Harrison Rose heads into the hoop

There was a little jostling in the hand quilting queue after I finished quilting my red CWB quilt - and Harrison Rose won out! It was going to involve something a little bit new and challenging for me - marking an entire quilt top before basting.

Dawn's pattern includes full quilting lines as on the antique original. My intention was to follow the pattern but my quilt is smaller (only 9 blocks instead of 16) so my border quilting pattern needed adjusting. And once I started adjusting there was no stopping! The antique quilt border has corner quilting like this (from Dawn's pattern plan)...

Looking at the heart motifs and this way of feathering around the corner - bit quirky and very charming but maybe not 'me'. I had a peruse of a very favourite, oh-so-inspiring, book of antique quilt patterns...

Inspired by a corner treatment in the book and a three pointed motif, I redrew a simple corner of feathers and made my own paper pattern from a roll of bake paper...

Then the quilt marking began - echoing that motif in the blocks...

Marking wreaths (traced from the pattern) and triple parallel lines across the blocks...

And now apologies for a bit of waffle about tools and batting - just because sometimes I get asked: 

In the past I have found the large triangle ruler is invaluable so scored lines don't wander off perpendicular - and used the same method here when drawing lines. Well worth the quick check of lining it up with the edges of borders and blocks as I draw along the edge long ruler.

The marker I am using? General's Sketch and Wash pencils. New to me but recommended by a blogger - I think it was Dawn herself but my memory is so shocking that could be wrong. I've had bad experiences with markers in the past (not washing out, marking poorly etc) so I bought these pencils last year and have had them 'handy' for this quilt. Before starting I did a wash test on an off-cut of my fabric - all good - washed off perfectly with a mild detergent in cold water. I have to say they are an absolute dream to draw with on fabric - so soft, no pressure needed to get a clear line, and no drag on the fabric at all! 

Preparing a wash test fabric strip

I've been a bit of a 'stick-in-the-mud' as far as batting goes - almost always use wool with a pretty high loft as it gives great definition to applique and has been easy to quilt - Quilters Dream being a favourite. But this time there is less applique and the quilt will be well washed. I thought I'd try cotton and was tempted by the promise of Quilters Dream cotton Request (for hand quilters) "stitch as close as needed and your quilt will remain soft and flexible" and achieve "the antique puckered look". Sounds good? Well - compared with the wool this is a very thin batting and I had my doubts about it when it arrived. But, being a trusting soul, I went ahead  - pin basted the quilt and started hand quilting. 

So far - I love it! It certainly quilts easily (just as did the wool), the quilting shows up well, and it is so light and soft to manoeuvre . I'm looking forward to washing it later to get that antique look. 

Indigo Circles is progressing - after a large prep catchup (again ) of the 2 inch blocks with foil wrapping method

Then we had a full day power cut - no ironing possible. So I went back to plain old needle turn of some 4 inch blocks and really enjoyed that method again.

The blocks are all pinned on my design wall and looking like a quilt in the making. 

Sarah Fielke BOM  - also growing gradually. To get an idea of how it might all look together  I placed a lot of the blocks on the floor in a random way  - not how they will end up but gives an idea of balance of colours. Not balanced yet but there is a long way to go...

Another little project completed - my new favourite pincushion - a free tutorial  Sunny Day Dresden pincushion. That could just be my first Dresden plate block ever - fun to make too. 

I used the same fabrics to match this purse made in 2013

Something I really enjoy (that isn't quilt related) is walking. There are so many benefits but enjoying the scenery is top of the list and makes exercise a pleasure. Walking and vehicle traffic do not mix well so I feel very lucky to have a few traffic-free options near home. This river walk (10km return track) is a favourite and perfect this time of year.

Feels and looks very rural but only just on the outskirts of town.

After exercise like that, a couple of hours sitting quilting ( or heaven forbid, looking at blogs) is guilt-free don't you think? 

Civil War Bride in Red

Happy dance time - started in September 2014 and now completed!

It measures approx 170cm (67 in) by 173cm and is hand appliqued and hand quilted. Most blocks are from the Threadbear pattern but I made some changes and substitutions, a squirrel here, a rabbit there and this fruit bowl block. 

I just  had to have that fruit bowl from the antique quilt so had a go at drafting my own . Here is a pic of the antique quilt that inspired us all (in the  book "Treasury of American Quilts") and the 2009 Threadbear pattern next to it. 

I also drafted my own border but included some elements from within the pattern blocks - like pears, birds and this nest. 

I really enjoyed the process of adding my own elements, but also loved selecting the fabrics from my substantial moderate stash of reds. See ...Stash Building has its own rewards! But I expect I am preaching to the already converted?

A couple of pictures that I never shared of the end process after quilting...

The scary part where the edges got measured, squared and trimmed. Imagine one slip and off cutting through the hand quilting - eek!

Attaching hanging sleeve and binding: 

And where is the quilt now? I have to admit to being a complete coward and not washing this one as yet (visions of all the reds running riot). I think I'll just enjoy it on the wall for a while! I had a reshuffle of quilts around the house and it is now hanging in a hall opposite Lucy Boston...

...and around the corner from my Folk Art Basket quilt...

...and others are now taking a turn resting here...

Talking of Threadbear patterns...I've just received Corliss Searcey's Celebrating Mary Brown pattern and keep looking at it. It is huge and so inspiring! Anyone starting it? Just asking ...

The Southern Highlands Quilters put on a great biennial show last weekend - a feast for the eyes and lots of good shopping. It seems to get better every time and so nice to have a Show that is local for once. 

