Trial and Error

Quilting fused quilt

How time flies!  A few weeks ago, I started on a new quilt.  I am using a technique that I haven’t used before, but that many people have used for years…FUSING.  I had a design in my head and I knew that I would not be able to piece it easily.  The more I thought about it, the more complex the piece became and I knew the only way to put it together was to fuse it.  BUT, how would the fusible work with my heavily painted fabric?  I found it easy to adhere it to the back of the fabric, but fusing it to a substrate was more difficult.  The steam needed to work with the particular product I selected would not penetrate through the acrylic surface.  The pieces adhered in places, but not completely.  I decided to leave the larger pieces in this “semi-fused” state, but fused the smaller pieces from the back of the quilt top so that they would adhere well.  I intended to quilt the piece very heavily, so every inch would be sewn on well…as it turns out, quilted about every 1/4 inch or less.  The photo about shows a small section of the piece as it sits on the quilting frame today, about 2/3 quilted.  I included my embroidery scissors in the shot for scale…they are 3 1/2 inches long…I just measured…about 2 1/2 inches visible.

Some parts of the quilt had a few pieces of fabric layered and fused together…would I be able to quilt through it all????  That worried me, especially after painting, fusing, cutting, designing and fusing again….BUT

The quilting has gone smoothly.  Even through a few layers of painted fabric and the fusible, the needle has done its job.  The thread has only snapped a few times, sometimes my fault for reversing direction too quickly.

I am anxious to finish.  I was side tracked by many meetings and making a few small donation quilts.  I think my obligations are up to date, so it will be full speed ahead.  Can’t wait to see it complete…from the studio