You Really Need to Try a Textile Art Party Too....

Our family 'Wattle & Loop' inspired, textile art party went so good! I grabbed a design off the Net and tried to make my own version--not super original. I wanted something very simple to work on while helping others figure out the process. Still needs lots more stitching but I'm pretty happy with it. Very interesting approach using all the raw edge fabric, embellishments and prim stitching. Not my normal at all. I can totally see why it's so addictive though. All the layers of texture that are possible. The mind boggles!

Slow Stitching

Below is a picture of most of the stitching efforts after the first night. We're missing about three of the original attempts. Two of my sisters and I gathered together all the background muslin, fabric scraps, needles, #8 Perle Cotton thread, random embellishments, paper for sketching, batting scraps, plus fabric glue etc. All they had to bring was an embroidery hoop and small craft scissors, and even that was optional. We had some simple textile art pictures to show them on our phones and several inspiring Instagram sites to check out. 

The stitchers ranged in age from 9 to 54 yrs old. Several of the teenagers enjoyed it so much that they made a 2nd block in later days, after they finished up their first try! Isn't that so cool to actually get the teenagers off their phones and busy with their hands? Wish we could have gotten a picture of those later blocks, but it never happened, such a busy, busy weekend. Lots and lots of stitching, snacking and visiting all weekend at mom and dads. Good times!

Most of these blocks aren't totally finished {obviously}, but you can see how easy it is to let your personality shine through. The totes of scrap fabrics that I donated to the cause were a big hit, with many of the gals and even teenagers taking a baggie of scraps home for later attempts. The fact that this thread and fabric play feels very forgiving to imperfection helped everyone relax and just enjoy. It really was the perfect craft for a mixed age gathering. After the first little bit of 'overwhelm', everyone just sort of dove in and got busy being creative.

We had a textile art party...

I think we're going to have one more stitching party for the ones who couldn't make it. They were very sad to miss out and of course we have many more ideas to explore. More threadplay? Or more fabric play? It's all so open ended and fun! Now I have ideas for the 'little quilts' I've been wanting to make for a 3 pane window frame decor thing. Just need to decide how to finish up the first block and learn a few more tips and tricks.

On an interesting note, I showed the picture of all the stitching to my husband and then asked him if he could pick mine out. He just kind of huffed, then he laughed and set the phone down. I was like 'what?' He just looked at me with this expression and then said that he knew I thought he never paid attention to my quilting. {Which of course is true.} He barely glances at any of it, and if he does comments {which he rarely ever does}, it's most always favorable. Very sweet, but then that makes me think he's just being supportive 'cuz it's the nice thing to do. Right? And it's not like he's ever truly enthusiastic. It's my deal not his blah, blah, blah. I don't need him to hold my hand about this. Yes, women are weird. Anyway. In less than 15 seconds he picked out my block. Seriously, it really was that fast! Isn't that the sweetest thing? I just love that guy.

More progress on Worthy quilt

I did manage to get some more work done on the 'Worthy' quilt. Had a good several hour cutting/sewing marathon one evening after getting in the proper flow of things. Had to stop what I was doing right in the middle of sewing these strips of wedges above. I don't often leave projects right in the middle of this kind of work 'cuz then how do you move this? Ugghh..  Really need to get these sewn together and out of my way.

Another 2024 quilt finish!

Finally finished my commission quilt! Binding on and all the threads cut. Just waiting on the label to be delivered to me and then I can sew that part on and be done. The deadline was Christmas so it feels wonderful to have this much done and out of my hair. Ended up trading the work for a roll of batting so that made it all worthwhile. It's kinda hard sometimes to work on something that doesn't feel quite as creatively challenging, but it's also nice to help someone finish up a longtime project....

Completed BBII quilt tops!

And.... Both BBII-A and BBII-B are completed quilt tops! Got the last stitches in them today. Huge sigh of relief!! Will try to get the linky part up later next week or perhaps Monday the 16th? We'll see. We have a family wedding in Oregon this weekend and then some of our kids are coming into town for the week after so yeah. It's already hoppin' holidaze....

