Block # 2 Hand Pieced -A Quilt Along

First stitched into rows

It doesn't take long to cut and hand piece these little 6 1/2 inch blocks!  I am using some solids I won and that have been in my stash for a few years now.  The fabric is very light weight which makes it a bit difficult to work with.  But they should be cute when all nine blocks are completed and set into the gray background I intend to use.

I intend to use the on point setting!

I was amazed that 118 linked up to the first weeks linky party!  So glad to see this much interest in hand piecing.

Week 3 Stars Stars and More Stars!

I started the hand quilting on Stars Stars and More Stars on January 6th!  The first two weeks of quilting I finished 16 stars each week.  This week I got a few more done with 19 stars completed. That brings me to 51 of 95 whole stars completed and there will be 10 half stars to do also.  Looks like I will be able to complete this one before it gets too warm to be under a quilt with wool batting. Anyway, that's the goal!

Not the greatest photo but the sun isn't out yet this am

I finally pulled out a basket to keep all my hand quilting supplies together.  Since I quilt on a hoop, I tend to move around the house when I quilt.  It is so easy to lose my thimble or aunt becky. Do you have a designated hand quilting area. I tend to quilt on the sofa or in my sewing room most of the time. Sometimes I set up in the corner of my kitchen.

This basket will also work for my hand piecing. I joined in on the Hand Pieced A quilt a long and finished my first block. I am looking forward to block number 2.  I really like the accuracy and the way you can deal with pressing the seams after stitching since you don't stitch the seams down.  Learning to hand piece has made me a better machine piecer too.  Stars Stars and More Stars is a machine pieced quilt, but I used a pencil to mark the seam lines and sewed to the dot to accomplish the Y seams. I feel you get a better understanding how geometric pieces can fit together and hand piecing them really makes it so doable.  Afterall, quilting has always been a fun craft for me.  In the beginning I loved a new challenge but now I prefer to just enjoy the stitching whether it be piecing or quilting. It doesn't get better than that!

Hand Pieced A Quilt Along

I have had a bundle of solids that I have had for some quite some time.  So when the Hand Pieced, a quilt along started this week I decided to join in the fun.  There is a button on the side bar if you would like more information.

I have found myself in the last few years I have found myself really enjoying hand piecing.  My first project was a trip around the world where I just used what I called the ugly fabics in the my stash.  It was a way to use them and practice.  I was amazed at how well it turned out and that I enjoyed stitching from dot to dot.

Last year, I hand pieced my Texas Star quilt and again was very pleased.  I even hand pieced a border, I never would have thought I could actually do that and get it done.

So when this hand piece quilt along showed up I decided I wanted in.  I plan on using solids for the whole project.  I have a solid gray that will be used for sashing and the border. I have found in the past it's hard to piece with solids as they can be a bit boring after working with pretty prints in the past. But, I do love hand quilting solids so I will keep that in mind.  This project fits my purposes in many ways.  No hurry one block a week for 9 weeks and the results will be  a great top to hand quilt some time in the future!

My first block for the piece along a sixteen patch

Love the way you can twirl the seams!

Slow Stitching

I woke early this am, so I decided to sneak off to my sewing room to enjoy some slow stitches. It's so lovely to sit and stitch. I have made good progress this week finishing 16 more stars. It's so enjoyable seeing how my big stitches play against the different fabrics. It's so peaceful early in the morning.. We had strong winds all day yesterday and the temps plummeted from a high of 70 on Friday to 38 on Saturday, to a low of 25 this am. I know it's probably a lot colder in other parts of the country but for Texas it's pretty cold. But it's warm and cozy under my quilt so I should make some good progress today.

Stars Stars and More Stars

When I was piecing Stars Stars and More Stars, I really loved the additional star that formed when  the connecting triangles were added.  Quilts that have a secondary pattern have always caught my eye.  So when I decided to offset my quilting  stitches to add even more stars to this quilt, I knew that was the direction I wanted to head.

I was able to stitch 16 stars this week so I feel good about my progress.  I have been alternating my big stitching with my regular quilting which has been a lot of fun. There are 95 stars and some additional half stars in the quilt, so I have a long way to go.  But, it's a good feeling to be heading towards a finish and being pleased with the outcome.   

Back to Quilting

Well the holidays have come and gone and it was a wonderful holiday here at our household.  Nothing exciting or out of the ordinary, but I was very happy to fly to the Seattle area to visit with my daughter and her family.  Her two kids are our youngest grands so it was wonderful to spend 10 days with them.  I was very happy to get home however since I need sunshine in my life and it was quite lacking there.  Not the greatest time of the year to visit the area but seeing family made it all worth it.

Now to get back to quilting!  I basted the next top in the query and debated how I would quilt it.  When I first made the quilt, my first thought was to outline quilt the pieces in each block.  Then when I pulled it out after the first of the year my first thoughts were Amish waves or Baptist fans.  But, I wasn't throughly convinced and asked for some advice on a facebook group.  Those ideas sparked my interest but stitching two lines around each star although looked awesome on the examples fellow quilters posted it just wasn't much fun and seemed like work.  I had used big stitch and regular quilting on my last quilt and really liked it so............................................I tried a technique I had used on another quilt I had made a few years ago. It was gifted to my Brother in Law and I always loved the way it was quilted. (see below)

So I tried the same thing on the stars of my current quilt and am very pleased.  Now to dedicate a few minutes each day to adding some stitches to get this one done.