Progress Report

Machine Pieced - Hand Quilted

I am pleased to report the hand quilting is well underway on The Graduation Quilt.  Thank you for your inquiries, it helps keep me on track!

It is pin basted and I'm using a hoop.  My floor frame still has my Harrison Rose on it.

I am outline quilting 1/4" from the  edges of each piece, removing pins as I go.  I will then go back and add the detail quilting.  Each fabric gets unique quilting.  I also plan to quilt our names and dates in the blocks.
This very light section is the center.

Read more about this quilt HERE.

This is the second time I've made a quilt like this.

I say, "like this" because I misplaced the first set of templates I made for quilt 1.  No worries!
I just made a second set.  I like using template plastic I can write on for fussy cutting.  I use pencil and wipe of the registration lines for the next cut.

The layout on the first one is rather random.  I also used more feminine fabrics; florals, toiles and pastel lights.

Velma came running for the photo op.

"Have you earned quilting time today?"

Velma has decided she needs to keep the quilt safe and warm when I am not quilting.
She is usually buried underneath the quilt layers.  Today she slept for over two hours on top of the hoop - until I got the camera out.

Of course, I need to thank her for two hours I worked off the to-do list of chores.  Much more productive to finish spring cleaning.  I have until August to finish it.

She must know 'The Graduate' has a cat.

Side by Side 

I decided to put the two quilts together.
The Graduate Quilt has a look all its own - masculine colorful fabrics, a light to dark layout and uniform setting fabrics.

That's the way it should be - a gift quilt custom made for a very special person.

I am often asked the size of the hexagons - I finally measured - 4" a side.

Kim McLean Cover Quilt

My inspiration was a quilt I saw in Houston in 2004.
It was featured on the cover of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine in 2005.

I wanted to pull a chair over and sit and stare at the quilt in Houston.  I loved everything about it - 100's of reproduction fabrics, the layout - what's not to love?

My blocks are bigger, the finished quilt smaller and I played with the color layout.

The pattern was published in the 2005 Quilter's Newsletter Wall Calendar.  I don't have the calendar to see how the measurements compare to my blocks.





Here are the details on the inspiration quilt from inside the magazine.

I also like this detail picture because you can see some of Kim's quilting lines.  I'm always curious how the quilting is done.

Who knows, I may make a third - some year...

Have a great week, I hope it includes some stitching time.

Regards,
Dawn

A Finish - The Graduation Quilt

The Graduation Quilt

Done. Finished. Complete.
It really isn't any of those.

The Graduation Quilt is hand quilted and the binding is done.  I have a few details to add, so technically it isn't done.

I chose to do a narrow binding, finishing at 3/8" so it doesn't really show in the photo.  I really like it and will use that width on future projects.

To recap - Lots of fussy cutting special fabrics
Prints used only once per block
Machine Pieced
Hand Quilted - 100% Cotton Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon
62" x 76"

Light Center - Names and dates to be added in quilting

In the center light print are I will be adding names and dates in the quilting.

I am planning on a medium contrast thread, so it is easily readable - but not the first thing a viewer sees.

I will also add a label on the back - see, it isn't done!

Example of some of the quilted texture

Each block is quilted uniquely, using the prints as my guide - no marking.

I changed thread colors to compliment the fabrics.

The hexagon side finishes at 4"




Do you quilt names and words in your projects?  I may do it more often!
Have a great week!
Dawn

My Merry Month of May Part One

Janet at the beginning of the exhibit

I am not really sure I could have fit more fun into the month of May. I am so lucky.

I started the month spending a couple days with Australians Janet O'Dell, and Denise Reynolds here in Colorado. Janet was curator of the 'Australia Uncovered' exhibit at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. Denise has a quilt in the exhibit. I took them on some quilting adventures all around the area. I hope they had as much fun as I did.

Denise with the back of her quilt, "Under Flynn's Wings",
 it was hung for viewing on both sides.
It was very popular!

Being at the exhibit, Janet and Denise were able to talk to guests about the quilts. How surprised visitors were when they learned the curator and one of the quilt makers was there to speak with them - - all the way from Australia.

This is one of those posts where 100 photos would not be enough...

