Baby Bow Ties :: Getting Closer!

I wanted a project that was long term and depending on what your definition of long term is, I feel like it has become just that! 

The evenings are when I sit and relax, yet I still have to have some type of hand project to do.  I guess it makes me feel like I've accomplished something!  If there isn't a binding to sew on the next best thing for me is a little English Paper Piecing.  

A couple months ago I started my Bow Tie EPP project and it has grown quite a bit since then.  Two months ago I had 6 blocks finished, now I have 73 with 17 more to go!  Quite an accomplishment!



The Bow Ties finish at 2" square, 1" for the corner squares and center is a 1/2" square.  The block itself is pretty simple to sew together and once you get in the groove, it goes together quickly.  By quickly, I mean each block probably takes 30-40 minutes to hand sew together.    



I was finally able to use my Liberty of London stash, yet with the blocks being small I didn't use all that much!  My goal was to use a different print for each block, and with the help of a couple friends, who graciously offered some of their treasured stash, I was able to achieve that goal!

Thank you Ellyn and Jenny !  You both are the best and I appreciate your generosity!



I've seen so many gorgeous bow tie quilts and had always wanted to make one.  I never imagined I'd go in this direction!  I like when a block has options.  Color, fabric, layout...endless possibilities!  



My plan is to go with this layout, but I honestly haven't explored my options.  Maybe once I get the last blocks completed I'll play around and see if I can come up with something different. 



Once I decide on the layout I'll sew four blocks together at a time.  I plan on adding a white border to finish it off.  Plans can change!



It always feels good when I can cross something off my bucket list!  This one has been on it for far too long.  It would be nice to cross a few more off my list, but for now I'll just enjoy that I got one done!



This little adventure will be continued!  Once I get near (nearer) the end of a project like this, it's hard to slow down!  I get excited and want to finish it!  I'm not very patient at this point!

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The Real Work Begins :: Diamond Hexagons

I knew the day would come when I could stop making my colorful Diamond Hexie Stars.  It's bitter sweet in a weird way.  I've enjoyed fussy cutting, picking and mixing prints and stitching together each beautiful hexagon.

These guys kept my hands busy at night, yet it never felt like 'work'.  It was happy self imposed joyful work!

My last two rounds have brought this madness to an end, or maybe I should say the madness is only just beginning!

Round ten happened.  At this point I'm at the bottom of the barrel of my Kaffe Fasset fabrics.  All my pieces are looking like Swiss cheese and find three sections for the diamonds in one fabric is becoming a challenge.  

Last round, round eleven.  At least at this point I think it will be my last round.  I won't know until I decide on a layout and size.  Which brings me to the next step in this long saga.

I ended up with a layout similar to this one.  By similar, I mean I've arranged, rearranged, added rows to the top, bottom and sides...removed rows, moved, turned and twisted.  Similar.  The one thing I was certain of before deciding anything, was there would be triangles added to give the blocks some much needed space.  A place to rest your eyes because as you can see, it's a little busy!

But what should the background triangle color be?  I'll tell you this, Instagram is a great place to ask for advice because you get answers immediately!  We debated white, light grey, dark grey and even some blues and teal.  All of which I considered.  Just when I was about to settle on one...I flipped the script!  

I went with my first idea, one that I decided against because I thought it was too predictable.  It was, but it was the best option by far.  Black.  Well, to be more accurate Kona Pepper which is a softer version of black black.  It makes the blocks shine, stand out or as they say in quilt talk 'pop'!  I guess there's a reason why they say you should always go with your gut or first instinct!

Back in August when I started this project, I didn't have any intention of taking this far.  It was just a project to help me through a sad period in my life.  By half way through, I was pretty much obsessed and couldn't stop. Towards the end I started having a vision of sugar plums dancing in my head...in the form of a quilt...all hand stitched.

I've just started stitching the triangles to the blocks.  Slowly and steady, this may take a while!  

