Trying Some FMQ Options
Thank you to everyone for input on ways to put the string quilt blocks together. In the comments, Choice 3, a straight grid of sashing was the clear winner, but in the voting, that option came in fourth!
Choice 4, the mid-tone diamond sashing, and Choice 5, the black sashing, tied with 30% of the vote each. Choice 2, no sashing, came in third with 15% of the vote. The only option that no one liked was the very wide white sashing.
After I posted the options, I realized that the sashing does need to be in a straight grid, because I pieced the strings onto rectangular foundation pieces. If I were to do a diamond-shaped sashing, I would have to cut the blocks up diagonally and in this case that would be too hard. So I have decided to put 4 string blocks together to emphasize their diamond shape, and then sash between those combined blocks instead of between every block.
Planned layout for string quilt. But I will move the blocks around into a more pleasing arrangement.
Melanie at Catbird Quilt Studio had suggested using an accent color for the sashing, but I think I am going to stay with blue because I am going for that manly shirts-and-ties look. I will hold that accent color idea for another time!
That project is going to need focus and time, of which I had neither this week. Instead I watched a Craftsy class, “Design It, Quilt It, Free-form Techniques” with Cindy Needham, and then I made a little lap quilt to practice free-motion quilting some of the motifs she teaches.
I don’t know if it’s because I started as a weaver, so I really appreciate cloth in its natural state, or if it’s because I am usually in too much of a hurry to just get done, but I am more of a piecer than a quilter. But I have been so inspired by beautiful quilting that I want to improve in that area. Another reason I want to do more stitching, is that I have tubs and buckets of thread, and I might as well maximize the use of the supplies I have in my crafting time.
Big squares I already had.
Cindy showed a basket-weave motif, and suggested outlining it in heavier thread. That is what I intended to do, and I chose some Auriful cotton I had — but I misread the label and thought it was 30 weight, when it was size 50! It turns out all of their labels say “30 GR” on them, and I have no idea what that means. Maybe 30 grams. But it explains why my preliminary gridwork didn’t make much of a statement.
I stitched smaller squares in the large ones.
Then I quilted lines and circles. They’re not too uniform, but I really enjoyed the process. I was using the Glide pre-wound bobbins as I usually do, but I experimented with different colors of 40- and 50-weight cotton, and Gutermann recycled thread, to see what effects I liked best. I like big bold stitching, but the 50-weight seemed to work best with that bobbin thread.
Lines and circles in different weights of thread.
After that I added some borders. I always love reading the selvedges and finding out I am using a fabric from 2005 or 2011 — it is finally achieving its quilt destiny! 🙂
All done.
I hoped that washing the quilt would make the stitching really pop. I have to say that I think the close quilting lines in perpendicular directions make the quilt as stiff as a board. However, this was either Warm and Natural or Hobbs 80/20 blend, and Cindy Needham recommends wool batting, and I do think that would work much better.
After washing. The color is really still the same, it just looks crinklier.
Over all I don’t feel that in the quilting added that much visual interest to the lap quilt, but I did enjoy it, and I was happy to put into effect something I learned from a Craftsy class!
I’m no quilter so I’m really interested to see what you do with those lines and circles – think they’re very effective – must try doing them one day. I too love to read the selvedges for fabric information!
Yes, close quilting does not make for a cuddly quilt. I think you made the right choice for the sashing. The only quilting option that occurs to me is to quilt out from the center of each group of 4 string blocks, following the lines of the strings. You could do the circle quilting in the sashing, or just follow along the edges.
I never even suspected that about close quilting. I am so much better at predicting how weaving will turn out than quilting. I wonder if spirals would give more drape, or even lines that go all one direction.
I have not decided how to quilt the string quilt yet. I am thinking of the beautiful tailoring details in mens’ shirts, so probably just straight lines with a walking foot. Choosing the quilting design is just such a commitment! I need to just make 3 tops the same, just so I feel like I have abundant material to practice different quilting options on.
Oh, I thought you planned to FMQ the stripes quilt. But, yes, men’s shirts have all that lovely topstitching. The quilt I made with men’s shirts just had a quilted grid, but it was little squares. Well, print out a photo or two and start drawing possible designs on it. It may a grid would work as a counterpoint to the diagonals.
No, I just switched over to a less thought-demanding project. 🙂 It may be quite a while before I get back to the stripes quilt because we are about to remodel a bathroom. Yes, in Texas, in August. What fun!
I have found that the 80/20 does make for a stiffer finish when tightly quilted and the wool, silk or bamboo is much softer, yet still gives dimension (especially when double layered!). Visually your little test piece is so very sweet and could maybe be a table topper of some type????
Oh, thanks! It will be a lap quilt for our VA hospital — they always need more. It would make a good autumn table topper too, but I have so many vintage linens that I really don’t need another one.
I love your test piece. It practically sparkles! How big did it end up?
Thank you! It is 40 x 40, which is the size our local VA hospital wants for lap quilts.
Not being a quilter or a weaver, I just love to look your things. This particular one reminds me of the many items my grandmother made and it’s such a cozy homey feel. thank you.
Thank you, I have so much fun making them!
Nice job. We also found in our group that tightly quilted lines (some of the women have a long arm) makes the lap quilts too stiff to wrap around ‘laps’ in the nsg /VA homes. Our tied ones are more supple. Having said that I DO like how that turned out 🙂
Well, live and learn. I am astounded that that never even occurred to me. Here I have been feeling like I’ve been lazy doing minimal quilting, and it might have been the best thing for the purpose!
I love the patterns you quilted into the squares. It looks great!