Denise is posing here with the front of her quilt, "Under Flynn's Wings".  Her quilt was made with mostly Australian themed fabrics and tells the story of The Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Notice how she varied the fabric colors by the climate of Australian, surrounded by the beautiful blue water.

The signs in the museum provided visitors with a country map of Australian to refer to as they viewed the quilts.

The museum has a QR code system that offers audio to visitors. Exhibits can record audio and tell more about their quilts than the exhibit tags can. The Australian accents are a very popular as visitors view the quilts and get a real 'down under' feeling.

Mary Hutchins, from Victoria is a stitch counter.
Her quilt has 6,063 hexagons.
At 120 hand stitches per hexagon she estimates the quilt has
727, 560 stitches.


Sisterly Love
82" x 100"
Inspired by a quilt in Annette Gero's book, "Fabric of Society".


The original circa 1850 coverlet was made in England by Mary Chubb Tolman for her brother, James Chubb Tolman who resided in Hobart Town, Van Diemans Land.

The quilt is hand quilt using the stab stitch method.

The hand quilting is so uniform I initially mistook it for machine stitching.

Very beautiful!!

Another hexagon quilt in the exhibit is
Eleanor Jean
By Linda White, Victoria
76"
It is made of 22,500 quarter inch hexagons.
All hand sewn.
The quilt was quilted using anchoring stitches spread evenly over the quilt.
The quilt is named after Linda's Maternal grandmother. This is her second hexagon quilt because she needed one for each daughter.

This quilt had visitors enthralled.
Margaret Rolfe - Quiltmaker
98" x 84"
Jenny Bowker, Australian Capital Territory

There is all kinds of uniquely Australian flora and fauna are included in the quilt as well as the likeness of famed quilter, Margaret Rolfe.





I left Janet and Denise in capable hands for more quilting adventures and I flew to Minnesota.

Mother's Day was extra special this year because it was graduation weekend at The University of Minnesota.
The Graduate was back from Tanzania and decided to partake in the commencement ceremony.

Graduating meant it was time to give him the THE QUILT.  That wasn't his only gift, but maybe it was the best.

He loved it.
He noticed it was hand quilted.
He studied all of the carefully selected fabrics.
He has proudly showed it to his friends.

Success!

Winterthur 1808, English. By or for Joanna Southcott

I flew back from Minnesota and was home for a day - certainly long enough to repack!

Then off I went to Pennsylvania with friends.

We had a rendezvous at the Philly airport and off we went.

The first couple days were for shopping; fabric, antiques, then antiques and fabric...
No incriminating photos of the first two days are available.

Winterthur - Probably Pennsylvania 1800-1825

We attended Penn's Dry Goods Market. Two more days filled with excellent lectures and more shopping.  I was too busy to take photos there.

We did go to UPS and pack and ship some treasures home. More to come on that.

Then we went to The Winterthur Museum. in Delaware.

At Winterthur we took the garden tour. I was so 'in the moment' I forgot to take garden photos.
I think that's a good thing.

Once inside, the special exhibits at Winterthur were, "Made in the Americas' and 'Embroidery, The Language of Art'.


The in process embroidery piece is important in understanding their processes in centuries past.

Winterthur

The embroidery was so inspiring.

This tambour work with lace insertion was beautiful.

The circle in this piece was about 3" in diameter.

Winterthur

There were more quilts on exhibit.

The crewel embroidery on this example provided wonderful color and texture.

After a great day at Winterthur we had a wonderful meal an relived some of our adventures and proposed some future ones.

We flew home the next morning.




Working on the one day of rest plan, guess what I did the following day?
Stay tuned for Part Two!
Have a great week,
Dawn

Ready For First Snow

Never enough!

I was at a standstill selecting fabrics for the graduation quilt.

I made a monumental decision...I'm cutting and including some of the fabrics I thought I might never cut.  I wish I had yards of this fabric.

What better reason than to include a beloved fabric in a quilt for a special person?

Snip - snip ... after all, it's just fabric!

Marked, in the frame ready for quilting

We are expecting our first snow this week.
Yesterday I marked a quilt and got it in the frame.
I will have all the outline quilting done by the time the graduation project is a top - so I think my timeline is still OK.  I can only hand quilt or machine piece so much in one day.  Rotation is a good thing!
I have marked for years with General's Sketch N Wash pencils - have never had trouble with it coming off when the project is done.  It is usually all gone by the time the quilt is finished.

