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Monday, April 23, 2012

A Better Point....

As I mentioned in my last post....I found a better way {for me} to piece the arrows in the Point Me quilt. 


Not to belabor the point, but I truly found this way of piecing so much easier and with better results than those in the instructions.
So to briefly recap....I had already cut all my little triangles....I simply made half square triangles by stitching a patterned triangle and a white triangle along the long straight edge.  For each "arrow" you will need 10 half square triangles.

Then I pieced the hst together in diagonal rows.  A single triangle is added to the end of each row.

Once all the rows are pieced {each row is one hst smaller than the previous row}....I pressed the seams for each row in opposite directions....

     
By pressing in opposite directions I can butt my seams so they end up sitting where they should and my points are nice and pointy.



After my rows are stitched together...I simply need to add one more single triangle to the lower right hand edge of my "arrow".


If you have this pattern on your "to do" list....I think it is worth a try to piece it this way.  I found it worked out much better :)  Hope this helps.

I wonder if anyone else has used or is regularly using bobbin thread in your bobbin?  Bobbin thread is a specialty thread designed for use in the bobbin.  It is thinner thread and, I think, it produces less lint.

   
I try to keep a supply of bobbin thread on hand.....and I was just curious to know if anyone else uses bobbin thread in their bobbin for piecing. I have not found that my seams are any less strong with bobbin thread, but I do think it creates a little less bulk in the seam.  I do not use it for machine quilting....just for piecing.

   
Finally, I have some pretty wonderful news!!! It is good to have wonderful news!!!
My sweet girl, Molly, is engaged to be married!  She has dated her guy, Kyle, for almost 7 years.   We couldn't be happier!

I will snap a pic of the ring the next time she is home....
for now here is a picture of Molly with us {in case you forgot my mug - hee hee}

    
And here she is with her handsome boy....

    
Happy Monday!
mary :)

36 comments:

  1. yay!! congratulations for the whole family! what fun you will have planning it all. we sure did. :-) that's when i met you. woop-woop. love the point quilt. see you very soon. promise.

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  2. Congrats!!

    And as a Kent State Alum and Akron Resident, I LOVE that Ohio panel!!!

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  3. This is realley good news!!!
    Congratulations!!!!
    and have a nice day!!

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  4. what a wonderful, happy piece of news! i bet it made you heart much happier! xoxo

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  5. Congratulations! What wonderful news! You have such a lovely family!

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  6. Woo hoo! Wedding planning is fun( my Mary's wedding is in July). I didn't know there was bobbin thread, I'll have to look for it.

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  7. What a gorgeous couple! Congratulations!
    To my knowledge, bobbin thread is made to be used with machine embroidery thread for machine embroidery. The two threads are the same weight, which is much lighter than size 50 sewing thread. Your tension is balanced for equal weight threads both top and bottom, therefore, your upper tension would need to be lowered to achieve the balance. Test your stitch balance using a zig zag to see if thread is pulling to the top or bottom.
    I would suggest not using bobbin thread for piecing...it is too weak for that purpose! Talk to a reputable sewing machine dealer if you have questions and they can explain this better than my lame attempt!

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  8. With every storm there comes a rainbow. This is the perfect good news that you have needed this year. Now let the wedding plans begin$$$

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  9. oooh, i am so happy for you. great news for the family. i assume a wedding quilt might be in order? ;o)
    best regards from germany

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  10. Congratulations!

    Amanda Rose
    http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com

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  11. Hi Sharon! Thanks for the info....you are right that bobbin thread is traditionally for use in machine embroidery. I have used it for years without any ill effects. For me, it has been just as strong in the seam as 50 wt. cotton for piecing. I have never had a seam come apart due to the lighter wt thread. You are also so right that some machines are very touchy when it comes to different wts in the top and bobbin. Fortunately, I have no problem with that in my machine. I often use a very heavy thread to machine quilt and a regular wt cotton in the bobbin. It just depends on the machine. Thanks for the info!!!

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  12. Some wonderful news to lift your hearts! Thinking of you.

    Rosemary

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  13. What a lovely couple.......congratulations.......

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  14. Interesting to read the bobbin thread discussion- its all new to me!! Congratulations on the happy news -Molly will make a beautiful bride! Will it be a long engagement?

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  15. A super big Woohoo for Molly and her fiance!! That is very exciting news!! Will you make her a special wedding quilt?Thanks for the pointy tips!! Ive never heard of bobbin thread. You are so good for helping us all be better sewers with these snippets of info.

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  16. I'm working on Denyse's streak of lightning or bolt of lightning from her latest book and I'm having the same issues. I don't know why I didn't think of switching the piecing but I certainly will now.

    Oh, and I'm going to look for bobbin thread! I've seen it for the longarm but hadn't heard of it for home machines.

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  17. What lovely news...best wishes to the happy couple.
    Love the point me quilt too!

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  18. Congratulations to the happy couple! What fun you will have ahead of you... Love those points.

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  19. Congratulations to the happy couple! What fun you will have ahead of you... Love those points.

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  20. Congratulations! What wonderful news for your family!

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  21. Never even HEARD of bobbin thread!!! I guess you do learn something new everyday!
    Congrats on your daughter's news, and have fun planning the wedding! Etsy weddings page has amazing ideas. :)

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  22. Congratulations! I've never heard of bobbin thread either, I'll have to look out for it. Your "point me" is going to be fabulous.

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  23. Great news!!
    Thanks for the mug shot, in my mind I picture Erin Walton when I think of you!!

    Do I spy a plaited rag rug in one of your snaps?

    I so want to make one..

    Clare

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  24. Huge congratulations to Molly and Kyle! Wonderful news :)
    Your points look wonderful!

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  25. Congratulations to Molly! She looks so beautiful with both of you and with her guy. And you are right about the triangles, sometimes it is nice to find the simple way to piece things together.

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  26. I do have bobbin thread but I haven't used it yet.
    Congratulations Molly! That's such wonderful news!

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  27. congrats, Mary! Now the fun begins, mother of the bride!! LOL (Been there, done that!) I haven't used bobbin thread...maybe I should try it, huh!

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  28. So excited for you guys! Will she be crazy like me and make her wedding dress?? Also, WHERE did you get the Ohio panel?! I have been looking all over!

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  29. Congratulations! Such great news, lots of fun planning ahead, I should imagine.

    I love reading all your tips, I store them in the 'one day I'll make a quilt' part of my brain (or more often under my 'tutorials' Bookmark ;) my brain isn't that good at retaining information). Bethx (the linen cat)

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  30. What a happy post!!! and what a lovely family you have!!! So nice to see you smiling!
    Your quilt is beautiful(as is everything you do)! :)

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  31. Congratulations!My daughter also just got engaged!
    Time to plan a wedding and a quilt?

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  32. Best Wishes to Molly and happy times to her MOM!!

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  33. muchas gracias por los tutoriales ,son fantasticos

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