One Monthly Goal: April 2017

Pregnancy nesting has had a favorable result on my quilt completion. I am pleased to report that I finished my One Monthly Goal for April, a wonderland quilt I designed using EQ7, which was inspired by Cotton + Steel's Wonderland collection designed by Rifle Paper Co.

The blocks are a combination of traditional piecing, machine appliqué, paper piecing, improv, and curved piecing, set within a non-standard grid.

As you may have seen in my planning post, I quilted selected poems from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass using 12 wt Medium Red #5002 Aurifil thread. As this was a new technique for me, I learned a few helpful strategies.

• Adjust the tension while practicing on a sample quilt sandwich 12" x 12" square of layered fabric/batting/fabric miming the actual quilt. 
• Use a size 90 needle.
• Use 40 or 50 wt that matches the color of the top thread in the bobbin.
• Increase your stitch length and decrease your speed.
• Hold onto the top and bobbin threads really well after pulling the bobbin thread up to begin sewing. 
• When tying off threads, refrain from popping the knot into the batting, and instead pull only the thread tails through before clipping. 
• Use a busy (colorful and patterned) backing or one the same color as your 12 wt thread. 
• Order the large spool, as the small spool of 12 wt runs out before you know it.
• Do not backtrack directly; go alongside.
• Forego the automatic needle threader.

Also, see what Angela Pingel advises, as well as Yvonne Fuchs.

I also chose free-motion designs to highlight each block. In the background space lacking words, I did some composite quilting consisting of swirls, pebbles, feathers, and paisleys in 50 wt Aurifil Avocado #2886.

This quilt was so much fun to create by pulling my favorite elements from Lewis Carroll's classic tale.

 I'll be back later with more details and close-ups. For now, I'll leave you with a parting picture.