It's Wednesday again! I have a few things on the go this week.
1. Chrysalis Quilt - I received in the mail this week the second charm pack of Chrysalis (one I had won at Clover & Violet, and one I had purchased from eBay) and got to work adding the 1.75" strips to two adjacent sides of each charm. It has gone from this.....
.....to this......
2. Kaleidoscope Quilt - earlier this week I asked if any of you use polyester batting for your quilts. It seems a viable option, based on availability and on how happy the people look in the photos on the packaging...don't let that fool you. I have had such a hard time with it.
~ Basting. I went with pin basting because I was out of 505 spray which I prefer to use. You know with cotton batting how it sort of clings to the fabric? Poly doesn't do this at all. It was slipping and shifting and was difficult to even baste.
~ To the machine. After two attempts at basic straight line stitching with a walking foot and brand new sewing machine needle, I gave up. It was not going through smoothly, the stitches were uneven and batting was pulling up through the needle holes, it just wasn't a pretty picture.
I decided to quit before I got too far into it, ripped out those stitches and decided to finish it off by tying rather than quilting. I do still think it will be super cute, and I will finish it off with a proper binding, but I was just so disappointed. I don't think I will be giving polyester another try for a looong time.
28 comments:
Soooo sorry you had such issues with the poly-batt!! (Honestly I had no idea all that would happen!) So disappointing but now you know, and I agree, your project will still be lovely. Your Chysalis quilt looks lovely - very cool!!
I'm sorry about the batting as well. I have switched to 100 percent cotton, although I think 80/20 is a great batting as well. And your Chrysalis will be awesome!
Polyester is a stinker - I don't know how other people work with it. I'm a cotton girl for the exact reason you mentioned, it has it's own self-cling thing going on - which means nice flat backs. Wool batting doesn't cling either and doesn't really stick with 505 also. I haven't tried any bamboo batting yet, but I would be interested to find out how it responds once basted.
Ack, sounds like a frustrating go! BUT, I think this quilt totally screams for tie quilting! It's beautiful! Yeah for perseverance!
Your Chrysalis quilt is AMAZING! I love how you placed the colour. Your tied quilt will be lovely - the poly will give it loft, and that looks best with tying, in my opinion.
Your Chrysalis quilt is lovely. I can't believe I don't have any of it!
I have not used anything but Warm and Natural cotton batting,so it looks like I will stick with that. So sorry you have had such a difficult time with poly.
Your chrysalis quilt is amazing, Heather!
Love the color placement. And so sorry to hear about the quilting disaster. Tying it was a great solution!
First project
4th 2nd row block is not correct.
9th 4th row block is not correct.
Very nice quilt.
The chrysalis quilt looks SO good! That stinks about the poly batting though. Thanks for the heads up.
Love the quilt. It's simply fabulous. (And WTHeck, Editfolt...seriously?)
Have heard nothing but negative in regard to poly batting, so I've never tried it. I love the feel of cotton and from what I understand the poly won't crinkle, either, which is one of my favorite things about quilts. Good for you for trying, though. Better than I've done.
Looking forward to seeing your Modern Halves Quilt. Been thinking about doing that one myself. :)
such great movement with the colors you've chosen, it's gonna be a great quilt!
Oh, I super-love the Chrysalis layout! Wonderful job on that one!
Boo hoo to the batting :( I totally ADORE the Chrysalis quilt, I actually gasped!! It looks fantastic x
nice quilt....poly is great for hand quilting....
Yeah, poly is a pain on the machine. I agree with others, it's great for tying and hand quilting and a light quilt with loft. I do have a friend who uses it all the time with her machine (Laurraine at PatchworkPottery), maybe she's got some tips?
Your Chrysalis quilt is lovely.
Shame about the poly wadding, I have had simialr problems in the past so now use 80/20 :)
Love that Chrysalis quilt! Sorry about the problems with the batting. Unfortunately we never know until we try!
Love the Chrysalis quilt! What a great pattern!!
Your Chrysalis quilt is lovely! What a great way to make use of a charm pack.
booo hiss on the pesky batting! I have always struggled with pin basting, and thought it was just me.
the chrysalis fabric is one of my favorite out of print lines - and I love what you are doing with it!
Annaliese
http://thepewteracorn.blogspot.com
Sorry to hear bout your problems with the batting. I use either 100% cotton or bamboo. The bamboo does fluff a bit and is annoying when using it with dark fabric, but once it is bound and washed, it's fine, no fluff at all.
Your quilt looks lovely, that's a great pattern.
Your Chrysalis quilt looks great! I like how you put the colors in circles. :)
I'm sorry you had a junky time with the polyester batting. Tied quilts are so cozy, though -- I have a tied quilt with a corduroy top and polyester batting that I bought on etsy, and I sleep under it every night. (I like it more than the all-cotton one I made for myself, hah!)
Boo, sorry about the batting! Your solution sounds perfect.
And I love your Chrysalis progress! I have some of that fabric around here somewhere. Seeing yours really makes me want to put it to use!
Love the Chrysalis quilt - such a great idea for a charm pack.
Poly springs back making it perfect for a wall hanging and comforters. It hand quilts just fine. I've never though about it not machine stitching well, but it makes sense.
Glad to hear about basting spray, I've never tried it and just bought a can yesterday!
((Sorry for your frustrations))
Beautiful projects! Love that Chrysalis quilt and the Modern Halves looks like a fun one too! Sorry to hear about your problems with your batting!
Your projects are lovely. I'm sorry to hear that the polyester batting gave you such grief.
Sorry to hear about the batting your blocks look great!
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