Hand Quilting

It's been a busy couple of weeks here.  Fall weather always is welcomed here in North Texas.  It is so nice to open up the house and enjoy the fresh air.  However, when it's in the low 80s or high 70's it can be too warm to get under a wool quilt and quilt very long.  But that is ok, there will be plenty of cooler days as we progress in the winter season.  I started quilting in the center of the quilt and have been following two panels to the edge.  I haven't quite reached the edge yet but I am almost there. Here is the progress on the front of the quilt.

 I was surprised to find that stitching around all those leaves is really more enjoyable than the cable panel.  But, I am very pleased with the results and balance of stitching between the two different panels.

I remembered this morning to flip the quilt over and give you a look at the back.   So much fun to take it out of the hoop and get a glimpse of what the finished quilt may look like.   Still so many stitches to make but each one brings me closer to a finish and I am afraid I will be a bit sad when it's done and it's no longer in the hoop.   But, it seems there is always another quilt top waiting in the sidelines and the list of quilts you want to make is endlesss.

The hand quilting!

The hand quilting has begun!  It always seems like it takes forever to get a quilt to this point.  However, for me, it's about making a quilt that makes me happy and that does take some time.  I have come to enjoy the whole process, but the hand quilting is still the part that brings me a lot of joy. 

leaf panel

Well, it's a good thing, as this quilt needs a lot of stitches to make me feel it is complete.  I debated where to start quilting it as it is a strippy quilt. But decided why not finish the center and work out like I normally do, that way it gets easier to work on in my hoop as I go.  I marked all the pink panels with a cable design but, I hadn't fully decided on the leaf panels.  I will mark them as I go.  First I am stitching around all the applique, no marking needed for that and then I am adding a diagonal 45 degree line every inch across that panel. I think, each panel will lean a different direction, but that could change, time will tell.  But, I do know it's very nice knowing that this quilt is in the hoop.   That means I can sneak in a few minutes here and there and add some hand quilting stitches.  It doesn't get better than that!

Pink panel

October's Cheddarback Quilt blocks!

Only two 12 inch finished blocks for Cheddarback for the month of October.  The first one was an appliqued Carolina lily that was aided along by some machine piecing before it was appliqued to the background.  The original block was done in red vase, flower and stems, but it just didn't appeal to me so I chose blue and green.  

The second pieced block was one I have never made before.  It was fun to piece! I did sew two pieces of fabric together to make it large enough to cut the center piece.  This makes it a "make do" block, which I think will add to the charm of this quilt.  Picked up my new glasses on Wednesday and my prescription changed enough that it took a bit to adjust to them. But by the end of the day all was well.  It is wonderful to see again.  The reading portion of my prescription changed quite a bit, no wonder I was struggling with threading my needles. So the rest of the month will be enjoyed by hand quilting on my trailing vines.  I did start but really don't have enough done to take a picture yet!

Goals accomplished!

It always feels so good when I come accomplish my quilting goals or at least see a good effort made.  Sometimes that is hard to do with the everyday things that life presents us. Now that Tom has retired and he helps empty the dishwasher, he realizes that my request for some pull out drawers on my island might really be a great idea.  So this week he installed these beauties. 

Oh they make life so much easier!  But, I ended up rearranging the kitchen cupboards a bit so it was more time consuming than I first thought.  But, I have found that dedicating a little time each day to my craft really makes things progress quite nicely.  I was able to get my trailing vines quilt basted and now it is in the hoop.  No stitches have been made yet, but I am sure they will start soon.  We have had a very toasty September here in North Texas.  Our temps have hovered right around 95 the whole month.  However, come Monday, the expected high will be 75.  I know that crisp morning air will make me want to sit down and start the hand quilting.

I also was able to start one of October's two twelve inch blocks for Cheddarback Quilt.  It's an appliqued Carolina Lily that I decided to do in blue and green.  I hope to finish the stitching of the appliqued pieces this afternoon while watching the Cowboys and Packers battle it out.   Who knows some stitching might even happen on my trailing vines!