I've been making nice progress on hand quilting of the little blue Dear Jane. The middle chunk got finished during a Christmas trip to see my sister and her family. I really wasn't a very experienced quilter when I started this one. Going back and looking at some of the workmanship that went into the blocks has been interesting. I spent quite a bit of time right before dinner in the car yesterday tightening up the stitches on an previously hand stitched block. It is much more likely to stay together now I think.
Still, each quilt is a snapshot in time of our skills and interests. This one was what I was capable of at the time. I am glad I did it, and it gave me the courage to start again on my
Rainbow Scrap Challenge Dear Jane which I think is going to be amazing.
With just 8 blocks left to hand quilt, I have started to ponder the border. Originally I had pictured a cable border, like the one in the middle, but when I went to grab it out of the stencil drawer, I also found a cable diamond combination that was nice as well as a diamond. Plenty of time to think it over as I finish off the last few blocks. I hope you are finding a few minutes during this busy holiday season to settle in with a bit of hand stitching. Join up with the ladies over at
Kathy's Quilts to see how others are spending some time on this quiet Sunday.
I agree we need to keep practicing if we plan on improving. I also believe quilters should work on what appeals to them no matter how difficult, often we find out we are more talented than we think. Your blue Dear Jane is wonderful! You h ave made me reconsider doing one, maybe a small version of just appliqued blocks!
ReplyDeleteThis is just lovely !! Much time and hard work, patience and perseverance there :)
ReplyDeleteI love looking back at some of my earlier quilts to see my workmanship at that time. It feels good to know how much I have grown as a quilter, but I also smile in fondness remembering my puppy-like excitement at learning at new skill :*) I treasure those early efforts every bit as much as my more polished efforts today.
ReplyDeleteI have that cable diamond combo stencil but have not yet used it. I think it would look marvelous on your quilt!
I made my first quilt back 50 years ago when my daughter was born...a sunbonnet boy and girl quilt all hand pieced and quilted. I saw is close up for the first time over Thanksgiving and immediately took photos. It was such a treat looking at 50 year old stitches. I know you are enjoying looking back at the blocks of this beautiful quilt. The range in difficulty is interesting, It looks gorgeous hanging there all pieced together, Hope you finally decide upon your borders soon. Know you are must be anxious to get started. Happy New Year. genie
ReplyDeleteYour quilt and quilting is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWow... only 8 more blocks to quilt?!?! Amazing progress! So interesting to think of a quilt as a 'snapshot' of our life and skills. Enjoyed reading your post :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you do in the border!
Thanks so much for being a regular contributor to Slow Sunday Stitching!
Happy 2014!
I agree that each block or quilt is like looking back through a scrapbook of our lives. I smile every time I think about the first quilt I hand quilted and gave to my Mom. It was a Grandmothers Flower Garden - hand piece and hand quilted. I quilted it with two strands of thread with knots on top - I was just learning and went with it.
ReplyDeleteYou will not be disappointed in the book. I do not want it out of my sight. Am working on two more squares right now. It is laid out sososo beautifully, and the part at the back is so informative. Hope you enjoy your Kindle version. genie
ReplyDeleteWell, since I really haven't hand quilted anything yet with small stitches (I've done big quilting) I think tat quilt is gorgeous and I find it inspirational. I think I'll have to try hand quilting on a doll quilt first!
ReplyDeleteLove this line your wrote--'each quilt is a snapshot in time of our skills and interests'. So true. We're always better when we finish up aren't we? lol
ReplyDeleteAs long as we do the best we can and as long as we enjoy the process, we quilters have nothing to be ashamed of! It's always nice to look back and see how we've grown and improved as quilters, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt's love!y!
ReplyDeleteI like the cable/diamond stencil for the border. Which ever you end up using, it's going to be a beautiful quilt.
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