Concerning Zarina - January 2009

Jan 23, 2009

In my excitement of getting the exchange, I forgot to describe the bag. It is made of snuggly velvet. It is dark violet with a blue lining. This is the picture of the empty bag. It has four pockets to put in the picot gauge, tatting hook, and the shuttles so it will not get tangled with the thread. Just realized I should have taken pictures when I filled the bag last night.

I missed two nights of stippling. The first was to catch the inauguration of Obama which I find so moving and I was proud to witness something that is so powerful which I may not get a second chance in my lifetime (we caught it live on tv on ~~Jan 20 at 9 pm~~ Jan 21 at 1 am local time). The night after, I was aching from kickboxing on Tuesday and yoga Wednesday. I had aerobic yesterday but just ignored the pain in my shoulders. So last night I had another go at stippling. It was much better - no sharp joints, not so much overlapping. Looking at it, reminds me of puzzle pieces or a portion of a flower. So my advice to beginners: just do IT and practice. But I would strongly advice to use paper and pen first to get the confidence (and save up on your stashes).

This is the quilt on the sewing machine (almost two thirds done on the quilt):

Up close. I really love to see these kind of pictures:

I have changed the positioning of the machine and its better (well I did not have any problems like the first time). This was as being adviced from the Janome board but I really do not see any difference since I am totally new to this. Also, I had a scare last night. While stippling away, the needle fell off. Ok I can attach that but it seems the WHOLE shaft dropped down. I managed to push it back up. This morning, I asked the board and they say that FMQ tends to make the screws loose. So need to tighten all screws before I start on a new (fifth) bobbin for this quilt.

Nik has posted in her blog about the number of visitors. I realized that I have no idea how big is my traffic so I activated it. It is on a one-day basis so for Jan 21, I've got 35 visitors. It also brings me to this photo.

Upon completion of my master's thesis, I have already cleaned it up so that I can at least write up posts and answer emails in my room instead of downstairs in front of the tv. Also, it should give me space to write in my quilt journal and address letters to be sent out. S I G H! That will be another task after completing the quilting for the three top completed (backing need to be pieced for the Bistro quilt). By the way, it will have to be quick because I am itching to start on another three quilts which I have already calculated the yardage I require (ALL from stash) and printed several template for the foundation piecing.

Jan 21, 2009

SNN New Year Exchange 2

I signed up for the Shuttle and Needles group New Year exchange, knowing that I will never meet the deadline but I am so loving exchanges (this is my third but did not receive the first). I told the organizer and my partner the earliest mailing date for me will be end of February. Anyway, I already received mine.

The first thought when I saw the packet is "its too big for books (bookrings from BookCrossing) and this can't hold my order (yes I did bought something online - the Valdani quilting threads were 30% discounted and I do *need* more flannel for my future quilts). And I saw the return address was a person I have no idea who. I think it was on the stairs that I remembered oh yeah, the exchange. Without no hesitation (except to save the cord for future use) I tore it open. What a surprise but I did have to wait for prayers. Luckily mum was still upstairs making phone calls (mind you this was already past 9 pm and dinner has not been eaten). I painfully took many pictures from the actual packaging to the individual items to show and it was worth the wait.

Our project is to make a small drawstring bag to hold our tatting or crocheting (well, fine crocheting). This was the days past:

This WAS how the package was arranged:

This is a peek inside the bag: (~~I'm missing the photo somewhere~~)

I mentioned that I love fabric, so there is a beautiful soft (I think two fat quarters) of something (Eileene what is the fabric?) and a needlepoint kit:

Next up are the tatting threads - Finca, Coats & Clarks, and other brands that I would love to try:

There is also a mention that I *will* start silk ribbon embroidery - and here are in all sorts of colors. And in the last picture, she included a tool to help with it - a small plier and needles (inside the metal container of the - wait I will come to that. Also, at the top left corner is a tatted butterfly on a large paperclip which I will use as a bookmark which I missed out during the photo shoot.

Then, there are many packets of beads and some shiny thread which I am not familiar with. Its like she knows me so well that she knows what to include in the exchange:

Next are two pieces of linen (am I right?)and two tatted motifs. The white piece has an embroidered flower:

Next comes (this post is so heavily loaded with photos that I messed up), no this is the final picture. A card, picot gauge which I really need (THANK YOU), and two shuttles to add to my very small collection (which is all in plastic):

I did not mention any favored colors but she hit it on the head - purple and green. I hope I did not miss anything but there is always the action of editing.

