Thread Art Tapestry
Not long ago I fell in love with a brilliantly embroidered and quilted tapestry wall hanging at the Husqvarna Viking Convention. I was drawn to the eye-popping contrast of variegated threads on black fabric. As I examined it closer, I discovered that the black background had been quilted FIRST, and then embroidered. I had to make one!
This multi-faceted project has extra steps to construct, but the results are so worth the effort I decided to document what I learned along the way in this week’s tip.
Wool Batting and Free Motion Quilting
I used two layers of Quilters Dream wool batting sandwiched between black quilters sateen from RJR for the background, and machine quilting techniques learned at Diane Gaudynski’s workshop. It was very relaxing to machine quilt an entire whole piece cloth with the same pattern. I choose Diane’s version of headbands, a very free stitching pattern that meanders easily over wide open spaces. Two layers of wool batting, which has a high loft, with the thread sinking deep into the wool batting creates a trapunto-like look.
Bottomline Thread
I selected black Bottomline thread to use in both the needle and the bobbin to create the intricate quilted detail. The Bottomline thread by Superior Threads is very fine and wonderful to use for the bobbin for any project. This thread is so fine that the bobbin holds closer to 200 yards instead of only 80 yards with regular cotton thread, so the bobbin lasts much longer.
Sewing Light
While machine quilting with black thread on black fabric (often in the evening hours), I quickly realized that I could not have done this on just any sewing machine. Only the top newer generation models offer the true-color sewing light needed to see where I was going and where I had already stitched. I dedicate a huge part of this project’s success to having this particular light!
Stitch Regulator
A stitch regulator keeps all the stitches the same length no matter how fast or slow you move the fabric. The stitch length can be adjusted, and was reduced to 1.4mm, the perfect length for smaller detail areas.
Shrinkage
It is important to realize how much the total size of a quilt will be reduced with very heavy quilting. In preparing the original black fabric for quilting, I know I had allowed PLENTY of extra fabric on all sides. After it was quilted, most of the extra width was no where to be found! I was within inches of the finished size I needed! The fabric was lost in all the hills and valleys created by the loft of the two layers of wool batting.
Rainbow Superior Threads
The collection of Rainbow variegated threads from Superior Threads offers the widest variety of colors to make the embroidery designs stand out. These 40 weight threads have a very short color repeat offering a brilliant array of colors throughout the tapestry designs. Most of the designs use only 2 or 3 colors, but the threads make it look like more were used. A total of 25 different color ways were used on this project.
Positioning of the Embroidery Designs
Templates of each design were printed from a computer, and then pinned in place on the background before embroidering the designs. A design wall made it easier to see the whole project and make placement adjustments as needed.
No Stabilizer
The double layer of wool batting provided enough support for these tapestry embroidery designs. It was wonderful to not have to use stabilizer while hooping a quilt this large.
Vines and Tendrils
Plan A was to use the new Bernina free motion couching foot to add cording to connect all the embroidery designs. After testing, the cording looked too heavy and would have over-powered the embroidery designs. Plan B was to wind YLI Pearl Crown rayon on the bobbin and stitch the vines and tendrils from the back side of the quilt. Since the embroidery designs could be seen on the back side, it was very easy to use a Clover white fabric marker to draw the vine and tendril lines, and it was easy to sew following the lines. The tails of the threads where buried in the quilt using a tapestry needle.
The tapestry designs are available for all brands of embroidery machines on a multi-format design CD by Husqvarna Viking.
Click here to see more of these designs.
To reserve your Thread Art Tapestry CD collection, contact Heirloom Creations at 605-332-4435. Stop by the store to see this tapestry collection up close.
© SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
Healthy Sewing Habit – August 2007
Share your creativity with others at show-n-tells, quilt shows, exhibits and friendly get-togethers.
Back to School
Pop Quiz: What is one thing that frustrates you when you sit down to sew?
Now think about the millions of sewers in the world. Do you think that you are the only person who is frustrated with this same thing? Probably not. That is why inventors come up with creative new tools, innovative new sewing machines, and new techniques to help simplify the sewing experience.
It’s time to try something new! For example, the other day I tried a different brand of make-up remover just for kicks. My current brand worked just fine. (I must have been feeling adventurous that day.) To my surprise, I did not have to rub the cotton ball over my eye lids as many times. Eureka! I tried something new and it worked better than what I had been using.
Every year new gadgets, sewing machines and products that we use everyday are improved upon. But we all get into ruts and we don’t want to try something new. We order the same entree at our favorite restaurant, we drive home the same way every time, and some people still use a 30 year old sewing machine.
Now that the kids are back in school learning new ways to solve the same problems we had when we were kids, why not try something new ourselves! Maybe it is to finally take a quilting or rotary cutting class. Or, maybe it’s time to take those free mastery classes that came with your new sewing machine that is now two years old.
We all need to get out and try new things. What’s the worse thing that could happen? You could realize that either A, you learn a new cool way of doing something, or B, you officially determine you really like doing things the way you have always been doing them.
It is time to set some new goals for your very own “school year”.
