Making progress

I am slowly making progress on my rainbow spiral quilting. 

Last night I finished the pink spiral. It took longer than it should have because I haven't had an hour every day to quilt on it. I should be able to catch up, and maybe finish it next week. This photo is the quilting near the end of the spiral.

This photo is from the beginning of the spiral and does show that I improve greatly with practice!

If you remember the underside of this quilt is actually the front and it's all pieced. The basting I did is working great so far and I haven't had any tucks or pleats. It is funny to be quilting the seams "blind". Occasionally I hit an area that is very thick. Since I can't see them I can't avoid them!

Picking the threads was challenging even with a pretty large thread stash. Some of the threads I am using came from a big stash of cones of embroidery threads that I bought a long time ago from Lunn Fabrics. I think I remember that they advertised them as acrylic threads. I don't know if they are acrylic, rayon or polyester but a few of them give me fits on the longarm. That pink is one if them. I have two ways that I deal with a difficult thread. I loosen the top and bobbin tension and I use Sewer's Aid.

Are you familiar with Sewer's Aid? It's a silicone lubricant.  You can use it on your hand and sewing machine needles to help them glide through the fabric. You can also apply it directly to the thread.  I run 3 or 4 lines around the cone or spool perpendicular to the way the thread is wound. It works great and really made the pink thread run smoothly.

Now I'm on to the orange section and I am doing a flame motif. Filler quilting is a very zen activity.

 

Comments

[elle]

I like these sections as you fill them out. nice!

[Stephanie]

I think you have a reversible quilt with this amazing tie dye and quilting on the "back." Your quilting motifs are terrific.

[Leslie McNeil]

Love it! Can't wait to see it when it's finished Miss Vicki!

[Cindy Is Crafty]

I want to see it in person before you send it off to its new home! It looks so cool with all the colors!

[Becky in VA]

Love how you are doing this one with so much zen activity - you make it sound so soothingly easy, which I know it is not! Keep us updated - I thought Sewers Aid was a glass of wine.

[Captain StitchyPants]

Wow, looking good! I can't wait to see the finished quilt!

[Carole]

You machine quilting is fantabulous! Love the way the quilt is coming out! Sweet! Thanks for sharing! Cheers!

[Kathy]

This is wonderful! Sewers aid is great stuff...