Cut -

 

 

The strata are cut - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Marigold - 

 

 

I use my strip cutter die -

With 5 strips across the width of the die -

And can cut 2 sets of strata at a time - 

So each "row" above has the parts for two blocks - 

And needs to be sorted - later - 

The "end cuts" - rolled up on the left side of the cookie sheet - 

Give me a LOT of scraps -

Since I fan-fold the strata in thirds - 

I get two skinny bits at the "folds" - 

And two "selvage" ends - one skinny and one larger - 

 

 

Then I can "un-sew" them like I'm doing - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights - 

The scraps are good for my Scrap Card and Heart - 

And for "crumb" blocks - 

And other "scrap" projects - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Pressed -

 

 

But not cut yet - 

 

Today I pressed all eight sets of strata - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Marigold - 

 

 

 

Then I decided to play with the trimmings -

From my Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights - 

 

I un-sewed the "ends" and made separate little piles - 

 

And put the "selvage" ends in another pile - 

 

And the bigger ends in another pile - for the Heart - 

 

Then I combined all of the "same" fabrics - 

One pile for each of the twenty fabrics in the jelly rolls -  

Pressed them -

And chose the skinniest strip for the Scrap Card - 

The rest will go in my "crumb" bin for "crumb" blocks - 

 

The Scrap Card doesn't need a very big piece of fabric - 

I just want a sample of the fabrics that I used in the quilt -

So these will do nicely - 

Tomorrow I may continue with these - 

And make the Heart - 

 

And a Label for the quilt - 

Or I may cut some of the strata that I pressed today - 

I don't know yet - 

I'll decide tomorrow - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

The last three -

 

 

Sets of strata are sewn - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Marigold - 

 

 

So all eight sets are ready to be pressed and cut -

 

Maybe tomorrow I can do a bit of that - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Seventeen -

 

 

Wow - 

 

I knew that I had made a few of these - 

 

Upstairs/Downstairs tops - 

 

But I didn't realize that my Upstairs/Downstairs - Marigold - 

 

Would make the total - SEVENTEEN -

Until I was asked yesterday how many I had made - 

A while ago I made some "Collage" photos -

But I forgot the first two that I made -

Sorry - but Blogger decided the order - not me - LOL - 

 

The top one in this first collage is Autumn Squirrel - 

Which became part of my Ugly Christmas Fabric quilt - 

 

The bottom one is the very first one I made - 6/14/18

Simply named Upstairs/Downstairs - 

Before I knew I was going to make a few more -

And it is the smallest of them all - 

I used 1-1/2" strips that finished at 1" - and made a six-step block -

For 6" blocks - 6 x 6 layout - 36" x 36" - 

 

Then came this batch -

Not necessarily sewn in this order - 

 

Top row - 

Christmas Red -

Christmas Green -

Sevilla Blues (5x6) -   

 

Middle Row - 

Iris/Rose Mix -

Green (5x6) - 

Meredith - 

 

Bottom Row - 

Gleaned - 

Hear Wave (5x6) - 

Winter's Grandeur -   

 

Then this last batch - 

 

The left column - from top to bottom - 

Seedlings - 

Wild Things - 

The right column - from top to bottom - 

Blushing Peonies - 

Sherbet - 

Pastel Brights -

 

 

I made three in the 5x6 layout - 

But then decided that I preferred the 6x8 version - 

And two 40-strip jelly rolls fit the bill perfectly -

 

The pattern is pretty much fool-proof - 

 

And the fabrics do all of the work - 

 

It's my go-to when I want/need to sew something mindless - 

So now I wonder how many more I will make  - 

 

Before I get tired of them - LOL - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Mindless sewing -

 

 

Today I was in the mood for some mindless sewing - 

 

So I made a couple more sets of strata - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Marigold - 

 

That makes five - 

So I only have three more sets to make - 

Then I will press them all and cut them - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Two bound -

 

 

Today I was able to finish the binding - 

 

On my Happy Trails - 

 

 

And my Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights - 

I still need to make the Labels, Scrap Card, and Hearts - 

But the quilting and binding part is DONE - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Joined -

 

 

Today I "joined" the ends of the bindings - 

On my Happy Trails - 

And my Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights - 

The YELLOW flower-head pins show my start and stop points - 

So I don't have to search for the part I need to sew - 

Maybe tomorrow I can finish them both - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Binding -

 

 

Has been sewn to the back - 

 

Of my Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights - on the left - 

 

And my Happy Trails - on the right - 

 

The WHITE you see is the "flange" fabric - 

The "main" binding color is the GREEN -

 

I figured I would bind them both with the same colors - 

 

And stitch them at the same time -

 

I still need to do the "join" - 

 

Then stitch them to the front - 

 

But when I do - 

 

I'll have TWO bound - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Trimmed -

 

 

My Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights is trimmed - 

 

I removed the zippers -

 

And un-sewed some of the trimmings -  

 

 

I quilted my "go-to" design for my Upstairs/Downstairs quilts - 

 

