Mission Complete!

Finished Quilt

I took an extended break from the blog. The last half of 2014 was extremely busy and stressful. It was full of loss (three extended family members and my beloved Shadow, the cat) and medical issues (my shoulder has become more of an issue) but the new year was full of good news and new starts. Engagements and pets got the year off on a happy note.

Through it all I worked on my lovely quilt. It kept me busy and was a source of comfort. In April, I finally completed the last of the big stitch quilting and the binding. Our two new cats made it a challenge as they take their job as quilt inspectors so seriously they want to check each pin and bit of thread – by testing the strength through play. I had to get creative about keeping the cats from my hand work.

So… here is the finished project. Ta da…

Quilt passes inspection by Xander and Anya

I am entering this quilt in the Blogger’s Quilt Festival : Spring 2015 on Amy’s Creative Side’s blog. Please check out her blog and the links to the other quilts being entered. There are really lovely pieces of art shown. Very inspiring. http://amyscreativeside.com/blog

Thank you for your interest in my adventure. The rest of the year is full of pre-wedding events (two family members recently became engaged), trying to get my shoulder in a better condition – and – wait for it – the NEW quilt in progress. I will dish on the new project in my next post. For today, I want the attention to be on my wonky work of comfort. I love how it came out and I am sold on (1) wonky quits (2) big stitch quilting and (3) modern quilt patterns – the low value fabrics really added a lot to this quilt. I hope you like my piece. I love it.

Stitching – Day by Day

Official Inspection by Shadow

I have been plugging away on the hand quilting and enjoying every moment. I am able to sit in my chair with a pillow on top of the computer table (laptop stashed away) and the quilt draped on top. The system is working really well.

Getting everything set up for the day’s quilting.

Quilt is set. Grab the coffee and start stitching!

Big Stitch Quilting and Feline Jealousy

Feeling unsure of where to start? In the middle and work outward, I was told. Fair enough.

I followed Pepper Cory’s DVD class suggestion to place a pillow across my lap/edge of the table to rest my underneath hand/wrist. The hoop went on top and my left hand handles the needle from the top – because, of course, I am a leftie. I’m not just “left handed” – my left SIDE of my body is dominant. There is no faking it. So I set my stitches from left to right and everything seems to work properly.

The stitching isn’t going to earn any awards but I’m happy with it and I really love the process.

The supplies: The quilt top and backing fabric is all 100% cotton. The batting is Hobbs Tuscany Wool.  I  purchased the big stitch needle package, the Presencia Perle Cotton No.8 thread and a Hand Quilting DVD by Pepper Cory at  http://www.handquiltingsupplies.com/

If you have never tried it, I encourage you to start with big stitch quilting. I’m loving the process which is the whole point.

My cat, however, is NOT loving it. There is no room for her to sit on my lap when the pillow, quilt and hoop is in place. I feel that she is looking daggers at the quilt and hope she doesn’t decide to chew an edge or something.

Small beginnings

Close up of the stitching! Squeeeeeeeee!

 

Layered and In the Hoop!

Layered the quilt sandwich this afternoon as I listened to the beginning of Pepper Cory’s hand quilting DVD. I used basting pins and trimmed away the excess fabric and batting. Then, of course, I learned on the DVD that I should have left more of the excess batting and backing attached. SIGH.

The good news is the quilt sandwich is now in the hoop and tomorrow I will get started. Very excited.

In the hoop

Victory! Quilt Top Complete

I seriously had the best time making this one. I am completely sold on the Wonky idea.

The plan is to use big stitch quilting on this one. Updates and photos of the big stitch quilting journey will be posted. The backing fabric is scheduled to be delivered on Thursday so while my other materials are lined up and ready to go, everything is in a holding pattern.

My shoulder has made fantastic progress so hopefully layering the quilt will not be extra difficult.

 

Progress… Finally Progress

My shoulder issues continue (I now have a diagnosis of Frozen Shoulder which basically seems to translate to “extremely painful shoulder”) but I have been able to make progress on the quilt so… Yay!

If you look closely, my flying geese have an bit of an origin. I have added them to the borders surrounding the flying geese border just to show that the geese are flying in from somewhere. I am not sure if I will continue this into the next border as that one has crosses. I am not going to make crosses, however. I am going to make mathematical symbols (+ – X /). Another person working on this quilt pattern went that direction and she promised not to be upset with me if I used her idea.

I will be on vacation next week but hopefully will get more done on this quilt top at the family cabin!

Progress on the borders.

Repeat After Me: Wonky is Good

Finally got the center piece, the Modern Medalion, done on the current quilt. The beauty of this pattern is that it is intentionally wonky, so that when you are unintentionally wonky, you can pass it off and smile. I’m smiling.

The colors are pretty and next up is the Plain Jane border and then some drunken geese. I INTEND my drunken geese to be quite confused in their formation. A couple other quilts in our quilt along have done fantastic examples of that – geese going in different directions, off center, etc… It looks fantastic so I want to do something similar.

Wish me luck as I continue my journey!

Centerpiece

Getting Started on My Modern Medallion in the Quilt Along

After a few delays, I have finished 1/4 of the center piece for the quilt I have just begun. This promises to be a learning experience but a fun journey.

Information on the Quilt Along is available on the Two Little Aussie Birds blog.

I am using quilters muslin for hand piecing this section, as recommended by the quilt pattern designer. It is working great – any inaccuracies are absolutely on the part of the quilter, not the materials. I have made a slight mistake on one side there – you will notice it right away. As Tim Gunn recommends, I will make it work. The colors are a bit new for me, trying something different. There are a number of “low volume” fabrics incorporated into the design, as suggested by the quilt designer. Definitely going out on a limb with this one but I think it will pay off.

I will keep the blog updated on my progress. I am not going to give a tutorial on my “method” as I am in the acute learning phase myself here. 🙂

Here it begins:

New Project Planning: Modern Medallion Quilt Pattern

I had a quilt in mind for my first hand quilting attempt. Then I caught sight of a quilt that I instantly fell in love with and have to do. A group on Facebook is doing the quilt pattern together, which is a new way of work for me and promises to be great fun. Here is the pattern: http://twolittleaussiebirds.bigcartel.com/product/modern-medallion-quilt-pattern

Originally I was going to pull from my stash but after consulting with my husband on colors (the quilt is intended for our family room), I found myself ordering fabric online. Now the waiting game: where in the world is my quilting fabric? No worries, it will be here soon. The quilt designer recommended that a certain amount of the fabrics use be low volume. That is a little unusual for me, which led to the Internet searches for low volume fabric.

As I wait for the fabric to magically appear on my doorstep, I will go back to planning the next quilt – the concept is a “people, places and things we love.”

I will keep the blog updated as I go along.

Graduation Gift Quilt Finished! Break out the …. Starbucks?

Yesterday the final button was sewn on the graduation gift quilt I have been working on for a couple months. The quilt is hand pieced and button quilted. I ran it through my washer (gentle) and dryer (clothes setting) and it did get a little bit of that vintage quilt wrinkle that I like so much. My quilts aren’t show quilts – they are meant to be cuddled up with and washed occasionally.

My next post will be about the quilt I will be starting soon. I fell in love with a pattern, joined a FB group that is going to complete the pattern together as a challenge, and am eager to begin choosing fabrics. The quilt that I had planned to go with next is still in the planning stage – it hasn’t been bumped, just delayed. I may end up working a bit on both of these off and on. The original quilt I was going to do next will be good for travel so I think I will be working on it on vacation in July.

Close up of one section of the quilt

Completed quilt. All buttons sewn, laundered, and ready to be gifted.

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