Bad Timing

Finally, the quilting on E's baby quilt is done! We've been having a crazy couple of weeks. E is sick, or has reflux, or simply feels the need to throw up nearly everything she eats. It makes for a stinky baby and mama, and a heck of a lot of laundry.

We also had the Monster's second birthday, back in Edmonton. It was just family, but that makes for over 20 people. She was so excited - playing with her cousins, chowing down on her worms in dirt cupcakes, or riding her new tricycle. Mama's apron was chopped liver compared to that red tricycle.

Now, on to binding the quilt. I was test driving some options the other day. I don't have exactly what I want and will have to go shopping this afternoon. E enjoyed hanging out while I played with fabric. She also demonstrated why you make baby quilts washable - she puked right after I took this picture.

Update
I forgot to mention that I did take Glenda's advice and changed the size of the needles to a 90/14. What an improvement! The quilting was finished with no more broken threads. I must remember this if I want to use Sulky again. It would also be a good idea if I have a quilt with lots of seams. Her comments led me to this site: a great explanation of needle sizes.

Never Again

Argh! I am close to finishing the Baby Quilt and I want to rip out what is left of my hormone ravaged hair. For a quilt that is less than 50 inches square and free motion quilted I should not have this many thread clippings. Remind me to never again use Sulky variegated cotton ever again.

I used to love this thread. I don't know if it is the machine or if the thread has changed, but I have had no luck with this thread on the last 3 quilts I quilted with it. I've played around the tension, different weights of thread, and my speed. The thread continually splits and so I am constantly cutting and rethreading. And then I am left with this mess of threads at the end of the quilt.

On the flip side, if it is my machine... maybe that means I can convince my Hubby that I need a Bernina with a stitch regulator for quilting? Hmm. Well, maybe I should try my next quilt with a different thread first.

Slow and Steady

It turns out I likely had a stomach bug last week. Cramping in one part of the gut causes cramping in another... My husband likes to point out that I probably still have a few weeks left. Thanks Hubby, for the painful reminder.

At least it gives me time to make some more progress on the Baby Quilt. I had the quilting about half done then spent the hour of American Idol on Tuesday ripping out half of that. The quilt has a center medallion in the quilting pattern and what I had done just didn't work for me. I should be able to redo that during the Monster's nap tomorrow.

I Should Have Napped

The baby may be coming soon as the contractions are coming faster and with a little more fury. Unfortunately, for me, they aren't amounting to much as they usually stop after a few hours. Soon enough.

After a bad day yesterday I should have napped while the Monster slept, but I really wanted to get the baby quilt basted. That's the nice thing about baby quilts, they don't take that long to baste. Now I just have to settle on the quilting pattern and I can get to it. Baby quilts also get quilted fast! I might have it done before the bambino arrives...