Sunday 6 August 2017

The Biggs

"The Biggs" is being laboriously hand quilted. It might well be the last quilt I ever stitch so intensely but at about 80% done the end is almost in sight!

I have shared Benjamin Biggs quilting pics on Instagram but nothing on the blog since this post in Feb 2016 when I finished the quilt top. It waited awhile in the quilting queue - with some Quilters Dream cotton batting and reels of YLI natural hand quilting thread on hand. Meanwhile some quilting design research...
A lot of the blocks in this quilt are quite irregular/quirky so I want to keep that feel in the quilting approach - nothing too symmetrical across the top.  
I planned to scatter a variety of antique-inspired motifs in among the blocks where there was a little open space. 
The motifs were drawn on to the top, before sandwiching, with a wash out pencil (General's Sketch and Wash graphite). The design is almost rubbed out by the time it is quilted so not much is left for washing anyway!


Winter weather, lots of 'Tour de France' recordings to stitch by, and a quilt in the hoop ...sigh.

Once all the motifs and applique pieces were outline stitched, it was time to commit to an intense background fill...and no going back once started! The outer ring of 16 blocks are echo quilted, and the centre block will be too. I love the look of echo quilting but it is hard going at times - all the turning and turning of the hoop. Nice not to have to mark but there's a lot of focus needed to get relatively even stitches and relatively even row spacing. 



The inner ring of 8 blocks are grid quilted (3/8"grid) - marked with the Hera marker, block by block - I love this process.



Just an aside : I've been thinking about adding trapunto - stuffing the quilted motifs with yarn from the back. It would give them more definition but am not sure it would be right for this quilt. The antique original on Sentimental Stitches blog photos does not seem to have stuffing, and I love the soft, wrinkly textured look. I'd really like to do this lovely pattern justice. Might the trapunto make it stiffer ? look too formal ? or maybe just look downright bizarre seeing as the motifs are all different and unevenly scattered on the quilt?! Sounds like I've made up my mind...but will see when the whole is quilted and bound. The fun thing about hand trapunto is I'm guessing you can add it any time... even years down the track! 

The border quilting is parallel lines 3/8" apart - Hera marked again, about a yard at a time, and the easiest quilting on this quilt!



When I started this post it was to be titled "The Biggs and some baskets" but have scrubbed "the baskets"  as the post has got too long! 
Back soon to share something else I've been working on 😊

55 comments:

  1. Hilda your quilting is incredibly beautiful!! I love the grid quilting, I love the echo quilting, I think the whimsical motifs are marvellous. I'm glad you are enjoying your border qulting. I can't wait to see more of your baskets!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My name is John I never believed in Love Spells or Magics until I met DR EHBOS special spell caster when i went to Africa to Execute some business.He is really powerful spell caster,My wife divorce me with no reason for almost 4 years and i tried all i could to have her back cos i really love her so much but all my effort did not work out.. we met at our early age at the college and we both have feelings for each other and we got married happily for 5 years with no kid and she woke up one morning and she told me she's going on a divorce..i thought it was a joke and when she came back from work she tender to me a divorce letter and she packed all her loads from my house..i ran mad and i tried all i could to have her back but all did not work out..i was lonely for almost 4 years...So when i told the DR EHBOS spell caster what happened he said he will help me and he asked for her full name and her picture..i gave him that..At first i was skeptical but i gave it a try cos have tried so many spell casters and there is no solution...so when he finished with the readings,he got back to me that she's with a man and that man is the reason why she left me. DR EHBOS said he will help me with a spell that will surely bring her back but i never believe all this...he told me i will see a positive result within 3 days..3 days later,she called me herself and came to me apologizing and she told me she will come back to me..I cant believe this,it was like a dream because i never believe this will work out after trying so many spell casters and there is no solution..The spell caster is so powerful and after that he helped me with a pregnancy spell and my wife got pregnant a month later..we are now happy been together again and with lovely kid coming .. DR EHBOS has really changed my life and i will forever thankful to him..he has helped many friends too with similar problem too and they are happy and thankful to him..This man is indeed the most powerful spell caster have ever experienced in life..Am Posting this to the Forum in case there is anyone who has similar problem and still looking for a way out..you can reach him to his personal email drehbos@gmail.com
      drehbos@gamil.com or add him on WhatsApp +2348133505254

      Delete
  2. Oh My Goodness!! Breathtakingly beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. WOW! simply beautiful. Truly a labor of love. This is definitely going to be a cherished family heirloom.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My heart is soaring to see this beautiful quilt. So inspiring - I am going to get my neglected appliqué out and continue. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Truly spectacular quilting! I love everything about this quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fabulous and the quilting is spectacular!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a gorgeous quilt--and your quilting is beautiful hugs, Julierose

