Background quilting is coming along on Spirit Song! I'm now about 25% of the way finished, and I'm learning a lot along the way. For instance, I quilted the wrong fill pattern in several patches while I was talking to a friend on the phone, but I'm leaving it because I doubt I could rip out such dense stitches without ripping the quilt fabric, and probably no one but me will notice in the finished quilt. I am enjoying seeing how the quilting designs transform the flat, smooth surface of the quilt top with an "embossed" texture. I don't remember whether I shared which thread I ended up choosing for the background quilting -- I went with So Fine #50 in the needle and Bottom Line in the bobbin, the same combination I've been using throughout the rest of the quilt.
One interesting and unanticipated challenge has been the difficulty of holding a ruler in position steadily in places where there are highs and lows in the quilt surface due to thick, bulky seam allowances. That is something you can't discover and learn to deal when you're just practicing your quilting on muslin.
The first time I attempted to quilt that continuous curve flower motif (above), I tried to freehand it and it didn't come out so pretty. I started using two different sizes of my Quilter's Groove ProEcho arc rulers, and now they are looking much better. This is when it pays to have an arsenal of quilting rulers at one's disposal, when it's 8 PM on a Saturday and you decide to try a ruler on a whim. You can only experiment with the rulers that you have on hand! I may or may not rip out that first one and fix it later, but for now I'm trying to focus forward. I'm not even going to show you the ugly one!
...And of course, when I finished quilting for the night, the last thing I did was crawl beneath the quilting frame to see what it looks like from the back, with the light shining down through the needle holes:
Part of me wishes I'd used a puffier batting, or even attempted two layers of batting, to get more definition of my quilting. But the other part of me is very pleased to find ZERO tucks or pleats in my backing fabric. It will be interesting to see how this quilt changes when it's washed and dried for the first time, with its single layer of Quilter's Dream Select cotton batting. I'm hoping for soft and snuggly with plenty of texture and a nice drape, but I hope the crinkly texture from shrinkage will accentuate rather than obscure the quilting I've been working so hard on for the past 3 months!
Goodnight, Quilt! See you in the morning...
I'm linking up today's post with:
The thought of you crawling around under the quilt for the sake of an interesting picture is giving me the biggest smile! That's certainly going the extra yard!
ReplyDeleteyou are really doing great on this quilt - you must be pleased!!
ReplyDeleteI have always been told you don't learn anything by ripping out quilting stitches. Once it's washed no one will see the bad block unless you point it out.
ReplyDeleteSunday Spirit Song is coming along nicely. Using the rulers on hand (use what you have) seems to be the motto this year. MHO (my humble opinion) thinks one layer of batting is enough. Cotton can be heavy and then the quilt would have been perhaps too heavy. My experience with Quilters Dream Select is that it does crinkle nicely when laundered. Keep stitching!
ReplyDeleteLoving this SOOO much!
ReplyDeleteI get down under my machine and come back up covered in lint :)
ReplyDeleteLovely quilting. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!
WPW! That was the first word that came to mind whith the first picture. Then a double WOW with the underneath shot. I don’t know what kind of superlative will come to mind when you finish. It may be a hushed awe.
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you for not trying to take out the stitching where you used the wrong fill. Now leave the free hand stitched flower, too. I know that's probably asking too much. I think a single layer of batting was wise. now you have a basis to evaluate what kind of difference two layers will make. You're almost there. Can't wait to see the final results.
ReplyDeletePat
Your quilting looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAwesome job!
I'll be interested in seeing the quilt after it's washed too. I do a lot of quilting of tops, but never get to see them after they are washed. You brought up an interesting point - will the shrinkage hide the quilting that we work so hard on? Hmmm...makes me want to do some experimenting.. I love the quilting you are doing Rebecca. You quilt looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteOh Cheeky Becca, I love this so much. I'd say more but you take my breath away...
ReplyDeleteI am completely drooling over your wonderful machine qulting AGAIN! You always amaze me!
ReplyDelete