Saddle Pad in a Day

I love projects that I can finish in a day.  My last saddle pad was made for my gelding, Bud, and his dressage saddle as his close contact saddle was not fitting him well enough at the time.  However, since getting Bud a new mate, she has ended up with the dressage saddle for the time being and after a few months of good work, the close contact fits Bud well enough to be used again.  Using one saddle pad between two horses is not ideal so I chose to make another. 

 

It's obviously not pieced like the last one so the wow factor isn't the same, however I did spend some quality time FMQing it and that looks fantastic.

 

Pretty much, I just wanted a super thin pad with a layer of Zorb to wick sweat away from the back.  Zorb works great for that.  I generally remove the saddle and find a lightly sweaty back that dries in less than five minutes unlike where the girth lays, which is always WET and runny.  I love Zorb.

 

 

 

 

Outfitted

 

 

Ready to go.....

 

Leaving without me, LOL!

New (Quilt) Saddle Pad for my Horse

I have taken a break from my quilting passion to focus on my horse passion.  We've had an unseasonably dry spring and I've taken advantage of that and also the fact that my horse now lives in a place where I can fully use the property.  Win-win!   Thus, my Hunter's Star is partially quilted at the moment and I'm okay with that.  That quilt is not "for" someone other than me so there is no great rush.

There was a rush to make Bud a new saddle pad though.  I made him one about five years back before I had a clue about quilting.  I was pleased with it at the time.

Unfortunately, I did not know how to join the two pieces without making a huge seam in the middle of the pad so it was quite bulky on his spine.  I had to be certain it was aligned perfectly.  In the last month, I brought that pad home to correct the spine and that helped a lot but changed the length of the pad because I had to cut some away.  In the end, it was too short.  There was no quilting in this pad either so it could be quilt shifty with three layers.  Regardless, it served me well for the last five years and it served as a prototype for my new pad.

I have been thinking about making a new pad ever since I took up quilting.  Like everything else, I did some Internet searching to see what others used for fillers and how they held up over time.  This is obviously a quilt that will be used and washed a lot.  What I found was a lot of sorrow over the batting falling apart or being too thin to be anything else but decorative.  This did not bother me because I didn't use batting in my first pad.  Instead, I used a fabric called "Zorb."  I use Zorb in my incontinence pad line and many people sew it into their diapers.  it is a bamboo poly fabric that feels to the hand like very thick felted wool.  It doesn't shrink, doesn't pill, and appears to be indestructible.  It's lasted five years in my first pad and when I took it apart to repair the joining seam, it still looks new.  Read: tested and true.  The benefit of Zorb beyond its longevity and thickness is its intended use.  The purpose of Zorb is to be super absorbent.  It can absorb 10x its weight in fluid in under a second.  For incontinence purposes, it is a sponge.  For a saddle pad, it equals a drier, cooler, more comfortable back for the horse.   Sweat is wicked away into the pad.  Air dry after use and wash weekly.   The lingering sweat difference between my pad with Zorb and regular pads is huge.  I have a neoprene girth and that is the only place where sweat is profuse.  I'm starting to not like that........but I digress.

I just purchased a new saddle which is due to arrive sometime next week.  Since being back to work, Bud has outgrown the saddle I have.  Like my sewing machines of old, I have never had a new saddle so I am hoping the upgrade will be as good as the sewing machine upgrade was.  I am thinking it will be simply because the saddle I have is not really suited for the work I am currently doing with Bud.  And it doesn't provide enough width for his spine to lift.  Worse, I think either his anatomy is crooked or the saddle is.   In short, its just time.  Bud is 22 years old.  He has limited energy for work and it's simply imperative that his tack is comfortable so that the work we do can be as efficient as possible. 

I considered just buying a pad for the new saddle and did some browsing for what is out there.  I found tons of "new technology" for upwards of $200.00....  Really?  $200.00 for a saddle pad?  I just about fell out of my chair.  What do you get for this?  Apparently memory foam, ceramic crystals, and God knows what else.   What you don't get is color choice other than black or white.  Maybe this expensive crap is what is expected in the show ring these days and let's just say there is a reason I have never been interested in showing.  I want something that is both functional and ornamental.  My guy isn't getting any younger.

