Well all this time at home is certainly allowing for lots of time in the sewing room. Last June I started sewing these charm squares I had accumulated into blocks. The charm squares are from a variety of sample packs from Benartex. Simple, prints in soothing colors that wanted to be made into something rather than live on the shelf in the closet (where they had been for at least two years or so).
I saw this idea on Julie’s blog, Me and My Quilts, around that time. She was making something similar and I absolutely copied her!! I cut 2 1/2″ strips and sub cut them into five inch strips. Each was sewed to a charm square, then sliced vertically. One piece flipped around and then I sewed them back together.
I did lay out the pieces in a random order first but decided I wanted something a bit more organized so I started putting them in collections by color.
Finally making up my mind, I got the rows put together and added a few borders (it is a bit on the long and skinny side).
I used this purple print from the shop for the outer border. It is from the Ginger & Spice line by Missy Carpenter and looks great with the neutral sashing. I chose purple because there are only three purple blocks in the quilt and I thought it just needed more!
Now I am looking through choices for the backing. I have decided to keep this one. It is time for me to set up a hand quilting project to work on in the evenings. I have never hand quilted anything larger than a pillow or a mini so this is a big undertaking for me.
I have so many questions since this is a new undertaking for me! Once I baste it, I am thinking of stitching in the ditch along the sashing lines. I was thinking if I had it anchored in place, it would be easier to quilt. Of course one might say after stitching in the ditch it is basically quilted already. Is this a normal progression? I need all the hand quilters to give me lots and lots of tips and tricks in the comments please!! I am thinking of using Perle cotton. Yay or Nay??? I really don’t know what I am doing here so would love any and all hints or referrals to good places to read up on this.
I appreciate the help. Hope everyone is doing well as can be. These are trying times so let’s all stay connected even if virtually. Take care all of you. 🙂
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Your quilt looks wonderful! I cannot help you with hand quilting as I just cannot do that.
Thank you. At this point I don’t know if I can either but I am going to give it a try! I hope you are doing well Carole. 🙂
Go visit Cathy at Sane Crazy Crumby blog and Audrey at Quilty Folk blog. They do lots of hand quilting in and out of hoops. Happy my idea worked so well for you!
Thank you Julie – I will pop over and read both of their sites.
I will be interested in reading the comments all people share what works as I too have been thinking of some quilts I should try hand quilting. I have tons of hand quilting thread to use up! You made a very striking quilt so enjoy every stitch you will add to it. Looking forward to seeing your progress on this.
Hi Kathy – Wish me luck! I am going to baste it today and start stitching in the ditch. I will post some progress later on – when there is something to see!!
This is so pretty, Bernie! Your purple border is perfect — it added a lot. Yes, I just took note recently of another quilter who was working on a star quilt combining hand and machine quilting. Like you, she machine quilted the SID and then is doing big stitch hand quilting with a heavy weight decorative thread in places where it will show up beautifully. I think that’s the best of both worlds, really — the machine quilting adds strength and reduces the stress on the hand quilting stitches later when someone grabs or tugs on the finished quilt. And the machine SID also shortens the quilting time and let’s you put that hand stitching effort in only where it will really show up. I’m looking forward to seeing this quilt’s progression!
Hi there Rebecca, that is exactly what I was thinking! Today I will get it basted and start stitching along the sashing. Then I am going to give it a go. Take care and stay healthy!!
This is so pretty , love that purple border. Sorry no help in the hand quilting department. As I tell my fellow guild members I have a perfectly good sewing machine for that job…
I get what you are saying! The sewing machine is much more efficient. But it is something to try and I love stitching the back of the binding down – it is very calming to me so I thought this might be similar? May as well give it a try!
Doesn’t it feel great to be getting to projects and making progress. Love your quilt top. Sorry I’m not a hand quilter, I’ve only done small, like a pillow sham. I love the look of big stitches, and have always wanted to try that.
Yes – totally great to focus on something and keep my mind otherwise occupied!
I am going to give it a try and see how it goes. I will post some progress updates!! Take care Sue.
What a clever idea for a fun quilt that goes together quickly! I’m not an expert on hand quilting, although I have done some big stitching on some of my minis, and I used to do hand quilting all the time. I’ll email you some suggestions so I have more room to write 🙂 Good to see Julia helping you out – is she enjoying being back home?
Thank you Wendy. I will look for an email. Julia is doing ok. She is trying to be patient but misses her friends. This is a weird time for everyone for sure.
