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Learn, Learning process, Make, Needlework, Sew & Patchwork

Constellation quilt tips and materials

May 7, 2021 2 Comments

My progress on the haptic lab constellation quilt

My haptic lab constellation quilt has been is a work in progress since mid-2020. It began as a long-term project from which I have learned a lot! Luckily I ended up doing it during the challenging year of 2020 and the first months of 2021. It was a reflection project that valued the routine and supported some challenging moments.

After introducing you to my handmade quilt here, I made the sandwich of the top, batting and bottom layer. This is something that is usually done almost last in a normal quilting project. To this Sandwich I also added the constellation quilt pattern on paper over the top layer. This was the basis for embroidering the stars. I think it is no longer possible to buy this paper version. But I admit that it was a blessing to still be able to get it!

Guidelines machine stitching

As a matter of consistency of this constellation quilt, I chose to machine stitch the pattern guidelines. This allowed me to dedicate the effort of hand embroidery only to the constellations. It also allowed me to manage expectations and be creative in the use of materials while reinforcing the stability of the quilt.

After stitching the guidelines I dedicated most of the time to the most fun, yet repetitive part of this project: embroidering. I searched for many possible material options for each element. I though about making everything in the same color, about the proposed stitches, and I came to the following conclusion. Since I preferred the guidelines to go unnoticed, I stitched them using a thread of the same color as the top layer. Thus, I was able to give more emphasis to the stars and relax the complexity of the design.

Embroidering the constellations

Regarding the constellations, I must say that the process was somewhat revealing. In one hand I didn’t know how the materials were going to work because the final effect was hidden below the paper pattern. So, I embraced my imagination to predict the final effect and trusted the process!

For the stars I used a 6 strand silver embroidery thread. I separated 3 strands to use each time. This thread was a headache to work because the metallic thread wears out quickly while embroidering. I learned to use smaller portions of thread to decrease the risk of tearing it too much. In spite of that, I was excited to use this thread! I think the 3 strands give the “bulcky” effect that I was looking for without the intensity of a perlé thread! In addition, I confess that metallic perlé thread is not my favorite at all.

For the connecting lines between the stars I used the same thread in a light gold. A light gold goes better with the rest of the color palette. I was undecided between an interrupted or uninterrupted line. But as I finished the first constellations, I found that the uninterrupted line created less visual clutter in the overall design.

Names and the Milky Way

Two more groups of information were missing: the names of the constellations and the stars of the Milky Way. To make them I went for a soft perlé in two shades of blue. I used the lightest for the milky way stars, and the “not so dark” blue for the names of the constellations.

In the case of the milky way stars, I had to make an important decision. I found many references saying that the French knot stitch that the pattern suggested created some problems when tearing out the paper pattern. Many stitches fall apart at that time, even if the process is done carefully. In addition, the French knot is a delicate stitch, especially if the quilt is handled a lot. Now, those who know the headache of making French knots as many times as the project calls can imagine what it is like to have to redo them over and over. So I left my perfectionism aside (or did I actually embrace it …?) and replaced the French knots with a very delicate cross stitch.

Tearing off my constellation quilt!

The embroidery part of my haptic lab constellation quilt is finally finished! Now I have already started to tear and carefully remove the paper pattern to reveal the constellations. I still have to add some details as well as trim the edges and make the binding. So I will save a final revelation, full of good photos, for a next post! For now I show you this “sneak peak” of the satisfying moments of removing the paper quilt pattern that hid the embroidery of my haptic lab constellation quilt!

Learn, Learning process, Make, Nature, Sew & Patchwork

Starting my Constellation Quilt

August 3, 2020 No Comments

(scroll for the English version)

Vou começar mais uma empreitada, mais um grande quilt e, desta vez é quase todo acolchoado à mão!

Não é segredo nenhum que sou uma grande contempladora do céu. Observar o céu nocturno é uma das minhas coisas favoritas, um hábito que adquiri com o meu pai. O céu foi algo que nunca me passou pela cabeça deixar de fora no meu Nature Journal porque é, sem dúvida, parte dela e parte da nossa história.

Quando a Constança partilhou pela primeira vez o seu quilt das constelações eu pensei de imediato: “este é um projecto para eu fazer no futuro!” Alguns anos se passaram e eu ganhei alguma experiência com quilts de maiores dimensões pelo que finalmente me senti capaz de embarcar nesta aventura pelas estrelas. Aos poucos comprei o kit da HapticLab e fui escolhendo os materiais. O kit vem acompanhado com um pequeno guia mas confesso que não é muito aprofundado no que diz respeito à escolha de materiais pelo que, neste caso, a experiência vale tudo. Não que qualquer pessoa não possa fazê-lo, porque pode, mas para uma peça que exigente tanto investimento e tempo, para mim é essencial fazer boas escolhas de material.

Escolhi um quilting cotton em azul bem escuro porque não queria o compromisso dos tons mais claros do cobalto, mas também não me agradava a ideia de destituir o quilt do imaginário do céu azul. Prefiro dar-lhe um twist especial noutros detalhes. Para o verso, não compliquei e escolhi o branco, sobretudo porque não quero que tenha qualquer influência no quilt e porque, sendo acolchoado à mão, queria deixar os pontos visíveis e arrumados pelo verso. O meu batting é de 80% de algodão. Tenho sempre preferência pelos 100% algodão mas confesso que tenho a sensação que acabam por encolher ligeiramente e, neste caso, não quis arriscar.

