the main background colors, working from the back (sky) forward (down). After that the background trees are added, using fused raw edge applique. Working forward, the path, the rear bushes and the wall are added. Then the two front trees and the front bushes/flowers are added.

The tree in the upper right corner had too much solid thread painting so I added a piece of sky fabric with a branch on it and then did some thread painting around the edge. I feel this made the tree much better looking. The main rear trees' leaves started out as a leaf print that I had put fusible web on, then I just randomly cut small pieces out and layer by layer fused them on. Then I used a variegated thread to do a generalized swirling thread painting over the top to unify them.

I did a lot more detailed thread painting on the trunks of the trees, trying to give them more texture. The wall is a printed silky type polyester fabric that I stitched over the printed lines, to give the stones more depth.

The grass fabric in the front had a lot of very light empty areas between the clumps of grass and I felt it would look better with lighter colored grass stitched in, and I am happy with the effect.

This was a great learning project for me, and only enhanced my desire for thread painting.

2008 Grab Bag Challenge

On Wednesday I received my bag of goodies for this year's Grab Bag Challenge, hosted by Tomme Fent for the QuiltArt list. I so enjoyed doing this challenge last year!

When I opened my package I was ecstatic, I LOVE everything in it! There's a lovely piece of batik, several quordinating fabrics, Angelina fiber and film (I need to get some Bonash), some lovely beads, and and absolutely gorgeous white sparkly organza fabric.

This package is making me see sooooooo many possibilities that it will be hard to decide on just one! I took the package with me to my applique group on Thursday morning and the other ladies were drooling over the goodies I get to play with.

Unfortunately, I can't get started just yet on this project, until I finish my class quilt sample and the "in process" pieces, and finish working out my notes. I also need to finish up and print out my supply list to hand out at the guild meeting next Tuesday. Yikes, time is just flying!

Sigh, it looks like I am going to be stuck inside sewing when it's finally warming up and the sun is shining. :>)

Is it Spring Yet?

This is a picture of a heron, taken on the AuSable River, during the 2007 FAOL Michigan Fish In, near Grayling, MI.














Spring must soon be here, despite what the weather is doing, because this Saturday is the Flyfishing Expo in Warren, MI. This is always the first event of the year, and is a good way to relieve cabin fever!

Bill, my DH, and I are the chairs for this year's FAOL (Fly Anglers Online) Michigan Fish In which will be held June 30-July 5 at Gates AuSable Lodge, in Grayling, Michigan. We will be holding a committee meeting at the Expo on Saturday. FAOL is an international group and getting a committee together is difficult, so we do it either at Cabela's or at shows, just to sweeten the pot.

This year we plan to sell T-shirts to commemorate the event and any profit from the sales will be given to a fishing charity. There will be casting contests and a nice picnic for the attendees on July 4th. The rest of the week will be taken up with lots of fishing, visiting, fishing, and telling fish tales.