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Topics - Acorn

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31
I saw this & I thought you may be interested! / Embroidery Library 70% off
« on: November 25, 2021, 09:19:09 AM »
Embroidery Library have 70% off everything until Monday - this includes design packs, although where there was already an everyday discount this is instead, not as well!!  There are also various free gifts if you spend certain amounts.

In addition, Urban Threads have 60% off everything and free gifts.

 :faints:  I may be gone for some time...

32
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Applique Paper...
« on: October 20, 2021, 08:57:33 AM »
Has anybody here used Apliquick paper, or an equivalent water soluble paper, for needle turned applique? 

If you used Apliquick, where did you get it (in the UK) and what did you think?  If you used the Pellon or Hugs-n-Kisses version, was it OK?  The feedback on Amazon for the Pellon version isn't brilliant, but that seems to be because it doesn't dissolve completely, which, I think, should not be a problem for applique.

Any advice or comment would be extremely welcome!!   :)

33
My email implied that this is only free for today, but it wasn't very precise, so it may be a standard freebie.  Anyway, it's a t-shirt, and it's the first on this page of free patterns.  At least it is today!

34
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Flanged Bindings
« on: July 25, 2021, 10:40:12 AM »
Calling @Ploshkin !   :D

I have just finished a quilt top that is crying out for a flanged binding.  I know how to make one in principle, although I would just like to check that the flange strip should be 1/4" wider than the binding strip.  It doesn't seem like very much by the time the flange is folded.

The big question I have, though, is about the final sewing down.  There is no way I'm stitching in the ditch - I always sew my bindings by hand because I don't like the extra row of machine stitching on the back, and adding the stresses of stitching in the ditch to this would be torture...

I believe, @Ploshkin, that you have mentioned in the past that you hand stitch the binding down, leaving the flange free.  Do you do this by folding the flange up and (slip or ladder) stitching from the inside of the flange/binding onto the quilt?  Or do you do running stitch through the join between the flange and binding from the top?

I hope that makes sense...  :o

(Help welcome from anyone else with experience of flanges as well, of course!)

35
In the wardrobe / Sewing Knit and Woven Together
« on: April 29, 2021, 19:51:50 PM »
I want to make a dress with a knit bodice and sleeves and a woven skirt.  I'm going to use a knit pattern - probably 'Be Graceful' by Ellie and Mac, which I've made before.  Is there anything I should do when attaching the skirt to make the two fabrics play nicely together?  I can imagine the woven forcing the knit to stretch a bit.

This is the pattern (but not as long):

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36
Current Projects / Calling All EPP-ers!
« on: April 22, 2021, 09:48:12 AM »
How do you attach your papers to your fabric?  I have always folded the edges over and stitched through, which is what I understand to be the traditional way, but I keep reading references to doing this in other ways.  Is there a less labour-intensive way that works?

37
Patterns Discussion / Simple Camisole Pattern?
« on: April 09, 2021, 22:22:23 PM »
I'm looking for a pattern for a camisole that I can wear under a couple of blouses that are a bit too see-through for my comfort.  Thin straps, no gathers, very plain - oh, and it must be a pdf pattern.  You know how I hate tissue patterns!

I'm also thinking that I would like to make it from silk - but I never know what I'm looking for when I search for silk online.  Any suggestions there?

Thank you!   :)

38
I am quilting littlest goddaughter's quilt.  I have done the centres of the blocks, with the walking foot on my Megaquilter.  No problem.

Now I am stippling the sashing and corners of the blocks.  I started on my Megaquilter, which has a nice big harpspace and stitches beautifully.  I love quilting on it.  However, it has been a serious pain.  The top thread is breaking, sometimes after an inch, sometimes after 6 inches.  I don't think I managed a stretch of more than about 4 feet.  Everything else, absolutely fine.  I loosened the top tension to the point where I had to tighten it again because it was getting loopy.  I changed the needle (although the thread wasn't getting shredded, so I didn't really think it could be the needle).  I checked the bobbin case and needle plate for burrs.

I have had this problem with it before, and didn't find a solution, but it wasn't this bad.

After a while I changed to my Husqvarna Viking Topaz.  The harpspace is smaller (although not bad), the stitching is fine, but not as nice, it has a slight tendency to skipped stitches (which the Megaquilter never does), but I decreased the pivot height and reduced the top tension (this always needs doing for anything other than normal stitching) and it was OK, but... then it started shredding the thread.  I tried an embroidery needle, an anti-glue embroidery needle (it really hated that one, although it loves it for embroidering), a top stitch needle (very, very bad for shredding) and finally, a quilting needle (not a make I know, which is why I left it til last).  That was a bit better, but it was still shredding.