Quilty Folk Hand Quilting With Perle Cotton Basics--Part #4 An Enthusiast's Guide To Uncomplicated Stitching Design

So this is the last post in the series, unless there's reason to provide more information later on. Several people have previously asked questions about how one goes about deciding on the quilt stitching design. It generally doesn't have to be something to overly stress about and in fact, the more that you do, the more intuitive it can seem. In an effort to make cheerful, comfy looking quilts, you'll notice that I tend toward stitching quite simple designs. This is on purpose. The look is inspired by some of the most humble quilts ever made, and yet it's exactly what I have striven for {and nurtured} through all my years of hand quilting. 

Improv. Strips #2

How to achieve a cozy looking quilt that doesn't look the least bit sloppy or uncaring? This is the question that has driven me crazy since I first started to take quilting seriously. Well, one of the easiest ways this can happen, of course, is to have a good base to play with. Obviously it won't do to make a complex Baltimore Beauty quilt, do some plain stitching and then expect to have that stitching well received! Plan on starting with a quilt top that isn't already screaming for something really complex in terms of the quilting motif.

Then, you basically let the quilt steer your stitching path. I know. Easier said than done. Words to describe this relaxed style of quilting might be: basic, simple, naïve, uncomplicated, and/or utilitarian. Don't overthink things and do try to start in a spot where there's a clear direction forward. Is there set of blocks where you can do some echo quilting, just to the inside of a seam allowance? An applique element that could use some outline stitching? Following is a list of potential options for producing simplicity in stitching design and look. You definitely don't need to get overly fussy to end up with something beautiful!

• Echo Stitching--Stitch approximately 1/4"or less from edge of seam. For background texture, keep repeating at similar distances {usually 1-2"} from original stitch line until entire area is filled in. Helpful to freestyle mark subsequent lines in areas where the stitching lines extend beyond the hoop.
• Outline Stitching over top of applique--Stitch approximately 1/4" or so from edge, over the top of the applique itself.
• X Across Squares--Stitch diagonally in each direction across squares, cornerstones etc.
• Straight Lines--Stitch straight lines through the approximate center of rectangles in log cabin or improv. type units, etc. For sashing, stitch down the entire length of each sashing strip, making 90 degree turn at corners.
• Double Lines--Stitch straight lines approximately 1/4" or more {equidistant} on either side of marked {but not stitched} center line in unit or length of sashing.
• Triple Lines-Stitch straight line in center of unit or sashing. Then, stitch equidistant from left and right sides. These lines generally measure between 1/4" to 1/2" apart but feel free to do what looks best.
• Flying Geese--Stitch flying geese units in rectangle shaped areas, sashing or border. Can make paper or plastic template to mark shapes or freestyle mark for more of a human touch.

The following designs take a bit more effort, but are not nearly as complicated as you might suppose. 

• Crosshatch Stitching--Stitch a simple grid pattern over entire area of quilt or in the sashing area, or over the top of blocks, especially plain ones. Can also easily stitch crosshatching over the top of large applique elements. Clear quilting rulers are very helpful when marking the grid.
• Applique Element Imitates--Use a plastic or paper {cutout} shape copying an applique element sewn onto the quilt. Trace around edges of template, marking the shape onto the quilt for stitching. Stitch repeats of this shape in border areas etc. Can also mark these completely freehand for more of a carefree appearance.
• Baptist Fan--Stitch an allover design of repeated curves, generally used to cover complete quilt area, but can also be successfully used just for borders and other areas. Here is an older tutorial for making the orderly-look fans. Or you can make freehand fans if that's the look you prefer.
• Hills--An allover stitching design of repeated hills, generally used to cover complete quilt area, but can also be used in borders and other areas. Make a cardboard or plastic template of one largish hill {usually 10-12" or taller}. Starting at the bottom of the quilt, mark the outside of the hills over the complete area of the quilt, being careful to offset hills at approximately the halfway point. Mark repeat rows, one on top of the other. Stitch consecutively smaller hills inside each of the larger hills in an echo stitching manner, freehand marking if you like.
• Clamshells--An allover stitching design of repeat clamshells, generally used to cover complete quilt but also be used in borders and other areas. Make a cardboard or plastic template of 4-5 {upper half only} clamshells in a straight line. Starting at the bottom of the quilt, mark outside of template over quilt top in one row after another, offsetting the 'shells'.