Seleccionei um fio de algodão 40 para acolchoar as linhas orientadoras (ainda não decidi se faço esta parte à máquina ou não), meadas de 6 fios para bordar nos tons metalizados mais subtis que encontrei e fio de algodão 8 em branco e alguns tons de azul claro (que na verdade ainda não tenho a certeza como usarei). Apetrechei-me de agulhas para quilting e para bordar, um bom dedal e do maior bastidor que tinha.

Este é um projecto para muitos meses, sobretudo porque durante o verão, o calor não vai deixar-me ter o mesmo tipo de rendimento. Por isso, é um trabalho do qual não vou dar muitas notícias no blog entretanto, mas que poderão acompanhar mais regularmente na minha conta do instagram e do facebook!

I’m going to start another big project, another big quilt, and this time it’s almost all hand quilted!

It is no secret that I am love star gazing. Admiring the night sky is one of my favorite things, a habit I acquired with my father. The sky was something that never crossed my mind not being in my Nature Journal because it is undoubtedly part of it and part of our history.

When Constança first shared her constellation quilt I immediately thought: “this is a project for me to do in the future!” Some years went by and I gained some experience with bigger quilts so I finally felt able to embark on this adventure among the stars. Gradually I bought the HapticLab kit and started to choose the materials to use on it. The quilt kit comes with a small guide, but I confess that it is not very helpful regarding the choice of the main materials so, in this case, my previous experience is worth everything. Not that anyone can’t do it because you can, but for a piece of work that requires so much investment and time, for me it is essential to make good material choices.

I chose a dark blue quilting cotton for the front because I didn’t want the compromise of the lighter shades of cobalt, but I also didn’t like the idea of removing the “blue sky imaginary” from the quilt. I prefer to give it a special twist in other details. For the back, I didn’t overthink it and chose white, especially because I don’t want it to have any influence on the quilt and because, being hand quilted, I wanted to make it clean for the stitches to be visible from the back. My batting is 80% cotton. I always prefer 100% cotton but I confess that I have the feeling that they end up shrinking slightly and, in this case, I didn’t want to take any chances. I selected a 40 cotton thread to quilt the guidelines (I still haven’t decided if I will machine quilt this part or not), embroidery 6 threads thread in the most subtle metallic tones I found, and 8 cotton embroidery thread in white and some shades of blue (I’m not really sure how I will use it yet). I equipped myself with quilting and embroidery needles, a good leader thimble and the biggest frame I had.

This is a project for many months of work, mainly because during the summer the heat will not let me work taht hard on it. So it is a project that you won’t get that much news on the blog in the meantime, but that you can follow it more regularly on my instagram and facebook accounts!

Make, Sew & Patchwork

My Spring Mini Quilt

July 17, 2020 No Comments

Terminei mais um mini quilt!

Tinha deixado um mini quilt com o binding por fazer há uns tempos! E esta época tem sido, nada mais nada menos, que a época ideal para terminar projectos e começar novos! Por isso, terminei o meu mini quilt durante a primavera e ele tem alegrado a entrada de minha casa nos últimos meses.

Os mini quilts são uma excelente forma de testar padrões e criar pequenas peças para scraps e aqueles fat quarters que ficaram “esquecidos” para uma ocasião especial. No fim, podem parecer não ter uma grande utilização, mas eu confirmo que são excelentes para um centro de mesa ou na entrada!

I finished a mini quilt!

I had left a mini quilt without the binding inside a drawer some time ago! And this season has been the ideal time to finish projects and start new ones! So I finished my spring mini quilt that has been cheering my house up for the past few months.

Mini quilts are an excellent way to test patterns and create small pieces from scraps and those fat quarters that have been “forgotten” for a special occasion. In the end, they may not seem to be of much use, but I assure you that they are excellent for a table centerpiece or your entrance!

Make, Seasons, Sew & Patchwork, Summer

She needed a hat!

July 9, 2020 1 Comment

(scroll for the English version)

Ela precisava de um chapéu!

A minha afilhada D. passou dois dos seus primeiros meses em isolamento social por causa da pandemia de COVID-19. Estava ansiosa por sair cá para fora mas, com o tempo a aquecer, andava à procura do seu primeiro chapéu! Como estava tudo fechado, eu pus as mãos na massa e, numa noite, fiz-lhe um bonnet, o meu modelo de chapéu favorito para os mais pequenos. Além de protegerem a cabeça do sol, protegem o pescoço e os olhos. Também protegem do vento, permitem atar sem apertar o maxilar e não incomodam a dormir. Para a D. usei um tecido azul liso e outro com passarinhos coloridos pelo que o chapéu é facilmente usado com todas as cores sem pesar constantemente no habitual cor de rosa. São ambos 100% algodão, um aspeto essencial para promover a respiração da pele. Além disso é reversível!

She needed a hat!

My goddaughter D. spent two of her first months in social isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was looking forward to going outside, but with the warm weather, she was looking for her first hat! Since everything was closed, one night, I got my hands to make her a bonnet, my favorite hat model for the little ones. In addition to protecting the head from the sun, bonnets protect the neck and eyes. They also protect from the wind, allow you to tie without tightening the baby jaw and can be wear while sleeping. For D. I used a plain blue fabric and another fabric with colorful birds, so the hat is easily used with all the colors. Plus I ran away from the usual baby pink color. Both fabrics are 100% cotton, an essential aspect to promote skin breathing. It is also reversible!