Plum Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Oh dear I do a lot of unpicking. It's called frogging in quilting - rippit, rippit, rippit. Mogs like to 'help' a lot, I get scared they'll swallow thread. They empty my thread catcher regularly so I've resorted to a pedal bin. It's a great quilt for stippling on and getting loads of practice. I see there's a Utube video for it so I'll watch it later. I've some African fabric I'm reviewing for a friend of my son. She wants to set up a workers cooperative using waste fabric from African tailors and it would be a good pattern to make a small sample quilt. The fabrics are bright and colourful but random. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 You are welcome Plum - its easy to cut the fabric into 10 inch squares and then start to slice them up = Is a fast easy way to do a top. I used ikea fabric on the back but its really too thin and liable to bunch so dont think I will do the same again. Love the frogging it rippit !!!. I bought some fabric from the African fabric shop its lovely but no idea what to do with it yet - will come to me - want to do some thread painting I think. Spent some time going through my stash yesterday and I have so so much fabric its unreal - I will not need any more for quite some time. I had to buy some storage coming from Ikea in 10 days to sort it all out!. Must restrain myself at the quilting and stitching hobby and craft show!!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 SQUEEEEAK! I love those snails! Soooo cute! And the quilt is rather nifty too. Still plodding with the mystery quilt. Now putting sashing in between the blocks and that seems to have given it more oomph! Of course there's been a lot of ripit going on with the blooming blocks not matching up to the sashing. But I'm winning. Sort of. The sewing machine is playing up with the tension now - I've already put it down to zero and it's still not right. I've cleaned everything, replaced the needle but it does the same on whatever fabric I use to test it. Hmmm - I think I've worn it out and I haven't even started quilting the others yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Val I had tension problems and took my machine back as it was only 8 weeks old and there was thread in the tension discs on the top threading. Unfortunately for me I cannot get to it and the dealer had to do it. He was adamant to begin with it was the needle!! Cannot wait to see your Alliterre quilt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Someone suggested to me pulling dental floss through to clear bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Yup had a look at the discs as best I can - not exactly easy to get to. Another one I've discovered is not to thread with needle down and I had been doing that too. I did see some fella on Youtube blasting with an air pressure hose! I don't think I'll be doing that. So although I've been working with slightly tight tension I have finished the top and it just needs a border or two. OH insists on it being his idea to put sashing in between so I'm letting him have the glory for that just for some peace and quiet. It does look better that way. Needs to be ironed before I decide on the next step. I can always get the other machine out for piecing but I don't want to quilt until the tension is sorted and I now have 2, almost 3 tops to do! I'll give the ladies at the quilt shop a ring this morning to find out if they know a fella (or a lady) with a fancy screwdriver to undo the machine and give it a clean up and service. There are methods to this madness - I get 2 trips to a quilt shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 try with a hair dryer to see if its clear - its so annoying that we cannot get to that bit but I did watch how he did it and could do it again if I had to again. Pictures please of all this lovely work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 You are industrious. With tension its so many things. One you may not think of is cleaning under the tension spring on the bobbin holder, it can get tiny bits of fluff or thread. Basics are change needle, change thread, clean everything which you have done. I've been told never to blow air into any part of your machine or it drives muck further in and compacts it. Forgot to ask is it top or bottom tension that is tight? Very, very frustrating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Top. Normal level = curling up with lots of bobbin loops on show without it being all tangly. Well here's the update. *note to self: stupid idea to stick the cabinet where the fan blades are* https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/203717583123114032/ Edited to add I've been given a phone number but his phone is "switched off so please send text" which I did. Mind you it was lunch time when I tried. There is a different phone number on Facebook so I'll try that one later if I don't hear back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Wow, stunning. Service is a good way to go. I was also told to pull thread towards the needle when unthreading the machine or bits get dragged into the tension plates and jam things up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thank you! I did have a problem with snapping threads because they hadn't gone in the discs properly but since I swapped over to Aurifil it's not happened since, so it's possible something has got wedged inside somewhere. I have tried the floss but found nada although my machine has that minty freshness! Nothing came of the phone call so I'll wait till mid morning and try the other number. Hubby will say that I'll get my sewing machine sorted long before I ring Miele to get our dishwasher fixed. Oh dear, my bad!!! That's a job for tomorrow too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 looks gorgeous though! This is what I made as a birthday gift for a Chinese colleague. (Year of the monkey!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Wow you made a banana! Monkey is great too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Oh wowie, more lovely crochet things I must try and get started on the crochet now my arm is almost better, but sadly I don't really have anyone to make anything for Mind you, by the time I get as good as you Cat tails I may well have some grandchildren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Monkey is very cute - I am not a crocheter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Oh that's so cuuuute! Luvachicken you could always make them for a charity shop? Although I wonder if they need a label to put it in the shop? Some people sell their things via Craftsy - something to think about. Although if I made something as good as that little monkey I'd be keeping it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Although if I made something as good as that little monkey I'd be keeping it! Me too Off to get wool at the weekend so will see if I can rustle anything up, but then it's back to school next week so less time to make things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Although if I made something as good as that little monkey I'd be keeping it! Me too Off to get wool at the weekend so will see if I can rustle anything up, but then it's back to school next week so less time to make things I hardly keep anything myself! So far I only made the stegosaurus for myself. I actually only crochet gifts. But if you are going for it, I would suggest getting cotton instead of wool. I find if easier and it gives a tighter/neater result. Phildar, Lana, Katana, Scheepjes all sell nice cotton for crochet hooks 2,5 to 3,5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Blood sweat and tears and there is still a " deliberate!" mistake but its staying put! and my little friend in his radiator bed under the window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Wow that's so beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Very nice! Love the splash of orange! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 hardly keep anything myself! So far I only made the stegosaurus for myself. I actually only crochet gifts. But if you are going for it, I would suggest getting cotton instead of wool. I find if easier and it gives a tighter/neater result. CAT TAILS I have seen them crocheting at the stitching show I am going to and I am hoping to go watch them crochet pansies as they look so cool in their pictures. I want to have a go if I can do. I can do chain stitch and double and treble crochet but thats the limit of my crocheting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 hardly keep anything myself! So far I only made the stegosaurus for myself. I actually only crochet gifts. But if you are going for it, I would suggest getting cotton instead of wool. I find if easier and it gives a tighter/neater result. CAT TAILS I have seen them crocheting at the stitching show I am going to and I am hoping to go watch them crochet pansies as they look so cool in their pictures. I want to have a go if I can do. I can do chain stitch and double and treble crochet but thats the limit of my crocheting. But that's all I use on a regular basis! The only thing you miss is increase and decrease, but those are dead easy too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 But believe me it does not turn out right! I even bought the art of crochet magazine a couple of years ago!!! need to see someone do it I think. I like Utube as they are very good on it but not english spoken on the ones I have seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Just googled a bit and this lady seems to be very clear and to the point: If you find turning your work difficult, then try to start with a round pattern. No turning needed then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
