Sunday, May 12, 2013

Hand Stitching! Why?

I look back at my quilting history, and it has been quite a journey. I started out in the late nineties, wanting to get back into sewing. When my children were very young, I would sew a lot of their clothing and always loved to sew.  I also bought fabric back in the late seventies, when the bicentennial  sparked a new interest in quilts.  Time and family never allowed me to make that quilt and eventually after moving several times from one state to another, the fabric was donated to some charity.


Some twenty years later, with my children grown, I once again got the urge to make a quilt.  I purchased a new machine, hopefully this would help get me closer o my goal. It was a designed to really help someone conquer machine quilting, which was now becoming quite popular. Yes this could be the ticket!



It didn't  really do the trick, I gave it several tries. I even made a machine appliqued top that turned out quite well. Then I tried to machine quilt it, and became so disappointed in the results. Over the next several years and another move I found myself with a lot of time and this wonderful thing called the internet that was bubbling over with information and forums that discussing any subject that interested one.  A lot of practice later, I am making the quilts that I had dreamed about thirty years earlier.
So for me hand stitching is relaxing and allows me to be creative. I try to fit a bit of sewing into everyday of my life.  In today's busy world, it gives me "ME" time. A time to unwind, kick my feet up and ponder life.

53 comments:

  1. Your work is lovely! I have a similar story with starting during the uprise of the machine quilting rage. It never really fit with me either. So glad we remembered our Hands!!

    blessings,
    pam

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    1. Thank you, Pam! It just goes to show each of us needs to follow our hearts and it will all work out!

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  2. Lovely handquilting pictures. Bloghopping today and bookmarking. Dineke from The Netherlands

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    1. Bloglovin is a great way to follow blogs, Dineke! Thanks for stopping by and visiting!

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  3. Very inspiring! You do beautiful work!

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  4. Your hand quilting is lovely! i am making a baby quilt--do you think that hand stitching (which is my preference) would hold up for this type of quilt as well as the machine version? I have never machine quilted a whole top and am hesitant to try it on a gift item...Julierose

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    1. I think hand quilting is not as fragile as some think. Hand quilting thread is heavier than machine thread. The reason antique quilt are often heavily quilted was to add strength!

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  5. Love your work and your patterns. How big are your quilts? I too find hand quilting a silent pleasure! Averyclaire from Illinois, USA

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    1. I have made king size to down to wall hangings! Thanks for stopping by

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  6. Amen sister! I value each minute I get to stitch.

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  7. I agree doing hand work , applique or hand quilting, time to think and just relaxes me....
    great post
    Kathie

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  8. I love hand quilting to relax... you do amazing work! Thanks for sharing :) Kathi

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  9. Your work is just awesome!!

    Greetings from Spain.

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    1. Thanks Rosa! I love blogging and seeing what other quilters are doing around the world.

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  10. nice quilting! I do a little machine quilting but I am never as satisfied with the results - feel, looks - whatever as I am with hand quilting.

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    1. I agree, Karen! I have seen some beautiful machine work, but just never got the hang of it!

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  11. Beautiful. Nothing can duplicate the look of handwork.

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    1. Marjorie, There are machines that have tried, but I think they are missing the whole point of quilting, it is not about finishing quickly!

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  12. Such great work! Glad you joined the blog hop!
    ~ Carol from MI

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    1. Thank you Carol! I am glad you enjoyed my work. I basically blog to keep a record of my quilting, but it is so nice when someone takes the time to leave a comment!

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  13. Good for you - wonderful hand quilting going on and enjoyed reading about your journey - well said!!

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  14. Nice quilting and love the baltimore quilt.

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    1. Thank you and there are a lot more stitches to but in my Baltimore Garden!

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  16. Love your quilting, and the Baltimore blocks.
    Ann-Mari from Norway

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  17. I am so glad that you're making the quilts you dreamed about making years before! Beautiful work.:)

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  18. Your quilting is lovely. It is so nice to see that there are so many who really enjoy the art of hand quilting. I find that hand quilting is a good way of being fully present in the moment, a form of meditation for me.

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    1. Rose, Love the way you described hand quilting, it is like going to another place!

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  19. I enjoyed reading your blog. It seems that we've made a similar move into quilting. I too tried machine quilting but it was more of a chore. With hand quilting, I relax, unwind. Your quilting and appliqué is beautiful.

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    1. Thanks for stopping in Sandra! Yes machine quilting gets me tense, I guess I just wasn't cut out for it!

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  20. I agree that machine quilting isn't very relaxing and it takes away from the pretty design of the quilt!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by today! I agree I love the look of handwork!

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  21. This was my first visit to your blog but it won't be my last. Viewing your handwork is a treat... such lovely eye candy!

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    1. How nice of you to say such kind things. I think it shows when you enjoy what you do.

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  22. Congrats on doing something you truely enjoy babscorbitt@gmail.com

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  23. I am lucky, and keeps me from visiting the drug store!

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  24. I'm with you when it comes to machine quilting :). Thanks for sharing your photos and stories--I love the colors you've chosen for your quilt. Hand quilting is so peaceful and calming, though sometimes I think a quilt will never get finished....and then there are more tops waiting to be hand quilted. It's nice to meet other hand quilters through this blog hop.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, I agree too many quilts I want to make, but would rather have one hand quilted finished than ten that I have machine quilted, although there are some amazing machine quilter's!

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  25. Beautiful hand work! It is so enjoyable to do hand stitching. Your quilts are beautiful. SO glad you shared!

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  26. So true! It's a pleasure to read your posts and to see your lovely quilting. For me hand quilting is a special quiet time to think or simply get lost in the rhythm

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  27. I just get relaxed looking at your beautiful quilts and hand quilting. I must prepare something to hand quilt again. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I am happy to hear that I inspired you to do some hand quilting, it is so relaxing!

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  28. You do beautiful work!
    Right now, I don't have the patience for applique, but maybe someday. I won't rule it out, but in the meantime I can admire the work of quilters like you!

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    1. I want to thank you and inspire you! I never thought I could either but it is about practice, and I started by doing a simple Hawaiian quilt and moved on from there. I really do love the contrast of red and green quilts and also love to garden so this one touched my heart! Do what you love, and stay focused and your work will shine.

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