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| 15 1/2" x 15 1/2" Wall Hanging |
While working on the last surprise gift for my daughter, this wall hanging, I decided I was going to do a little needle work to see what all the fuss was about.
If the block looks familiar, that's because it's one of last blocks I made for the Epic Sampler BOM. I added a border around the entire block, extending the coral orange to the edges. The border increased the size slightly from 12" to 15 1/2".
Before hand quilting entered my mind, I knew some good old fashioned straight line quilting was exactly what it needed. You cannot go wrong with tight straight line quilting!
The 'X' through the center has three different thread colors: yellow, blue and green. All three colors converging to create the perfect grid!
The binding is pieced with one section of coral at the top. Why not be different?! Or maybe I was being lazy!! At this point I thought I was finished.
...and then the hand quilting bug bit...
What I'm about to attempt has never been attempted by me before. Which means I certainly didn't have any supplies either! I was lucky enough to find some DMC Perle Cotton in my daughters stash and the fun began.
The plan is simple, simple, simple. A straight running stitch. From what I have seen in my internet travels, the running stitch is the one that interests me the most. It appears simple, yet creates the most amazing texture.
After spending a few nights doing hand quilting the end finally came, much to my disappointment. I'm looking forward to taking on a larger project and learning along the way! More perle cotton and proper needles!
After washing, the surface texture was even more impressive!
Who is a hand quilter? Sashiko stitcher? What is the one piece of advice you would share with a beginner hand quilter? I love having one more tool in my tool box! Learning something new ain't so bad either!
LINKING:
Very cool! I love the combo of machine + hand stitching...
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I only hand-quilted my quilts for the first say 20 years! Obviously I made way fewer quilts than I do now!
I think machine and hand quilting make a great marriage! I couldn't imagine hand quilting an entire quilt, but you never know!
DeleteI'm excited that you're adding hand quilting to your repertoire:it gives such a different look from the machine - softer and more organic. I only quilt by hand, that's why I'm so slow!
ReplyDeleteI am really happy with the results of the hand quilting and love the organic feel it gives. I will be doing more, thats for sure! I need to explore your quilts and see if I can pick up some ideas!!
DeleteJohn Flynn used to teach hand quilting (maybe still does) and I learned how the placement of stitches can make a total difference in the final look. I'll try to locate his notes to share with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Libby! I'll look him up! If I so more hand quilting (and I will), I need to learn more of the basics. The right and wrong way of hand stitching!
DeleteI have been hand quilting for many years although I have not combined the two methods on more than one or two quilts I think your little piece looks great.
ReplyDeleteI've considered trying some big stitch myself. Yours is beautiful! I like it combined with machine quilting too!
ReplyDeleteI really like the big running stitches, one of the reasons I decided to give it a try. I'm not sure how crazy I will get with hand quilting in the future, but I know I will revisit it soon. And…the big stitches don't have to be perfect, gotta like that!
DeleteLOVE this! I always love the texture of hand and machine quilting combined. And I happen to have video tutorials of big stitch hand quilting on my blog. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe texture is unbeatable with both methods! Thank you for letting me know about the tutorials on your blog…I am going to take a look now!
DeleteI've always enjoyed the look of hand quilting but I just don't like hand sewing of any kind. I always machine stitch my bindings down and loathe having to sew on the label. I've sewn a few hexies - making them, but not actually piecing them together. I sewed them down into a project. Now that you've unlocked this technique in your arsenal I can just imagine all the cool things you're going to do. I see adorable mini-minis with all hand quilting in your future!
ReplyDeleteI really love how you extended the orange ribbon! I learned to hand quilt from the beginning sooo long ago, and am just now jumping in with the perle...which I also think is the perfect complement to machine quilting! I especially like the perle stitches with denims and linens :)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty. I like the combination of the hand and machine quilting.
ReplyDeleteYou know Jayne, you and I are on the same wavelength, I think. I have never done hand quilting before, either, and I am about to do some on a little project right now. Thanks for sharing your inspiring work, because it makes me want to do it all the more. Looks great!
