The Love/Hate relationship...all in one evening!

It was Paulenes turn to chose the quilting for the challenge piece this month and she chose hooked feathers. Now I'm guessing some very observant eyes to this post, will notice these feathers are not hooked feathers. This is in fact, my 2nd attempt at the challenge this month. ( Yes I know, I'm cutting it fine to get it done by the 31st of Aug, considering the photo only shows me a 1/4 the way through). The first attempt, which was in fact a hooked feather, was disgusting. The sample will be lucky if it makes it to a cat quilt!! So back I went again, and got pen and paper out and started practising. I have to admit, my absolute favourite feather is a classic feather, with the backtracking. My feathers with this method are a bit rusty, but I have intentions to nail this feather thing once and for all. I just love them!!!

In my enthusiasm to quilt feathers, I must have missed checking tension on the underside of the quilt sandwich while on the frame. It was not until I heard the bobbin starting to sing that it was runny low on thread, that I stopped and put my hand underneath. Horrors!!! I felt it before I could see it, but knew what was to come. Ugh!! This would have to be my absolute peeve. Tucks and little folds on the underside of the quilt. Now even though it is only a practice piece, I couldn't leave it. So with stitch unpick in hand, I spent the next half hour or so ripping stitches out. The process was made all the more tedious because those feathers that I love, with the back tracking, well it's an absolute pain to take all that stitching out. Moral of tonight's exercise: even if it's only a practise piece that I am working on, always check the underside of the quilt while it's on the frame so as to avoid potential negative quilting time!!!

Until next time.-Julie.