A Free Motion Quilting Finale

Look! I'm making binding, which means I must have finished quilting something. Yay me! Ombre Triangles is done. (I think I need a better name for this project.)


This poor quilt had so much start and stop quilting that I kept forgetting how I wanted to quilt it between sessions, so it lost its cohesive look. But I had fun playing around with these triangles and groups of triangles. Some were done as diamonds, others as hexagons, but all pretty different.


Most of it was ruler work, with the QP Edge (12") but I also used a QP Curve #8, and a free hand scroll-y, flower fill especially around the edges. Then I threw in a few other things just to keep it interesting.


This whole quilt was done in one fabric, V&Co Ombre, and I was able to trim up the extra backing for my binding, which left it mostly as the darker teal color.

I always struggle when it comes to stitching strips of binding together. I get distracted, sometime from others around me, other times from my ditzy brain. So I've taken to ironing one end of each strip (each strip oriented the same way) at a 45 degree angle. This helps me make the angled seam point the same way and makes sure I sew the strips together properly.


Don't you hate it when you pull the strip open and you've done it wrong? Maybe you've stitched right side to wrong side? Maybe I'm the only one whose botched it more times than I want to admit?

Then I open the crease and I've got something to follow for a good straight 45 degree seam.


Now, if I had turned my binding around so the bulk of it was lying to the right, I could have used these handy dandy markings on the needle plate (see red arrows below). Janome machines have a mess of helpful lines on the needle plate! Sometimes I forget they are there though....bad Janome dealer, shame on me!


Then I switched to a different foot 'sole' for my integrated walking foot, aka the Accufeed Flex System. Love these built in walking feet that are completely removable. This foot combination has a 1/4 inch guide on it.


Of course, by the time I got to the binding, I was beyond ready to do something else and didn't audition the binding around the quilt very well and ended up with this....


Now, if this had been an actual solid fabric, I could have easily adjusted that last binding seam that joined the ends. But that ombre was making its move to another color where I wanted to do it. In the end (ha!), I worked it out as far away as I could without having a noticeable change of color between the two strips. (Totally should have done the "No Tails Binding" by Linda Hungerford.)


I like using Roxanne's Glue Baste It for putting ends of binding together. I pressed my 45 degree angle, added a smidge of glue in what would be the seam allowance, hit it with the iron for instant drying, then opened it up and stitched along the crease. Once I stitched, I popped the seam allowance open, trimmed it to 1/4 inch, pressed it open, and stitched it the rest of the way.

Next, I'm machine stitching this guy down by stitching in the ditch. Then I'm off to one of many things on my to-do list. So many things I want to make. I want to make a little girl's dress to show off a new fabric line in the shop, there's a bag I want to make from another line, I want to make a sloth pillow.... the list goes on and on!

Plus, there's moving to do! We're coming up on our one year anniversary of owning Sew Simple and to celebrate, we're packing everything up and moving down the road almost one mile to a better, bigger location. I'm so excited!


Goodness! Look how dark my hair is. I need some highlight, stat.

One of the things I'm loving about this move is that the new location has no overhead tenants. So many videos have gotten ruined by thumping feet. I think they must be little gymnasts. Also, we will have a separate classroom space from the rest of the sales floor, which will give me a better chance to work on projects. Finally, I think we're just about ready to take another giant leap of faith and look for our first employee or two. I just can't do it all, even with my wonderful husband's help.

28 comments:

  1. Amy, I have been following your Blog since before you bought and opened the store. I am so excited and happy for your success. I wish you the best as you expand and grow your business. Jerri

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  2. Best of luck with the move, Amy! It's wonderful that you've been able to find a better space!

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    1. Thanks Sandy. Finding the right space was challenging for sure.

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  3. Moving must mean store ownership is a good thing for you, so congratulations!!

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    1. Some days I'm not so sure, but God put this thing squarely in our lap, so I'm giving it my all!

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  4. Congratulations. Sounds like a great move. BTW - I think you look beautiful with dark hair - as is.

    QuiltShopGal
    www.quiltshopgal.com

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  5. Wahoo! Congratulations Amy! That is exciting news! Here's a link to how I join my bindings - you might find it useful for the next quilt! https://round22.blogspot.ca/2012/04/some-binding-tips.html

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  6. Love the quilt. It's nice to have different styles. Bah humbug to binding but a means to an end!

    Congratulations with moving up a step with the business. I do hope you find lovely new employees to help. Looking forward to hearing your next updates when you are ready. Best wishes and kind regards,

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  7. That is AMAZING NEWS Amy! I notice you stuck it down at the end. ;) So awesome for you, and I'm so happy your business is growing.

    (and I totally get the unsaid part where you probably feel like breathing into a paper bag for bit... ;) Got some of that going on myself.)

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    1. Girl, you know it! You've been cranking out the quilts lately too I see.

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  8. Congratulations Amy, on your move to a bigger space! Best of luck for MORE success!

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  9. That's so exciting, Amy. I love your blog and your quilting is superb. One day maybe I'll get to Lynchburg to meet you in person and see your new shop!

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  10. Best to you on your move. Enjoy your blog and videos.

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  11. Congratulations! Hope your transition goes as smoothly as your lovely quilting!! :-)

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  12. Congratulations! Can't wait to see where you are moving to. I enjoy visiting your store with my sister-in-law Janeen. I need to spend more time down there to take a free motion class. I'm excited for you. You're hair looks beautiful just like you inside and out. See you soon! Char

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    1. It's always nice to have Janeen bring her sisters in the shop. Since I started painting the walls, I've got a few bold yellow highlights....

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  13. Congratulations, it's great to see your business growing.

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  14. Congratulations on the new and bigger location that means your business is growing. Yes, I am one of those that sometimes sews the binding pieces together wrong. Thanks for the idea for creasing it, I will use that next time I am piecing together a binding.

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  15. Amy, your ombre piece is beautiful. As for the binding part, I fall in the same category of the seams not going in the same direction. I will try your method. Congrats on your new location
    And that your adventure is so successful. When you move, please post your new location. On my trip back to NY, I plan on stopping to meet you. I follow you regularly and will doung your ruler classes soon.

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  16. Amy, your ombre piece is beautiful. As for the binding part, I fall in the same category of the seams not going in the same direction. I will try your method. Congrats on your new location
    And that your adventure is so successful. When you move, please post your new location. On my trip back to NY, I plan on stopping to meet you. I follow you regularly and will doung your ruler classes soon.

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    1. Sandi, I do hope you can visit! I love meeting people in person that I've known online. The new place is at: 2414 Wards Rd Lynchburg VA 24502.

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  17. Congratulations on the success of Sew Simple....it's well deserved! So often the first year of a new business is fraught with so many problems. I hope the move goes smoothly. Good luck. I still hope to get there this summer to buy some Glide thread...(and fabric...shhhh...my husband may be listening)! lol.....Blessings...

    p.s. The Ombre Triangle quilt is quite lovely....the name is fine....to the point!

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    1. Thank you. I'd love to have you visit. We have started to add the Glide to the webstore too. I had no idea how long it would take to add all 200 colors, but I'll get them all on there eventually.

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  18. You've come a long way since you first started your adventure. Congratulations and keep up the good work an keep the information and creativity flowing!

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    1. Thanks Peggy! I've had a ton of encouragement along the way from folks like you.

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  19. As usual your practice piece is beautiful! I love the yellow wall in your new shop. Yellow is one of my favorite colors. Sounds like a good move for you.

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