I agree with Andree! I'm enjoying this quilt tremendously, but not looking for any "extra credit" projects! :shock:

ssgirl wrote: I don't think I will do decorative stitching on the background. I think that I want to leave my options open for the quilting design, and when decorative stitching is done, you have to keep the quilting much simpler.

Andrée

ssgirl wrote: And if you don't unwind the thread and spread it on the surface of the fabric, you don't really have a good view... you might think one is too dark, but once it is sewn, you might like the effect.
It's a matter of sampling... and that's fun to do too!

Andrée

Rosemary, you are so right and normally I think of this, but thought the lighting was okay. I bought a little purse size Ott light for my sister for Xmas, which has full spectrum light for this purpose. I'm going to pick one up for myself as it's not always possible to take fabrics and threads into the daylight in these shops. I just happen to have Sue's choice for the blue in my thread stash, just a few strands left on the spool so I can compare the two and the difference is amazing in the natural light.

BTW, is anyone going to stitch background decorative stitches in any of their blocks? I thought about doing this, then figured there is enough work already in this project. I notice the binding is done this way.

ssgirl wrote: When matching colours it is always best to try and do it in natural daylight, period. If you are doing it in a shop it is worth taking possible threads and the fabric to the doorway so that you can get the daylight through the glass - it is usually a good idea to just mention to the assistant what you are up to, and if they sew too they should understand exactly what you are up to and why.

Thanks Margo, will compare those with the ones I chose and make a final choice. Already I see that the blue I picked out is too dark, sometimes the lighting in these shops is not the best.

I just learned through Alex that the colors that Sue used on her original design are:

Mettler colors are Dark Turquoise 814, Light green 847, Dark green 542, Red 601, Orange swirls 913, Orange leaves 953, Orange solid 902.

Thank you so much for reporting your results Jeannine and Carol!! That is the absolute best way to learn what works for you and achieves the look you will like at the end of your project!

Just completed a sample of the applique. I fused, stitched and washed/dried (by machine) my sample. I used the SoftFuse as I had it on hand. The threads I used were Mettler silk finish cotton, mettler polyester, mettler polysheen and aurifil. I chose my threads based on color. I have no polkies on the main parts of the design, the edges have remained absolutely clean. The only one that is not as clean as I would like is the circle I tried. I am going to try to use turned edge on that. I cannot tell the difference on the the threads, they all look the same to me. I tried a couple of King Tuts threads that looked like they would match, but didn't like them so will use plain threads. I am very pleased with the hand on the Soft Fuse. I can't feel the fusible at all. I did a couple of edges that were not fused with the blanket stitch and there are a few pokies on those edges, so the fusible seems to seal the edge and keep it clean. I used 2 stitch length and 2 stitch width, but I do not have a Bernina, so don't know if it is the same. I am really excited to start this. Carol

I tested out the Mettler Polysheen, Isacord, Superior trilobal and the 40 & 50 wt Aurifil and Mettler cotton. I like the cotton much better. My local shop does not stock Aurifil, so I went with 50 wt Mettler which is very nice. The cotton is more suitable with the look of the blocks. The colors I chose are: Turquoise 0883, red 0601, light golden orange 0829, bright orange 0594, orange red 0739, lighter green 0549 and darker green 0714. This may help someone out there. I have mostly Aurifil in my thread stash, 40 wt for quilting and felt it was too thick for this project.

suehenyon wrote: I remember Sarah Vedeler's video on blanket stitch (BOM2012). If you like the effect of the double blanket stitch, but don't want to take that time, why not consider a 28wt like Aurifil's? (I will try that too!)

Andrée

I tried Isacord 40 wt polyester and DMC 50 weight cotton, double and single blanket stitch. I think I really like the lower sheen of the cotton, and the finer thread. I didn't like doing the double blanket stitch, it just takes too long on all those curves. I still haven't decided, but have time for more samples. Month 3 is done!

If anyone matches up the King Tut solids with the kit fabrics, would you please share your thread numbers? I'm looking for matching threads to fabric. Actually, it would be nice to have the Aurifil numbers, too.

Thanks for the feedback, I will do some test stitch outs and see which look I like best. Turns out my Aurifil is 40 wt after,all, so will,also test with some 50 wt. I will post my results when I get to that point. You guys were a great help!

This is a very timely thread (forgive the pun!). I love the look of the Highlights thread from Superior, and have several cones of it, but I ironed a little celtic design that I had stitched out with a Highlights thread today and unfortunately the iron was too hot and it melted the thread! So, if you are going to use the Highlights thread please make sure your iron is not at the hottest setting. I think Aurifil thread is beautiful and very lint-free and in a 40 weight it will be lovely in the blanket stitch. I also love the Superior Rainbows threads and they stitch beautifully in blanket stitch. Personally, I love heavier thread for raw edge applique but if you only have just the right colour in a 50 weight thread then perhaps you could do the blanket stitch that Ricky likes which is a double blanket stitch. It gives a beautiful smooth finish. He also uses contrasting colours to the applique which gives another dimension that I think I am going to try too.

After my little mishap today I decided that I am going to use cotton thread for my raw edge applique on this project. I wouldn't trust myself to remember to turn down the temperature on the iron.

Libby Lehman's 'Name That Stitch' episode this week is about blanket stitch if you haven't watched it. It might help.