Happy Stitching,
Dawn

Grad Quilt Block Milestone

The Graduation Quilt

So happy to have all of the blocks finished for 'The Graduation Quilt'

The blocks are hardly sticking to the design wall - Velma (my cat) has figured out how get between the foam board and top.

Yes, one morning most of the blocks were on the floor...

The light center color placement is growing on me.  I am planning on quilting some names and dates in the center.

I was able to work in many special fabrics and have purchased the backing. I changed my mind on binding - plenty of time to figure that out.
I just may make my January goal of a completed top...Maybe.  If not, there's always next month!

Happy Stitching!
Dawn

Graduation Quilt Progress

Not the final setting

I am making progress on the graduation gift quilt.

I was able to work in some additional fabrics that have personal meaning.  Prints include cats, ducks, turtles, garlic and grapes.  Very fun to step out of my usual reproduction choices and think of my recipient.

The long piece on the left is a bicycle wheel print I am thinking about for binding.

I think if I can make at least 12 blocks a week I think I can get it in the quilt frame before the snow hits!  That's the goal anyway.  I think all these colors and prints will be wonderful to look at as I quilt this winter.

I have so many floral prints in my stash it has been a challenge to find some masculine prints.  I'm digging deep in the stripes!

Velma in her play tunnel

Velma is a very happy quilting buddy.

She's not allowed in the sewing room because she is a thread chewer!  I wish she could join me for sewing sessions, but for now we have to be content with lap sitting as I hand stitch.

Thank you for your encouragement!
Have a great week stitching.
Dawn

The Graduation Quilt

A start with so many more blocks to go...

In anticipation of a special graduation next year, I started this quilt.  I plan to hand quilt this project, it is machine pieced.

This isn't the final arrangement - just showing you the blocks I have done so far.  I am trying to keep the fabrics on the masculine side.  As you can see there are some solid blocks that require no piecing.  I'm estimating about 100 blocks so I am about 1/10th of a way there.  Surely there will be some rejects.

I've also selected some prints with special meaning.  Conversational prints with a bike and a turtle.  One print from dad's shirt so I will need to come up with something from me too.

Wish me luck! Have a great week!
Dawn

Hexagons

I have a few antique hexagon quilts in my collection.  The oldest is circa 1830, and the most recent finished quilt is circa 1930.  The Graduation Quilt is a hexagon, but it's been gifted, and no longer mine.  I do have three hexagon projects in process.  If I finish one this year I could say my collection ranges from 1830-2016 representing 186 years...

These are 1/2" hexagon florets.  I will add tot he variety this year, maybe get to 200 next year.  The project is all planned and includes applique.

These are silk hexagons, 3/4" per side.
Made from silk fabrics, primarily ties.

I have enough ties to make three table runners.  One for me and then one for each child.  Several of the silks are old ties from my husband over the last 40+ years.

I was also gifted some Italian silk ties to add to the mix, variety is a good thing!

I am not sure how I will set them, I will decide after more are completed.  Setting silk may be a purchase.

This is my New Years start....1/4 " hexagons.
A friend said she was going to try them.  "They are so cute" she innocently said...that was all I needed and I was all in too!  Ever the optimist, I bought a package of 1,200.  Yes, 1,200.
Paper Pieces HERE
These are my first three from trash scraps at the cutting table.
What to do with them?
Lots of ideas came to mind - but it is always nice to hook in some other WIP.

I purchased a few of the small (6") Fruit Basket Medallion panels from the Quilt & Textiles Collection HERE.

This is the 6" medallion, with the 1/4" florets.
I plan to trim the medallion then add a printed fabric border before I add the hexagon round.

I will keep the finished size of the quilt small, maybe 18" - it is still evolving...
My approach to hexagons is simply paper, needle and thread.  I don't starch, glue or baste through the papers. I reuse the papers.  Just a little tack stitch at each corner works best for me.

Do you have any hexagon projects?

Quilts of Christmas Past

Pattern:  One-Block Wonders Cubed (Rosenthal/Pelzmann) 

Did you make quilts for a gift this holiday season?  Perhaps still getting the last stitches in?

