Sunday, April 1, 2012

Tracing Designs

In the back of the studio, I am still working on this quilt:
Now that I have all the blocks made and all the borders pieced; I got out this handy "light box" my hubby made for me.
Yes, it is huge!
We had this piece of plexi-glass left over from a project, stored in the attic since 1985.
See, you never know when something like that will be re-purposed and be quite handy!
A couple of years ago, I needed a large place to trace on a huge 116 x 116 quilt:
So, I just laid the plexi-glass on some 1x1 lumber scrap to support it across my ironing table and my portable cutting table. 
This, by the way, was the end result of this quilt.
Lots of tracing--and yes, I made this design especially to fit this quilt.
Back to the blocks at hand:
Seeing how well it worked, I wanted a more stable and permanent solution so that's when hubby attached the plexi-glass to a mitered corner frame made of 1 x 2 wood.

It's portable, light weight and easily stored away behind my batting.
Now, with a few minor height adjustments (ie: giant pin cushion/thread catcher on right front corner), I can place it in the space between my sewing tables.
Sit comfortably, putting a table lamp on the floor . . . 
. . . arrange my clip art . . .  
 . . . and in no time, I had a design traced on all 25 blocks. 
I now have 1/3 of the quilt completely assembled and should start quilting this week!

8 comments:

  1. Wow! I'm totally impressed with your light box!!! And even more impressed with the beautiful quilting on your quilt - gorgeous!!!

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  2. A clever idea for tracing designs and repurposing the plexiglass.

    Your design and quilting in the corners is amazing. I am sure your customer was thrilled: I know I would be if it was my quilt.

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  3. Now THAT is a light box! I'd never thought of drawing my quilting design on before I even finished making the quilt top.

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  4. Another GREAT idea, Ann. I'm like Cheryl, I never thought about marking the quilt before finishing the top. I'll have to try and sweet talk my DH into making me a light box like that. (I'll probably end up doing it myself) Quilting is quite amazing, such detail. Your H2H quilt are so cute, someone is going to love them.

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  5. Very clever! Great idea to make it portable and easy to store away. Your blocks look lovely with their sea theme motifs.

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  6. wow, that is a really cool technique you've come up with. Can't wait to see the blocks finished up.

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  7. Fabulous repurposing!! It also justifies some major 'keep it in cases'. Great problem solving skills too!! We would have some great times brain-storming, if we lived near each other. I feel like we think alike.

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