Just bought the book! I know I am going to love it and wish I had written it :). I already have plenty of threads to use. This is going to be fun. Congrats Deborah Louie !
Great tips! After a busy day in my sewing room, I get to watch you and hand quilt! I hope you have a fabulous week ahead! Thank you for your time, talent and posting this video!
Just yesterday my Machine Magic book arrived. I excitedly waited for it to arrive for over a month. Australia Post has a way to go..... I am so excited to get started but just as excited reading through the book and taking it all in. I love this book. I am going to make a list of supplies I will need. Some I have already and others, like stablilizer, fusible webbing and special needles I will buy. My machine is rearing to go. She is keen to strut her stuff and I want her to shine.
Hi Suzanne! You could - but denim needles have a thinner/sharper point made to spread through densely woven layers which aren't necessarily needed for this technique. A universal 90/14 or 100/16 would work with the 12 weight thread. You might also consider using a topstitch needle for crisper results with your decorative stitches - but whether or not that makes a big difference varies from machine to machine. - Betsy.
Hey there, I love this book it is just beautiful!! I have been working on getting the flower pieces put on the fusible webbing. The paper falls off of the smaller pieces when I am cutting them out. Any suggestions to prevent that?
Hi Pamela, I think you're saying that the paper is coming off the webbing and then you can't tell which number piece you have? If I'm understanding that correctly - it could be a few things: 1. You could be leaving the iron on the piece too long and the glue on the paper-backed side is curing and is no longer sticky enough to hold onto the paper. If that's the case, you'll have trouble fusing those tiny pieces down to the quilt too - because the glue is essentially "used". To fix that try to see if the webbing will fuse on with a shorter iron time. Also, make sure you're following the manufacturer's directions for fusing temperature and whether or not they recommend steam. 2. The fusible webbing could be old and lacking some of its "sticking power" so when it's just a small piece there's not enough sticky left to hold the paper to the shape. This can happen even if the webbing is new to you - who knows how long it's sat on the shelf, or in a warehouse before it got to the store. In that case, the only real suggestion I would have is to use smaller applique pins to hold the paper to the shape. You can find Deborah Louie on instagram and reach out to her directly if you'd like. She may have a few more suggestions. - Betsy F with Customer Care
Dear ms Louie, thank you for the fabulous book! I'm working hard to recreate my own versión of your art. I'm using 12w thread in top, 80w in bobbin, a 90/14 topstitch needle and can't seem to keep thread from breaking when trying to decorative stitch your flowers. I took off backing paper for fusible and added hw stabilizer but I fused the smaller pieces when stacking. Is that proper? Please help me figure this out.
Hi there, some machines don't like that big of a weight difference between the top thread and the bobbin thread - particularly if you're trying to use a very dense decorative stitch. If you're using a cotton 12 weight, make sure it's not rotten. If you wrap it around your finger and pull and it snaps super easily - the thread has likely gone to the bad. Since we've posted this on behalf of Deborah, she doesn't always see these comments. For further troubleshooting - I recommend reaching out to her via her website or social media outlets.
Great video - thank you. I’m very much looking forward to receiving my copy of Machine Magic, however, having watched several of your videos and tips, I’m now wondering if there is any reason not to use the Bernina Circular Attachment instead of the “one stitch” function to make life easier? I do realise that not everyone will own, or want to buy, this attachment but I do find it extremely useful.
I'm not familiar with that attachment, but I had something that sounds similar for my Viking. If similar, it would certainly work well for creating perfect circles!
Hi Diana - we can't ship to Australia from ctpub.com right now - but you can get this title on Search Press Australia. It's not quite released there yet - but it's headed over the ocean and should arrive there soon.
Deborah, your designs are gorgeous. Love how bright and happy they are. Also, your book looks great! Thank you.
So excited for this book, your quilts are beautiful 💐 you’re such a thorough and detailed teacher 🤩
Just bought the book! I know I am going to love it and wish I had written it :). I already have plenty of threads to use. This is going to be fun. Congrats Deborah Louie !
Absolutely gorgeous! Wonderful!
Love this
Great tips! After a busy day in my sewing room, I get to watch you and hand quilt! I hope you have a fabulous week ahead! Thank you for your time, talent and posting this video!
Just yesterday my Machine Magic book arrived. I excitedly waited for it to arrive for over a month. Australia Post has a way to go..... I am so excited to get started but just as excited reading through the book and taking it all in. I love this book. I am going to make a list of supplies I will need. Some I have already and others, like stablilizer, fusible webbing and special needles I will buy. My machine is rearing to go. She is keen to strut her stuff and I want her to shine.
If you use a 12 weight thread do you need to use a demim (18) needle?
Hi Suzanne! You could - but denim needles have a thinner/sharper point made to spread through densely woven layers which aren't necessarily needed for this technique. A universal 90/14 or 100/16 would work with the 12 weight thread. You might also consider using a topstitch needle for crisper results with your decorative stitches - but whether or not that makes a big difference varies from machine to machine. - Betsy.
Hey there, I love this book it is just beautiful!! I have been working on getting the flower pieces put on the fusible webbing. The paper falls off of the smaller pieces when I am cutting them out. Any suggestions to prevent that?
Hi Pamela, I think you're saying that the paper is coming off the webbing and then you can't tell which number piece you have? If I'm understanding that correctly - it could be a few things:
1. You could be leaving the iron on the piece too long and the glue on the paper-backed side is curing and is no longer sticky enough to hold onto the paper. If that's the case, you'll have trouble fusing those tiny pieces down to the quilt too - because the glue is essentially "used". To fix that try to see if the webbing will fuse on with a shorter iron time. Also, make sure you're following the manufacturer's directions for fusing temperature and whether or not they recommend steam.
2. The fusible webbing could be old and lacking some of its "sticking power" so when it's just a small piece there's not enough sticky left to hold the paper to the shape. This can happen even if the webbing is new to you - who knows how long it's sat on the shelf, or in a warehouse before it got to the store. In that case, the only real suggestion I would have is to use smaller applique pins to hold the paper to the shape.
You can find Deborah Louie on instagram and reach out to her directly if you'd like. She may have a few more suggestions. - Betsy F with Customer Care
Dear ms Louie, thank you for the fabulous book! I'm working hard to recreate my own versión of your art. I'm using 12w thread in top, 80w in bobbin, a 90/14 topstitch needle and can't seem to keep thread from breaking when trying to decorative stitch your flowers. I took off backing paper for fusible and added hw stabilizer but I fused the smaller pieces when stacking. Is that proper? Please help me figure this out.
Hi there, some machines don't like that big of a weight difference between the top thread and the bobbin thread - particularly if you're trying to use a very dense decorative stitch. If you're using a cotton 12 weight, make sure it's not rotten. If you wrap it around your finger and pull and it snaps super easily - the thread has likely gone to the bad. Since we've posted this on behalf of Deborah, she doesn't always see these comments. For further troubleshooting - I recommend reaching out to her via her website or social media outlets.
Great video - thank you. I’m very much looking forward to receiving my copy of Machine Magic, however, having watched several of your videos and tips, I’m now wondering if there is any reason not to use the Bernina Circular Attachment instead of the “one stitch” function to make life easier? I do realise that not everyone will own, or want to buy, this attachment but I do find it extremely useful.
I'm not familiar with that attachment, but I had something that sounds similar for my Viking. If similar, it would certainly work well for creating perfect circles!
Can this book be purchased in Australia?
Hi Diana - we can't ship to Australia from ctpub.com right now - but you can get this title on Search Press Australia. It's not quite released there yet - but it's headed over the ocean and should arrive there soon.