    ReplyDelete
  8. I wondered how you were doing and just followed you on Instagram so I can keep up - I didn't realize you were on that

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful Hilda. I love your quilting choices.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your hand stitching is exquisite. It's a masterpiece!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your quilting is so impressive! You are a master at this art. I drool at every picture and dream that one day I will grow up to be just like you. Congratulations on getting this far and happy stitching for the home stretch. I wouldn't add trapunto because my grandma never did. But that's just me. lol.
    ;^)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm working on quilting my CW Bride quilt by hand so I know the work you have in this quilting. Stunning! Thanks for sharing your references for quilt designs. This is the area that I struggle with most. What and where to hand quilt. Thank you for sharing your wonderful quilts!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! Sooooo many stitches! But, OH SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh my goodness! Just peeped through your blog and quilts. Your quilts are spectacular. I love the applique and the amount of hand quilting. Each of your quilts has its own story. Thank you so much for allowing me to see your beautiful works of art. I love big stitch and am hand quilting a quilt for a friend. Her sister cross stitched the blocks but passed before she finished. Her daughter finished the blocks and they have been in a bag for years. I felt that machine quilting would have taken away from the cross stitches. You have given me that last push to finish it. Thanks for inspiration..Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your quilt is gorgeous! You do wonderful work. I'm so impressed. Hugs,

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is so beautiful, Hilda! The dense fills are really doing your applique justice. It's going to be amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  17. As always, lovely work! Another masterpiece.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Absolutely spectacular, Hilda! Every time I come to look at the pictures on your blog, I practically drool LOL :) BTW, I hear you about the constant turning of the hoop when doing echo quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Absolutely gorgeous!! When you're done, you will be glad you quilted it so densely. I have this pattern in my project folder to tackle someday-you're quilt is making it very tempting to move it to the top of the pile!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a fabulous quilt you have made Hilda. Its just gorgeous. Do you prewash your reds? I am making Under the Cherry Tree ( slowly) and it is a red & green quilt also. I am concerned about prewashing my fabrics, which I dont normally do!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am always in awe of your artistic talent and this is another great beauty! Your quilting is truly lovely and amazing! - Just Gorgeous!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am also inspired by your beautiful quilts and the hand quilting. Having you share your journey is so good. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your quilting is beautiful and the quilt is already amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Stunning, as usual. Thank you for the pictorial treat!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Perfect (as always...) in everything! Love the scattered motifs, the echo quilting filling it up (respect for that) and the grid for the borders. Trapunto is nice, but really would not add to this quilt, as it is already great and breathtaking as it is right now. You are such an inspiration, Hilda!

    ReplyDelete
  26. just beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration. I have to continue mine. I have also put it away for a while.

    ReplyDelete
  27. You are amazing! Love seeing the quilt close up--wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hilda, your quilt and quilting are stunning. You make such beautiful quilts that will become the heirlooms of tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thank you for the terrific pics and description of your decisions on how to hand quilt your masterpiece. Inspirational !

    ReplyDelete
  30. Swoon...Thank you Hilda for this gorgeous post showing in detail your beautiful hand quilting for Benjamin Biggs. I just love the sprinkling of motifs you have used throughout the blocks, this is a stunning heirloom. Thanks for the quilting inspiration just what I need as I contemplate whether to hand quilt my latest finish.

    ReplyDelete
  31. its just beautiful! really lovely

    ReplyDelete
  32. Fantastic work Hilda! Re the trapunto..... once you start you can't stop so you need to be really really sure! Anyway I think the quilt is gorgeous as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh Hilda, this is breathtaking! So much beautiful quilting. I adore it. I am looking forward to seeing what the "baskets" brings. Enjoy your quilting by the fire.

    ReplyDelete
  34. you are doing a beautiful job at creating this wonderful quilt masterpiece.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Absolutely gorgeous!
    Thank you for sharing these close up and super inspiring photos of your quilting!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love your thought processes Hilda. It is already a stunning quilt. I am in awe.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Every time I think that I'm crazy for loving hand quilting, I read one of your glorious posts and I'm amazed all over again! It's nice to be part of a shrinking community of hand stitchers.

    ReplyDelete
  38. That quilt is just stunning and a wonderful keepsake quilt. You should be very proud!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hilda! Wow! You are doing that quilt justice! It's going to be a beauty when it's complete. I didn't love mine enough to put a lot time into the quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Your quilting is amazing and the quilt is a masterpiece. you can be so proud after such a delicate work.Congratulations already

    ReplyDelete
  41. stunning quilting. The echo quilting is spectacular.