Seedpod

The Seedpod quilt has echo stitching around all the applique. Larger spaced {repeat} echo stitching lines fill in the background of the applique, all in a loose diamond shape. There is echo stitching in the centerpiece border area and also inside the economy square blocks. Straight line stitching anchors the block spacer strips.

Log Cabin

This log cabin quilt has straight line stitching in every log and X Across Square stitching in every corner starting square. There is double line stitching in the sashing length and also the cream 'spacer' strips.

Love Apples

This Love Apple quilt has freehand Baptist Fan stitching over the entire quilt.

AHIQFlowers

This improv. AHIQFlowers quilt has straight line stitching, double and triple stitching, repeat echo stitching, X Across the Squares, and also some cross-hatching in certain areas. 

Rising Sun

The Rising Sun quilt was machine stitched-in-the-ditch along the sashing and at the outside of every block. There is outline stitching over the top of the Rising Sun block applique and also the berries and leaves. There is echo stitching just to the inside of the center squares, crosshatch stitching in the sashing lengths and also over the top of the largest applique. There is largely spaced echo quilting in the outside, lighter areas of each block.

Bullseye Medallion

The Bullseye Medallion has outline stitching in the appliqued centerpiece and anywhere else there might be applique. There is also straight line stitching at the center of the red applique element. Largely spaced echo stitching fill in the gold background of the centerpiece area. Each subsequent border has a different quilting motif, from freehand flying geese, crosshatching, circles inside of crosshatching, and repeat applique imitates.

Tidbits

Tidbits quilt has an overall Hills quilting design. Largely spaced echo quilting makes up the freestyle smaller hills inside of the larger hills.

Antique Crows

This Antique Crows quilt was machine stitched-in-the-ditch around all of the blocks. It has outline stitching on most all of the applique with largely spaced echo stitching on the inside of the sunburst center. Straight line stitching takes care of the sashing and X Across Squares all the cornerstones. There is very largely spaced {repeat} straight line stitching inside of the border areas--at the shortest measurement of the border instead of along the length.

Chunky Tulips

Chunky Tulips was machine stitched-in-the-ditch along the edge of every sashing piece. There is echo stitching to the inside of the coping strips in each block. There is outline stitching on all the tulip applique and echo quilting at the largest tip of the tulips. There is freehand 'extra' stitching inside of the tulips as well, not exactly echo stitching but something very similar. There is X Across Squares at the sashing cornerstones and loosely measured crosshatching in the sashing areas and outer setting triangles.

Sweet Tart

This Sweet Tart quilt was machine stitched-in-the-ditch around every single block and both sides of the centerpiece sashing surround. There is outline stitching on most of the applique plus a little extra in the large tulips and larger baskets. Lots of repeat echo stitching in the background of the larger tulips. There is echo stitching in the triangles around the smaller baskets and just to the inside of the background square where those baskets reside. There is also echo stitching at the striped center of the 'every-other' blocks and straight line stitching in those pink floral areas.

HaHa

The HaHa quilt has overall clamshell stitching over the top of the all the center applique areas. There is outline stitching on the HaHa applique itself, and echo quilting just inside of the gray blocks. There is largish crosshatching over all of the outside triangle pieced border areas.

The Quilty Folk lady with the ridiculous video set-up!

For the most part, I find that loosely spaced quilting gives off a cozier vibe than dense and tightly filled areas of stitching. After all, there needs to be plenty of space for that lovely crumpled affect to happen after washing and drying! In the case of the HaHa quilt, you'll notice that I only echo stitched inside of every other gray background block, not both, as those stitches would be unnecessarily close to each other. I  mean, you can stitch there if you like, but you definitely don't have to.

These are just a few ideas {and quilts} to demonstrate ways to involve basic quilting designs. There are endless solutions depending on your specific quilt sandwich and of course, your particular likes and dislikes. The main thing is, there are no rules. Go check out antique, utilitarian quilts for inspiration! Look closely at how the stitching is happening in all of the quilts that you fall in love with!

Everywhere possible, try to 'eyeball' stitching lines and do without marking in your own efforts. Try to embrace the affect of 'the human touch'. Stitches will be slightly different length here and there, possibly even angling off on the random stitch. Straight lines will undoubtedly look organic instead of being perfect little soldiers. Try not to rip them all out! Believe it or not, this is adding charm to your quilt. A little added sweetness. Some of the X's at the cornerstones might even look a little wobbly, and if you can, just smile and wave at the doubters. Quilting with perle cotton accentuates the texture so very quickly, you'll be surprised at how much your imperfect stitching seems to practically disappear!