Jan 20, 2009

I am Stippling Now

I was suppose to use this quilting design which I am very proud of. But I just can't distant myself from stippling (anyway I need to use stippling for the Bistro quilt). For the past few days, I have been practicing using paper and pen. I tried out using a size 16 needle (need 18 to avoid thread breakage) and it looks good (still lots of sharp joints - need to work on that). I will be using Superior Bottom Line for the bobbin and Superior So Fine as the top thread.

I visited Epal yesterday, the Janome distributor, to buy the the needle size 18 (Macy does not carry the needle that can fit into the machine). It seems that I have got the setting all wrong for FMQ. So with the existing needle, I am furiously pedalling away (mom was asking how come there are no breaks in my sewing, LOLZ). I've used up one bobbin full of Superior Bottom Line on a practice sandwich. While doing it, in my head runs the voices of Rosalind (the FMQ teacher) and the Yahoo board that is very good in giving advices for quilting. Enjoy the pictures:

Jan 19, 2009

Reflecting on a Monday morning

Last Thursday, was my mum's and nephew, Imran's birthday. Usually we would buy a cake and have a small gathering at home. But since Imran and his sisters are being hit by the chicken pox, we did not buy any cake. But he did demanded for a cake though. Wait for awhile - we will have a big celebration on the 27th during dad's birthday (and I hope all of you will be over with the chicken pox because I definitely do not need that in my life now).

I wanted to start quilting the playmat but the needle size 18 could not fit into the machine. Instead, spend the whole day recuperating in bed. Sunday, cut out the fabric for Imran's pants but it was all wrong. Need to look at it again later to see if it can be made for Hasnah (one of his sisters). From there, I finished putting the border for the Bistro quilt. I had a crazy time figuring out how to piece the backing so finally decided to just purchase a wide fabric from Kelvin.

I could not wait to start on the quilting, so I have practiced stippling using pen and paper (both at work and home). A bit after midnight, I started a bit of the stippling on my Janome 6500P. It looked great but then I keep on having thread breakage. I NEED those needles fast.

Past few weekends, I have been very busy tending to my garden (most of them in pots). I transferred three pots (two to revive before it is too late to do anything) for my mum and sister. From many small pots of cactus, I have combined into three 9-inch pots. Another project I started, is my pumpkin patch (more about it later). They are growing very well and the leaves are real beautiful.

Another project which is stalled, my HDTs (hand dyed threads or affectionately known as highly dangerous thread). I did two colorways that turned out quite good but it needs a second round of dyeing to get the right finish. Well, there is where it stopped. It should be cured since I have promised to donate for the goodie bag during the Needles and Craft second anniversary do on the weekend before Valentine.

There are no picture for this journal since nothing was doing well.

I have forgotten to add that I am currently reading my second fiction (a bookring too), DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY AND DENIM by David Sedaris. Very interesting for it brings us to the mind of a boy growing up and his view of the world.

Jan 15, 2009

Dimensioning a Disappearing Nine-patch Quilt

This is what happen after abstaining from crafts for months last year. I cannot seem to stop designing new quilts and there will always be a reason why I have to make the quilts. This will be a gift to my master's thesis supervisor. I have truly enjoyed working with her for nearly 2/3 of last year. She is very thorough and I am so happy with the thesis. Now, need to wait for the approval from the university. This will start as soon as I have completed quilting the first three quilts.

I saw this during my surfing in blogsphere and it has not left my mind at all. Later on did I know the name of the pattern and the pieces of the blocks. It is a wonder when we interchange the colors of the pieces, it makes an entirely different quilt. The fabric purchased was originally for the Storm at Sea but if there is enough, it will become one of these.

After doing calculations on how much yardage I need, I am short of the solid. Since I already purchased two solids and I am scared of entering the store again (three times visited purchased more than RM100 and it's hurting my purse), I have designed the quilt in such a way that I do not need to visit the store again. Instead of an all-over design, will put in a pieced border instead of one solid color for the borders. Wait, the calculation is base on an 8-inch block and I need to have the length to be 90-inch. So I guess I need a one color border and the binding since I already used the fabric destined for the binding. Shoot.

The backing I am planning to purchase, is the fabric that has been taunting me everytime I go grocery shopping at Tesco. Hopefully there will be enough yardage though.

