Originally Posted by Iona D.
(Post 7806913)
Do try it. I was a bit cautious about starting any pattern with bias edges as the edges can stretch out so easily! Not only the simple topstitching on the background fabrics prevents this, the accuracy is far better even with the one directional fabrics I used here. So easy to lay out the images in the right direction as well.
It does sadden me so many former Californians are scattered so far away. I hope the ones that want to return could some day. |
Originally Posted by Geri B
(Post 7807692)
Interesting approach to piecing, using clothes pins......but I also noticed that your seams are not the traditional 1/4" either.....but you are enjoying your new creative outlet and it's working for you. Do you intend on trying some other block patterns too?
I'm taking a break after this one is completed for the summer as far as large quilting projects go. I will switch to less involved apparel construction. I need a nice mottled red furry fleece jacket right now until it gets hot around here in a couple of months. Plus I have a good use for those awful limpy, cheesy, or plain ugly, cheap fabrics I-and perhaps many of you-sometimes get stuck with will be used as more idea generators. I play with them until I see what works for me. Then I make notes, take smartphone photos, and make the patterns for the next potential projects. I see one for late fall. Too early to comment what it will be exactly. Except I will continue to experiment with the 1 seam sewing technique more. I want to see if I can develop some strong star ideas through this technique.
Originally Posted by Peckish
(Post 7807840)
Wow, how do you manage to squish all your fabric through the harp of your machine? Are you left-handed?
I like the simplicity of your blocks. That will make for a lovely quilt. It's an experiment, but I am hopeful as well. Thank you for the encouragement.
Originally Posted by cashs_mom
(Post 7807848)
Don't be sad. Many of us left willingly and have no desire to go back. I love Texas and can't imagine living anywhere else!
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Originally Posted by Peckish
(Post 7807840)
Wow, how do you manage to squish all your fabric through the harp of your machine? Are you left-handed?
Originally Posted by Iona D.
(Post 7807905)
I make a point to sew in sections, not whole tops at once, even when it comes to using my machines. If you sew everything right, there should be no swishing (might just distort the fabric as well, possibly losing accuracy). I'm right handed.
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I've been reading through all of your step by steps on you "project". Whatever you did in the rag industry, quilting is different than garment construction. I strongly suggest you take some basic quilting classes to learn easier ways to quilt with better results. If you don't want to attend in person, you could learn a lot from the classes offered at Craftsy. There is so much great information online nowadays! :o
I can assure you, also, that living a 'good life' apart from living in Los Angeles is not only possible, but quite probable! I love living where I do... miles and miles and miles away from you. |
Wonder Clips would be better then the clothespins to keep the fabric together. I enjoyed S California the years I lived there but once I had children I knew it wasn't where I wanted to raise them. I have no intention of ever going back there to live as all my family and most of my old friends have moved away from CA too.
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Originally Posted by sewbizgirl
(Post 7808135)
I've been reading through all of your step by steps on you "project". Whatever you did in the rag industry, quilting is different than garment construction. I strongly suggest you take some basic quilting classes to learn easier ways to quilt with better results. If you don't want to attend in person, you could learn a lot from the classes offered at Craftsy. There is so much great information online nowadays! :o
I can assure you, also, that living a 'good life' apart from living in Los Angeles is not only possible, but quite probable! I love living where I do... miles and miles and miles away from you. I might appear to be hard nosed and "mean" to many. In my world, you better be or else you are out in the street. Believe me, there are so many homeless people here now-you almost step on them when you go anywhere now. I learned to take care of myself as to take care of my mother. Since we owned property here, I stay here for now. If you miles and miles away from me, that might mean you are in a 4 season area. Not for me as my father left Ohio and never returned because all that snow way back in 1935. If I want snow, I can go up into the nearby mountains for that. And leave it behind later when I tire of it (I prefer the beach). My long dead father was right. Southern California has the best weather for the most part-just earthquakes, wildfires, & flooding are the bane of our residents' existences. Plus too many people now crowding the LA basin (more coming in than leaving still). Deserts (high & low), mountains, beaches, forests, valleys-all within an hour's drive from where I sitting right now. Plus the fashion industry's related movie/tv industry that grew up around here because of all these natural gifts. The celebrities still crowd their own haunts and mansions to the west of me. I don't see them going anywhere anytime soon. They keep coming back. I'm not here for a popularity contest. That was work & school a long time ago. I simply state what I want and create it for myself without troubling others to do it for me. I was gifted with a new Samsung Chromebook 3 very recently and wanted to see what it does online with social media is all.