What did catch my attention was the pads with the ceramic crystals touting they provide a therapeutic heat for the back.  Many riders said they found their horses warmed up quicker and were much more comfortable both during and after the ride.  Thankfully, Bud had never been sore after rides, but he definitely takes a bit to warm up and begin to lift his back.  So this intrigued me.  Intrigued me enough to add a half layer of Insulbrite into his pad.  It has a nice thickness that paired well with the Zorb and as it reflects heat or cool back to the source, perhaps, just perhaps, it may be beneficial.   Jury is still out on it after one ride.  I felt under the pad at different times and while it was warm, I don't know if it was any more or less warm than usual.  Also, as I mentioned above, I am certain my saddle is not fitting well and allowing him freedom to lift his back so I will wait to comment until I have had some rides with the new saddle.   What I do like about this layer is the thickness it provided and the firmness it added to the pad.  It is less floppy. 

Before I got my new machine, I made several strands of a Friendship Braid.  I intended to use it for a border of another project but since scrapped that idea.  It was perfect joined together into a Chevron pattern for this pad.  I quilted it into a single layer of Hobbs cotton.  Then I followed a few of the Chevrons and quilted in the Insulbrite.  Then I repeated this with the Zorb.  And finally, I backed it with wool and followed the lines again.  Basically the quilting is staggered into each layer giving it a 3D effect.  I also used one of the decorative stitches to put an asterisk chain all throughout and also into the binding.   It is really striking and for what my dear husband calls a "free ball" it fits perfect.   I plan to add pockets in the future and have enough of the Friendship Braid left to do so.  I am toying with the idea of making star pockets instead but we'll see.

 

 

Bright Hopes = Done!

This quilt is for my oldest daughter.  It is called "Bright Hopes."  She is eighteen and just starting to figure out who she is as an adult and what she wants to do with her life.  A good mother always has the brightest hopes for her children and this quilt is a reflection of mine for this daughter.  Life does not always feel hopeful or bright especially when you are a teen, so hopefully she will always view this quilt and feel the goodwill I feel for her always.

She loves it by the way.

This is the first whole quilt I have done on my new machine and it came together very quickly.  With the amount of FMQing done on it, it should last a good LONG time.  It took me about a week to piece it and another week to quilt it so read: record time!   But as always, by the time I get to the binding, I am just ready to be DONE with the project and I am glad it is finished and turned out so well.  Gives me bright hopes for my next project already in progress, put temporarily on hold to finish this up.  My Hunter's Star, pic preview in the previous post. 

"Bright Hopes" is a twin size quilt and I had no issues whatsoever with the size of it on the new Juki.  It seemed rather small actually.  The Hunter's Star will finish around queen size so will be quite a bit more quilt to contend with.  But remember, I did my over sized king on my tiny Pfaff so I am confident this will also seem small even though it will be bigger than "Bright Hopes."

I am most proud of the borders on this quilt.  These are the first borders that were NOT wavy at all.  My husband was home when I was adding them and helped me measure and cut precisely.  Notice there are three borders so the zero waviness is like tripe victory!  The piecing of the blocks was "good enough" in some cases and perfect in others.  I'm find with that.

My new machine has a really nice darning foot but I am still getting used to how to "see" and sew with it.  I got a lot of practice here and I know that by the time I finish the Hunter's Star, I will have mastered whatever it is my brain and eyes need to do to "see."

So, that's it for now.  Taking a rest from quilting.  A little tiny rest.

Out With the Old, In With the New

My Pfaff 803 is officially retired as is the old set-up of my studio.  It just wasn't working for quilting as well as business sewing in tandem.   There was too much unusable space and this room is quite small to start so with my new Juki Exceed F600 arriving, my studio got a major remodel.

 

 

 

This set-up is much more spacious and functional.

 

 

I cannot say enough good things about my new machine.  It was worth the wait.  Upgrading from such an old machine, I am certain that nearly any quality machine would have made me happy. However, I did a lot of research on this particular model before purchasing. 

