The week before we left to visit our family for Christmas I had and unexpected open day. I had done some prep for my SAQA Trunk Show 7" X 10" piece so it was ready for me to thread paint.
Hungry Bee is printed on silk fabric and heavily thread painted. The bee was thread painted on dissoluble Solvy and then added to the Mexican Sunflower. It went off in the main today so I can strike off one more thing.
Sunset
The name comes to this piece because it was sunset when I was taking the photo I used as inspiration. The light was just right making the colors brilliant.
Now for the bad. My machine went bonkers the day after I finished this piece. It was sewing so beautifully, one of my better experiences in free motion quilting.
I cleaned the machine, changed the needle threaded the machine with a different thread and started on a new project. Clunk, Clunk, Knot, Thread Throw-up, well you get the idea. I worked for hours doing everything I could think to remedy the problem. Finally I gave up and turned the machine off.
I sent a plea out to the SAQA Yahoo Group asking for help. I got lots of great ideas to try although I had already tried many of them. This group is so sharing with their knowledge and time. I really thank them for responding. Anyway, this morning I decided to change the type and brand of thread that I was using yesterday. I had changed the thread and bobbin several times yesterday but not the type and brand. For some reason this seemed to do the trick. I'm still getting a little clunk now and then and the thread breaks but nothing like yesterday. I believe I am going to take it in to the shop to see if there is a little piece of thread stuck somewhere, or perhaps a burr on the plate. At least I can sew. I've decided that I will hold off on working on my hydrangea until I know the problem is solved.
This post is linked to www.ninamariesayre.blogspot.com
Recently when my machine started to severing and shredding the thread and did precisely what you did from trying the tried and true to throwing my hands up in the air in disgust, it turned out that sanding parts for "invisible" burrs was just what was needed. I am fortunate to have a very able husband who filed what he could. Now my machine is purring. Hope you get yours completely resolved. Your work is always so stunning - the colors rich and imagery beckoning.
ReplyDeleteGwyned, how do you tell is it has a burr? Do you look on the plate, the bobbin or both. The problem, I'm almost positive is in the bobbin area.
DeleteI swear some days our machines have minds of there own. I think they are telling us they are tired and don't feel like working today. Many times do I walk away also.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way and gave the machine a day off. It helped but I'm not totally satisfied yet.
DeleteI love how these two pieces glow. When my machine acts up, I understand why the Amish stay away from machines. It reduces much frustration in their lives. But when my machine works (most of the time), I so love it.
ReplyDeleteI really agree. I had had such a great day the day before, everything went well. Then first thing in the morning everything went crazy. Frustrating to say the least.
DeleteThe colors in both of these pieces are riveting. I'm glad to see some of your thread problems found relief. I followed the issues on the SAQA group… always many suggestions to be found there… a great resource.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary, I do love color. Unfortunately my problems aren't totally solved with the thread thing. I'm suspicious it is my new pre wound bobbins. Will see.
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