Sewing Machine Adultery

I've just been reading some sewing machine reviews by Rebecca Lynne. This gal has a great blog and a real knack for reviewing. She calls her reviews "Sewing Machine Adultery". I like her style. I found the reviews really helpful and I liked the comments from other people too.

So today I'm suggesting that you visit Rebecca Lynne's blog and see what she has to say about the Juki. Rebecca Lynne lives in America and the Juki 2010Q that she mentions is very similar to the Juki TL98P that we have available here in the UK.

Juki TL98P perfect for machine quilting on our New English Quilter frames

I love my Juki! I have a TL98P that I use for machine quilting on a frame. It has all the features that I need and it's not cluttered with loads of features that I don't need.

There's plenty of room for the fabric pole under the arm of this Juki TL98P

• Space - the arm is longer and TALLER. Lots of new machines are longer now, but only the Juki is taller too. On a machine quilting frame, I need the height.
• Speed - I need speed to get a flowing line of stitching. The Juki TL98P goes 1500 stitches per minute effortlessly, it purrs. 
• Simplicity - it only does a straight stitch, but it does that perfectly. Being simple it is easy to tension, easy to maintain, easy to fix.
• Strength - it's a workhorse, metal semi-industrial, built to last a lifetime.

Like a few of the gals who commented on Rebecca Lynne's review, I have 2 machines. I use the straight stitch JUKI TL98P for machine quilting on a frame and I use the Juki HZL Exceed 600 for piecing, appliqué, general sewing, mending and everything else. The cost of both of these machines together is less than many people are spending on the newer computerized sewing machines. Heck, for some of them you could throw in the cost of the frame as well and it would still cost less! These Juki machines give you value for money. Computers begin to be obsolete the minute they hit the shelves.Likewise computerized sewing machines have a built in obsolescence. These Juki machines are timeless classics built to last.

Juki HZL Exceed 600 perfect for piecing and everything else!

Franklins Group are the UK Juki Distributors. 

Give Laurence or Gary a ring. They'll answer any questions 

and let you know the JUKI sewing machine dealer nearest you.

Laurence ~ 01206 574758

Gary ~ 01245 346300

Poppy Project

Lincolnshire poppy field photo by Martha Milne

Before I had a quilting frame, I mainly loved the piecing part of patchwork & quilting. I loved the colours and shapes but I got stuck on the quilting part. After I got a quilting frame, I fell in love with texture. Now the quilting part is my favourite part of the process.

poppies and seed pods photo by Martha Milne

 I find myself working backwards. I used to make a top and then try to figure out how to quilt it. Now there will be some new quilting pattern that I want to try out and so I figure out a 'canvas' that I'd like to quilt or thread paint on.

Today on pinterest, I got inspired by poppies and decided to do a poppy project. There were so many ideas that I'll probably do more than one. but I decided to start with a Georgia O'Keeffe Poppy. 

kid's version of Georgia O'Keefe's Poppies

This looks like it will be so much fun to thread paint but I needed to figure out how to make the canvas first.

see artprojectsforkids.me

I found this art project for primary schools and decided to take the same approach. I divided the painting into rectangles and pieced them together using various scraps of red. The pieced pattern will act like a grid to help me transfer the painting from my computer screen to the quilt top.

creating the fabric grid

Now I'll raw-edge appliqué the spaces round the flower. Tomorrow the fun begins when I get to play with lots of thread on my frame!

my Juki Exceed 600 fab for piecing and applique note the thread stand
 that let's me use my larger cones

What's on at the Wiltshire Quilt Fest

See the New English Quilter frame at the Wiltshire Quilt Festival

We've been busy preparing for the 

Wiltshire Quilt Festival. 

Here's a schedule of events 
through out the week 

so you'll  know what's on.

On Thursday 13 March, we're hosting a special day for a group of quilters coming over from the Isle of Wight. But all are welcome to join in. Friday March 14th and Saturday March 15th the Salisbury Franklins shop will be open between 9:00 and 5:00 so you can... 

• Try out the latest and tried-and-true-classic sewing machines and overlockers. There will be experienced instructors on hand to demo the machines and give advice. 
• Have a go machine quilting on the New English Quilter frames. Emma and Martha will have our machine quilting frames set up so anyone who likes can have a play.
• Join in our Machine Quilting Threaducation Seminar and find out what threads work best for machine quilting and why. 
• Participate in our 'Thread Play Sessions' it's a chance to try out all the new ranges of threads on the sewing machines, overlockers and machine quilting frames. You'll get to take home your thread samples for future reference.
• Take advantage of all the sales, special offers and super deals on sewing machines, fabrics, quilting gizmos and gadgets. We've tried to bring everything together for the textile enthusiast all under one charming and spacious roof!
• Have a fun day out with quilting friends and family. There will be tea, coffee and lovely cakes available through out the day. 

