Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Quilting done!

 I just finished the quilting and trimmed the red cross quilt.
Right when I thought I was done, I had to go back in and do a little more...  
I figured it was worth it at this point not to rush it, and do it all just right...
I'm not sure Why I quilted a quilt like this.. It just sort of happened...
And let me tell you, I learned a lot by doing this quilt...
 Go slow.  Free motion does not mean got 100 mph...
As you gain confidence you find you can speed up a bit, but over all, taking your time is key.

 I learned, I HATE stippling, aka, Random meandering... 
Why?  Although it looks good to quilt down areas,
it take north east, south, and west direction when your quilting... 
So your pushing, pulling and moving the quilt in every direction and is the hardest on your shoulders.... 

Feathers, are often a forward backward movement, which is much easier.. 
and also the three half shell stitch, which looks even better than a meander, 
is also easier, forward and backward....
 Feathers are intimidating? Very much so. So, wanna know what I did?
I took a sketchbook, and I filled ever page with feathers.... every kind of feathers... straight line feathers, curved feathers, feathers around a shape... and filled every inch of the sketch book...

Once you have the motion and the direction that you are sure of when attempting your feathers, they become very easy...  You can cover a lot of ground doing feathers very quickly.

On this quilt, I basically used 4 different stitches... feathers first... 
then meander, then the half shell thingy, and the curves inside the boxes of the crosses...
(these stitches are in the first top left photograph.)

For the scallop swags around the border, I traced the curve for the swags, then just went for it ...
I added things as I went along like plumes at the swag points. Extra lines if the swags were to puffy... etc...

Now I am going to prepare my bias binding... Haven't ever done that before either!  But I have been told that it will stay laying much flatter after it's laundered, if I use bias binding... 
Hey, it's a learning curve,
and it's time to learn something else new!

It's by far, not a perfect quilt... Patience, was key...  
And think how fab it will look after it's laundered!  
You wont' see all the little oopsie stitches!

I'm so OK with that!  There are always more quilt to do something a little better on next time!
I'm not into perfect quilts anyway...  
I accidentally stitched out a sway scallop... I think I may leave it.
;-)

My Christmas gift to myself! (nearly complete!)

ooh!  extra!
SEE PAGE 7 at
http://www.thepiedaterre.com/


67 comments:

  1. As you know, I LOVE this quilt! It has been so fun to watch it come to life, and the quilting is fabulous. You've given me the motivation to try feathers with one of my future projects. What a nice gift to yourself :-)!!

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  2. Oh my dear, this quilt is worth all you put into it!!!

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  3. I love this quilt more every time I see it!

    Merry Christmas, V!

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  4. Very nicely done!! And congrats on the big finish.

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  5. awesome quilt job. Merry Christmas to you. You deserve it after all that quilting.

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  6. The quilt takes on an entire new look after you do your last bit magic!! I am amazed and awed at the way you took the quilting and upped the beauty of the piece triple-fold. Gorgeous, what a lovely gift to yourself. Enjoy it for years to come; I can’t wait til you wash it and soften it just a bit. Kudos.

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  7. great feathers! I'm practicing those myself right now. this is a lovely quilt. Merry Christmas!

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  8. It's really beautiful. Thank you for the tips. I probably will never quilt one this size but I do on occasion like to practice on something smaller. Perhaps I'll do more in the new year!!!

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  9. OOOOOOO absolutely divine... your GGI was definately born from this project. I am moved to tackle the daunting task of feathers etc...other than the shells, did you sketch ANYTHING on the quilt top first...ooooo I must be okay with trying it on a piece....afterall only i will know what is unintended. smiles. Absolutely gorgeous...

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  10. I think you did a masterful job! This is a great looking quilt and just about the best present anyone could give themselves. I have been quilting my smaller quilts but I'm going to have to get the confidence up to do a big one. I have always done bias binding and I think it always looks better.