Shopping tables

more shopping - Reece Scannell

Collages of different favourite quilts for judging in the Show - :

lovely Christmas craft displays

Gorgeous embroidered items

If I had another lifetime I would love to delve into embroidery. But this one is just too full of quilting!

The finishing line...

My Benjamin Biggs journey started in January 2014. Thanks to the monthly free blocks from Sentimental Stitches (25 blocks plus border) it has kept many of us plugging along ever since. Thinking of the border kept me going -  my favourite part of this quilt. Mind you...I think I've had enough of applique buds for a wee while! 

I hung the just-completed top in my Golden Ash tree for an early morning photo. 

The back looked interesting in the  morning light.

Mr and Mrs King Parrot  were twittering at me from higher branches. I was in the way of their breakfast feeder. Excuse me, and a few minutes later ..

Mrs King Parrot

Mr is politely waiting his turn

And a little finish to report: I spied a lovely  kit on Instagram and very soon this arrived in the mail from Cutting Cloth. Intriguing?

A sewing box ! "Yummy" I thought, "How hard can it be?"

Well, it took me two solid days of work - super addictive but challenging!  Luckily the instructions were very clear and thorough. Imagine a bit of fun giant's EPP combined with a great deal of invisible stitching at tricky angles (with the facial expressions to match).

Decided not to make the pattern pincushions (have plenty already) but I just love the sewing box and it plays nicely with my other accessories.

I've only started one new quilt this year ( Sarah Fielke BOM) - and the self restraint has nearly killed me! There has been so much temptation out there as you all know. But you see, I'd done a little count and frightened myself by finding that I am working on 8 different large quilts - quite enough to be getting on with for now. Ben Biggs can now rest in the quilting queue while I give more time to the others. 

Am looking forward to posting a big finish next time. Can you guess which it might be? 

(PS the other quilts in my progress list are Shenandoah Valley /SVBAQ, Indigo Circles/Quilty 365, Civil War Bride, Wheat and Woods, Harrison Rose, Grandmother's Garden and Sarah Fielke's BOM)

Busy working on the learning curve

This month's SVBAQ block is the Tulip A-5

Not too tricky to applique and I love the pattern.

It set me thinking about the many skills involved in making quilts and the very many different ways we make them. Many learning curves that look a bit like this graph. The plateau is where we'd like to be - that comfortable spot at the top. Doesn't mean we are 'the best in the business' - just at our own 'happy' point.

(image borrowed from mind-muffins blogspot)

I'm on a comfortable plateau with hand applique - not perfect, but good enough to make it a happy process. Totally addicted to the process actually ! 

English Paper piecing (EPP) is another technique I love - never really had a 'slow beginning' phase - just charged straight on up that slope as the whole process suited me so well. My first project was the queen sized Cream Tea in 2011 (pictured in my Header). 

And hand quilting? Well I had a very, very 'slow beginning' phase that lasted about 20 years LOL!  and then last year I rediscovered it with new tools, different technique and hit the 'steep acceleration' stage in a big way. I'm now thinking I may have reached my 'plateau' and am totally addicted to that process too. It's not a judgeworthy plateau but it is my happy point.

We all have our own skills and different 'happy points' don't we?

As I mentioned in January , this year I'm hoping to hit that learning slope with American piecing ( as distinct from EPP or Foundation Paper piecing).  There are huge gaps in my knowledge in this area and that is why I signed up to Sarah Fielke's BOM. 

So - how's it going? Definitely on the 'slow beginning' phase but enjoying it. 

Sarah gave us a bonus video on making a block book - great idea and great tutorial. First to make a design to decorate the front of my book. I went with a combination of EPP, applique and quilting - staying in the comfort zone here :) 

And here's my book:

While I was motivated I also made a portable block pad too - to make sure my block pieces stay in the correct places while stitching. It is just a piece of strong cardboard and scraps of batting stuck on the front but very useful now:

Here it is in action with the 12 inch Churn dash block - first month's pattern pieces cut out (with great care) and laid out ready to stitch.

I decided to try hand piecing but how to mark the seams for accuracy? Rummaging in a drawer I found a handy block tool that seemed made for the job - don't know how many years this has been lurking in there LOL! It allows clear dots to be marked at corners with 1/4 inch allowance. Then I penciled in seam lines too - taking no chances here. The prep was slow but I think it paid off as the blocks came together quite well.

First month's work - a 12 inch Churn dash and two 6 inch stars - not bad for the Beginners slope?

I'm using a combination of solids, prints, toiles and some linen for texture. They're mostly from the stash but the beautiful Le Marais toile is a new addition. My colour theme is what you might call 'Antique English' - based on a Pinterest session where I pinned pictures of antique English quilts (with the look I liked) on a board. Here is a sample screenshot of my pinning.

Quilting on my Civil War Bride quilt is going surprisingly quickly - now I'm doing the background. Thanks so much for all your thoughts on what might work for the background fill. I decided a half inch cross hatch would be good. But when I started it (just a few diagonal lines) I loved the look of that and left it there! So the background to all the  blocks is now finished - 1/2 inch diagonal lines. And I am working on a double parallel line in the border. 

border quilting 

There are some larger applique pieces that need a little extra quilting too. I tried some stippling on a table cloth - just single stitches placed at random and carried through the layers:

...and some 1/4 inch parallel lines on a vase : 

...and this vase is about to get some curving lines. See the lines marked with the hera marker?

Phew - sorry for the long waffling blog post. Might be overcompensating for tiny snapshots on Instagram! 

Have a good stitching week.