Have you tried something new recently and discovered how much easier it is? Click the login option on the right side of this website and share with others what you learned. Do you have unanswered questions? Post them as well. If there is someone who has shared the same problem and has found an answer, let us hear from you, too.
© SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
Quilts & Vines Show Success!
(NEW aerial photos added below)
With over 375 quilts displayed around the 6 acres of grape vines combined with wine tasting, Heirloom Creations and Strawbale Winery drew over 700 people to the Quilts & Vines event on Saturday, August 11. 
Everyone was absolutely amazed at the amount of people who attended this event. Located in Renner, SD, 
Strawbale Winery offers a large variety of wines made exclusively from South Dakota grown produce.
Heirloom Creations and Strawbale Winery want to thank everyone who volunteered to help make this event such a huge success. With a portion of the proceeds and quilt sales going to Project Linus, we are again thankful for such a wonderful turn out.
Many people came out to not only enjoy wine tasting and view quilts, but to purchase one of the 110 quilts that were for sale. Over 20 quilts were sold at the Quilts & Vines event and 10% of each quilt sold will be given to Project Linus.
Husqvarna Viking representative, Ruth Ralph from Wisconsin, provided quilting and embroidery demonstrations while the group from Project Linus worked on quilts for children. Project Linus provides hand made quilts and blankets to sick and traumatized children in the area. Since 1998, the local Sioux Falls Project Linus chapter has delivered over 17,000 quilts to children in need.
Strawbale Winery even made a limited number of commemorative Quilts & Vines wine bottles.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Quilts & Vines event. At this time we are planning to do this event in 2008 with all new quilts and all new wines. Watch Strawbale Winery’s and Heirloom Creations’ website for dates.
Don and Susie South, you throw one awesome party! Thank you!
For more information about Strawbale Winery, please visit their website: www.strawbalewinery.com
“Sweat Shop” Sewing
We’ve all done it - volunteered for something before we realize the amount of work involved in the project. Maybe it’s helping to sew 200 potholders for the church bizarre, or making special table cloths for that once a year function, or sewing forty angel costumes for the Christmas play.
If you own a home embroidery machine, a very likely situation will eventually arise, “Would you embroider shirts for the upcoming family reunion?” Or, your kids play softball and everyone wants their name embroidered on their jerseys and gym bags, and the ballerinas want their toe shoes in their customized embroidered bags – the scenarios are endless!…and there is always a deadline.
I recently created my own need for custom T-shirts for the upcoming Quilts & Vines Show, the outdoor quilt show and wine tasting day. The volunteers who will help with the show will be wearing their embroidered T-Shirts for the event. (Visit www.quiltsandvines.com for more information).
With any mass production-type project there are ways to cut time, save energy, and get it finished before the deadline:
1. First, determine how many items need to be embroidered. This will help with the time line for finishing on time or ahead of schedule (and recruiting help?) Embroidering in the wee hours of the night is not enjoyable, so figure out production goals for each day. Remember, you bought your embroidery machine to have fun, even if it is for production work once in a while.
2. Next, decide on the design to be embroidered. Does the design need to be professionally digitized? Can you use your own software to create the desired design? When you are doing a production project on your home embroidery machine choose a design with few colors to limit the number of thread changes and make the work go faster.
3. Test the design on the same fabric type as the item. For T-shirts, test the design on an old T-shirt. Remember to use a ball point needle when embroidering on knit fabrics, and sharp needles for woven fabrics and baseball caps.
4. Designs sewn on dark fabrics with light colored thread need the density of the design adjusted to add more stitches. This keeps the background from showing through the stitches. See the example of the “Quilts & Vines” logo with white embroidery on royal purple shirts.
5. Use a single layer of water soluble stabilizer on top of the T-shirt. This keeps intricate designs and details from getting lost in the weave of the interlock knit, and keeps the fabric from stretching out of shape while embroidering. Test this and see for yourself.
6. Purchase a second embroidery hoop! While one design is running you can be hooping the next piece. This will be your best ally to greatly speed up the process and keep the machine running continually.
7. Set up the hooping area, embroidery area, and trimming area in an efficient order. Have pairs of scissors at each area so you are not chasing around for scissors every time you need them.
8. Think about setting the embroidery machine on a higher table, like your cutting table or a counter where you can stand to do the work. Changing the thread and hooping the fabric goes faster from a standing position. Just try it!
9. Use an Energizer Bobbin! (it keeps going!) We embroidered over 60 shirts using only one bobbin. Of course it depends on the size of the design and number of stitches. The secret: Bottom Line Bobbin thread from Superior Threads
10. Production work is a great way to improve your embroidery skills. If you are sewing on ready-made items like T-shirts, design positioning and hooping are critical. Remember, the more you do it, the easier it will be, not just for the production, but for everything else you ever embroider. Once you find your rhythm of the process you will be amazed at what you can accomplish! You will be the hero of the group for which the project was intended.
These shirts are for the quilt watchers and parking attendants working at the Quilts & Vines quilt show.
A special thanks goes out to Judeen B. and Gary Jensen for embroidering the T-Shirts for the Quilts & Vines show!
© SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.