I am not one that quilts all year round. I sometimes wish I could but I live in the south in a very hot and humid climate. So I keep busy in the summers with machine work and applique. Sometime around mid September I start really getting the urge to do some hand quilting and I look forward to those cooler days so I can cuddle under a quilt. That change in weather happened this week. I actually had to pull out some jeans and had to put on a windbreaker this morning to take Max for his walk. Yes, hand quilting weather has arrived! Being an early riser, as I sipped my morning wakeup coffee, I pulled out panel 2 of Trailing Vines and added a few more leaves. This week I finish three branches!
But this afternoon, I will be under the quilt hoop working on Baltimore Garden. I finished placing some floral motifs around the center block and decided to figure out the background quilting before I went any further. I have always been one to finish each section before moving on when I quilt. I know some anchor seams by stitching in the ditch or finish all the motifs and then move to the background work. But I like to finish as I go! My original thought was to add heavy line work much like the original quilt. The thought of not marking and being more of a free spirit is intriging. But, than my inner self that likes things planned and organized takes over and I realize its just too scary. I really like following that marked line and I like to know exactly where I am going. So I settled upon a half inch crosshatching set on a 45 degree angle. Now its just a matter of putting in a few stitches each day until it is complete!
But this afternoon, I will be under the quilt hoop working on Baltimore Garden. I finished placing some floral motifs around the center block and decided to figure out the background quilting before I went any further. I have always been one to finish each section before moving on when I quilt. I know some anchor seams by stitching in the ditch or finish all the motifs and then move to the background work. But I like to finish as I go! My original thought was to add heavy line work much like the original quilt. The thought of not marking and being more of a free spirit is intriging. But, than my inner self that likes things planned and organized takes over and I realize its just too scary. I really like following that marked line and I like to know exactly where I am going. So I settled upon a half inch crosshatching set on a 45 degree angle. Now its just a matter of putting in a few stitches each day until it is complete!
You got a lot done in comparison to the photo that i saw the other day! LOVE the leaves and door picture....it struck my fancy as in what fairy tale could you write about the leaves coming in the door from the outdoors...are there elves or sprites not far behind? :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb! Both of these projects are fun! Good thing as they are going to take a while! Sounds like a story my youngest grandchildren would enjoy!
DeleteI love your quilting and think it's a great choice.....although, last year I did some freehand hand-quilting and it was such a great feeling! I do think you should try it sometime.
ReplyDeleteI have a pieced quilt that I hope to do a bit of free hand quilting on! I did a few zig zags on my pumpkin seed quilt and enjoyed that!
DeleteStunning hand quilting,. Enjoy the season.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ivani! My favorite part of making a quilt is the quilting!
DeleteYour quilting is so lovely :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, quilting time is here again; I will have to pull out the quilt waiting in the trunk for cooler weather.
What am I talking about - we did not really have "hot, hot" summer this year, it just did not happen!
But one likes to stick to seasons :-)
xx
Yeah, part of it is just a change of pace isn't it! Variety is the spice of life!
DeleteYour quilting is beautiful, I love the quilt design too
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is going to so exciting to see it come to life!
DeleteI'm not brave enough to try freehand hand quilting. I need those marked lines. The trailing vine looks so interesting. I may try it someday. Have a relaxing day. Gretchen
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear I am not the only one. I guess I just have come so used to following a line it's hard not to have a guide. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteYou got a lot done on those vines this week. Looking great. I too am happy for cooler weather - I actually enjoyed being in the garden today playing in the dirt to prep for fall planting (which seems totally strange to me and I am getting lots of family thinking I am nuts as they are also used to the summer planting schedule!) The heating pad on the back tonight and a quilt in my lap for quilting = happy me! Question - how do you mark the cross hatching lines. I have a quilt top with 4 appliqué blocks that eventually I will hand quilt and want to cross hatch in there. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes gardening in the south is so much different. Thanks for your encouragement! I use my 6x24 in ruler and mark with hera marker alot. On this one with all the applique pieces I am using a mechanical pencil and mark lightly.I only use the papermate sharpwriters #2 they are made with a soft lead that marks easily in nice thin line I just decide how far apart I want the lines and just line up the ruler and make sure the 45 degree line lines up with the edge of the block.
DeleteI hope you get lots done today. So far I have managed a beautiful, long walk around a nearby lake with husband and dog. Think I will follow Deb's lead and spend the evening with heating pad and Quilt of Valor binding. Thanks for your kind comment on my blog today, Carla...much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI wrote such a nice comment and it disappeared. So, this one is short and sweet...love your hand stitching and thanks so much for your nice comment on my blog, Lakeshore Stitches. (I can never recreate my words).
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are having a wonderful day! We took our dog Max to a dog park but he was more into running up to the owners than having fun with their dogs. We think he may be confused and thinks that he is human. LOL Have fun stitching down that binding!
DeleteHaha! My husband keeps the a/c down very low in the summer -- I have no problem sitting underneath a quilt (or two!) and doing handwork in the summer . . . even in Alabama! But I totally get what you're saying . . . this time of year does rather lend itself to 'warm' work! :)
ReplyDeleteLuckily my husband doesn't or I would have to be under a quilt all summer.