Absolutely beautiful Bernie! I’ve never hand quilted a piece so large either, but yes, a perfectly cozy project for our long hours at home. Sending you & your family hugs, Laurie ❤
Hi Laurie – I figure if ever there was a time to learn something new – now is it! We all have time on our hands, right? I hope all is well with you and your family. Stay healthy and keep busy. 🙂
This is a fun quilt and the hand quilting will add to the joy! Now, when you say stitch in the ditch do you mean by hand? I might stitch in the ditch by machine which will stabilize then you can hand quilt to your hearts content! I like a 40 wt for quilting, but perle cotton would lend to the big stitch quilting very easily. I feel like that is a little harder to use as it is so thick, but it all depends. If I were to do perle cotton I might to a big stitch down the lattice/border. I might mimic the shape of the same colored pieces in the center of the 2 bricks. Anyway, those are my thoughts.
Thank you! I was wondering if Perle cotton might be too thick since this is my first time. Maybe I should stick with the 40 wt instead. I do think I will stitch in the ditch first. I want to be able to practice the hand quilting without having things shift around. I appreciate your suggestions – have a wonderful day!
Never saw this type of block before — it constantly amazes me how much I learn & see new things in our art-form! I’ve worked on large quilts before, and I lay it out with blue painters tape in the normal fashion and baste it very well. If you’re going to do big stitching, it would be fun to outline each block and then do your hand quilting via big stitch from there, but its not necessary if you’ve basted the quilt really well. I could see doing different motifs in each block…can’t wait to see the finished product when you’re all done! Deb E
Your quilt is a beauty! Good luck for the hand quilting, sorry, I’m a machine only quilter ;))
Thank you for the quilt inspiration!
The purple was a perfect choice?
Thank you Bernie! Just the ticket for mindless sewing as I too am having trouble concentrating on the more complicated WIPs. I big stitch quilted a quilt with perle cotton a few years back and used a wool batt which was like quilting through butter! I just eyeballed a 1/4 inch away from my seams and went for it. I switched up the colors too and enjoyed every moment. So soothing!
Oh, I have some wool batting! If that makes it easier to stitch, I will use that. Thank you Debby for the tip.
Always more purple! Though I am totally biased. I have no hand quilting wisdom to offer. My very first quilt was twin sized and I hand quilted it–wasn’t given any other option–and it was a bit of a never again for me! I’d like to do some smaller projects some day but would probably need a lesson or two. But I feel confident this lovely quilt will be a great hand quilting project! Have fun!
That purple really worked out great for the border. (Though my border has a little bit of a wave to it. Dang it.) I am planning to just take this slow and I figure my stitches will improve as I go along. Since I am keeping it, I don’t feel as much need for it to look perfect. Know what I mean? Have a nice evening Emily.
I really like this quilt. I like the way the rectangles “step” across the quilt with the sashing between the rows. I look forward to reading about your adventures with hand quilting it. I have never hand quilted anything larger than a pillow top.
Thank you Katie! I got it basted so now I will do some stitching in the ditch and then start the hand quilting. Crossing my fingers here since this is a new thing for me. It will be fun and I am looking forward to it. 🙂
Time to finish up all those wip now Bernie . I can’t concentrate to read , but I can sew. As long as it’s not too complicated . You take care Bernie x
This will be a wonderful hand-quilted quilt! I love the layout and the purple border. I have a ‘needs to be hand quilted’ quilt sitting in a basket that I see every day and it is talking to me to pull it out and start stitching. I’m going to use perle coton and do bigger stitches; the one and only thing I hand-quilted was a runner and it took me a decade no lie!
I can’t believe I missed this post! You probably have your flimsy quilted by now. What a neat pattern, I love the layout and the colors! I am trying to quilt one of my sandwiched flimsys from last year, and it is probably the biggest quilt I’ve tried to quilt, and although I just got started on it yesterday morning, I am already exhausted from wrestling with it. I tried a Sweet 16 in a quilt shop a few months ago – so fun but oh so expensive! I imagine I might look forward to quilting if I had one of those. 😉
I love the simplicity of this quilt. Julie has a ton of ideas but kudos to you for picking out a perfect project and putting it together so quickly. I name it Sidestepped 🙂
I cannot help you about hand quilting but ask Karen – http://karensquilting.com/blog/
She is the queen of hand quilting.
Since all the men in your family are tall (and handsome), you will have no problem in finding takers for this tall and handsome quilt 🙂
I understand your concern about family members in New York. My sister is an infectious disease specialist and find myself worrying about her all the time.
Sidestepped is perfect. You are great with that sort of thing Preeti. I will check out the blog you suggest too. I keep forgetting to order the thread for quilting. I have it all stitched in the ditch and on a hoop but that is as far as I have gotten. Take care and stay healthy out there. 🙂