Friday, August 24, 2007

Fun Ghoulish quilt!

I've been quiet as of late and not my usual talkative self, mainly due to a lack of a finished project to share. I didn't want to write about the same old same old, that being I'm still in the process of machine quilting Pine Grove and doing hand work on the other quilts on my list of UFO's to accomplish this year. Blah, blah blah and the beat goes on!

Since Halloween is quickly approaching, being one of my all time favourite holiday, I decided to follow Darlene's idea and make a table topper. I love Halloween fabric and yet couldn't think of a quilting pattern to use these delicious fabrics.

This is what I have been designing and working on with the help of EQ6 and a pencil and paper. It is a small quilt, 40 inch square, and quite easy to accomplish. What took me a while wasn't so much the piecing, but the designing of the machine quilting. You see, I had a plan and I needed to carefully work it out! lol

The main fabric is a Alexander Henry. I've always loved this fabric and could not think of a way to accent it. Witch's hats and broom, my favourite! Oh, and lets not forget the black cats!

This is one of the patterns I designed for 2 (two) of the corners, a spider web!

It took me a while to draw what I thought was a decent web. The first 2 (two) tries, the web just didn't look right. After an hour of drawing, it dawned on me that the curves were going the wrong way. Once I figured out how it should look, the web came alive in no time. Unfortunately, it is not a continuous design and therefore has a lot of stops and starts.

On the opposite corner, I quilted a spider!

It wasn't only the paper and pencil designs that took a while, but how I would plan this quilt. You see, I had a special effect in mind!

I wanted the table topper to come alive when the lights came out. So I had to strategical place designs that would magically appear in the dark.

Yes, I have hidden ghosts and other goulish treats within the machine quilting that will only come out when darkness has fallen. Muawwwwhahahaha!

What did I use to create these effects you might ask?

As you know by now, I like to test threads. I'm also always on the look out for a specialty thread. When I make a quilt, I sometimes like to add what I call "elements of surprise". My daughter loves it when her quilt glows in the dark.

I have been using Bug Glow Luminous Thread since it first came out on the market. It comes in white only and I think it is a 30wt, but don't quote me on that!

I've been generally pleased with this thread, that is until I found something that was much easier to work with. You see with this thread, tension was an issue for my machine. Given that it was the only thread available at the time, I made due.

Coats & Clark recently came out with a "Glow-In-The-Dark" machine embroidery thread, which comes in a variety of colours making it simpler to hide designs. It is 40wt and much easier to work with tension wise than the Glow Bug.

The web and spider were machine quilted using the purple colour. They do stand out however, the other items are well hidden in the quilt and will only come out in the darkness!

This table topper does not have a name as of yet, I welcome suggestions. It was made for a special friend in mind. I just love Halloween and what better way to say how much I appreciate her friendship than with a table topper that will haunt her even at night! lol

Have a great day everyone and thank you for stopping by!

20 comments:

Darlene said...

It's absolutely adorable! I love your idea of using Glow in the Dark thread for the quilting - it's really a terrific idea. Your friend will love it.

The Calico Cat said...

Can you believe that I don't have that cats with pumpkins print? (I do have the cats on lime & purple & red.)

The Calico Cat said...

I love teh glow in teh dark idea - I have a couple glow in the dark prints - one of which will probably be a border...

Kim said...

What a great quilt, Carole! I love it! I was thinking about quilting webs too but hadn't thought about the flow in the dark thread. What an excellent idea!

swooze said...

Adorable. Try to take a pic with the lights out!

Pam said...

I was just about to send you an email to see if all was well :))

Instead you were busy. Such a fun quilt! I didn't even know there was glow in the dark thread. That will look so great on a table. Who ever gets it will be very lucky!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Before I had finished reading I was wondering if you used that glow in the dark thread! It is sooo cute! and thanks on the coats and clark tip - I only knew of the bug glo one!

Nan said...

What a gorgeous table topper! You are a very talented girl! Love the thread you used, too! I have seen the Bug Glo, but not the C & C ones. Thanks for sharing - I think I'll go sew now!! I have the Alexander Henry fabric, and have been trying to figure out how to use it - you've helped the lightbulb go on in my head! Thank you, Carole!

Helen in the UK said...

Love your quilting designs and the idea that some things are going to 'pop out' when the lights are down!!!! Spooky :)

Unknown said...

Your machine quilting is so well done, wow, just perfect. I have no suggestions for names, my head is empty!

Chookyblue...... said...

wow for the quilting......now about a name what about "Spooky Adventures" combines you and the halloween thingy.....when is halloween.........

Yvonne said...

Oh Carole....I just love it. You did an awesome job.

Leigh said...

Well Carole I didn't know you had such a sinister side to you,lol.
The quit is great and the fabrics are wonderful.
I'm sure your friend will be delighted.

Anonymous said...

You do nice work on the quilting there. I don't even attempt that stuff. I do the cross hatching but that's about it. Great Halloweenie quilt. It's getting to be that time huh? I am so ready for it.
Glad your back. We miss you.

JoAnna said...

How fun! Your quilting designs are so wonderful and really add to the quilt. You'll be treasuring that for years to come! Seriously the funnest quilt I've seen all day.

I want one. :)

JoAnna said...

oh! I missed the part where you said you were giving it away. I am sure your friend will be treasuring it for years to come.

I still want one.

Jeanne said...

How cute! The glow in the dark thread is just perfect for this table topper, too.

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Looks great, wish we had halloween! Tracey

atet said...

Oooh -- love that table topper. Halloween is a big hit around here too and what fun designs!

Clare said...

I love it! The Glow in the Dark thread is a great idea, especially for quilts such as is. The fabric is gorgeous. The recipient is going to adore and cherish it.

How about Things That Go Bump in the Night?

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