Back in the mid 1990’s I started quilting and it didn’t take long before I fell in love with machine quilting. I machine quilted for Trish Stuart, who had just made the transition from making patterns to making self-published books. We made a great team! I went to Quilt Market a few times with Trish and meanwhile my friend Penny had started quilting – and Penny does everything GUNG HO!
Penny and I decided to go to spring Quilt Market to help Trish launch her new book “Color Art” in 2002. The first day was a blast but that night in the hotel room Penny was sick. So sick that we had to take her to the hospital – and there she stayed for 3 weeks. It was incredible trauma for us all and for Penny, who is NEVER sick!
Trish made this quilt for Penny and I promised to quilt it for her but I’ve run into difficulty (as have Trish and Penny) over the past years – and with moving, giving the quilt back to her, moving again, getting it back and re-promising to quilt it, I am thrilled to say that Penny’s Quilt is quilted!
I made two videos to go along with it – the first one tells the story of Penny’s Quilt. It’s an important story to three people – me, Penny and Trish. Probably not too interesting to anyone else, but I wanted to make the video. The lighting isn’t good – I’m still learning how to judge lighting.
The second video is me doing the quilting. I use three different stipple techniques on Penny’s Quilt and I show each of them on the video. I just can’t tell you how wonderful it was to give Penny her quilt yesterday. We sat and talked for hours. She lives about 200 miles from me now and we don’t get to see each other much – but distance doesn’t alter friendship and Penny is a lifelong friend, one of my very best friends. She’s into beading now, as well as quilting, and she’s poking through her bead stash looking for a few sparklies to embellish her quilt with.
Here’s Penny’s Quilt Story:
Here’s how I quilted it:
lesthook says
I really enjoyed watching these videos. I have shied away from metalic or invisible threads out of fear or I should say lack of experience with them. Maybe I should try some.
Marguerita says
I love them, but they do take patience! I always loosen the tension, always use a poly in the bobbin for stretch, always use Sewer’s Aide to lubricate the thread. I’ve been quilting with metallic threads for at least 10 years. Just try 1 spool from a couple of brands and see which ones work in your sewing machine – machines can be finicky – and then stick with that brand and watch your quilts shimmer 🙂 Marguerita
Ruth says
Marguerita, I really enjoyed watching your videos. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I love using metallic threads also and have learned that often slowing down the speed you work at just a tad, helps lessen the strain on the thread too. You probably do this naturally but I thought it might be helpful for other readers to know. Good luck with getting the next project complete.
Marguerita says
Hi Ruth,
You are so right, I do it without thinking! Thank you so much for pointing that out 🙂 BTW, I watched your butterfly videos with my eyes GLUED to the computer screen – isn’t video on the internet great!!! You have quite the talent and technique! I have your channel bookmarked for great things to come! —–> http://www.youtube.com/user/arbeedesigns
Fern Reed says
Did not see the videos, you know. Maybe someday when I have 4 or 5 hours to let it load. Using the right needle helps a lot too. When I use Metallic I use a
metallica needle size 80 or up. Enjoyed seeing the quilt you quilted. I have not been able to get on your blog for awhile now . Internet Explorer has not let on.