Leftovers, Day Three orThe Last of the Turkey

I have tried so many times over the last few days to take photos of this thing so I can put it away until next November.  The weather hasn't been very cooperative and when it was (yesterday morning when I only had a few minutes before I was out for the day) the camera battery died during the Pumpkin Patch photo shoot.  Bummer.  So this is what you get, but I'm sure I'll take more when I hang it next year.

Look at that face!  I guess some details are in order.  This is a pattern from Pieces from my Heart called Presidential Pardon.  I did the equivalent of knitting a pattern exactly as written in the exact yarn and color with no modifications.

Oh wait!  I did modify the pattern as I mentioned previously.  I didn't hand applique, but fused the feather and face pieces and stitched a blanket stitch with my sewing machine.  With that time saver I had this top completed (with the mistake) in one evening.  Any time I saved was lost in square surgery, but that's okay.

Other than that I did use the pre-cut charm pack used in the pattern, the fabric line is called Gobble, Gobble.  For non-quilters, a charm pack is a grouping of pre-cut 5 1/2 inch squares from the same line of fabrics.  I love these fall fabrics.  The pumpkins, the polka dots, the orange and brown.....

I backed and bound the quilt with the brown multi polka dot fabric that is in the turkey body.  Nothing fancy or pieced, just sandwich and quilt. 

So, at first I was just going to stitch in the ditch and hang this bird, but I had been practicing machine quilting every day on scrap and practice fabrics and having heard someone say you should really just dive in and practice on real stuff I decided to go ahead and sort of stipple all around the outside of the turkey squares.  I feel quite brave showing a close up of my quilting.  To be sure there are sections that are works of beauty and overall I am not unpleased.  I have been learning how to relax my body more than anything else, it seems to make the biggest difference.  I also know that for now anyway, working in short bursts, taking frequent breaks is a good idea.  Keeping my hands moving at one speed consistently and balancing that with the machine speed to make even stitches is a learning process reminiscent of my early spinning days.  And after that section pictured above I started stitching into the ditch along the seams, sort of in and out to make it look like the quilting disappears into the seam.  That looks a lot better.  And if I allow my mind to wander even a leeettle bit.......  Well, it isn't pretty.  Learning, learning. 

I am not sure about the un-quilted blocks, they poof a little.  The fabric was unwashed so I think a trip through the washer and dryer might help that, shrink the fabric up a little.  Maybe next year.

Hey!  You guys liked my Pumpkin Patch!  You should definitely plan a pumpkin or two, they are really quick knits.  I am not a particularly fast knitter and I could knit a large one in an evening in front of the television.  And knitting them in the round saves the seaming time.  Yay!

In other news.......

One hundred thirty-two.  Or DAY THIRTY!!!!!!!!!!!  I did it!  And it wasn't even much of a chore!  And I still have post topics to get to!  And I didn't resort to photo only posts every day!!!!!  And I even posted more than once on some days!!!!!  And I started another blog!!!!  I must be freaking NUTS!

Comments

[Vicki]

Yay you, too!!

[margene]

The turkey is fun, but I love your blue blog!!

[Marcia]

That is very nice stipple quilting! I took a class years ago with Judy Irish, the woman who does all the maching (long arm) quilting on Kaffe Fasset's quilts and remember one exercise that really helps: get a big pad of newsprint and DOODLE! Somehow that does make a connection when you go to the machine with fabric. We also made lots of muslin "sandwiches" and practiced specific patterns on those, but sounds like that's what you've been doing. Do you have the BSR on your machine? Still haven't tried mine.

[Kim]

Very nice :)

[Laurie]

Congratulations! Stepped into the breech (?breach) and kept your balance.

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