Three lines in each row of patches in the block -

 

Alternating between horizontal and vertical lines with each block - 

It's easy and fits my "work space" so I can quilt one row in one pass - 

 

And I like the texture it gives the quilt - 

 

Sometimes I miss a spot -

 

Like the PURPLE patch with the YELLOW flower-head pin - 

 

Because I didn't go all the way to the end of the block - 

 

And switched back too soon - 

 

I should have gone all the way to the left side of the PURPLE patch - 

 

And I could fix it - 

But I'm going to "let it go" -

It will be the "one of these is NOT like the others" - 

And the recipient can play "I Spy" trying to find it - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Quilted -

 

 

My Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights is quilted - 

 

YAY!! - 

 

 

It goes a WHOLE lot faster - 

When I don't have to stop constantly -

 

To re-thread it - 

 

Because the thread broke - ;)) 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Two passes -

 

 

Today - so far - I've made two passes -  

On my Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights - 

And not ONE thread break - 

 

 

Shhh - I probably shouldn't say that too loudly- 

 

And may have just jinxed it - 

But it is SO nice to be back to the FUN part of quilting - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Simple fix -

 

 

Short version - 

 

"Check the hopping foot height" -

 

I changed the hopping foot to the ruler foot - 

When I loaded my RED Squirrel - 

And that's when I started having "tension" issues - 

 

I adjusted the hopping foot height - 

 

And all is well - ;))

 

 

 

===

 

Feel free to skip this part if you don't want/need to know the details -

Of how I actually figured it out - ;))

 

Long version - 

 

These past few weeks have been SO frustrating - 

 

I have tried everything I can think of to fix my tension issues - 

And my friends have offered several VERY good suggestions - 

 

But nothing seems to have solved the problem -  

 

And BOB and I have had some long conversations -

 

Trying to figure it out -

 

NOTE - for those who don't already know - 

BOB is my alter-ego - Bitchy Old Broad - 

So I'm basically talking to myself - 

Trying to "think it out" - LOL -  

Anyway - 

 

Yesterday the conversation went kinda like this -

 

Me - This isn't FUN anymore - 

BOB - Well it used to be - 

Me - Yeah - but not anymore - 

BOB - What changed? -

Me - I don't know - 

BOB - OK - so what was the last thing you quilted that WAS fun?

Me - Opal KaBloom - THAT was a FUN one - and the stitches looked pretty good -

BOB - Then what did you quilt after that one? -

Me - RED Squirrel - 

BOB - Did you change anything before you started quilting it? - 

Me - Yeah - I changed the foot - 

BOB - Maybe that's your problem - 

Me - Nah - it can't be that - I change the foot all the time on my domestic machine - from the 1/4" foot for piecing - to the zigzag foot when I baste on the zippers - and back to the 1/4" foot - and I have never had tension problems like this - 

BOB - Did you have tension problems on your RED Squirrel? -

Me - I don't think so - I used red thread on the top and the bobbin - so the stitches looked OK - but I think I remember the thread breaking a lot - 

BOB - Did you check the instruction manual for that? -

Me - Yes - I checked everything and thought the tension on the top was too tight -

BOB - OK - then what did you quilt? -

Me - Imperial Bargello - 

BOB - Did you have tension problems on Imperial Bargello?

Me - Yes - I used yellow thread on the top and black on the back - and the black is really loose and looks like it's just laying there - and I see yellow "pokies" - I don't like it at all -

BOB - OK - then what did you quilt? - 

Me - Happy Trails - 

BOB - And? - 

Me - And I had tension problems with that one, too - 

BOB - Then what did you quilt?- 

Me - Then I got the TOWA and began playing with that - 

BOB - And? - 

Me - I finally found the "sweet spot" for the bobbin setting - 185 -

BOB - But - 

Me - But - the bottom thread looks too loose - and when I tighten the top tension - the thread breaks - like I said - this isn't fun anymore - 

BOB - So start over - check the instructions again - maybe you missed something - begin with threading the top - where did you put the laminated sheet for how to thread it? -

Me - In the drawer - here - 

BOB - What does it say? - 

Me - On the top is the diagram for threading it - and I DO have it threaded correctly.  It also has a bottom section -

 

Troubleshooting - If your thread is breaking...

 

1 - Replace your needle if it is bent or burred.

Check - Wanda suggested using a smaller needle -

I replaced the needle - a brand new Size 16 -

Recommended by Grace Co. and Superior Thread for 50 wt thread -

2 - Check the tension - set the bottom tension first -

Check - LindaS recommended getting a TOWA bobbin tension gauge - 

So I got one - the recommended setting is 170-200 - for 50 wt thread -

And it's set at 185 - so that's good -

I tightened the top tension to pull the bobbin thread up a bit - 

 

3 - Check that your machine is threaded correctly - 

Check - 

No problem that I can see - 

 

4 - Check the bobbin case - 

Check - 

No problem that I can see - 

 

5 - Check the hopping foot height - 

 

WAIT!!! - WHAT?!?!?