I have a Juki industrial serger as well as a Juki domestic serger that are my work horse machines and this new Juki domestic sewing machine has been a great addition to the "family."  I haven't missed my Pfaff or its back up, the New Home, at all.  In fact, I don't think I could even consider sewing on either of those ever again.  I honestly did not think I needed a machine with all the bells and whistles until I got it.  All the bells and whistles have cut my sewing time down by 1/3 so that is significant.  I would say that a good portion of the time saved on this new machine was spent in frustration on the old.  So sewing on the Juki has been like a dream come true. I think this is a really well thought out machine for a serious seamstress/quilter.  I could go on and on but honestly, I just want to sew and enjoy it and try to let this one truth set in:  it's mine!

Here are a few things I have been doing in the last two weeks since the Juki arrived.

I made this mariner's compass wall hanging first because I wanted to have a project I could not only piece but also free motion quilt.  It came together quickly and FMQ'ed with no thread issues whatsoever.  Read: FAST!  The vast amount of stitch patterns for finishing gave me more than enough choices to finish the binding in a complimentary manner. 

Now that I have room for larger projects, I am working on a Hunter's Star quilt.   I think this will finish around 100x100 and the top is nearly done.  9 more squares to go and I am ready to baste this.

And just because I can, I have another quilt top in progress as well.  This one is the start of a disappearing hourglass.  I am making this one for my daughter who has no idea so...fun!

That's it for now....

Playing Catch Up

I've been busy with projects, not so much with blogging them.  So here you go...

This was a quick table runner for my daughter.  We finished redecorating her room and it ended up that she needed a table runner to protect a dresser top.  She LOVES it.

Next, I made a Strata Star.  It is also a table topper.  I was just testing the pattern to see if I might want to make a bigger version for a larger quilt.  I really love it and may do it on a larger scale at some point future.

Meanwhile, I also made "Regal" who is a wall hanging.  A quick attempt at the stained glass look.  This turned out well.  My daughter wants to own this too.

So for now, all projects future are on hold awaiting a new machine to arrive.  It's tax return season and I've been waiting for about six months to upgrade my sewing machine.  I am currently sewing on a Pfaff 803, literally a dinosaur machine in which I have added three safety pins into the thread path for more accurate tension.  It's not the best and that is putting it mildly.  I've never had a new machine.  "New" to me, yes, but brand new, no.  So in a few days time, I will.  I cannot wait.  Therefore I have put off some things while I wait for it to come.  What I've really done is put off the frustrations associated with my current machine.  I'd like to be creating, and I might be having withdrawals, but I am waiting nonetheless.  This has been a good time to straighten up my sewing studio and brainstorm with my husband on ways to make it more efficient. 

So that's it for now.

Mt. Rainier "Sunrise"

My art quilt is done.

My husband and I do a lot of hiking at Mt. Rainier and as a result, I get a lot of pictures that can only be seen if you are willing to hike.  The inspiration for this wall hanging is from this image.

I hand dyed and/or painted all the fabrics used in my wall hanging and it turned out really well! 

Anna's Flower Garden

It's done and boy am I glad for that.   It turned out really cute but it was a LOT of work.  At one point, I really asked myself why I thought this was a good idea.  That was when I was about 3/4 of the way through putting the hexagons together and TIRED of them.  But I finished it.

With each completed project, I take some time to think about what worked and what didn't.  What I'd do differently, etc.  In this instance, I will readily tell you that it was my first and last "Flower Garden" quilt.  In person, it is really awesome to look at and feel.  But the piecing grew boring and tedious.  And even with an open-toe walking foot, it was hit or miss if the seams would end in the right spot.  As a result, I quilted it heavily so it won't decide to come undone with regular use.   I am finding that there are some projects where I really like the piecing but not the quilting and others work the opposite.  I didn't mind the quilting on this but it would have been better with the regular cotton batting I generally use.  However, I figured it would hide the "issues" I did not fix in the quilt top.  It mostly did.   I don't use extra puffy batting again though. 

After several quilting projects done, I am finding that I really enjoy piecing and quilting "art" quilts and I have one well under way currently.

Nearly There

This is "Anna's Flower Garden."

I dare say this quilt has been my nemesis.  One of those "seemed like a good idea at the time."  Hexagons, ugh!  Putting the individual flowers together was fine.  But putting them all together was tedious!  And they did not come together without issue.  Most of those issues I did not fix.  I thought I'd quilt them out by using a super puffy batting and for the most part, that has worked to hide the imperfections well.  But I hate the puffy batting.  Mainly because of my tiny harp space in which to work with it.  And once quilted, it is very stiff under the arm of the machine.  This won't be an issue in everyday use for for quilting, it is a PITA! 

