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Messages - Ploshkin

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1681
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Re: Talk to me about wadding!
« on: October 02, 2018, 12:25:05 PM »
A good place to get it is Cotton Patch.  They have a good range and I think they do a swatch pack.
I've only done a very few quilts and I actually like polyester.  It's lightweight and warm.  I haven't found it makes the quilt stiff probably because I haven't done close quilting.

1682
Technical Help / Re: Help! Fabric marker disaster.
« on: October 01, 2018, 21:31:27 PM »
@Vezelay I learned that lesson on something that fortunately didn't matter.  It was the base of a knitting bag I made to try out some free motion quilting.  I used a red frixion pen on dark purple cotton and it left pale marks after it cooled again.  I've since been careful to only use them on the wrong side of fabric.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

1683
Fun with Fabric / Re: Have you got a Stable
« on: October 01, 2018, 07:43:11 AM »
I'm with the non stable (unstable?) people.  I've only really got offcuts and a couple of bits of fabric that weren't as I expected and I don't know what to do with them.

1684
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Re: The Darksides Next Challenge ... Midsummer Applique Challenge
« on: October 01, 2018, 07:38:17 AM »
@Kenora that is just fabulous, that machine stitching is perfect.  If ever I happen to have a macaw (and its not impossible as 2 of my sisters are parrot keepers) I would have to call it Barry.

1685
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Re: The Darksides Next Challenge ... Midsummer Applique Challenge
« on: September 30, 2018, 11:25:54 AM »
This is my first ever  applique, it's just not something I have ever had cause to do before.  I decided I was too cowardly to try and construct a picture and I wanted to use bits I already had and I don't have many fabrics to choose from.  Red eventually said dragon to me and I found this one which I liked and thought was doable.
Metaphors are a bit mixed because it is a Nordic dragon and Celtic knots.   I knew there was no way that I could machine round the shapes so I outlined them with a heavy chain stitch.  I haven't wielded an embroidery needle since I was 16 and soon realised that I hadn't chosen the best stitch to execute because of all the stops and starts (it has a back to front set up stitch each time you start and it took me a long time to get it looking tidy)

Anyway, here is my Nordic / Celtic fusion warts and all.  It is 13" x 10" with wadding and backed in the red fabric of the dragon.
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1686
Your Favourite Suppliers / Re: Recommended brick & mortar shops
« on: September 29, 2018, 13:47:14 PM »
I made my tweed jacket with Donegal Tweed that I bought in Magees when I was there about 3 years ago.  Their prices must have increased hugely, I think I paid £25/m at that time.  I bought 3m because I didn't know what I was going to do with it and so I've got a goodly lump of it left which is waiting to become a gilet when I get round to it and find a suitable lining.

1687
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Re: The Darksides Next Challenge ... Midsummer Applique Challenge
« on: September 27, 2018, 19:55:05 PM »
@Sandra you've done an amazing job with that. You've really brought it to life.  Well done, I'm in awe.

1688
Overlockers & Coverstitchers / Re: Do I need an overlocker?
« on: September 27, 2018, 11:03:41 AM »
I've found that 4 each of black, white, grey, beige and navy cover just about everything.  It depends how particular you are about the inside of your garment.  When you thread up always put the 2 with the most thread on in the loopers as they use way more thread than the needles.  That way the 4 reels should last about the same length of time.

1689
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Re: My 1st quilt top
« on: September 26, 2018, 20:41:15 PM »
I think I'd go for blue border / red binding or possibly vice versa.

I tend to leave it sit for a few days, where I will pass by, with strips of fabric in  possible border combinations.  I can usually decide which one I think works best then.

1690
The Haberdashery / Kenton Trimmings
« on: September 25, 2018, 21:39:16 PM »
I placed an order with Kenton Trimmings yesterday at midday, the parcel arrived today.

They have a good range of tailoring canvasses, interfacings, shoulder pads etc and since the last time I used them have added a jacket pack with all the bits for a tailored jacket - that's what I have bought as I will shortly be embarking on a jacket. 

1691
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Re: The Darksides Next Challenge ... Midsummer Applique Challenge
« on: September 25, 2018, 21:27:53 PM »
@Kenora it's actually a Norse Dragon, my metaphors are mixed because the knots are Celtic.  I just liked it.
@Sheilago it is most likely to be a cupboard dweller but may end up on a wall but not before I've sorted out the binding join which will only annoy me. 

1692
Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside / Re: The Darksides Next Challenge ... Midsummer Applique Challenge
« on: September 24, 2018, 15:37:53 PM »
Seeing all those lovely pictures taking shape, I'm afraid I've been cowardly with my applique.  I started off wanting to do something bee related (red flowers of course) but somehow it morphed into something entirely different.  It's just 5 separate shapes.  There was no way I could machine round them so I hand stitched using embroidery thread and a heavy chain stitch - I haven't wielded a piece of embroidery thread since I was 16 and I quite enjoyed it (actually the green and yellow thread must be ones I had when I was 16).  The quilting and binding are a bit crap - I made an error in calculation and couldn't join the binding with a diagonal as I would usually do.  Anyway, warts and all here it is.  It measures about 13" x 10"

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1693
Overlockers & Coverstitchers / Re: Do I need an overlocker?
« on: September 24, 2018, 13:28:26 PM »
I'm with you on that Fran.  When I got my overlocker I immediately pulled out the threads it came with and learned how to thread it which wasn't at all difficult.  I think all modern machines have colour coded threading routes anyway.

1694
Overlockers & Coverstitchers / Re: Do I need an overlocker?
« on: September 23, 2018, 10:31:26 AM »
I bought an elna 664 overlocker on the recommendation of a local seller.  They are about £250.  (Its probably the same as one of the Janine models)  I didn't want an expensive machine because I didn't know how much I would use it.   I have used it far more than I thought I would and I also now sew more knits than I did before I had it.  I frequently use it for seams on wovens (shirts etc) where it's ok for the seam to be pressed to one side and it saves so much time not having to zig zag seam allowances and trim.
I have used it on all manner of fabrics and have never even had to change the tension to get a perfect stitch.  It has never been even the slightest bit temperamental.

1695
Previous sewalong entries / Re: Sew Red for The Eve Appeal
« on: September 17, 2018, 17:53:48 PM »
@Iminei when you put a strip in the back like that what tricks do you use to get it to line up straight?

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