Thanks Leah Day!

A Great Start!  Thanks Leah!

I'm finally back at my sewing machine.  Thanks to surgery and physiotherapy, the wrist is working fairly well, although my coordination is not what I'd like it to be.  So I designed my own therapy to work on that! 

I started about a month ago when I tackled a task I had talked about for two years - documenting the built-in embroidery stitches on my sewing machine.  Somehow the computer images just don't tell the whole story.  Forty two six-inch squares later I have a reference file of the actual size and scale of each stitch and what a feast.  All the time I was working on these samples I was thinking about how they could be used in my work.  Even the edges of the samples were tests for various edge finishes that will work on small pieces, postcards, ATC etc.  Some are working better than others but that is what 'testing' is all about.  Because the project just involved preparing the fabric sandwiches (I stitched on a quilting sandwich because I want to see the texture added by the stitches) and setting the machine, this was a great project to reduce my frustration with not being able to work on my art.

One page in the sample book under construction

Sample book - 42 pages later

All that as an introduction to my newest project and the next step in my 'therapy'.  It's been almost a year since I have been able to do any fiber art and I find that my skills need some refreshing.   Although I was able to work at my quilt frame earlier, I am aware that my hand coordination for free motion quilting while sitting at my machine has really suffered and I am not able to work with the precision that I am accustomed to.  This is where Leah Day's website 365 Days of Free Motion Quilting Filler Designs comes into the picture.  Using the concept I developed for my sample book of machine stitches, I've started a second sample book using her patterns.  I find that when I am working on a specific piece I can never find 'the right' idea for quilting and tend to revert to the same old ones.  By actually stitching the samples I embed each pattern in my memory - although it may become buried - but the book will act as a reminder of options that I have tested.  I'll also be able to hold the sample to the piece to be stitched to make it easier to visualize the effect.  Later I'll check out some of the books in my library for other ideas.

Constructing the Sample Books

The 9-inch Square

Marking with a 6-inch Square

Digging around in my goody storage, I found two square measures, one that is 9 inches (+/-) and one that is six inches (+/-).  This has made the preparation of the 9-inch quilt sandwiches easy, and serves the marking and trimming of the stitched area to 6 inches. 

The Quilt Sandwich

Marked and Ready to Stitch

As part of my use-it-or-lose-it strategy, I joined strips of batting, salvaged from the edge of the quilts I made earlier, to make the 9 inch batting pieces and went through my stash looking for fabric (without a lot of pattern) that I probably would not be using.  The backs of the squares are actually recycled fabric.  I prepared a stack of sandwiches and then stitched an outline for the 6-inch stitching area to keep the fabric from shifting while it is being stitched.  As I reviewed each day's stitch, I made notes on a 3x5 recipe card and in a 2-inch square drawn on the card, I did a hand drawing of the stitch.  I reinforced an area on the top corner of each card with tape before punching it so that it could accompany the sample when placed on a 2 1/2 inch ring used to keep the samples together.  I document several fillers at a time and take them to the sewing machine with me as a reminder of what I am doing and include any observations I make while stitching.  Yesterday and today I have completed the first 12 and am amazed at how quickly my dexterity is improving and my confidence returning.  Thanks Leah!  Many of the designs are similar to ones I have used the past and its great to see new interpretations of old friends.