DeleteOh! Your quilting is lovely. Aren't those circles a challenge? I've done a lot of them and find them slow but so worth it.
ReplyDeletewhat batting are you using?
Yes the circles take some time, but you right I think they are well worth it. I am using hobbs 100 percent wool and love it. I will trapunto the floral motifs once I get the quilt quilted. This is my once in a life time quilt so I am no hurry but do want to give it my all.
DeleteYou are making such good progress on the leaf panel quilt project. I like what I see.
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun to sit in the early morning and add a few more leaves. I was afraid I might get bored with this but all the different colors makes you want to keep going!
DeleteThe vines are so pretty! Your quilting is inspiring. I have a hand quilting project that's been waiting for me to finish for a long time. I think I should practice so my stitches are a s pretty as yours.
ReplyDeleteThat is all it takes is some practice
DeleteYour work is so beautiful - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen! It is so relaxing as long as the light is good!
DeleteLove seeing your HEAVENLY stitches again! I love this piece you are quilting now.. and love this shot too! I do love your applique too.. I am learning a lot by listening to you chat about it and share about your process... Thanks for blogging! Kathi
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathi! I think I may have five years into this quilt before it is done! But I am enjoying every minute
DeleteI totally agree about waiting for cooler weather to hand quilt. I think quilting and soup season arrive simultaneously. Love your hand stitches!
ReplyDeleteYes I had some soup yesterday! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteYour trailing vines are gorgeous! i am just setting up my TATW--did you do it in rounds or vertically./orhorizontally--which seems easier to me...?? i am using bits of all grays that I have left over for mine--hugs, julierose
ReplyDeleteI found working in the round was much easier as you didn't have to end the thread you just keep adding squares. I hope you have as much fun as I did with mine.
DeleteI love the colourful whimsical vines and your quilting!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The vines are really fun to applique and I am so glad to be doing some hand quilting again.
DeleteYour trailing vines take y breath away. Your applique and hand quilting are wonderful. It is my first visit to your blog, but I will be ack!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennie! i am really enjoying working on both of these projects!
DeleteWow oh wow, Carla ... your quilting is spectacular ... I'm in awe. I don't think I'm quite brave enough to try freehand quilting either.
ReplyDeleteOh, your vines are really coming along. Your hand quilting is lovely! I know what you mean about Fall quilting. Even in Maine it is difficult to hand quilt in the summer. I love the onset of Fall!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, the comment I started disappeared somewhere when I went to enlarge your quilting photo so if you get two comments from me...now you know why.
ReplyDeleteThose vines are such a unique and fun way to use scraps. I can't believe you have so many vines completed already. I love them. I'm inspired!
I didn't realize those quilt templates you made were that large. Gosh, that quilting is beautiful. I would have to work each section also in order to see how it all looks together. I would have to mark cross hatching too in something that special. What are you using to mark the lines? I thought I read one time that you used mechanical pencil. I have a difficult time using mechanical pencil. I seem to press too hard or something and break off too much lead. I'm using an easy flower stencil to mark the one I'm working on now and have tried the dark and white lead in a pencil but end up using chalk most of the time.
Thanks Cathy! I am having a lot of fun with the vines. As for marking yes I use a mechanical pencil. It does take a light touch and sometimes I get more of a line than I want but I have never had trouble with washing them out. I use papermate sharpwriters #2 . I think the lead is softer than those in the quilting pencils and marks more easily. I also like using slivers of soap on dark fabrics but it leaves a wider line so it works best for marking utility type quilts more than something as fine as the quilting on the album quilt.
Deletelove those vines - I quilt all year round but it is easier for me with a standing floor frame, I wouldn't be able to quilt in the summer any other way
ReplyDeleteYeah it does make a difference. I am really really enjoying the vines Placement does not have to be perfect and I am having so much fun with color. Each little branch is a new adventure.
DeleteYou do amazing and beautiful work! I love working freehand, but it's never quite as beautiful as what you can come up with being organized and structured.:) Audrey
ReplyDeleteAhhhh so nice of you to say such nice things. We seem to be opposites when it comes to quilting. I am more structured and you are more free spirited. I guess the grass always does look greener on the other side. I so wish my brain worked a bit more like yours. I am just thankful that we can all find and do our own thing when it comes to quilting and all of it is just wonderful not one better than the other but just wonderful!!!!!! I am not giving up on being more free spirited maybe someday I will get there.
DeleteLove the your quilting on this one. Hand quilting is so beautiful and yours is exquisite!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! It is definitely my favorite part of making a quilt.
DeleteFor some reason I have a serious problem posting a comment on your blog. I have put a comment in three times now and it simply disappears. Is it going into your spam box perhaps? This is another try. Love your quilting on this one. It is exquisite!
ReplyDeleteThe post go to me to be approved before they are posted to avoid spammers. I don't always check right away but your posts are getting thru. Thanks for making such an effort to leave a comment.
DeleteTwo such gorgeous projects to work on... I am drooling over both!
ReplyDelete