When you find your quilting rhythm, you'll also be discovering your quilting 'voice'. That is a very special thing. The beauty of hand quilting, is how easily it lends itself to celebrating and illuminating our humanity. None of us are perfect beings. Why would we expect our quilts to be any different? Hand quilting in it's plainest form invariably embeds a bit of sentimentality into the very fibers of the whole, making it practically impossible for the quilt to end up looking too stiff or formal for use. People tend to respond to this unpretentiousness open-heartedly.

If you find yourself without any idea of how to start hand quilting a specific quilt? Get your quilt sandwich into the hoop and load up a thread color that looks agreeable. Then, start stitching something. ANYTHING! Don't like it? Rip it out and start over with a different take. Eventually something will speak to you so that you can quit waffling around and get down to business. With overall designs, I have to say things never tend to look good right at first. At least not to me! I have to give it at least two or three rows before I'm convinced that the right path has been taken. 

Wishing everyone the very best luck in their quilting adventures! Hopefully this series has been a help to some of the fledging hand quilters out there. Honestly, it has taken an enormous amount of my quilting time, but I can't be unhappy about that. You wouldn't believe all of the questions I didn't have proper answers to when first starting to hand quilt!*sigh

A Giveaway Winner and a Little Bit of Hand Work

It's time to announce the winner of a very successful Giveaway! Lori Smanski, you are the winner of Scrap Secrets! Yay! I'll be sending out an email shortly so I can get your contact information. Lots of interesting comments about what or what might not make up a 'scrap' quilt to a specific individual!

Getting closer to having the border finished!

I've been sewing circles onto my gold and pink improv. quilt now for days. I must really, really like circles because there are 96 of them to stitch before all the flowers are complete! It's making me a bit dizzy.*wink

A quick re-do

And I had to take all the green leaves off of my Citrus Squeeze quilt {will have to be renaming this one eventually}. Thankfully they weren't stitched yet. I had a common issue that needed to be resolved. After getting all the leaves pinned onto the quilt I decided that they really needed to be the size they are with the seam allowance not yet stitched down. Have you ever done that? Believe me, it happens ALL the time around here. Sometimes a couple times in a row. And now you why I have an overflowing applique parts and pieces totes.....

Slow Stitching on Flowers and Flying Geese

Just a quick post 'cuz the guys are busy with Superbowl stuff. I've been stitching on Flowers and Flying Geese here and there. It's always a bit of a tentative start for me, especially with an applique quilt like this.

Flowers and Flying Geese

How much is enough? Would an all over stitch work better? Always wondering if the stitching is good for the quilt. Or the quilt is good for these stitches....Those of you who hand quilt probably know what I'm talking about.

Making a good start

Then there's that wonderful rhythm and flow that slowly develops. Everything in the hoop sort of takes care of itself and all you have to supply is the hand/eye coordination.*wink

Slowly working through the center of the quilt

Once in awhile I realize the thread is starting to run very low, so I have to panic and find a good on-line source. My home grown sources don't like to sell my favorite threads! So this time I ordered from Bunny Hill Designs. I was looking to match one particular brand, color, and number of thread. Good things have been said about this company and it was time to check them out. Imagine my dismay when the order arrived missing three little balls of my very precious Valdani thread. I immediately left a phone message and a follow up email. Trying not to sound hysterical and/or accusatory is difficult when it comes to things you're passionate about.

More Valdani from Bunny Hill Designs

The owner, Anne Sutton, emailed me back within several hours {after business hours in fact} and told me the rest of my order would be mailed out the very next day. When my missing thread arrived in a timely fashion, there were also two gratis balls of perle cotton. Yay! I'd say that's excellent customer service. No having to argue about what I actually received, no justifications for what might have happened, just a quick make-it-right package. Ahh... Now I can relax. And stitch the rest of this quilt without running out of any more thread.....

Linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching just because I can.

Keeping the Rhythm Going No Matter What

We had a very white Christmas. So pretty, quiet, and well, wonderful. Except that our oldest son wasn't with us for the first time ever and that almost made me cry. Growing up is hard to do, even for us mothers.

