stich, rip, stitch, rip, stitch, rip, stitch, rip, spend,

and so on....


grr.... Been having quite a few problems quilting this quilt that I pieced together last year!

This is Miss Nina (the Bernina) She is a bit of a temperamental old gal and likes everything "just so", she is a bit stuck in her ways and doesn't like to try anything new.  Forget any thread that isn't Guttermans and don't even bother loading ANY of the other bobbins, except the one being used right now. (a real pita). And she HATES you playing with the tension dial, just as well that the tension doesn't usually need to be adjusted!

She is a very rare "flatbed" model (so the repair man told me) with most Berninas of that vintage being "free arm" models.  Now, I can see the advantage of having a free arm model, but what would have been the advantage of having a flat bed model??  A curtain maker rather than repairer/dressmaker????  Anyone know?? 

My Mum acquired her from the Sewing Machine shop in Shepherds Bush (which is still there btw, just a stones throw away from all the fabric delights on Goldhawk Rd) 
Sadly she has know idea what she paid for it, but as we were pretty brassic (poor) when I was a kid, it must have been fairly reasonable in todays money.  She said it was slightly over her budget but she still felt that she had got a really good bargain.

now where was I...


I basted the quilt at the weekend.  I had two DH free evenings this week, so |I could sew without anyone moaning about 1) the noise of the machine and 2) "are you going to talk to me tonight"
 However, I have spent every night sewing & then unpicking :(
I just could not get the tension sorted.  Tried new needles, cleaning, oiling, tension dial tweaking everything the books (or mr google) recommends. (and Miss Nina Hates)

So today, I called into my local quilt shop & asked for their advice.  They were really helpful and came to the conclusion that it was probably the blue fabric causing most of the problems.  I bought it in Fabricland purely for the colour.  The label said "composition unknown" but after washing it was apparent it was quite synthetic.  It is also heavier than the quilting cottons with a very close weave.

So the advice was to switch to a blue thread (I was using a bright yellow for contrast)  and try much smaller needle size.  I have to rebaste the quilt after all the sewing & unpicking, but once I get started I will let you know how I get on.

On my way out I spotted this amazing quilt/hanging... (sorry I didn't get an actual photo)

It is from this book by Janet Clare
Which I added to my shopping bag alongside the said blue thread. (just don't tell DH!)

I have my Mum's 60th next year and the designs are also something that the MIL would really love.  It would be so easy to make the little characters look just like the Grandkids. My mind is already whirring away with ideas.

There are some book reviews here and here. (where I "borrowed" the above photos from)