Finishing Up February
I only got two (count them, two) projects done in February.
The first one was the blue and green log cabin lap quilt that was almost done by the end of January. Here it is with its binding. It has gone on to the VA hospital.
Binding makes it look so much nicer.
The next one is the penguin crib quilt that I started to show my basic quilt procedure. I added a strip of yellow squares, and then end panels of the backing fabric, machine quilted it, and bound it.
Scrappy Penguins crib quilt
I was using Hobbs Tuscany Silk batting. How do you choose batting? you ask. When I went to the International Quilt Festival on its last day, Hobbs was sold out of everything except for crib-size silk, and they were discounting, so I decided to try it. That is the kind of high-level critical thinking I apply to my choices. (I bought about four other kinds of batting from other vendors there too, but I haven’t tried them yet.)
This particular batting is too flat for me; I like lofty quilts. I depend on the puffiness of the batting to help camouflage any stitching irregularities, and I just like squishy quilts. The low loft matters in this quilt because I didn’t quilt it all over in the same pattern; I tried different stitches to complement different blocks. It was good practice, but I don’t think it was effective.
I used a squared-off spiral stitch in the log cabin blocks. I left some parts unquilted for contrast but now I don’t like that so much. But I don’t think I would like every inch covered with spirals either, so it’s going to stay like it is.
I think of this stitch as a butterfly trail, a little loop-the-loop.
I was going for a mussel-shell pattern – it really flattened the block.
This was my favorite, but you need widely spaced motifs for it to work. I don’t think I could maneuver this stitch on a small-scale pattern.
I probably should have done an overall pattern, but I just have so much trouble making myself sew through the faces on the little animals in the fabrics! Silly but true.
Up until now I have focused most on the colors and composition of the piecing – in the future I will try to consider the quilting pattern as I put the quilt together.
As I was putting together this post, I looked up Hobbs on the web, and they are in Waco, Texas!! They also have unbleached cotton batting and organic cotton batting! Looks like I will have to do some purchasing to support my homies!
I think it takes a while to decide what we like the best and what our style really is. If you like a lofty look perhaps you would like a blend (80/20) wadding. It combines the softness of cotton with the spring of poly. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the tip. I have some 80/20 I bought at Quilt Festival and I will try it!
I think it’s great that you have been so adventurous with your quilting 🙂
That’s a nice way of looking at it! I am really inspired by the Gee’s Bend quilts – practical but unique. I admire beautiful craftsmanship, but I just want to make cheerful quilts no one is afraid to use!
You say “only” as if two completed quilts in a month was not progress. I consider it progress and a job well done. I finished two almost three quilt tops on my long arm frame. And a few other piecing projects that needed some catching up.
I agree with you how binding just naturally makes it a quilt to look at. It’s that finished feeling of being complete. And for me some pride is mixed in there too. I love to share my quilts places like the VA etc.
Batting is a large question. I prefer the flat look on all my quilts. But so many people love the fluffiness of other batting. It really is a personal thing. I use Quillters Dream. By far my favorite. But I always recommend to other/new quilters (who ask) use the best quality supplies you can afford for each quilt. And sometimes you will fid its worth the wait-for a better quality–whether its batting thread fabric etc.
I enjoyed your post this morning. Great quilts. I will be sharing mine soon.
Well, you are right. Finishing two is ok. It’s just that they were almost done, back in January, and I had visions of finishing up all kinds of things. But life intervened – in good ways.
Right now I have some Pellon Legacy battings to try – wool, and the 80/20 blend. I will look into Quilters Dream when those are gone.
When I started machine quilting in 2006, I had no idea there were supplies other than Coats and Clark thread and Mountain Mist batting available. Using better supplies has made quilting easier for me.
The quilts are beautiful and I love the way you try out the different stitching patterns. Quite adventursome!
Fabulous colours in the Log Cabin Quilt. Although purple is my absolute favourite, I am partial to blues and greens. The quilting of the penguin quilt it is lovely, but I find it is a challenge not to be overly critical of our own work. Well done.
Thanks! I love combining colors and patterns with abandon, but the next step I am setting for myself is to be more consistent in the quilting itself. I am slowly getting more consistent stitch length with free motion quilting, but it still surprises me that I can go from “Wow, I think I’ve got the rhythm down!” to “What happened?” within a few inches. 🙂
Soooo much work, and accomplishments in a month especially when it comes to quilting. Your purpose was a good dead to give to the VA Hospital. You’re a Blessing. Very nice, and well done projects. http://projectsbyMtetar.wordpress.com Be Blessed!
Thanks, Mtetar!
You’re welcome, Mtetar
I like the spirals in the log cabin panels – I would not have thought of that. I understand what you mean about it not standing out enough. I had the same problem with my WILD Flowers quilt- lots of spiral quilting that does not seem worth the effort because no one but me will even see it. Ah we’ll, that’s how we learn and have good excuses I mean reasons to do more 😊
I have learned so much from Tim Latimer’s blog, http://timquilts.com/ . He is so good at thinking of quilting patterns that complement the piece work, and add another level of interest. His work really gets me thinking!
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