Monday 16 September 2013

Caught the bug



Well, the hand-quilting bug is hanging around these here parts even though my hexie quilt is finished, washed and in use.



Remember my red and cream sampler from the fabulous blocks that the hipBees made me?  I looked and looked at it trying to decide how to quilt it, and to be honest trying to ignore the little voice in my ear.  But you know, the voice was right, this quilt deserves a little more personal quilting attention, so hand-quilting it is.


Using a deep ruby DMC perle thread, I made a start with Rachel's 3D pinwheel


and Tanya's wonky log cabin.  And I am now so glad that I didn't machine quilt this one!

I love the individual quilting of the blocks, which I simply wouldn't have been patient enough to do by machine.  I know the handquilting will ultimately lengthen the process of this quilt.  In truth, I would love to get it finished very soon and up on the wall but I am trying to appreciate that as a wallhanging this quilt will be the better for the handstitched effect.





























It's also given me an opportunity to try out quarter inch quilting tape rather than just stitching the seam by eye.  My opinion of the tape:  it can be a bit fiddly and requires a little patience (not much, just a little) to apply but actually I achieved a much nicer straight stitch line as a result and I will continue to use it on each block for this quilt where the red stitches against the kona snow are very obvious if they're badly aligned.

So, two down only 14 more to handquilt!  Sometimes, I wonder if my ideas are my own worst enemy...




13 comments:

  1. It's looking brilliant. The hand quilting adds an extra something special to the feel of the quilt. It's also giving it a more handmade feel. Not sure what I'm trying to say because obviously it was hand made already!

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  2. Hmm, hadn't even realised such tape existed! I've tried using masking tape for machine quilting, but ended up stitching over it *ahem*

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  3. No half measures for stunning results! It's going to be absolutely stunning! Jxo

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  4. I was wondering how you got those lines so very straight. It really is an excellent quilt for hand stitching and the end result will be beautiful.

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  5. You're right, it is absolutely perfect! I'm loving the look of that tape - I hate wonky lines; I don't see quirky and hand made, I see my own failings as a stitcher! So that might make me actually have a go at hand quilting my baby clothes quilt once it's done. Do you use a hoop?

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  6. It is addictive. But it is also beautiful.

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  7. This looks amazing! and machine quilting might be nice, but that hand stitching is lovely!

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  8. It's a fab quilt. Good luck with the hand quilting- rather you than me!
    If anyone can do it you can. Enjoy the process.

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  9. the quilt is fab and love that you are hand quilting it, I find it relaxing to do, mind you I have not made a quilt only small things, it will keep your knees warm during the winter whilst quilting.

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  10. Yay my block looks lovely with that hand quilting - it's going to be gorgeous x

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  11. I love hand quilting. This is looking fabulous

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