May Your Bobbins be Smooth

Sharon sent me a message via the Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures Facebook Page asking about the bobbin washer that she spied in the bobbin case in my latest video, Straight Stitch Plate for Free Motion Stitching. I should have mentioned it in the video and I am glad she asked so I could share with the rest of you.

I bought the Little Genie Magic Bobbin Washers a few years ago when I first started free motion quilting. They're a 12 pack of little silicone discs that just sit in your bobbin case and help the bobbin spin smoothly, especially when changing the direction of stitching at high speeds. [Edited 2015] I used these for a while, but stopped after learning more about how drop in bobbin machines work. I stopped using them and haven't missed them at all. They may or may not help. They may help while you're you're learning and your hands aren't as smooth. If they cause the bobbing to sit too high in the bobbin case, they can cause the top thread to get caught on the bobbin.

The second tip for bobbin issues is to make sure you are using quality bobbins. My local Janome dealer sells generic bobbins unless you specifically ask for Janome bobbins. I make a point of buying the red Janome Cherry Blossom Bobbins when I can find them for my Janome and make sure I use them when free motioning. This helps me identify quilting thread from sewing thread too.

From left to right; generic bobbin, Janome bobbin, Janome Cherry Blossom bobbin.

There are cheaper bobbins you can use, but I find that some have rough edges from when the plastic is molded into the bobbin shape. Plus, there seems to be a different type of plastic used for the Janome bobbins than the generic bobbins. It seems smoother and a teensy tiny bit softer. Janome bobbins will have a J on the shaft of the bobbin. This is covered by thread if already wound, so another identifier is a U shaped indention around one of the holes for the thread tail.

(Gee, I need a manicure!)

I am speaking here to Janome owners, because that is what I know, but I am sure that this could apply to other models and I know that generic bobbins are easy to come by. If you are having bobbin snarls, it might be worth finding better bobbins for your machine and/or checking to make sure the bobbin isn't damaged in some way.

On a personal note, my step daughter just made me a grandmother! So we'll be leaving town soon to visit her and the blog may go a bit quiet.

Straight Stitch Plate for Free Motion Stitching

I made a video before I started quilting my tree quilt with the cute owl where I change out the regular stitch plate for the straight stitch-only plate and talk a bit about the bobbin area, cleaning the machine, and a few tips.

I hope you find it useful or entertaining!

Quilting at the Auto Repair Shop

The kids and I spent four and a half hours at the auto repair shop getting our AC fixed. I know, sounds like pure torture doesn't it? Actually, other than wasting the time there instead of quilting or some other needful activity, it wasn't bad.

First of all, my kids are awesome!!!!!!! So stinking proud of them! The shop is owned by a family of Mennonites, and there was a big box of toys and shelves and shelves of good books for adults and kids. My kiddos kept themselves occupied (Leah also had her crochet) for the first three plus hours. Then they started begging for use of my tablet. Then I laid down the rules: each got 5 minutes and then someone else had a turn. They were so good!

And me? Did I have a handwork project? Nope, I kept busy with the magazine rack:

The matriarch of the family is an avid quilter and long armer. We talk quilting when she has a few free minutes. She told me that they were cleaning out the magazine rack recently and she made sure they didn't toss the quilting magazines.

And lastly, the repair didn't cost an arm and leg. Nice cold AC again, just in time for a trip to Missouri. My step-daughter will be making me a grandma pretty soon. I'm happy for her, but couldn't I be done with potty training my little guy first?!

Now, I'm off to quilt my heart out. I hope you get to do the same soon.

Look Whoo's on my Wall

I finished this commission quilt last weekend and delivered it to the customer Monday just in time for a birthday party. Since my kids were invited to the party, it worked out great.

I used a variegated thread with black, green, orange and yellow for the tree and the ground.

A matching linen colored Isacord thread for the swirls.

The back

I used my machine binding technique to finish the binding from the front.

 The grid design I used for the ground was fun to do and gave a good dimensional quality to that area.

 Here it's on my bed by the window, trying to get some better light to show the quilting.

Fun swirls for the wind around this tree. I love how the asymmetrical design turned out.

 

Snuck in a little word for the little guy who will have this hanging in his room. GROW.

I had a hard tome taking clear pictures of this quilt. Not sure why. I'm linking this post with Anna Marie's Off the Wall Friday and Leah Day's Free Motion Friday Link-ups.

I love this kind of project! I was asked to make a tree wall quilt with the above colors, but the rest was up to me.  I love playing with free motion quilting! How about you?