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  11. terrific! my fave of all ~ let it keep you warm and inspired every day.
    and, if you ever tire of it...lol.

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  12. So pretty! So nice!! the quilting is great!!!

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  13. V- Yay for you!!!! Learning and improving is what the craft is all about. So happy for you - the quilt is stunning. Merry Christmas.

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  14. It looks fab NOW! Thanks for sharing it's creation with us...next year will I dare to try machine quilting a big quilt myself, inspired by your meteoric rise?!

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  15. Victoria, I love love love your quilt! Everything about it - the green (of course!), the pattern, the reds and your quilting looks fabulous. I first thought it didn't need to be bigger but I'm glad I never said it out loud - it looks fantastic on your bed!! Enjoy the bias binding - it is definitely my preferred method for binding.

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  16. Stunning. Love the quilting on the quilt. Amazing job and am impressed that you did it with the sewing machine.

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  17. This quilt is fabulous, V! I can't imagine how you did all that free-motion quilting. Please talk to us about it at our next NYC Metro Quilt meeting. Merry Christmas.

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  18. Amazing! What a beautiful quilt.

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  19. This quilt, and the quilting you did on it, is just fabulous. And all on your JUKI?!! Amazing. (P.S. I have not forgotten your quilt drive; if you are still collecting, I am bound and determined to get a quilt out there to you. :) )

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  20. Oh Victoria! Your quilt is just absolutely amazing! You quilting is superb. I love th colors and the texture, so inviting. Another fabulous work of art!

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  21. Woohoo!! You go girl, it is fantastic and looks gorgeous on your bed!! I can't wait to see it all bound and ready, better yet in person. Now all you need is a massage, right?

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  22. Congratulations I think your quilt is beautiful. May you sleep happily under it.
    Season's Greetings to You, from New Zealand.

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  23. Absolutely wonderful ... magnificent!
    Thanks for sharing your work with us.
    It was a treat following your process & watching your progress.

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  24. wow!! you did and AMAZING job with that quilting!!! I love it!!!

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  25. V - how you are going to love snuggling under this quilt knowing every stitch and movement that went into it. It just glows:) What a lesson we have all had with you. Thankyou so much for taking us with you. Ciao

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  26. This is so beautiful Victoria!! And ready for Christmas too. You have really done an absolutely amazing job... One day I will get there too but for now I will just admire yours! :-)

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  27. Wow...absolutely fabulous!! Just beautiful...your quilting really made the quilt sing! Thank you for sharing your process in the quilting. Shows me I need to practice my feathers!

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  28. Wow, your quilting definitely makes this quilt special! Great job!

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  29. Wow, it looks marvelous, especially on that bed, and your quilting is something else!

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  30. Adore your quilting.
    I especially love the "stuff the mistakes" attitude. It's what quilting is all about.
    Embrace the wonk I say!!!!
    (Not that I can see much of it in that stunning quilt)
    Andi x

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  31. The quilt is gorgeous! Love the juxtaposition of the rather modern design in the piecing and the quite traditional style of the quilting. Happy Holidays...
    Susannah

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  32. The ad looks great! One of my favourites in there too...

    Do you have problems with your bindings rolling? Do you use a single fold or double fold binding? I've never had a problem, so I'm intensely curious about the situation and potential fix.

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  33. The quilt is spectacular! Your quilting is perfect for it.

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  34. Yowzer, V! You got it! Going to call you Little McTavish. The quilting is awesome!

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  35. This is my favorite of all of your quilts. Absolutely stunning and the quilting is just amazing. Congratulations!

    Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  36. I cannot write what my heart and mind are thinking and feeling as I ooh and awe over your quilting of the crosses! You are awesome!!! and thank you, I may have to try some feathers, I am blown away by yours!!! Thanks for such lovely Christmas posts, so cozy and homey!!! One day I am going to have you commission a quilt from you!!!! Love to you on this Tuesday, Em

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  37. it's stunning - fabulous color, great quilting.... what a beauty! Kate the Quilting Professor

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  38. Hey V, It is FREAKIN GORGEOUS! Well done, my friend! You rock! Talk to you in the morning. Happy binding!