Hand stitching each piece, each block and each triangle is certainly in the category of 'are you serious?'!  When I feel like I have lost my ever loving mind...I think about  vintage quilts that were all hand sewn.  I can do this!

  

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The Mountain Top :: Moon Glow

Another hand quilting project done!  Hand quilting has been a saving grace for me in the evenings.  I love keeping my hands busy, and having another option is always nice.

18 1/2" x 21"

I was bound and determined to use restraint on this piece.  It's so easy to throw the kitchen sink in the hand quilting mix, this time I kept it simple.  But...I wanted to take it over the top!



Big stitch quilting is rewarding, especially if you don't stress on making it perfect.  Perfect. What exactly is that?!  My perfect may not be others perfect, and others imperfection may be perfect to others!



My favorite part of this?  The moon!  It was the one section that I had to, actually couldn't help myself, quilt to death!  The densely packed stitches put me over the top!  Initially I was done with the moon after the neutral tan thread.  I tried.  Then I wondered what if.  What if I added an autumn orange?  Moon glow.  That's a thing, right?!   The moon and the sides of the mountains were 'glowed' for effect. 



The quilting in the sky is a dark blue, it looks royal blue against the muted blue/grey fabric.  I tried to create a flowing current of wind and clouds with the lines.  A few swirls added here and there remind me that the winds and currents aren't always wispy soft.  Turbulence is there hidden and always a factor.



There is nothing better than a solid backing to show the quilting detail!   A glittery moon and the craggy, erosion filled valleys on the mountains.

The moon stitches were intentionally made to be inconsistent, more than usual.  A few rounds I made tiny stitches easing into bigger stitches.  

I could envision seeing a mountain top in the distance with the sun setting casting a glow on the peaks and valleys.  I'm not sure I captured the vibe I was feeling, but I do like it!

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Back To Hand Quilting

I've about hit my limit on hand stitching bindings on pot holders.  So, its time to get back to a little hand quilting.  The weather is becoming crisp in the evenings, the leaves are turning and falling by the bucket loads and snuggling up under a quilt with a small hand quilting project is calling my name.  

When I found this piece tucked away in my closet, I knew then and there it would be a fun project to hand quilt.

The possibilities were there!  I just needed the time and a free evening to get started with it.



The goal is not to go overboard and quilt it in to submission, just quilt it enough to enhance what is already there.  



I started with the mountains using the usual big stitch.  I often think one day I will try a new stitch...the same thing I say when I FMQ...until then, this is my stitch of choice!



Texture Happens!!  The further you get into it, the more stitches you do, the more the texture shows itself.



Hand quilting doesn't have to be perfect.  The stitches can vary.  Size isn't important. Perfection isn't the goal.  The end results are what matters.

That last part is how I think about hand quilting!  I don't know what the 'gold standard' is, I only know what I like.  It's more about the process.  

 

The back stitching I've heard, is suppose to look just like the front.  I try!  It never quite hits that mark!

I'm hoping to work on this more over the next couple days, maybe even finish it?!  Since I'll be laid up a couple days...  

Today I'm getting my wisdom teeth out.  Yes, it's true!  All four will be yoinked from my mouth today and frankly I'm not looking forward to it at all.  It seems a bit unfair that after all these years (and years and years) I have to part with them now!  There's a shift of power in my mouth...that is not going my way!  Hopefully once they are gone I'll finally be able to chew again, stop grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw.  Bring on the pain meds!  

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Over The Moon

Isn't it exciting when you finish a quilt?!  The long hours have come to an end and if we are lucky, every single second, minute and hour was worth it.  Besides the thrill of the finish, there is always that moment of sadness.  Sad that it's over.  This doesn't happen with every quilt, but there are those projects that you have enjoyed so much you want to keep going!

'Over The Moon' was mine!  

OVER THE MOON
15" x 15 1/2"

The size had a lot to do with it, and of course, the hand quilting.  I found myself looking forward to the moment when I could sit and pick up where I left off.  Hurry eat dinner, take the dog for a walk...quilting time!!  