I didn't gift anything quilty this year but thought I would share some quilts of Christmas Past...these all live in other homes, so these are old pictures.

Batik Cubes - I enjoyed this so much I made two - one for my son and one for a SIL.  I'd like to make one for me someday.

Roxy has to try and get into all quilt pictures

This is a quilt we gave to my BIL.  He loves to hunt deer and I had a really hard time getting into that theme.  Once again I turned to One Block Wonders (book 1).

The first border is a Nancy Kirk Civil War brown.

The outer border is a birch tree print - fitting for a winter
'deer in the woods' theme.

When I look at it now I would like to move some of the blocks around...but all in all I was pleased with the result.

This is the back of the quilt - showing the deer print before it was cut.

I also made a One Block Wonders quilt with a blue toile and it worked great - that was a graduation gift quilt.  Maybe it is getting time to make one of these for myself...
You can read more about Maxine HERE.

There are many more quilts of Christams Past, fun to review past quilts and compare to where I am today.


Have a great week!

Borders, Stems and Grad Quilt

Great progress to report on The Graduation Quilt.
All of the outline quilting and some detail is complete in the blocks.  Two sides of the setting blocks (the navy dot) are quilted.
Once I finish hand quilting the setting edges I will bind it.  If needed, I could gift it then, but am hoping all of the filler quilting can also be finished before gifting.

1/4" seam allowance

Month Six of the Catherine's Garden BOM is posted HERE.
The borders have small stems for each leaf.
This is how I do mine:
As a back baster, my marking is always on the BACK.  For the stems I mark them on the FRONT.
Using a 3/4" wide bias strip, I machine stitch it on the outer curve of the line.

I trim the seam allowance to reduce the bulk when folding the stem fabric over.

With 32+ little stem pieces to do, this process goes fairly fast.

Fold the stem over.
I place one pin in the center, use more if you prefer

I hide my knot in the seam - no knots show on the front or back.

Needle turn down the length of the stem.

If only the leaves went down as fast as the stems!  We put the border patterns out in the middle of the year so you can work on them over a few months.  Anyway, that's my preference!

The finished stem has two nice smooth edges.

It is difficult to tell if the edges are machine or hand sewn.

I know there are many successful ways to do vines and stems.  No one right way.  This is my preferred way to do my little stems.  The way you prefer is the right way!


Enjoy your stitching and have a great week!
Dawn
PS
A little confusion on the Virginia Road Trip - I am flying not driving!  Air Trip just doesn't have the same ring to it as Road Trip.  

Needlework Tools

19th Centruy Thread Stand

I've been cheating on my quilting time.

Although I have had a summer rich in quilt study, I have been spending more time with my collection of antique needlework tools.

There is a Facebook page, Antique and Vintage Sewing Tools.  It is a closed group, but you can request to join in the sharing and fun.  I resisted FB for a long time - and still use caution.  I will continue blogging!

This is a thread stand I posted there.
19th Century - original pin cushion cover.
Three small legs.  A wonderful old American piece.

German made scissors, strawberry emery and silk thread spool added for the photo op...

Silk thread - Queen Stitch

I have also been doing some counted thread embroidery.  This long term project is an online class by Jackie, from It's Fine-ally Finished.  This is all queen stitch on 36 count linen - so one queen is 1/9th of an inch.  This section is the bottom of a tiny shoe thimble holder.

I completed the silk box that holds all of the pieces.  I went long too and purchased the scrimshaw accessories and Dovo scissors.

The rest of the hand embroidery is completed and I see my self finishing the assembly on a snowy day this winter.

The set is all embroidered in silk threads.

It's Fine-ally Finished Petit Trianon

This is part of the set, you can see how many little pieces I have yet to assemble.  With Jackie's classes she provides all the materials, instructions and support to finish the complete set.

She even surprised us with a beautiful cameo and accessories to make a handkerchief holder. BONUS!  and oh, so wonderful!

This session is closed but she has many great upcoming classes and events.



I've also been working on applique projects I will be sharing soon!  Not to mention the pieced graduation quilt that MUST get done...stay tuned.

Have a great week!
Dawn