Test drive the Juki Exceed 600

On Sunday March 16th Martha will be visiting the American Quilt Museum in Bath with anyone who wants to come along for the ride. For people travelling any distance, we've booked rooms at a special rate at the Mercule White Hart in Salisbury for Sunday night. We'll have an evening meal together and a good night's rest so we'll be ready for the Machine Quilter Clinic. 

Martha using the Juki TL98P sewing machine on the New English Quilter frame

Our Machine Quilting Clinic on Monday March 17th is open to machine quilters who want to become more fluent at free-motion-quilting. All are welcome whether you just need some help getting started or inspiration to move up to a new level. We keep our Clinics small with a maximum of 8 participants between 2 teachers and 3 frames. This way Emma and Martha will be able to give plenty of one to one instruction. Currently, we have 5 people signed up and places available for 3 more. 

Teaching sessions run between 10:00 and 4:00 on Monday March 17th. We'll have coffee, tea and cakes for elevenses, a buffet lunch, afternoon tea and an evening meal included in the £150 price per person.

Interested? 

Ring or email Martha.

01526 378057

marthamilne@tiscali.co.uk

 

Martha and Emma talking about Machine Quilting threads

Binding Issues

stitching the binding with the JUKI Exceed 600

I'm directionally challenged. I mix up my left and right. It's only been made worse by living for the last 25 years in a country that does many things the other way round. Anyway, this usually trips me up when I'm sewing the binding. It's the last diagonal join where I'm machine stitching the binding down on the quilt top. I like the diagonal join as it spreads out the fabric and makes a nice neat finish. But I almost always struggle with this particular step of the binding process. I get the fabric ends turned the wrong way around and have to unpick it and try again. 

JUKI Exceed 600 sewing on the binding

A while ago I found a double fold binding tutorial from Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations and saved it on my pinterest board. I tried it today and my diagonal join came together perfectly, the very first time. If you're looking for a brilliant binding tutorial for the directionally challenged here it is!

Bottom Line #634 Baby Blue perfect for hand sewing the binding

When it comes to hand stitching the binding Bottom Line thread from Superior Threads is a good choice. Bottom Line was created as a bobbin thread. It's a fine thread that practically disappears and with 55 colours to choose from it's easy to match your fabric. It makes your stitching look great, because no one can see it! The other feature that I like is that Bottom Line won't tangle and knot up. Sometimes when I'm sewing the binding down the thread knots and I have to stop and cut out the knot and start again. I never have that problem when I'm using Bottom Line thread.

binding on the Star of the Sea Quilt

The binding came together so quickly this time! I'm happy that it's all ready ahead of time for baby May.

Star of the Sea

Martha piecing the 'Star of the Sea' on the JUKI Exceed 600

Our friends had a new baby and invited us to the Baptism. So Emily and I decided to make a watery quilt to suit the occasion. We chose the fabrics together. This simple half-square triangle star top came together quickly.  I did the piecing and Emily did the quilting.

Auditioning threads from various Superior Threads ranges

Once the top was pieced and on the frame we needed to choose the threads. We narrowed it down to a variegated Rainbows and some of the silks from the Kimono Silk range of Superior Threads. In the end we chose the turquoise silk #343 Okinawa. It looked nice against all the fabrics in the top. The fine silk created a subtle texture but it was strong enough to machine quilt at high speeds. 

on the 6 foot Art Quilter frame

 The 6 foot Art Quilter frame gives 55 inches of quilting space and is a perfect size for baby quilts. This quilt top measured about 50 inches square.

Emily's free-motion feathers

 Ever since our April retreat, Emily's been wanting to try feathers. So she decided to quilt feathers in the central star shape and a waterery wavey pattern on the background.

free-motion quilting detail

 We think that the different styles of free-motion quilting created a good contrast.

machine quilting detail

Notice how the feather quilting stands out on the blue crab fabric and disappears on the Amy Butler paisley.

a good view of the JUKI TL98P

 Here's a good view of the JUKI TL98P straight stitch sewing machine. The extra length and height of the arm make it perfect for free-motion quilting on a frame.

a view of the quilt back

We used #633 Light Turquoise Bottom Line pre-wounds in the bobbin. The Bottom Line range from Superior Threads is designed especially for the bobbin and the fine weight is a good match for the Kimono Silk on top. We liked how the Turquoise thread showed up against the white of the backing fabric. Emily was so happy with how the back looked that she wants to do a similar pattern in a whole-cloth quilt. I do love the way that one quilt leads to another ; )

.

off the frame ane ready for binding

Here it is all finished and thrown across the frame. The quilting just took 4 hours spread over 2 days. It's going to make a lovely present.