   
There is hardly a spot untouched with quilting!  Over kill?  Over done?  Over the top?  I'll say over the moon and leave it at that!



I love the big stitches!  The more the merrier!  In each circle I tried to do a different quilt design. Some needed more stitches and some needed very little.  That might be the only part where I held back.



The right side I kept it super simple.  Vertical stitches and nothing more.  I'll admit, I wanted to do circles everywhere, but somewhere deep down inside of me wouldn't allow it.



I don't know for sure if the quilting on the back is suppose to look exactly like the quilting on the front.  Mine sort of does.  I know just enough to go all in, not enough to know right from wrong! 

Sometimes I think if I take the time to learn something the proper way, it'll take all the fun out of it! I know!  That's totally lame and maybe even a cop out!  But some truth in it for me.



I guess there was room for more quilting after all!  After machine stitching the binding on, I couldn't help but continue the circles into the binding.  I was going to do just a little, but before I knew it...there was stitching everywhere!

My first plan for the binding was to do a wide binding.  It's something I have wanted to do, but hadn't had a project to try it on.  I thought this would be the perfect test piece for it until I realized the circles would be compromised in the process.  Another time perhaps!



Since my binding situation changed, I had to go with a pieced binding.  Remember when I said the circles were a test and I used a piece of scrap linen for the background?  Turns out I had just enough left over after the circles for three sides of binding.  The blue side is a piece left over from my backing.  

I'm loving the texture not just on the front, the back is so cool!  It shows exactly why I wanted to try hand quilting! 

What I learned is, trying new is good...using scraps is always good.  Even though you are testing a new technique or tutorial, it just may turn out better than you think and becomes a really good 'thing'.   



You can check out the tutorial for the Six Minute Circle, the starting point for this quilt.  There will be more in my future!



This will be the next hand quilting project.  My daughter made this panel, a dye discharge technique using thiox.  I don't know what it means, it's what she told me and I'll take her word for it!  And you can bet I'll try to restrain myself with over doing it with the quilting.  I'll try, but no promises!

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Crop Circles and Hand Quilting

When I made my first Six Minute Circle (here), I had a hard time stopping with just one. Even though I was only trying it out, and had nothing in mind when making them, one became two and soon after nine were laying on my table!  

Maybe deep down I did have something in mind.  After all, I used hand dyed Shibori fabric for them all.  Same story, one thing led to another and soon there was this finished piece of cloth.  

I found a stray piece of linen for the background thinking it would be fine for this practice piece that wasn't suppose to turn into anything.  Maybe the wrong color, but it was too late to change now!   

After I settled on the layout with the circles, I strategically (by the seat of my pants) added a strip here and there to make three rows of circles.  Which led to the skinny strip on the left between the circle rows.  I didn't feel quite right, so I added a few more elements.  

During the construction phase I knew this would get the hand quilting treatment!  I needed more practice and was itching to do more.  

Working a little bit in the evenings, it has been coming together beautifully!  Why did it take so long to give hand quilting a try?!  I'm excited with each stitch, each row, each new element added.  So excited in fact that I had to share it before it was finished!

I was wondering what a wide binding would look like when I'm finished?  I should research that!  

I still haven't gotten a thimble, or the proper needles or more perle cotton thread.  I'm working with what I have since its all trial and error.  Plus, I'm still learning!  

Do you work with what you have when learning a new thing?  Or do you get everything needed and then some before you start?

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Finshed or Not Friday

Texture Abound! A New Past Time

I absolutely love having a project to work on in the evenings.  Maybe hand sewing a binding on a finished quilt or a fun English Paper Piece project.  Yet more times than not, I'm dead in the water! No quilt, no EPP, nothing to keep my hands busy.  Now I have one more 'thing' to fill those evenings.  Hand quilting!!  

15 1/2" x 15 1/2" Wall Hanging

I know, hand quilting has been around as long as dirt!  It wasn't until recently that I started browsing Instagram, Blogs and Pinterest admiring all the different styles and techniques.  

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!

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