Monday, April 30, 2012

Spider Web

How to make a spider web

You can generally put a spider web anywhere in your crazy quilt. In the past it was felt that spider webs in a crazy quilt brought good luck. What I like about putting a spider web in my quilt is that spiders and their webs are part of the natural world like the bees and the butterflies and the flowers. I try to include one web in every quilt, maybe even two.

Here is a simple tutorial on how to do a basic web. Here I started with a center space (square) on my block. In this quilt I wanted my web to stand out so I put it in the center. I also decided to use DMC metallic thread. I like the bling metallic thread adds to a piece. If you are a beginner in embroidery you may want to use regular cotton thread and put your work in a hoop. Metallic thread has a tendency to pull on the fabric and can distort it some. To start the web I find the center of the square and come up there.  Don't worry about it being in the exact center. Nothing in nature is truly perfect, including spider webs. Next, I extend threads into each of the corners of the square.
On the back of the fabric, I tie off the thread so it will not move and hold it into place. I place my blocks on a pillow while working on them. The pillow raises my work up a little and I can run my hands over my work to be sure everything in lying flat. BE SURE that your threads are lying flat against your block along each step while constructing the web. Next, run thread in between the threads you just placed. Start at the center again and run the thread to the middle edges of block.

And then do this again one more time. These threads will create the spokes of the web. Just like a real spider would do in nature.
Next we will start to add the threads going across the spokes to create the outer design of the web. Again, start towards the center. Not exactly the center, but out just a little bit. When stitching theses, come up on the left side of the spoke, go over spoke, travel with your thread to the next spoke and go down on the right side of the second spoke.

 Then come up on the left side and travel to the following spoke. Repeat this until you have gone all the way around. When you come back to your starting point go down on the left side of the spoke. By coming up on the left and down on the right you will lock your spokes into place. This will begin to create the structure of your web.  Repeat this with several different level coming out from the center of the web.
 Next you want to give the web some detail. This we can do by pulling the across threads up that you just created. To do this bring your needle up slightly above the center of the one of the across threads.
 Go under the across thread, go over it, and insert your needle just above where you came up. Almost in the exact same spot you came up. Pull thread tight. This will give your across thread some lift and your web some detail. Do this to all the sections you have created. When you are finished just tie off. If your block has become distorted from the stitching press it with an iron. I had to do that with this block. I covered the block with another piece of fabric as not to burn any of the metallic thread with the heat from the iron.
 Spider webs can be a lot of work but they add a lot to your finished piece........plus a little good luck :) Of course I will add a spider, but just a little later. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

CQJP






I have completed my next block in my CQJP. I think this is block 7. Center motif is a folded ribbon rose using Hanna silk ribbon with 3 little buds and swags coming off from the center flower. Leaves were created with 4 mm light brown SR using a loop stitch tacked down with a bead to hold in place. Stems are stitched with metallic brown DMC floss. I don't really like using metallic floss. It's difficult to bring through the fabric but I love the bling it adds to the piece. I just try to keep the thread I'm working with short so it's easier to work with. Just to the left I used small gold bugle beads and sewed them down in position to give them a curved line look. This is a technique I like to use quite a bit in my crazy quilts. In the upper right corner I stitched some coneflowers. Again the stems are teal metallic DMC floss with lazy daisy stitch leaves. The coneflowers are Japanese Ribbon stitch slanted down towards ground and then beads sewn on top to look like the cone part of the flower. I also hand dyed the lace on this piece. I am very new to hand dying. I used 2 different colors of Rit dyes here (teal and brown) but would love to here what other crazy quilter's use. Do any of you have a preference? I have dyed some other pieces for this quilt but I am not real happy with the brown. It almost looks brown/purple. Any suggestions? I even tried adding several different colors (red, green, blue) trying to recall for my younger years when I mixed paint all colors mixed together make brown but it didn't work real well. I am open to suggestions here.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

April BJP





So sorry I haven't posted in awhile. This week I lost one of my dogs so it's been a difficult time around here. She was old and it was time but still it's difficult:( My poor other dog is having a difficult time with it as well.
On to happier things. I finally finished my April beaded rock. I found these white stone goldfish at a local bead store and decided to put them in some water. This rock took awhile. I seemed to lose a little interest in it as time progressed. Maybe because it was all the blue but I really don't know. This rock just didn't provide the spark that the other rocks did. Also just before I finished the rock the power went out here (it was night time) so I literally finished it under lantern light. I wasn't going to let no electricity stop me from finishing it. I really wanted it completed.
I also made a few more blocks for my CQJP. I really liked how this quilt was turning out so I went from 9 blocks to 16 blocks. I am working on several blocks at one time. Three more of them are almost completed so stayed tuned for those. I will probably have them done within the week. Everyone have a wonderfully creative week.....

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Un Poco Loco












This quilt is the largest crazy quilt that I have ever made to date. It took a total of 3 years to complete. The title 'Un Poco Loco' means 'a little crazy.' My daughter helped me name the quilt while she was in her 2nd or 3rd year of high school Spanish. I tried a lot of new and different stitches on this quilt. And for the most part there are no repeated stitches or seams on this quilt. It received a Viewer's Choice award along with the Best in Show at the same quilt show.

Monday, April 2, 2012





I was awarded a Liebster Blog award from one of my followers for the abundance of my crazy quilting on my blog. It was a real honor and very nice to be considered for this blog award considering how new I am to this blogging world. The award is given to small blogger (less then 200 followers) and is passed on to 3 to 5 other bloggers that the recipient decides. I want to thank Evy from http://fantaisiescrazybyevy.blogspot.fr/ for thinking of me for this award. Please be a little patient with me as I pass this award on. It may take me a few days to decide. The web is full of wonderful places I just need some time. Thanks again Evy:)