The tension issue was the weirdest thing. I made a 12" block with all the fabrics, wadding and backing that were used to piece the runner and tested my thread by duplicating the design I FMQ'd. I picked out my tension (top and bottom threads) and went for it. When I started FMQing on the runner I kept getting minor pokies on the back but I was trying to eliminate those too and as I adjusted tension, it started turning into a nightmare.

Anyway, I was using King Tut in the top and Bottom LIne as the bobbin thread. When I switched the bobbin thread to Aurifil, all my problems went away--I was able to get the right balance between front and back. Mind you, with the Bottom Line thread, I even threaded the bobbin for embroidery and experimented with tightening the bobbin tension (I have a Bernina 830 so that is super-easy to do.). Does anyone have any addition advice for using Bottom Line with King Tut on a domestic machine? I really want to use Bottom Line in the bobbin for my projects, when possible.

Originally I was going to do swirls, and I played with Libby Lehman's ribbons that Margo suggested, but in the end, the quilting that spoke to me the most (and I tried them all) was Rosemary's curls and stars so that is what I went with. Thanks, Rosemary!

I finished the blocks, now I am off to do the two borders. Here is where it is right now. I have done lots of practice pieces and have a nice stack of 10" blocks filled with FMQ, but I am always reluctant in putting FMQ on a nicely pieced quilt so I can't say I'm satisfied with how it turned out but it is the best I am capable of doing right now and that's all I'll say! I'll post again when it's finished.

Hey Limbania, great to see you again! Renata, I am sorry that you are having tension issues. Hope they are sorted by now.

What a beautiful table runner Renatta! Not much quilting teaching here but! we can practice and encourage each other. To be fair, we can alternate cooking if you like Mexican food. I can teach you Spanish if you teach me Italian.

Yup, Lotti... I was saving my Superior water soluble thread for trapunto but I have to do another holiday runner after the current one I am fighting with because of tension!!!! (and I had even worked out a swatch and documented the tension settings ), but if I don't need SID in the end, I might try the water soluble on the next runner... why not? Have a good night!

after seeing ricky´s videos i´ve gotten totally hooked on that fabulous water soluble thread. it´s fantastic for "basting" your quilts. i sort of SID everything with the water soluble thread (as the thread is washed away after the quilt is done i just follow the main seams - but don´t worry about being straight or in the ditch at all), then i can FMQ to my hearts content without anything shifting and without worrying about pins / threads remaining where they shouldn´t. after i´ve finished the quilt it gets washed anyway and all the unwanted stuff disappears.

No hamsters... but, you never know? Okay, okay... back to quilting the holiday runner... yes, I'm actually quilting today!

Are you any good at training hamsters?....we've got him started with coming to the squeak & the rattle of the food box It would be make your own thimbles here.

I've spent most of my life living out of a suitcase... I can do this! Time to start planning my "homestays around the world!" I forgot, I've also been known to train siamese cats to sit and stay, so if you have any ornery kids or cats, I'll be glad to offer my services (that might expand the list of host families... ).

A trip to Ireland could be on the cards after that - except that I couldn't teach you much, but we could have fun. Especially if you do the cooking and I do the eating.

Renata, if you'd like to learn a bit of longarming, you can come to Atlanta and play on mine! I for sure will get the better end of the deal -- you will have to cook and work at learning quilting!! I will only have to teach and eat!! LOL

Sure ! Anytime..I'm sure we could swap skills ! You might find life in central Idaho country town quite
a culture shock, too. :shock: :shock:
ps: I'd always called these "exchange programs.

idaho wrote:
A homestay program is where international students go overseas to study, live with a host family, usually pay rent, and the purpose of living with that family is to get the cultural experience of a country while improving their language skills while often attending a local university. So, Marilyn, you want to teach me how to quilt?

Oh..The quilting will be just fine...whatever you end up with !!! It's my hardest part ,too... Just didn't know what
"homestay program" refered to.... :

Oh Marilyn... which part is : : : : : : : ?