A bit of hand quilting

Although I've been lurking occasionally, mostly I've been taking a short break from social media. At first it was somewhat enforced because of my computer problems and then frankly, all the Christmas preparation and family gatherings got in the way. It's been years and years since I was still out doing Christmas shopping just two days before Christmas Eve. Oh the joys of being self employed! Eventually though, all the presents {and groceries} were acquired and things settled down a bit on the home front. Except for last minute wrapping, baking, and stocking stuffing etc. Normal mom stuff. The kids were very gown up and amazingly helpful this year plus Slacker radio plays some great Christmas music. It all helps!

Always simple stitching around here....

And thankfully I always have my hoop filled and ready for stitching. It's the one rhythm of my life that remains somewhat constant no matter what else is going on around me. That little bit of hand quilting several times a week, late in the evening really helps to calm me down and keep me centered on what's important in life. I just try and let the stress of the day float away as I stitch, stitch, stitch away. And it's always extra special sweet to be doing hand work with the Christmas tree lights twinkling from across the room.

Loving these small tulips

In fact, I've been getting just enough quilting time in to make me want to have oodles more. Honestly I've been feeling a bit whole lot deprived in that department. I'm quite positive my creativity is shriveling up and I'll have to start over from square one. My quilts will go back to old boring brown with absolutely no spark and well..., you get the picture. It's a worrisome thing.

Ready to start stitching the squares down....

But things will no doubt return to normal as soon as New Years arrives and that's soon enough. Time to link up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching where us slow, plodding quilters hang out every week!

Time For Some Slow Stitching

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!

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!

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!

Doing the Things We Love to Do....

Imagine my surprise when I noticed the leaves outside my quilting room door had the same colors as my latest circles! Hmm... I do love fall and all it's gorgeous colors. These circles represent days 27 and 28 for Quilty 365, for a total of four weeks! Yay me! So many people are joining in, being artistic, thoughtful, playful, frugal and/or just plain dedicated. Love it! Quilters really are amazing!

2 more circles for Quilty 365

I'm going back to the smaller needle and regular hand quilting thread for this quilt. At first it was hard to make the transition--that big stitch quilting requires a much larger needle! I started with the very light pink thread, ripped it out, tried every other color in the picture and then went back to the light pink.*sigh  Sometimes it's hard to know what to do. I switched to the soft gold thread for the little half square triangles and finally, finally it's starting to click for me. Some quilts just have to be cajoled and talked into a bit of stitching it seems....

Muddy River in the hoop

I also picked out a fabric for the binding on Big Stars. A bold blue was the obvious choice and I was so grateful to find enough lurking in my stash. It's a Peppered Cotton, so quite a different texture from my usual binding fabric. Now the batting needs cut off and then it's all ready for the hand stitching. If I don't get to it tonight then it will be something to work on later. Always nice to have mindless hand work to plug away with during family holidays.

Initial phase of binding on the Big Stars quilt

People keep saying that this quilt was hand quilted very quickly. Hmm.... Maybe, maybe not. I sandwiched and pinned this quilt on October 8th, put it immediately in the hoop and started stitching. The thing is, I hand quilt for an hour or two {sometimes more} almost every day of the week if time is available to me. Plus I had one day I was sitting with my cousin, helping her out and keeping her company. That was probably a five hour quilting day? The stitching pattern is merely an echo style quilting or something extremely simple and it's big stitching done with Perle cotton, something that really does move along at a faster pace compared to regular hand quilting.

Perhaps someone more dedicated to hand quilting would have doubled the stitching done on this particular quilt, but I'm feeling quite satisfied with the amount done. This is not an heirloom style quilt because I for one can see every flaw in the quilt made from my inexperience with sewing curved seams! Not that I don't appreciate the effort and skill building this quilt allowed me to undergo. I am definitely more accomplished and less frightened of this type of sewing now that I've tackled something this adventuresome! However, I am a huge advocate of putting my time into the things that will most appreciate my very intense and personal labors.

