teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip

Monday, 8 April 2013

Woven Star & Woven Chevrons Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: March/FMQ


Can't believe it - I'm totally up-to-date finally with the Skill Builder BOM, and I seem to have got the hang of this fmqing lark as I don't need to have my shoulders surgically removed from my earlobes this month!

WOVEN STAR
Kaffe Fassett - Baba Ganoush


WOVEN CHEVRONS
 
Kaffe Fassett - Millefiore


Had a bit of a disaster with my Water Erasable Marker by Clover - I tried out a couple of fmq designs and changed my mind, but they wouldn't erase properly.  I've never had a problem before, and I'd have highly recommended the pen to anyone and everyone. Still, for some reason, and only on the Kona Solid red and orange fabric that I've used in my Woven Star block, it didn't disappear this time when I wet the fabric.  I took some photos to share with you:


I soaked the fabric and gently rubbed it a few times (this has always done the trick with any stubborn marks before) but the lines stayed put.  In the end, I've just quilted my new designs over them, which has made the pen marks far less noticeable, but I'm hoping they disappear properly when the quilt is washed.  I've got a long wait to find out as the quilt won't be finished/washed until next December when the Skill Builder BOM is complete, and that's concerning me a bit as I reckon the ink will be well and truly set into the fabric by then - any ideas/tips anyone???

  
Here are a few photos of my March progress to date; of course, none of the blocks is in the correct order as yet - we're jumping around the quilt each month doing two blocks that use similar techniques rather than building the quilt a row at a time.


and it occurred to me that maybe you'd like to see how the back is coming on -

Next Time: We'll be doing some hand pieced English Paper Piecing, but Alyssa @Pile O'Fabric's going to share a different method with us that involves an applique foundation that stays in place and when the quilt is washed, it becomes part of the fibres in your fabric/quilt - sounds really interesting, looking forward to finding out more.



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18 comments:

  1. Nana8 April 2013 at 01:08

    Wow, your quilting is wonderful. Maybe next time you can just make marks with a dull but "sharp" spoon or something else. You simply press the pattern into the block with it and can still see the "marks" without drawing with a pen or chalk.

    Nana who wonders, if you can understand what I mean.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD8 April 2013 at 01:44

      Hi Nana, thanks for the idea and I understand completely. I use a Hera marker in just the way you describe when I'm marking out straight lines across a whole quilt. As an artist I like to sketch and draw across the fabric with pencil and pen and then change my mind and resketch it. I keep a paintbrush and water next to me and I wash away the lines I don't want as I go, dry off the fabric with a hairdryer and rework a piece. I've never had a problem until this.

      I did read somewhere about placing a piece of clear plastic laminate over the fabric and doing planning on that before transferring it the quilt which sounds great but you've still got to transfer your sketch across on to the fabric at some stage - still I think it's the way forward for me so that I can carrying on 'trialling' lots of designs without risking the fabric in future!

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  2. Sil8 April 2013 at 07:08

    Sometimes the marks move with sunlight. I don't know if it is your case. Try!

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD10 April 2013 at 10:46

      I'm going to pop them out on my balcony in the sunshine today, thanks for the tip :)

      Delete
  3. Lisa8 April 2013 at 10:28

    Wow! Your quilting is tremendous. You must have been practicing for a long time! Looks great.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD10 April 2013 at 10:50

      I've been sewing all my life Lisa and I did study Textile Arts in England but have struggled to transfer my free machining skills to quilting due to the weight of the quilt and my inability to relax into it. Something seems to have clicked in the last two weeks though and it finally seems to be working! :)

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  4. Tiffany8 April 2013 at 11:39

    I don't know what to tell you about the marks, but I must say that your quilting is looking so good! I'm starting to feel tempted to jump in on this quilt-along...

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD10 April 2013 at 10:51

      It's a good one Tiffany, it last a whole year and Alyssa said she'll be keeping all the instructions up and available for as long as her blog continues to exist so there's loads of time to catch up/join in :)

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  5. Julie8 April 2013 at 12:46

    Your quilting looks awesome! I had the same problem with that marker on a pillow and sprayed it with distilled water and worked it out with a toothbrush, but am hoping, as you are, with a good wash it will be gone for good. I am going to stick with the Frixion pens going forward. Awesome job on your blocks - I really like the section where you used contrasting thread to quilt - it is a nice focal point.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD10 April 2013 at 11:11

      I'm putting the block out in the sun today as Silvana suggested that may help and, if that's not successful, then I'll be trying a your distilled water/toothbrush method. I've heard great things about the Frixion pens but then read a couple of posts that put me off - regarding the reappearance of the lines when the fabric gets cold and the possibility this might happen if I was to sell a quilt and it was then delivered in a cold UPS van or the like. I'm guessing you've not experienced any problems? Check out the reports here at The Quilting Climber and also here at Delightful Quilting :)

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  6. Martha 8 April 2013 at 17:48

    Your blocks are wonderful, the quilting is amazing. Sorry to hear you are having trouble with the pen marks. Try rubbing them with an unscented baby wipe. I've done it and they do a great job at removing pen marks.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD10 April 2013 at 11:12

      Oh that's another great tip - I think I'll even try this one before I pop them out in the sunlight! :)

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  7. Newbie Jen9 April 2013 at 12:28

    I'm so jealous that you are caught up. It's going to take a miracle for me to catch up.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD10 April 2013 at 11:16

      I had to be so firm and not allow myself to work on anything else last week until they were all done. I'm not sure knowing the BOM is lasting a whole year is a good thing I kept thinking, "oh I'll get around to it, there's no hurry". I'm relieved to have caught up and would like to try not to get so far behind again but that's probably wishful thinking! :)

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  8. Michele11 April 2013 at 08:49

    I lpove how this is turning out so far. I wish I had the time to join in.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD13 April 2013 at 07:25

      To be honest it's more time consuming than I'd imagined and not helped one bit by allowing myself to fall behind so I'm pleased to have caught up. When I added these last two blocks though I started to like it and feel like I have more vision of how it'll turn out. :)

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  9. Pam @ Quilting Fun14 April 2013 at 09:47

    Your Skill builder is fabulous!! I love your blocks. The back is fabulous too, love Kaffe Fassett!

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD16 April 2013 at 19:40

      thanks Pam, I just adore Kaffe Fassett, can't get enough of it! :)

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Chris Dodsley


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