Sunday, January 17, 2016

Stippling

It's been a good week here in the quilting department. I finished up two more blocks on Baltimore Garden.





Making quilts has been an amazing journey for me.  I just love the vastness of the craft. There are unlimited combinations of patchwork that can be done.  Endless color combinations and techniques to try.  With every quilt, I try to incorporate something new.   The little squares formed by the woven baskets were calling out for something.   I decided this may be a great area to try some stippling.  A little confined space that needed some sprucing up.



A few years ago I picked up a copy of John Flynn's book Step-by-Step Trapunto & Stippling!  It really breaks down how stippling can be done.  So far I have enjoyed what the stippling has done for Baltimore Garden. It's a small detail, but I think it really adds a lot to the quilt.



The stippling takes time, but I have to admit, I subconsciously don't want to finish this quilt. It is such a joy to watch it transform with each stitch I take.  

49 comments:

  1. What beautiful stitches. A small detail, but look at what it does for the applique strips.

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    1. Thanks Angela! I love looking at antique quilts they are so inspiring. They are filled with wonderful details.

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  2. Your stippling looks very good. What a nice accent to that piece. Your quilting and quilt are both very pretty.

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    1. Thanks Cathie! I love the way the stippling draws your eyes over to take a closer look.

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  3. Your blocks look fantastic! I love the dense quilting you are doing.

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    1. It's all about the details in life for me. Finding the right combination is the fun!

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  4. Wow -- it really does add a lot to the quilt! You're doing a beautiful job. I understand about not wanting to finish. Not all of them are like that for me, but I have had quilts I wanted to work on forever, just because of the joy they brought in creating! :)

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    1. Oh I have had some those less fun quilts too! I always looked at them as a stepping stone to get me where I wanted to go.

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  5. beautiful, I added stippling to a quilt once and it did add a bit, a lot of work but worth it

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    1. Yeah it takes a while but the stitches seem to want to jump on your needle. Glad I tried it and hope to do more of it.

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  6. I like this addition to quilting, good idea :-)
    xx

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    1. I like the way it draws your eyes in. Too much of the same can get boring.

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  7. Just beautiful blocks--and the stippling really adds a wonderful dimension..hugs, Julierose

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  8. The stippling is beautiful - must remember to do more of this as it is great at adding dimension! Just curious whether you outline quilt around all your applique? not saying you should - just wondering:) I love the grid - can't go past a good grid!

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    1. I always have outlined in the past but a friend who went to the DAR museum to see the Baltimore Albums noted that some of the antique quilts had outline and some did not. She was thinking the outlining she did on her Baltimore Album seemed like a waste of time. So since Baltimore Garden has a lot of background showing throughout the appliqued area I thought I would not do the outlining. I am using a half inch grid and it seems to be fine without it.

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  9. Who wouldn't want that quilt draped over their lap quilting on it?? It's marvellous! I've never tried stippling - to confess I don't usually quilt things that densely. It looks like a fantastic book and I love how stippling really pops out the nonstippled areas. Every stitch you put into that quilt makes it more and more amazing!

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    1. Thanks Janet! Stippling is not for every quilt for sure, but it does work in the right places. Having a lot of fun with this one!

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  10. This is going to be a very beautiful quilt when you are done. I am in awe.

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    1. Deb this is my once in a life time quilt. But I must admit while the journey has been long, it is such a joy to see it come to life.

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  11. Beautiful, Carla! Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. There is nothing better than hand quilting an applique quilt with wool batting! Thanks for your kind words

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  12. Love your cross hatching on the baltimore blocks.. and the stippling you do is amazing too! Thanks for sharing a book that helped you too! Kathi

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    1. Thanks Kathi! I hope that your applique class will hook you. This is my favorite type of quilt to hand quilt.

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  13. You are certainly doing s fabulous job on this quilt and I am really enjoying watching it come to life!, :)

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  14. Such beautiful quilting. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. That is beautiful. I love what stippling does for a quilt.

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    1. Yes and it is really quite easy! I may have to do a whole cloth someday and incorporate this technique.

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  16. The stippling is amazing! You are going to have a treasure when it's finished--so lovely!

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  17. Every detail of the entire quilt is amazing. Love the stippling. Can't believe you are doing it on a lap frame! Did you baste like crazy??? All of your work is exquisite!

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    1. No I really don't heavily baste. I pin baste about every 6-8 inches. I have found it is important to keep the backing very flat and taut but not stretched. Then I just add the batting and top and pin baste. I remove all the pins in the area I am going to hoop and quilt. Thanks for your kind words.

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  18. Beautiful quilting! I can see why you want to keep working on this quilt

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    1. Yes so nice to get to this point. I love quilting appliqued quilts its like a bit of heaven on earth!

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  19. Beautiful stitching! The stippling really does add dimension to your quilting.

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    1. I am so happy I went for it! You don't know until you try! Thanks Ellen!

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  20. your stitching is absolutely gorgeous. What a heirloom quilt!

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    1. Thanks Barb! I am so happy to get to this point in my quilting journey. It's all about the stitching!

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  21. I see what you mean by the stippling adding so much to the quilt. I took a stippling class a long time ago but never put the knowledge to use in a quilt.

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