Hand quilting is my thing and yes, I do love the results. But not every quilt needs or will even look better with intensive stitching--not to my eyes or thinking. And really, what else would we base our decision making on? Some people make quilt tops just so they have something to hand stitch amazing patterns and designs on. That's not me. I hand quilt because something needs to anchor the quilt together for future use, I adore the look, appreciate the {mostly emotional} benefits, and well, honestly, it suits my lifestyle and pocketbook. Did I say that I adore the look? If I didn't, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

So glad I have time today to link up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching!

A Handwork Round Up

I was trying to throw together a quick post and then I got sidetracked of course. Trying to catch up on the blog reading will do that to you! It's hard to believe I'm starting the stitching for the borders of the Big Star quilt. Just as I suspected, working on this quilt has reminded me of how much I truly do love it. So much effort and anxiety in putting these big stars together--I'd love it just for my courage in attempting it!

Hand quilting Big Stars

It's been a fairly relaxed weekend after the previous week of some troubles and trials. Things that make you want to hold your kids very close and cherish the family time. Guess I'm ready for some mellow, fairly calm looking fabrics. After today, I will have officially stuck with Quilty 365 for 21 days!

Another two days worth of circles....

There's been a lot of different applique in the stack around here and so I just had to get this border work cleared out of the way. Hopefully later this week I can find time to put it together with the other one and see what my Scrappy Lone Star will look like with borders!

Getting through the letter applique

And Folksy Flowers got a bit of attention as well. I'm trying to do the prep work for the flowers that will be appliqued into the center. Just a bit of free hand cutting with paper and then I have a template to draw onto the fabric. I spent almost an hour trying to find my inspiration photo (the little spark that lit me up for this project) and it's nowhere to be found. I remember seeing a piece of embroidery or something on an odd, random blog a very long time ago. I have it in mind that it was from Denmark? but who really knows and obviously I've been interpreting this as my brain dictates because I've never seen the pic since. Perhaps it was in one of my antique quilting books instead?

Prep work for the Folksy Flower

An interesting thing, the seeds of our quilting ideas. I'm always grateful for inspiration and the things that propel us into a new idea {and ta-da! eventually a new quilt}. I love the process, the what-if's, and of course the hand to heart connection of slow quilting. As I've said before, it calms me. It grounds me and makes me a better person. Time to link up once again to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching!

A Hand Stitching Post

Sometimes the hand work gets lost in the shuffle. We spend innumerable hours on it, but then hesitate to show off our progress. {It doesn't magically happen overnight people!} This weekend finds me finishing up with not only the petals to my huge Folksy Flower, but also, getting the bias strip stitched down on the wobbly looking center.

Folksy Flower

The whole thing shifted on me more than I care to admit to, but should, in the end, work out just fine. I just had to try the basting method when I was adamantly assured that basting takes care of any wonky shifting issues. Uh huh. Not with with me. Or apparently not with this large of a piece? But then I probably did the basting incorrectly and caused the problems! lol  I measured my flower for those that seem curious and now I've already forgotten. It's either 44 or 48" square? Quite a large piece to work with. I just need to cut out the fabric from behind each petal and then figure out where to go next. There are lots of ideas percolating so it shouldn't be long.

I also started making a throw pillow for a friend this weekend. The center block was one that got left out of a previous quilting attempt and was begging to be used.

Starting a pillow

I added a youngish, sweet fabric and then went more 'modern' with the rest. It seemed fitting for a gal in her early 20's who is independent, but still very sweet and girly.

A finish!

The back of the pillow was fun to put together and I'm hoping the cowboy fabric (on the right) will be a personal touch for someone who loves her horses etc. This will go into my end of the year 'revealing' gift bag, part of a year-long gift exchange some of us ladies do in our church. So glad to get the bottom of the pillow hand stitched together and all ready to go!

Interesting back...

I've also been busy stitching down the circles for my Lil' Red Riding Hood blocks. First the quarter circles onto the larger light colored circles and then, stitching those onto the light green background squares. I am absolutely loving working with these calm, pretty fabrics. It makes me wonder why I ever avoid these sorts of colors as being too boring? There is something to be said for sewing together relaxing/calming fabrics once in awhile and of course taking the time {by hand stitching} to actually enjoy working with them!

Lil' Red Riding Hood applique...

Also, I received this little package of Quilters Dream Batting from the Fabric N Quilts Scrap Quilt Challenge 5. Thanks to the sponsors for all the fun giveaway prizes! I am itching to try this poly bat out as I've never used it before.