But as my husband says, this quilt is really adorable and awesome.  I am just thankful it is not huge like my past quilts have been.  And I will be really grateful when the quilting is done.  That part I am enjoying when the batting co-operates.  At any rate, my daughter hasn't seen this at all so it will be a complete surprise.  We have been working to really deep clean and reorganize her room this past weekend.  I was planning to save this quilt to give her for her birthday in late February but now I am thinking I will give it to her when her room is completely finished.   She has been working very hard to clean out and has been a good sport about all the things that went to the garbage.  So this will be a special treat I think.  And I'll just be glad to get it done!

Masters of the Undersea

This is the quilt I made for my 16 year old son for Christmas. 

 

 

 

 

My son has been really interested in the quilting process from the start of my quilting journey.  He begged me to give him "Traveling Stars."  I told him I'd make one specifically for him for Christmas.  He loves all things camo and orange.  The fish entered the picture when his previous store bought quilt with a fishing theme ended up in so many tatters that he packed it away for "memories."  I wanted to make him something that would, in a way, bring that quilt back to life.  This did.  He loves it.  I really enjoyed making it. 

The quilt top only took seven days to piece but the quilting took a month.  I see that as tons of practice and this quilt really put my free motion quilting into a new and better place.

Done

Monsoon = done

Star Canvass = done

 

 

 

Now, on to Anna's Flower Garden, pieced and ready to baste.  Photos coming soon.

Monsoon

My son recently took an art class in high school.  He does not consider himself artistic in any way.  The projects required did not seem appropriate for a beginning art class at all which only added to his dismay.  One of the first projects was painting a still life.    He was really concerned about his ability to paint anything realistic so I suggested we sit down at the table together and just do a practice project and see where it took us.  This is what he came up with.

While this was not what the teacher had in mind for a still life, I really loved it.  It is probably the only painting my son will ever create.   As it was a warm-up project, we did not use good paper and thus it has already curled at the edges.   I did scan it into a computer folder for safe-keeping, however, I really wanted to have a lasting impression of this so I decided to make it into a quilted wall hanging.  Here is what I came up with.

Monsoon

This is my first quilted project inspired by art.  The rust, turquoise, and maroon/gray fabrics are from my hand-dyed hemp stash.  Remnants of other projects put into good use.   The rust and turquoise fabrics are hemp jerseys which I was a bit reluctant to use but once fused, they were quite a nice surprise.  They really puffed up well with quilting and there were no issues with stretch at all.  I have several other hand-dyed jerseys in my stash and after doing this little trial project, I am pondering a much larger one.

All that is left to do with "Monsoon" is to add binding and a hanger.  I already have a place picked out to display it.

You might be wondering what my son thinks of it.  First, he was astounded that I liked this picture so much that I'd even want to recreate it.  And second, he LOVES it.   Perhaps it will inspire him to paint something else.

This post is linked up with Freshly Pieced Modern Quilts WIP Wednesday.

Steady Progress

My "Star Canvass" quilt is coming along nicely.

I finished another flower yesterday.  Just three more to go.

I joined Christina Cameli's Craftsy class and am loving it.  I did not realize she was a midwife until joining the class but I recognize and appreciate the gentleness of spirit that she has.  I have the utmost respect for midwives and have found them to have that very same gentleness - I chose to have each of my four babies at home in the bathtub with my beloved midwife, Toni Erickson.  Sadly, Toni has passed on.  

Anyway, I have been pondering what to do with some of the blocks in this quilt and now I know.

The inner square is a paisley design I learned from Leah Day's Free Motion Project.  The outer design is asterisk string that I learned in Christina's class.  It works really well with the overall South West feel of this quilt.  And it is easy and fast to stitch.   The only thing left to decide is how to finish the stars.  I have some ideas on that but nothing solid.

I got a new lamp to sew with yesterday and am really happy with the lighting it provides.

The large silver lamp is the Tertial work lamp from Ikea.  It is perfect.  I had another clamp on work light but it was really old when I got it and it died.   Between the smaller lamp in the back and the Tertial lamp on the side, I can make shadows and light work well for seeing stitching.  I am excited to experiment more with lighting today as I continue to stitch on "Star Canvass."