Threads in a Row 2.0

I created this quilt for the 2nd Annual Project Quilting Mystery Quilt Along created by Kim Lapacek of Persimon Dreams. I have always loved a good mystery quilt and couldn't resist getting involved with this one. And Project Quilting is super fun, so I was ready to get started!

When I got to clue 6, I was quite surprised that this quilt was spools of thread. I have to admit, I never saw that coming.  It reminded me of the quilt below that I made for the Project Quilting 9.5 A Stitch in Time challenge.  I called that one Threads in a Row (Ready to Sew), so this one is called Threads in a Row 2.0. It is going to Kim (who also happens to be my daughter-in-law) to become part of a lap quilt. After all, she does have a wall in her house that is filled with pictures of spools of thread...

Created by Diane Lapacek near Poynette, WI.
27" x 64"

Threads in a Row (Ready to Sew

Created for Project Quilting 9.5 A Stitich in Time challenge.

I'm still working with strings, so my first idea was to make spool blocks with strings for the thread.  As I started, I knew I wanted narrower strings, so I went to my collection of shreds.  Shreds are strips too skinny to be strings, typically less than 3/4" wide. Selvages go in with my shreds.  When I work with them I usually stitch them to a foundation leaving the edges raw. That is the approach I used here, creating spools of different colors and different types.

Created by Diane Lapacek near Poynette, WI.

10" x 34".

Worlds to Explore

Created for the Project Quilting Season 7 "All About That Thread" challenge and also for the Lodi Valley Quilters Guild Circles challenge.

I started with 1 yard of my hand-dyed fabric, then found some circular objects and traced them on a piece of freezer paper.  I labeled each section and added marks on all the lines so I could get the pieces back together correctly.  All the circles were set in by machine and they laid flat when I was done!  Victory!

Different quilting in each circle and and simple lines in the background completed the quilting.

To fit the thread theme of the challenge, I got out the jar of rayon threads that sits by my machine.  It holds trimmings, tangled threads and a few spools that were only slightly wet after the water leak in my sewing room a few years back.  I thought they'd be okay, but they seem to break way too much when I try to use them now.  I layered threads between 2 pieces of water soluble stabilizer and quiltied the layers together densely to create "fabric" made of threads.  I cut circles in assorted sizes and stitched them to the quilt.  Done! All requirements satisfied for 2 challenges.

I struggled with a name for this quilt.  My first set of pictures was taken last night and they were terrible.  I took another set this morning in my sunroom and looking at the pictures on my screen, it came to me.  Worlds to Explore.  It relates not only to the image I was seeing, but to the techniques used and those yet to come in my quilting world.


24" x 32"
Created by Diane Lapacek near Poynette, WI.

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