Sew Karen-ly Created...

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Monday 25 May 2020

Wholecloth Quilting

A couple of weeks' back I started machine quilting a whole cloth quilt as part of my "self-threaducation" during lockdown.  I have set myself the task of trying out different weights of Aurifil threads in various applications to see how they look. As a dealer for this wonderful product I feel I should not just offer the thread for sale, but actually know how it performs in various applications.
The stitching was a breeze, but getting a good picture has been tricky!
This is a pre-printed kit from Benartex;  on their website it is entitled simply Nautical Wallhanging, but it is labelled as Anchors Aweigh #783 on the package.

I chose to use a 28 weight thread on top, and a 40 weight on the bottom. For the 28 weight (wound on the grey spool) I chose a shade darker than the fabric 2314 Beige, just to give a bit of contrast.  The thread in the bobbin is 40 weight in 2021 Natural White. It was a perfect match to the muslin.


Cross-hatching those straight lines seemed to take forever.  In hind-sight, I should simply have used those lines as grid-marks for a quicker free motion filler.
The anchors and rope borders moved along very quickly.  I had reservations about those lines coming out in the wash, but they did, all in one go.  I hung it on the line to dry.
Since it has a nautical theme, I thought photographing it on the steps of the light house in Five Islands would be smashing.  However, the tide was coming in when we were there and the high tides along this Bay of Fundy coast blow in with great enthusiasm. This small quilt didn't stand a chance of staying flat in those winds!
I tried it in various places, at various times of the day, with variable cloud and sunshine. Here it is in front of our new old barn.

In the end, soft natural light through the window seemed to show the stitching the best.
I am quite enamored with this 28 weight thread and how easily it stitches. You can purchase the thread here.  More colours will be added soon.
 The package calls this a wallhanging, but I think it would make a beautiful, heirloom baby quilt.


7 comments:

  1. Heirloom quilt, or on display on a small table, the fabric and the quilting are beautiful.

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  2. Absolutely beautiful!
    I also enjoyed how your told us about the different colours and weights! Good information! Thank you!

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  3. That is a real heirloom, Karen! I like the cross-hatching, it throws the rope and anchor design into relief. Your scenic photographic spots are lovely too!

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  4. It is gorgeous! I do want to do one with my prostitcher one day...will have to begin planning. This gives me hope! Not surprised at the wind problem...seems to be alot of it here lately!

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