Quilting is finally done on TINY DANCER... circa Jan 2012....
here's the OLD post on this journey....
Last night at about 6 pm, I decide I need to finish this quilt, Tiny Dancer, that has been sitting here for over a year, basted, and ready to be quilted... I did all the quilting up to a point, a bit that needed to be ripped out and redone... this is at 9pm last night, of course... and do you think I can find the 4 new seam rippers I bought last week?
Can someone please tell me where they run off too?
12a.m. this morning, I did actually find a TINY seam ripper from QUILTCON, after I had used my sharp scissors to rip most of it out... Of course, I could only find the COVER of one of the new seam rippers.... I had just cleaned my studio, cutting table was clean... except for a 6" scrap of fabric I was saving for a later project....
10 hours later, I found it.
Guess where it was?
Under that 6" scrap of fabric, on the clean cutting table.
I'm sure you can relate right? Thanks Laurie for sending me the cartoon! I still have only found one of three.. but, oh well, the quilt is done... YAY!
So. Quilt backs...
Do you Piece your backs or
use a pretty piece across the entire thing?
And:
favorite seam ripper?
(my answer? a found one!)
being mostly a hand quilter I like to get wide backs so that I don't have more seams to quilt though - and I just don't feel like piecing backs
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I like the backing on your Carnivale quilt. I look for offbeat colorful fabrics too. I prefer whole cloth but will piece when I have too.
ReplyDeleteI can't find my seam rippers, none of them right now. I also can't sew this weekend, machine is in the shop - she needs a rest!
I've done it all for backs. My favorite is to take an element from the front, enlarge it and create a back around that. Great quilt!
ReplyDeleteI never seem to have quite enough fabric for my backing so I end up piecing some extra blocks on it. My favorite seam ripper - a Singer one that came with my very first sewing machine back in the 70's!! It still works great!
ReplyDeleteI prefer my backs to have all one piece. And I like to choose really interesting and busy backs.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on a found seam ripper being the best.Glad you found a seam ripper and happy to know I'm not alone in losing them. I like to piece my backs.
DeleteI was right! It was under some fabric! Ha!
ReplyDeleteI guess seam rippers are like reading glasses, just buy 20 and leave them EVERYWHERE! Haha.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDoes it offer any comfort to know I have the same problem with rippers, scissors and rotary cutters? Do you have any idea how many I have of each? So yes Miss V. you are not alone.
My backings are always done on the fly.....never planned, I can't remember the last time I had only one fabric on the back of a quilt?
It's ll fun, good luck giving your talk today and enjoy this beautiful Spring :0)
Big Hugs
hmmmmm don't know why it printed out like that sorry I took up so much room.......maybe you can doodle there :0)
Deletebecause Kim, you are FAR away from me now. ;-( hehe
DeleteHope your meeting went well! Wow..that is so funny about the seam rippers funning in pairs! So true!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your quilt you just finished and the one you will finish! I LOVE those scrappy quilts. I make scrappy but have yet to figure out how to make them with a theme like you do~ You are talented and gifted for sure! ♥♥♥
I agree, my favorite seam ripper is always the first one I find! And sometimes that is my little sharp scissors. My quilt backs are usually a hodge podge of fabrics. Whatever is leftover from the quilt as well as what might work UNLESS I magically have a piece big enough to fit the entire piece.
ReplyDeleteI had to post because after subscribing to you after meeting at Quiltcon, I finally watched one of your vlogs! This old dog can learn new media too...I have been piecing way too many backs late...two quilts in one. I am going to attempt to break this habit next time.
ReplyDeleteThe studio gremlins are always moving my stuff around, too! My two favorite seam rippers are the "Seam-fix" and a small one that folds out of it's protective cover--no top to lose! I like it for small rips. As far as quilt backs, I do it all. Depends on the quilt top and what it needs. Many times for kids quilts, I use the left over fabric and sew a checker board of squares for the back. Many times for a large quilt I use an off white solid--when the colors of the top don't match my decor any longer I can display the back as a wholecloth quilt. I'm mostly a hand quilter and this showcases the quilting. I just made a small art quilt and used a whole fat quarter of Kaffe Fasset fabric for the back.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute cartoon! And so darn true about losing seam rippers. I usually find a few when I'm looking for something else. I recently heard that you should replace them after a while because they get dull which seems to make sense. So I just got a new one yesterday at Sew Expo (LOVED seeing your quilts in person.) It's a 'seam fix' which has a rubbery tip for rubbing the threads out. Haven't used it yet but I'm sure I will soon. I use a mustache trimmer (battery powered) for long seams and it's awesome. Lickity split! Most of my backs are pieced using leftovers and scraps from the front. I have a hard time using my larger pieces of yardage for backs. It's possible I am a little bit of a fabric hoarder.
