Having accidentally created a monster of a quilt (you can see more in my previous post) my first attempts to machine quilt it were a disaster and resulted in much unpicking. Maybe the problem was the huge number of seams, and the stretch from the bias edges but I kept generating a wave of excess fabric in front of the needle and puckers were inevitable.
I've turned to hand quilting - I've done a tiny amount before on Emerald, but it was in a quite relaxed way as I wanted to use it to symbolise rough stone.
Proper hand quilting on a big quilt is totally new to me so I read Jo's tutorial and watched Sarah Fielke's tutorial and now this is the view of my lap today. A bit of Spotify in the background and some meditative stitching punctuated with the occasional rude word as I stick myself with the needle.
I'm using proper hand quilting thread (Gutterman) - that's another new to me and I like the slight stiffness of the thread which stops it from kinking and knotting up. My stitching is getting better as I go along, so please don't look at it too critically. Even if it's not perfect I love the way it is bringing the quilt to life.
Thank you Fiona for continuing to inspire us to get stuck in!
Welcome to the wonderful world of slow stitching! I love to hand quilt...am indulging in some sashiko stitching on a coverlet at the moment and also working to finish hand quilting the border of a large sampler quilt...all of which is quilted by hand. It's taking ages! Your first efforts look pretty good to me!
ReplyDeleteIt looks good to me Catherine! I am not sure that I have the patience for handquilting but maybe one day I will surprise myself and give it a go :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to New to Me too, I love seeing all the different things that bloggers try out each month.
Its gorgeous and the hand stitching will be better with it. I am going to do me one, one day, but I have rheumatoid arthritis and I dont like to aggravate it. I love EPP and cross stitching too. Stopping by from New to Me in January
ReplyDeleteLooks fabulous! I haven't tried hand quilting yet, but it's there on my to do list...
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful and it doesn't matter if the stitches aren't perfect.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on some hand quilting on my Jazz Hands quilt designed by Sarah Fielke but got to finish hand piecing it first!
I think you've made the best choice and it looks Fab.U.Lous x
ReplyDeleteI love hand stitching my quilts, I think it's the best bit
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're enjoying hand quilting - it's perfect for us slow stitchers/bloggers!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck - it looks so pretty already though so I'm sure you won't need it!
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome! Carry on, I am looking forward to the big reveal!
ReplyDeleteIt's looking beautiful. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteLooks fabulous!!! Hand quilting is something I have yet to try.
ReplyDeleteGood job. Be careful, hand quilting is addicting. And the texture of the finished product can be amazing. You can get more ideas and inspiration at http://celebratehandquilting.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the land of hand quilting. It brings another dimension to quilting......from where I'm looking, I can't see anything but wonderful quilting stitches on a very beautiful quilt!!
ReplyDeleteThis will be beautiful. Hand stitching is so much easier to control.
ReplyDeleteHand quilting is a great idea - it will look so good and makes it all the more special :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks great. I used to do alot of hand quilting but unfortunately my eyes aren't up to doing much hand sewing these days xxx
ReplyDeleteIt is looking so good! I love this quilt and I think your hand quilting just adds all the more to it.
ReplyDeleteHand quilting is definitely the way to go. No arguing with pesky machines, while sitting under acres of quilt on a cold Winter's night is simply the best way to keep warm.
ReplyDeleteYour quilting looks great, I do like to hand quilt especially with some music on in the background or even a dvd to glance at every now and again.
ReplyDeleteukcitycrafter@live.co.uk
Looks fantastic Catherine! Hand quilting is such hard work but so rewarding at the end.
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