I have sewn the last of the binding down on the quilt-along quilt. Crooked seams aside I’m pleased with how it turned out. There were a couple of things I learned while making this:
- Pre-cuts are not always cut accurately
- Quilting batiks works much better with a smaller needle (say 70/10)
I figured out the last one by accident. I had been using a Microtex 80/12 needle—a couple of them actually. After struggling with skipped stitches and breaking thread while doing the free-motion quilting on the border, I happened to be paging through Laurie Shifren’s book Batik Gems and there it was on page 17. I’ve been through that book a zillion times but hadn’t retained that bit of information. I now have a note by my sewing machine to remind me. What a difference it made!
This quilt is also one of my PHD projects on Myra’s blog.
Now for the oops.
This is from my own pattern. I knew I was supposed to cut the green squares at 6 1/2-inches. Somehow what my brain knew and what my hands did suffered a disconnect. Thank goodness my local fabric shop had more of the green.
Cheers!
finis
KeeVa Tales 
Hi,
I followed you to your blog from Myra’s PhD page. I love your batik quilt! And thank you for that hint about the needle size for quilting on batiks. I had heard somewhere before, actually from a quilting teacher who doesn’t like batiks or much of anything “modern” that batiks are very difficult to free motion quilt. Sew now I know the trick!
Nana B
Thanks! And, yes, I was amazed at what a difference changing the needle made. Do give it a try!
Hi Anita!
Love your batik finish, and thanks for the hint for a smaller needle, as I have a batik PhD to finish soon…
About your Oops… been there done that too… lol! 😎
Just doing a friendly drop in PhD visit here… Looking forward to seeing some more of your progress on them on the group blog… 😎
Happy stitchings!