I've been on an extensive 'tear' with piecing for the last few months, but I finally put piecing on hold for a little bit while I sandwich and quilt a couple projects.
I love each step of the quilting process; even so, it's hard to switch from piecing (which I find very relaxing and motivating all at once) to quilting (also relaxing, but not quite as 'addicting' as piecing). I'm a finisher, though, so if you're gonna finish, you gotta do some quilting (or pay someone to do it!
I like to quilt my own. And when I do that I generate a lot of thead-ends, that need to be tucked away.
Now, before you say, 'Thread ends? What the heck? Use the thread cutter on your machine!'
Well. . .
I can probably count on fingers from both hands how many times I've ever used the thread cutter on my machine. I'm a control freak and prefer to create long tails of thread and make my own knots when seams intersect instead of knotting and cutting the thread by machine. Old habits die hard, I guess.
It's a simple enough process to bury the thread. I use a self-threading needle. For each set of thread ends, I make sure they're both on the same side of the quilt sandwich, front or back . . .
. . . Then pull the threads taught and make a square knot close to the quilt surface.
I pop the thread onto the needle (the self-threading needle a forked eye, rather than a closed one).
Then insert the needle as close as possible to the square knot, and thread the needle into the batting layer, and pull the thread ends through.
Then I carefully snip the thread.
With all the thread ends I started with, this looked like it was going to take all weekend. What a mess! But one by one, the threads disappeared and after an hour or two in front of the television, the table runner was ready to bind.
Below, A view from the tidied-up back, and the finished runner.
This runner is headed to the local gift shop where, perhaps, it'll be purchased in time to add spring decor for Easter brunch. The fabric I used for the table runner top, is a Tilda line called Tipsy Blenders and is my latest obsession.
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
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