Well, there are times that you just have to walk away from something, and tonight has been that time!
Two days, three needles, more unpicking than I care to mention, and more thread breakages than I can hope to remember later, my Christmas Challenge piece is not completed
I have no idea what the heck is going wrong there, but go wrong it most certainly has - it's only a small piece, for goodness sake, how hard can it be to manoeuvre it under the machine smoothly? (Ans: today, impossible). Here's a bit of the stippling that has made the cut - and that's far less even than I'd like.
I guess a cooling off period for both me and the machine, and a good oiling for at least one of us will do no harm, I'm sure. Here is my non-red-or-green-not-bigger-than-96" entry for the QAL, nonetheless.Despite me wanting to throw (a) the runner and (b) the machine across the damn room tonight, I have had a fabulous time on our Quiltalong weekends this year! Oh yes!
I've had a hoot on hostess duty, and had so much fun when it's been Joanna at the helm! Thanks to her, to QuiltSue, of course for the wacky Challenge - and everyone who has been along for the ride!
Have a very merry Christmas, one and all!
In situations such as this my mom always says "You are not holding your mouth right!" She then proceeds to make "dramatic faces!" I always end up with happy tears. Make faces, relax and enjoy your evening.
ReplyDeleteI was having the same issue yesterday. I understand your frustration. I kept trying to start in the same place, and I finally decided to begin elsewhere, and try to end in approximately the same place. Worked like a charm. My top was embroidered, and my theory is that I had a knot where I was trying to start quilting. Good Luck! I do think it's a very nice quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love your runner and we've all been there with FMQ and I still have trouble on my ordinary machine. Take time out and after the Xmas rush you may be more relaxed and it will come right. BTW, I got the dimensions wrong and now know why everyone else was going small. I can be a right clot at times, so mine is going to be a present for someone wonderful next year. Take care.
ReplyDeletePoor Hazel - this project has given you grief from the start. Like Sunny said - step away and the try starting in a different spot.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is lovely, sometimes I feel machines know how to be frustrating. I haven't even tried FMQ, too scared. Next time you try, it will sew like a dream and you will be ready for next year.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as an expert (yeah, right, I'm the one whose friend takes pity on her and does the FMQ for her, remember?) I do remember reading once that a little spray polish on the bed bit, can make all the difference to getting the quilt to move around smoothly.
ReplyDeleteDid you say thread breaking? Frustration? Hurling machine and project? I know your pain. It's possible your were trying too hard. So what; there are more important things in life. I love your tree, it looks perfect in the window. I bet it smells good, too. I love to turn the lights on and enjoy the beauty of the tree.
ReplyDeleteI had a Christmas Exchange gift like that which had to be done and in the mail before December 6. They wanted Icy colors....complete blank. I went to see what they had done in the past on their page...nothing, no projects. I finally decided on doing one big block from a pattern called Swoon by Camille Roskelley it is 24 x 24. 3 trips to the LQS for fabric,to the sewing machine shop for a specialty needle, three days of nightmare quilting, thread breaking, tension problems etc. and finally I just decided done is done, bound it and mailed it.
ReplyDeleteBTW your runner is gorgeous love the black fabric with the holly.
You are right. Sometimes you just have to walk away. I hope that when you return to it, it will be quilted with no problems at all. Good luck.
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