Multi-tasker - the JUKI EXCEED 600

Meet Judi Walker seamstress and golfer. As a dressmaker, Judi designs, sews and sometimes even free-motion-embroiders her own clothes. She makes clothing and does alterations for other people too. And then there's curtains, cushions and quilts!! 

Judi making a stylish straight skirt for Hiroko in 20 minutes!

As a multi-talented person Judi needed a sewing machine just as versatile as she is. After considering  all the options, Judi chose a sewing machine from Juki's new HZL Exceed series. The Juki HZL Exceed 600 has all the features Judi needs conveniently rolled up into one easy to use sewing machine.

The Juki Exceed is easy to thread with a thread path diagram directly on the machine

The Juki Exceed 600 can multi-task just as well as Judi. The industrial style box feeding system creates straight seams that lie flat - so important to achieving the right fit when sewing clothes and soft furnishing projects. Straight seams with no puckering are essential for piecing, appliqué, quilting and crafting too.  

the Box Feed is larger and has a firmer grip for an even line of stitching

There are plenty of stitches for any project, be it blind hemming or piping for cushions. The buttonhole attachment is brilliant and gives a professional finish to all sorts of projects. Whether Judi's stitching silks or hemming jeans, JUKI's industrial style box feeding system creates a beautiful, flat line of stitching with no puckering. It sews through multiple layers easily too. 

a unique sensor measures the button and makes a button hole to match

Judi was delighted with her choice. It was love at first stitch! Together Judi and her JUKI Exceed make a great team. Two years and hundreds of projects later they're still going strong.

easy to make professional button holes

One machine that does all things well!

The Juki Exceed 600.

All the features you need 

rolled up into one easy to use machine.

Judi sewing a cushion cover with the JUKI Exceed 600

Behind the scenes

Nick setting up the camera

We've been busy working on  a new project these past several weeks.  JUKI Europe has commissioned us to produce a series of short video clips that showcase JUKI sewing machines.  Here are a few sneak peeks behind the scenes at our recent filming sessions.

Nick Loven and Judi Walker

 It's been such an exciting project. We're using women of different ages, speaking different languages, using JUKI sewing machines in real homes to create all sort of different projects ranging from piecing to dressmaking, from general sewing to making cushions and curtains.

Judi showing how easy it is to make professional buttonholes

 Multi-talented Judi Walker is showing us button holes she's just made with the JUKI Exceed button hole attachment.

Nick and Emily setting us some close up shots

The Juki Exceed 600 has been quite the star of the show. we've been highlighting all the amazing features. We wanted to show the machines in real life home settings. This session was filmed in our dining room.

Hiroko, Judi and Martha

It's been exciting to bring so many different people together around a common theme. Soon you'll be able to view our video clips on JUKI websites throughout Europe.

Nick and Emily getting more close ups of the JUKI Exceed 600

Leaf Butterfly

This project started out as a leaf card. I cut out leaf shapes from some new and old fabric and stitched them to brown card using a raw edge appliqué technique. Then, I started stitching some designs around the leaves but they just didn't turn out the way I'd hoped they would. So I cut the leaf shapes out of the original card and realized that they'd make a lovely butterfly.

Here I'm stitching down the centre part of the butterfly on my JUKI Exceed 600. I use this machine for all my piecing and crafting work.

I've used a variegated thread from Superior Thread's LAVA range on top and a pre-wound bobbin of Bottomline in the bobbin. I've got a 100/16 Topstitch titanium coated needle in the machine. It goes through multiple layers of fabric and card with no problem.

The finished card all ready to fly away to my sister in Baltimore. The butterfly card is a good example of how mistakes can morph into something unexpected.

Source: bit.ly via Martha on Pinterest

Baby Bunting

It's the start of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations and there's bunting everywhere, including my front door.  I've been using scraps for Veta's Bunting Quilt to make some bunting cards.

I cut tiny bunting flags with the rotary cutter.

A dab of Pritt Stick glue to hold the fabric flags in place.

I threaded my JUKI Exceed with some black thread and stitched the flags in place.

It took minutes

and turned out really cute.

With the left over flags I decided to make a tiny bunting garland.

I just sewed across the tiny flags, lifted the needle and gave the thread a pull just like you do when you're strip piecing.

I haven't decided where to put it yet but I like the way something similar is draped across this mirror.

Source: blessedwildapplegirl.blogspot.co.uk via Martha on Pinterest

Happy Jubilee everyone! 
Have fun celebrating!