 

That one is NOT listed in the instruction manual - 

It has -

• Damaged needle
• Incorrect thread tension
• Machine properly threaded
• Stitching in place too long
  
• Bobbin inserted incorrectly
• Debris on tension discs
• Burred bobbin
  
• Needle plate is rubbing needle
  

 

BOB - You DID change the foot didn't you?  Are you SURE you put the new one on correctly?  You have had tension issues ever since - so it makes sense to me.  You may change the foot on your domestic machine all of the time - but you forget that the longarm has a HOPPING foot - and it's NOT the same - what you do or don't do on your domestic machine may or may not work on the longarm. They're like apples and oranges - you're used to apples - and now you have an orange -

Me - If that's what it is - it's an easy fix - but I'm too tired to mess with it now - I'll check it out tomorrow - 

BOB - You KNOW that's it, don't you? - And you know what I'm going to say if it is - 

Me - Yeah - I know - 

BOB - I told you so!!! - LOL!!!

 

And BOB was right - 

 

I adjusted the hopping foot height - 

 

And all is well - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

A long day -

 

 

Today was supposed to be simple - 

 

Test the tension - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights - 

Baste down the batting - 

Baste down the top - 

Start quilting - 

 

Nope - not simple - not today - 

 

I tested the tension - 

 

And thought I had it - 2-1/2 on the top - and 185 in the bobbin - 

 

 

I compared it to the tension that I get on my domestic machine - 

 

And it looked OK - 

 

But the bottom looked a little loose - 

 

So I tightened the top a little more -

 

And set it at 3 on the top - and 185 in the bobbin - 

 

Then I proceeded to stitch the batting down across the top - 

 

But I forgot to set it at a larger stitch length - 

 

Which is probably a good thing - 

 

Because I may not have realized that I still had a problem - 

 

Anyway - 

 

I proceeded to break the thread repeatedly - 

 

Before I stitched across the length of the top - 

 

Apparently the top tension is too tight - 

 

Oh, crap!! - STILL?!?! - 

 

Then I pulled out the troubleshooting guide - 

 

To re-check all of the boxes for "thread breaking" - 

 

And - believe it or not - 

 

After all of this time - 

There is one thing that I have NOT checked before - 

 

But I will tomorrow -

 

I just ran out of patience today - 

 

And if that one thing IS the problem - 

 

It's an EASY fix - 

 

And I will kick myself - 

 

For not checking this guide sheet SOONER - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -  

Loaded -

 

 

Today I loaded the backing - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Pastel Brights - 

 

And cut the batting - 

 

 

I decided to use a LIGHT YELLOW cone thread - 

 

Since the MAIN diagonal on this one is YELLOW - 

 

And I think it will blend in pretty well - 

 

Tomorrow I'll baste the batting and top down - 

 

Wind a few bobbins - 

 

Test and set the bobbin case tension - 

 

Then play with the top tension to get it as "perfect" as I can - 

 

Because I didn't want to do all of that today - 

And because I haven't actually SEWN anything in a while - 

I made another set of strata - 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Marigold -

 

I put the rest of the sets - 

 

In a basket next to the sewing machine - 

 

All ready to go - 

 

I'll use these as "tweens" - 

 

The odd-ball stuff that is pretty mindless - 

 

That I can sew beTWEEN other things -

 

When I just want to SEW something -

 

And not have to think about it much - ;))

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Done -

 

 

I'm done testing - 

 

This is as good as it gets - 

 

The stitches on the top are decent looking - 

And I still see little pokies on the back - 

But the top tension is loose enough - 

 

That I can move the machine to the side without breaking the thread - 

 

And if I use the same color of thread on both the top and bobbin - 

The pokies won't show - 

 

Today I found some more videos - 

 

There is one by Grace Company - 

That recommends the "drop test" for setting your bobbin tension - 

Which - to me - is very subjective - with a lot of "wiggle" room - 

 

The TOWA gauge is much more "objective" - 

You find the number recommended for the thread you're using - 

And use THAT as your guide - it's accurate and consistent - 

Then you can fiddle with the top tension to tweak it -

 

But what number do I use for Maxilock Serger Thread? - 

I was guessing 170 to 200 - but I didn't know for sure - 

And the "drop test" gave me much lower numbers - 

None of which seemed to be working -

 

Then I found another video by Adam Sew Fun -

He calls it - "Why I Towa" - HERE -  

It was SUPER helpful - 

Because in the comments - 

One reader mentioned using Maxilock Serger Thread - 

And she asked him what setting he would recommend -

He replied 170 to 200 - 

Since he thought that it is comparable to Masterpiece by Superior Thread - 

 

THAT'S what I wanted to know!!! - 

So I set my bobbin case to the same range (about 180/190) - 

And fiddled with the top tension a little -

Set that at 2-1/2 -

Since I didn't want it too tight - 

The above photos show my compromise - 

And I'm calling it good - ;))

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -