As I look back over the week, I just realized I spent a lot of time behind my sewing machine. I accomplished trimming all the blocks and sewing them together. When I came across a block that I signed with a pigma pen, I worried that my signature may fade over time. So I decided to use the back stitch and embroider over my name and date with a single strand of DMC. Since this is a reproduction quilt that had M.E.C. 1848 cross stitched into a block on the original quilt, I thought it fitting to add those intitials and date to a block in mine.
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| M. E. C. 1848 |
It was nice to stop in the midst of all my machine stitching to stop and do the embroidery. My sewing space has windows that face east so I was able to sit and stitch as the sun's rays gave me great light and warmed my bones. So glad I took the time to enjoy the few extra stitches As soon as I get the borders added I can get back to finishing the applique on the corners. Yipee more slow stitches!
This evening I will continue adding more 2 inch squares to my TATW. Each round is taking longer and I definitely don't work on it often enough. Another drama filled episode of Downton Abby to enjoy tonight, so hopefully I will make some more progress on this project. Thirteen rounds are complete not sure when it will end. If you are adding some slow stitches today, make sure you go over to Kathy's
blog and join the linky party at Slow Stitching Sundays. I am also linking up with Angie's
WIP Be Gone!
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| 13 rounds complete |
How in the world you people watch TV AND sew at the same time is beyond me, lol. I can JUST sew and still have to make sure my mind doesn't wander..if it does, out comes the seam ripper!
ReplyDeleteYour embroidery looks so pretty!
I can do it with my TATW but I don't hand quilt to television. I prefer audio books!
DeleteLOL - I was thinking the same thing as I read Deb's comment. To me, if I'm stitching it's like listening to radio - I can't look up either.
DeleteBeautiful embroidery and such a wonderful way to document your quilt. I fear sometimes that the Pigma pen will not hold up over time. Embroidery is definitely the way to go. Makes me wonder... how many quilters are stitching and watching Downton Abbey at the same time??? LOL You can count me in!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many are watching too! I have used the pigma on labels and they do fade out a bit, so I figured it doesn't take that long to put in a few back stitches. Just glad I have reading glasses for this small work.
DeleteOh.. and a follow up question. Do you date your quilt when you started it? I never know if I should use the year I started or the year I finished. Just curious.
ReplyDeleteOn this one I just put the year I started the first block and another block has the original maker's initials and year. Then I will put the finished year on the label. I have a friend who makes baltimores and she dates each block. Her first one took her ten years so I bet is interesting to look back at the dates.
DeleteA great idea to embroider your name on a project. I would like to do that more often.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your stitching today!
I agree I need to do it more too! I also have seen some hand quilt their initials or name in a corner. I haven't gotten that creative yet but a circle with initials might not be too hard to do.
DeleteI love how your TATW is coming along. I have my next 3 rows for the 2 inch one cut and lines drawn. I think it tends to be my end of the month project now waiting for the next RSC color to come out! Each round does take longer.... but they are so fun to make. Love the embroidery on the block.
ReplyDeleteThat is how it works out for me working on my TATW, when something gets finished or I need a break from it. I am trying to at least work on it one night a week.
DeleteThat was a great idea. There is something so zen like and peaceful with hand stitching isn't there. Hoping for Sunny skies for you (and me!) for the week ahead..
ReplyDeleteYes there is! I know now that the embroidery won't fade!
DeleteI love the applique block and I agree adding stitching to your initials. The TATW is colorful.
ReplyDeleteThe TATW is an attempt to learn to hand piece. I must say I feel better about the whole process now that I 13 rows under my belt.. I love being able to just keep stitching and adding squares. I am using fabrics that just never get picked from the stash. They finally get their turn.
DeleteNever thought of dating the blocks, but that would be a good thing for me since it takes me forever to get one done. Beautiful work Carla. I will consider using embroidery for my documentation. Thanks for linking to WIPs Be Gone. You're making great progress.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you kind comments. I was just about to go back and look for your link when I got your email. I added the button to my blog it is so much easier that way.
DeleteYour applique block has a lot of pieces. Must have taken a good while to stitch them down. The date and initials a perfect addition.
ReplyDeleteYes it took me two years to finish all the blocks and the borders. I got the borders sewn on earlier this afternoon Now to just finish the corner swags and eight more flowers. Hopefully I will have a completed top soon. It will go in the closet till fall when I will start to hand quilt it. Thanks
DeleteI always think I should embroider the name and date rather than Pigma pens or printer labels. I too worry that the ink will fade. That being said, I rarely embroider the information. I just want to be finished.
ReplyDeleteI don't always make labels, but I do for my special quilts. Which reminds me i need to make one for my granddaughter's birthday quilt so I can get it mailed off to Seattle.
DeleteI was doing some needle turned applique in the sunshine the other day in the upstairs hall study corner and the light was pouring over my right shoulder as I worked with my hands resting on the desk to my left. The shadow the sun cast was so dark, it was hard to see my stitches. but I finished the block.
ReplyDeleteI find the morning light from the big window in sewing room is the best light to stitch by! So thankful for this space.
DeleteBeautiful projects, both of them. Love the embroidered signature....much nicer than the penned.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennie! I can't imagine making the original quilt back in 1848 with the limited tools and light that they had back then.
DeleteYour hand embroidered name and date are so pretty and a wise choice over the pigma pen! I really like the idea of dating each block. That would be fun to look back on in the future, especially those WIPs that take me forever to complete!
ReplyDeleteI agree my friend says the dates really helped her remember what was going on in their families lives when she was working on each particular block. When I see an old quilt I often wonder about the maker. Maybe we should add our blog address so in the future someone could find our blog post about our quilts.
DeleteI've always worried about the ink fading from Pigma pens ... embroidery would be such a better alternative.
ReplyDeleteIt really didn't take that long and definitely more permanent!
Deleteyour embroidered signature is lovely!!
ReplyDeleteyour TATW is looking awesome
Thanks Barb! Everything left from my old stash is going into it! Maybe I should name it Everything but the kitchen sink!
DeleteI love your trip quilt so much! I think the embroidery over the writing is a good idea--you never know what will happen with the ink.
ReplyDeleteI am using fabrics that never seemed to get used from my stash, It doesn't seem to matter how ugly they are, as long as there is good contrast from the row before. It is a great way to practice my hand piecing.
DeleteNames and dates are important and oh so welcome to those who will see your beautiful work in 100 years and say, "Oh, I'd like to learn more about her". You have inspired me (and hopefully others) to go back and embroider over some of my inked signatures and dates. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI was a wondering if a blog address would be found in a 100 years! Wish we could go back and read a blog from a quilter long ago!
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