Is there an answer?  If there is, please tell me before I throw two machines that I generally love out of the window...  :boohoo:

39
Sewing Machines / Oiling Machines
« on: February 05, 2021, 10:33:08 AM »
While waiting for my new needles to be delivered I gave my Megaquilter (~identical to the Janome 1600P) a once over.  Cleaned out the bobbin area, oiled, stroked, talked kindly to it etc

I checked the manual (!!!) and was reminded that I'm actually supposed to oil it every day.  Oops.  It also says that I MUST ONLY EVER use MO70 machine oil.  Well I've been using the oil that came with another machine, and it has no label on it.

What is MO70 oil?  Googling does not help at all.  When other people have asked the question they have just been told that they must use sewing machine oil.  Is all sewing machine oil MO70?

The other thing that I discovered is plenty of sites saying that dealers often say that a brand of machine won't need oiling, but they are WRONG.  Well, my Husqvarna Viking Topaz manual says that it will never need oiling.  Presumably the manual is correct?    :[

41
There are lots of very nice free quilt block templates and measurements available here from Craftsy.  There are some other colouring in pages too which probably make good templates for various things (I haven't downloaded those, so I don't know for sure.)

I'm not sure whether they are available to non-Craftsy members, but I don't think I had to log into my account to access them.   :thumbsup:

42
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Scant Seams
« on: January 19, 2021, 17:09:32 PM »
I know that the way to make a 1/4 inch scant seam is to use a 1/4 inch foot and move the needle one step to the right.  However, on my Megaquilter - which I much prefer to use for piecing - the needle doesn't move.

Is there a secret for doing scant seams when you can't move your needle?  And why don't they just make 'scant 1/4 inch' feet???   :boohoo:

Am I going to have to use my Husqvarna just because I can move its needle?  I have just given in and ordered it a 1/4 inch foot with a guide (its current 1/4 inch foot doesn't have one), so I suppose I'm probably resigned to it.

43
I saw this & I thought you may be interested! / StyleArc Sale!!
« on: December 25, 2020, 23:45:37 PM »
"OUR HUGE PDF PATTERN SALE STARTS NOW!
 
Get 30% off all PDF patterns at Style Arc website and our Etsy Store.
 
Use Code BUYALLTHEPDFS30 at checkout to claim your discount. 
 
Offer ends 1st January 2021. "

 :D

44
Your Favourite Suppliers / Quiltessential
« on: November 18, 2020, 10:05:25 AM »
I've just discovered Quiltessential.  They don't have an enormous range of fabrics, but they do have a vast number of Kona Solids* at £2.40 for a FQ, and I placed an order on Sunday and received it on Tuesday with very modest P&P.

The website is fairly basic, but the images are good.  I didn't receive any email notifications of order placed or dispatched, and I don't seem to have been able to set up an account, and there's no Paypal option.  They are a long standing company though, so this is inconvenient rather than worrying.

* They say "We believe that Quiltessential is the only UK retailer to stock all 365 standard colours and to display them in the same sequence as the manufacturer's colour card."  They do have a fantastic range, but there were plenty that were out of stock.

I'm about to place a second order.

45
Current Projects / Oh dear...
« on: November 13, 2020, 12:09:47 PM »
Some years ago I bought this pack of 26 FQs from Craftsy: 
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They looked so lovely that I didn't even untie them, just enjoyed looking at them until I found the right pattern.

Last week I found and bought this pattern, which I think would work very well with the fabric:
 

So yesterday I untied the FQ pack... and discovered this:
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Those are not creases, they are the design on the fabric.  According to the label it is called New Age Muslin by Marcus Fabrics.  When I look it up I find it should say New Aged Muslin and it is quite deliberate.

I am really concerned that if I use this fabric I will forever be thinking that the quilt needs pressing, and that would drive me mad and make me ashamed of it.  Having said that, the (few) examples I have found of quilts made with it don't seem to show the fake creases.

Does anyone have any experience of this, or similar, fabric? 

What do you all think?  Do you think the creases would disappear when it was quilted?

And does anyone know of a range of plain fabric in these lovely muted colours?

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