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  39. That is one gorgeous quilt! Congratulations on the finish!

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  40. Oh so beautiful. Well done Victoria. It will be an heirloom for all generations. Cheers!
    And in the southern vernacular ~
    you done good girl

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  41. Victoria,
    Your quilt is truly stunning- I love the scallops and feathers- I have done a fair amount of meandering but not much fancier stitching. You did a fabulous job. Thanks for sharing your journey and your beautiful quilt.
    Wishing you and yours a wonderful festive season. All the best in 2011.
    Warmest regards,
    Anna

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  42. Kudos = The Pied a Terre Magazine is very cool. I am everso impressed.

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  43. Love it...and totally agree about it NOT being an 100-mph activity.

    Congrats on the ad....now bring on those commissions! :)

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  44. What a wonderful quilt - your quilting is perfect for it.

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  45. Absolutely fabulous quilt and quilting my friend!! You are SO talented. Thanks for inspiring.

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  46. Your feathers are amazing...I like feathers done freehand instead of fussy-stenciled ones!

    Have a great holiday week!

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  47. Oh ...but it IS perfect!!!!

    love it!
    xo
    eva

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  48. I love your quilt and the quilting looks fantastic, lots of cheering here. I especially loved reading about how you tackled it and dove in, that's so inspiring.

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  49. It looks stunning with the beautiful quilting! Congratulations on being featured with your lovely quilts. And have a great Holiday Season...
    ; )

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  50. Beautiful!
    Congrats on a lovely finish!
    Your feathers are fantastic

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  51. Wow! Love the quilt! And I am so amazed you were able to do all this quilting on a home machine! I am certainly inspired. I agree about the meandering is a killer on the shoulders! Absolutely amazing - congrats!

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  52. Wow, fabulous job on the quilting, looks lovely on your bed!

    Merry Christmas!

    : )

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  53. Ooh, Victoria, the quilting on this is AbFab! You did a beautiful job on this and elevated a simple graphic design and color scheme into something really special. Looks great on the King!

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  54. What else can I say but STUNNING! Thanks for sharing your quilting lessons. Merry Christmas.

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  55. Congrats on finishing a gorgeous quilt! So stunning!

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  56. Haven't "visited" in awhile. This is an amazingly beautiful quilt, both the piecing and the quilting. Just lovely.

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  57. This quilt is gorgeous, Victoria! Thanks for sharing your experiences with the quilting process. In the end it looks fantastic.

    Have a very merry Christmas!!!

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  59. The Red Cross quilt is gorgeous! What an astounding amount of work! Beautiful job . . . Have a Merry Christmas!

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  60. i love this quilt! especially all those feathers.

    and mega congrats! well deserved.

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  61. I am in awe, Victoria! This is SO incredibly gorgeous! I have only attempted free motion quilting with my sewing machine. I feel like I have learned so much from you just from this post! I got my moleskin out right away and started drawing. I do feel like with some confidence I might be able to do this too, with your instructions here. You rock!

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  62. I loved that quilt before it was quilted but now, wow! I just started to teach myself some feathers. I need boundaries and a spine to help me keep them fairly even and uniform. I really like you yours look with all the quilting around them, it really makes them pop out. Lovely and inspiring!

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  63. the quilt is fantastic. you did an amazing job with the quilting. woohoo!!!

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  64. I love love love this quilt! I love chartreuse too and those graphic +'s in red, wow. Did you do the quilting on a standard machine?

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  65. I know this is an older post, but I just saw it for the first time today and just wanted to join the throng in singing your quilting praises! WOW!

    Thank you for the inspiration! I want to try free form quilting, but am pretty scared about the whole process. I love it that you say the quilt isn't perfect...it looks so lovely to me; I'd never have thought there were any mistakes. :)

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