ReplyDeleteI have a cat who, despite constant discouragement, loves to toy-shop on the sewing table. She's especially fond of stick-shaped items. If I'm lucky I find my seam ripper (and tweezers, and the little lint brush for the bobbin case) on the floor in the studio. Sometimes they are under the couch in the living room, with my eyeliner pencil. You'd think I could learn to put things away when not in use.
ReplyDeleteLove the cartoon....definitely 'real life'!!! Just like sox in the wash/dryer! It's just one of life's mysteries!! LOL! I so love that your posts are so "you" and so 'real'!! Mother's Day Blessings to you! Hugs, Doreen
ReplyDeleteDoreen, I can never reply to your lovely comments... email please? thanks!
DeleteI do a bit of both with my backings - depends on the quilt, its size, and how I'm feeling at the time. Now about seam rippers.....I can only whisper this to you in case mine hears.......it's the one that I had with my very first machine, way back in 1984.....yep, I still have it, and yep I can lay my hand on it right now!! Shhhh!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!! oops! I shouldn't shout. ;-)
DeleteI finally broke down and bought one of the big handled seam ripper (http://store.quilting-warehouse.com/085219.html?cmp=googleproducts&kw=085219&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=feed%2Bwizards&utm_campaign=085219&gclid=CPuFqIahkLcCFYF9OgodzSQA2w) So far I can find it a bit easier than another seam ripper. Even my dogs like it, for the chew marks on it!
ReplyDeleteMary Ann
Thanks for the giggle.
ReplyDeletei have a surgical seam ripper that I got somewhere long ago and am RELIGIOUS about capping it and keeping it in the drawer of my sewing cabinet! I am so afraid to cut my self or have my kitty cut herself while she is in the sewing room with me! so far- so good, but it is an effort!
ReplyDeleteluv that Tiny Dancer!
I love a pieced backing for most things. The reason? Why stop the creativity on just the front? Plus, it helps me use up fabric so I can go buy some more! I also use a surgical seam ripper that I had implanted in my finger so I don't lose it. JK!!!!!!! I do keep it very close at hand, and I have found if I am religious about putting it back in it's designated spot on my table, I can have it when I need it most. (Easier said than done!)
ReplyDeleteTiny Dancer turned out wonderful! For my backs I sometimes piece them and sometimes they are one solid piece - it just depends on what I am going for. Usually I have leftover blocks when I make a lot of baby quilts and I will use them the for back. When I make gift quilts that have my signature striped or square block I will use solid backs so that the different colors of quilting thread stand out. I have tow favorite seam rippers - the Clover brown handled one like you have in your hand and the Clover ripper with the rectanglar white handle which has a nice thin cutting head. Lately I can't seem to find all my sissors. And where the heck is my flashlight and that roll of stamps and my hair pick? P.S. I use my old rippers to help me pin baste so they get a second life!
ReplyDeleteI love pieced backings and as for seam rippers my faves are in the "Pro Seam Ripper Kit" from Lee Valley. I've never lost a single one because they are as sharp as scalpels and so am extra careful with them!
ReplyDeleteOops forgot to write how much I like your "Tiny Dancer" and its final iteration!
ReplyDeletePieced backs for sure. Clover Seam Ripper. The Clover seam ripper fits so comfortably in the hand (not that I ever have to rip seams ;) .I only have one and treat it well.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see a video, I guess I haven't been looking at your videos before!?? hmmm totally jealous that you are at MARKET now.....
ReplyDeleteI can go back and forth of my backings, I have a fall quilt now ready to quilt and I spent the $ for a big solid piece for the back.
though mostly I piece the backs and often I can do scrappy on the back too. i.e if I made the quilt for a collection of fabrics then use the leftover fabrics for backing.
Here is an idea that our "tip" lady gave us at our last guild meeting. Glue dots. You put a glue dot on the machine and place your seam ripper on it. Voilà stuck to your machine. The glue dots can hold quite a bit of weight. Glue dots can be found at office supply stores,
ReplyDelete