    ReplyDelete
  42. You do such pretty, pretty hand quilting. A joy to view.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing the binding technique. I have never tried it but I will do so on my current hexagon quilt once it is finished.
    ตารางคะแนนลาลีกา

    ReplyDelete
  44. I think this is one of the most significant information for me.
    And i’m glad reading your article.
    But should remark on some general things, the web site style is perfect,
    the articles is really great : D. Good job…
    ผลบอลพรีเมียร์ลีก

    ReplyDelete
  45. you are doing a beautiful job at creating this wonderful quilt masterpiece.
    สล็อต ออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  46. I don't known if here is the right forum to say this I am very glad for what Prophet Ogbeifun did for me i meant dr ogbeifun through a friend he helped win a court case of divorce few months ago and when i contacted him he help me to cast a death spell on my mother inlaw who was really troubling my life and future, she never wanted my progress, each time I get a job from a company, I get drove back because of the witch craft mother inlaw I have, I never knew my mother inlaw was the one troubling me, until one day I contacted Dr Ogbeifun for help and he told me Justine my mother inlaw is the one troubling me and he help me to cast unto her a death spell. I am happy because the evil doer is dead and ever since then my life have turn around for good things now work fine for me and am now a happy living beautiful with my family, thanks to Dr Ogbeifun. i recommend you to dr Ogbeifun if you have any kind of problem he will help you restore your marriage life back again. contact him via email ogbefunhearlingtemple@gmail.com or call/whatsapp him via +2348102574680

    ReplyDelete
  47. How i got cured of HIV with the use of natural herbs. My name is munilah, I’m from south africa. Most times, injection and drugs are waste of time. I was cured 2 weeks ago, i suffered from HIV for 6 years but with the help of Drmaam herbal medicine, i was cured within few weeks of drinking the herbs he sent to me through courier delivery service. This same doctor also cured my sister from herpes, as soon as i heard she had herpes, i quickly referred her to Drmaam latifah and she was cured too after drinking his herbs. I have referred more than 15 persons to DR maam and they were all cured from their various illnesses. You have spent so much money on drugs, injections, surgeries etc. Yet you have no good result to show for it. Contact Drmaam, he is a herbalist doctor and a spell caster. I assure you of a cure if you drink his natural herbs. Dr maam has herbs that cure HIV, Herpes, diabetics, asthma, hepatitis, HBP, STD, cancer etc. Please share the good news to other people once you are cured via maamtifah@gmail. com or call/whatsapp:+27785167256. Dr maam latifah is also a spell caster. He brought back my Aunt's husband after several years of depression and rejection by her husband

    ReplyDelete
  48. For the past 2 years now I have been looking for good and genuine spell caster to bring back my ex lover back and also help me to win lottery,and it has been a hard time for me finding the right place until I get in contact with Dr maam who gave me powerful prayer and assured me that it will take two days before the spell will be effective,unbelievable the next two days i got a call from unknown number so i decided to pick the call the next thing i could hear was my love voice she was pleading and begging me on the phone that i should forgive her that i should forget all that have happened that she did not know what came over her,she promised not to leave for any reason, that she was really sorry for what she did,i was so surprised because i never believed that this could happen,so that was how i accepted her apology and the next morning she came to my house and still pleading for me to forgive her i told her that everything is okay that i have forgiven her from my heart, that was how we started again, we are together now. thank you Dr maam for making her to know that we are meet to be together and also making my dreams to come true. And he did a spell that make me to win the lottery, Please if any body needs. LOVE SPELL,LOTTERY,PREGNANCY SPELL, DIVORCE SPELL,STOP COUNT CASE,DEATH SPELL, GET YOUR PARTNER. BACK AND MANY MORE YOU MAKE NEED. Email her now for your own help. via email maamtifah@gmail.com add him on whatsapp line or call +27605775963.
    All thanks goes to Dr maam latifah for the excessive work that he has done for me.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Writing a report is not a really difficult job. One key aspect of any academic report is how well the question is answered.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hello everyone my name Ximena Jimena from Cuba i want to use this medium to inform the world on how i got cured from Herpes & diabetes at first when i had symptoms back in 2014 i went for test and it came out positive i lost hope of getting a better relationship or marriage, everything changed when i met Dr Itua i contacted explained everything to him and he said he has the cure so i decided to order it from him, so i actually did after 2 weeks i went for test and i was negative i'm forever grateful to him.he can also cure all diseases
    email: drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com www.drituaherbalcenter.com Dr Itua can also bring back your ex lover and make him or she love more than ever.

    ReplyDelete