ReplyDeleteThe texture the hand quilting adds is delicious and I think that hand quilting and straight ling quilting go hand in hand beautifully here. And I am loving how you are extending the design out into the binding lately.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are joining in! You will be surprised how much hand quilting you can fit in while still being social - I have way more time to hand quilt than I do sitting behind a machine. My tips: experiment with battings. Some are impossible to needle. I prefer wool batting. Number 2: order up all kinds of thimbles to find one you love. They do seem to get lost so don't try super expensive ones. I love one by clover: comes in s-m-l and is open on back. It has a ridge across the top that is angled perfectly for pushing the needle. On left hand I use an adhesive thimble it so I can feel pressure of needle. #3. Try big stitch (you can still get tiny stitches) quilting without a hoop for ultimate freedom. Jen Kingwell's video on Fatquartershop is excellent. Just remember - your needle points straight down when piercing fabric. During the hot summer I piece a top into 5-6 pieces that I quilt separately than seam together and then stitch binding over the seams on the back.
ReplyDeleteThis is a lot of advice but I am just excited when someone jumps on the wagon:)
Thank you so much for the tips!!! First, thimbles are a great idea. I have one, but have never used it! I have a feeling it takes some getting use to. Are you saying you need a thimble for both hands? (I'm very green!) I have plenty of wool batting scraps! I also didn't think about batting. And the needle, good point (no pun intended)! I don't often think things through before jumping in. Your tips will make my newly discovered passion so much pleasing! I will check out Jen Kingwells video as well!
DeleteFwiw, I always use a leather thimble, made from cutting the tips off old leather gloves of the boys/hubs :) very flexible, but protective :) And a never ending supply ;)
DeleteYou really created some beautiful textures in this piece. I don't get the chance to hand quilt much any more. Maybe one of these days I will get back to it :)
ReplyDeleteLike I need another new thing to do!! Just like me to jump in with both feet…and ask questions later! I really enjoyed hand quilting though!
DeleteHi Jayne! This is gorgeus quilt and hand quilting makes it even more beautiful! I'm happy you tried because so many think hand quilting is difficult and takes a lot of time, bit it doesn't. I hand quilt all my quilts. I'm happy that when I started quilting this was my only choise because my machine can't handle quilting (only small pieces like for bags etc.) Now I really enjoy hand quilting and sewing. I don't use hoop, I just hold tight the place I'm stitching with my fingers, left hand under the quilt and right hand stitching. I like Purle cotton no 8, but for the needle I use some old needles because couldn't find here any with big enough hole for the thread and still thin and sharp enough to pass easily the fabric. Most often I quilt without marking, just following the seams and 'by eye'. If I like to mark, I use hera marker and very seldom disappearing pen if I like to make a special shapes. I'm worried that the pen may not disappear (because that has happened) and don't use that if not necessary. x Teje
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling mini! I can just about feel the texture thru the screen ; )
ReplyDeleteThat is some pretty awesome texture! I've never tried hand quilting, actually, I've never even thought about it, but you have my head spinning with possibilities. Do more! I want to see it ;)
ReplyDeleteI just adore big stitch hand quilting!! I use both aurifil 12wt and pearl cotton no8 and i love the prominence of the stitch they create.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. It just adds a little something to the effect.
ReplyDeleteThat's some great texture there! I combined hand quilting and machine quilting on a big quilt I just recently finished. It was fun and it looks great. And it was a first for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! The quilting enhances that block so nicely. The different thread colors and textures add so much interest to it. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe combination of hand quilting and machine quilting is really lovely! The precision on the machine corner-to-corner stiching is great. Well done! I have to learn to enjoy the quilting process and see it as something meditative rather than something I need to "get out of the way." Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started quilting, it was the hand quilting that lured me in. Piecing was just a means to get to the quilting, especially so I'd have something to do when I was relaxing in the evenings. And I like that hand quilting is a social activity. I can visit with my husband or other family. When I sew at my machine, I'm isolating myself. I don't think I have much to share with you as far as tips go because I haven't quilted with perle thread (yet). I'll probably be looking to you for tips for that. But I do know that I prefer to use a polyester batting when I hand quilt--it's just much easier on my hands than cotton batting. I love your combination of machine and hand quilting.
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