I've been sooo busy this week. Lots of family togetherness and very little time for stitching. I managed to pick out the circles for the week, but only got one actually stitched onto the background fabric. Definitely on my list of things to get stitched this evening!
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| Days 29-35 ready to stitch! |
Then one evening I started quilting the basket on this little quilt and whoa!! This batting is not a good choice for hand quilting at all. It's the Quilters Dream poly bat I won awhile back. The scrim seems to be very tight and stiff so I ended up taking my hoop completely off the quilt and big stitching with the quilt laying directly in my lap. It worked better that way but still felt like I was having to forcibly shove the needle into the batting. So much more effort than is normally required!
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| Hand Quilting the Vintage Basket quilt |
After half an hour or so of stitching I admitted defeat and put it away. The next day there was a tiny window of opportunity, so I quickly hauled the quilt upstairs and machine quilted the entire quilt except for the center basket block. And yes, it still needs some work with the perle cotton before I can truly call it quits. Very doable, just not anything I'll call fun or relaxing.*insert very sad face....
Nice to be so busy with family that quilting takes a back seat, but I'll admit to missing my daily routine. I'm going to link up to
Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching and then get off the computer and start stitching. It's way past time for some of that simple relaxation!
Lesson learned....stick with the exact batting you know is easy to use! I still love the circles! Glad you had some time to yourself. I know I need it! hugs~
ReplyDeleteI hope you've got your feet up and are doing some nice relaxing stitching. With the beverage of your choice at hand, of course.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
Oh a shame about the batting--but glad you got it quilted on the machine....awful to have to fight needling through....your basket is very pretty...hugs, julierose
ReplyDeleteSounds like you figured out a way to make the quilt batting work. Enjoy your stitching time. Holidays and family are lovely but down time is good too.
ReplyDeleteI have never used quilters dream poly but have used quilters dream cotton with no scrim lots and lots and love working with it - I didn't know there was such a difference - glad to know! I have 30 circles done making them about once a week as I know I won't keep up if I try doing one a day if that makes any sense!
ReplyDeletelove the colours in your basket so much and also how scrappy it looks. Pity about the batting, certainly makes quilting a chore.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to have a break from our sewing routine, but I miss it too when I'm busy.
ReplyDeleteAudrey, tu colcha es muy bonita,
ReplyDeletesiento el esfuerzo para la costura
buena semana
It's easier for me to "batch" the circles than try to complete one a day. Thanks for starting them - a quiet, end-of-day project. I'm glad you switched to machine quilting this one. Scrim gives quilts more body but sure is hard to work by hand.
ReplyDeleteGlad the machine quilting rescued the basket quilt but bummer that your original plan didn't work out. I'm still contemplating the quilty365 project!...
ReplyDeleteA shame the batting wasn't what you wanted. I've only ever hand quilted with cotton batting. Some weeks it is difficult to find time for our stitching, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI've spoiled myself for hand-quilting!.....once I've used wool batting I can't go back to anything else. It's like quilting thru' butter!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for sticking with it and finding a solution that works. Hopefully, you can get back into your stitching routine so you can finish your basket quilt - it does look great!
ReplyDeleteI have used Quilter's Dream cotton thin batting and like it / it's a shame that you won POLY and not the Cotton! :)
ReplyDeleteSo good to spend time with loved ones over the holidays, but our few stolen moments for stitching sure do keep our sanity on an even keel don't they? Sorry you're having such difficulties with that batting. I've heard Quilters Dream battings are very difficult to hand quilt (after beginning a queen size quilt with it) and have avoided them ever since. I've gone to Hobbs 80/20 cotton/poly or Hobbs Polydown exclusively, and love working with both of them.
ReplyDeleteI've always had good luck with the Quilter's Dream, but never tried the poly. Glad you made it work. Hope during this holiday season if you find yourself going in circles it's only with your applique.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for the headache with the quilting. It is a lovely piece. It is always good to spend time with family but totally get missing the stitching.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your batting troubles. I haven't used poly in years but it shouldn't be that hard to quilt through. Think they need to think of hand quilters when they "scrim" it up. I use wool almost exclusively for hand quilting. It is expensive but I split my batts so I get two for the price of one and I like the lightweight, yet very warm feeling I get. Love your solution. Looks great now! I am still loving my circle a day!
ReplyDeleteI did not enjoy that batting even for machine quilting!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to have lots of activity and family, but it does make a quilter appreciate peace and quiet too :)
I have used Quilters Dream poly mid-loft for years. I have never had a problem, sorry you did. I am curious what batting you usually use? I would like to try it.
ReplyDeleteI have used Quilters Dream poly mid-loft for years. I have never had a problem, sorry you did. I am curious what batting you usually use? I would like to try it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the batting. Bummer!
ReplyDelete