Hand quilting is often looked upon as an endless project. I suppose in today's fast-paced world it is a slow process, but one I look forward to most days. I have always quilted for enjoyment, making traditional quilts that have always inspired me. My favorite part of making a quilt will continue to be the quilting, whether the design is fancy or simple. Making those stitches and watching a quilt come alive is so satisfying.
It's my me time, my quiet time, a time for reflection! A calming act, where all the cares of the day are put aside and I just enjoy the methodical stitching. I especially love when all is quiet and I realize the old wall clock is still ticking away those seconds. It has been in my husband's family for years. It has outlived many a modern-day clock.
I finished up quilting all the stars this week. Today I hope to start the border. First, I will stitch around the whole quilt to make the quilting on the border possible. I find my sewing machine fitted with a walking foot works best. I suppose I could do this when I baste my quilt but I always wait till I get to the border so I can ease out any excess fabric. I am not sure what others do but this seems to work for me!
It's my me time, my quiet time, a time for reflection! A calming act, where all the cares of the day are put aside and I just enjoy the methodical stitching. I especially love when all is quiet and I realize the old wall clock is still ticking away those seconds. It has been in my husband's family for years. It has outlived many a modern-day clock.
I finished up quilting all the stars this week. Today I hope to start the border. First, I will stitch around the whole quilt to make the quilting on the border possible. I find my sewing machine fitted with a walking foot works best. I suppose I could do this when I baste my quilt but I always wait till I get to the border so I can ease out any excess fabric. I am not sure what others do but this seems to work for me!
It IS like watching the quilt come alive, isn't it...yours is just so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, yes I love the magic of quilting stitches!
DeleteGood point about being able to ease the border and be sure everything is nice and flat before the last of the quilting goes in. I generally work from the bottom to the top of a quilt and leave a bit of extra batting and backing at the last end for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes work that way also. It's not a good feeling to run short after all the stitching
Deletefor those that do not hand quilt or never tried it they do not understand how relaxing it can be. Sometimes I just get lost in planning or thinking things out while quilting. I have always found it to be such a stress reducer in life
ReplyDeleteI agree Karen. It gives your mind time to contemplate and it really helps me ground myself. It seems too many jump on the bandwagon these days without much thought.
DeleteSuch a pretty quilt and love how it has come alive. I agree hand quilting and hand work are very calming. Enjoy. Love the clock.... my Dad has a thing for clocks. I got to hand wind the table top grandfather clock this summer while I was up there. Love watching the pendulum go back and forth with that click sound.
ReplyDeleteI too have a thing for old clocks. This one came from my husbands grandpa who loved it as much as I did and wanted me to have it, so it's very special.
DeleteWell said... slow stitching time is my ME time to come back to myself :)
ReplyDeleteI also would wait to stitch the edge until most of the quilting is done... you never know when a little bubble of excess fabric will need to be smoothed out.
Your quilting looks so beautiful!
Thanks Kathy and thank you for hosting all the slow stitches each Sunday
DeleteYour progress is coming along, it seems you started this quilt not too long ago. I also love seeing my quilt come alive with the quilting, it's so exciting. Happy quilting, I'll be watching for the border quilting.
ReplyDeleteYes it never gets old each stitch we add adds so much
DeleteCongratulations on finishing the stars and being ready for the border... I do it all by hand when I hand quilt a project.. even that stabilizing stitching . My quilting mentor mixes it up like you are doing... I think that is great ! Happy Stitching.. you got lovely photos :)
ReplyDeleteKathi
I have done it by hand also but learned over the years to save my hands when possible and this basting will be removed so it really doesn't matter
DeleteVery pretty.... I love the way you describe your hand quilting activity. Tick tock... I can just hear that little clock, now.
ReplyDeleteThanks it's a slow process but so worthwhile.
Deletewhat a lovely clock. I too love the ticking of time.
ReplyDeletebeautiful quilting on your stars
Thanks This quilt has been so much fun. The quilting is nothing fancy but appropriate and working well with the piecing. You can't ask for more than that.
DeleteI like that kind of ME time too. Gosh, your stitching doesn't look endless now. As always, I'm inspired by your stitching.
ReplyDeleteI went to a local quilt show in September and was rather surprised that most of the quilts were not only quilted by someone other than the maker but were quilted by digitized/computer stitching. I was not inspired by a single one no matter how fancy the stitching. They all seemed flat and lifeless.
Oh I agree I have seen some really heavily long armed quilting that must have taken forever to do, perfect designs but I always love the handquilted so much more. There's a softness and imperfection that adds so much
DeleteBeautiful work! It really is satisfying to watch a quilt come alive after adding in the quilting stitches. People just don't know what they're missing out on!:)
ReplyDeleteI think all makers share this secret. Unfortunately our fast paced world seems to allow less time to play and enjoy the joy of being a maker.
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