Gail's Koi Pond
02-23-2020, 02:31 PM
#1
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
Gail's Koi Pond
My friend Gail made this top. Not only is it drop dead gorgeous, it is very unique. She made the background "fabric" out of silk fibers and a special glue, then draining and drying it on fine screen. Like making paper. So it was very stiff and left needle holes so I only had one shot. No ripping out quilting on this and I couldn't mark it either. 
😱I
I watched this quilt progress from conception to making the fabric paper to watching it come together. With much trepidation because she already told me I was her longarmer for it. I wasn't sure I wanted to due to the restrictions of no marking and I couldn't screw up!
She gave me several practice pieces which I insisted on given the nature of the fabric paper. The applique koi are prepared (turned) applique then machine stitched to the background. They are done in silks, cottons and some of that silk paper fabric. The algae is tulle that she machine stitched to the background and then trimmed it. While quilting this I had to hold it out of the way with one hand while I quilted close to it with the other. I tried masking tape but it wouldn't stick and I wasn't about to try anything stickier because it would pull fibers from the silk fabric paper.
I sketched the basic idea on a photo, auditioned with clear plastic layover and away I went.
Techy stuff: Quilted with Rheingold 40 wt poly thread on top, magnaglide prewound 60 wt in the bobbin and QD request cotton batting. All free hand done on a 26" Innova standup longarm with L/S.
First time trying to post pics since new format. Hope this works!
😱I I watched this quilt progress from conception to making the fabric paper to watching it come together. With much trepidation because she already told me I was her longarmer for it. I wasn't sure I wanted to due to the restrictions of no marking and I couldn't screw up!
She gave me several practice pieces which I insisted on given the nature of the fabric paper. The applique koi are prepared (turned) applique then machine stitched to the background. They are done in silks, cottons and some of that silk paper fabric. The algae is tulle that she machine stitched to the background and then trimmed it. While quilting this I had to hold it out of the way with one hand while I quilted close to it with the other. I tried masking tape but it wouldn't stick and I wasn't about to try anything stickier because it would pull fibers from the silk fabric paper.
I sketched the basic idea on a photo, auditioned with clear plastic layover and away I went.
Techy stuff: Quilted with Rheingold 40 wt poly thread on top, magnaglide prewound 60 wt in the bobbin and QD request cotton batting. All free hand done on a 26" Innova standup longarm with L/S.
First time trying to post pics since new format. Hope this works!
02-23-2020, 06:20 PM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
that is wonderful! As usual, your quilting is perfect--I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to attempt quilting on that background. you did a great job--did the background fabric paper have any fraying as you stitched? Also, I'm not familiar with Rheingold thread--why did you choose it? Thanks!