Something new to try!

My Old Fashioned Strings quilt was one of the many winners in the Scrap Quilt Challenge, something that was kind of a sweet little thrill. How fun to enter a quilt made from little bits of leftover scraps and then actually win a very usable prize! I'm wondering how it will do with hand quilting or if I should save it for a machine quilting project. Does anyone have experience with this type of bat?

Once again I'm linking up with Kathys Slow Sunday Stitching. Love her thoughtful post today!

Prep Work and Some Slow Quilting

I started the centerpiece for my Folksy Flower quilt. Just cut long rectangular chunks of black fabric and then used my rotary cutter to make the curved 'petal' end. All freehand of course. Why bother making an exact pattern or trying to be precise when I'm trying for a 'folksy' look?

Folksy Flower quilt

After getting it pinned into a rough looking circle, then I trimmed it up some with the scissors. There's more overlap in places than I'd like, but what I don't want is gaps at the top of the petals. I'm not much into basting my applique into place, pins generally work well for me, but this is a big piece. After some consideration, grumbling and metal warring going on, I went ahead and took the time to baste. And see? I pulled too tight on some of the stitches and now have some ruffling at the edges. grrr... People say that basting saves the individual pieces from shifting, but I have seem to have the reverse problem. Oh well. This way I should have a lot less trouble with pins dropping and worries about people randomly finding them in their foot. For some reason that makes people unhappy.

All basted and ready for the applique stitching....

I've also been slowly plugging along on my Scrap Basket and Rolling Stones quilt. I've reached the outer rows of blocks, but just when I started to think 'woohoo! There was sure a lot done', I counted. Yep. There's 18 blocks left to stitch. That's more blocks than there is in the center rows! Gotta just laugh and go with the flow.

Scrap Basket in the hoop....

One frame at a time and the stitching slowly adds up--it always does. I did go ahead and lightly mark the outside border thinking I'd squeeze that into the frame at the same time as the outer blocks. It's just a smidge too much quilt for one frame though, so I'll have to come back around and stitch the outside border all by itself.

Starting to stitch the outer blocks...

None of the stitching is very fancy in this quilt {is it ever with me?}, but I'm happy with the way it's adding some nice texture to my quilt. And btw, the only big stitch quilting is in the centerpiece. Now I'm stitching with a turquoise Gutterman hand quilting thread. Just keeping it sweet and simple.....

Time to link up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching!

Sunday Stitching

It's been a crazy weekend, still need to catch up on my emails and blog reading. Lots going on, company, grocery shopping and other family stuff that may or may not get sorted out till later this week.

Scrap Basket & Rolling Stones quilt

You can see I've finished up with the centerpiece and moved on to the next row of blocks. It's all coming along fairly well now. Just looking at the picture I can see there's a poofy spot under the bird that needs more attention, but that's easy peasy stuff to fix.

I've been stitching on this for a week or so? Don't quite remember. But here's the thing. I started out doing some machine 'stitch-in-the-ditch' style quilting and then just couldn't handle it. Ughh.... It looked so very awful. Really bad stuff even for my standards! Out came the seam ripper and and hour or two later it was me and the quilt right back at square one. Yep. That's when I got out the old faithful hoop again.*sigh  Some quilts just need that little bit of extra attention I guess....

Time to link up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching!

Slow Stitching Time

Well, I'm back at it. Got to get some stitches into this quilt in order to see it hanging at the quilt show! My husband and I attempted to have a get-away anniversary weekend and ended up having it cut very short.

Thinking this would work

Sometimes life throws a curve ball doesn't it? So we're having a quiet evening together at home, me with my hoop of course. I started out several days ago with a radiating stitching pattern right smack in the middle of the quilt top. It seemed like a good idea to use the floor hoop until, well, I actually started stitching.

Feeling how very much better this works

I could feel my frustration level rising every time I attempted to get myself into position. You know, to make some decent looking stitches? Left hand ready to push the needle back up into a kinda, sort of rocking motion? 

In case you were wondering, short people and floor hoops don't always work well together. It was with much relief that I finished that particular section and moved on to an area that would fit into my lap hoop. Ahhh.... Now I can feel myself starting to relax into the quilt. That's the way it should always be.... Time to link up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching!