Tuesday 30 August 2016

Updating the process

One of the best things about blogging is the record it keeps of what we quilt, how we do it and ..ahem...how long it takes us. There are a lot of us out there who like to make/start a lot of quilts - award carrying members of QUADDA (Quilter's ADD anonymous). I made that up but you know what I mean! My blog helps me remember the process - useful in looking back. The details can be so easily forgotten when you just look at the finished product. It's a great record for me ...so excuse the waffle. You can always skim the waffle though and just look at the pics?!

Wheat and Woods - the hand quilting update:
Last post I was outline quilting around all the applique - and removing pins as I went.


Then what to quilt over the broderie perse centre? I decided on a half inch grid - easy to mark on my largest coffee table with the Hera marker. Note that I have a cutting mat under the quilt as the Hera will mark a table top - not a good look! And no - I did not cut out the background under the broderie perse - decided it looked too fragile and needed the stability of the background fabric. As it turned out the quilting was easy over the top - maybe due to having only a thin batting (Quilters Dream Request cotton)?


Once the grid was quilted, then the trees in the corners around the centre looked quite loose and flappy so some intense quilting was needed. I love echo quilting so that was the go here - and no marking needed. I'm still using a TJ quilting spoon under the quilt (left hand) and a half thimble and needle puller (right hand) - and have found that the perfect combination for my arthritic fingers - comfortable and quick. The thread I favour is YLI hand quilting thread (here in 'Natural'). I'm quite keen on these needles too - size 10 Piecemaker quilting betweens - short and strong.

Next I added half inch parallel lines to the outer broderie perse border. Simple to mark again with the Hera marker.
The border quilted very quickly. Maybe it helped to be watching track racing on recorded Olympics TV coverage!
Next step is to add some more quilting on the main part of the quilt - not too intense but just to get more balance across the whole. I dithered a lot here - trying to decide on possible motifs (and how much marking I was willing to do). In the end I liked a simple grid that also absorbs/masks some seam lines. 

...and that's what I'm working on now

Some progress on Hexagon Star: started in March and has been a useful portable project to take to Quilt Group Sit and Sew meetings, and even in the suitcase travelling. 

They're half inch hexagons - English paper pieced. The little top measures 31" by 35" and I could finish the quilt at this point (that was the plan). 
But after seeing all the unbelievably inspiring antique quilts at the Making of the Australian Quilt exhibition in Melbourne (see last post) I'm motivated shamed into to add more to this. So I'm starting a border. 

Indigo Stars is a quilt I have been making since November last year - in Audrey's Quilty365 - hand appliqued onto squares of 2 and 4 inches. 
I've not been the best follower since there was supposed to be one circle appliqued each day for a year. I constantly played catch up and then have let it linger for a while on the design wall. Not wanting to be beaten I decided to finish at 288 circles and make it into a quilt. I cut some border and corner triangles and had a machine stitching marathon to make them into a top (about 55"). 
 


I'm not entirely thrilled with it  - am not sure why exactly.  It's calling out for some quilting to add definition but will wait in the queue for now. 

Here's something I am thrilled with - my iron tote/caddy. 
It was quick and super easy to make (I downsized a large pattern to suit my mini quilting iron). Google search for "iron caddy" to find a pattern from various sources - very clever and cute. 
And I'm also thrilled that I didn't need to buy anything to make it! The fabrics and battings were left overs in the stash, the vintage buttons and elastic were in my sewing cabinet and the ironing fabric was a recycled ironing board cover. 

Aren't these lovely fabrics? I was so surprised to win this generous collection from Margaret through her Instagram feed. We have the same taste in fabrics - lucky for me :)

It's been fairly quiet (and cold) in the garden so more time to quilt....no watering and no mowing - but that is about to change. We've had a relatively wet winter and the plants are showing they love it. 


It's a gorgeous day - a balmy 18 deg C -  I'm off for a walk. Enjoy the start to Spring ( or Autumn)!

39 comments:

  1. Love your hand quilting, makes me want to start on my UFO hand quilting that has been sitting in the cupboard for an embarrassing amount of time. Love the pics of your beautiful garden.

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  2. All your posts just make me want to drop everything and head to the sewing room! I love your quilting on wheat and woods, it's another beauty.

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  3. Your work is as gorgeous as your gardens - oh my!
    Nice win on Instagram - lovely fabrics.
    Your hand quilting is beautiful.

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  4. Love seeing the quilting on Wheat and Woods just as much as I enjoyed watching the creation of it. All your projects are always beautiful and inspiring and your garden shots are the same :)

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  5. Love seeing the quilting on Wheat and Woods just as much as I enjoyed watching the creation of it. All your projects are always beautiful and inspiring and your garden shots are the same :)

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  6. What a wonderful post to see all your projects. You are so talented!

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  7. Oh your projects are wonderful. You have been very busy indeed. Loving all the hand quilting. Your yard looks so lovely (considering it is the end of winter). I think you will have a spectacular spring. Please share with us!

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  8. Just beautiful, as always! I just love those little blocks that surround your broderie perse in the neutral quilt. Would you mind if I use that idea in a quilt of my own? I have been looking for something pieced to surround a center piece of fabric and something like that would be perfect. Of course I have no idea if I will actually get to it as I too, am a card carrying member of QUADDA!

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  9. love seeing your quilts as always and love the hexie - I too have been so inspired by the old hexies quilts that I see and keep thinking I must make one too.

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  10. Loved every bit of this post. Your Wheat and Woods is so beautiful, and your circles quilt is just fascinating. I hope to have a collection of monochromes/toiles like yours one day! What a treat to see your works in progress.

    Carole S.

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  11. I immensely enjoy reading every bit of your posts!
    I find it fascinating to hear about your process and handling of each quilt you work on.
    Wheat & Woods is as gorgeous/beautifully quilted as it was hand cut and stitched.
    Your Hexagon and 365 quilts are also stunning and your iron caddy is adorable!

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  12. What a treat this morning to view your beautiful broderie perse quilt. Your stitching is so even! Hera markers are great little tools aren't they? Thank you sor sharing with us.

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  13. Your work is as always amazing Hilda ! I love to admire your progress in quilting as I love to admire your garden ! Flowers are already there... !

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  14. I have not seen the Hera marker used for quilting lines like this. What a great way to avoid dodgy inks! Do you have some kind of starch or Best Press in the top to keep it crisp and hold the marks?

    I love your Q365 project, with all the indigos and different sizes. Maybe it just needs more of a frame?

    Inspiring post, thanks so much!

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  15. You are such an inspiration! I adore your Wheat and Woods and the quilting is just beautiful. I like my Piecemaker needles too. Your little hexie gem is spectacular. I wouldn't change a thing, but now will be anxious to see what you do with a border. I think your Quilty 365 (or rather 288) is beautiful. I find myself still plugging along with an end date of November 7. Congratulations on your win. I only recognize a few and they are all luscious! I can't even fathom a garden of this magnitude this early in your season. Just beautiful! Enjoy your spring as I revel in my autumn!

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  16. Thank you for sharing your beautiful projects--I'm always so inspired by everything that you do. Your hand quilting is amazing and makes me want to give it a go despite the arthritis in my wrists. I think your challenge circles are charming, and I know you will do something wonderful to finish it!

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  17. Oh, what a joy it is to get notification of a new post to your blog! Thank you, Hilda, for your great shares!

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  18. Your Wheat and Woods is so beautiful. Thanks again for sharing your process...your quilting is so perfect. Now I am off to track down a Hera tool.

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  19. Oh my goodness, I just love seeing your progress! So inspiring! Your circles look wonderful, but I know what you mean about maybe needing something. I'm worried about putting mine together and liking it too. It could be there just isn't enough variation in the blocks as far as shapes? I might have to add a funky border to mine!

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  20. It has all been said. Wonderful work and good progress on many fronts. Autumn is starting to show its face here in the UK, with cooler mornings and the evenings drawing in.

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  21. gorgeous quilting.......beautiful fabrics you got....and the garden is so full of colour.........

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  22. I'm always so inspired by your posts. Your hand quilting is lovely and it's so nice not to have to mark designs, isn't it. The amount of quilting that you add just makes each quilt come alive. Those tiny hexies are adorable. Can't wait to see what you decide for a border. I love your circle quilt. I like the variety of sizes and subtle color scheme. Your garden is coming to life. Spring makes you feel refreshed, as I get ready for the autumn, chiller temperatures, and hibernation.

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  23. You have the most amazing posts! The handquilting in your Wheat and Woods is fabulous! I love the echo quilting around the trees. Your hexie top is gorgeous as well. I love all of the pink :0) I look forward to seeing what you add for borders. Congrats on your fabric win- you will put it to excellent use I'm sure. Your garden is beautiful!

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  24. Oh all those neutrals and your beautiful hand quilting are just so inspiring!!!! Wowser!

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  25. Love love love everything! I really appreciate the time you put into your posts that include the detail on your process & techniques. Your quilting on Wheat and Wool is encouraging me to think about hand quilting. I love your circles quilt just the way it is now, you've probably already thought about doing one of your gorgeous appliqué borders... Have you seen Minnick & Simpson's Patty's Poppies quilt? Lots of vines and circles for flowers. Also love your hexie quilt and looking forward to see where you take this.

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  26. Oops! That should have been Patty's Posies.

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  27. Oh - your work is so beautiful. Congrats on what you've achieved to date; love the progress news. And your garden looks lovely too. Enjoy the balmy weather - it's still a bit cool down here.

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  28. Wonderful post as always! I just love all your projects. Wheat and Woods is one of my favorites and Hexagon Star is stunning. Not to mention Indigo Circles with all those great fabrics and the cute little iron caddy. Beautiful garden, too!

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  29. Absolutely luscious quilting pictures! You make my fingers itch to be quilting my Auntie Green's Garden...but that probably will be into the new year.

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  30. What a gorgeous garden! And your quilts are gorgeous, too. You are truly blessed to have all this goodness around you.

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  31. Your quilt in the neutral tones is so very interesting and pretty.

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  32. Love Wheat and Woods!

    I too am a member of QUADDA. Big time! In fact I think we must be related somehow, someway. Hahaha...

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  33. Happy spring!! I love the quilting you've done on W&W. Really amazing.
    Your hexie quilt is lovely. An addition of a border will make it quite smashing! Hooray on the win!

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  34. Loving all the colours! Nice ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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  35. I really love your idea of using 2" as well as 4" blocks - it makes for an amazing layout. Thanks for sharing.

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  36. I like to variation of size in your circles in your quilt. Such a pretty garden.

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  37. A mi me encanta tu Quilt 365. Supongo que tú no estás tan contenta porque estás aburrida con él. Pero es un diseño fantástico. Seguro que si te pones lo terminas pronto. Un beso

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  38. I for one absolutely love your Indigo Stars!

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