I love this time of year, so many wonderful colors in nature to enjoy. The weather starts to cool, which has allowed me to pull out my Red and Green Traditional quilt and start the process of hand quilting it. I pondered this week on how to tackle this project. I have read some quilt blogs where the quilter quilts around all the applique first and then comes back to fill in with background quilting. Often with applique quilts a grid is used as a background. It is about design, often in pieced quilts that have straight seams a soft rounded quilting design is chosen, but with the rounded shapes of applique the opposite is true and straight line grids are used. I have decided to treat this quilt the same as my other attempts at quilting and that is to finish all of the quilting as it presents itself in the hoop. Starting in the center of the quilt and working around moving the hoop around the finished areas until I reach the outer border. I hope to finish the second pineapple today in the large center block. The following picture shows all the stitching I did on the first one. There are four pineapples in the large center block so I have over hundred circles to quilt around. So I will definitely will be taking some breaks and enjoy stopping over at Kathy's blog and seeing what others are slow stitching today!
That is beautiful! I love the feathers you are doing around the pineapple. It almost makes me want to get out my long abandones hand quilting projects.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy! Hand quilting is my favorite part of making a quilt. Hand quilting around applique is like being in heaven! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteSuch a beautiful quilt and I love what you have chosen for the hand quilting. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteYou can't beat traditional red and green if you ask me. I have studied a lot of old quilt photos on the net and when I can in person. I try to find the balance of quilting and piecing that makes a quilt come alive. I still have a lot to learn, but I sure do love the journey.
DeleteIt is gorgeous Carla! As if the circles aren't hard enough to applique, now you are quilting around the circles... that is challenging (for me!!) Enjoy your slow stitching and thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy, like a dream come true for me. I felt the same way a few years ago!
DeleteWow, that is gorgeous! Your applique is beautiful, and your quilting enhances it very well. I especially love the feathers around the pineapple
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie, I appreciate your kind words. I am getting braver. I actually drew these on the quilt, I finally let go and tried some free handing. I knew I would never find the right stencil so I thought about the quilters of a decade ago, their feathers were not perfect, so why should mine have to be. It is a good feeling to just go for it!
DeleteThey aren't too bad to do. I used Kay Buckley's perfect circles which really makes it easier. to make circles. I just love the way they make a quilt sparkle. Thanks for you kind words!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteWow - that is really gorgeous. I love the quilting. really pretty.
ReplyDeletexo jan@sewandsowfarm
Thanks Jan, Nothing better than quilting around applique!
DeleteI agree with the other comments - the quilt is beautiful and the quilting is fabulous :-) Sounds like a journey you are enjoying which makes it even better.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and am thankful that I can sit and stitch!
DeleteLove the way the berries pop out as they are quilted around! It is progressing so nicely!
ReplyDeleteHilda
Thanks Hilda, With the weather cooling off, it is a joy to sit and stitch!
Deletebeautiful! love the quilting designs around your berries!
ReplyDeleteThanks Barb! It doesn't get better than quilting around applique!
DeleteFantastic quilting....your quilt is going to be absolutely stunning!
ReplyDeleteEllen, Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your kind words.
DeleteSuch perfect wee stitches. What an heirloom this will be : )
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Carla, I am really enjoying stitching this one!
DeleteIt looks wonderful! I can see that you are enjoying the quilting!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane! I love quilting, but still have so much to learn. Thanks for the tip on YLI thread. Your work is magnificent and your blog so inspirational.
ReplyDeleteJust the fact that you made all of those circles boggles my mind :) Beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Deb for your kind words. Those little circles are not that hard, but they do take time. I used Kay Buckley's perfect circles, I'm not big on notions but these are a must for appliquer's. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm impressed by your applique and quilting stitches ! Beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bea, I love hand work!
ReplyDelete