Originally Posted by Onebyone
(Post 7808293)
Wonder Clips would be better then the clothespins to keep the fabric together. I enjoyed S California the years I lived there but once I had children I knew it wasn't where I wanted to raise them. I have no intention of ever going back there to live as all my family and most of my old friends have moved away from CA too.
When I think of my personal friends and relatives that moved away from CA, sometimes it does feel a bit lonely now. I don't see any point in myself leaving right now. There are some perks here (like excellent medical/dental coverage), that I don't want to lose. I agree with you about raising children here. Not a good place anymore for children to grow up. They could always come here for college though if they choose to & will be able to make good choices I'm sure you will teach them. |
As for the subject of retreating quilters, so many really good sewing studios/quilt shops went out of business that I will list the ones I actually visited before they physically closed up shop:
Common Thread, South Pasadena CA New Moon Textiles Pasadena CA Why? Face to Face Interactions seem to fall apart in 2016 for some reason:". -https://www.yelp.com/biz/new-moon-textiles-pasadena The Sewing Studio Pasadena CA Same with this one as far as sewing instruction goes-some good, some not so good: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-sewing-studio-pasadena Sew LA Atwater/Sillverlake Districts I personally like this shop the several times I visited them in their different locations. And the owner is more clear on why she could not succeed: http://sew-la-fabric.blogspot.com/se...=Store+Closing She is now a traveling teacher (like many contracted others here, even myself when I'm on call): "...... I'll come to your house with basic tools, an iron and travel board (if needed) and we'll work on whatever project you have in mind. A $5 gas fee will apply if you are located more than 10 miles from my house in...... And please do not worry about what your house looks like. As long as there is some table space to sew your dishes will not bother me!......." -http://sew-la-fabric.blogspot.com/ (Monday May 9, 2016) I prefer to keep a low profile, enjoy myself, with a couple of hobbies (separated from employment) and if I have to work again, I always choose something I'm not too interested in, heavily invested, or involved with. If I'm passionate about it, I'm sure not going to try to make a living at it anymore! Not with present & potential customers' attitudes or inflated expectations like the above! |
Originally Posted by cashs_mom
(Post 7807848)
Many of us left willingly and have no desire to go back.
Originally Posted by Iona D.
(Post 7808620)
I might appear to be hard nosed and "mean" to many. In my world, you better be or else you are out in the street. Believe me, there are so many homeless people here now-you almost step on them when you go anywhere now. earthquakes, wildfires, & flooding are the bane of our residents' existences. Plus too many people now crowding the LA basin (more coming in than leaving still).
celebrities still crowd their own haunts and mansions to the west of me. I don't see them going anywhere anytime soon. They keep coming back. |
There is no reason to be hard-nosed here. Sometimes learning some basics about a hobby can make the hobby more enjoyable. At least that's my experience. Tried and true methods can be very helpful to know even if you then venture off to your own method. There are usually multiple ways to accomplish different things in quilting.
The internet has lots of information about everything! If you go searching you will find some blogs of people who make things from fabric scraps or recycled clothing. I know there is a feeling of satisfaction to be able to reuse fabric and not have to go buy new. I do a little of both. You said you are going to use this as a summer bed covering, are you going to use batting or just layer with a sheet or something ? |
There is no reason to be hard-nosed here. Sometimes learning some basics about a hobby can make the hobby more enjoyable. At least that's my experience. Tried and true methods can be very helpful to know even if you then venture off to your own method. There are usually multiple ways to accomplish different things in quilting.
Couldn't agree more. There are so many variations of age, skills, background, experience, inspiration, etc, but one common thread: we all love quilting. And I think we all agree that we have no use for "Quilt Police" ... Happy quilting to all! |
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