After considering that I can use from my stash for the binding (and avoiding entering a fabric store in the next couple of months), I have redimensioned the block. It will be a 10-inch block with the ratio of the two squares 7:3. The required fabric for the individual pieces are from 0.6 yards to 3.2 yards. I will be using both shades of purple in the quilt and there will be plenty of white (from my stash there are Kona cotton, linen, and others I cannot recall).

Jan 14, 2009

Laying Out the Bistro Quilt

For three hours two nights ago, I have cut the pieces required for the pieced border. Using the design wall, I have arranged the pieces.

After piecing the border (no ironing yet)) I moved on to the center. I had to make some minor changes to the inner border since there was not enough yardage. And I plan to add one more row of the pieced border to fully utilize the fat quarters.

Jan 12, 2009

Drafting the Bistro Quilt

After going through various ideas in my head, I have finally put down the quilt pattern using the Bistro fat quarter bundle. Using the drafting paper I bought (initially to start drafting pants for the children), I sketched using a 4cm:10inch scale.

I will end up with some left overs but it is the best I can. I wanted to show off a piece - I'll just plonk in the half-yard without cutting it up. There will be lots of white background which I can show off my FMQ but at this moment I will just use a all-over design. Only later this year will be continuing with the class on the advance level with includes feathers.

Jan 10, 2009

I Love Fat Quarter Bundles and Layer Cakes but

In one of my stashing sprees, I bought a number of fat quarter bundles and layer cakes plus one jelly roll. Since I was taught to wash all the fabric before cutting (to prevent from shrinking and color bleeding), I have a task ahead of me.

So for this weekend, hand washed one fat quarter bundle and a layer cake. It was nice since I enjoyed being out in the sun and I can actually see all the fabric that is in the package.

Here is pictures of them being sun dried.

I have already have in mind on the pattern that I will be using. The fat quarter bundle is quite simple because there is two pieces that is half a yard. One will be the center piece and the second as the border. Half an hour ago I sat down and drafted out the pattern to get the dimensions for the cutting, maybe later tonight. It is very simple and should be pieced in no time at all. The quilt is for one coffee lover in the family.

Jan 5, 2009

Sewing Gadgets - now complete

On the last day of year 2008 at work, I was too bored and there was nothing much to do. So I browse at some of my daily blogs and found that I missed out a sewing gadget that is as important as the cutter (well in the planning stage that is). It's the CALCULATOR.

The old calculator which I'm quite sure I threw out during the cleaning out few days back. So on the first day of 2009, while visiting Tesco I purchased a cheap calculator. There was one in pink and bigger with more functions but then I have spent way too much on my craft in 2008 that I restrained myself from that.

When I got home, I just realized how cheap it was. The keypad where the numeral 9 should be, is a 6. Otherwise, it is so far functioning well.

Since I am not doing much on my master's thesis, I have began reading (fiction that is). I have picked up bookring that has arrived a week ago: AMERICAN GODS by Neil Gaiman.

Jan 2, 2009

Progess on the Playmat Quilt - Part 2

Happy New Year and I hope that you all had a wonderful 2008. Am looking forward to year 2009 where I will devote for all my crafting - at the moment, quilting, tatting, and hopefully bobbin lace and silk robbin embroidery.

For the playmat, I have decided to use the Pinwheel design because after all the hard work of cutting and piecing the triangles, I want to show off the triangles. The first few blocks turned out great (except one) because the points all meet in the right place. Now, the problem is to lessen the bulk that has been created at the joints.

After purchasing my Janome 6500 machine, I quickly searched the Yahoo groups for all pertaining to the topic. I got two especially for the machine: Janome6500: Janome 6500 and 6600 Quilting Machine and JanomeQuilters: The Janome Quilting Bee and one that is more general, Machine Quilting Professional. I have posted my problem, within half an hour I have got two replies. The next morning more. Those groups are especially helpful to help out with any issues or to ask for recommendations (I did enquire about the Essential thread which AmandaJean exclusively use but there were several bad comments so instead I am using So Fine and Bottom Line from Superior threads).

After a blitz of more sewing and ironing for the past few days, I have learned a few lessons:

There are times when you have to open the seam when piecing in order to get the right effect. The block on the left is using the normal method and you get all the bulk in the middle. This was solved as can seen on the right.
You need a little bit of adjustment in the piecing. To further reduce the bulk in the middle, I cut off the corner a bit (not much but just enough).

On a side note, even though this quilt started before the New Year, but it did - following the Islamic year. It began on the midnight of Muharram 1, 1430.